NARRATOR：

Listen to a conversation between two students.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Hey Steve!

Are you ready for classes to start?

MALE STUDENT：

Not really!

There is still a big conflict in my course schedule.

FEMALE STUDENT：

What's wrong?

MALE STUDENT：

This is my last semester, and I've still got two required courses left to take in order to finish my literature degree.

FEMALE STUDENT：

[following] OK...

MALE STUDENT：

I have to take both History of the Novel and Shakespeare, or I can't graduate.

Problem is the two courses meet at the same time.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Uh oh!

What are you gonna do?

MALE STUDENT：

Well, I talked to the professor who's gonna teach Shakespeare.

He said I could do an independent study to fulfill that requirement.

FEMALE STUDENT：

How would that work?

MALE STUDENT：

I'd read the assigned texts on my own, do all the same assignments and meet with him when I need to, if I have any questions.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Well, that sounds like a good way to fulfill the requirement.

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, plus it would be nice to have one-on-one discussions with the professor.

It's just that… [sigh] well, working on my own like that?

I am kind of concerned I won't be able to motivate myself enough to get the work done on time.

It is easy to put things off when it is not actual class, you know.

FEMALE STUDENT：

Are there other options?

MALE STUDENT：

Emm, yeah.

I found out that the shaksper class is being offered at another university about half an hour from here.

That university has a really great literature program and our university will accept their credits, so

FEMALE STUDENT：

That's an idea.

MALE STUDENT：

Yeah, I am sure it'd be a good class and it'll fulfill the requirement.

Only thing is, you know, I have to drive a half a hour to get to the class and a half an hour to come back, three times a week.

That's a lot of time and gas in money...