Academic Advising: Fixing a Schedule Conflict

B2 Core Academic Advising

Instructions: skim the question stems, then press play and listen once, taking notes. Answer all 4 questions, check your score and error analysis — and only then open the study pack (transcript, vocabulary, paraphrases, model notes).

📦 Show transcript & study pack — only after you have answered

Full transcript

Student: Hi, Ms. Carter. I'm Daniel Reyes — I got your email about a problem with my registration.
Advisor: Thanks for coming in, Daniel. Here's the issue: your Organic Chemistry section — one o'clock, Tuesdays and Thursdays — overlaps with your required statistics course at the same time. You can't be in two places at once.
Student: Yeah, I noticed that after I registered. The thing is, I work at the campus bookstore Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, so Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are basically my only free time for classes — and I need both courses to stay on track for graduation.
Advisor: Let's look at your options. Statistics has only one section next semester, so that one has to stay where it is. But Organic Chemistry has a second section, at eight in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Student: Eight a.m.? That's rough, but wait — I don't work Tuesdays or Thursdays at all. Actually, eight o'clock would work fine.
Advisor: One more thing, though: the eight o'clock section has a different professor and uses a different lab manual. Order the right one before classes start, or you'll be behind in the first lab.
Student: Got it. So you'll move me into the eight o'clock chemistry section?
Advisor: I already have the form ready. Sign here, and you're all set — no conflict, and you keep both courses.

Difficult vocabulary

overlap	to happen at the same time as something else, so that the two conflict
required course	a class a student must take in order to complete a degree; not optional
stay on track	to continue making the progress you planned, without delay
section	one of several groups in which the same course is taught at different times or by different teachers
lab manual	the workbook containing instructions and exercises for laboratory classes

Important phrases

You can't be in two places at once — a light, obvious way of saying a time conflict is impossible to keep
Let's look at your options — used to move from describing a problem to considering solutions
you're all set — everything is arranged; nothing more is needed from you

Paraphrases — what you heard vs what it means

You heard	It means
Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are basically my only free time	almost all of my available class time is on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
that one has to stay where it is	the statistics course cannot be moved to a different time
you'll be behind in the first lab	you will start the course at a disadvantage, missing preparation others have

Note-taking analysis — model notes

Conflict: Org Chem 1:00 Tue/Thu == Statistics (same time) Student works bookstore: Mon/Wed/Fri mornings Needs BOTH courses to graduate on time Statistics: only 1 section → cannot move Solution: Chem 8:00 a.m. section Tue/Thu Warning: different professor + different lab manual — order the right one

Compare with your own notes: did you catch the main claim, the arrows (cause/effect), the contrasts and the compressed examples?

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