节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-12-13
难易度:High
关键字:lofty, literacy, abstract, charitable, savvy, psychotherapist
Welcome back, everybody.
Now with Christmas and Chinese New Year right around the corner,
it's possible your kids will receive a check from Grandma or a Hongbao from
Auntie,
which provides a great opportunity to teach them a little something about
saving, spending and giving, right?
Let's find out why kids need this kind of teaching as we finish up today's
reading down on line 16.
(Music).
A Lesson in Finance is a Great Gift for Kids.
Money is an abstract concept for young people, which can contribute to an "I
want it all" approach to holidays.
Studies have shown their brains don't develop enough to deal with such concepts
until they're in their early 20s,
says Beacham, who owns financial education company Money Savvy Generation.
Mellan, a psychotherapist and author, recommends giving children allowances "as
soon as they are old enough to make change.".
That money should be divided into "spending, saving, investing and charitable
giving," she says.
Beacham sells a piggy bank with sections for each.
We need to teach children to use money correctly.
So parents, today we're specifically talking to you about teaching good
financial habits, teaching your kids to be smart with their budgets.
And it's not easy.
It really isn't because money really is an abstract concept for... for young
people.
That's right.
We all want the latest cool thing, the newest smartphone or the best toy.
And so it's easy to... to want to spend as much money as you can.
But parents, right now is a great time, this Christmas, to teach your kids some
excellent lessons.
That's right.
Because money is this abstract concept for young people, you really need to look
at them and help them approach that.
Now we know what a concept is.
That's an idea.
But for something to be "abstract" means it's existing more as an idea or as a
feeling, and it's hard for us to really touch.
If it is abstract, we can't reach out and grab it with our hands.
Now Ryan, we can with money.
So how does money work as an... as an abstract then? I can... I can hold it!
Right. That's a good question.
If something is abstract, you can't feel or touch it, but we just said money is
an abstract concept.
So the idea of money and understanding how money works is what is abstract.
Now because it is this abstract idea, it can contribute to an "I want it all"
approach to the holidays.
Now I know your child probably doesn't stand in the toy store and go, "I want it
all," but the idea of wanting expensive gifts is what we're talking about here.
Exactly.
It's easy to think, "Well, I want it, why can't I have it?" if your child
doesn't understand how much something costs and how difficult it is to earn
money.
Now we said this word "to contribute." That means it adds to or makes it
possible for this to be a hard approach for you to the holidays.
Right. And an approach means the way that you think of something.
So when you're here in the holidays during Christmas, and your kids are asking
you for things,
they might not understand it's difficult for you to earn that money.
Now why... why do we know this?
Why are kids struggling with this?
Well, studies have shown that their brains don't develop enough to deal with
such concepts until they're in their early 20s.
So any of your kids, probably younger, are going to have hard times with this.
Now we get this statistic from Beacham who owns a financial educational company
called Money Savvy Generation.
That's right.
So here we see that this is a study that shows us that really kids don't
understand this.
They're not able to understand it because their brains don't develop.
That means they don't grow completely until they're in their early 20s.
Now we're not saying kids aren't smart.
They're definitely smart.
They can understand these ideas, but they need you to sit down with them and
explain it to them.
It's not something they will understand naturally.
And she knows this because she actually owns and runs an educational money
company.
Now this kind of company would work to help younger generations understand how
to use money wisely and help older generations teach them.
And her company is called Money Savvy Generation.
Right. Here we see the word "savvy." The word "savvy" means a particular
knowledge or ability, so.
They are very knowledgeable about money.
OK. So you can be savvy in different areas.
I would say Ryan is very savvy with his technology, with his phone and his
computer.
He understands it.
That's right.
I get how all the stuff works.
Now here we see also uh, Mellan, who is a psychotherapist and an author,
she recommends giving children allowances as soon as they are old enough to make
change.
OK. Let's first describe what she is.
We know that she is running this company, but the reason she can is because
she's a psychotherapist.
Now a "psychotherapist" is someone who treats a mental illness by discussing
problems instead of giving drugs.
She helps you discuss issues, gives you life skills to work through them.
That is a psychotherapist.
Right. She says give your kids allowances.
That means you're giving your children money every so often, usually every week.
That's right.
And you give them those if they do their chores, if they help around the house.
And this will help them, but you need to make sure they're old enough to make
change.
Now to "make change" means when I give you too much... when... when you tell me
how much it costs,
if I give you more than that, you give me the correct amount of money back.
Right. This money that you give your kids should be divided into spending,
saving, investing and charitable giving.
Now "charitable" giving is giving money, food or help to someone who is in need.
So you need to teach your child not to just use their own money but to... to use
it correctly - to spend, to save, to invest and to give.
OK. So your... your child knows how to divide their money.
She also sells a piggy bank with sections for each of these.
And a piggy bank is just a small, little bank you can put leftover money into.
That's right.
You can see a little girl holding a piggy bank on page 28 in your Studio
Classroom magazine.
Well, parents, we have more tips for you tomorrow on helping your children
understand how to use money correctly.
Right now, let's visit the Chat Room.
Hey, Bryan, did you just take some medicine?
Oh, no.
I'm just taking my vitamin C.
Here, take one.
Hmm. Well, the label says each tablet gives you twice the recommended daily
allowance of vitamin C.
Yes. It is very powerful.
That's why I take it.
And I rarely catch colds anymore.
Well, I'm glad it helps keeping you healthy.
But Bryan, what does "allowance" have to do with vitamins?
An allowance can refer to an amount of something that you are allowed to have
over a specific time.
In this case, it's the amount of a vitamin taken in one day.
I see.
And allowance can have other meanings, too, right?
Oh, sure.
An allowance can also be an amount of money that parents give their kids on a
weekly or monthly basis.
Did your parents ever give you an allowance, Ken?
No, they never did. But they did help pay for my education.
Hey, that's great!
Well, my parents gave me an allowance after I turned 13, but I had to work for
it.
Oh, you worked for your family's business?
No. I simply had a list of chores I needed to do on a weekly basis.
If I did them all, I'd get the money.
And if you didn't, then you wouldn't receive your allowance?
That's right.
And Ken, I think you're familiar with one other kind of allowance - a baggage
allowance.
Of course.
And I wish the airlines allowed me to carry more bags.
I hear you, Ken.
Many airlines have reduced their baggage allowances.
Yep. Here you go.
You know, I think I have more than my daily allowance of vitamin C and English.
OK. Let me know if you ever want some extra.
(Chinese).
(Chinese).
And that concludes our Language Tips today.
I'll see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
Thank you, Michelle.
Now concerning allowances, one question that often comes up is: Should a child's
allowance be connected to chores and responsibilities at home?
Well, one expert says that chores should be something kids are doing for the
family anyway, regardless if there's money involved.
So his answer is No.
Of course, there are those who think allowances should be connected to chores.
One survey shows that three quarters of American kids don't get their allowance
if they don't do their chores.
Friends, what do you think?
Talk about it, and then join us tomorrow for more about why and how we should
teach our kids about money.
Until then, have a great day.