English, baby!

Shopping at the Gap

Date: Aug 03 2001

Intro

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

just in case

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

Hi Friends!
Last weekend I spent a whole day shopping with my friend Alison, who was in town visiting. While browsing through store after store in the city, I thought it would be a great idea to do a Real Life lesson on shopping.
The following is a typical example of what happens when you go into a store looking to buy some clothes!
Listen carefully, because the sales girl speaks very quickly!

Dialog

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

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

Tanis

Sales Person: How are you guys doing?

Tanis: Oh, hey! Fine, how are you?

Sales Person: Are you finding things okay? Good, thanks!

Tanis: Um, yeah… I had some questions about some jeans?

Sales Person: Okay.

Tanis: Um, I want to get some low jeans but I’m not… there’s three different low rises.

Sales Person: Right. We have three different cuts, we just got these ones in, uh only like a week ago- they’re coming out with all our new Fall Flow.

Tanis: Uh huh.

Sales Person: So, we have the low rise, the lower rise and then the ultra low rise.

Tanis: Okay, what is the difference between the three?

Sales Person: Okay, the low rise rides, like right above your hip…

Tanis: Uh huh.

Sales Person: so not like super, not super low. Then the…

Tanis: Uh huh.

Sales Person: the low, lower rise rides right on the hip and then the lowest rides right below the hip…

Tanis: Oh my gosh.

Sales Person: And so the lowest is like ultra low. It’s unbelievable, it has an inch and a half inseam. And so, in the zipper, so it’s very, really like, really short.

Tanis: Okay, so I’m probably too old for that.

Sales Person: No no no, it’s just, I mean it depends on like, your hips and how you would personally feel comfortable in jeans.

Tanis: Right.

Sales Person: And, they- I mean they’re really low. And they’re fitted, like those ones are really tight in the thigh…

Tanis: Un huh.

Sales person: And they have a flare at the bottom, so. They’re mimicked after like Christina Aguilera and stuff..

Tanis: Oh, yeah well I’m definitely no Christina Aguilera !

Sales Person: Oh, yeah! Christina Aguilera just….

Tanis: Why don’t I try, like, some of these; the other two pairs.

Sales Person: Do you want to try the other ones?

Tanis: Yeah!

Sales Person: Okay we can grab you the low and the lower rise, and which size do you think?

Tanis: Um, I don’t know. What do you think?

Sales Person: Um, well if you normally wear a six they kind of run tight.

Tanis: Uh huh.

Sales Person: So if you normally wear a six I might do an eight.

Tanis: Okay.

Sales Person: And if you normally wear a four I might do a six…

Tanis: Okay well then I’ll take sixes…

Sales Person: So you want to try a six maybe?

Tanis: Yeah.

Sales Person: and I’d also grab a four, just in case, you know…

Tanis: Okay.

Sales Person: to see if, to see which ones you feel comfortable with.

Tanis: Yeah, right! (Laughs) Thank you!

Sales Person: Sure, no problem!

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Discussion

This is a difficult lesson to hear. Not only is the music in the store playing loudly, the sales person also speaks very quickly, and you have to listen closely to understand what she is saying.
In spite of this, the conversation that takes place between the sales person and me is very common. I am trying to find some jeans, but can’t decide between three different pairs. The sales person explains the difference between the three styles of jeans, and I decide to take two to try on in the dressing room.
If I had not wanted help from the sales person, I would have said that I wasn’t having any problems finding clothes when she asked my friend and I if we were finding things okay. I usually like to ask a sales person about the new clothes and styles, especially if I can’t decide what to buy!
Have you had any interesting shopping experiences? Write and tell me about it on the Life Goes On Message board! Otherwise, have a great week!
Your friend,
Tanis

Comments

Yulyababy

Ukraine

Cool

Yulyababy

Ukraine

COOL. It is the most interesting topic for me. I think all the girls like it.

I would like to add that we can say "low-slung jeans". Once I have read an article about fashion in DIGEST. And there was a term "low-slung trousers" there. I think we can use it concerning jeans too.

And I also want to add some words which can help us while learning topic FASHION. They are: