SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES: Teacher's lesson plan

Most of us enjoy shopping. Shopping for clothes 'Window Shopping' is a terminology used when you do not plan on buying anything.  Basically, you are only looking.  The term 'window shopping' was created because a lot of stores have mannequins on display in the window with clothes on them.  So walking by the store and looking at the clothing through the window is a way to see what they have.  This is called 'window shopping.' Mannequins are the fake life size figures that are used to put and display clothes.  Most department stores show clothing with the mannequins. 1) Vocabulary worksheets here (with crosswords, different levels): 25 minutes 2) Read, listen and repeat: Here are some common statements and questions most commonly used in a clothing store: "Where is the dressing room?" "I can't find my size here.  Can you check if you have this in a size 4?" "Do you have this in different colors?" "Where are your jeans located?" "Where is the red sweater on display in the window?" "How much is this skirt?" "Are you going to have a sale soon?" "Where is the matching shirt for this skirt?" "When are you going to get more sizes?" "I'm looking for a belt that will go with these pants." "Do you provide alteration here?" "How much will it cost to get alternation done on these pants?" "These pants are too long for me.  Where can I get them altered?" "How long does it take?" "When do you start selling summer clothing?" "When will you be getting your summer line?" Here are some answers you might hear from the shop assistants: "The dressing room is in the right back corner." "The dressing room is right over there." "All our jeans are located in the back wall." "We usually get a shipment every Thursday, so I would check back then." "We have alteration here." "It costs seven dollars." "It takes one day.  You can pick them up tomorrow if you drop it off now." "We'll have our summer line on display in April." 3) Speaking time: Dialogues in pairs. Worksheet here (25 minutes) 4) A quiz for fast-finishers! (you can use it as a warmer too) 1. If a shopkeeper asks you ''Can I help you?'' you can reply:  I'm just looking, thanks  No, not now  Yes, I want... 2. Before you buy an item of clothing, you want to make sure it's the right size. You ask:  Can I try this on?  Does this suit me?  Do I look good in this? 3. If it's too small for you, you can ask the sales assistant:  Do you have this in a smaller size?  Do you have this in a bigger size?  Do you have this in a different colour? 4. When a sales assistant gives a positive opinion, he or she says:  That's the last one in stock!  That looks great on you!  That isn't the right colour for you! 5. What do you call the place where you pay?  The cash till  The payment terminal  The cashier 6. If you're buying an electrical item, a good question is:  Can I get a refund?  Can I exchange this?  Does this come with a guarantee? 7. If you take something back to the shop because it doesn't work, you'll need:  your credit card details  your identity card / passport details  your receipt 8. If you bring something back because it doesn't work, you can ask:  Can I get a refund on this?  Can I get a new guarantee?  Can I get an upgrade? 9. If you want to know if an item is specially discounted, you can ask:  Is this cheap?  Is this on sale?  Is this a lower price? 10. At the cash till you can ask:  Can I pay by credit card?  Can I pay in coins?  Can you give me change?                                                                                           Any doubts? Send me a tweet!

LET'S TALK ABOUT CLOTHES!

QUESTIONS TO PROMOTE INTERACTION:

1. Do you like shopping for new clothes?

2. How often do you go shopping for clothes?

3. How much money do you spend on new clothes a year?

4. Is it possible to get addicted to buying clothes?

5. Do you wear fashionable  clothes only?

6. Do you read fashion magazines?

7. Do you watch fashion programs on TV?

8. Is it important to be fashionable?

9. What is your favourite  colour of clothes?

10.   What kind of clothes do you usually wear?

11.   Where do you usually buy clothes?

12.   Do you buy second-hand clothes? Why/why not?

13.   Do you buy clothes on the Internet? Why/why not?

14.   Do you often buy branded clothes? Why/why not?

15.   How many pairs of shoes do you have?

16.   (if you are a woman) Do you often wear high heel shoes? (if you are a man) Do you like when women wear high heel shoes?

17.   How often does the fashion change?

18.   Does the fashion come back over again?

19.   Do you think that clothes reflect personality?

20.   Is there any dress code  in your job? Do you like it?

21.   What do you think about wearing uniforms at school?

22.   Do you wear jewellery ?

23.   Do you have tattoos?

24.   Is it acceptable  in your country to have a lot of tattoos and earrings?

25.   Do you wear glasses ?

26.   Do you wear contact lenses ?

27.   What traditional clothes do people wear in your country?

28.   What pieces of clothing do you consider provocative?

TALKING ABOUT CLOTHES AND FASHION IN A SPEAKING TEST

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Do you enjoy buying clothes?
Pedro: I used to … yes … like most young people I was a bit of a slave to fashion and I’d always have to buy that must-have shirt or pair of shoes … I’m not so bothered now though … I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing something old fashioned but I’m not as bothered as I used to be about what I wear …

Examiner: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
Marco: I prefer casual clothes actually … I hate getting dressed up for special occasions … personally I think it’s possible to look good in a pair of jeans … but that’s my opinion … I don’t think my wife would call me a fashion icon that’s for sure …

Examiner: Are there many clothes shops where you live?
Sylvia: Yes … there are lots in my town … apart from the big chain stores we’ve got a couple of really nice shops that sell vintage clothes … old clothes but in a classic style that never really go out of fashion … I love going there …

Part 2-style task

Describe someone you know who dresses well. You should say

• who they are
• how you know them
• what kind of clothes they wear

and say why you like the way they dress.

Tomoko:  I’d like to talk about one of my teachers … Miss Evans … she teaches us English in the school I go to … we always look forward to seeing what she’s going to wear when our lessons start … she’s always very well dressed and takes a lot of pride in her appearance … it’s not that she dresses in very smart clothes … she doesn’t come to school dressed to kill or anything like that … but what she wears really suits her … and she has a great sense of style as well … we often ask her where she gets some of her clothes and most of the time they’re just off the peg … and she says she’s not interested in designer labels or anything like that … she doesn’t seem too concerned about keeping up with the latest fashion … she just wears clothes that are timeless… yes … Miss Evans is the person I think looks great in the clothes she wears …

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: What factors do you think affect the clothes we choose to wear?
Maki: It depends … where we are or where we’re going is a big factor … if you are going out to a club or party you’re going to dress for the occasion … and then there are those who think it’s important to look like they’re on trend … they’ll want to wear the latest fashions … there are lots of factors really …

Examiner: What kind of things determine what is in fashion and what we should be wearing?
Martin: I suppose the big fashion houses and fashion shows must have an effect but the clothes you see on the catwalk don’t always reflect what normal people wear … so I suppose it will be things like what singers are wearing in videos or models are wearing in magazines … that kind of thing …

Examiner: Is it possible to look good without spending lots of money on clothes?
Corinna: I’m sure it is … yes … I suppose it’s about having an eye for what looks good … knowing how to mix and match different items of clothing that go well together … I think you can pick up great bargains in charity shops … sometimes for youngsters even hand-me-downs can look good …

Definitions

• to be on trend: to be very fashionable
• casual clothes: not formal
• classic style: a simple, traditional style that is always fashionable
• designer label: a well-known company that makes (often expensive) clothing
• dressed to kill: wearing clothes that attract admirers
• to dress for the occasion: to wear clothes suitable for a particular event
• fashionable: in fashion
• fashion house: a company that sells (usually expensive) new styles in clothes
• fashion icon: a person who is famous for their sense of fashion
• fashion show: an event where modals show off the latest in fashion designs
• to get dressed up: to put on nice clothes, often to go out somewhere special
• to go out of fashion: to not be in fashion any more
• hand-me-downs: clothes that are passed down from older brothers or sisters to their younger siblings
• to have an eye for (fashion): to be a good judge of
• to have a sense of style: the ability to wear clothes that look stylish
• the height of fashion: very fashionable
• to keep up with the latest fashion: to wear the latest fashions
• to look good in: to wear something that suits you
• to mix and match: to wear different styles or items of clothing that aren’t part of a set outfit
• must-have: something that is highly fashionable and therefore in demand
• off the peg: clothing that is ready made
• old fashioned: not in fashion any more
• on the catwalk: the stage that modals walk along to show off the latest fashions
• a slave to fashion: someone who always feel the need to wear the latest fashions
• smart clothes: the kind of clothes worn for a formal event
• to suit someone: to look good on someone
• to take pride in one’s appearance: to pay attention to how one looks
• timeless: something that doesn’t go out of fashion
• vintage clothes: clothes from an earlier period
• well-dressed: to be dressed attractively

SOME IDIOMS CONNECTED TO THE TOPIC:

mutton dressed as lamb (level: advanced)
an older woman dresses in a way that is much more suitable for a younger girl
The actress was criticized by almost every fashion magazine, after she had put on an extremely short skirt at the opening night. The 60-year old woman looked like mutton dressed as lamb.

to fit like a glove (level: advanced)
to fit very well
Buy this blue T-shirt. It contains Lycra, so it will fit you like a glove.

to be in one’s birthday suit (level: advanced)
to be completely naked
He was arrested after he ran into the shop in his birthday suit, making all the customers feel very uncomfortable .

dressed to the nines/teeth (level: advanced)
dressed in stylish and expensive clothes
Everybody liked the elegant and stylish dress that she was wearing at the picnic. She was dressed to the nines, as usual.

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