Listening Comprehension Questions:


1.  What did the student turn in late?


2.  What did the professor tell the student about the late submission?


3.  Why couldn't the student turn in the assignment the day it was due?


4.  Why didn't the student email the professor?


5.  Why couldn't the student call the professor?


[Lesson Credits:  Listening Building MP3 TOEFL, Track 16]

03 Office Visit

M: Professor, I know that my project on economic recession is late, but I was hoping that you’d still let me turn it in.

W: Jacob, I already told the entire class at the beginning of the semester that I won’t accept late projects. I’m sorry, but you shouldn’t have skipped class.

M: I understand. But the thing is, I was sick the day the project was due. I couldn’t come to class. It’s not like I was eating lunch with friends or anything.

W: Well, why didn’t you email me then?
M: I don’t have the Internet, and I would’ve called, but

your number isn’t on the syllabus. I know you enforce

your rule on late projects, but I really worked hard on this project. I’m sorry that it’s late, but I really had no way of getting here.

W: Fine. I’ll give you a break this one time. But I want you to email me next time. Even if it’s from a neighbor’s house. 


1.  What is the student proposing in order to work?


2.  What class does the student want to drop to work?


3.  What does the employee offer the student?


4.  What must the student do in order to drop the class?


5.  Will the student take the employee's advice?


[Lesson Credits:  Listening Building MP3 TOEFL, Track 17]

04 Service Encounter

M: How can I help you?
W: Well, here’s my problem. I need to take 15 credits a

semester to maintain my scholarship. But I’m going to have to drop my algebra class this semester because it conflicts with my job. But see, if I drop my algebra class, then I won’t have enough credits for this semester. I’ll lose my scholarship.

M: I see your problem. And it’s too late in the semester to transfer into another class for credit. Wait, I know! Have you heard of our Summer Counts program?

W: I don’t think so.
M: Well, it’s a program where you can take a course in the

summer, but the school counts the credits you earn

toward your spring semester.
W: That sounds good. How do I go about doing that?
M: Well, what you’ll need to do is write the scholarship

committee a letter explaining your situation. Make sure to mention that you have to drop the class due to a work conflict. The committee will have to review your case, but it should allow you to make the credit up during the summer.

W: I’ll do that then. Thanks! 


Interview Questions:

17. Many teachers nowadays don't want to work overtime. They believe that their job is very professional and didn't sign up for those extra hours of work. This draws some criticism that public school teachers are more interested in their own lives rather than the genuine needs of the students. In your case, if your principal asks you to come early than your usual working hours and teach an early morning class, would you do it? Why or why not? What is your concern regarding the early morning or after school extra classes? 

18. As a teacher you might have an early class before regular classes without additional payment on that.  Do you agree or disagree with this idea?