Unit10Handling Personal FinancesTheme:personal financesLanguage functions:Agreeing and disagreeingObjectives:Students shall be able to talk about money-related issues and build skills in managing personal finances.In addition,students should be able to express agreement or disagreement when they discuss and debate how to earn,save,and spend money wisely.Warm-upProcedures:1.Give students one minute to identify the messages contained in the cartoon.Students may have their interpretations,but generally:1)college tuition is quite high;2)the mother is encouraging her daughter to make good use of the pocket money.2.Then,organize a free discussion on the two questions below the cartoon.3.Invite a few students to share their answers about how they pay for college and what they use their allowance for.Activity11.ConversationIn the dialogue,the two students are exchanging their ideas on how to manage personal finance.Their discussion highlights issues many students face—balancing expenses with limited budgets.Lead the students through the dialogue for language points,expressions on agreements and disagreements,and expressions on giving/taking/rejecting advice.Then ask students to have a look at the functional expressions in the Language Bank.Language points:●Agreement:That’s the point./That’s exactly my problem.●Partial agreement:Life at college should indeed be colorful,but we have to draw a linebetween what we need and what we want.●Disagreement:Come on…●Asking for advice:What’s your secret?/Tell me how./What shall I do?●Giving advice:I wouldn’t do that if I were you.●Rejecting advice:That never works for me!2.Discussion●Focus:This task is designed to have students reflect on their financial situations andspending habits.Through the discussion,students can gain greater self-awareness of sensible consumption and learn practical strategies from their peers.●Procedures:1.Divide students into small groups of four.Ask them to take turns to share in groups if they can live within their monthly budget and what actions they take when short on money.2.Then discuss in groups what they believe are healthy financial habits for students.Each member should contribute1-2ideas.3.Bring the class back together.Invite a few representatives to summarize their discussions.4.On the board,make a list of healthy financial habits for students based on their discussion. End up by encouraging students to cultivate healthy financial habits.Additional Resources for Teachers:Here are some suggested healthy financial habits for college students:-Make a budget and track spending:Know where your money is going each month and plan based on income and expenses.-Prioritize needs over wants:Spend money on necessities like food,housing,transportation first before entertainment,shopping,etc.-Save a portion of income:Put aside a percentage of any money you receive into savings. Having an emergency fund is important.-Limit eating out:Eating at the university cafeteria is much cheaper than dining out frequently.-Find free or low-cost entertainment:Take advantage of free events,student discounts,and splitting costs with friends.-Look for freebies and deals:Get free samples,use coupons and loyalty programs.-Establish a fun money allowance:Budget a set amount each week for non-essential spending.-Pay with cash:Studies show people spend less with cash.-Avoid impulse purchases:Give yourself time to think through a purchase.-Earn extra income:Get a part-time job or freelance work to supplement your budget.-Live within your means:Don’t try to keep up with others’spending.Focus on needs.3.Pair work●Focus:This task is designed to have students analyze proverbs related to personalfinances in pairs.This exchange allows students to articulate their financial philosophies while being open-minded to other stances.●Procedures:1.Ask students to review the list of money-related proverbs and select the one they most strongly connect with or find insightful.Students can also discuss one that is not on the provided list.2.Divide students into pairs.Explain to students that they will take turns to share their selected proverb and interpretation with their partner.They may agree or disagree with each other,but they should try to use the expressions that have been introduced.3.Then the teacher may ask some volunteers to share their understanding of a particular proverb with the whole class and see if others would agree or disagree with them.●Suggested Answers:Here are some suggested answers:No one is poor unless he thinks himself so.The proverb tries to persuade people never to be beaten by troubles or difficulties in life or lose hope and confidence in winning their fortune.As long as we believe in ourselves and work hard,we can one day realize our dreams and achieve what we want.Be penny-wise and pound-foolish.Don’t focus so much on saving pennies and nickels that you miss out on bigger opportunities. Being overly frugal about small expenses is counterproductive if you waste money in more significant ways.A fool can earn money,but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his advantage. Financial wisdom involves more than just earning money.Knowing how to budget,save,and use money wisely is more beneficial in the long term.Invest for the future.Neither a borrower nor a lender be.Avoid both relying heavily on borrowed money and lending money to others.Too much debt burdens the borrower.Lending money can also strain relationships sometimes.4.Group work●Focus:This task provides an opportunity for students to research the financial situationsof their peers.●Procedures:1.Divide students into groups of four.Explain to students that each group will survey student expenditures.2.Ask students to review the survey template provided.They can add or modify questions as desired.3.Give students sufficient time to conduct the survey and gather results.Suggest a minimum sample size.4.In groups,students calculate and analyze the survey results.5.Each group should prepare a summary of key findings from their survey and the implications for money management.6.Each group will present their survey methodology,results,analysis,and recommendations to the class.7.After presentations,lead a class discussion reflecting on spending habits and budgeting needs revealed from survey outcomes.8.Optional:Have students write an individual reflection on how they might adjust their own finances and spending based on the survey findings.Activity21.ConversationThis dialogue depicts a married couple,Nick and Janet,arguing over their household finances and inability to budget effectively.They are frustrated by their lack of savings and mounting expenses.The conversation reveals issues stemming from their different spending habits, incomes,and attitudes about money management.This dialogue presents an opportunity for students to analyze techniques for successful financial collaboration in relationships.2.Pair work●Focus:This creative task requires students to analyze the core issues in the couple’sdispute over finances and find reasonable compromises that address each one’s concerns.Through this task,students will demonstrate empathy,communication skills,and problem-solving skills as they work to resolve the conflicting approaches to household budgeting.●Procedures:1.Have students work in pairs.Explain to students that they will play the role of Nick and Janet and resolve the couple’s budget dispute.Give students one minute to re-read the dialogue and analyze the issues presented.2.Have students act out their extended conversation.Remind them to reach a reasonable compromise.The dialogue should end with the couple agreeing on a household budget and financial plan. This may involve:-Deciding on overall savings goals-Creating spending categories with assigned amounts-Agreeing on a system for tracking expenses-Compromising on discretionary spending items3.Invite a few volunteers to perform their completed dialogues for the class.4.Lead a short discussion reflecting on the budget solutions presented.Which compromises were most reasonable?What communication tactics worked best?5.Optional:Have students write a short reflection on what they learned about managing finances as a couple.Sample DialogueNick:I still think we need to control our spending.What if we each have an allowance to spend entirely at our discretion?Janet:But we need transparency,not separation.I don’t want to ask you for money when I need it.Nick:You’re right,that doesn’t work.Hmm,what if we have a shared account for bills and household expenses that we both contribute to based on our incomes?Then the rest ispersonal spending money.Janet:That’s better,but it doesn’t address our different attitudes about what’s worth spending on.For example,you think my books are useless.Nick:Okay,true.I suppose I should be less critical about your minor purchases if you could attempt to somewhat reduce your larger expenses.Janet:Fair enough.And we should agree on our savings goals for the year.Let’s aim to save$5000for vacations and$3000for the kids’college.Nick:Alright,it’s a deal.Should we use an app to track where all the money is going each month?That way we can catch any leaks early.Janet:Definitely.Having it all visible will help us make better choices together rather than pointing fingers.As long as we’re open to each other and work as a team,I think we can do this!Nick:Me too.I’m sorry.This is new to us but I’m glad we talked it out.Janet:Apology accepted.Now,ready to go over these credit card statements?Full transparency!Nick:You got it!Let’s do this.3.Role-play●Focus:This role-play task is designed to have students practice managing householdfinances through an improvised dialogue.The goal is to collaboratively track expenses and deposits to gain skills in household money management.●Procedures:1.Have students work in pairs.In each pair,one student should be the“big spender”and the other be the“miser.”2.Explain to students that they will play the role of a married couple who will review the monthly account book together.Remind them to take on the opposing attitudes of their roles.3.Give students a few minutes to review the account book and prepare for the role-play.The big spender should be ready to justify lavish purchases.The miser should express concern over unnecessary spending.4.Invite a few pairs to present their role-plays for the class.Pairs should aim to reconcile their different spending habits and agree on a reasonable budget and financial plan.5.Lead a discussion on the challenges of synchronizing financial viewpoints with a partner and effective strategies to enhance communication.Sample DialogueMiser:Okay,let’s go over these expenses line by line.RMB557at the shopping center?! That seems extremely high.What did you buy?Big Spender:I got some new clothes for work and a nice pair of shoes.Can’t I treat myself every once in a while?Miser:I suppose,but we need to stick to our budget.RMB80for a football ticket also seems excessive when we could watch it at home.Big Spender:It was a special event!I got to see it live with my friends.Miser:Let’s try to limit recreational spending to RMB100a month going forward.Now,the RMB200at the beauty parlor?!What’s that about?Big Spender:A girl’s got to look good!It was for a haircut and highlights.I can’t help it if the salon is pricey.Miser:Maybe try a less expensive place next time.I think we can cut this category in half. As for the RMB120movie—watching at home is way cheaper.Big Spender:Okay,I see your point.I can cut back on some of these extra treats.But could I still get some personal fun money that I don’t need to justify?Miser:That’s fair.How about we each get RMB200in discretionary spending?And we’ll save more by cooking at home and looking for free entertainment.Big Spender:It’s a deal!I want us to reach our savings goals.And I appreciate that you keep us on track.Miser:Thanks for being open to compromise.Together we’ve got this budget thing down! Activity31.How much money does a student need per month?This text discusses appropriate monthly allowances for college students in China.It centers on a university student dissatisfied with her RMB2,000monthly stipend from her parents, which she argues prevents her from indulging in luxuries like her peers.The author counters that this amount should sufficiently cover a student’s needs,citing a survey showing average undergraduate expenses in major cities were under RMB2,000.Experts advise students to adjust consumption based on family income and remember that education is the priority over material comforts.The issue reflects a generation gap in attitudes toward money, consumption values,and life priorities between Chinese youth and their elders.It also highlights the challenges of managing personal finances independently for the first time as a young adult.The text provides broader commentary on the importance of developing healthy spending habits.2.Discussion●Focus:Through this task,students will analyze their financial attitudes and deepen theirunderstanding of responsible money management and consumption habits.●Procedures:Divide students into groups of four and ask them to share their answers to the questions with group members.Remind students that they should have one member take notes of the major points that group members have made.After the group discussion,the note-takers would report their group discussion to the class.3.Role-play●Focus:This role-play scenario aims to provide an interactive way for students tointernalize the text’s themes revolving around fiscal responsibility and independence.Students could also practice agreeing and disagreeing,as well as offering and accepting suggestions through talking about money issues.Procedures:1.Divide students into pairs.In each pair,one student should be Student A and the other be Student B.2.Give students two minutes to read their role cards and get into character.Students should think about how they would act in their assigned role and improvise conversation based on their role descriptions.3.After five minutes of role-playing,the teacher will invite some students to present their role-play to the class.5.To conclude,students share their experiences and discuss what they learned about from this activity,and the teacher will summarize the insights gained.Sample Dialogue:Student A:I can’t believe my parents haven’t bought me a laptop yet.How do they expect me to do my schoolwork without one?It’s ridiculous that they haven’t provided me with this basic necessity for studying.Student B:I’m sorry to hear you don’t have a laptop,but maybe your parents can’t afford one right now.My parents give me a monthly allowance that’s usually enough,but lately, I’ve been donating some of it to charity so I’m short on cash.Student A:Well,if I were you,I’d tell my parents to give me more money.They should be responsible for making sure you have everything you need as a student.Student B:I disagree.I think we need to learn to be independent and make sacrifices sometimes.Your parents probably want you to focus on your studies rather than expensive gadgets.Student A:I guess you have a point.I don’t need the latest laptop.I should be grateful that my parents provide for my basic needs.It’s admirable that you’re donating your own money to help others in need.Student B:Thank you.But now I’m worried about covering my expenses.Do you have any ideas on how I could earn some extra money?Student A:Hmm...you could tutor younger students or get a part-time job on campus.Let me know if you need help!Student B:Those are great suggestions!Thanks for your advice!Supplementary Activity1.Learn to spend sustainablyThe passage offers advice for developing healthy spending habits and avoiding financial issues stemming from overspending.It targets readers who struggle with impulse purchases or have trouble differentiating between wants and needs.2.Discussion●Focus:This discussion aims to have students reflect on their spending habits andevaluate the effectiveness of the tips for avoiding impulsive purchases.●Procedures:1.Explain to students that the goal of this discussion is to reflect on their spending habits and evaluate strategies for controlling impulsive purchases.Encourage students to be open about sharing their experiences.2.Invite a few volunteers to describe a time they made an impulsive e probing questions to understand their motivations.3.After a few students have shared,facilitate a whole-class discussion on the effectiveness of the tips provided in the passage.Ask students to explain their perspectives.4.Invite students who have tried any of the techniques to describe their experiences implementing them.Did the strategies help manage spending?Have each student identify one tip they would be willing to try and explain why they think it would work for them.5.Leave five minutes at the end for students to reflect individually on new insights they have gained about sustainable spending habits.Definition:Impulsive buying,or impulsive spending,is the tendency of a customer to buy goods and services without planning.When a customer makes such buying decisions at the spur of the moment,it is usually triggered by emotions and feelings.Description:Impulsive buying can’t be categorized for one specific product category. Impulsive buying can be seen in products such as chocolates,clothes,and mobile phones and in big-ticket items such as cars,jewelry,etc.Impulsive buying means making an unplanned purchase.It is based on an irrational thinking.Marketers try to tap this behavior of customers to boost sales.There is a great likelihood that customers end up making a purchase ofproducts after entering the hypermarket without any actual intent of doing so.Many mobile phone makers tend to exploit this trait in customers by introducing products that can be add-on gadgets for their mobiles such as fitness bands,etc.。
法国商业grande école 简介1, 为什么选择商业grande école ?从学习过程上来讲，大量的企业内实习不但能让我们真实的接触法国先进的科学和制度，而且提高自己的实际操作能力，能掌握的不仅仅是理论，而是实实在在的本事，这才是文凭的实质，不是教委承不承认能够改变得了的。
从学习的结果来讲，尽管有些学校的文凭不被法国政府承认，但grande école的文凭就是grande école的文凭，再不被承认一样很受雇主欢迎。
决定你找不找得到工作的毕竟是自己的实力，而不是政府的一纸认定。
由于此类学校和企业有十分广泛的联系，根据企业的需要来培养使用型人才，grande école的毕业生进入企业后如同为企业量身订做的一样，这样的人才雇主怎能不欢迎？从人文的角度来说，grande école一般都是小班上课，不像有的大学几百人上大课，这样更便于和朋友交流，更利于溶入法国社会。
总而言之，我个人的观点是，要学出一身实实在在的本事，去读grande école肯定没错。
其实有时候我也觉得去法国读大学也是一条好路，照样可以开阔眼界，而且没有经济压力，课程压力也不大，回国后咱不也是喝过洋墨水的么，找工作时国内的单位才不知道什么是université什么是grande école呢。
只不过我觉得从小学到大学我已经做了16年书生了，我不再愿意当书生了，我要学点实实在在能用得上的东西！2,选择grande école有什么利与弊 ?。
1．好处。
（A）.grande école被称为大学校，或精英学校，它的特点是严格的选拔，高昂的费用和强调实践的职业教育，它与公立的université最大的也是最根本的几点区别也正在于此。
因为其特点，grande école的文凭含金量很高，特别在就业领域要比大学的DESS 文凭好用的多，这是它最吸引人的地方。
