Unit 3: English for Finance and Banking

Cashier	Good morning, madam.
Woman	Good morning. I have a little problem. I'd like to buy some books from America but I don't know the best way to pay for them. What do you recommend?
Cashier	Well, you can give them your credit card number, or you can make a transfer. It's probably better to make a transfer.
Woman	Is a transfer very expensive?

Cashier: No, but there is a small commission.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What does the woman want to buy?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Where does she want to buy the books from?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What does the cashier recommend her to do?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Cashier	Good afternoon, sir.
Man	Good afternoon. I've just come back from a business trip to Japan and I've got some Japanese currency that I'd like to change into euros. Is that possible?
Cashier	We can take the bank notes, but I'm afraid we can't change the coins.
Man	OK, then could you change these notes for me, please?
Cashier	Certainly, sir. I'll just check today's exchange rate.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Where has the man been?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why was he there? Was he:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What can the cashier change?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Has the exchange rate gone down, or up?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Cashier	Good morning, madam.
Woman	Good morning. I'd like to open an account, please.
Cashier	Certainly, madam. Do you live here in Manchester?
Woman	Yes, I'm studying economics at the university.
Cashier	What sort of account would you like?
Woman	I don't know. A current account, I suppose.
Cashier	Well, we can open a current account for you of course, but we usually recommend students to have a special deposit account.
Woman	Oh, why's that?
Cashier	With a deposit account you get a better rate of interest, and you can still take money out when you want.
Woman	But I can't have a cheque-book, right?
Cashier	Yes, that's right.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Where is the bank?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What is she studying at university there?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What kind of account does the cashier recommend?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What's the disadvantage of a deposit account?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Ivan is from Kazakhstan and is now living in Spain. He doesn't know what to do with all his money so he asks his Spanish friend for some information. His friend Pepe tells him that he can put his money in a bank account to earn interest, or he can buy shares on the Stock Exchange. He explains that there are different kinds of account, and that different banks offer different interest rates on the money in your account and also on loans when they lend you money. He also tells him about the most popular credit cards - Visa, Mastercard and American Express - and how you can usually use your credit card to get cash from an ATM.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Where is Ivan from?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Ivan doesn't know what to do with:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
One of the credit cards that Pepe recommends is:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
When a bank gives you a loan, you have to:
a.
b.
c.

[?]

General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Substitution

A polite way to ask for something is with the expression "I'd like ...". Let's practise this.

Exercise 2: Substitution

The question corresponding to "I'd like ..." is "Would you like ...". Let's practise.

Exercise 3: Transformation

In American English, people always use "Do you have ... ?". In British English, people often use "Have you got ...?". Let's practise.

Exercise 4: Selections

Chose the correct answer.

Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording:

Transcript:

There are several different kinds of banks. National central banks control and supervise the financial system in their country. In the European Union the national central banks of the euro zone are now controlled and supervised by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

Other types of bank specialise in different services or in a particular region or a particular type of economic activity such as agriculture or industry.

Commercial banks and savings banks receive and hold deposits in current accounts, savings accounts and deposit accounts, make payments for their customers, lend money, and offer investment advice, foreign exchange facilities, and so on. Many banks nowadays also offer online banking services.

Some banks only have branches in one region or country; large international banks have branches in many countries.

What they all have in common, however, is that they make a profit from the difference between the interest rates they pay on deposits and the interest rates they charge on loans, and of course from the commissions they charge for their services.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

All banks offer the same services.

[?]
Central banks in the euro zone are supervised by the European Central Bank.

[?]
The European Central Bank is in Germany.

[?]
There are no banks that specialise in services to agriculture.

[?]
All banks nowadays offer online banking services.

[?]
Some banks only have branches in one region or country.

[?]
The interest that banks pay a customer is higher than the interest they charge.

[?]
Banks charge their customers for their services.

[?]

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Exercise 3: Cloze

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:

Transcript:

Commercial banks and savings banks receive and hold deposits [?] current accounts, savings accounts and deposit accounts, make payments [?] their customers, lend money, [?] offer investment advice, foreign exchange facilities, and so on. [?] banks nowadays also offer online banking services. [?] banks only have branches in one region or country; large international banks have [?] in many countries.

What they all have in common, [?], is that they make a profit from the difference [?] the interest rates they pay on deposits and the interest rates they charge [?] loans, and of course from the commissions they charge [?] their services.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

If you want to send money to somebody, you can ____ a transfer.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
John Barker has just come back from a business ____ to Japan.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Hello. I'd like to change this money ____ euros, please.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
We can change the banknotes, but not the ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What ____ account would you like to open?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
With a deposit account, you get a better ____ of interest.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
A mortgage is a kind of ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
When a bank gives you a loan, they normally ____ interest.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Would you like to pay ____ transfer or credit card?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Has the exchange rate gone ____ , or down?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Ivan asked his friend for ____ information.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Pepe ____ him about banks.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
If you put your money in a deposit account, it ____ interest.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Mary is studying Economics ____ Manchester University.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Can you use your credit card to get ____ from an ATM?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You can invest your money by buying ____ on the Stock Exchange.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Big banks usually have a lot of ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
If you want to check your account, you can ask your bank for a ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Do you get a ____ when you pay with a credit card?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The person who can give you cash or take your cash in the bank is called a ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Checklist

Use the following list to check whether you have obtained full benefit from this unit. You should be able to:

use vocabulary and terms related to banking