Dealing with money.

Vocabulary

To waste money on, put money into the bank, save up on, pay for, cost, to pay in cash / by credit card / by cheque, invest money into business / keep it under mattress, foreign investor, budget, oil deposits, a cash dispenser, carry much cash, open a bank account, store / debit / credit card, enter a lottery, buy / go mad over a winning lottery ticket, win on the national lottery, win a fortune, give part of winnings, lose interest in life, have an effect on, publicity, fight over the money, win the jackpot (a large amount of money that you can win in a game that is decided by chance), lend to / borrow from, owe, pay back, have a very good reason for borrowing, profits from the lottery, improve life, make money, provide, go abroad / lose the best and most intelligent people (brain drain), make the necessary improvements, there is a risk that, charity

Questions for discussion

1. Are all people good with money? What do you need to be good with it?
2. Why do some people in Russia avoid putting money into banks?
3. What is dangerous about carrying too much cash or taking money from cash dispensers if anything?
4. What are the advantages or disadvantages of electronic money?
5. Is saving up a problem for you? Why? Why is it always good to spend less than you earn?
6. Why do they say ‘Never a borrower or a lender be’?
7. Why do governments organize state lotteries? How do they spend the money made in this way (profit)?
8. How do people usually spend the lottery money when they win? What kind of problems may they have? Have you ever entered a lottery? Why?
9. If you won one million dollars in a lottery how would you spend the money?
10. Is Russia a rich country? What is called ‘oil dollars’? What are good ways to spend this money?
11. Why is there a problem of ‘brain drain’ ? Does it always make sense to go abroad to earn money instead of trying to improve life in your country?

Module 10

Vocabulary

Provide lockable safe deposit boxes, rich clients, trace money, repay money, bank robbery, security deposit, insurance on the business to (1 mln $), deposit money, estimate

Telling stories

Time expressions: first, then, after that, afterwards, in the end (finally), during, for, until, when, while

Adverbs: eventually, surprisingly, strangely, gradually, sadly, immediately, obviously, fortunately, suddenly, naturally

Linking words: despite this, although, therefore, that is why, for this reason, besides, in addition, moreover, furthermore, as well as, as a result, however, nevertheless, in contrast, on the one hand / on the other hand, to begin with, to finish with

Personal remarks: personally, I think / don’t think it was a good idea because, it seems to me that

Questions

1. What is the story about?
2. Who is / are the main character(s)?
3. What happened (to him)? When? Where? What was the problem? How was it solved?
4. Do you like the ending of the story? Would you offer an ending of your own?
5. If you were N. (in N.’s place) what would you have done? Why?
6. Do you find the story interesting / amusing / dull / thrilling / exciting?
7. Would you like to read other stories by this author? Who is your favourite author?

Module 11 (Card 12)

Rules and Freedom

Vocabulary

Follow / break rules, follow strict guidelines, let, punish, punishment, tell off, rights and freedom of the individual, obey, well- / ill- / badly-behaved, be strict about manners, strict / fairly relaxed school, permission, give a warning, fair, sensible, to smack, treat with respect, social and political values, controversial issue, to abolish, to ban (all forms of gambling), to cause accidents, to worsen the problem, compulsory, vary from country to country, introduce a law, citizen, commit a crime, carry small amounts of soft drugs, to own and carry a gun, to control the abuse of hard drugs, legalize cannabis, to be sentenced to (20 years) in prison, life sentence, to be convicted of (minor) crime (offence), reduce crime, to offend, offence, constitutional amendment to, to amend, prosecute, allow, be allowed, military service, pay taxes, a duty to serve your country, (un)fair / funny / strange laws; rules about homework, household chores, clothes, staying out, uniform; the way to bring up children; I think everyone should have the right to, people should be free to, I think it’s wrong to, this shouldn’t be allowed because, I don’t really have any strong opinions about

Questions for discussion

1. What rules and regulations do people have to follow in city centres / on the roads / on board planes?
2. What is every citizen of every state obliged to do? What laws would you abolish?
3. What were the rules in your family when you were a child? Were you well- or ill-behaved?
4. Are your parents strict about your manners? Do you think they are right? Why?
5. What kind of rules did you have to follow at school? Did you consider them fair and sensible?
6. What rules are difficult to obey? Why?
7. Have you ever broken a rule? What happened?
8. What’s the difference between a rule and a law?
9. If you were a member of the State Duma what new law would you introduce?
10. Why should citizens of any state know that they will be punished / prosecuted if they break laws?

Module 12 (Card 13)

Problems and how to solve them

Vocabulary

To make the most terrible / the biggest decision of one’s life, to change one’s life forever, to suffer from the pressure of smth, to sort out a problem, to make up / change one’s mind, to think of a solution to a problem, to have a carefree life, to share one’s experience, miss opportunities, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a fairly good chance of doing smth, take advantage of smth, give up one’s career, on one’s own

Questions

1. Have you ever faced any serious problems in your life? What were they?
2. How did you manage to cope with them? What was your biggest decision?
3. What happens when you ignore problems instead of sorting them out?
4. Do you ask anyone for advice in tough situations? Why? Do you trust only yourself?
5. What problems need to be solved globally? What are they caused by?
6. What environmental problems are most urgent? What can be done to solve them?
7. Would you give up a successful career in Russia to start a new career abroad? Why?

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 1049