• it really happened

Hi Indra,

How are you? I want to tell you about a funny thing that happened in my tourism class today!

We discussed future plans in the tourism industry. Many students had great goals, like managing hotels or becoming tour guides. But one female student gave a surprising answer: „I want to marry rich!“

She was completely serious about it. To her, „marrying rich“ means two things: no personal effort to study or work hard, and an easy life where another person pays for her home, clothes, and travels.

Since she was serious, we discussed all arguments why it is NOT a smart plan:

• No Control: You depend on someone else. If they leave you, you have no money and no work experience.
• No Freedom: The person with the money usually makes all the decisions in the relationship.
• It Is Hard: Very few people are extremely rich, so finding one and getting married is not easy.
• No Safety: Money can disappear if the business fails or the economy drops.

I told her a better plan for the future is relying on yourself:

1. Get an education: Learn a job or study at university.
2. Earn your own money: Having your own income gives you independence and freedom.
3. Find real love: It is better to marry someone because you love them, not because of their bank account.

I summarized that „marrying rich“ might be a joke, but as a real life plan, it is very risky. Building your own future gives real safety and self-respect.
In the end, I smiled and told her it was still her decision to make.

What do you think about her plan? Write back soon!

Best wishes,

Wolf

________________________________

Vocabulary:

Word / Phrase	A1 Definition
surprising	something that makes you say „Oh!“ because you did not expect it.
a goal	something you want to do or achieve in the future.
completely serious	not joking; meaning what you say 100%.
an effort	using time or energy to do something hard.
to be smart	clever; able to think and learn well.
to depend on somebody	to need another person for money, help, or a place to live.
work experience	the jobs you have done in the past.
freedom	being able to choose what you want to do without someone controlling you.
a decision	a choice you make after thinking about your options.
a relationship	the connection between two people (like friends, family, or partners).
to disappear	to go away so nobody can see it anymore.
to fail	to not succeed or not pass something.
to drop	to fall down, or to go down quickly to a lower level.
to rely on somebody	to trust and count on someone to help or support you.
an income	the money you get regularly from your job.
independence	being able to take care of yourself without help or money from others.
bank account	a safe place in a bank where your money is kept.
to summarize	to say or write the main points in a short way.
a joke	something funny that you say to make people laugh.
to be risky	dangerous; having a chance that something bad will happen.
safety	being safe from danger, harm, or losing things.
self-respect	feeling proud and happy with who you are.

######################

Match word and definition

Words

1. surprising
2. a goal
3. completely serious
4. an effort
5. to be smart
6. to depend on somebody
7. work experience
8. freedom
9. a decision
10. a relationship
11. to disappear
12. to fail
13. to drop
14. to rely on somebody
15. an income
16. independence
17. bank account
18. to summarize
19. a joke
20. to be risky
21. safety
22. self-respect

Definitions

A. being able to choose what you want to do without someone controlling you.

B. feeling proud and happy with who you are.

C. to fall down, or to go down quickly to a lower level.

D. clever; able to think and learn well.

E. to need another person for money, help, or a place to live.

F. dangerous; having a chance that something bad will happen.

G. a choice you make after thinking about your options.

H. something you want to do or achieve in the future.

I. the money you get regularly from your job.

J. to trust and count on someone to help or support you.

K. using time or energy to do something hard.

L. to go away so nobody can see it anymore.

M. being safe from danger, harm, or losing things.

N. something that makes you say „Oh!“ because you did not expect it.

O. to say or write the main points in a short way.

P. not joking; meaning what you say 100%.

Q. being able to take care of yourself without help or money from others.

R. a safe place in a bank where your money is kept.

S. the connection between two people (like friends, family, or partners).

T. to not succeed or not pass something.

U. the jobs you have done in the past.

V. something funny that you say to make people laugh.

_____________________________

Answer key
1-N, 2-H, 3-P, 4-K, 5-D, 6-E, 7-U, 8-A, 9-G,
10-S, 11-L, 12-T, 13-C, 14-J, 15-I, 16-Q, 17-R,
18-O, 19-V, 20-F, 21-M, 22-B
#####################

Match definition and word

Definitions

1. being able to choose what you want to do without someone controlling you.
2. feeling proud and happy with who you are.
3. to fall down, or to go down quickly to a lower level.
4. clever; able to think and learn well.
5. to need another person for money, help, or a place to live.
6. dangerous; having a chance that something bad will happen.
7. a choice you make after thinking about your options.
8. something you want to do or achieve in the future.
9. the money you get regularly from your job.
10. to trust and count on someone to help or support you.
11. using time or energy to do something hard.
12. to go away so nobody can see it anymore.
13. being safe from danger, harm, or losing things.
14. something that makes you say „Oh!“ because you did not expect it.
15. to say or write the main points in a short way.
16. not joking; meaning what you say 100%.
17. being able to take care of yourself without help or money from others.
18. a safe place in a bank where your money is kept.
19. the connection between two people (like friends, family, or partners).
20. to not succeed or not pass something.
21. the jobs you have done in the past.
22. something funny that you say to make people laugh.

Words

A. bank account

B. freedom

C. a decision

D. to rely on somebody

E. to be smart

F. self-respect

G. an effort

H. to depend on somebody

I. surprising

J. safety

K. a goal

L. to disappear

M. an income

N. to be risky

O. to fail

P. completely serious

Q. work experience

R. to drop

S. independence

T. a relationship

U. a joke

V. to summarize

__________________________________

Answer key

1-B, 2-F, 3-R, 4-E, 5-H, 6-N, 7-C, 8-K, 9-M,
10-D, 11-G, 12-L, 13-J, 14-I, 15-V, 16-P,
17-S, 18-A, 19-T, 20-O, 21-Q, 22-U

########################

Multiple choice:

1. Where did the main event in the text take place?
   A. In a tourism class B. At a business meeting C. In a university office
2. What topic was the class discussing before the student spoke up?
   A. History of global travel B. How to manage a hotel C. Future plans in tourism
3. Which of the following was mentioned as a goal by other students?
   A. Becoming a pilot B. Managing hotels C. Opening a restaurant
4. What was the female student’s plan for her future?
   A. To study abroad B. To start a business C. To marry rich
5. How did the female student present her plan to the class?
   A. As an assignment B. Completely serious C. As a quick joke
6. What does „marrying rich“ mean to this female student?
   A. Working together to buy a home B. Effortless life paid by another C. Sharing a business with a spouse
7. What is the main point of the „No Control“ argument?
   A. You depend on someone else B. You cannot travel where you wish C. You must share your bank account
8. Who usually makes decisions in a money-dependent relationship?
   A. Both partners equally B. The student’s parents C. The person with money
9. Why is finding and marrying a very rich person hard?
   A. Rich people live far away B. Very few people are rich C. Rich people never marry
10. What risk to money is mentioned in the „No Safety“ argument?
    A. Banks can close down B. Money can disappear C. Thieves can steal it
11. What is the first step Wolf suggested for a better future?
    A. Get an education B. Save all your cash C. Travel around the world
12. Why does Wolf advise earning your own money?
    A. To buy luxury items B. To lend to your friends C. It gives independence
13. According to Wolf, why should you marry someone?
    A. Because you love them B. For their bank account C. For your own comfort
14. How does Wolf view „marrying rich“ as a real life plan?
    A. It is guaranteed to work B. It is very risky C. It is the best choice
15. What builds real safety and self-respect according to Wolf?
    A. Relying on family B. Inheriting wealth C. Building your future
16. How did Wolf end the discussion with the student?
    A. By getting very angry B. By smiling at her choice C. By reporting her answer
17. Who wrote the message describing this story?
    A. Wolf B. The teacher C. A rich tourist
18. What subject was the class studying today?
    A. Economics B. Marketing C. Tourism
19. Besides managing hotels, what other goal was mentioned?
    A. Becoming tour guides B. Flying passenger planes C. Writing travel books
20. Who pays for the student’s home and travel in her plan?
    A. Another person B. Her own parents C. A university grant

_________________________________

Answer key:
1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-C, 5-B, 6-B, 7-A,
8-C, 9-B, 10-B, 11-A, 12-C, 13-A, 14-B,
15-C, 16-B, 17-A, 18-C, 19-A, 20-A

########################

True or false:

1. The class discussion started with a debate about history in the tourism industry.
2. The female student explicitly stated that she wanted to marry rich.
3. Wolf suggested that getting an education is the first step toward a better future.
4. The female student was laughing and clearly joking when she presented her plan.
5. In the „No Freedom“ argument, it was stated that the person with the money usually makes all decisions.
6. According to the text, finding and marrying an extremely rich person is very easy.
7. Wolf told the student that she was strictly forbidden from making her own decision.
8. Having your own income gives you independence and freedom according to Wolf.
9. Some students in the class mentioned wanting to become tour guides.
10. The text suggests that money can never disappear once a person is rich.
11. Wolf recommended marrying someone based primarily on the size of their bank account.
12. The main event described in the text took place during a tourism class.
13. The female student wanted to avoid personal effort to study or work hard.
14. Building your own future provides real safety and self-respect.

______________________________

Answer key
1-F, 2-T, 3-T, 4-F, 5-T, 6-F, 7-F, 8-T,
9-T, 10-F, 11-F, 12-T, 13-T, 14-T
______________________________

Full version:

The class discussion started with a debate about history in the tourism industry. True is: The class discussed future plans in the tourism industry.

The female student explicitly stated that she wanted to marry rich.

Wolf suggested that getting an education is the first step toward a better future.

The female student was laughing and clearly joking when she presented her plan. True is: The female student was completely serious about her plan.

In the „No Freedom“ argument, it was stated that the person with the money usually makes all decisions.

According to the text, finding and marrying an extremely rich person is very easy. True is: Finding and marrying an extremely rich person is not easy.

Wolf told the student that she was strictly forbidden from making her own decision. True is: Wolf smiled and told her it was still her decision to make.

Having your own income gives you independence and freedom according to Wolf.

Some students in the class mentioned wanting to become tour guides.

The text suggests that money can never disappear once a person is rich. True is: Money can disappear if the business fails or the economy drops.

Wolf recommended marrying someone based primarily on the size of their bank account. True is: Wolf recommended marrying someone because you love them, not because of their bank account.

The main event described in the text took place during a tourism class.

The female student wanted to avoid personal effort to study or work hard.

Building your own future provides real safety and self-respect.

######################

Match sentence halves:

Sentence beginnings

1. During the tourism class today, the students discussed…
2. While many classmates wanted to manage hotels, one student…
3. The female student wanted an easy life without…
4. If your wealthy partner leaves you, you may have…
5. In a money-dependent relationship, the rich partner usually…
6. Finding and marrying an extremely rich person is…
7. Money is not completely safe because it can…
8. The first step toward a better future is to…
9. Earning your own money gives you real…
10. Wolf concluded that building your own future provides…

Sentence Endings

A. disappear if the economy drops or a business fails.

B. all the power to make the main decisions.

C. real safety and self-respect.

D. their future plans in the industry.

E. independence and freedom.

F. no money and no work experience.

G. unexpected goals for her future.

H. get an education or learn a job.

I. personal effort to study or work hard.

J. not easy because very few people are wealthy.

_____________________________

Answer key:
1-D, 2-G, 3-I, 4-F, 5-B, 6-J, 7-A, 8-H, 9-E, 10-C

_____________________________

Full version:

During the tourism class today, the students discussed their future plans in the industry.

While many classmates wanted to manage hotels, one student had unexpected goals for her future.

The female student wanted an easy life without personal effort to study or work hard.

If your wealthy partner leaves you, you may have no money and no work experience.

In a money-dependent relationship, the rich partner usually makes all the main decisions.

Finding and marrying an extremely rich person is not easy because very few people are wealthy.

Money is not completely safe because it can disappear if the economy drops or a business fails.

The first step toward a better future is to get an education or learn a job.

Earning your own money gives you real independence and freedom.

Wolf concluded that building your own future provides real safety and self-respect.

########################

Cause and effect, match:

Causes

1. The student does not want to study or work hard.
2. You depend entirely on someone else for your money.
3. The other person in the relationship holds all the financial wealth.
4. Very few people in the world are extremely rich.
5. The economy drops or a business fails unexpectedly.
6. You earn your own income through a job.
7. You build your own future step-by-step.

Effects

A. Money can completely disappear overnight.

B. Finding and marrying one is not an easy plan.

C. You gain true independence and personal freedom.

D. You achieve real safety and self-respect.

E. She plans to marry rich so someone else pays for everything.

F. If they leave you, you are left with no money or work experience.

G. That person usually makes all of the relationship decisions.

____________________________

Answer key:
1-E, 2-F, 3-G, 4-B, 5-A, 6-C, 7-D

####################

Matching exercise – dialogue:

Questions

1. What is your plan for your career right now?
2. Why do you think a quick job is good?
3. What happens to your money without a degree?
4. Does a simple job stay safe when tourism stops?
5. How do hotel bosses pick people for big jobs?
6. Who controls your daily hours at the hotel?
7. Is it easy to move up without school?
8. What does university give you for the future?
9. Why should a person finish school first?
10. Can fast cash replace a real education?
11. How do you feel about working part-time while studying?
12. Will you stop your classes this week?

Answers

A. Higher education opens doors to big international offices.

B. Low skills block your path to better companies.

C. I stay in my course and finish my degree.

D. Working now brings cash without paying for classes.

E. High positions need good diplomas and strong skills.

F. Studying hard creates good safety and higher respect.

G. Small jobs pay low cash with little growth.

H. Managers order night shifts and weekend work for new staff.

I. Early money feels nice but limits your future options.

J. Doing both things together sounds like a smart idea.

K. Hotels fire basic workers first in bad times.

L. I leave school to get a hotel job today.

___________________________

Answer key:
1-L, 2-D, 3-G, 4-K, 5-E, 6-H, 7-B, 8-A, 9-F, 10-I, 11-J, 12-C

___________________________

Full version:

Interviewer: What is your plan for your career right now?

Student: I leave school to get a hotel job today.

Interviewer: Why do you think a quick job is good?

Student: Working now brings cash without paying for classes.

Interviewer: What happens to your money without a degree?

Student: Small jobs pay low cash with little growth.

Interviewer: Does a simple job stay safe when tourism stops?

Student: Hotels fire basic workers first in bad times.

Interviewer: How do hotel bosses pick people for big jobs?

Student: High positions need good diplomas and strong skills.

Interviewer: Who controls your daily hours at the hotel?

Student: Managers order night shifts and weekend work for new staff.

Interviewer: Is it easy to move up without school?

Student: Low skills block your path to better companies.

Interviewer: What does university give you for the future?

Student: Higher education opens doors to big international offices.

Interviewer: Why should a person finish school first?

Student: Studying hard creates good safety and higher respect.

Interviewer: Can fast cash replace a real education?

Student: Early money feels nice but limits your future options.

Interviewer: How do you feel about working part-time while studying?

Student: Doing both things together sounds like a smart idea.

Interviewer: Will you stop your classes this week?

Student: I stay in my course and finish my degree.

#####################
##################
###############
###########
#########
######
###
#

Please use the box below
to write your feedback.
Only I can read it.
It is not public.

Please tell me:

• Are the texts and exercises OK?
• Are the topics OK?
• Is the level OK?
• Is it too easy or too difficult?
• Is it too short, too long?
• Do you want texts about other topics?

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback.

#####################
##################
###############
###########
#########
######
###
#

Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at