Here is Level 2, Lesson 1: “Budget Cuts” adapted from VOA Learning English.
- Listen, read, translate if needed, and practice along with the audio player and the dialogue below.
Anna: Hum. Oh! “Important meeting. Everyone must come.” Well, back to work! And my boss has called a meeting. I wonder what it’s about. Maybe we’re all getting raises! Ooo, there’s Jonathan! Maybe he knows.
Professor Bot: Hi! I’m Professor Bot! This video is all about work. People talk about jobs and things that happen at work. Your assignment is to find as many work words as you can. Don’t worry, I’ll help.
Anna: So, Jonathan, what do you think today’s meeting is about? The email sounded important.
Jonathan: Well, I have heard people in the building talking about budget cuts.
Anna: Oh! Budget cuts? Wait, who has been talking about budget cuts?
Jonathan: Mark in Accounting.
Anna: Mark in Accounting? That’s one person. That’s not “people.”
Jonathan: I know, but Mark knows everything that goes on at The Studio.
Anna: That is true. But wait, look at us. We shouldn’t gossip. That’s how rumors start. We’ll just go to the meeting and see what happens.
Jonathan: You’re right. No more talk about budget cuts.
Amelia: Budget cuts? Oh no!
Amelia: I just heard Anna and Jonathan talking about budget cuts.
Kaveh: That must be what the meeting is about. When there are budget cuts, people lose their jobs.
Amelia: Not you. You’re a good reporter.
Kaveh: And it’s not you. You’ve done a great job as a videographer.
Amelia: I can’t go back to being a detective. Criminals scare me!
Kaveh: And I can’t go back to being a teacher! High school kids scare me!
Professor Bot: Did you hear any work words? They talked about a lot of jobs. You can make the name of a job by adding an ending to a verb! Kaveh reports, so, he’s a reporter. Amelia used to detect, so she was a detective. If you teach, you’re a teacher. And a videographer….uh, I think you understand. Back to the story.
Kaveh: Penelope, have you heard the news? Today’s meeting is about budget cuts.
Penelope: That’s awful! What should I do?
Kaveh: Update your résumé. I’ve already updated mine. I’ll see you at the meeting.
Ms. Weaver: Hello everyone! Quiet, please. Quiet, please!
Ms. Weaver: This meeting won’t take long. Then you can all leave.
Ms. Weaver: What is wrong with everyone? You look like I’m going to fire you. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Seriously, what is wrong with everyone?
Anna: Excuse me, Ms. Weaver?
Ms. Weaver: Yes, Anna.
Anna: Well, everyone has been worrying about, you know … We’ve been worrying that you are going to fire us!
Ms. Weaver: I’m not going to fire any of you! No! The reason for this meeting is to tell you what a good job you’ve been doing and give out new assignments. Budget cuts have been happening. But only one person has lost their job — Mark in Accounting? Now, let’s talk about those new assignments.
Professor Bot: Ms. Weaver’s team is doing a good job! How did you do? Did you find all of the work words? Here’s a list you can check.
| boss meeting raises budget cuts | Accounting gossip rumors lose reporter résumé | videographer detective teacher update fire assignment |
2. Watch the Lesson 1: “Budget Cuts” American English video lesson.
3. Take the Lesson 1: “Budget Cuts” lesson quiz to check your American English knowledge. Click here to take the quiz.
4. Answer the following question in the comments section below: What job would you like to do in the future? Tell how you will use English in the job.
Hello,
I did my quiz and got 4/4.
The job I would like to do in the future is to continue to evangelise God’s people as I do today.
English will help me to accomplish my job, as a pastor, because, when I prepare the sermon, I need reading books in different languages including English. I used to travel to USA, visiting our partner presbytery of Kiskiminetas in Pennsylvania, and they use English only. I used to preach in English in different occasions. In short, English will help me a lot in my job.
Thank you
I have just taken the quizz and i got 75%
3 good answers on 4 questions.
I would like to work in a call center in the future.
I will use my english to be a bilingual person and help another persons around the world.
Hello. I’m Danijela.
Job I want to do in the future is a clerk in Government, Ministry or Prosecution.
In the quiz my score was 4/4.
Thank you very much Maestro Sersea.
Hello. I would like to be a businesswoman. I want to sell products to other countries and I would use English to write and talk with other businesspeople. I hav to travel to sell my products to USA and Japan. English is importat to communicate them and make business.
Thank you Maestro Sersea.
Hello everyone.
I would like to start a new job in automobile electromechanics. In this type of job, English is very important because it allow us to work with more many people and workshops in the US and around the world.
In the quiz I got 4 of 4.
Thank you Maestro.
Hello , hind from , Iraq
I have just taken the quiz and I 3 from 4
Lesson 2.1.4
I have spent my entire life teaching. I love teaching. I want to be a teacher rest of my life. I will be trying to improve my teaching skill.
” Let’s learn English quiz ” I got 100%.
Thank you so very much, Sir.
Hello maestro sersea, My score was 4/4 ,I want to learn English becouse I need for find a better job , My dream job is at the hospital , tank You so much
Greeting Maestro Sersea
I did my quiz my result was 100%
Nowday, after the Covid-19 recession many opening on site and from home work has been open, and the English languague play an important role, in this openings. For me as an Administrative asistent to have a high English level mean to have most opportunities and to get a best wage.
Thank you so much.
I want to travel around the world. English is important to communicate with people.
hi i’m from DRC congo, I would like to be a manager or supervisor mechanic of heavy duty machines. Time to time i speak with other members of the team.
I done 4/4 in the quiz
Hello,
I did the quiz and I got 4/4. I have always dreamed dreamed of teaching English to young people who do not have the opportunity to study in English schools.
Thank you Maestro Sersea