Shopping for the Day - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Easy	Shopping Malls	Man – Girl	01:10

Pre-Listening Exercise

Shopping online or at local department stores is an activity many people enjoy. How often do you go shopping for the following items and where do you buy them: clothing, gifts for friends and family, music, DVD movies, electronics?

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, exploring ideas, and sharing opinions.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way?
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms.
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate.

1. It’s fun to shop for gifts for family and friends.
2. You should always give gifts that people will use.
3. Giving a gift is a way to show someone you care.
4. It’s better to make a gift than to buy one.
5. Shopping for gifts is easier when you know what the person likes.
6. You should always wrap gifts in nice paper.
7. It’s okay to give a gift that isn’t very expensive.
8. People should ask for a list of gift ideas if they don’t know what to buy.
9. Shopping for gifts online is better than shopping in stores.
10. It’s important to give a thank-you note with a gift.

Idioms

“save for a rainy day” = save something for the future when it is needed
“Instead of spending money on a new TV, I’m going to save it for a rainy day. You never know when you’ll need it.”

“a dime a dozen” = very common, usually inexpensive, and easy to find
“I bought my dad a new watch at a flea market, and I thought I got a great deal only to discover they were a dime a dozen at other places.”

Listening Exercise

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Here are some words that appear in the recording:

expensive (adjective): costing a lot of money
– That jacket looks nice, but it’s too expensive for me.
design (noun): the way something is made or looks
– I like the design of this shirt, especially the pattern on the front.
anyway (adverb): used to return to or continue a topic
– I don’t think I want that wallet. How much is it anyway?
around the house (expression): in or near your home, doing small tasks
– I’ve been working around the house to earn a little extra money.
take it (expression): decide to buy something
– That price is great! I’ll take it.

Post-Listening Exercise

With a partner, decide on a particular item you want to buy like a camera, computer, or book. Then, use the internet and try to find the buy that considers price, shipping costs, return policy, and time for delivery.

Online Investigation

Imagine that you want to buy a gift for a friend for her birthday. Your friend is really into electronics and fashionable clothing, so you want to buy your friend either some new headphones for her iPhone or a nice, trendy shirt. Your budget is about $200. Visit two online stores to find these items and compare prices, shipping costs, and the company’s refund policy in case there are problems with the order.

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See Listening Script

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General Listening Quiz