Types of Bank Accounts

Luiz: Where are you going?

Iona: I’m going to the bank to open an account.

Luiz: What kind of account: a savings account, a checking account, or a CD?

Iona: Um, I’m not sure, but I’m sure someone at the bank can help me decide.

Luiz: You’ll also need to decide if you want an interest-earning account or not, and don’t forget to ask for free checking. Pick a bank that doesn’t have monthly service charges.

Iona: Okay, thanks…

Luiz: And make sure you know if there’s a minimum balance required, because if the account dips below that minimum, you’ll be charged a fee.

Iona: Yes, right, I’ll be sure to do that. Well, I’d better get going…

Luiz: You probably want to open a checking and a savings account, so make sure you link those accounts. That should give you overdraft protection, in case you ever bounce a check.

Iona: Okay, I’ll definitely keep all of that in mind. I’d better go. Samil is waiting for me.

Luiz: Are you thinking of opening a joint account with your boyfriend?

Iona: We’re considering it…

Luiz: Pool your money and open a CD. That way, you’ll lock in a good interest rateand neither of you can touch the money until the CD matures.

Iona: We’ll think about it. Thanks.

Luiz: Oh, and…

Iona: Would you like to come with us to the bank and help us open our accounts?

Luiz: Really? But I don’t want to interfere.

Iona: You, interfere? I can’t imagine you ever trying to interfere.

(From ESL Podcast 537.)

5. Listen to the monologue “Tough Negotiations” and commentaries coming after it. Give English definitions to the words and expressions in bold print. Answer the questions.

Tough Negotiations

I'm not what you would call the world's best negotiator, but sometimes it's necessary to engage in a tough negotiation. Take, for instance, the time I had to renew the lease on my apartment. This was back in college, when I was renting a small studioin the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. When my lease was up, the landlord and I sat down to hammer out the terms of a new lease.

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do," he said. "I'm going to give you a break on rent if you sign a two-year lease instead of just a one-year lease."

"Well," I said, "I don't know. What sort of break are we talking about here?‚"

"I'll give you a 5% rent increase instead of a 10% increase in exchange for you signing a two-year lease. It's win-win situation: you get a cut in rent, and I get the security of a two-year lease."

At this point, I decided to make a counter-proposal . "How about this," I said, "You give me a one year lease with a six percent increase.‚"

"No, I can't make that sort of deal," he said. "But here's what I can do, and it's my final offer: I'll pay for your electricity for the first 6 months of the lease, along with the other terms I mentioned before.‚"

"You drive a hard bargain okay, it's a deal," I said. I guess I could have tried to bargain him down a bit more, but I was happy with our agreement. Now all I had to do was sign on the dotted line.

(From ESL Podcast 41.)

· When did the action take place?

· Where did the man study?

· Why did a landlord bargain for a longer term of the lease?

· Why could a student bargain for a shorter term of the lease?

· What economic situation in the country favours long term leases?

· Who normally pays for the electricity?

· What did the student gain as a result of negotiations and what did he loose?

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 581