Learn English with this shopping English lesson

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen

• outfit
• save money
• frivolous
• project

• price tag
• cost an arm and a leg
• limb
• pricey

• stylish

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

Go Super to Listen

Have you ever gone into a store and found a piece of clothing you absolutely loved? It’s the perfect color, the perfect size, and the perfect style. Everything about it is perfect, until you take a look at the price tag. Would anyone really pay that much for a piece of clothing? You really think the price is just outrageous. That amazing piece of clothing costs an arm and a leg.

Of course, the limbs of your body aren’t really for sale. But they are valuable. When something is so insanely pricey, it feels as if the shopkeeper is asking you to sell off parts of yourself to pay for it. What’s really sad is when you still want to buy something, even though you know it costs an arm and a leg. You would actually sell off those parts of your body, if you could!

Amanda is looking for some new clothes, and Lily comes along. Does everything in the store really cost an arm and a leg? Find out in this shopping English lesson.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

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

Log in to Listen

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

Amanda

Lily

Amanda:  What do you think?

Lily:  Oh, wow. That looks really great on you!

Amanda:  Yeah? You think so?

Lily:  You look so stylish. You’re like a model!

Amanda:  Wow, thanks Lily. I don’t know… these clothes are kind of expensive. I mean, I love this whole outfit, but it costs an arm and a leg.

Lily:  Wow, that’s expensive.

Amanda:  Seriously. I mean, that comment you made last week made me think that maybe I could use some new clothes. I get it. But Mason and I are trying to save up to buy a new house, and I just don’t know if I have enough money to spend on frivolous things like clothes.

Lily:  Well, I don’t think feeling good about how you look is frivolous at all. I think you use fashion to be the person you want to be.

Amanda:  I guess so.

Lily:  I really do. I think you use clothes to put out the image you want to project to the world.

Amanda:  You know, you’re right.

Lily:  And it doesn’t even have to cost an arm and a leg. I mean, look at this scarf. Maybe it’s not quite as expensive.

Amanda:  Oh, I love it! This is so great! And you’re right… it does make me feel like a powerful woman. Just what I want. You know what? I think I’m going to get it.

Lily:  All right! That’s right. You use fashion to be the person you want to be. Ugh, that’s expensive. But at least it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg like the other stuff she was looking at.

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Present Progressive Tense" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3