B1 · Job Searching and Interviews
Balancing Salary Expectations and Learning Opportunities
- CEFR level:
- B1
- Sentences:
- 12
- Duration:
- 1 min
- Speakers:
- Tom & Emma
"Balancing Salary Expectations and Learning Opportunities" is a B1-level English conversation about job searching and interviews, 12 lines long (about 1 minute) between Tom & Emma. Read the full script below with the translation next to each line, then try speaking one of the roles out loud.
Dialogue script
Each entry shows the English sentence first, with the translation on the line below it. To practise speaking, cover the translation and repeat after the audio.
- Line 1Tom 0:00
Offer salary is lower than expected, but learning scope looks strong.
- Line 2Emma 0:04
How big is the gap, and what growth support is guaranteed?
- Line 3Tom 0:08
About ten percent lower, with mentorship and cross-team projects promised.
- Line 4Emma 0:13
Promises are useful only when written into concrete review plans.
- Line 5Tom 0:18
Recruiter said raises are "possible" after six months.
- Line 6Emma 0:21
You should ask for measurable milestones tied to that salary-adjustment timeline.
- Line 7Tom 0:27
I'll propose accepting now with a documented salary review date.
- Line 8Emma 0:31
Also request budget for one course or certification.
- Line 9Tom 0:35
If they can't commit any review path, I'll keep interviewing.
- Line 10Emma 0:39
Good, learning value should not replace basic compensation fairness.
- Line 11Tom 0:44
I'll send a polite counterproposal by tomorrow noon.
- Line 12Emma 0:47
Great approach. Clarity now prevents resentment later.
Native audio, line-by-line recording and pronunciation scoring for this dialogue are in the EngTalk app.
Key vocabulary
Content words from this dialogue, ranked by the CEFR level at which they appear across the whole 500-dialogue library. Function words and proper nouns are excluded.
- growth /ɡroʊθ/ noun
an increase in size, amount, or development
- guaranteed /ˌɡɛrənˈtid/ adjective
promised or certain to happen
- promises /ˈprɑməsɪz/ noun, verb
plural of promise; makes a promise
- useful /ˈjusfəl/ adjective
helpful or practical
- concrete /ˈkɑnkrit/ adjective
existing in a material or physical form; specific and definite
- raises /ˈreɪzɪz/ noun, verb
pay increases; lifts or increases
- measurable /ˈmɛʒərəbəl/ adjective
able to be measured
- tied /taɪd/ verb
fastened with string or a knot
- certification /ˌsɜrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun
the act of providing official documentation or approval
- path /pæθ/ noun
a way or route from one place to another
- compensation /ˌkɑmpənˈseɪʃən/ noun
payment given to make up for loss, injury, or work
- resentment /rɪˈzɛntmənt/ noun
anger from feeling unfairly treated