Watch, click, listen and repeat. The goal is to get familiar with useful phrases about work, money, loans and relationship pressure — without writing anything.
Audio note: the Play and Slow buttons are set to American English and prioritize natural US voices when available on your device/browser.
1 · WatchOpen the episode or use the scene shortcuts.
2 · ClickDo the story questions and chunk activities.
3 · NoticePay attention to repeated collocations.
4 · RepeatUse Play / Slow / Pause to practice pronunciation.
I opened the episode.
I checked the story.
I practiced the chunks.
I repeated the phrases.
1. Episode 2 · quick recall
Click the ideas from Episode 2. More than one answer is correct.
Quick story reminder
Derek is tired, hungry and worried about his job. Mia is angry because he did not notice her hair and still expects him to pay for a first-class trip to the Bahamas. Derek tries to borrow more money, but his financial situation gets worse.
2. Watch again · scene shortcuts
Use the shortcuts to review the story in small parts.
Tip: Watch one scene, come back here, then click the exercises. Small pieces are easier to remember.
3. Preview vocabulary · tap if you need help
Before the quiz, check the money and work words from the episode. Open only the cards you need.
interest / interest rate
Interest is extra money you pay when you borrow money. An interest rate is the percentage.
The boss charged an 8% interest rate.
take a loan / borrow money
Borrow money = get money now and pay it back later.
Take a loan or take out a loan = borrow money from a bank.
Derek needs to take another loan.
credit score
A credit score is a number that shows if banks trust you to pay money back.
A low credit score = the bank may say no.
get fired
Get fired = lose your job because the company decides you can’t work there anymore.
Two people got fired at Derek’s office.
cut costs
Cut costs = spend less money, usually because the company has financial problems.
The company is cutting costs.
short on money / broke
Short on money = you don’t have enough money now.
Broke = you have no money or almost no money.
I’m short on money. / I’m broke.
remodel the bathroom
Remodel = renovate, change or improve a room/house.
Mia wants to remodel the bathroom.
wealthy man
Wealthy = rich, with a lot of money.
Charleston is full of wealthy men.
take it or leave it
Take it or leave it = accept this offer or say no; I won’t change it.
8% interest. Take it or leave it.
Mini vocabulary check · click the best meaning
1. If the boss charges 8% interest...
2. If Derek has a low credit score...
3. If a company is cutting costs...
4. Story quiz · click the best answer
Choose one answer for each question.
1. Why is Mia angry at the beginning?
2. What happened at Derek’s office?
3. What does Mia care about in that moment?
4. Why does Derek go to the bank?
5. What problem does the bank mention?
Vocabulary help: credit score
Credit score shows how risky it is for the bank to lend you money. Low score = more difficult to get a loan.
6. What does Derek tell his boss?
7. What does the boss charge?
Vocabulary help: charge + interest
Charge interest means: ask someone to pay extra money because they borrowed money.
So, if Derek borrows money with 8% interest, he must pay back the original money + extra money.
8. What does Derek say later?
5. Chunk Bingo · what did you hear?
Click the phrases that appear in Episode 2. Be careful: some are from Episode 1 or are distractors.
6. Collocation Builder · choose the natural phrase
Click the phrase that sounds natural in English.
1. I need to _____ another loan.
Natural: take a loan / take out a loan
Quick note
In everyday English, take out a loan is very natural. In the episode, Derek says take another loan.
2. I need to _____ money from the bank.
Natural: borrow money.
3. Two people _____ at the office.
Natural: get fired = lose your job.
4. The company is cutting _____.
Natural: cut costs = spend less money.
5. He has a low _____ score.
Natural: credit score.
6. The boss charged an 8% interest _____.
Natural: interest rate.
Quick note
Interest rate = the percentage of extra money you pay back after borrowing money.
7. Character opinions · click and react
Choose your reaction. Then open the model language.
Mia is being unfair to Derek.
Model phrases
I agree because Derek is already stressed about work and money. Mia only thinks about the trip.
I partly agree because Derek promised the trip, but Mia should also care about his situation.
Derek should be honest about money.
Model phrases
Exactly. If he hides the problem, it gets worse.
I understand him, but lying about the loan is dangerous.
Robert is a good friend.
Model phrases
I agree up to a point. He tries to warn Derek, but he also embarrasses him in front of everyone.
The boss takes advantage of Derek.
Model phrases
I see your point, but Derek lied about his sister. The boss helps him, but the interest rate is very high.
8. Useful language · click to reveal
Click each card to see the meaning and a natural example.
9. Pronunciation Arcade · Play / Slow / Pause
Listen and repeat. Use Slow if the phrase feels difficult.
a long day at the office
Are you asking me about dinner?
You don’t pay attention to me.
I’m short on money.
I need to take another loan.
I need to borrow money.
You’re going to get yourself in trouble.
That’s a very low interest rate.
10. Final review · click the useful sentence
Choose the sentence that sounds more natural.
1.
2.
3.
4.
11. Scene guide · key lines
This is a short scene guide with important lines from the episode. Use it to review vocabulary without reading a long transcript.
Scene 1 · Dinner and hair
Derek: “It was a long day at the office. Is dinner ready?”
Mia: “Are you asking me about dinner? You didn’t notice my hair.”
Derek thinks: “That’s my mistake. I need to be a better husband.”
Scene 2 · Work stress and Bahamas
Derek says two people got fired and the company is cutting costs.
Mia says he must keep his job and pay for the trip to the Bahamas.
Derek says he is short on money and already took out a loan to remodel the bathroom.
Scene 3 · Robert warns Derek
Derek says he needs a second loan.
Robert says Derek is broke and borrowing money for a vacation.
Robert warns: “You’re going to get yourself in trouble.”
Scene 4 · Mia and Claire
Mia says Derek works for a small company.
She says she is using his money and wants a rich lifestyle.
Claire tells her to think about wealthy men, expensive clothes and jewelry.
Scene 5 · At the bank
Derek asks for $25,000.
The bank says he already has a big loan and a low credit score.
The bank refuses to give him another loan.
Scene 6 · Boss and interest rate
Derek lies and says his sister is sick.
His boss lends him money but charges 8% interest.
Later, Derek says he has a good credit score and only 3% interest.
Answer key
Open only after trying the activities
Quick recall: Derek tired/hungry; Mia upset about hair; Derek worried about job; Bahamas trip; bank refuses second loan.
Story quiz: 1 hair/dinner; 2 two people got fired; 3 Bahamas/money; 4 another loan; 5 low credit score + existing loan; 6 sick sister story; 7 8% interest; 8 he says good credit score + 3% interest.
Chunk Bingo: a long day at the office; Is dinner ready?; pay attention to me; get fired; I’m short on money; take a loan; borrow money; credit score; interest rate.
Collocations: take/take out a loan; borrow money; get fired; cut costs; credit score; interest rate.