As an English teacher, I would present a conversation at the bank as a common scenario where students may need to communicate in English. I would provide vocabulary related to banking, such as bank account, deposit, withdrawal, exchange rate, and transaction, and review important language functions, such as making requests, asking for information, and expressing preferences. I would also model and practice polite and professional communication, including greetings, introductions, and thank-yous.
To present a conversation at the bank, I would use a dialogue format, with two or more speakers, such as a bank teller and a customer. I would start with a brief introduction and set the scene, such as:
Teacher: Imagine that you are at the bank to make a deposit. You want to deposit $100 into your account. Let’s practice a conversation with the bank teller.
I would then present the dialogue, with each speaker’s lines labeled and in quotation marks. Here is an example conversation:
Bank Teller: Good morning! How may I assist you today? Customer: Hi, I’d like to deposit $100 into my account, please. Bank Teller: Sure thing. Do you have your account number or debit card with you? Customer: Yes, here’s my debit card. Bank Teller: Thank you. Can you please enter your PIN number? Customer: Sure, it’s 1234. Bank Teller: Great. Your account shows a balance of $350. Would you like to deposit the $100 into your checking or savings account? Customer: I’d like to deposit it into my savings account, please. Bank Teller: No problem. May I have the cash, please? Customer: Sure, here you go. Bank Teller: Thank you. Your deposit has been made. Is there anything else I can assist you with today? Customer: No, that’s it. Thank you. Bank Teller: You’re welcome. Have a nice day!
After presenting the conversation, I would provide a list of vocabulary and expressions used, as well as additional practice activities, such as role-plays, comprehension questions, and grammar exercises. I would also encourage students to practice their own conversations at the bank, either in pairs or in small groups, and to seek feedback from their peers or teacher.
Here are some explanations of the difficult words used in the sample conversation:
- Deposit – to put money into an account.
- Debit card – a plastic card used to withdraw money or pay for goods and services.
- PIN number – a personal identification number used to access an account or make a transaction.
- Balance – the amount of money in an account after all transactions have been made.
- Checking account – an account used for everyday transactions, such as paying bills and making purchases.
- Savings account – an account used for saving money, with a higher interest rate than a checking account.
- Cash – physical money in the form of coins or notes.
It’s important for students to understand these vocabulary words when interacting with a bank, and to use them correctly to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings. By explaining the meaning of the words, students can better understand the conversation and be better prepared to use these words in their own interactions with banks or financial institutions.
