The Reading / Listening - Money Worries - Level 3

An old saying goes, "Money can't buy happiness". A new report from the USA suggests this may be true. The financial planning experts Edelman Financial Engines conducted a survey on people's attitudes towards money. They found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn at least $100,000 a year to stop worrying about money. Around 50 per cent of the people in the survey said they would need an annual salary of $200,000 to feel happy and safe. The researchers also found that only 12 per cent of Americans think they are wealthy. Surprisingly, the researchers reported that just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they felt financially secure.

The Edelman report is called "Everyday Wealth in America". Researchers asked more than 3,000 adults over the age of 30 about their money worries. Half of those in the survey were "rich". They had wealth between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning, said: "What we are noticing is that many Americans, even those who are affluent, aren't feeling very confident about their financial situation." She added: "When I was getting out of college, it was a dream to say you could make $100,000". However, the report said that such a salary today simply means a stable lifestyle. It said $100,000 was no longer a sign of financial success and wealth.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Money Worries - Level 0 Money Worries - Level 1   or  Money Worries - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/23/only-33percent-of-millionaires-consider-themselves-wealthy-report-finds.html
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/income-salary-you-need-to-stop-worrying-money-edelman/
  • https://www.aol.com/heres-much-money-americans-think-130017383.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MONEY WORRIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about money worries. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       saying / money / happiness / financial planning / survey / salary / wealthy / secure /
       report / adults / affluent / confident / confident / college / dream / $100,000 / sign
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EQUAL PAY: Students A strongly believe all workers should receive the same pay; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HAPPINESS: How do these things affect your happiness? How much money do they cost you? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How They Affect Happiness

Cost

English

 

 

Nature

 

 

Friends

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

Social media

 

 

Travel

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. MONEY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "money". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WORRIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Money
  • Health
  • Climate change
  • War
  • Safety on the streets
  • Your future
  • Friendships
  • Social media

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. saying a. A person who knows a lot about a subject and is very skilled in it.
      2. suggest b. A short phrase or expression that people use to share ideas or advice.
      3. financial c. Related to money or how people use money.
      4. expert d. To get money by working or doing something.
      5. attitude e. Happening once a year.
      6. earn f. To give an idea or recommend something to someone.
      7. annual g. The way someone thinks or feels about something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. survey h. Having a lot of money or being very rich.
      9. wealth i. Achieving a goal or doing something well.
      10. noticing j. Not changing or moving; steady and safe.
      11. affluent k. The act of seeing or becoming aware of something.
      12. confident l. Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities.
      13. stable m. A way to ask many people questions to learn their opinions or information.
      14. success n. A lot of money or valuable things.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. There's an old saying that says happiness brings money.     T / F
  2. Six people in the USA need $100,000 to stop worrying about money.     T / F
  3. Half of the people in a survey need $200,000 a year to feel happy.     T / F
  4. Just under 10 per cent of Americans think they are wealthy.     T / F
  5. All of the adults in the survey were under 30 years old.     T / F
  6. Many rich Americans do not feel confident about their finances.     T / F
  7. The writer said people dreamed of a $100,000 salary at college.     T / F
  8. The survey says a $100,000 salary is no longer a sign of wealth.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. saying
  2. experts
  3. survey
  4. annual
  5. wealthy
  6. worries
  7. noticing
  8. situation
  9. stable
  10. financial
  1. concerns
  2. yearly
  3. circumstances
  4. specialists
  5. monetary
  6. rich
  7. proverb
  8. safe
  9. questionnaire
  10. seeing

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. financial planning
  2. nearly six
  3. they would need an annual salary of
  4. only 12 per cent of Americans think
  5. they felt financially
  6. more than 3,000 adults
  7. Half of those in the
  8. even those who are affluent aren't feeling
  9. it was a dream to say you could
  10. a sign of financial
  1. $200,000 to feel happy
  2. very confident
  3. secure
  4. over the age of 30
  5. success and wealth
  6. in ten people
  7. experts
  8. survey were "rich"
  9. they are wealthy
  10. make $100,000

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
survey
true
safe
least
happiness
annual
towards
financially

An old saying goes, "Money can't buy (1) ______________________________________________". A new report from the USA suggests this may be (2) ______________________________________________. The financial planning experts Edelman Financial Engines conducted a survey on people's attitudes (3) ______________________________________________ money. They found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn at (4) ______________________________________________ $100,000 a year to stop worrying about money. Around 50 per cent of the people in the (5) ______________________________________________ said they would need an (6) ______________________________________________ salary of $200,000 to feel happy and (7) ______________________________________________. The researchers also found that only 12 per cent of Americans think they are wealthy. Surprisingly, the researchers reported that just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they felt (8) ______________________________________________ secure.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
confident
wealth
sign
adults
stable
affluent
those
dream

The Edelman report is called "Everyday Wealth in America". Researchers asked more than 3,000 (9) ______________________________________________ over the age of 30 about their money worries. Half of (10) ______________________________________________ in the survey were "rich". They had (11) ______________________________________________ between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning, said: "What we are noticing is that many Americans, even those who are (12) ______________________________________________, aren't feeling very (13) ______________________________________________ about their financial situation." She added: "When I was getting out of college, it was a (14) ______________________________________________ to say you could make $100,000". However, the report said that such a salary today simply means a (15) ______________________________________________ lifestyle. It said $100,000 was no longer a (16) ______________________________________________ of financial success and wealth.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) An old saying goes, "Money ______"
     a.  can't buy hippiness
     b.  can't buy hoppiness
     c.  can't buy happiness
     d.  can't buy happenings
2)  They found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn ______
     a.  at lest $100,000
     b.  at least $100,000
     c.  at last $100,000
     d.  at lost $100,000
3)  they would need an annual salary of $200,000 to feel ______
     a.  happy and safely
     b.  happy and safety
     c.  happy and safes
     d.  happy and safe
4)  The researchers also found that only 12 per cent of Americans think ______
     a.  they are wealthiness
     b.  they are wealth
     c.  they are well thee
     d.  they are wealthy
5)  just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they ______
     a.  felt financially secure
     b.  heart financially secure
     c.  pelt financially secure
     d.  fell financially secure

6)  Researchers asked more than 3,000 adults over the ______
     a.  aged of 30
     b.  aged of 30
     c.  age of 30
     d.  aging of 30
7)  wealth between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director ______
     a.  of financial plan in
     b.  of financial planing
     c.  of financial planning
     d.  of financial plane in
8)  those who are affluent, aren't feeling very confident about ______
     a.  there financial situation
     b.  them financial situation
     c.  their financial situation
     d.  they're financial situation
9)  the report said that such a salary today simply means ______
     a.  a staple lifestyle
     b.  a stable lifestyle
     c.  a stay ball lifestyle
     d.  a stubble lifestyle
10)  It said $100,000 was no longer a sign ______
     a.  off financial success
     b.  of financial success
     c.  oft financial success
     d.  oh financial success

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An old saying goes, "Money (1) __________________________________________________". A new report from the USA suggests this (2) __________________________________________________. The financial planning experts Edelman Financial Engines conducted a survey on people's attitudes towards money. They found that (3) __________________________________________________ ten people needed to earn at least $100,000 a year to stop worrying about money. Around 50 per cent of the people (4) __________________________________________________ said they would need an annual salary of $200,000 to feel happy and safe. The researchers also (5) __________________________________________________ 12 per cent of Americans think they are wealthy. Surprisingly, the researchers reported that just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they (6) __________________________________________________.

The Edelman report is called "Everyday Wealth in America". Researchers asked more than 3,000 adults (7) __________________________________________________ of 30 about their money worries. Half of those in the (8) __________________________________________________. They had wealth between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning, said: "What we are noticing is that many Americans, even those who are affluent, aren't (9) __________________________________________________ about their financial situation." She added: "When I was (10) __________________________________________________ college, it was a dream to say you could make $100,000". However, the report said that (11) __________________________________________________ today simply means a stable lifestyle. It said $100,000 was no longer a sign of financial (12) __________________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say money cannot buy?
  2. What kind of experts are Edelman Financial Engines?
  3. How many people in a survey said they need $200,000 to feel happy?
  4. What percentage of Americans think they are wealthy?
  5. How many millionaires feel financially secure?
  6. How many people answered questions in the survey?
  7. How many people in the survey were "rich"?
  8. What are affluent Americans not feeling?
  9. What kind of salary did college students dream about?
  10. What is a salary of $100,000 no longer a sign of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say money cannot buy?
a) palaces and mansions
b) happiness
c) enough food
d) love
2) What kind of experts are Edelman Financial Engines?
a) car making experts
b) pensions experts
c) good ones
d) financial planning experts
3) How many people in a survey said they need $200,000 to feel happy?
a) about 50%
b) over 50%
c) exactly 50%
d) just less than 50%
4) What percentage of Americans think they are wealthy?
a) 10%
b) 11%
c) 12%
d) 13%
5) How many millionaires feel financially secure?
a) 32%
b) 33%
c) 34%
d) 35%

6) How many people answered questions in the survey?
a) more than 3,000
b) 33,000
c) 30,000
d) 300
7) How many people in the survey were "rich"?
a) a quarter
b) a third
c) half
d) a tenth
8) What are affluent Americans not feeling?
a) confident
b) happy
c) poor
d) worried
9) What kind of salary did college students dream about?
a) a $100,000 salary
b) a monthly salary
c) a good one
d) a million-dollar salary
10) What is a salary of $100,000 no longer a sign of?
a) winter
b) the times
c) affection
d) financial success and wealth

Role play

Role  A – Money
You think money is the biggest thing to worry about. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why we needn't worry about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, war or climate change.

Role  B – Health
You think health is the biggest thing to worry about. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why we needn't worry about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): money, war or climate change.

Role  C – War
You think war is the biggest thing to worry about. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why we needn't worry about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, money or climate change.

Role  D – Climate Change
You think climate change is the biggest thing to worry about. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why we needn't worry about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, war or money.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'money'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'worry'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • saying
    • conducted
    • six
    • annual
    • 12
    • 33
    • 3,000
    • 500,000
    • confident
    • college
    • simply
    • sign

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Money Worries

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'money'?
    3. How much do you worry about money?
    4. Can money buy happiness?
    5. How good are you at financial planning?
    6. What are your biggest money worries?
    7. How happy would you be with a $100,000 salary?
    8. Do you think you will be rich when you are older?
    9. What do you worry about besides money?
    10. What advice do you have for millionaires?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'worry'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What would you do if you were really rich?
    5. Can money buy love?
    6. How important is financial planning?
    7. What's the best way to make money?
    8. How important is being rich?
    9. What can you do if you have money worries?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    An old saying (1) ____, "Money can't buy happiness". A new report from the USA suggests this may be true. The financial planning (2) ____ Edelman Financial Engines conducted a survey on people's attitudes (3) ____ money. They found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn at least $100,000 a year to stop worrying about money. Around 50 per cent of the people (4) ____ the survey said they would need an annual salary of $200,000 to feel happy and (5) ____. The researchers also found that only 12 per cent of Americans think they are wealthy. Surprisingly, the researchers reported that just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they (6) ____ financially secure.

    The Edelman report is called "Everyday Wealth in America". Researchers asked more than 3,000 adults over the (7) ____ of 30 about their money worries. Half of those in the survey were "rich". They had wealth between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director of financial (8) ____, said: "What we are noticing is that many Americans, even those who are affluent, aren't feeling very confident (9) ____ their financial situation." She added: "When I was (10) ____ out of college, it was a dream to say you could make $100,000". However, the report said that (11) ____ a salary today simply means a stable lifestyle. It said $100,000 was no (12) ____ a sign of financial success and wealth.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     goes     (b)     comes     (c)     leaves     (d)     arrives    
    2. (a)     expects     (b)     expats     (c)     experts     (d)     exports    
    3. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     towards     (d)     in    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     safe     (b)     safely     (c)     safeguard     (d)     safes    
    6. (a)     moved     (b)     felt     (c)     sensed     (d)     understood    
    7. (a)     birth     (b)     old     (c)     year     (d)     age    
    8. (a)     planned     (b)     planning     (c)     plan     (d)     planner    
    9. (a)     as     (b)     of     (c)     about     (d)     on    
    10. (a)     got     (b)     getting     (c)     gets     (d)     gotten    
    11. (a)     thus     (b)     so     (c)     much     (d)     such    
    12. (a)     shorter     (b)     lengthen     (c)     shorten     (d)     longer

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Money can't buy ansspepih
    2. financial planning ptxseer
    3. people's atdttiseu towards money
    4. nare at least $100,000 a year
    5. Americans think they are awlehty
    6. they felt financially reecsu

    Paragraph 2

    1. dusatl over the age of 30
    2. Half of those in the ysruev
    3. those who are ueltafnf
    4. feeling very cnniodeft
    5. such a rlayas today
    6. financial scsuesc

    Put the text back together

    (...)  noticing is that many Americans, even those who are affluent, aren't feeling very confident about their financial
    (...)  The Edelman report is called "Everyday Wealth in America". Researchers asked more than 3,000 adults over
    (...)  lifestyle. It said $100,000 was no longer a sign of financial success and wealth.
    (...)  least $100,000 a year to stop worrying about money. Around 50 per cent of the people in the survey said they would need an
    (...)  annual salary of $200,000 to feel happy and safe. The researchers also found that only 12 per cent
    (...)  of Americans think they are wealthy. Surprisingly, the researchers reported that just
    (...)  the age of 30 about their money worries. Half of those in the survey were "rich". They had wealth
    (...)  $100,000". However, the report said that such a salary today simply means a stable
    (...)  between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning, said: "What we are
    (..1..)  An old saying goes, "Money can't buy happiness". A new report from the USA suggests this may be
    (...)  true. The financial planning experts Edelman Financial Engines conducted a survey
    (...)  on people's attitudes towards money. They found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn at
    (...)  33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they felt financially secure.
    (...)  situation." She added: "When I was getting out of college, it was a dream to say you could make

    Put the words in the right order

    1. old   buy   goes   An   "Money   can't   saying   happiness"   .
    2. the   USA   from   this   .   A   report   suggests   new
    3. a   year   .   to   needed   over   People   $100,000   earn
    4. $200,000   .   of   need   would   They   salary   annual   an
    5. the   financially   study   Millionaires   in   felt   secure   .
    6. Half   those   in   the   were   of   rich   .   survey
    7. aren't   are   who   affluent   very   Those   feeling   confident   .
    8. $100,000   .   say   make   you   to   dream   A   could
    9. simply   salary   A   stable   lifestyle   .   means   a   today
    10. of   success   financial   A   wealth   .   and   sign

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An old / oldie saying goes, "Money can't buy happiness". A new report from the USA suggests this may be truly / true. The financial planning expats / experts Edelman Financial Engines conducted a survey in / on people's attitudes towards money. They found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn at least / last $100,000 a year to stop worrying about money. Around 50 per cent of the people in the survey said they would need the / an annual salary of $200,000 to / for feel happy and safe. The researchers also found that only 12 per cent of / as Americans think they are wealthy. Surprisingly, the researchers reported that / what just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they felt financially secure / secret.

    The Edelman report is called "Everyday Wealth in America". Researchers asked more over / than 3,000 adults over the age at / of 30 about their money worries. Half of those / them in the survey were "rich". They had wealth between $500,000 and $3 million. Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning, said: "What we are noticed / noticing is that many / much Americans, even those who be / are affluent, aren't feeling very confident about their financial situated / situation." She added: "When I was getting out of college, it was a dream to say you could fake / make $100,000". However, the report said that such a salary today simple / simply means a stable lifestyle. It said $100,000 was no longer / lengthen a sign of financial success and wealth.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n  _ld  s_y_ng  g__s,  "M_n_y  c_n't  b_y  h_pp_n_ss".  _  n_w  r_p_rt  fr_m  th_  _S_  s_gg_sts  th_s  m_y  b_  tr__.  Th_  f_n_nc__l  pl_nn_ng  _xp_rts  _d_lm_n  F_n_nc__l  _ng_n_s  c_nd_ct_d  _  s_rv_y  _n  p__pl_'s  _tt_t_d_s  t_w_rds  m_n_y.  Th_y  f__nd  th_t  n__rly  s_x  _n  t_n  p__pl_  n__d_d  t_  __rn  _t  l__st  $100,000  _  y__r  t_  st_p  w_rry_ng  _b__t  m_n_y.  _r__nd  50  p_r  c_nt  _f  th_  p__pl_  _n  th_  s_rv_y  s__d  th_y  w__ld  n__d  _n  _nn__l  s_l_ry  _f  $200,000  t_  f__l  h_ppy  _nd  s_f_.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  _ls_  f__nd  th_t  _nly  12  p_r  c_nt  _f  _m_r_c_ns  th_nk  th_y  _r_  w__lthy.  S_rpr_s_ngly,  th_  r_s__rch_rs  r_p_rt_d  th_t  j_st  33  p_r  c_nt  _f  m_ll__n__r_s  _n  th_  st_dy  s__d  th_y  f_lt  f_n_nc__lly  s_c_r_.

    Th_  _d_lm_n  r_p_rt  _s  c_ll_d  "_v_ryd_y  W__lth  _n  _m_r_c_".  R_s__rch_rs  _sk_d  m_r_  th_n  3,000  _d_lts  _v_r  th_  _g_  _f  30  _b__t  th__r  m_n_y  w_rr__s.  H_lf  _f  th_s_  _n  th_  s_rv_y  w_r_  "r_ch".  Th_y  h_d  w__lth  b_tw__n  $500,000  _nd  $3  m_ll__n.  _s_b_l  B_rr_w,  d_r_ct_r  _f  f_n_nc__l  pl_nn_ng,  s__d:  "Wh_t  w_  _r_  n_t_c_ng  _s  th_t  m_ny  _m_r_c_ns,  _v_n  th_s_  wh_  _r_  _ffl__nt,  _r_n't  f__l_ng  v_ry  c_nf_d_nt  _b__t  th__r  f_n_nc__l  s_t__t__n."  Sh_  _dd_d:  "Wh_n  _  w_s  g_tt_ng  __t  _f  c_ll_g_,  _t  w_s  _  dr__m  t_  s_y  y__  c__ld  m_k_  $100,000".  H_w_v_r,  th_  r_p_rt  s__d  th_t  s_ch  _  s_l_ry  t_d_y  s_mply  m__ns  _  st_bl_  l_f_styl_.  _t  s__d  $100,000  w_s  n_  l_ng_r  _  s_gn  _f  f_n_nc__l  s_cc_ss  _nd  w__lth.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an old saying goes money cant buy happiness a new report from the usa suggests this may be true the financial planning experts edelman financial engines conducted a survey on peoples attitudes towards money they found that nearly six in ten people needed to earn at least 100000 a year to stop worrying about money around 50 per cent of the people in the survey said they would need an annual salary of 200000 to feel happy and safe the researchers also found that only 12 per cent of americans think they are wealthy surprisingly the researchers reported that just 33 per cent of millionaires in the study said they felt financially secure

    the edelman report is called everyday wealth in america researchers asked more than 3000 adults over the age of 30 about their money worries half of those in the survey were rich they had wealth between 500000 and 3 million isabel barrow director of financial planning said what we are noticing is that many americans even those who are affluent arent feeling very confident about their financial situation she added when i was getting out of college it was a dream to say you could make 100000 however the report said that such a salary today simply means a stable lifestyle it said 100000 was no longer a sign of financial success and wealth

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anoldsayinggoes,"Moneycan'tbuyhappiness".AnewreportfromtheU
    SAsuggeststhismaybetrue.ThefinancialplanningexpertsEdelmanFin
    ancialEnginesconductedasurveyonpeople'sattitudestowardsmoney
    .Theyfoundthatnearlysixintenpeopleneededtoearnatleast$100,000
    ayeartostopworryingaboutmoney.Around50percentofthepeopleint
    hesurveysaidtheywouldneedanannualsalaryof$200,000tofeelhapp
    yandsafe.Theresearchersalsofoundthatonly12percentofAmericanst
    hinktheyarewealthy.Surprisingly,theresearchersreportedthatjust3
    3percentofmillionairesinthestudysaidtheyfeltfinanciallysecure.TheE
    delmanreportiscalled"EverydayWealthinAmerica".Researchersaske
    dmorethan3,000adultsovertheageof30abouttheirmoneyworries.Ha
    lfofthoseinthesurveywere"rich".Theyhadwealthbetween$500,000a
    nd$3million.IsabelBarrow,directoroffinancialplanning,said:"Whatw
    earenoticingisthatmanyAmericans,eventhosewhoareaffluent,aren't
    feelingveryconfidentabouttheirfinancialsituation."Sheadded:"When
    Iwasgettingoutofcollege,itwasadreamtosayyoucouldmake$100,00
    0".However,thereportsaidthatsuchasalarytodaysimplymeansastabl
    elifestyle.Itsaid$100,000wasnolongerasignoffinancialsuccessandw
    ealth.

    Free writing

    Write about money worries for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everyone should receive the same pay. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. MONEY WORRIES: Make a poster about money worries. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EQUAL PAY: Write a magazine article about paying everyone equally. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on money worries. Ask him/her three questions about money. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can stop worrying about money. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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