Narrator
Listen to a conversation between a professor and a departmental secretary.

Dr Jonas: Good morning, Estelle. Did you get those syllabus pages run off for me?

Estelle: Omigosh! I forgot them completely! Can you hang on for just about five minutes?

J: Yes. No- actually, I'm glad you haven't run them off yet. I need to fix a typo in the original. I got the year wrong. This is 2009 now, isn't it? (laughs)

E: (laughs) Yes, and it has been for the last two months. Can I change it for you?

J: Oh, you'd better just give me back the original, Estelle. It's wrong in a couple of places, and it would be easier if I just went over it myself, I think.

E: All right, then... um.... Ah! Here it is.

J: Good. Uh...can I borrow your white-out?

E: Sure. Here.

J: Thanks. (correcting the master copy) Is the chairman coming in this morning?

E: He should be in about eleven. He has a meeting with the Dean first thing before that.

J: About budget cuts, I'll bet.

E: Probably. I hope I'm not one of them.

J: Ah, don't you worry- you're irreplaceable. You're the heart of the department.

E: (laughs) Well, they do successful heart transplants now.

J: (laughs) I suppose so, but anyway, I'm sure your job is more secure than mine. Assistant professors are a dime a dozen, and one more or less is not critical to operations- but- no secretary? We'd be in chaos in a day!

E: (laughs) Maybe.

J: Here you are. It'll be OK with the penned-in correction, I think. It doesn't need to be fancy. I only need ten copies for this class, and then I'll revise it again for next term anyway.

E: Whatever you say. I can do these in a minute. Shall I bring them down to your office?

J: Yes, that would be- oh. No. I have to run down to the reading room first, so I'll swing back and pick them up from you here.

E: OK then.

J: Oh, and while I'm thinking about it- have we still got some of those little A4 binders, the looseleaf ones?

E: Yes, some. How many do you need?

J: Oh, um... six, I think. I want to break my introductory course into modules.

E: Oh, just for you, then, not for all your students. Yes, we've got that many. What color would you like?

J: Color?

E: Yes. Blue? Navy? Pink?

J: Ack! Pink?!

E: Well, some people like it.

J: I suppose. Not me. I'll take navy if you've got six of them.

E: Just a minute...uh...four, five...yes, I do. Here you are.

J: Great! And, uh, the labels?

E: Oh, labels. Uh...here. And a couple of extras so you can make a mistake.

J: Me? A mistake? Not a chance.

E: Not a chance, eh? Got the year down pat now, have you?

J: (laughs) OK, OK. You got me. There goes your birthday rose, though.

E: What?! Oh, no! You really hold a grudge, don't you?

J: Yeah, so watch out. And could you do just one more little thing for me?

E: Maay-be.

J: Please? Could you just let me know when the chairman comes in? I need to talk to him for a minute. Just ring me- I'll be in my office from about ten-thirty till lunch time.

E: Yes, of course. And I'll have your copies when you come back from the reading room.

J: Great, thanks. Actually, just keep them here, and I'll pick them up when I see Dr. Jewett.

E: OK then.

J: Thanks, Estelle.
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Dr Jonas: ...Is the chairman coming in this morning?

Estelle: He should be in about eleven. He has a meeting with the Dean first thing before that.

J: About budget cuts, I'll bet.

E: Probably. I hope I'm not one of them.

J: Ah, don't you worry- you're irreplaceable. You're the heart of the department.

E: (laughs) Well, they do successful heart transplants now.

J: (laughs) I suppose so, but anyway, I'm sure your job is more secure than mine. Assistant professors are a dime a dozen, and one more or less is not critical to operations- but- no secretary? We'd be in chaos in a day!

E: (laughs) Maybe.