Lesson Aim
Students watch an educational video about money laundering and practise language for financial crime awareness, anti-money-laundering compliance, suspicious transactions and responsible reporting.
Before watching
- Why do banks monitor suspicious transactions?
- What kinds of businesses are vulnerable to financial crime?
- How can companies protect themselves from illegal money flows?
Prep Part 1
Drag the correct sentence ending into each gap.
Sentence endings
it has been obtained illegally or dishonestly.illegal money is made to appear legitimate.they appear to support the reported income.it is used to hide illegal activity.officials may notice and review it.Watch Part 1
Watch from 0:00 to about 0:58. Focus on the definition of money laundering and the example of a front business.
Open Part 1 on YouTubeComprehension 1
Click each question to reveal the answer.
Vocabulary from Part 1
Illegal money is sometimes described as money.
A front business can make earnings look .
Suspicious deposits may attract .
Documentation can be used to back up reported .
Options
earningsdirtymobilityattentionlegitimatePrep Part 2
Drag the correct sentence ending into each gap.
Sentence endings
documents or records show what happened.financial crime risks can be reduced.they examine it because it may be suspicious.it marks it for review because it may be suspicious.something hidden is discovered or noticed.Watch Part 2
Watch from about 0:58 to the end. Focus on how banks monitor deposits, why records matter and how financial crime can be investigated.
Open Part 2 on YouTubeComprehension 2
Click each question to reveal the answer.
Vocabulary from Part 2
Banks may flag large or unusual .
Financial crime teams look for patterns of suspicious .
Funds may be moved between different .
Investigators follow records to understand a transaction .
Options
depositsassignmentsactivitytrailaccountsVocabulary Review
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ill-gotten money | money obtained illegally | Financial crime often involves ill-gotten money. |
| money laundering | making illegal money appear legitimate | Banks must prevent money laundering. |
| front business | a business used to hide illegal activity | A front business can disguise criminal funds. |
| flag a transaction | mark a transaction for review | Compliance teams flag unusual deposits. |
| paper trail | records showing the history of transactions | Investigators follow the paper trail. |
Phrasal Verbs and Expressions
Investopedia breaks the concept.
A business might mark its reported earnings.
Documents can back reported income.
Investigators look suspicious transactions.
Banks must watch unusual patterns.
Options
downoverupupintoout forCollocations
financial
suspicious
bank
criminal
legitimate
Options
officialsincomepromotionoriginscrimetransactionB2/C1 Grammar: Passive Voice for Compliance
This section practises the passive voice for describing rules, procedures and investigations in financial crime prevention.
Grammar Section 1: Choose the Correct Passive Form
Choose an answer to get instant green/red feedback.
1. Large deposits ___ by bank officials.
2. Suspicious activity ___ to the compliance team.
3. The source of funds ___ during an investigation.
Grammar Section 2: Passive Voice in Context
Unusual transactions by financial institutions.
Large cash deposits for review.
Customer documents by compliance officers.
Suspicious patterns to the authorities.
Financial crime risks through strong controls.
Options
should be reportedcan be reducedare checkedare monitoredmonitoringmay be flaggedGrammar Section 3: Useful Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Use |
|---|---|---|
| is/are + past participle | Transactions are reviewed. | Describe a standard process. |
| may be + past participle | Deposits may be flagged. | Describe possibility. |
| must be + past participle | Suspicious activity must be reported. | Describe obligation. |
| can be + past participle | Risk can be reduced. | Describe what is possible. |
| was/were + past participle | The account was investigated. | Describe a past investigation. |
Thought-Provoking Questions
1. Why is money laundering harmful to society?
2. Should banks be responsible for detecting suspicious activity?
3. What industries might be vulnerable to financial crime?
4. How can businesses protect themselves from being misused?
5. What is more important: customer privacy or financial crime prevention?
6. How can staff be trained to recognise suspicious patterns?
7. Why is documentation important in compliance?
Role Play
| Compliance officer | Branch manager | Useful language |
|---|---|---|
| These transactions need to be reviewed. The pattern appears unusual. We may need additional documentation. | The customer says the money is legitimate. What evidence do we need? How should we handle the account? | The concern is that... We should verify... The next step is to... |
Context
Student A
You are the compliance officer. Explain the warning signs and recommend a careful, legal response.
Student B
You are the branch manager. Ask what information is needed, how to protect the bank and how to treat the customer fairly.
Role play task: Agree on a responsible action plan: review, documentation, escalation and customer communication.