Learn English with this money English lesson

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• for ages
• promise
• above board
• shady

• make ends meet
• income
• embarrassed
• fill in

• tip
• loan

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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It can be tough living in such an expensive world. It costs a lot to travel, to buy clothes, to go to school, and sometimes just to buy food. If you have a big family, it can be even harder. Unless everyone you live with has a job, it is probably difficult to earn enough money to pay for everything you need. If that’s true for you, it’s hard for you to make ends meet.

To make ends meet is to earn enough money to pay all of your bills. If you’re lucky, you can do this with only one job. But many people don’t have a large income, so they have to get second or even third jobs. Don’t be embarrassed if you have several jobs, though. Remember that millions of people are just like you! We’re all just trying to make ends meet.

Marni has a second job, and you’ll never guess what it is. Read today’s English lesson and you’ll learn her secret!

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jessica

Marni

Jessica:  So, how’s your new job treating you?

Marni:  You mean the one filling in for Amanda? It’s going pretty well.

Jessica:  Only pretty well?

Marni:  Yeah. It’s a big responsibility, and she is paying me more, but I still have to work a second job to make ends meet.

Jessica:  Do you really? I thought with your income and John’s, you two were doing well.

Marni:  We are. It’s just that with student loans and raising a child, we just need more money.

Jessica:  So, what is this second job?

Marni:  I am too embarrassed to say.

Jessica:  What? Come on, Marni, you’ve known me for ages. You know you can trust me.

Marni:  I completely trust you, but that doesn’t make me feel any less embarrassed.

Jessica:  Oh, what could possibly be so bad?

Marni:  If I tell you, you need to promise to keep it a secret.

Jessica:  I promise.

Marni:  You’re going to laugh.

Jessica:  I won’t. I won’t.

Marni:  OK. I’ve been working as a belly dancer.

Jessica:  What? Are you serious?

Marni:  You said you wouldn’t laugh.

Jessica:  Well, I know, but come on, Marni. A belly dancer? Where is this job?

Marni:  It’s completely above board. It’s at a restaurant.

Jessica:  And you’re the entertainment?

Marni:  I guess so. But it’s in a family restaurant. It’s not shady or anything.

Jessica:  Wow.

Marni:  I know it’s crazy. But the tips are amazing.

Jessica:  Wow.

Marni:  OK. You can stop saying, “Wow.”

Jessica:  Honestly, I think it’s awesome, Marni. And it sounds like a really fun way to make ends meet.

Marni:  Thank you. I guess I didn’t have to worry about telling you.

Jessica:  Not at all. Wow.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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