In this lesson we’ll watch and listen to a news report on a bank which has been found guilty of behaving illegally.
Part 1
Discuss these topics with your partner / group:
- Do you trust big businesses?
- Should banks be more trustworthy than other organisations? Why?
- How important is it to you that a business behaves in a correct way?
Part 2
Before watching and listening, think about this question:
Who is most likely to be held responsible for Barclay’s illegal activities?
Before listening, check that you understand the meaning of these words:
| Word | Part of speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| fine | noun | I parked illegally and the fine was $80. |
| penance | noun | He’s already doing penance for his mistake. Don’t punish him any more. |
| bonus | noun | The bonus this year was only $500, on top of my salary. |
| fraud | noun | By using someone else’s credit card, she was guilty of fraud. |
| interest rate | noun | I’m getting a fantastic interest rate on my savings. |
| lending rate | noun | The lending rate on my mortgage is killing me. |
| benchmark | noun | Porsche is a benchmark automobile. All cars should be like that. |
| corporate | adjective | The corporate culture was one of greed. |
| held to account | You will be held to account for this mistake and you can expect to be punished. | |
| integrity | noun | I trust him. He shows great integrity. |
Now watch the video: