A job offer in another country can feel like a door opening — and like a risk at the same time. In this lesson, a young woman in Addis Ababa tells her mother that she plans to take a salon job in Dubai arranged by an agent, and asks for her mother's savings to pay the agent. Her mother responds with questions, warnings and doubt. This study guide helps you follow that kind of conversation and take part in it yourself.

The focus is practical B1 English for a family discussion about a work offer abroad: explaining a decision, asking about salary, rent, fees and visas, warning someone politely, and asking for clear promises or proof. You will also practise reported arrangements such as "Hana says…" and "She said…", which are common when one person passes on information from an agent. The examples below are fresh teaching examples, not quotations from the recording, unless they are marked as coming from the lesson.

The situation and your learning goal

The scene is a home conversation between Selamawit, 21, and her mother Almaz. Selamawit has left her factory job and wants to go to Dubai for a salon job. She needs borrowed savings to pay the agent. Almaz worries about the ticket, the visa, the first month before any salary arrives, and the dangers of going.

By the end of this guide you should be able to:

  • announce a big decision clearly, even when your family disagrees;
  • ask and answer simple questions about salary, rent, ticket costs, agent fees and savings;
  • warn someone without starting a fight;
  • check what an agent has promised, and ask for a receipt or other proof;
  • talk about documents such as a passport and a visa.

Useful English for this situation

I'm not asking for your permission. I'm telling you.

This line from the lesson is a firm way to state a decision and close a family debate. It is direct and can sound cold or defiant, so use it only when you have decided and want to be clear, not when you want to negotiate. A softer version is "I've made my decision, and I wanted you to hear it from me first."

Extension example (added for practice): "I'm not asking for your permission — I've already accepted the job. But I do want your advice about the contract."

Afraid keeps you alive.

This lesson phrase is a warning that fear can help you stay careful. It works well between people who trust each other, and it softens a warning by making caution sound wise rather than weak. Do not use it to mock someone's fear, and do not use it to justify doing nothing.

Extension example (added for practice): "I know you're nervous about the agent, and that's healthy. Afraid keeps you alive — just don't let it stop you asking questions."

Will I get a receipt for this money?

This is a practical, polite way to ask for proof of payment. It is neutral and works with agents, landlords and employers. A slightly more formal option is "Could I have a receipt, please?" If you want to be firmer: "I'll need a receipt before I pay."

Extension example (added for practice): "Will I get a receipt for this money, and does it show the agent's full name and the amount?"

I trust you, but I will count it.

This cautious line shows trust while checking money. It is useful with family and friends because it separates the relationship from the transaction. Tone matters: said warmly, it sounds fair; said sharply, it can sound accusing. A softer version is "I trust you — I just like to check the numbers together."

Extension example (added for practice): "I trust you, but I will count it before we sign anything, so we both have the same figure."

Don't sign papers you don't understand.

This clear warning about contracts and documents is short and serious. It is appropriate from a parent, a friend or an adviser. In a more formal setting, you might say "Please don't sign anything until you've had it explained." The same advice applies to you: ask for a translation or a copy to keep.

Extension example (added for practice): "Don't sign papers you don't understand — ask them to explain the fees in writing first."

Vocabulary: money, migration and documents

Learn these words in pairs, because learners often confuse who pays, who earns and who borrows.

  • salary — regular pay from a job, usually monthly. You earn it.
  • agent — someone who arranges a service or deal, often for a fee.
  • commission — money paid to someone for making a deal or bringing a client.
  • savings — money kept aside for future use.
  • loan — money borrowed and later paid back.
  • visa — official permission to enter or stay in a country.
  • receipt — a document proving that money was paid.
  • passport — an official identity document needed for international travel.

A quick check: your salary is what you earn; the fee is what you pay the agent; commission is often a percentage; a loan must be repaid; savings are yours already.

How to use the language

Report arrangements, then check them. When someone passes on an agent's words, use reported speech: "Hana says the job starts in March." "She said the salary was 3,000 dirhams a month." Then ask for details: "What is the name of the salon?" "Who pays the ticket?"

Ask about money in order. A simple sequence works well: salary, rent, ticket, agent fee, then what happens before the first payday. Example: "What's the monthly salary? How much is rent? Who pays for the ticket, and is the agent's fee separate?"

Warn politely but firmly. Use "Be careful with…", "Make sure you…", or "Don't … until …". Example: "Don't hand over your passport until you have a receipt."

Ask for proof without sounding rude. "Could you confirm…?", "Could I have that in writing?", and "I'll need a receipt, please" are polite and clear.

Common mistakes and practice

Money words. Learners often say "I will borrow the salary" when they mean "I will borrow money until my first salary." Keep the roles clear: the employer pays the salary, the agent charges a fee, the bank or family gives a loan.

Reported promises. "I will send it" becomes "She said she would send it." Notice the tense shift and the pronoun change. Practise: "He told me the visa was ready." "She said she would call on Friday."

Tone when asking for proof. "Give me a receipt" sounds like an order. "Could I have a receipt, please?" is polite but still firm. Both are acceptable in different situations; choose according to your relationship with the person.

Try these tasks:

  1. Family role-play. Student A announces a plan to take a job in another city or country and asks for a loan. Student B asks about salary, rent, travel costs and repayment, then gives one warning. Swap roles.
  2. Money-word sorting. Sort salary, fee, commission, savings, loan, receipt and visa into "money you earn", "money you pay", "money you borrow or keep" and "documents", then ask and answer questions about each.
  3. Reported-message task. One learner reads a short agent's message with job details and a fee; the other reports it using "She said…" and "He told me…", then checks the name, address and payment date.
  4. Proof-and-reassurance dialogues. Write polite requests such as "Could you confirm the start date?" and "I'll need a receipt, please", then practise responding with reassurance.

Now listen to the lesson and notice how Selamawit and Almaz balance determination with caution. Then try one response of your own: imagine your family asks about the agent's fee — answer with one clear fact, one question and one promise, for example: "The fee is 500 dollars, and I'll get a receipt. Could you help me check the contract before I sign?"