Unit 1 Passage oneInterviewer: Can you tell mehow do you think you have changed as you have matured?What things have had a major influence on you?Speaker 1 : Well, let me thinkI suppose going to university had a big impact on my life. It made me much more open-minded. I met so many different types of people there with weird and wonderful ideas and it changed the way I see the world. Im much more tolerant now It made me a more rounded person.Interviewer: Great, and had any particular person had a central role in forming your character?Speaker 1: I guess thatd have to be my grandfather. I was very close to him, and he taught me to stand up for my beliefs. He was always telling me about thisInterviewer: So what people or events have had an impact on your life?Speaker 2: I think that traveling my gap year made me grow up and see both the beauty of the world and, welljust the generosity of ordinary people. I traveled a lot around Asia and you know, I found that in some of the poorest countries, like Cambodia and Laos, people share whatever little they have, and they possess a real joy for life. Its probably made me a less selfish person.Interviewer: Interestingso you would recommend that young people take a gap year to discover themselves and the world?Speaker 2: Definitely. It gives you an opportunity o learn about the world beyond the one you grew up in and I found it reallyInterviewer: Could you tell me what things in your life have had the greatest influence in forming your personality?Speaker 3: Wella couple of years ago I was on a reality TV show where a group of young people all lived in a house together. Each week some one was voted off by the audience. I got down to the final three! I suppose being on the show and seeing how the other contestants behaved made me realize how selfish and spiteful some people can be just to get what they want. I also realized its best to just be yourself in life. If you pretend to be someone different people will eventually see through the lies.Interviewer: RightAnd how did you feel when you were eventually voted off?Speaker 3: Relieved, to be honest with you. But you know, a slight regret that I didnt win because I kind ofInterviewer: So you can tell me, what one thing do you think that has had the biggest impact on your life?Speaker 4: Hmm, thats a difficult question. But I think helping victims of the tsunami in 2004 had a very great impact on me. Im half Thai and Id just arrived in Thailand for a family Christmas holiday. When I heard the news I knew I had to help-you couldnt not. I ended up acting as an interpreter for a group of volunteer doctors. It was an incredibly difficult time but you know, even in the middle of such a horrific tragedy there is still a huge amount of g kindness.Interviewer: Thats amazing! And has it changed the way you view your futurePassage twoTony: Talking to us today in our Life Choices series is Joan Robinson, an academic counselor at Manchester University. She gives advice to school students on choosing the right subject to study at university. Joan, welcome to the show.Joan: Thanks Tony.Tony: So Joan, what do our listeners need to think about when choosing a course? Its a huge, potentially life-changing decision, isnt it? Joan: Yes. I generally give students advice in two areas. Firstly, know yourself, and secondly, think to the future.Tony: When you say “know yourself” what do you mean?Joan: Basically, I mean evaluate your own personal strengths and weaknesses, your personality traits and the things you like.Tony: I seeSo how can our listeners do this?Joan: Well, start by asking yourself questions to help reflect on your life so far. For example, what subjects are you good at? Are you an organized and self-disciplined person? Are you confident and outgoing? Do you like working with others in a team or do you prefer working alone? These kinds of questions will help you discover more about yourself. Tony: Sounds like good advice. How about your second point regarding the future?Joan: Well, your choice of major subject is likely to have a significant impact on your future career so its important to look into this carefully. I recommend you check not only which academic subjects will help you get into a particular area of work, but also look carefully at what universities offer. Each university has its strengths so try to choose one that is the best in your chosen field. Find out what links the department has to related industries and leading companies in it.Tony: Good point. Now Id like to take some calls from our listeners. First up we have James on the line. Hi, James! How can we help?James: Hi. Im interested in career in IT and Id like to ask Joan whether she thinks its better to go to a highly respected university, like Oxford, or to study somewhere that has more of a vocational focus?Joan: Well, James, you know it really depend