“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 8: Money and Finance
Story 02: Passive Income
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Financial freedom
- Passive income
- Resignation letter
- Corporation
- Rental properties
- Analysis
- Landlord
- Legal aspects
- Pursuing hobbies
- Traditional 9-5 job
Read or Listen to the following passage:
I am thrilled to share my story with you. My name is Jane and I retired at the age of 40. It was an incredible achievement, and I still remember the day I turned in my resignation letter to my boss. I had worked for a large corporation for over a decade, and I was ready for a change. But how did I achieve financial freedom so early in life? It was all thanks to passive income.
I created a passive income stream by investing in rental properties. At first, it was difficult to find the right properties to invest in. I had to do a lot of research and analysis to determine which properties would generate the most income. I also had to learn how to manage tenants, deal with repairs and maintenance, and understand the legal aspects of being a landlord. However, once I had a few properties up and running, the income started to flow in.
These days, my life is amazing. I spend my days traveling, volunteering, and pursuing my hobbies. I have the freedom to do what I want when I want. My passive income allows me to live comfortably without having to work a traditional 9-5 job.
Comprehension Questions:
- At what age did Jane retire?
- How did Jane create passive income?
- What challenges did Jane face when investing in rental properties?
- What does Jane do with her time now that she’s retired?
- How does passive income allow Jane to live?
Conversations Starters:
- What does financial freedom mean to you? Is it a priority in your life?
- What are some examples of passive income streams that you know of? Which ones do you think are the most effective?
- Do you think early retirement is achievable for most people? What steps would someone need to take to retire early?
- How do you balance saving for retirement and enjoying life in the present?
- Have you ever invested in rental properties or any other form of passive income? If so, what was your experience like?
- What are some potential risks and challenges of relying solely on passive income?
- What factors should someone consider before deciding to retire early?
- Do you think the concept of retirement will look different in the future? How so?
- What role do personal values and goals play in achieving financial freedom and early retirement?
- What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing passive income or early retirement?
