Section 1 — The Language of Money
Session 3 of 16
Monday, April 13, 2026
Earning, spending, saving — daily money phrases
This session gives you the everyday English phrases that professionals use to talk about money in real conversations. You'll learn phrasal verbs like "put aside" and "cut back on", collocations like "save up for" and "invest in", and the vocabulary of paychecks, taxes, and retirement. You'll also explore how government spending and inflation quietly shape your personal finances — whether you notice it or not.
Vocabulary for this session
earnspendsaveinvestwastesplurgecut backput asideset asidelive within your meanspaychecknet paygross paytaxdeductionpensionretirement fund
Grammar focus
Grammar focus: Phrasal verbs with money — "put aside" (save regularly), "cut back on" (reduce spending), "live off" (use as income), "take out" (a loan), "pay off" (a debt). Key collocations: "save up for", "spend on", "invest in", "live within your means".
Come prepared to discuss
"Is it more important to earn more or to spend less?" Is there a point where earning more actually costs you more? Think about: the rat race — working harder to afford a life that keeps getting more expensive.
Before this session
Prepare: Think about your current relationship with money: do you consider yourself a spender or a saver? Write two sentences in English — one about what you typically spend money on, and one about what you are saving for. We will share these at the start of class as a warm-up.
Task-Based Activity
Life stage money map. Divide the board into 5 life stages: student, first job, young family, mid-career, retirement. In groups, students map out the typical money decisions, income sources, and financial pressures at each stage. They then present back to the class using target language: "At this stage, most people earn… and spend most of their money on… The biggest financial risk is… The most important thing to do is…" Follow-up discussion: How does this map differ between countries? What surprised you about another student's country?
Career-Oriented Take — How to Frame It
Understanding gross vs net pay, tax deductions, and pension contributions is essential if you work internationally or for a foreign company. Many professionals overpay or underpay tax simply because they cannot read their payslip in English. This session's vocabulary is directly useful from the moment you start your next job or sign your next contract.
Big Picture — Global Financial Order
Governments "earn" through taxes and "spend" on services, infrastructure, and debt repayments. When they consistently spend more than they earn — deficit spending — they must either borrow or create new money. This directly affects every person's savings (through inflation) and wages (through the tax burden). The financial system shapes your personal financial life whether you understand it or not. Understanding it gives you agency.
Current Events Take
The "cost of living crisis" visible in many countries 2022–2025: wages did not keep pace with inflation. Workers earned the same nominal amount but could afford less — their "real wages" fell. Key terms to introduce here: real wages vs nominal wages, purchasing power, wage growth vs price growth. Ask students: has this affected your country? How did your government respond?
Homework (assign after session)
Track every purchase you make for 3 days. Categorize each as "need" or "want". Then write: "Over 3 days I spent [amount] on [categories]. I think I could cut back on… because… The most surprising thing I noticed was…"