Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Some people are happy with their jobs and the amount of money they make. Other people are always on the lookout for a new business opportunity. These people look for chances to join new companies or sell new products. They look for anything that sounds exciting and can make them easy cash.
Seeking business opportunities can be dangerous, though. How can you tell the difference between a legitimate opportunity and a scam? How can you know if you have a much greater chance of losing money than of making a fortune? Hear Mason tell Sara about a new business opportunity in this money English lesson.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Mason: Sara, how do you feel about your current cell phone service?
Sara: I guess it’s OK. I mean, it works, I can make calls when I need to. I don’t know.
Mason: Would you be considering to switch?
Sara: If someone gave me a better deal, I mean I think I pay too much money for it.
Mason: Well, I just signed up for this service, and it’s only 49 dollars a month. And actually, if I sign up a certain amount of people, I end up earning extra income that will actually lower my bill.
Sara: I am interested in only paying $49 a month, but this sounds like one of those weird pyramid schemes or something, I don’t know.
Mason: Well, I mean, I don’t necessarily blame you for thinking that, but the truth of the matter is, it is what it is. It’s 49 dollars for the service, and if I share it with people and they join, then I get a certain reward for that, but you could get the same thing too if you use the phone service and you get a phone for 50 bucks a month.
Sara: So you’re not trying to scam me.
Mason: No, I am trying to earn money from you. But it’s no scam.
Sara: So how did you find out about this business opportunity?
Mason: Well, same thing. A friend told me.
Sara: Cool. So is this a new sort of company? You getting in on the ground floor or something?
Mason: I am. Definitely. So I’m hoping that things will keep growing and growing, and could actually turn into quite a cash cow.
Sara: Alright. Sign me up.
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Discussion
Mason got a new cell phone provider recently. The monthly cost is very cheap. And this provider is unique, because if he gets other people to join the service, then he gets paid. He’s pretty excited about this new business opportunity.
Sara is suspicious, though. Is this just one of those pyramid schemes where the person at the top makes a lot of money, and the people at the bottom get taken advantage of? Mason assures her that it’s not. Yes, he will be making money off the deal, but everything is legitimate.
After hearing all about how Mason got involved, Sara decides she’s impressed with this new business opportunity. She asks Mason to sign her up.
Have you ever taken part in a new business opportunity? How did it go? Has anyone ever tried to scam you with a business opportunity?
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