The Digital Euro

B2 Reading Comprehension on digital payments, wallets, transfers, e-commerce and the future of money.

Lesson Overview

Students read a short explainer about the digital euro. The lesson practises B2 vocabulary for digital payments, money transfers, e-commerce, online/offline payments and financial technology.

Before you watch

How often do you pay with cash, card or smartphone?
Would you use a digital euro wallet? Why or why not?
What is more important for payments: speed, safety or convenience?

Digital Euro

Prep

Drag the correct ending into each gap. The answer options are mixed.

1. If a payment is instant,...

2. If a service is free of charge,...

3. If something works throughout the euro area,...

4. If money is at your fingertips,...

5. If you authenticate a payment,...

6. If a payment works offline,...

7. If something has the same value irrespective of format,...

8. If you use e-commerce,...

Mixed answer options

you prove that you are the person making it.it can be used in countries that use the euro.you do not have to pay extra for it.its value does not change whether it is physical or digital.it happens immediately.you buy or sell something online.it can be made without an internet connection.you can access it easily whenever you need it.

Comprehension

Click each question to reveal the answer. All questions refer to the full video and are synced to the video time.

0:00What kind of payment solution does the video ask us to imagine?

It asks us to imagine a digital single payment solution for any kind of payment throughout the euro area.

0:12How is the digital euro described?

It is described as easy, safe, fast and reliable.

0:19Who would provide the digital money?

The money would come from the ECB.

0:26What everyday situation is used to explain how the digital euro works?

The situation is going for a meal with a friend and splitting the bill.

0:36What does the user check before sending money?

The user checks their balance.

0:43How quickly does the friend receive the money, and how much does it cost?

The friend receives it instantly, and the transfer is free of charge.

0:46What two things do not matter when making the payment?

It does not matter which country you are in or who your payment provider is.

1:15What does the sentence “a euro will always be a euro” mean?

It means the euro has the same value whether it is digital or physical.

Vocabulary from the Video

The digital euro could be a single payment .

The money would be at your .

You could check your wallet .

Your friend would receive the money .

It does not matter who your payment is.

You can place your device on the payment .

You need to the payment.

The digital euro could also be used for .

Mixed options

terminalsolutionauthenticatebalancefingertipse-commerceproviderinstantly

Vocabulary Review

Word / phrase	Meaning	Example
digital euro	a possible digital form of euro money from the ECB	The digital euro could be used for everyday payments.
payment solution	a system or method for making payments	The video presents a single payment solution.
euro area	the group of countries that use the euro	The digital euro could work throughout the euro area.
at your fingertips	easy to access whenever you need it	Money would be at your fingertips.
digital wallet	an app or tool for storing and using digital money	You could open your digital euro wallet.
balance	the amount of money available in an account or wallet	Check your balance before sending money.
transfer	to move money from one person or account to another	Confirm your transfer.
instantly	immediately	The money arrives instantly.
free of charge	without extra cost	The transfer is free of charge.
payment provider	a company or service that processes payments	It would not matter who your provider is.
terminal	a machine used to take card or phone payments	Place your device on the terminal.
authenticate	prove your identity before completing an action	Authenticate before making the payment.
offline	without an internet connection	The digital euro could work offline.
e-commerce	buying and selling online	It could be used for e-commerce.
irrespective of	without being affected by something	It keeps the same value irrespective of format.

Phrasal Verbs: Digital Payments

Complete each question with the correct phrasal verb. Then discuss your answers with a partner.

1. How often do you things with your phone instead of cash?

2. Have you ever had to a banking app to check your balance?

3. Would you trust a digital wallet to money if a payment failed?

4. What should you do if your payment does not ?

5. Do you think digital payments will eventually cash payments?

Mixed phrasal verbs

take over pay for go through log into send back

Collocations

single payment

digital euro

check your

confirm your

payment

physical

Mixed options

providerwalletsolutioncardtransferbalance

Useful Payment Verbs

Open the .

Enter the .

Confirm the .

Unlock your .

Place it on the .

Authenticate the .

Mixed options

terminalwalletpaymentamountdevicetransfer

Speaking extension: Explain how to pay a friend using a digital wallet. Use at least five words from the vocabulary table.

B2 Grammar: Could, Would and Passive Voice

This section practises language for explaining how a future payment system might work.

Use	Pattern	Example
Future possibility	could + verb	The digital euro could become a reality.
Hypothetical result	would + verb	Your friend would receive the money instantly.
Passive process	be + past participle	Payments are made instantly.
Same value	will always be	A euro will always be a euro.

Grammar Exercise 1: Complete the sentences

The digital euro a reality.

Your friend the money instantly.

Payments are instantly.

The euro will always a euro.

A physical card could also .

Mixed options

would receivebe usedcould becomebemade

Grammar Exercise 2: Error Correction

Click each sentence to reveal the correction.

The digital euro could becomes a reality.

The digital euro could become a reality.

Your friend would receives the money instantly.

Your friend would receive the money instantly.

Payments are make instantly.

Payments are made instantly.

A physical card could also use.

A physical card could also be used.

Grammar Exercise 3: Sentence Transformations

Use “could”.
The digital euro may become real.

Use “would”.
Your friend gets the money immediately.

Use the passive.
People make payments instantly.

Use “irrespective of”.
The euro has the same value in every format.

Discussion

Would you use a digital euro wallet? Why or why not?
What are the advantages of instant payments?
Should digital payments also work offline?
Would you prefer using a smartphone or a physical card?
Do you think digital money is safer or riskier than cash?
What problems could older people have with a digital euro?
Should a digital euro replace cash or exist next to it?

Useful Language

Agreeing	Expressing concern	Explaining a process
I can see the advantage of... That would be useful because...	One possible risk is... I’d be worried about...	First, you... Then, you... Finally, the payment is...

Role Play: Explaining the Digital Euro

Situation: A bank is introducing customers to the digital euro. One person is enthusiastic; the other is worried about safety, access and offline payments.

Student A: Bank Representative

Explain how the digital euro wallet works. Mention instant transfers, local shops, online shopping and physical cards.

Student B: Customer

Ask questions about safety, offline payments, payment providers, e-commerce and whether the euro keeps the same value.

Challenge

Use at least four phrases from the lesson: digital wallet, free of charge, payment provider, authenticate, offline, irrespective of format.

Bank representative language	Customer language
You could use it to... The payment would be... It can be used online or offline...	How would I...? What happens if...? Would it still work if...?