En C1 L12 final
Level C1 Lesson 12
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
OBJECTIVES
Greetings and Check-in New Words and Expressions Topic: The Fine Print Review Assignment from Last Lesson Grammar: Relative Clauses (2) Assignment for Next Lesson
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
WORDS
Do you know these words and expressions? terms and conditions
vested rights
pertaining to
forfeiture
waive
plain vanilla
contained herein
incomprehensible
limit
amend
liability
parsing
legal recourse
ruling
claims
conspicuous disclosure
third party
buried too deeply
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
Oh that? Oh that's the usual clause, that's in every contract. That just says, 'If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified.' It's all right, that's in every contract. That's what they call a sanity clause. Hey, wait a minute. You can’t fool me – everyone knows there’s no sanity clause!
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
GENERAL TERMS OF USE. By clicking the option “I have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions of the User Agreement ”, you acknowledge and agree to all of the terms and conditions for use of this site as well as to adhere to the rules pertaining to the use of this site. You further agree to convey the contents of this User Agreement to your family members or companions. If you do not agree with or object to any part of the terms and conditions, you should not use this site, because by your use you waive any objection to any term or condition contained herein. Your use of this site is subject to the terms and conditions set out below, and all applicable international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations. These terms and conditions limit and exclude our liability. Your legal recourse for liability arising from your use of this site will generally be limited to claims against third party service providers. English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
TERMINATION Any failure to follow Terms, any abuse of Program privileges, or any misrepresentation of any information furnished by you, may result in the termination of your eligibility in the Program and the cancellation and forfeiture of accrued Reward Points or Program benefits. The Rewards Program may be changed or discontinued at any time without notice. This means that the accumulation of Reward Points does not entitle you to any vested rights with respect to such points or Program benefits. In accumulating Reward Points, you may not rely on the continued availability of any award or award level, and you may not be able to obtain all offered awards. Any award may be withdrawn or subject to increased Reward Point requirements or new restrictions at any time. Changes to the Program may affect the perceived value of or your ability to use the Reward Points you already have accumulated or result in the forfeiture of accumulated Reward Points.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
President Obama lent his weight to credit card reform yesterday as he met with credit card company executives. Obama said he wants credit card fees and policies to be explained in language anyone could understand and to put an end to unexpected hikes in interest rates. "Every credit card issuer has to issue a plain vanilla easy-to-understand, simplest possible credit card that would be the default credit card that the average user can feel comfortable with," he said. “Anyone who has ever tried to read a credit card agreement knows that the terms are simply incomprehensible. The inserts sent along with monthly bills to amend the card agreements are filled with language even a lawyer would have difficulty parsing. In such an environment, the average consumer doesn't have a prayer.” Elizabeth Warren, Harvard Law Professor
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
Here's a ruling that ought to give bank and credit card company executives pause: The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said JPMorgan Chase failed to make "clear and conspicuous disclosure" of the annual percentage rates it could impose, as required by federal law, even though the terms were stated in the fine print of the cardholder agreement, according to the AP. The three-judge panel reversed a previous ruling. The case involved a couple that was paying an 8.99 percent annual rate when the amount suddenly "skyrocketed" to 24.24 percent. The five dense paragraphs of disclosure were not good enough, the judges ruled. One judge wrote the disclosure was "buried too deeply in the fine print" for a reasonable cardholder to realize the bank could raise the APR for "any reason at all." So this raises a big issue: How much disclosure is enough? And what form should it take? The new credit card reform bills take a crack at this.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
CONVERSATION
Cities of the World and contracts without Many people sign agreements even bothering reading the fine print because they feel the language is “boilerplate” and can not be changed anyway. What is the danger in doing this? What is the purpose of legal language as is used in contract and other agreements? Do you think this language helps or hinders the making of agreement between two parties? As a non-native speaker, do you feel that it is difficult to understand legal agreements because of the language used or because of the legal conventions behind the language? Can you cite an example when you signed something you should have read more carefully? Or that you read, objected to, and got modified before signing? English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
USING ENGLISH
Learning Opportunities Speak English outside class Read English books or newspapers Watch English TV or movies Write in English Use a dictionary when reading Think in English
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
YES
NO
REVIEW ASSIGNMENT FROM LAST LESSON
Cities of the World
Read or share your written assignment from last week. Instructor review of your assignment. What did you learn by doing this assignment?
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
GRAMMAR
Relative Clauses Restrictive versus nonrestrictive relative clauses
Restrictive
Nonrestrictive
identifies the noun it describes – not set off by commas
adds additional information to an already identified noun – set off by commas
I supported the one initiative that I could actually understand.
I supported that initiative, which will lower taxes.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
GRAMMAR
Relative Clauses Other uses of nonrestrictive relative clauses
often used in definitions use to comment on an entire idea use to quantify and comment on features
English Language
A petition, which is a collection of voter signatures. I voted for that proposition, which was a big mistake. There are three proposition, only one of which will pass.
Level C1 Lesson 12
EXERCISE
Identify the restrictive or nonrestrictive clause in these sentences.
I can not understand a contract that is written in legal jargon. I read the contract, which was full of legalese, and I sent it back with my revisions. My lawyer is one who knows what I prefer. My lawyer’s office, which is downtown, is extremely well appointed. English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
ASSIGNMENT FOR THE NEXT LESSON
READ Check out the other side of the argument. This article presents the fine print issue from the credit card companies point of view. http://www.creditcards.com/credit-cardnews/credit-card-law-consequences-1282.php Just for fun, check out this skit featuring Groucho and Chico Marx negotiating a contract. It’s a classic of American film comedy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzR2pM_S5U&feature=PlayList&p=C939F7BB9196 16B2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
ASSGNMENT FOR THE NEXT LESSON
WRITE Here are two sides of an argument: - Let the buyer beware. If you can’t read it, you shouldn’t sign it. If you can read it, you should make sure you understand it before you do. - It doesn’t matter how well you read and understand anything, there still needs to be laws to ensure that legal language is not used by companies to trick consumers. In 300 to 500 words write a persuasive essay that finds a middle ground between these two positions.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
OBJECTIVES REACHED
New Words and Expressions Topic: The Fine Print Learning Opportunities Review of Last Lesson’s Assignment Grammar: Relative Clauses (2) Next Reading and Writing Assignment: Who’s responsible for the fine print? Excellent! Now you can read the fine print without a magnifying glass. English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
OBJECTIVES
Greetings and Check-in New Words and Expressions Topic: The Fine Print Review Assignment from Last Lesson Grammar: Relative Clauses (2) Assignment for Next Lesson
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
WORDS
Do you know these words and expressions? terms and conditions
vested rights
pertaining to
forfeiture
waive
plain vanilla
contained herein
incomprehensible
limit
amend
liability
parsing
legal recourse
ruling
claims
conspicuous disclosure
third party
buried too deeply
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
Oh that? Oh that's the usual clause, that's in every contract. That just says, 'If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified.' It's all right, that's in every contract. That's what they call a sanity clause. Hey, wait a minute. You can’t fool me – everyone knows there’s no sanity clause!
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
GENERAL TERMS OF USE. By clicking the option “I have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions of the User Agreement ”, you acknowledge and agree to all of the terms and conditions for use of this site as well as to adhere to the rules pertaining to the use of this site. You further agree to convey the contents of this User Agreement to your family members or companions. If you do not agree with or object to any part of the terms and conditions, you should not use this site, because by your use you waive any objection to any term or condition contained herein. Your use of this site is subject to the terms and conditions set out below, and all applicable international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations. These terms and conditions limit and exclude our liability. Your legal recourse for liability arising from your use of this site will generally be limited to claims against third party service providers. English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
TERMINATION Any failure to follow Terms, any abuse of Program privileges, or any misrepresentation of any information furnished by you, may result in the termination of your eligibility in the Program and the cancellation and forfeiture of accrued Reward Points or Program benefits. The Rewards Program may be changed or discontinued at any time without notice. This means that the accumulation of Reward Points does not entitle you to any vested rights with respect to such points or Program benefits. In accumulating Reward Points, you may not rely on the continued availability of any award or award level, and you may not be able to obtain all offered awards. Any award may be withdrawn or subject to increased Reward Point requirements or new restrictions at any time. Changes to the Program may affect the perceived value of or your ability to use the Reward Points you already have accumulated or result in the forfeiture of accumulated Reward Points.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
President Obama lent his weight to credit card reform yesterday as he met with credit card company executives. Obama said he wants credit card fees and policies to be explained in language anyone could understand and to put an end to unexpected hikes in interest rates. "Every credit card issuer has to issue a plain vanilla easy-to-understand, simplest possible credit card that would be the default credit card that the average user can feel comfortable with," he said. “Anyone who has ever tried to read a credit card agreement knows that the terms are simply incomprehensible. The inserts sent along with monthly bills to amend the card agreements are filled with language even a lawyer would have difficulty parsing. In such an environment, the average consumer doesn't have a prayer.” Elizabeth Warren, Harvard Law Professor
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
TOPIC: THE FINE PRINT
Here's a ruling that ought to give bank and credit card company executives pause: The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said JPMorgan Chase failed to make "clear and conspicuous disclosure" of the annual percentage rates it could impose, as required by federal law, even though the terms were stated in the fine print of the cardholder agreement, according to the AP. The three-judge panel reversed a previous ruling. The case involved a couple that was paying an 8.99 percent annual rate when the amount suddenly "skyrocketed" to 24.24 percent. The five dense paragraphs of disclosure were not good enough, the judges ruled. One judge wrote the disclosure was "buried too deeply in the fine print" for a reasonable cardholder to realize the bank could raise the APR for "any reason at all." So this raises a big issue: How much disclosure is enough? And what form should it take? The new credit card reform bills take a crack at this.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
CONVERSATION
Cities of the World and contracts without Many people sign agreements even bothering reading the fine print because they feel the language is “boilerplate” and can not be changed anyway. What is the danger in doing this? What is the purpose of legal language as is used in contract and other agreements? Do you think this language helps or hinders the making of agreement between two parties? As a non-native speaker, do you feel that it is difficult to understand legal agreements because of the language used or because of the legal conventions behind the language? Can you cite an example when you signed something you should have read more carefully? Or that you read, objected to, and got modified before signing? English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
USING ENGLISH
Learning Opportunities Speak English outside class Read English books or newspapers Watch English TV or movies Write in English Use a dictionary when reading Think in English
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
YES
NO
REVIEW ASSIGNMENT FROM LAST LESSON
Cities of the World
Read or share your written assignment from last week. Instructor review of your assignment. What did you learn by doing this assignment?
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
GRAMMAR
Relative Clauses Restrictive versus nonrestrictive relative clauses
Restrictive
Nonrestrictive
identifies the noun it describes – not set off by commas
adds additional information to an already identified noun – set off by commas
I supported the one initiative that I could actually understand.
I supported that initiative, which will lower taxes.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
GRAMMAR
Relative Clauses Other uses of nonrestrictive relative clauses
often used in definitions use to comment on an entire idea use to quantify and comment on features
English Language
A petition, which is a collection of voter signatures. I voted for that proposition, which was a big mistake. There are three proposition, only one of which will pass.
Level C1 Lesson 12
EXERCISE
Identify the restrictive or nonrestrictive clause in these sentences.
I can not understand a contract that is written in legal jargon. I read the contract, which was full of legalese, and I sent it back with my revisions. My lawyer is one who knows what I prefer. My lawyer’s office, which is downtown, is extremely well appointed. English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
ASSIGNMENT FOR THE NEXT LESSON
READ Check out the other side of the argument. This article presents the fine print issue from the credit card companies point of view. http://www.creditcards.com/credit-cardnews/credit-card-law-consequences-1282.php Just for fun, check out this skit featuring Groucho and Chico Marx negotiating a contract. It’s a classic of American film comedy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzR2pM_S5U&feature=PlayList&p=C939F7BB9196 16B2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
ASSGNMENT FOR THE NEXT LESSON
WRITE Here are two sides of an argument: - Let the buyer beware. If you can’t read it, you shouldn’t sign it. If you can read it, you should make sure you understand it before you do. - It doesn’t matter how well you read and understand anything, there still needs to be laws to ensure that legal language is not used by companies to trick consumers. In 300 to 500 words write a persuasive essay that finds a middle ground between these two positions.
English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
OBJECTIVES REACHED
New Words and Expressions Topic: The Fine Print Learning Opportunities Review of Last Lesson’s Assignment Grammar: Relative Clauses (2) Next Reading and Writing Assignment: Who’s responsible for the fine print? Excellent! Now you can read the fine print without a magnifying glass. English Language
Level C1 Lesson 12
