Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 16 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 4: Shopping and Money

Why do supermarkets play slow music?

Slow music, bread at the back, sweets at the checkout: supermarkets have a lot of secrets! Talk about your shopping habits, find out what kind of shopper you are, and help a friend spend less.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Shopping

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you like shopping? Why or why not?
  2. Where do you usually buy food?
  3. How often do you go shopping?
  4. Do you make a shopping list?
  5. What do you spend most money on?
  6. What is your favourite shop?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about your shopping.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. I usually on Saturday morning.
  2. I buy fresh vegetables at the .
  3. I never forget my .
  4. I need a lot of things today, so I'm taking a .
  5. There are ten people at the .
  6. I don't like waiting in a long .
  7. These shoes have a 50% . They're very cheap!
  8. I didn't plan to buy this bag. It was an .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. cheap ↔
  2. to spend ↔ to
    money
  3. a big cart ↔ a small
  4. the person who buys =
  5. the person who works in a shop =
  6. the paper you get after paying =
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about your shopping habits.

  • I usually go shopping...Я зазвичай ходжу по магазинах...I usually go shopping once a week.
  • I always / never buy...Я завжди / ніколи не купую...I never buy clothes online.
  • I spend a lot of money on...Я витрачаю багато грошей на...I spend a lot of money on books.
  • I don't spend much on...Я небагато витрачаю на...I don't spend much on clothes.
  • My favourite shop is... because...Мій улюблений магазин — ..., тому що...My favourite shop is the bookshop because it's quiet.
  • I love / hate shopping for...Я люблю / ненавиджу купувати...I hate shopping for shoes.
  • It's a bargain!Це вигідна покупка!Only 100 hryvnias? It's a bargain!
  • I'm just looking, thanks.Я просто дивлюся, дякую."Can I help you?" "I'm just looking, thanks."
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Supermarket secrets

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Why do supermarkets play slow music?

When you go into a supermarket, do you notice the music? Probably not. But the music can change how you shop!

In the 1980s, an American scientist, Ronald Milliman, did an experiment in a supermarket. On some days, the supermarket played fast music. On other days, it played slow music. When the music was slow, customers walked more slowly, and they spent more money!

Supermarkets have other secrets too. Bread and milk are usually at the back of the shop, so you walk past many other things. Expensive products are often at eye level, and cheaper ones are on the bottom shelves. Sweets are often next to the checkout, where children are waiting in the queue with their parents.

Even the smell can change what we buy. Many supermarkets have a bakery inside, and the smell of fresh bread makes people feel hungry.

So next time you go shopping, take a shopping list, look at the bottom shelves, and listen to the music!

3.2

True or false?

  1. Most people notice the music in supermarkets.
  2. With slow music, customers spent more money.
  3. Bread and milk are usually next to the entrance.
  4. Expensive products are often at eye level.
  5. The smell of fresh bread can make people hungry.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you notice music in shops? What kind?
  2. Which supermarket trick works on you?
  3. Do you buy sweets at the checkout?
  4. How can we spend less in supermarkets?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Present Simple for habits

What you usually do.

I go shopping on Saturdays. She buys fruit at the market.

Adverbs of frequency (review)

How often.

I always make a list. I sometimes buy things I don't need. I never shop online.

How often / How much

Questions about habits.

How often do you go shopping? How much do you spend on food?

Expressions: once a week, twice a month, every Saturday, three times a year. spend money on + thing: I spend a lot on food. Careful: ✗ I spend money for clothes → on clothes.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I
    shopping on Fridays.
  2. She
    fresh bread every morning.
  3. How often
    go to the market?
  4. I spend a lot of money
    clothes.
  5. I go to the supermarket
    .
  6. He
    a shopping list.
  7. do you spend on food?
  8. We
    much meat.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I go always shopping on Sunday. →
  2. She spend a lot on shoes. →
  3. I spend money for books. →
  4. How often you buy clothes? →
  5. I go to the market one time a week. →
  6. How many money do you spend? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use Present Simple and frequency words.

  1. Describe your weekly shopping: where, when, how often, what?
  2. What do you spend most money on? What do you spend least on?
  3. Do you ever buy things you don't need? What?
  4. Describe your favourite shop.
  5. Who does the shopping in your family?
  6. What did you buy last weekend?
5

What kind of shopper are you?

8 min
5.1

Three shoppers

Describe each shopper. Which one are you? Which one is your partner, friend or parent? Which is the best way to shop?

Shopper 1

The planner

  • Always makes a list
  • Compares prices
  • Never buys things on impulse
  • Shops once a week
Shopper 2

The impulse buyer

  • Never makes a list
  • Loves discounts
  • Buys things she doesn't need
  • Goes shopping every day
Shopper 3

The online shopper

  • Hates shops and queues
  • Buys everything on the internet
  • Gets 3 parcels a week
  • Never goes to the market
5.2

My last shopping trip

Tell your teacher about your last shopping trip.

  1. Where did you go?
  2. What did you buy?
  3. How much did you spend?
  4. Did you buy anything you didn't need?
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. How often do you go to the supermarket?
  2. Do you prefer shops or markets?
  3. What do you usually buy every week?
  4. Do you look for discounts?
  5. Do you like shopping centres?
  6. How much do you usually spend on food a week?
  7. What do you buy online?
  8. Do you keep your receipts?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family loves shopping?
  2. Who hates shopping?
  3. Where do your parents buy food?
  4. Do your friends shop online?
  5. What do children usually want in supermarkets?
  6. What do tourists buy in your city?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is shopping a hobby or a job?
  2. Are big supermarkets better than small shops?
  3. Do people buy too many things?
  4. Should shops be open on Sundays?
  5. Is it better to pay in cash or by card?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

The shopping survey

You

Customer

A researcher (your teacher) stops you outside a supermarket for a survey about your shopping habits. Answer in detail:
  • how often and where you go shopping
  • what you usually buy and how much you spend
  • what you love and hate about shopping
  • one impulse buy you remember
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use Present Simple and frequency words.
Your teacher

Researcher

Asks short questions, for example:
  1. How often do you come here?
  2. Do you make a shopping list?
  3. What do you spend most money on?
  4. Do you shop online?
7.2

The shopping buddy

You

Smart shopper

Your friend (your teacher) always spends too much money in supermarkets. Give them advice using the supermarket secrets:
  • ask about their shopping habits
  • explain the supermarket tricks
  • give them 4–5 tips
  • plan their next shopping trip together
You do most of the talking. Use: You should... · Always... · Never... · Supermarkets put... · Why don't you...?
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. I always buy sweets at the checkout.
  2. I never make a list.
  3. I love discounts!
  4. I go shopping when I'm hungry.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

marketshopping listtrolleycheckoutqueuediscountspendreceipt
  1. I buy honey at the .
  2. Don't forget the !
  3. Can you push the ?
  4. We paid at the .
  5. There's a long at the post office.
  6. There's a 20% on all coats.
  7. How much do you on food a week?
  8. Here's your .
H2

Present Simple and frequency

  1. I shopping on Mondays.
  2. He coffee every day.
  3. How often shop online?
  4. I spend a lot books.
  5. We go to the market .
  6. She fast food.
  7. do you spend on clothes?
  8. They on Sundays.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I always make a shopping list.
  2. She go shopping every day.
  3. I spend a lot on food.
  4. I spend money for clothes.
  5. How often do you go to the market?
  6. I go never to the mall.
  7. We go shopping twice a week.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I usually go shopping
  2. I never buy
  3. I spend a lot of money
  4. I don't spend much
  5. My favourite shop is the bookshop
  6. Only 100 hryvnias?
  7. "Can I help you?"

Finished the lesson?

Mark it as complete to keep track of your progress.

© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.