Unit 6 Shop Till You Drop
Step one: Background Information
I.Can you name some famous national brands and their mainstream products?
Eg:a Rolex watch (a Swiss-made luxury watch)
a Chanel aftershave (Chanel is the Paris fashion house which is famous for perfumes, fashion accessories and luxury goods.)
Nike trainers (Nike is known for sportswear, athletics clothing and equipment.)
a Vaio laptop (Sony Vaio makes laptops, computers and computer accessories.)
nguage and Culture
A yard sale or garage sale is an occasion when someone sells things they do not want any more in their front garden; in the UK this is “a car boot sale”, especially when many people sell things which they bring in their cars.
Designer clothes are clothes made by a famous designer. Usually they are expensive and fashionable. Sometimes they have labels or tags displaying the name of the designer to show that they are original.
Auction is a public occasion when things are sold to the person who offers (bids) the most money for them; traditionally, an auction is a face-to-face event where buyers (bidders) can see what is being offered or sometimes people can bid by phone but now many auctions are online events. The auctioneer (who has the job of selling things at an auction) or auction house (the auction company) gets a commission, a small amount of money in return for the work of selling.
Step Two: Useful expressions:
I. Offering help in a shop: Can I help you? What size do you take?
Would you like to try it on?
II. Making payments: Can I pay by credit card? Please enter your PIN.
Here’s your receipt.
III.Shopping for clothes: We’re just looking. Do they have it in other colours?
Do you have this in a larger size?
It (really) suits you. It doesn’t (really) fit (me).
It’s a bit tight / loose / large /small / short / long / …
I’ll have this, please. OK, I’ll leave it.
IV.Making a strong recommendation: It’s the best that money can buy.
It’s fantastic value.
You won’t find anything better anywhere in the world.
Step Three:Model dialogue
Student A: Er, I am thinking about treating myself to some nice clothes since my birthday is coming.
Student B: How about going to the new shopping mall on West Avenue? There are quite a few posh clothes shops there. (later in the shop)
Student C: Good afternoon, can I help you?
Student A : Oh, yes please. I am looking for a top and a matching skirt.
Student C: Would you like to try this top with this skirt? They are new products and we just put them on our shelves this morning.
Student B: I don’t think black suits you and look, it’s a bit too tight on you as well. Student A: Do you have it in another colour and a larger size?
Student C: Yes, here’s a white one in Size 10.
Student B: Hey, here we go. They suit you perfectly.
Student A: Great! I’ll buy them. Can I pay by credit card?
Student C: Sorry, I’m afraid we don’t take credit cards yet, but you can pay by cheque or cash.
Step Four: Oral Practice
1.Work in pairs and make a telephone conversation based on the following situation.
Suppose you just went shopping with your best friend. On returning to dormitory, you can’t help but calling your mother immediately and telling her about what you’d just bought.
2.Work in pairs and create a one-round dialogue using Everyday English.
e.g. A: Are you looking for anything in particular?
B: No, I’m just doing some window shopping and relax myself, you know, before examination.
Step Five: Homework:
Work in pairs and prepare a radio or television advert (3m’). Choose a product to advertise.
•a car •a type of fast food •an airline • a camera •washing-up liquid • a sport team • a film • a music CD • a soft drink
• a brand of trainers • a textbook for learning English
VI. References
1.《新标准大学英语视听说教程》（学生用书），文秋芳等主编，北京：外语教学与研究出版社，2008.
2.《大学英语听说》（教师用书），虞苏美，李慧琴主编，上海：上海外语教育出版社，2006.
3.大学英语语法.薄冰主编. 山西：山西教育出版社，2006.
4. 大学英语实用语法讲解与练习. 任福洪等主编. 北京：国防工业出版社，2004.
5. 牛津高阶英汉双解词典（第六版）. 牛津大学出版社，2004.。