BLACK FRIDAY 2015 (intermediate)

Have a good laugh!

BLACK FRIDAY II (intermediate)

Oh, no!
Black Friday is coming again!

We may have to go on a crazy shopping spree, we may have to buy more stuff than we need, we may have to borrow money to keep up appearances. 

Or... do we?

But listen!

SHOP TILL YOU DROP (intermediate)

Shopping, shopping, shopping...

We have to shop now and then, right? A present, some food, clothes, a book, you name it.

And some people keep it at that: they go to a store when they need to buy something. But, is it so for most? Or rather, has shopping become a form of entertainment for many?

Isn't it true that lots of teenagers (and even entire families) can spend a whole day at a shopping mall? 

Imagine the situation:

It's a rainy winter Saturday. Or maybe it's dreadfully hot. Who knows, perhaps we simply are out of ideas on how to spend our free time. Why not go to a shopping area? Actually, there is something for everyone there: bowling alleys, cinemas, restaurants, supermarkets, games and rides for kids, and so on. And then there are shops, and more shops, and bunches of shops. Enough to satisfy everyone's desires. 

It sounds like heaven, doesn't it?

Beware, though! All that convenience is not designed to make your life easier. The purpose of it all is to lure you to make you buy as much as possible, whether you can afford it or not. All those facilities around shops are but baits. The music, the decoration, the colours and even the smells you perceive are carefully selected to transform you into the perfect CUSTOMER, an addict of shopping.

Just take a look at the way a supermarket is organised. Every detail is aimed at getting you to buy even what you don't need!

Latest Infographic from CouponCabin

Find answers to the following questions:

1. How often do you go shopping?
2. What do you normally buy?
3. How much time can you spend shopping?
4. Do you make a previous list? If so, do you stick to it?
5. Do you prefer small stores or big shopping areas?
6. What is a "shopping spree"?
7. What does "aroma marketing" refer to?
8. Find the meaning of  "planned obsolescence".
9. Do "bargains" exist?

SHOPPING IN CAMDEN MARKET (intermediate)

Let's take a quick tour of Camden Market, one of London's most popular attactions. It's famous for the arts and crafts you can buy there, and especially for its alternative fashion.

You can browse in more than one thousand shops and stalls!

(Don't forget you can activate the English subtitles by clicking  on Choose Language (bottom left) and then English 100%).

SHOPPING online game (intermediate)

How good is your memory? And how fast are you when clicking? Try this game created by the British Council. I bet you'll love it!

BLACK FRIDAY I (intermediate)

What is Black Friday? Where and why does it take place?

Watch this video and find out what it is all about:

Yes! It's about shopping! SHOP TILL YOU DROP is the logo of the day.

Lots of people in the U.S.A. start their Christmas shopping on this day. Chain stores and smaller shops open their doors early in the morning in the hope of making big sales and great profits.

Why is it called BLACK Friday? There are two theories to explain it:

• One considers it is due to the marks of wheels on the roads on such a busy day.
• The other one says the reason is that benefits are recorded in black ink whereas losses appear in red.

What is your opinion about a day like this?

Is there something similar in your country?