English with Jo

Money

This is the preparation material for an English conversation lesson about money - earning money, losing money and spending money! There is an audio discussion to listen to, common idioms relating to money and a list of conversation questions that we might use when discussing this important subject.

Audio discussion

Download audio discussion about money

Download transcript of audio discussion

* Audio courtesy of elllo.org

Borrow vs lend money

Use 'borrow' when taking money from someone, use 'lend' when giving money to someone.

Phrasal Verbs

• pay back - to return money owed to someone
• pay off - to finish paying all money that is owed
• save up - to keep money for a large expense in the future
• put aside - to save money for a specific purpose

Idioms

• Money doesn’t grow on trees – money doesn’t come easily
• I’m not made of money – to not have a lot of money
• Time is money – time is valuable so do not waste it
• Beyond one’s means – more than one can afford
• To cost an arm and a leg – to cost a lot of money
• Flat broke – to have no money at all
• Foot the bill – to pay for something

Conversation questions

• Do you think money brings happiness?
• What would you do if you were given $1 million?
• In what ways do people’s lives revolve around money?
• Do you agree with the expression “money is the root of all evil”?
• Have you ever lost a lot of money?
• Have you ever won a lot of money?
• Do you think children should be given pocket money / an allowance?
• How important do you think it is to save money?
• Do you think people behave differently when they have a credit card compared to when they have cash?
• Do you think that money can ever buy love?
• Have you ever had money stolen from you?
• What qualities must a person have to make big money?
• Why do people often want more money, no matter how much they have got?
• Why are poor people in many cases more generous than rich people?
• What do you like spending money on?
• Have you ever lent money to someone?
• Have you ever found any money on the street? If so, what did you do with it?
• When did you open your first bank account?
• How old were you when you earned your first salary? What did you spend it on?