Matthew Nicholls, a computer science student in Cardiff
Группа Learning English. Продолжение транскрипта здесь: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/scripts/private_lives/private_lives_8.pdf
Clip Matthew Nicholls I would consider myself British first and then Welsh but not English, I’m sorry but definitely not English. Sue: In Private lives today we meet Matthew Nicholls. Matthew has lived all his life in Cardiff, the capital city ofWales. Matthew describes himself as British first and then Welsh, but “definitely not English”! Except that is, when it comes to football. If England are playing a match, then Matthew supports them. And as we’ll discover, football is a very important part of Matthew’s life. Wales, however, is famous for the game of rugby. So, when it comes to watching Wales play rugby, Matthew considers himself to be Welsh! Matthew is 20 years old and he’s studying computer science at Cardiff University. During the programme, we’ll hear him talk about where he lives, and what he enjoys doing on a typical night in. He also talks about the kind of films and music he likes, and why he’s chosen to study computer science. And, he talks about his new girlfriend. First though, football. Matthew started playing at primary school, and he’s never stopped. Clip Matthew Nicholls It’s hard to describe the feeling you get from playing football, from watching football, from living football. You’ve got to eat football, sleep football, drink football, play football, live football. Football, it’s just so absorbing, it just takes up so much, it’s great. I started playing when I was about 9 or 10 maybe. I actually find it difficult to go a week without playing football. I get withdrawal symptoms. I’m sure I do get withdrawal symptoms. I just start to get a bit ratty, a bit uptight and tense and it’s just a great way of relieving stress. So many people just go out on the street and kick a ball around for hours and hours and it’s just a simple thing that provides so much pleasure. It’s such a great sport. It’s just fantastic. Words just can’t describe it. People can’t understand how people get so absorbed in the game but it’s such a big thing - it’s just wonderful - I don’t know how to describe it. Sue: In between football, Matthew fits in his studies. And he’s almost as enthusiastic about computer science as he is about football. He’s excited by the speed at which computer programs can now work, and by what computers can be made to do. Looking ahead, there are good job opportunities for computer science graduates, and Matthew admits there’s another good reason for studying computer science. Clip Matthew Nicholls I suppose at the end of the day, I’ve got to say, it’s for the money because the money’s great - you can get a guaranteed job, really good job prospects - it’s the most developing field of all jobs in the market. If you want to be a lawyer, it’s tough to get a job . If you want to be an accountant, you’ve got to pass loads of exams but if you want to be a computer scientist, it’s just great, you get a job, you earn lots of money and I suppose it’s fairly interesting as well. Some parts are good -- things like the Internet for example that’s interesting. So I think it’s the right course to do. It’s good. Sue: The Internet is a vast network of connected computers. Information can be exchanged world-wide at the touch of a button. As part of his university degree course, Matthew is going to work with several other students on a project about an Internet security system. The system is called a firewall, and it’s designed to restrict access to the computers on a network - such as the network of a small business or company - from the outside world. Clip Matthew Nicholls My project for my final year is related to the internet and the thing that I have chosen is an Internet project about firewalls. ...