Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 18 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 4: Shopping and Money

Why does the whole world wear jeans?

Jeans started as work clothes for miners and cowboys in 1873. Learn their story, describe what people are wearing, and help a client choose clothes as a personal stylist.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Clothes

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What are you wearing today?
  2. What clothes do you wear at the weekend?
  3. Do you prefer casual or smart clothes?
  4. What is your favourite piece of clothing?
  5. What colour do you wear most?
  6. Do you follow fashion?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

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

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. I usually a dress to work.
  2. It's raining. Please your raincoat!
  3. At home, I wear clothes: a T-shirt and leggings.
  4. You need clothes for a job interview.
  5. My husband wears a dark blue to the office.
  6. I wear every day because they are comfortable.
  7. These trousers are too . I need a bigger size.
  8. Your scarf doesn't your coat.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. tight ↔
  2. casual ↔
  3. fashionable ↔
  4. put on ↔ take
  5. with lines =
  6. one colour =
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about clothes.

  • Today I'm wearing...Сьогодні на мені...Today I'm wearing jeans and a white shirt.
  • He / She is wearing...На ньому / ній...She's wearing a long blue dress.
  • I usually wear... to work.Я зазвичай вдягаю ... на роботу.I usually wear smart trousers to work.
  • It really suits you!Тобі це дуже личить!That colour really suits you!
  • It goes well with...Це добре пасує до...This bag goes well with your shoes.
  • I feel comfortable in...Мені зручно в...I feel comfortable in jeans and trainers.
  • I'd never wear...Я б ніколи не вдягнув(-ла)...I'd never wear a hat with feathers!
  • What should I wear to...?Що мені вдягнути на...?What should I wear to the wedding?
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The story of jeans

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

Why does the whole world wear jeans?

Today, people all over the world wear jeans: students, teachers, grandparents, even some business people. But jeans started as work clothes.

In the 1870s in America, a tailor called Jacob Davis made strong trousers for workers. He put small metal pieces on the pockets so they didn't break. He needed money for the idea, so he asked a businessman, Levi Strauss, for help. In 1873, they got a patent for their invention. The first jeans were for miners, farmers and cowboys.

For many years, jeans were only work clothes. Then, in the 1950s, young people saw film stars wearing jeans and started to wear them too. Jeans became a symbol of being young and free. Some schools didn't allow students to wear them!

Today, there are hundreds of styles: tight, loose, ripped, blue, black, high-waisted. Jeans are casual, comfortable and go with almost everything.

Are you wearing jeans right now?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Jeans started as work clothes.
  2. Levi Strauss made the first jeans alone.
  3. The first jeans were for miners, farmers and cowboys.
  4. Jeans were fashionable for young people in the 1870s.
  5. In the 1950s, some schools didn't allow jeans.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. How many pairs of jeans do you have?
  2. Do you wear jeans to work? Is it OK in your job?
  3. What is your favourite jeans style?
  4. What clothes are a symbol of young people today?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Present Continuous for clothes now

What someone is wearing at the moment.

I'm wearing a jumper. She's wearing black boots.

Present Simple for habits

What someone usually wears.

I usually wear jeans. He never wears a tie.

Order of adjectives

Opinion → size → colour → material.

a beautiful long red dress, a nice old leather jacket

Remember: trousers, jeans, shorts, glasses = plural. Her jeans are blue. These trousers are too long. Careful: ✗ She wears a dress now → She's wearing a dress. ✗ a red long dress → a long red dress.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. Today I
    a green jumper.
  2. He usually
    a suit to work.
  3. Look! She
    a beautiful hat.
  4. I
    high heels.
  5. She has
    .
  6. My jeans
    too long.
  7. He's wearing
    .
  8. What
    right now?
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. She wears a red dress today. →
  2. I am usually wearing jeans. →
  3. My trousers is black. →
  4. He has a blue big hat. →
  5. What do you wear right now? →
  6. I don't wearing a tie. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use Present Continuous and Present Simple.

  1. Describe what you are wearing today.
  2. Describe what your teacher is wearing.
  3. What do you usually wear at work, at home and at a party?
  4. Describe your favourite outfit.
  5. What did you wear at the last wedding or party?
  6. Describe the style of a famous person you like.
5

Who's wearing what?

8 min
5.1

Three people at a party

Describe what each guest is wearing. Which one is smart, casual, fashionable or old-fashioned? What kind of party do you think it is? What would you wear?

Guest 1

Oksana

  • A long black dress
  • Silver earrings
  • High heels
  • A small red bag
Guest 2

Maks

  • Old jeans and a striped T-shirt
  • Trainers
  • A baseball cap
  • No jacket
Guest 3

Petro

  • A grey suit and a white shirt
  • A blue tie
  • Black leather shoes
  • A watch
5.2

Dress for it

Describe the clothes in detail.

  1. What would you wear to a job interview?
  2. What would you wear to a friend's wedding?
  3. What would you wear for a weekend in the mountains?
  4. What would you wear to a business meeting in summer?
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What is your style: casual, smart, sporty, elegant?
  2. Where do you buy most of your clothes?
  3. What clothes do you never wear?
  4. What do you wear to feel confident?
  5. Do you like wearing jewellery?
  6. How many pairs of shoes have you got?
  7. Do you choose your clothes the night before?
  8. Do you wear the same clothes every day at home?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. What does your partner or best friend usually wear?
  2. What did your parents wear when they were young?
  3. Who has the best style you know?
  4. What do people wear at your workplace?
  5. What do teenagers wear today?
  6. What do people wear for Ukrainian holidays?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should people wear uniforms at work or school?
  2. Is fashion important?
  3. Is it OK to wear jeans to the theatre?
  4. Should we buy fewer clothes?
  5. Do clothes show who we are?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

The fashion reporter

You

Fashion reporter

You are a fashion reporter at a big event (a film festival or a fashion show). Describe the guests on live TV:
  • who is arriving
  • what they are wearing (colours, styles, details)
  • who looks the best and why
  • what is fashionable this year
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use Present Continuous and the order of adjectives.
Your teacher

TV presenter

Asks short questions, for example:
  1. Who is arriving now?
  2. What colour is her dress?
  3. Is that fashionable?
  4. What would you wear?
7.2

The personal stylist

You

Personal stylist

A client (your teacher) has a job interview and a party next week. Help them choose clothes:
  • ask about their style and what clothes they have
  • suggest an outfit for the interview
  • suggest an outfit for the party
  • give tips about colours and what matches
You do most of the talking. Use: You should wear... · That colour suits you... · It goes well with... · Don't wear...
Your teacher

Client

Says things like:
  1. I only wear jeans and hoodies.
  2. I don't like suits.
  3. What colour should I wear?
  4. I have red trainers — can I wear them?
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

wearput oncasualsmartsuittrainerstightfashionable
  1. I usually a skirt to work.
  2. your hat — it's cold!
  3. At the weekend, I wear clothes.
  4. You need to look for the interview.
  5. He bought a new for the wedding.
  6. I need new for the gym.
  7. These jeans are too .
  8. Big jackets are this year.
H2

Present Continuous / Simple and adjectives

  1. Today I a blue shirt.
  2. She usually dresses.
  3. Look! He a funny hat.
  4. I ties.
  5. She has .
  6. My trousers new.
  7. What now?
  8. He likes .
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. Today I'm wearing jeans.
  2. She wears a dress now.
  3. He usually wears a suit.
  4. My jeans is old.
  5. She has a beautiful long dress.
  6. I am usually wearing trainers.
  7. What are you wearing today?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Today I'm wearing
  2. She's wearing
  3. I usually wear smart trousers
  4. That colour
  5. This bag goes well
  6. I feel comfortable in
  7. What should I wear

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