MODULE 6

AT YOUR SERVICE

MODULE STRUCTURE:

1. Penny wise, pound foolish (general: shopping)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6

2. A visit to a department store……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9

3. Fashion & clothes……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17

4. Food shopping…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..22

5. Choosing a present………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27

“Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase”. -- Erma Bombeck--

Lead-in

TASK 1 • How often do you/your parents/your friends go shopping?

• Where do you/your parents/your friends do your shopping: at supermarkets; department stores; shopping centres; online?

• How do you/your parents/your friends pay: in cash; by cheque; by credit card?

TASK 2. Complete the small questionnaire with a partner.

1. How often do you go shopping? ____________________________________________

Why ?______________________________________

2. Where do you do most of your shopping? __________________________________

Why? ___________________________________

3. What shopping do you like doing least? _______________________________________

Why? _____________________________________

4. What shopping do you like doing best? ______________________________________

Why? ______________________________________

Basic text carrie goes to a department store

T he extract is taken from "Sister Carrie" by Th. Dreiser, a well-known American writer (1871 —1945). Carrie, a young provincial girl, comes to Chicago and is greatly attracted by the pleasures the big city offers. Shopping is one of them. Drouet,¹ her friend, is to meet her at the ready-made clothes department.

Carrie reached Dearborn Street. Here was the great Fair store with its crowds of shoppers. She thought she would go in and see. She would look at the jackets.

She paused at each article of clothing. How pretty she would look in this, how charming that would make her! Carrie stopped at the jewellery department. She saw the ear-rings, the bracelets, the pins, the chains.

But the jackets were the greatest attraction. When she entered the store, she already had her heart fixed on a jacket with large mother-of-pearl buttons. The cut was all the fashion that fall.² She said to herself there was nothing she would like better.

Here she saw Drouet who was coming up to her smiling.

"Let's go and look at the jackets," he said as if he had read her thoughts.

When Carrie got the jacket in her hand, it seemed so much nicer. The saleswoman helped her on with it. It fitted perfectly. It was just her size, not a bit loose. She looked quite smart.

Carrie turned before the glass. She could not help feeling pleased as she looked at herself. It was so becoming.

"That's the thing," said Drouet. "Now pay for it."

"It's nine dollars," said Carrie, after she had asked the sales­woman how much it was. She took out one of the bills and gave it to the cashier.

From there they went to a shoe department where Carrie tried on some shoes. Drouet stood by and when he saw how nice they looked, said: "Wear them."

Then Drouet advised her to buy a purse made of leather, a pair of gloves and stockings.

Carrie thought that she would come the next day and buy herself a skirt to match the new jacket.

(After "Sister Carrie" by Th. Dreiser)

TEXT 2 SHOPPING

Mother: Pete, we've run out of vegetables and we've hard­ly any bread in the house. You know, now it's your turn to go to the greengrocer's and to the baker's.

Pete: Oh, bother? Why do we have to go shopping so often?

Mother: The day before yesterday it was Nelly who did all the shopping. She went to the grocer's and to the butcher's.

Pete: Did she? But, Mother, girls are so fond of shopping. Let Nelly do it today as well.

Mother: Oh, you've been a lazy-bones ever since you were born! It's so difficult to make you go anywhere.

P ete: D'you want to make me a model boy, Mum?

Mother: I'd like to. Take that bag and don't grumble. Buy a cabbage, a pound of onions, half a pound of carrots and a loaf of bread. Here is the money and don't forget the change.

Pete: Did I ever forget it?

Mother: I don't say you did. But you are so absent-minded.

Pete: (sighing): My teacher says the same.

Mother: I expect you to be back in half an hour.

P e t e : All right. I'll do my best.