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Thrifting

Thrifting

Date: Dec 14 2007

Themes: Fashion

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Think of that favorite sweater or pair of jeans you’ve had for years. What if you lost it or it got worn out? Would you be able to replace it at a store?

Believe it or not, your best bet would probably be a thrift store. Thrift stores sell used clothes and household items. They’re also called secondhand stores. You can find things there they don’t make anymore.

A lot of thrift stores are run by churches and charities. People donate things they don’t want anymore to the store and all the money the store makes goes to the charity.

Listen to Marni and Jason talk about thrift stores.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jason

Jason

Marni:  So I got these shoes at a thrift store, a new thrift store that opened up recently.

Jason:  A new one?

Marni:  Yeah.

Jason:  Cool.

Marni:  There’s always new thrift stores opening up. You ever notice that?

Jason:  Really?

Marni:  Yeah. I think this area is very thrift-store oriented.

Jason:  Definitely. It’s cool because you can get things from the past that you can’t get anywhere else.

Marni:  It’s true.

Jason:  Like, I’ve get these really big blue gloves that I use for biking that are really waterproof but like, no one makes like, tacky blue gloves anymore, you know?

Marni:  Yeah, you basically have to find that kind of stuff at thrift stores.

Jason:  Yeah. The only problem is the effort it takes to find it. Going through the entire thrift store in search of that one treasure.

Marni:  You can’t go in lightly. You have to be ready to commit and sift through everything. I kind of love it. I have to be in the mindset of going and thrifting but I find if you’re up for it, you find great stuff.

Jason:  It just takes a long time. It’s really dusty sometimes.

Marni:  I know people who wear gloves. It kinda makes sense because sometimes you’re like, “Who was wearing this before? It could be some skanky old guy.” And yeah…like, you know, “Who was sitting on this before and what did they do on this couch?”

Jason:  Eh, it’s the same as a hotel or restaurant or something.

Marni:  I guess, but I figure a hotel at least you’re paying for it so hope that maybe somebody else was a little more…Yeah, now I’m kinda creeped out about hotels too. I’m probably just never gonna go to one again. Only stay in five stars. Yeah. that’s not gonna happen.

 

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Discussion

Marni’s shoes came from a new thrift store. Jason is surprised that a new thrift store opened because they’re often very old and dingy. But Marni reminds him that people in Portland (where Marni and Jason live) are particularly interested in thrifting.

Jason likes thrift stores because you can get things there that aren’t available at new stores anymore. He has a favorite pair of gloves from the 80s that he got at a thrift store.

The only problem, he says, is that since every item in a thrift store is unique, it takes a lot of searching to find anything you like. Marni says that if she gets in the right mood she enjoys searching through a thrift store. She knows people who wear gloves when they go to thrift stores because you never know where the items came from.

Furniture, particularly couches, can be a little sketchy, since the people used to own them might have done…well, who knows. It’s probably not best to think about it.

Jason points out that thrift store couches aren’t any different than furniture in a hotel room. Marni thinks about it for a second and decides she’s a little afraid of hotels too!

Have you ever found anything really great at a thrift store? How would you feel about sitting on a secondhand couch?

 

Comments

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linki

China

hi,thrifting .I am desired to known you.

04:58 PM Dec 15 2007 |

julio san

Peru

good conversation the pronunciaton is excelent

04:41 PM Dec 15 2007 |

cim

China

yes ,i agree whith you

04:02 PM Dec 15 2007 |

luking

Brazil

i guess here in Brazil it´s normal find trifts stores but especially for charity. i really dont´t like to  use one of them, maybe if is  were something  verey especial …i dont´t know.kkkkkkkkkk

03:30 PM Dec 15 2007 |

champ_mem007

Pakistan

yo!!

ryt

02:41 PM Dec 15 2007 |

chendawu1982

China

no pains no gains

02:29 PM Dec 15 2007 |

quaid

Pakistan

i m a new student

12:52 PM Dec 15 2007 |

THINKNICE

China

I think it’s very interesting.Old things can remind us manythings,happiness ,sadness.I think it will be very fashionable.

11:08 AM Dec 15 2007 |

liheping

liheping

China

I like to see what thrift store is selling,maybe I don’t want you buy everything, just for fun. But I really like to go to thrift stores for books. In the normal book store, the books are very expensive, but in the thrift store, you can get a bargain sometimes. On the other hand, you can meet some old books which you can’t get in normal book store. I especially love to by a secondhand book which was used by a beautiful woman.

09:07 AM Dec 15 2007 |

nguyenthinga

Viet Nam

 Going shopping is really interesting thing eventhough you have  intention of buying nothing but just look at stuff, and it will be more exciting if it is in a thrift store.

you can watch, touch fun and lovely things which are not easy to find in store? you by any chance catch to see your old stuff you sold in the past. also, it's really good way to release stress, right?

Wink

08:59 AM Dec 15 2007 |

wuha

China

I am a new ‘STUDENT’in Ebaby and my English is not good so I hope I can found some friends

08:00 AM Dec 15 2007 |

masooma

Bahrain

I have never been to thrifts stores all my life..but after listening these dialogues i think that these stores will be a great place for buying antiques, CDs  & books..Smile will definately visit there soon.

06:10 AM Dec 15 2007 |

molisameng

China

It's interesting togo thrifting. I actualy went to a thrifting store long time ago and did find some great stuff there. For some reason I didn't buy anything. I think the secondhand clothes, shoes and things like that are unaccetable for me. I do have use many secondhand stuff in my life but they are from my friends or relatives. I only use those things that can be cleaned or " sterilized" such as the solid wood furniture, smooth surfaced home deco. Maybe I will give out some of mines to the thrift stores some day later.

04:25 AM Dec 15 2007 |

guningfei

guningfei

China

i think it is good ideal to open up  a thirft store ,i think it can earn money .do you think so ,i come from china .there are not many thirft stort  in china ,just have some  second hand book shop.

i hope that i can make  more friand frome is website ,will be my friand

 

01:21 AM Dec 15 2007 |

yyjessica

yyjessica

China

for me i don't like to buy  secondhand things

01:15 AM Dec 15 2007 |

Jennycui

Jennycui

China

I never go to the secondhand store to buy something. For me, I dislike things I will buy used by someone. This may be a habit of mine, not to say all secondhand goods are not good. If you ever benefit from the thrifting store, you will visit it at times.

12:38 AM Dec 15 2007 |

leylak_18

Turkey

hi frends!ı’m from turkey,ı’m a student at university,ı’m learnimg engilish, do you want to help me?

08:07 PM Dec 14 2007 |

champ_mem007

Pakistan

yea!I guess its really a fun to buy some old stuff from thriftshop.Its very very Good that all the money the store earn goes to charity its a very good deedSmile

07:19 PM Dec 14 2007 |

huangqihua

huangqihua

China

I really need learn english

07:13 PM Dec 14 2007 |

Soniamalhotra

India

i just agree with the old furniture and other things but not with the wore out cothes.

06:36 PM Dec 14 2007 |

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