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General Listening Quiz

“Budget Planner”

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Level: Topic: Speakers: Length:
difficult money man and woman 02:39

Pre-Listening Exercise

What are common monthly expenses for a student living on their own, including student or car loans? How about a family of four? Write a list of your expenses, figure out how much money you spend on each area, and what percentage of your income pays for each.

Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

  • In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.

  • In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?

  • For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and self-assess your progress.

  1. Every family should create a monthly budget and stick to it.
  2. It’s better to save money than to spend it on entertainment.
  3. Children should learn about budgeting and money from an early age.
  4. Making a budget causes stress instead of helping.
  5. Unexpected expenses are the biggest challenge in family budgeting.
  6. One person in the family should be in charge of all the finances.
  7. Eating out regularly makes it harder to manage a budget.
  8. Using credit cards can be part of a smart family budget.
  9. Budgeting is easier when everyone in the family agrees on the priorities.
  10. Families should save for fun activities, not just for emergencies.

Idioms

“lie through one’s teeth” = lie so you don’t get in trouble
“The man lied through his teeth even though he was guilty of the crime.”

“rip someone off” = cheat someone
“I decided to hire a lawyer because the salesman ripped me off.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

Post-Listening Exercise

Why would keeping a budget be important in managing your money? Do you know of a family member or friend who got into debt? Use the vocabulary and idioms in this conversation to discuss your own financial situation, with suggestions on how to avoid debt. Search for the top five ways to manage your money better.

Online Investigation

Complete these tasks:

  1. Getting a loan can be a complex process in trying to figure out the terms of the agreement. Imagine that you need a loan to pay for a car or college tuition. Find a Web site that offers the type of loan you need and analyze the information. What does the actual cost of the loan include?
  2. Search for an online budget planner tool to plan out your monthly expenses. How much does this service cost? What are its features?
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