The Economy: More Vocabulary!
| This is an entry in our “Economy” series. We’ll be talking economics all week!
This entry is available as a Adobe Acrobat file for printing or use in a class. This entry includes a listening exercises. You can dowload the MP3 or play it using the button below. (MP3) |
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After all of the vocabulary this week, you might still be having difficulty understanding some of the economic news that you read or hear in English. The reason is because we haven’t talked about the things the government does to try to influence the economy.
The difficult thing about this lesson is that I can only teach you American English. Many of the same government offices have different names in each English-speaking country. So, this lesson will try to stick to general terms.
Before You Listen to the Recording
If you’re more than twelve years old and have seen a newspaper in the last six months, you’ve seen some economic news. It’s everywhere: there is talk about how the economy is doing, there’s talk about unemployment, and there is talk about what the government is doing to make the economy better.
Think for a moment about the last thing in that list: the talk about what the government is doing to make the economy better. First, think in your own language of what you’ve heard is happening. If writing helps you, make a list of the things you’ve heard about in your own language. Then, think about whether you can discuss these things in English. What words would you use?
Now, start the recording.
After You’ve Listened to the Recording
Okay, now it’s your turn: can you describe how your government is reacting to the recession? Has there been a stimulus package? Do you know what your central bank’s interest rate is? Have there been any job programs in your country?
Even more important is this: do you think that the things the governments are doing will help? Are we on the right track? Or should the governments be doing something else? Let me know!
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