My Financial Career by Stephen Leacock

“When I go into a bank …I become an irresponsible idiot”

English language Level: intermediate Cefr A2-B1 – retold by Kieran McGovern

Before Watching/Listening.

Watch/listen to a funny story about a man opening a bank account in Canada in 1910.

Quick Check: True or False?

1. Banks make the the speaker nervous.
2. He wants to close a bank account.
3. He asks to see the bank manager.
4. The bank manager locks him out of the bank.
5. A bank clerk opens an account and deposits the money

Vocabulary

There are some words you may not know

Rattled – confused/upset/nervous

Teller/clerk/accountant – staff dealing with customers in a bank

Bill – bank note

Deposit – to put into a bank account

Draw/withdrawal – to take out/remove. Here refers to money

Complete adapted text here.