Reflect and Discuss

Roundtable preparation

Roundtable Discussions are live, small-group (max 4 students) conversations centering on the topics raised in the TED talk. Guided by an American business trainer with more than 35 years of professional experience, the Roundtable Discussions are designed to help you build fluency and confidence in spontaneous conversation with other advanced-level English speakers from around the world.

Read more about Roundtable Discussions >>

Prepare for the Roundtable Discussion by reflecting on the questions below. Practice answering them using vocabulary that was introduced in this lesson. You’ll get the best practice if you practice answering by speaking out loud.

• Can you give a clear and concise summary of the video? What are the main ideas presented? What examples were given as supporting evidence?

• Wendy starts her talk by saying that we all know we should be saving more money. Do you agree that we should save more money?
  • If you agree, explain why saving money is so important.
  • If you disagree, explain what it’s not so important to save money.

• Wendy also says that our ability to save money isn’t a question of how smart we are or how much willpower we have. Do you agree that intelligence and self-discipline are not the most important traits when it comes to saving money? Whether you agree or disagree, explain your views on this idea.

• The speaker says that the amount of money we save depends on the environmental cues around us. What are some examples of environmental cues that have a big impact on your life, both in terms of saving money and in relation to other topics as well?

• Wendy presents the results of a study in which one group of people was shown their income on a monthly basis and another group was shown their income on a weekly basis. Imagine that you are talking to someone who has not seen the video. How would you explain the study and its findings?

• The speaker tells us that she will help us “bridge the gap” between our intentions and our actions. In your view and in the context of saving money, why is there sometimes a wide gap between someone’s intentions and their actions?

• The first tip that Wendy offers is to harness the power of pre-commitment.
  • How would you explain this idea to someone who has not seen the video?
  • What example does Wendy offer to illustrate this idea? (Hint: it was related to tax returns.) How, exactly, is pre-commitment involved in the example?
  • Is this idea applicable to topics, other than saving money, in which there may be a wide gap between intentions and actions? Explain and give examples.

• Wendy’s second suggestion is to use transition moments to your advantage.
  • How would you explain the idea of a transition moment, also known as “the fresh start effect,” to someone who has not seen the video?
  • Wendy explains the power of transition moments by describing another study. (Hint: senior housing). Explain the study, and explain how, exactly, a transition moment was leveraged (used to gain an advantage)?
  • What are some examples of other transition moments? Do you agree that transition moments present an opportunity to commit to major changes in life? Explain your views.

• The third and final tip is to get a handle on small, frequent purchases.
  • Wendy describes the decision to eat out as “death by a thousand cuts.” Explain what she means.
  • She gives an example of small, frequent purchases from her own life. (Hint: ride-sharing apps.) Explain the challenge that she faced and what action(s) she took to address it.

• Which of the three tips do you think is the most useful? Why?

• Does Wendy make any suggestions that you strongly disagree with? Which suggestion(s)? Explain why you think she’s wrong.

Can you use any of these tips in your business life? if so, how? What plan can you make right now?

What additional tips might you offer to someone who has difficulty saving money?

What mistakes have you made with money in the past, either personally or with your business?

How would you convince someone of the importance of starting to save money at an early age? Practice speaking about this.

• In your childhood, was there a specific person who taught you about valuable lessons about money? What lessons did they teach you?

• As an adult, have you been fortunate enough to have a mentor or a role-model in this area of financial responsibility?

Use the internet to learn more about Wendy de la Rosa’s background and experience. In your opinion, is she qualified to speak and offer advice on the topic of saving money? Why or why not?

What did and didn’t you like about Wendy’s presentation style? Does she come across as sincere and genuine? If so, how does she achieve that style and tone?