E-05.08 Despite “Changing the Subject,” Use Familiar Procedures to Polish Oral-Skills Abilities

English in Everyday Life: Shopping

WorkLife English: Competency-Based Listening/Speaking, Book 2 Chapter 8.  

Tapescript 

 11 + 2 = 13 pp

Who It’s For: Language Students, Teachers, & Helpers Building Aural / Oral Ability in Accustomed Ways With Fresh Objectives, Vocabulary, & Grammar 

Why It’s Useful: Among the various activities that “regular people” busy themselves with, Shopping often prevails.  Chapter 8 begins with kinds of stores + (description) of the kinds of items they stock.  It continues with the type of language most commonly associated with buying things—Advertising!  As examples to follow, text users hear Conversation between a salesclerk and a customer—and family members trying to make buying decisions.  In simulated phone calls, they can “place orders.” 

What You’ll Do: 

[1] A look at the Competencies on the Chapter 8 Opener page will remind learners that Shopping may involve Identifying Places to Buy Items; Understanding Sales & Advertising; Making & Answering Requests; Expressing Wishes, Preferences, & Choices; Comparing Clothing; Ordering from a Catalog; Exchanging Things.  As might be expected, Grammar includes Modals, Indefinite Pronouns, Infinitives or Purpose, Superlatives. Vocabulary pages get learners to answer these questions: “Where can you buy . . . ?” and “How might you describe this article of clothing?”

[2]  In Part One, “Better Listening” implies that you / your students will be able to interpret Audio advertising, recognizing the aim of the exaggeration of Superlatives.  Part Two / Pronunciation items contrast less common Consonant Sounds—/ g j y m n ng kw ks /—in Initial, Medial, & Final word positions.  In Part Three, learners get to hone their “Listening & Speaking Skills” by hearing and marking articles of clothing, inserting “function words” into blanks, and using Comparatives & Superlatives to describe things.  Part Four / Communication tasks are to place and take orders (for items in catalogs) (by phone). 

[3] As usual highlighted sections on AudioScript pages are attached.  Also available is a concise Answer Key for Text Exercises plus supplemental Pronunciation Worksheets.