Theme: Shopping. Has the UK become a nation of shopaholics?
Lexical area: Types of shops and ways of shopping
Cross curricular links: Sociology
Instructions for language assistants in Italics
Classroom materials
Introduction
This lesson is about shopping and introduces the idea of shopaholics. Task 1 is a simple vocabulary task for lower levels. Task 2 is a ‘find somebody who’ mingle activity where students ask each other questions related to shopping. Task 3 is a higher level reading based on a radio programme that has asked UK shoppers if they think the British are turning in to a nation of shopaholics. Issues that arise in the comments such as out of town shopping, Sunday opening, 24 hour shops etc. could be used as a basis for further discussion. Task 4 is a short reading activity about Buy Nothing Day, an event celebrated around the world to raise consumer awareness. With higher levels it could easily be used as a spring board onto topics such as consumerism and globalisation. Task 5 is a simple vocabulary game to be played in pairs and is suitable for all levels and Task 6 is an idea for younger learners to design their ideal shop.
1. Town centre
With younger students set this task up as a competition. Ask students to think of six shops in the centre of their town. They can write the actual names of the shop. When they have finished students compare answers. If they have written something on the list that no one else has put they get one point. If you are in a huge city, choose the main shopping street and only allow shops from this street so there’s more chance some of the students will put the same answers.
Task 1 Town centre
Think of the centre of your town or city or choose one shopping street or area. What types of shops are there? Work in pairs and think of six different types of shop and three things you can buy in each one. When you have all finished compare with the rest of the class. For example:
Shop: Zucca clothes shop
1) T-shirts
2) Skirts
3) Jeans
Get a point for every shop and item that no one else in the class has on their list.
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Shop: 1) 2) 3) |
Shop: 1) 2) 3) |
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Shop: 1) 2) 3) |
Shop: 1) 2) 3) |
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Shop: 1) 2) 3) |
Shop: 1) 2) 3) |
2. Shopping find somebody who
With lower levels make sure they know what the questions are before starting the mingle activity. Go through them together and write them (or get a student to) on the board for students to refer to. E.g. “Do you love shopping?” “Did you buy anything new last week?” “Have you ever worked in a shop?” etc. Also encourage a follow up question so they can get some extra information. Give some example follow up questions before they start.
Task 2 Shopping find somebody who
Fill in the empty space in the table then ask your classmates the questions. Always ask an extra question to find out more information. For example:
Q:“Did you buy anything new last week?”
A:“Yes I did?”
Q: “What did you buy?”
A: “I bought a new computer game.”
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Find somebody who… |
Name |
Extra information |
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… bought something new last week |
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… hates shopping |
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… goes shopping every weekend |
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… has worked in a shop |
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… would like to work in a shop |
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… has a favourite shop |
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… has bought something on the internet |
* Now tell the rest of the class what you found out.
3. A nation of shopaholics?
Introduce the idea of shopaholic by asking students what you call someone who is addicted to alcohol – alcoholic or chocolate – chocoholic or work – workaholic. What about someone who is addicted to shopping?
Then ask students if they like shopping, if shopping makes them happy or if they ever get excited when they buy something new.
Use your own point of view about how shopping is seen in the UK and you could compare it with the country you are in.
If you are short of time, put students into groups and ask each group to read about just two of the people interviewed and they can then feed back the comment to the rest of the group.
Task 3 A nation of shopaholics?
A radio programme interviewed shoppers in the centre of Manchester to ask them, “Are we turning into a nation of shopaholics?” Here is what they said:
| Zoe – I love shopping and I would say it’s one of my favourite hobbies.
I think it’s great that shops open all weekend. I used to get bored on
Sundays now I meet friends and we look around the shops. So, I guess
you could call me a shopaholic. |
| Anita – I’m not a shopaholic. I only go shopping when I have to buy
something. I don’t understand the obsession with shopping but I think
British people are turning into shopaholics. You can buy almost
anything you want, whenever you want these days. There’s a 24 hour
supermarket near my house. I feel sorry for the people who work there
all night. |
| Ben – I’m not a shopaholic. I hate the way all the shops in every town
centre are the same. It’s impossible for small businesses to survive
these days so only the big stores can keep going. Every town and city
in Britain is a carbon copy of the others. I prefer to buy things I
need over the internet. It’s easier and it means I don’t have to go to
the town centre. |
| Oscar – I quite like shopping and most Saturdays or Sundays I go
shopping with my girlfriend. There’s a new shopping centre near where I
live, and you can get everything there. It’s great in the winter ‘cause
you don’t even realise it’s cold and wet outside. What’s the point of
working all week if you can’t go out and spend your money at the
weekend? |
| Paula – I live in a small town and it has really changed in the last
few years. Big supermarkets have opened up outside the town and lots of
the small shops have had to close. Now everyone goes to the big
supermarkets and the town is really quiet. It’s difficult to park in
the town centre but I think it’s a shame that the town is dying. It
used to be really busy. |
| Josh – I’m not a shopaholic but I think there are lots about. I work in
a sports’ shop in the town centre and people just go crazy buying so
much stuff. Now I have to work on Saturdays and Sundays and they let me
have a day off in the week. It’s not the same though ‘cause all my
mates go out on Saturday nights and I always have to go home early as
it’s really hard to get up on a Sunday morning. |
| Patrick – I think shopping is so much easier on the internet. I do
nearly all my shopping on-line. I order food from the supermarket and
they deliver it the next day to my front door. It saves me a lot of
time. This year I’m going to do all my Christmas shopping on-line. I
hate the crowds and the queues of town centres and I don’t like the
artificial atmosphere of shopping centres so for me the internet is a
great way to shop. |
- Do you think it’s a good idea for shops to open seven days a week? If you worked in a shop like, would you like to work on the day when most people are on holiday?
- Look at what Paula says about out of town supermarkets. Has this happened to any towns where you live?
- Look at what Anita says about the 24 hour supermarket. Do you think it’s necessary for people to work all night in supermarkets?
- What advantages does Oscar mention about shopping centres? Can you think of any more advantages and disadvantages of big shopping centres?
- Do you think town centres in your country are becoming more and more similar?
- Why does Patrick like internet shopping?
- Have you ever used the internet to buy anything?
This is a short reading text for intermediate levels and above about Buy Nothing Day. If you’ve never heard of the event, try to check out the website before the class. Encourage students to discuss the questions in groups.
Task 4 Buy Nothing Day
November 27th 2004 is Buy Nothing Day in the UK. Before you read the article, use your imagination and try to guess what Buy Nothing Day is all about.
When you have read the article, answer these questions:
- How long has Buy Nothing Day existed?
- What is the idea of Buy Nothing Day?
- Does your country have Buy Nothing Day? If so, what happens? If not, do you think it would be successful in your country?
- Do you think you could buy nothing at all for 24 hours?
- Do you ever ask yourself any of the questions before you buy something new?
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Buy Nothing Day Buy Nothing day started in 1993 and is now an international event that takes place in more than 55 countries. It is a simple idea to challenge consumer culture and ask people to stop shopping for 24 hours. Buy Nothing Day encourages people to think about what they buy and the possible effects the product may have on the environment and developing countries. For example, if you buy a new pair of trainers, do you know where they were made and if the people who made them are treated well by the company? According to the organisers of Buy Nothing Day, shopping itself isn’t harmful but what we buy can be. They claim that in the rich western countries 20% of the world population consume 80% of the earth’s natural resources. They want consumers to think more about what they buy and to ask themselves some questions before buying anything new. Here are some of the questions to put on your check list: Do I need it? How many do I already have? Will I use it a lot? Will it last a long time? Could I borrow it from a friend instead? Is it recyclable? This year in the UK Buy Nothing Day is on Saturday November 27th. There will be some events in town centres to celebrate the event and to encourage shoppers to have a day off and buy absolutely nothing! |
5. Shop ‘til you drop word game
This is a simple vocabulary game sometimes known as vocab tennis. Get students in pairs and to sit facing each other. If you have space, two lines of chairs facing each other is best. Demonstrate the game before you start. Tell students they have to think of as many things as they can that you can buy in different shops. You are going to tell them a type of shop and they are going to take it in turns with their partner to say as many items as possible that you can buy there. The pairs ‘hit’ the words to each other and the loser is the one who either repeats an item or can’t think of an item.
For example:
Teacher – “Sports shop. Go!”
Student 1 – “trainers”
Student 2 – “footballs”
Student 1 – “tennis rackets”
Student 2 – “swimming costumes”
Student 1 – “tracksuits” etc. etc. until one of the students repeats an item or can’t think of one.
Students get a point for each round they win and at the end each pair declares the winner.
Task 5 Shop ‘til you drop word game
You are going to play a shopping word game with a partner. Sit facing your partner and listen carefully to your teacher. Good luck.
6. My ideal shop
For younger learners this can be extended into a project that could be presented on large cardboard. If you have the space, time and freedom to do so you could make it into a craft project and students produce a mini model of their ideal shop in a shoe box.
Encourage them to use their imagination and go wild. If students need examples of new shopping concepts tell them about Tchibo, a German coffee shop which changes its stock every Wednesday. One week it will sell skiing equipment, the next week it will sell office supplies!
Task 6 My ideal shop
Imagine the shop of your dreams!
- What would it sell?
- Where would it be?
- Would it have any special features? (internet café, games room, star guest appearances…)
- How much would things cost?
Draw and label your ideal shop and be ready to explain it to your class mates.
Internet links
This is the home page of Buy Nothing Day.
http://www.buynothingday.co.uk
An interesting link with a video clip about a shopaholic. From BBC's Video nation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/articles/b/bradford_shopaholic.shtml
An interview with a shopaholic fashion victim.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/angel/interviews/benz/page3.shtml
Article about shopping and links to depression.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_doctor/depression_shopping.shtml
By Jo Budden
| Attachment | Size |
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| shopaholic.pdf | 87.72 KB |
