Summary
This downloadable lesson for B2 ESL students helps them discuss the future of money. This ESL class material for B2 students uses an audio and role-plays to teach students about cryptocurrency, digital payments, and fintech vocabulary.
This lesson helps intermediate students explore the debate around cryptocurrency and digital money. Activities include a warm-up discussion on payment habits, a vocabulary matching task, and comprehension questions based on an audio about the pros and cons of digital currencies. Students will practice using adverbs of certainty and mixed conditionals to reflect on hypothetical past financial decisions and engage in realistic role-plays to apply useful phrases for debating financial topics. The material is designed to generate meaningful conversation and provide practical communication tools for discussing modern finance.
Activities
- A warm-up discussion where students share personal experiences with payment habits, setting the stage for the lesson's theme of modern finance.
- Audio comprehension questions based on a discussion about the pros and cons of cryptocurrency and digital payments, helping them understand different perspectives on modern finance.
- A grammar exercise focusing on adverbs of certainty and doubt (e.g., 'undoubtedly,' 'allegedly') and mixed conditionals (If + past perfect, would + verb) to help students discuss hypothetical past financial decisions and their present results.
- Guided role-play scenarios where students act as either crypto enthusiasts pitching a project or skeptical investors, allowing them to practice using newly learned vocabulary and phrases to debate the merits and risks of cryptocurrency.
Transcript
The debate around cryptocurrency and digital payments is truly fascinating. On one hand, advocates highlight their potential for faster transactions and financial inclusion. They argue that traditional banking systems are often slow and exclusionary. However, critics frequently point to the volatility of crypto and the regulatory challenges it presents. There's also concern about their environmental impact and potential for illicit activities. Clearly, striking a balance between innovation and consumer protection is paramount. It seems governments are grappling with how best to integrate these technologies into existing financial frameworks. The future of money is definitely a hot topic.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces key vocabulary for discussing financial technology (fintech). Students will learn and practice terms such as 'volatility,' 'blockchain,' 'decentralized,' 'financial inclusion,' 'digital wallet,' 'mining,' 'illicit activities,' and 'regulatory challenges.'
Grammar focus
The grammar section has two distinct focuses. The first is on expressing degrees of doubt and certainty using adverbs like 'allegedly,' 'presumably,' and 'definitely.' The second focus is on constructing mixed conditionals (If + Past Perfect, would + base verb) to discuss past actions with present results.
