MONEY

I. Introduction: Quiz – Are you a spender or a saver?

I. Read the questions and answer for yourself.
Are you a spender or a saver?
A. You go shopping and you see
something very expensive that you
really want but can’t afford. You …
a. buy it with you credit card. You can worry
about the bill next month.
b. already have some money in the bank and
plan to save for a couple of weeks and
then buy the thing you want.
c. borrow the money and agree to pack back
a small amount every week.
B. You get £100 for your birthday. You …
a. spend some of it and save some.
b. go straight to a shopping centre and spend
it all.
c. put all of it in your bank account until you
know what you want to spend it on.
C. Do you always know how much money
you have, how much money you have
spent, and on what?
a. Yes, I’m very organized and know exactly
what I have and what I’ve spent.
b. No, I haven’t got a clue. When I have
money, I usually just spend it.
c. I usually have a rough idea about what I
spend my money on.
D. You’ve borrowed some money from a
friend, but you don’t think that you’ll be
able to pay it back by the time you
promised to. You …
a. don’t worry about it. Hopefully your friend
will forget about it too!
b. work out how much money you have and
how much money you owe. You speak to
your friend and explain the situation and
offer to pay the money back in small
instalments.
c. speak to your friend and promise that
you’ll pay him/her back, but it might take a
bit longer than your first thought.
E. You have a friend who often borrows
money from you and never pays it back.
He / She wants to borrow £50. You …
a. lend him/her money. You can afford it and it
doesn’t matter if you don’t get it back.
b. say no! He/she owes you too
much already.
c. lend the money, but explain
that it is the last time, until
he/she has paid back
this loan.

A. Check your result.

Mostly ‘a’ answers
You can’t be trusted with
your own money! You
definitely need someone to
help you to manage your
finances better. Why not
speak to an organized friend
about how to plan? This will
help you to make your
money go further and stop
getting into debt.
B. Speaking: Do you agree with your results?
Mostly ‘b’ answers Mostly ‘c’ answers
Although you understand Congratulations! It sounds
how to manage your money, like you really know what
sometimes you need to be a you are doing when it comes
bit more organized. Try to managing your money.
setting yourself a weekly or You know how important it is
monthly budget, then keep to keep track of your
to it. You will then know how spending and are
much money you have, what responsible with your
you spend it on, and how money.
much you can save.

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II. Speaking: Experience regarding money
Discuss those questions in groups.

Have you ever bought Do you prefer to buy online or Have you ever lost your
something on an app? What in a shop? bankcard?
was it? Explain. Explain.

Have you ever lost your

Have you ever saved for Have you ever wasted money
wallet?
something for a long time? on something that you have
How much money was there
What was it? never used? What was it?
in it?

Do you prefer to pay by cash Have you ever won money Have you ever lent money to
or by card? (example: the lottery)? someone?
Explain. Explain. Did they pay you back?

Have you ever bought

Have you ever been charged
something online and then Have you ever been stolen?
too much in a restaurant?
discovered it was a scam? Explain.
What did you do next?
Explain.

CA: spender or
saver?
III. Listening: Are you a spender or a saver? (track 1.40)
Context: Some people were interviewed and were asked if they were a spender or
a saver.
Task: Listen to their answers. Tell if they are a spender or a saver and justify your
answer.

Spender Saver Justification

tries to save but something always seems to come along that she
needs to buy and she finishes up broke
She can get by with very little money if she needs to but doesn’t
1 X
hold on to it
Always says yes if her kids ask to borrow some money

Likes concert and trips, likes having the experience or memories

Doesn’t want to miss the good things happening right now
2 X

Doesn’t have much money but when he does, there is always

something that he needs
Loves computers and computer games, likes when it is up-to-date
3 X
that not very sensible

UNIT 4: MONEY | 2
 can save money if she needs to (trips)
but usually her money disappears as soon as she gets it (cinema,
book, DVD, make-up) (to end up doing smth)
4 X
if she wants to go on a trip, she can make an effort and save for a
few weeks.

saves a third of the money she gets since she was small
she is careful about money
doesn’t take a credit card, takes the money out of the bank
5 X
never has to worry about getting into debt

likes to have money in case of an emergency

before buying something, he makes sure it is the best he can buy
for that price
6 X
he doesn’t describe himself as mean: likes to buy nice things when
he buys a present

III. Vocabulary exercises: Words related to money

1. Look at the different types of money. Which words describe British money, and which
describe American? If you’re not sure, check in the dictionary.
a. a ten pence piece e. a five pound note
b. a quarter f. a penny
c. a one-pound coin g. a dime
d. a dollar bill h. fifty cents
2. Match the nouns and definitions.

bill – cash machine/ATM – coin – loan – mortgage – note – salary – tax

a. …………………………………. a piece of paper money

b. …………………………………. a piece of money made of metal
c. …………………………………. the money you get for the work you do
d. …………………………………. money that you pay to the government
e. …………………………………. money that somebody (or a bank) lends you
f. …………………………………. money that a bank lends you to buy a house
g. …………………………………. a machine where you can get money.
h. …………………………………. a piece of paper which shows how much money you
have to pay for something.
3. Match the words below with the correct definitions.

pocket money – cash – change – wages – salary

a. money in notes and coins

b. money you get back when you buy something
c. money you get paid every year for working
d. money you get paid for doing a job
e. money parents give their children

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4. Find the following from the list of words below.

a bill – a cheque – a bank account – a share – a credit card – a fine – a fare – a wallet –
a purse – a piggy bank – a money belt – a debit card

3 ways to pay for something: ………………………………….………………………………….

3 things you carry money in: ………………………………….………………………………….
3 things you must pay: ………………………………….………………………………………...
3 ways to save money: ………………………………….………………………………………..

5. Complete the sentences with a verb from the list.

be worth – borrow – can’t afford – charge – cost – earn – inherit – invest – lend – live off – live on
– owe – raise – save x2– take out – waste

a. My uncle is going to leave me £2,000. I’m going to …………………………………. £2,000.

b. I put some money aside every week for a holiday. I ………………………money every week.
c. My brother has promised to give me €50 until next week. He has promised to
…………………………………. me €50.
d. I need to ask my mum to give me £20 until Friday. I need to ………………………………….
£20 from my mum.
e. I need some cash. I’ll …………………………………. €100 from the cash machine.
f. I often spend money on stupid things. I often …………………………………. money.
g. I don’t have enough money to buy that car. I …………………………………. to buy that car.
h. I usually have to pay the mechanic £100 to service my car. The mechanic
…………………………………. me £100.
i. We have just enough money to live. It’s difficult for me and my wife
…………………………………. one salary.
j. These shoes are quite expensive. They are $200. They …………………………………. $200.
k. Jim gave me £100. I haven’t paid it back yet. I …………………………………. Jim £100.
l. I want to put some money in a bank account. They will give me 5% interest. I want to
…………………………………. some money.
m. I work in a supermarket. They pay me £1,000 a month. I ………………………………….
£1,000 a month.
n. I could sell my house for about €200,000. My house …………………………. about €200,000.
o. We need to get people to give money to build a new hospital. We want to
…………………………………. money for the new hospital.
p. I depend on my parents financially while I’m at university. I ………………………. my parents.

6. Complete the sentences with a preposition from the box.

back – by – for (2x) – from – in (2x) – into – on – to

a. Would you like to pay ………………………. cash or ………………………. credit card?

b. I paid ………………………. the dinner last night. It was my birthday.
c. I spent £50 ………………………. books yesterday.
d. My uncle invested all his money ………………………. property.
e. I don’t like lending money ………………………. friends.
f. I borrowed a lot of money ………………………. the bank.
g. They charged us €60 ………………………. a bottle of wine.
h. I can only lend you the money if you pay me ………………………. next week.
i. I never get ………………………. debt. I hate owing people money.
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 CA: Students’
money

V. Listening: Students’ money

1. Listening:
Context : When you are a student, you have to learn how to handle a budget.
Task: Listen to those students. Takes notes to complete the table.
What do you learn about…?
Their opinion - they have to think carefully
about the cost - it is very expensive
of living?
Their - clothing
spendings? - housing
- transport
- food
- social activities: movies, dinner, parties à entry fee

Their tips to - The Chinese girl brings her clothes from China
save money? - A guy waits for the Boxing Day to loot the shopping centre
- If you don’t drink and don’t smoke, it is cheaper during the parties
- Watch everything you buy: don’t impulse buy things
- Rent a house with friends: it will be cheaper
- Teach, give classes (piano)
- DVD player at home à Watching a DVD at home is cheaper than
going to the cinema
- Don’t drink too much

2. Vocabulary exercise

a strain on the pocket – afford – Boxing Day – cost of living – encounter –

impulse buy – loot – on a tight budget – students union – tips – trendy
a. If you ......................... something or someone, you discover it/them unexpectedly.
b. ......................... are the extra money you give when you liked the service.
c. The ......................... is the amount of money someone needs to live on.
d. If you can ......................... something you have enough money to pay for it.
e. If something is more than you can usually afford we say this is ...........................
f. The ......................... is a place on campus that hosts student services such as a canteen, bar,
lounge, health facilities etc.
g. If you don't have much available income to spend we say that you
are ...........................
h. ......................... means fashionable or up with the latest ideas.
i. ......................... is the day after Christmas day. In the UK most
shops have a sale which begins on this day.
j. If you ......................... something, you steal or obtain it illegally.
k. An ......................... is one in which you have a sudden desire to
buy something that you see in a shop.

3. Speaking
a. What do you spend the most money on?
b. How do you find the cost of living in Belgium?
c. What are your tips to save money?

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VI. Reading: A success story – Céline Dion
Source: Get Up 6
1. Reading
Context: Some people can get from rags to riches and become very successful. Céline Dion is one
example of this. Do you know her story?

Task: Read the text and find four events from her life that have led
to her being the diva she has become.

Coming from the small town of Charlemagne, Québec, Céline

Dion has become one of the all-time greatest singers. But she
wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Céline was born
in 1968 to a French-speaking family who had a hard time
making ends meet. And being the youngest of 14 children, she
didn't even know what pocket money was. If her parents
hadn't possessed a small club, she would probably never have
started singing, as she used to perform there with her siblings at
the weekends. Céline wanted to become a famous singer at
all costs and from these early experiences, she acquired the
know-how to perform live.

Her mother would probably never have written a song for her when she was 12 if she
hadn't been convinced that she was talented. Not only did she write it, but she also
sent it to a record company, where they drew the attention of René Angélil, a
respected manager. Believing in this little girl was the best thing he could have done.
He actually believed in her so much that he broke the bank and pledged his house as
security in order to fund her debut album. Already very popular and successful
internationally with her songs in French, Céline then suggested learning English and
burst onto the U.S. stage when she recorded the theme song to Disney's hit Beauty and
the Beast (1991). The song received a Grammy and an Oscar, and from this point on
Celine has brought forth hit after hit. Dion's 'Falling Into You' album, launched in 1996,
became the bestselling album of that year, selling more than 25 million copies
worldwide.

Angélil knew exactly what to do to take her to

the top, even if she sometimes didn't agree with
him. That's why he made her record her greatest
hit "My Heart Will Go On" in 1997 for the
blockbuster Titanic. If she hadn't listened to him,
she would probably never have recorded the
song - as she hated it - and would never have
become such a huge star. In 1999, Dion took a
two-year break in order to begin a family. She returned to the spotlight in 2002,
releasing yet another hit album. Starting in 2003, Céline and René hit the jackpot, when
they began a three-year commitment to perform in an arena built especially for Céline
in Las Vegas, where she would eventually stay for more than 16 years.

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 2. Vocabulary exercises
a. Find the corresponding expressions about money in Céline Dion’s biography.
1. an amount of money that parents regularly give to their child to spend as they choose:
……………………………………………
2. no matter how difficult something is: ……………………………………………
3. to spend all of one’s money on a thing or a project: …………………………………………
4. to have just enough money for the things that you need: …………………………………
5. to be rich from birth: ……………………………………………
6. to achieve financial success: ……………………………………………

b. What do the following idioms about money mean? Match the two columns.

1) time is money a) to waste money

to be born with a silver spoon in your every small amount is valuable and
2) b)
mouth helps build one’s savings
to spend your money carefully because
3) to earn peanuts c)
there is not much available
something is given to a customer for
4) to pour money down the drain d)
free
time is valuable and no one should
5) on the house e)
waste it
6) money talks f) to be very expensive
7) a penny saved is a penny earned g) to come from a wealthy family
not to have enough money to pay what
8) to cost an arm and a leg h)
you owe
rich people can get everything they
9) to tighten your belt i)
want
10) to go bankrupt j) to work for very little money

c. Use the idioms from the previous exercise to complete the sentences. Mind the tenses.
1) This holiday …………………………………………… but we’ll never regret it.
2) He never had to work a day in his life since he ……………………………………………
3) She …………………………………………… in this job, but she had no choice but accept it.
4) I hurry to the office every day because ……………………………………………
5) Buying all those shoes is like ……………………………………………
6) Last year, they …………………………………………… and lost £ 1,000,000.
7) I’m not surprised the rich guy got the top job – you know what they say, ……………………
8) Don’t buy another jacket, ……………………………………. Keep your money for your car.
9) As it was my birthday, the owner of the restaurant said dessert was …………………………
10) I’ll have to ……………………………this month if I want to have enough money for the rent.

VII. Grammar: Third conditional

Go back to the text on page 8 and underline the sentences with the meanings that follow.
1. As her parents possessed a small club, she could start singing.
2. Her mother wrote a song for her because she was convinced Céline was talented.
3. She recorded the song because she listened to him.

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USE
These are examples of third conditional. It is used to talk about situations in the past that didn’t
happen, or about untrue, unreal past events. We call it the. regret or impossible conditional.
è If he had listened to her, they wouldn’t have recorded the song. (But he didn’t listen)
FORM
If I had known the company had I would have tried to find another job.
problems,

IF + past perfect + would / could / might + have+ past participle

!!!!!! The structure can also be reversed but then you don’t need to put a …………………. to split the
2 parts of the sentence.

Grammar exercises
a. Winnie Harlow’s success story
Read the text then try to complete the conditional sentences that follow.

WINNIE
Winnie Harlow is one of the hottest names in
the supermodel universe. She has appeared in
campaigns for Desigual, Sprite and Swarovski, and
paraded about in haute couture on catwalks around
the world. What you may not know is that Harlow has

HARLOW f e gives
a skin disease called vitiligo. It's a malfunction of the
immune system that turns her skin white.

If li Diagnosed at the age of four, Harlow wasn't even aware

lem ons! she looked slightly different from other children. But they
yo u were. The name-calling started. Zebra. Cow. Mutant.

In high school the bullying became so bad, Winnie started

to skip school. To escape the bullies, she changed schools
a couple of times. Then she dropped out altogether. The
harassment was so dehumanising that she wanted to kill
herself. Luckily a journalist contacted her on Facebook to
say she was 'strikingly beautiful. Winnie realised she had
to stop blaming the vitiligo for everything that went wrong
in her life. She summoned up her courage, contacted
modelling agencies and enrolled for season 21 of
America's Next Top Model. Not only was she selected to
compete, she finished sixth.

Harlow now loves herself the way she is, but what about
other people with vitiligo who cover their skin? She believes
that there is nothing wrong with that.

'Everybody should do whatever makes them happy. If you

want to get a nose job, why not? Do you want to cover your
skin? Go ahead! My skin doesn't define me. I just do what
is right for me.'

“The confidence I have now, I didn't have when I was growing up. I regret that bullies had such an
impact on my life, but I'll make sure that never happens again." | 8
 Complete the sentences with a conditional 3 according to the information you have in the
text.
1) If Winnie hadn’t had a skin disease, she ………..……………………………… (never become)
successful.
2) If she hadn’t been slightly different from other children, they ………………………………………
(not call) her zebra, cow or mutant.
3) If the bullying hadn’t become so bad, she ………………………………(not start) to skip school.
4) If the harassment hadn’t been so dehumanising, she ……………………………………………
(not want) to kill herself.
5) If a journalist hadn’t contacted her on Facebook, she ……………………………………………
(probably not stop) blaming vitiligo for what went wrong in her life.
6) If she hadn’t summoned up her courage, she …………………………………………… (not
contact) modelling agencies.
7) If she hadn’t been selected to compete in America’s Next Top Model, she ……………………
……………………………… (not finish) sixth in the competition.

b. Write sentences about what happened when Sam Brown went to the bank for a bank
loan. Use past unreal conditional.
1. Sam got home late. He didn’t iron his new suit to go to the appointment.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Sam didn’t iron his new suit. It wasn’t ready in the morning.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Sam’s new suit wasn’t ready in the morning. He borrowed his elder brother’s old suit.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Sam borrowed his brother’s old suit. He didn’t look reliable.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Sam didn’t look reliable. He didn’t get the bank loan.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6
6. Sam didn’t get the bank loan. He was really sad and unhappy.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

c. Wish/ If only + past perfect expresses regrets or wishes concerning past

circumstances
1) I spent a lot of money yesterday.
2) She paid too much for that dress.
3) They didn’t make a lot of money.
4) I didn’t save money last year.
5) He couldn’t afford to go on holiday.
6) We didn’t have enough cash.
7) I had my car repaired.
8) They had to sell their house.
9) She was working hard last weekend.
10) He couldn’t find a solution to pay his
debts.
I wish………………………………………………………….
She wishes…………………………………………………...
If only …………………………………………………………
If only………………………………………………………….
He wishes…………………………………………………….
We wish………………………………………………………
I wish………………………………………………………….
They wish…………………………………………………….
She wishes…………………………………………………...
He wishes…………………………………………………….

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 d. Your regrets about the past
You certainly have regrets about the past that led to negative consequences. Give three examples.
Use the third conditional.

1) If only ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2) I wish …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3) If I ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

VIII. Reading: The king of complainers source: New English File

1. Reading the article

Context: We all have already had bad service in a restaurant or in a shop. But do we dare complain?
Clive Zietman, a British man, always dares to. He is the King of Complainers.
Task: Read the text carefully and answer the following questions.

The King of Complainers

Clive Zietman loves complaining- but not shouting in hotel lobbies, or
angrily telling a shop assistant to call the manager, or making a waitress
cry. He loves complaining properly and in writing. Over the last twenty
years he has written over 5,000 letters of complaint. His successes
include refunded holidays, countless free meals, and complimentary
theatre tickets.
So how has he achieved this? ‘Screaming and shouting is a complete waste of
time and is usually directed at a person who is not in a position to do anything,’
he says. ‘I like to write a polite letter to the company. People won’t want to help
if you are aggressive, they respond much better to good manners.’
It all started many years ago, on a boring train journey home to West London. The train passed by
the McVittie’s biscuit factory, and the smell of the biscuits made Clive feel hungry. He wrote a letter
to the managing director to complain, in a humorous way, about the fumes coming through the
carriage window. The result? Some free packets of biscuits. But since then there has been more
serious victories as well. On one occasion he managed to get a Volkswagen Golf GTI within 24
hours for a friend who had been complaining for almost a year (without any success) about his faulty
vehicle. On another occasion he got a travel agent to refund the cost of the holiday worth £2,000,
after Clive’s wife Bettina broke her leg when she slipped in a puddle of water in their holiday
apartment in Spain.
These days, there is almost nothing he won’t complain about. After Clive was served mouldy
strawberries on a British Airways flight, he used a courier service to send the fruit to the airline’s
chief executive. To compensate, BA invited his daughters, Nina and Zoë, to Heathrow to personally
inspect the airline’s catering facilities. ‘I just can’t bear bad service,’ says Clive. ‘We have a right to
good service, and should expect it and demand it. In fact, what irritates me more than everything is
that, unlike Americans, we British are hopeless at complaining.’
So how do Bettina, his wife, and daughters Nina, 22, Zoë, 18, and 12-year-old son Joe cope with
living with Britain’s biggest complainer? Surely he must be a nightmare to live with? Has he ever
asked Bettina to explain why a meal she made is badly cooked? ‘Oh no, of course not,’ says Clive.
It seems there are some things even he knows you should never complain about!

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 What do you learn about…?
his tips to complain? Do not shout.
Don’t make a waitress cry.
Complain in writing.

His starts as a It started when he was taking the train. He smelled the fumes from a
complainer? biscuits factory.
He wrote a letter of complaint saying that it made him hungry.
As a result, he received a packet of biscuits.

His achievements? - A VW Golf GTI (for a friend)

Explain how when - He was refunded a holiday (£2,000) ; his wife had broken her
possible. leg after she slipped in a puddle of water.
- He complained that he was served mouldy strawberries so he
sent them by courier service to the airline. As a result, his
daughter could visit the airline’s catering facilities.

His reasons? He can’t bear bad service.

He thinks we have a right to good service, that we should expect it
and demand it.

Which of these adjectives admirable – clever – crazy – eccentric – mean – obsessive

would you use to describe
Clive? Why?

2. Reading the tips: vocabulary exercises

Here are Clive’s top tips to complain successfully. Match the title below with the paragraphs.

Don’t be too specific - Don’t lose your temper - Know who you are writing to - Threaten action –
Write a letter - Use Flattery

How to complain successfully: Clive’s top tips

a. _______________________________________________
Never shout and swear – it achieves nothing. Don’t spoil you meal or your holiday by getting
into an argument with a waiter or customer service call centre operator. Make a mental note
of the circumstances and write a letter later.

b. _______________________________________________
Don’t send emails, or standard, printed-out complaints forms. Companies may not read these
but they probably will read a letter. And unless you are particularly fond of Vivaldi, don’t waste
your time ringing a customer complaints line! Your letter should be short and to the point and
should fit on one side of A4 paper. And type it. Reading other people’s handwriting is hard
work.

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 c. _______________________________________________
Write the company’s marketing director or finance director, as they’re probably the least busy.
Find their name on the internet, or by phoning. Writing Dear Sir/Madam is lazy. Taking the
time to find a person’s name and title shows initiative.

d. _______________________________________________
If your complaint is serious enough, make it clear you will not hesitate to change to another
bank / mobile phone company. Smart companies know that changing an angry customer into
a satisfied one will make the customer more loyal.

e. _______________________________________________
Don’t say exactly what you expect to receive as compensation. Leave it to the company.

f. _______________________________________________
Use phrases like ‘I can only imagine this is an unusual departure from your usual high
standards,’ and ‘I would love to shop with you again if you can demonstrate to me that you
are still as good as I know you used to be.’

CA: bad services

VIII. Listening: Talking about bad services

1. Listening:
Context: You are going to listen to part of a radio consumer programme
where people are talking about bad service.

Task: Listen carefully and complete the table.

What did they complain Who did they complain What did they do as a
about? to? result?
Speaker 1 The cost of the taxi fare in He sent an email to the He never got a reply.
Sydney. taxi company.
He was charged 50$.
The normal fare was
about 35$.

Speaker 2 The hotel advertised wifi She complained to the All he said was that she
in all the bedrooms. man at the reception. could use the wifi in the
In reality, they charged lobby.
£16 for 24h wifi.

Speaker 3 She was in an Italian
restaurant.
The sauce was really hot
but the pasta and the
filling were cold, still
frozen.
She called the waitress Later, the manager
who said that it couldn’t arrived and apologized.
be cold. She finally got the dish
She insisted and the and it was good but she
waitress took it back to had to wait a long time.
the kitchen. She was offered a free
dessert.

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 2. Speaking: What about you?
a. Who is the best at complaining in your family? Give examples.
……………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………….

b. Have you ever complained about anything?

- Why did you complain?
- What did you say?
- What happened next?
…………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….

IX. Speaking: I want to speak to the manager –

Role play

Student A:
Situation 1:
You’re a customer. You bought something in
a clothes shop in the sales yesterday (decide
what) and there’s a problem (decide what).
Go back to the shop. B is the shop assistant.
You’d like to change it for another identical
one. If you can’t, you’d like a refund.
You start the conversation.
Situation 2:
You’re the manager of a restaurant. Your
normal chef is off this week, and you have a
temporary chef who is net very good. One of
the waiters has had a problem with a
customer, who would like to speak to you.
When customers complain you usually offer
them a free drink or a coffee. If it’s absolutely
necessary, you might give a 10% discount on
their bill, but you would prefer not to.
B is the customer. B will start.

Student B:
Situation 1:
You’re a shop assistant in a clothes shop. A
is going to come to you with a problem with
something he / she bought in the sales
yesterday.
You can’t change it for an identical one
because there are no more in his / her size.
Try to persuade A to change it for something
else, because you don’t usually give refunds
during the sales.
A will start.
Situation 2:
You’re a customer in a restaurant.
You have just finished your meal but you
haven’t enjoyed it at all (decide what was
wrong with it). You complained to the waiter,
but the waiter didn’t solve the problems. You
have asked the waiter to call the manager.
Try to get at least a 50% discount on your
meal.
A is the manager.
You start the conversation.

| 13
 X. Writing: A letter of complaint
Here is an example of a letter of complaint. Complete the sentences with a word from the
box.

Dear – delivered – forward – However – in stock – reference – service – unhelpful – Yours

Sandra Adams
1
Head of Department
John Leavis Customer Service
PO Box 908
Swindon
2 May, 19th 2013
3 Dear Ms Adams,
Last Wednesday, 25 April, I ordered a coffee machine from your online store (order 2
……………………………… #CE437184), Before placing the order I read the conditions
4 carefully, and the item was 3 ……………………………… . Your website says that items in
stock are 4………………………………….. in 48 hours

Two weeks passed, and nothing arrived. 5………………………….. , I noticed that

5 payment had been taken from my credit card. I phoned your customer service line,
and the person that I spoke to, Becky, was rude and 6 ………………………….. . She
said that the item was not in stock, and that she didn't know when they would arrive.
She could not explain why the money bad been taken from my card.

I have bought many things from you over the years, both from your London shop and
6
the online store, and I have always had good 7 ……………………….. . I can only
imagine that this is a departure from your usual high standards, and I am sure you will
be able to resolve the situation in a satisfactory way.

7
I look 8 …………………………….. to hearing from you.

8 9 …………………….. sincerely,

9 Chris Mason

10 Chris Mason

Look at the letter and label the different parts of the letter (1-10)

| 14
Tips: writing a formal letter/email

à Your letter should:

• Be clear and concise. The introduction of your letter should clearly state the purpose of
your correspondence. Make sure to keep it short and to the point.
• Proofread. Before sending your formal letter, read it over for spelling and grammar
errors. A letter free from error will come across as more professional.
• Use the right tone. Keep in mind that a formal letter will require a more formal and
professional tone than your average letter. Consider your audience and the language
you're using. Avoid any slang and make sure you're being respectful.
• Use the right format. When you write a formal letter, make sure to include all the proper
elements, including the recipient's address, name, your signature and more.

à When you don’t know the person’s name:

• Start: Dear Sir / Madam,
• Finish: Yours faithfully,

à When you know the person’s name:

• Start: Dear + Mr / Ms / Mrs Smith,
• Finish: Yours sincerely,

à Style
• Don’t use contractions (I’m è I am; don’t èdo not…).
• Write “I look forward to hearing from you.” as the final sentence.
• Write your full name under your signature.
Note: a formal email is exactly the same as a formal letter, except in an email we don’t write the
date or address.

XI. Final task: A letter of complaint

Context: You have bought something online and something has gone wrong (decide what). That’s
why you decide to send an email to the customer service.
Task: Write an email of complaint to the customer service of the website you bought something
from.
Note: you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to.

From:
To:
Subject:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

| 15
 UNIT 4: MONEY - Vocabulary
Are you a spender or a saver?

a bank account Un compte en banque

I haven’t got a clue Je n’en ai aucune idée
to have a rough idea about Avoir une vague idée de
to owe money to someone Devoir de l’argent à quelqu’un
an instalment Une mensualité
a loan Un prêt, un emprunt
to manage Gérer
a debt Une dette
to keep track of Suivre, garder une trace de
to be broke Être fauché
to get by with little money Se débrouiller avec peu d’argent
to hold on to something S’accrocher à, tenir
to be up to date Être à jour
sensible Raisonnable, sensé
to end up doing something Finir par faire qqch
to make an effort Faire un effort
to be careful about something Faire attention à qqch
to get into debt S’endetter
to think carefully before doing something Bien réfléchir avant de faire qqch
mean Radin
A scam une arnaque

Vocabulary related to money

a note un billet
a coin une pièce
a bill une facture
the salary the salaire annuel
a tax une taxe
a loan un prêt
a mortgage un emprunt hypothécaire
a cash machine/ an ATM un distributeur de billets
cash du liquide
change de la monnaie
the wage le salaire
pocket money de l’argent de poche
a cheque un chèque
a bank account un compte en banque
a share une action, une part
a debit card une carte de débit
a credit card une carte de crédit

| 16
a fine une amende
the fare le prix du billet
a wallet un portefeuille
a purse un porte-monnaie
a piggy bank une tirelire
a money belt une ceinture cache-billets
to be worth valoir
to borrow from emprunter à
to afford se permettre
to charge facturer
to cost coûter
to earn gagner (salaire)
to inherit hériter
to invest investir
to lend to prêter à
to live off someone dépendre de qqun financièrement
to live on one salary vivre sur un salaire
to owe devoir (de l’argent)
to raise money lever des fonds
to save économiser
to take out money retirer de l’argent
to waste gâcher, gaspiller
to pay back rembourser
to get into debt s’endetter

Student’s money

a strain on the pocket Une pression sur la poche (effort financier)

to afford Se permettre
Boxing Day Le Boxing Day
the cost of living Le coût de la vie
to encounter Rencontrer, croiser, trouver
to impulse buy Faire un achat compulsif
to loot Voler, piller, dérober
to be on a tight budget Avoir un budget serré
a tip Un conseil, un tuyau ou un pourboire
trendy À la mode, branché

A success story

être né avec une cuillère en argent dans la

to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth
bouche
to make ends meet joindre les deux bouts
to perform jouer, se produire

| 17
the siblings les frères et sœurs
at all costs à tout prix
to draw the attention of someone attirer l’attention de quelqu’un
to break the bank se ruiner
to pledge something (as security) promettre qqch en gage de sécurité
to fund financer
to burst (burst – burst) émerger, apparaître soudainement
to record enregistrer
to bring forth engendrer, donner naissance à
the spotlight les projecteurs
to hit the jackpot gagner le jackpot
a commitment un engagement
Eventually finalement
time is money le temps c’est de l’argent
to earn peanuts gagner des cacahuètes
to pour money down the drain jeter l’argent par les fenêtres
on the house offert par la maison
money talks l’argent est roi
a penny saved is a penny earned il n’y a pas de petites économies
to cost an arm and a leg coûter un bras
to tighten your belt se serrer la ceinture
to go bankrupt faire faillite
to parade défiler
a catwalk un podium (mannequin)
Slightly légèrement
the bullying le harcèlement (école)
to skip school rater l’école
to drop out quitter l’école
the harassment le harcèlement
strikingly beautiful remarquablement beau / belle
to summon up your courage rassembler son courage

The king of complainers

to complain Se plaindre
a complaint Une plainte
to shout Crier
in writing Par écrit
to refund Rembourser
countless Innombrable
complimentary Offert, gratuit, à titre gracieux
to achieve Accomplir, réaliser
the fumes Les fumées
faulty Défecteux
| 18
to slip Glisser
a puddle of water Une flaque d’eau
mouldy Moisi, pourri
a courier service Un service de coursier
the chief executive Le directeur général
to compensate Compenser
the catering facilities Les installations du service traiteur
to bear something Supporter qqch
to expect S’attendre à
to demand Exiger
to irritate Irriter
to be hopeless at Être nul
to cope with Gérer, s’occuper de
a nightmare Un cauchemar
to swear Jurer
to spoil Gâcher
to be fond of Adorer
to go to the point Aller à l’essentiel
to make something clear Bien faire comprendre
to hesitate Hésiter
a compensation Une compensation

Talking about bad services

A meter Un compteur
the fare Le tarif, le prix de la course
the lobby Le hall d’entrée

| 19
 UNIT 4: MONEY - Vocabulary
Are you a spender or a saver?

a bank account Un compte en banque

I haven’t got a clue Je n’en ai aucune idée

to have a rough idea about Avoir une vague idée de

to owe money to someone Devoir de l’argent à quelqu’un

an instalment Une mensualité

a loan Un prêt, un emprunt

to manage Gérer

a debt Une dette

to keep track of Suivre, garder une trace de

to be broke Être fauché

to get by with little money Se débrouiller avec peu d’argent

to hold on to something S’accrocher à, tenir

to be up to date Être à jour

sensible Raisonnable, sensé

to end up doing something Finir par faire qqch

to make an effort Faire un effort

to be careful about something Faire attention à qqch

to get into debt S’endetter

to think carefully before doing something Bien réfléchir avant de faire qqch

mean Radin

A scam une arnaque

Vocabulary related to money

a note un billet

a coin une pièce

a bill une facture

| 20
the salary the salaire annuel

a tax une taxe

a loan un prêt

a mortgage un emprunt hypothécaire

a cash machine/ an ATM un distributeur de billets

cash du liquide

change de la monnaie

the wage le salaire

pocket money de l’argent de poche

a cheque un chèque

a bank account un compte en banque

a share une action, une part

a debit card une carte de débit

a credit card une carte de crédit

a fine une amende

the fare le prix du billet

a wallet un portefeuille

a purse un porte-monnaie

a piggy bank une tirelire

a money belt une ceinture cache-billets

to be worth valoir

to borrow from emprunter à

to afford se permettre

to charge facturer

to cost coûter

to earn gagner (salaire)

to inherit hériter

to invest investir

to lend to prêter à
| 21
to live off someone dépendre de qqun financièrement

to live on one salary vivre sur un salaire

to owe devoir (de l’argent)

to raise money lever des fonds

to save économiser

to take out money retirer de l’argent

to waste gâcher, gaspiller

to pay back rembourser

to get into debt s’endetter

Student’s money

a strain on the pocket Une pression sur la poche (effort financier)

to afford Se permettre

Boxing Day Le Boxing Day

the cost of living Le coût de la vie

to encounter Rencontrer, croiser, trouver

to impulse buy Faire un achat compulsif

to loot Voler, piller, dérober

to be on a tight budget Avoir un budget serré

a tip Un conseil, un tuyau ou un pourboire

trendy À la mode, branché

A success story

être né avec une cuillère en argent dans la

to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth
bouche

to make ends meet joindre les deux bouts

to perform jouer, se produire

the siblings les frères et sœurs

| 22
at all costs à tout prix

to draw the attention of someone attirer l’attention de quelqu’un

to break the bank se ruiner

to pledge something (as security) promettre qqch en gage de sécurité

to fund financer

to burst (burst – burst) émerger, apparaître soudainement

to record enregistrer

to bring forth engendrer, donner naissance à

the spotlight les projecteurs

to hit the jackpot gagner le jackpot

a commitment un engagement

Eventually finalement

time is money le temps c’est de l’argent

to earn peanuts gagner des cacahuètes

to pour money down the drain jeter l’argent par les fenêtres

on the house offert par la maison

money talks l’argent est roi

a penny saved is a penny earned il n’y a pas de petites économies

to cost an arm and a leg coûter un bras

to tighten your belt se serrer la ceinture

to go bankrupt faire faillite

to parade défiler

a catwalk un podium (mannequin)

Slightly légèrement

the bullying le harcèlement (école)

to skip school rater l’école

to drop out quitter l’école

the harassment le harcèlement

strikingly beautiful remarquablement beau / belle

| 23
to summon up your courage rassembler son courage

The king of complainers

to complain Se plaindre

a complaint Une plainte

to shout Crier

in writing Par écrit

to refund Rembourser

countless Innombrable

complimentary Offert, gratuit, à titre gracieux

to achieve Accomplir, réaliser

the fumes Les fumées

faulty Défecteux

to slip Glisser

a puddle of water Une flaque d’eau

mouldy Moisi, pourri

a courier service Un service de coursier

the chief executive Le directeur général

to compensate Compenser

the catering facilities Les installations du service traiteur

to bear something Supporter qqch

to expect S’attendre à

to demand Exiger

to irritate Irriter

to be hopeless at Être nul

to cope with Gérer, s’occuper de

a nightmare Un cauchemar

to swear Jurer

| 24
to spoil Gâcher

to be fond of Adorer

to go to the point Aller à l’essentiel

to make something clear Bien faire comprendre

to hesitate Hésiter

a compensation Une compensation

Talking about bad services

A meter Un compteur

the fare Le tarif, le prix de la course

the lobby Le hall d’entrée

| 25