English Listening Practice: Their wallet is full, yours isn’t.
English listening practice that keeps you curious. Today we ask the question: Is money tearing your friendships apart? It's an interesting subject as, at some point, we all go through this part of our lives, so you'll want to listen to this podcast episode even if you're not looking to improve your English language skills!
An enjoyable way to learn about:
- Financial realities of young UK adults
- Western societal changes
- Career advice and professional earnings
- Housing affordability and cost of living in the UK
✔️ Lesson transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/english-listening-practice-money-friends/
Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.
⭐ Sam Levenson
Ever felt like your English lessons were missing something... real? Well, buckle up, because this isn't your average language class. Just like our latest Listen & learn course "New Activate your listening", watch the video here and find out more here.
We're diving into the juicy stuff – money, friendships, and life choices of 20-somethings in the West. You'll boost your listening skills while getting the inside scoop on Western lifestyles. The best part? You might just rethink your career path after hearing some eye-opening income stats .
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
⭐ Walt Disney
- Help us make more content with a donation https://adeptengli.sh/donate
Join our lesson and enhance your English fluency while exploring lots of interesting topics! Visit Adept English to start learning today!
More About This Lesson
Discover how money shapes the lives of young adults in Western countries while improving your British English skills. This lesson offers a unique look into the financial realities and social dynamics of 20-somethings, helping you understand Western lifestyles and boost your language proficiency.
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning how to dance in the rain.
⭐ Vivian Greene
Through this lesson, you will improve your listening skills by engaging with authentic, real-world content:
- You improve your listening skills by following a natural conversation.
- You learn about Western lifestyles and societal changes.
- You gain insights into the financial realities of young adults.
- You expand your vocabulary with terms related to lifestyle and finances.
- You explore the effects of income differences on friendships.
- You understand the impact of the cost of living on life choices.
- You learn real-world examples of career choices and their financial outcomes.
- You hear about the varying incomes in different professions.
- You discover how financial pressures can affect relationships.
- You understand the importance of budgeting and saving.
The lesson covers the connection between finances and social life for young adults. It delves into the common financial challenges faced by millennials in the UK and explores career options and income potential in English-speaking countries. You'll learn about the impact of money on friendships and lifestyle choices and understand the cultural shifts affecting young adults' financial decisions.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
⭐ Eleanor Roosevelt
Ready to boost your English skills and gain valuable insights into Western culture? Don't miss out on this essential British English lesson! Follow our channel for more engaging content that will help you become a confident, culturally-aware English speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How can listening to this podcast improve my English skills? Listening to this podcast helps you improve your English by exposing you to natural spoken language, diverse vocabulary, and real-life contexts. By listening regularly, you'll enhance your comprehension skills and become more familiar with the nuances of British English, aiding in fluency and pronunciation.
- What financial realities of young adults are discussed in the podcast? The podcast explores various financial realities young adults face, such as the disparity in income levels among friends, challenges in affording housing, and the impact of career choices on financial stability. It provides real-life examples, like the cost of social activities and the varying salaries in different professions, to illustrate these points.
- How does the podcast address cultural aspects of Western lifestyles? The podcast delves into Western lifestyles by discussing societal norms, financial challenges, and the cost of living. It covers topics like career establishment, housing affordability, and lifestyle changes in one’s 20s and 30s, offering insights into how these factors shape life choices and relationships in Western countries.
- What career insights are provided in the podcast? The podcast offers career insights by highlighting the income disparities in different professions. It discusses the long-term financial benefits and challenges of various career paths, such as high-earning jobs in financial services and law versus more modestly paid yet meaningful careers like teaching and nursing.
- How does this podcast help with understanding British culture? By listening to this podcast, you gain a deeper understanding of British culture through discussions about the UK’s job market, cost of living, and lifestyle choices. The podcast shares real-world examples and personal anecdotes that reflect common experiences and societal trends in the UK, helping you relate better to British English and culture.
This English lesson acts as your trusty compass, enhancing your listening skills while providing a map to navigate the diverse landscapes of Western lifestyles.
Most Unusual Words:
- Commentary: A set of thoughts or opinions on a subject.
- Accommodation: The place where you stay or live, like a house or hotel.
- Profession: A type of job that requires special training or education.
- Variation: The difference or change in something.
- High flier: A person who is very successful, especially in their job.
- Affordability: The ability to pay for something.
- Envy: The feeling of wanting what someone else has.
- Apprenticeship: A training program where you learn by working with someone skilled.
- Modest: Not very large or expensive.
- Menial: A job that is not considered important and usually does not require much skill.
Most Frequently Used Words:
| Word | Count |
|---|---|
| People | 19 |
| These | 12 |
| Their | 9 |
| Perhaps | 8 |
| Things | 7 |
| Still | 7 |
| Because | 7 |
| English | 6 |
| Listening | 6 |
| Different | 6 |
Listen To The Audio Lesson Now
Transcript: English Listening Practice: Friends & Money
Money and friendship - is it a problem?
Hi there. Here is this Thursday’s English listening practice from Adept English. Have you ever thought about how money can influence your friendships and your life choices? Some interesting thoughts today, especially if you’re someone in your 20s or 30s. What’s the effect of the cost of living on you? And does having different income levels affect your friendships? I read a really interesting article this week - and this inspired some further thinking. So today’s podcast is really a ‘social commentary’ - a set of thoughts about things which may be a typical experience of western lifestyles and changes which happen in your 20s and 30s. See if this applies to you - or to people you know. This is an English lesson that explores the financial realities of young adults. You'll not only improve your listening skills but also gain valuable insights into Western lifestyles and societal changes. From career choices to housing affordability - whether or not you can afford to buy a house - this lesson covers it all. And here's the best part – stick around for some eye-opening statistics on income that may make you rethink your career path! Don't miss this chance to boost your English while exploring a topic that's relevant to many people. Your vocabulary and cultural understanding will thank you!
Hello, I’m Hilary, and you’re listening to Adept English. We will help you to speak English fluently. All you have to do is listen. So start listening now and find out how it works.
Has money changed your friendships?
So this article was in ‘Bustle’, that’s BUSTLE - and the link is in the transcript. It was called ‘When your friend has money and you don’t’. The article described the experience of a woman in her late 20s in America, whose college friends were organising a weekend away. As one of the group of friends, who knew each other from college, the woman wanted to go. But she reported everyone signing up, without knowing the actual cost of the weekend. Of the friendship group, this person was the one who earned least - and when the woman asked how much the holiday would be, the accommodation alone - that means the cost of where they were staying, the Airbnb - cost $700 each for the weekend. An expense which she simply couldn’t afford - so she had to pull out and not go! When her friends heard of this, they said things like ‘Couldn’t you have budgeted or saved?’ And the woman was forced to reflect that in her world, there just wasn’t going to be $700 spare to spend on a weekend away. That was the difference in income.
📷
Explore the cost of living and its effect on young adults. An English listening practice lesson.
Huge variations in income depending upon professional and sector
And apparently this is a common experience in your 20s. People are establishing their careers, their jobs, if you like. And the variation, the difference in what people earn starts to become apparent. I know this that in the UK, there is a wide variation in what people earn from their jobs. I know people in their late 20s or early 30s, who earn over £100K per year - that’s £100,000! Some perhaps heading towards £150,000! That’s not me by the way or anyone in my family I hasten to add! These people are located in London and probably what you call ‘high fliers’ - people who are doing very well indeed. So these people do exist in the UK - and certainly in the US, where this person in the Bustle article was located. But there are also people in their 20s in the UK, who perhaps earn only £20k or £20,000 a year. That’s a massive variation! These differences can be uncomfortable whichever way round. If you’re the one who earns much more than everyone else in your friendship group - that may not feel quite as uncomfortable and perhaps brings up different issues. But it can still be difficult. And it’s not pleasant to feel that other people envy you or resent you for your success. Or the feeling perhaps that you have to hide your wealth to keep your friendships. But it’s probably much worse if you’re the one in the friendship group, who earns the least! And who cannot afford to do what the others are doing.
Don’t forget New Activate Your Listening
Just pausing there a moment to remind you that our New Activate Your Listening Course is available to buy on our website at adeptenglish.com. This course has had some really good feedback - and it’s a sure way to accelerate your English language learning. Go to the Courses page at adeptenglish.com to find out why it’s sooo good!
Boost Your Learning With Adept English
Things were easier for Generation X!
And one of the things that I reflect on a lot. When I left university, with my Latin degree, I didn’t immediately know what my profession was going to be. It took quite a few years to establish - and even more years to earn a half decent income. And I tried out different things and I only ended my training to do what I do now when I was over 30 years old! And then it took time to establish a practice and I still earn nowhere near what I’m saying some of these well-off 20 somethings earn. That’s despite working in the IT industry for years and years! But when I was young, it was possible to do things like buy a house on a modest salary - so I owned my own house in the UK when I was 22 years old. And I needed a car, so I just went and bought one. Things were much more accessible and easy then.
The huge cost of property ownership
Now the situation for many 20-somethings is that they may never be able to own their own property. And in fact, some of the well-offs I know - many of them London clients of mine - they tell me that to buy a place in London, even quite a modest flat or apartment, will cost them around £400,000. This means that even if they save around £70,000 deposit on the flat they buy, their mortgage will still be over £3,000 per calendar month. That’s scary! In the rest of the UK, property is of course, a bit more affordable than in London. And I do know people in their early 30s on relatively modest incomes who are still able to buy property and who are doing so because they want to start a family. But these are professional people, who still earn above the average salary for the UK. What used to be ‘normal’ for people now feels ‘luxury’.
How does the cost of living affect your daily life?
Because of the high cost of living in countries like the UK, if you’re a 20-something and you’ve done university or apprenticeship (that’s APPRENTICESHIP - that’s the work-based alternative way of securing a degree or a training), then either way, you tend to do things later in life. Like moving out from your parents’ house into a rented place. That happens later. And if you’re talking about owning property or having children, that happens much later too because it’s so difficult to afford. The article in Bustle comments that in their early 20s, typically people have a lot of friends, often from university or college. But after the age of around 25 years, these friendship groups grow smaller, perhaps because there is typically a romantic partner by this point and because of extra responsibilities like bills and saving up. And of course, the high cost of living.
Do you think career advice should include income variations?
So when you were at college or university, it may have easily felt as though you were ‘all the same’ in terms of money. But a few years later on, the differences are more marked. I recall my elder daughter commenting to me that when they gave ‘careers advice’ in school - the tips and advice on how to prepare yourself for work, what education courses to take - they really didn’t give much indication of the difference in earning between different jobs, different professions. I’m not sure that my daughter would have chosen anything different - she’s a graphic designer. But I took her point. It perhaps should be a consideration, something she would’ve wanted to know. It would’ve been useful if the difference in income had been discussed when making career choices. It does have a big impact on your life after all!
How do you feel about the income gap between different professions?
And there’s a huge variation in earnings as I said. Those people I’m aware of who are still young, but who earn more than £100,000, well typically they work in financial services - banks or hedge funds. Or they’re lawyers. And not just solicitors - they work for top London law firms. So these lives, these people are not the norm. If you’re a dentist, or a doctor, then you will probably have high earnings eventually, in the end. But be prepared for a lot of years, when you don’t earn very much. Of course, this year in the UK we’ve seen junior doctors on strike, saying that they don’t want to work for £14 per hour, when much more menial - that’s MENIAL - jobs, meaning ‘lower level’ jobs, like cleaning or serving in a coffee shop get paid nearly as much as that. I guess you have to hang on to the promise of the higher earnings, when you complete your training.
English Listening Practice: Alternative Medicine
That’s certainly what the lawyers have had to do. But if you want to be a nurse, a school teacher, a police officer or work in the ambulance service in the UK, you can expect to have modest earnings and for these earnings not to rise very much across your lifetime. If you train in a skill, SKILL - like becoming a plumber, that’s PLUMBER - ‘someone who looks after water pipes and central heating systems’, or perhaps an electrician - that’s ELECTRICIAN and means someone skilled in electrical installation. Those are ‘skill-based professions’ then your earnings will start off modest. But rather like builders too, you do have the possibility of earning more, further down the line, when you’ve got experience and especially if you’re willing to start your own business and employ other plumbers or electricians or builders. And it’s really hard if you’re a nurse or a schoolteacher, feeling that you’re doing an important job - and you’re completely unable to go on holiday with or compete with your friends who work in financial services, because they earn so much more. It’s understandable that people question how Capitalism works - though I do think that ethical Capitalism is perhaps the best system we have so far, nonetheless! But what it means is that people in ‘public sector jobs’ like nurses and school teachers don’t get rewarded for the importance of the job that they do.
Download The Podcast Audio & Transcript
Solve The Maths Problem To Download Podcast & Transcript
Higher earnings or work work that has meaning? Should this have to be a choice?
The other thing that I’m really aware of - while nursing and teaching may not always feel like the best careers money-wise, compared with many jobs in financial services, these jobs feeling meaningful to people. At least people doing these jobs feel that they’re making a difference in the world. And actually the people who work in financial services and banking - it may start off well, because they earn a lot. But sooner or later, many get around to questioning the level of demand in those positions, the level of pressure that they’re under - and whether or not those jobs are meaningful in the world. Often they wish to do something else. But money still counts, even here. It’s much easier to question this in your mid-40s, when you already have your house and your children and a good standard of living. Thank goodness we live quite a long time these days, in order to fit all this in! Maybe we do several careers in our lifetime - I certainly have!
Goodbye
Let us know your experiences here and what you think. We’re always hugely interested to hear from you. Lots of good vocabulary about lifestyle and life choices in this podcast!
Enough for now. Have a lovely day. Speak to you again soon. Goodbye.
Thank you so much for listening. Please help me tell others about this podcast by reviewing or rating it. And, please share it on social media. You can find more listening lessons and a free English course at adeptenglish.com
Links
- Your Friend Has Money
- Is money tearing your friendships apart?
- Help us make more content with a donation https://adeptengli.sh/donate
- More great listening lessons
- Find us on Spotify
- Read along on YouTube
- Apple Podcasts
- English language courses
- Listen & Learn
- Activate Your Listening Course
- Downloads
