Shadowing Practice: How to Talk About Salary & Money in English | English Podcast for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Everyday English Academy,
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Everyday English Academy,
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where speaking English feels natural and fun.
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I'm Sarah.
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Hello Sarah, and hello to all of you wonderful learners out there.
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It is fantastic to be here with you today.
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It really is.
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Mike, how are you feeling today?
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I am feeling great, thank you.
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I had my morning coffee and I am ready to talk about a very important topic.
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How about you?
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I am excellent.
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I am a little bit nervous,
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though, because our topic today is something many people find uncomfortable.
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Ooh, uncomfortable.
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What is it?
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Grammar rules?
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No, no. It is something we all need but hate discussing.
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I think I know.
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Is it money?
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Yes.
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Today we are going to talk about how to discuss salary and money in English.
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Money talk.
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That is a tricky one,
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even in our own language.
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Exactly.
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But it is so important.
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We need to ask about prices,
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negotiate salaries, and talk about expenses.
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I agree.
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And in English, there are special ways to be polite when we talk about money.
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That is what we are going to teach today.
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But first, we have a small request for all of you.
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Yes, if you enjoy learning with us,
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please subscribe to Everyday English Academy.
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And please give this episode a like and share it with anyone who wants to improve their English.
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It helps us reach more learners like you.
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Thank you so much.
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Okay, Mike, before we start with phrases,
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let's explain some important words about money.
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Oh, that is a great idea.
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Money vocabulary can be confusing.
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Let's start with a very important word, salary.
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Salary.
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This is the money you receive from your job every month or every year.
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Exactly.
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For example, my salary is $3,000 per month.
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It is the regular payment you get for your work.
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It is different from wage.
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Yes.
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A wage is usually paid by the hour or by the day.
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So, factory workers or restaurant staff often get wages.
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Office workers usually get a salary.
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Good explanation.
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What is the next word?
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Let's talk about the word afford.
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Afford.
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This word means you have enough money to buy something.
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For example, I cannot afford a new car right now.
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That means the car is too expensive for me.
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Or you can say, can you afford this apartment?
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You are asking if the person has enough money.
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It is a very useful word when we discuss prices and expenses.
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Perfect.
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Now, what about the word budget?
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Ah, budget.
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A budget is your plan for spending money.
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Yes, it shows how much money you have and how you will use it.
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For example, my monthly budget for food is $400.
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That means you plan to spend $400 on food each month.
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Exactly.
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Some people have a tight budget.
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That means they do not have much extra money.
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And some people have a flexible budget.
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They have more money to spend.
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Great word.
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What is next?
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Let's explain negotiate.
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Negotiate.
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This is when you discuss something to reach an agreement.
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Yes, you can negotiate your salary.
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That means you talk to your employer to get more money.
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Or you can negotiate the price of a car or a house.
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It is like a friendly conversation where both people try to find a fair solution.
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I think we have one more important word.
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Yes, the word expensive.
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Expensive means something costs a lot of money.
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The opposite is cheap or affordable.
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For example, this restaurant is very expensive.
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The meal costs $100.
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Or these shoes are cheap.
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They only cost $20.
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Now we know the vocabulary,
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let's learn how to use it in real conversations.
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Yes.
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Mike, imagine you were looking for a new job.
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How do you ask about the salary?
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Hmm.
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Can I just say, how much money do I get?
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Well, you can, but it sounds very direct.
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In English, we like to be a little more polite.
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Ah, I see.
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So, what should I say?
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You can say, what is the salary range for this position?
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Salary range.
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That means the minimum and maximum amount.
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Exactly.
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For example, the salary range is $40,000 to $50,000 per year.
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That is much better than just saying, how much?
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Or you can ask, what are the compensation details?
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Compensation.
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That is a more formal word for payment.
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Yes, it includes salary, bonuses,
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and benefits, like health insurance.
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So, what are the compensation details sounds very professional.
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Another good phrase is, could you tell me about the salary structure?
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I like that.
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It sounds polite and professional.
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Exactly.
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Now, Mike, what if you want to negotiate?
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What if you think the salary is too low?
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Oh, negotiating.
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That is scary.
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I always accept the first offer.
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No, no, Mike.
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You should always try to negotiate.
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It is normal.
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Okay, so how do I start?
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You can say, I was hoping for something closer to $55,000.
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I was hoping for.
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That sounds gentle.
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Yes.
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You are not demanding, you are expressing your wish.
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What if they say no?
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Then you can ask, is there any flexibility with the salary?
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Flexibility.
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That means can it change?
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Exactly.
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You are asking if they can offer more money.
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And if they still say no?
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You can talk about other benefits.
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You can say, would it be possible to discuss additional benefits?
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Like more vacation days or remote work options.
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Exactly.
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Sometimes companies cannot change the salary,
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but they can offer other things.
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That is very smart, Sarah.
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Thank you.
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Now let's talk about a different situation,
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talking about money with friends.
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Oh, this is also tricky.
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Sometimes friends ask me how much I earn.
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I feel uncomfortable.
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Yes.
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In many cultures, asking about salary is considered rude.
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So, what do I say if someone asks?
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You can be polite but private.
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You can say, I'd rather not discuss specific numbers.
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I would rather not.
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That is a gentle way to say no. Yes.
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Or you can say, I prefer to keep that private.
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That is very polite.
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What if I want to give them a general idea?
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You can say, I earn enough to be comfortable.
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Ah, that gives information without exact numbers.
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Or you can say, I'm doing okay financially.
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Financially.
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That means about money.
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Exactly.
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These phrases are friendly but protect your privacy.
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What if someone asks me how much my rent is?
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Same idea.
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You can say, it's within my budget,
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or it's affordable for me.
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Perfect.
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Now, what about shopping?
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How do I ask about prices politely?
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Good question.
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The simplest way is, how much is this?
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That is easy.
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Or you can say, what's the price of this item?
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More formal.
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Yes.
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And if you think something is too expensive,
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you can say, that's a bit out of my price range.
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Out of my price range.
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I like that.
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It means too expensive for me.
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Exactly.
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It is much more polite than saying, that's too expensive.
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What if I want to ask for a discount?
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You can say, do you offer any discounts?
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Simple and direct.
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is there any room for negotiation on the price?
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Room for negotiation.
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That is a good phrase.
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Yes, in some countries, negotiating prices is normal.
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In others, it is not.
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That is true.
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I need to know the culture.
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Absolutely.
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Now, Mike, let's practice a full conversation.
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I am the employer.
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You are applying for a job.
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Okay.
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I am nervous already.
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Do not worry.
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Just remember the phrases.
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So, Mike, we really liked your interview.
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We would like to offer you the position.
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Oh, thank you so much.
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I am very excited about this opportunity.
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The salary for this position is $45,000 per year.
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I appreciate the offer.
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I was hoping for something closer to $50,000, based on my experience.
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I understand.
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Unfortunately, our budget for this role is fixed at $45,000.
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I see.
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Is there any flexibility with other benefits,
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such as vacation time or professional development opportunities?
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Yes, we can offer you an additional week of vacation and a training budget of $2,000 per year.
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That sounds very fair.
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I accept the offer.
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Wonderful!
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Welcome to the team.
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Wow, that was actually fun.
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See?
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Negotiating is not scary when you know the right phrases.
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I felt confident because I had the words.
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Exactly.
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Now let's try another scenario.
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We are friends meeting for coffee.
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Okay, I will be myself.
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So, Mike, have you been saving money for your vacation?
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Yes, I have been putting aside $200 every month.
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That is great.
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How much do you think you will need?
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I estimate about $2,000 for the whole trip.
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Wow, where are you going?
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I am planning to visit Japan.
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Flights are a bit expensive.
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I bet.
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How much are the flights?
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Around $800 round trip.
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That is not too bad.
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And how much is your hotel?
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I found a nice place for about $100 per night.
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I am staying for 10 nights, so that's $1,000.
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So flights and hotel are $1,800.
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You are almost at your budget.
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Yes, the remaining $200 is for food and activities.
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That sounds like a wonderful trip.
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You planned your budget very well.
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Thank you.
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I am trying to be smart with my money.
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That was excellent, Mike.
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You talked about money naturally.
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It felt easy because we used real-life numbers and situations.
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Exactly.
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Now let's talk about some common mistakes people make when discussing money in English.
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Oh, I probably make all of them.
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The first mistake is being too direct.
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What do you mean?
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For example, saying, how much do you earn to someone you just met?
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Ah, that is too personal.
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Yes.
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Instead, you can talk about your field generally.
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People in my industry usually earn between X and Y.
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That gives information without being too personal.
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The second mistake is using the wrong currency terms.
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Currency terms?
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Yes.
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In America, we say dollars and cents.
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In the UK, they say pounds and pence.
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So I need to know which country I am in.
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Exactly.
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And always check if you are talking about salary per month or per year.
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That is important.
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$50,000 per year is very different from $50,000 per month.
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Laughing.
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Very different, indeed.
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The third mistake is not knowing informal money expressions.
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Like slang words?
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Yes.
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In English, we have many informal ways to talk about money.
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Can you give me some examples?
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Sure.
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Bucks means dollars.
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That costs 20 bucks.
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I have heard that one.
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Grand means $1,000.
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I paid five grand for my car.
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Five grand is $5,000.
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Got it.
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Broke means you have no money.
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I can't go out tonight.
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I'm broke.
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I have been broke many times.
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means very rich.
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He drives a Ferrari.
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He must be loaded.
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These are fun.
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What else?
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Ripoff means something is too expensive for its value.
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Ten dollars for a coffee?
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That's a ripoff.
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I agree.
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That is a ripoff.
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And a steal means something is very cheap.
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I got this jacket for $5.
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What a steal.
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So a steal is a good price.
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A ripoff is a bad price.
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Exactly.
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Now you sound like a native speaker.
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I feel like a native speaker.
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This is great.
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Now, Mike, I want to ask you something.
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What is the hardest part about talking about money for you?
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Hmm.
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I think it is the fear of sounding greedy.
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Greedy?
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Yes.
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When I negotiate salary, I worry the employer will think I only care about money.
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That is a common fear.
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But remember, negotiating is professional.
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It shows you know your value.
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That is true.
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Everyone wants fair payment for their work.
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Exactly.
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And if you negotiate politely,
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no one will think you are greedy.
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What about asking friends to split a bill at a restaurant.
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I always feel awkward.
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Oh, that is a good topic.
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In English, we have nice phrases for this.
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Please tell me.
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You can say, should we split the bill?
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Or, should we go Dutch?
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Go Dutch?
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Yes, it means everyone pays for their own meal.
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That is a funny expression.
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Or you can say, let's divide it evenly.
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Divide it evenly.
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That means everyone pays the same amount.
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Yes.
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And if you want to pay for everything,
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you can say, this one's on me.
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This one is on me.
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I like that.
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It sounds generous.
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It is.
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And your friends will appreciate it.
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What if I want to thank someone who paid for me?
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You can say, thank you so much.
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I'll get the next one.
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I will get the next one.
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That means I will pay next time.
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Exactly.
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It keeps the friendship balanced.
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Sarah, I feel so much more confident about money conversations now.
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That is wonderful, Mike.
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You have learned so many useful phrases today.
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I really have.
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I think the key is being polite and knowing the right expressions.
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Absolutely.
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And remember, it is okay to feel uncomfortable at first.
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Even native speakers feel uncomfortable talking about money sometimes.
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That is right.
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It is a sensitive topic for everyone.
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But with practice, it becomes easier.
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Exactly.
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Now, Mike, we are coming to the end of our conversation.
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Already?
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Time really does fly when we are learning.
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It does.
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But before we finish, we have something for our listeners.
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Yes, we want you to practice with us.
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We have a challenge for you.
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Write in the comments below.
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Tell us one money phrase you learned today.
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It can be salary range or out of my price range or any phrase you like.
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Write it in a sentence so you can practice.
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For example, I asked my boss about the salary range for the new position.
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We will read your comments and we love to see your progress.
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And please remember to subscribe to Everyday English Academy.
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Hit that subscribe button so you do not miss our next lesson.
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And give this video a like if you found it helpful.
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Share it with anyone who wants to talk about money confidently in English.
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Thank you so much for learning with us today, everyone.
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You are all doing an amazing job.
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Keep practicing and keep speaking.
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Remember, talking about money does not have to be scary.
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With the right words, you can discuss anything confidently.
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We will see you in the next episode of Everyday English Academy.
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Until then, take care and happy learning.
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Goodbye, everyone.
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Bye-bye.
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Context & Background
In the video "How to Talk About Salary & Money in English," hosts Sarah and Mike discuss the often uncomfortable yet essential topic of money communication. Recognizing that talking about finances can be tricky, especially for non-native speakers, they aim to equip English learners with the necessary vocabulary and polite phrases to navigate discussions about salary, wages, and expenses. By addressing the common hesitations that arise in these conversations, the hosts create a welcoming environment that encourages learners to engage with this important subject matter.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- What is your salary? - A direct way to inquire about someone's monthly or yearly earnings.
- Can we discuss my wage? - A polite way to introduce a conversation about payment, especially during negotiations.
- How much does this cost? - Useful for asking about prices in various contexts.
- I need to budget my expenses. - An important phrase indicating financial planning.
- Can you provide a breakdown of the salary package? - A more formal way to ask for detailed information regarding components of pay.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To enhance your English speaking skills around the topic of money, try the shadowing technique. This involves listening carefully to the phrases and mimicking them in real-time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to aid your practice:
- Listen: Play the video and pay close attention to how Sarah and Mike pronounce key vocabulary and phrases.
- Repeat: Use the shadow speak method by repeating what you hear immediately after they say it. This helps with pronunciation and intonation.
- Record: Use your smartphone or computer to record yourself. Listen to your recordings and compare them to the original content to identify areas for improvement.
- Practice in Context: Create scenarios where you can use these phrases. Role-play conversations where salary negotiations and expenses are discussed.
- Feedback: If possible, engage a language partner or teacher to provide feedback on your pronunciation and usage of vocabulary associated with money talk.
Engaging in this shadow speech practice can greatly improve your confidence and fluency in discussing financial topics in English, preparing you for real-life situations such as IELTS speaking practice or job interviews.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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