Expressions to Use When Shopping in a Retail Store

Shopping can be overwhelming when you are looking for something specific.  How do you explain to the sales representative what it is that you are looking for, especially when they don't have a large number of that product or item. 

Shopping can be much easier when you are shopping for yourself, but what if you are shopping for someone else, children or a spouse?  Below are a list of phrases that one can use as a guide.

Phrases/Expressions:

When Shopping for Yourself:

"Excuse me? Can you help me?"


"I am looking for a suit/pants/shirt/sweater/skirt/dress..."


"I am a size 3/7/9/11. Do you have this in my size?"


"Do you have this/that in another color?"


"Is this on sale?"


"There isn't a price tag on this. Could you do a price check for me?"


"What is the price for this?"


"Could you tell me the price for this?"


"Do you have a bag/pair of shoes/earrings/hat/... to go with this?"



When Shopping for Someone else:

"I am looking for a shirt/dress/pants/sweater/shoes/... for a 7 year old/for my nephew/for my spouse..."


"I am shopping for my spouse/friend/....  Could you help me decide?"

"I am shopping for my spouse/friend/niece/sister/...  Could you suggest/recommend something?"


When Shopping for an Occasion:

"What do you think would make a good birthday gift for a 40 year old man?/a 4 year old child?/a friend?"


"What would be a good Christmas gift/Mother's Day/Wedding gift/....?


"Do you think that this would make a good house-warming/Father's Day/birthday/... gift?"


"Could you suggest something for a house-warming/wedding/Father's Day/birthday/... gift?

Dialog:

Now let's take a look at how to apply the phrases above in a natural English conversation.

Molly has decided to join a gym and is now shopping for a new pair of workout shoes.

Molly walks into the shoes store...

Sales Agent: Welcome to the Shoe Lockers.  Can I help you?

Molly:  As a matter of fact, yes.  I am looking for a comfortable pair of workout shoes.

Sales Agent:  What size are you?

Molly:  I am a size 7. 

Sales Agent:  What kind of exercise will you be doing?

Molly:  Well, I will be doing some high impact aerobics, jogging outdoors and on the treadmill.

Sales Agent:  In that case, you need something with good  traction and fit.  More so, something that absorbs shock is good. Here, try this on.

Molly:  This fits comfortably, but it doesn't quite fit.  It's a little big for my feet. Do you have something in probably a 6 and a 1/2 ?

Sales Agent:  We do carry half sizes in that brand.  Give me a minute...

Molly:  No problem.

Sales Agent:  Here you go... This should do the trick.

Molly:  These fit perfectly.  Sometimes I wear a half size bigger or smaller depending on the make of the shoes.

Sales Agent:  That's pretty common, because every brand of shoes is made differently.

Molly:  I like this pair; however, do you have it in another color?  I would prefer anything but pink and grey.

Sales Agent: As a matter of fact, we do carry that pair in a dark blue with white trimmings.

Molly:  Great!  That's actually my favorite color. I will take that.

Sales Agent: Great! I will ring that up for you.

Molly: Thank you very much.

Now your turn!

Create your own dialog using the expressions above and the outline below as a guide.

You: Excuse me? Can you help me?

Your friend:  What are you looking for?

You:  I am looking for a ____________ (describe what you are shopping for).

Your friend:  We have that in red/pink/white/blue/...and a size 5/6/7/...  (use the expressions above).

Keep the dialog going for as long as you can and then change roles.

Great Job Today!

Talking About What You Do

In social settings we are often asked about what we do.  This usually refers to one's job or occupation.  There are a number of things that one can say whether you are talking about what you do or inquiring about what someone else does.

Phrases/Expressions when giving information about your job:

"I'm a teacher/lawyer/technician..."

"I'm a professional student/student."

"I'm a stay-at-home mom."

"I oversee the technical department."

"I am a self-employee."

"I work from home."

"I sometimes work from home and the office other times."

"I travel (sometimes/a lot/...) for my job/work."

"I am usually away from the office."

"I primarily run my real estate business out of my home."

"I mainly work as a customer service representative."

"I work part-time/full-time as an office manager/teacher/internet technician..."

Phrases/Expressions when inquiring about what someone does:

"What does your job involve/entail?"

"What do you do (for a living).?"

"What does IT/... mean?

"What do podiatrists/prosecutors/... do?"

"Do you work full-time/part-time?"

"Are you a full-time/part-time employee?"

"Do you travel for your job/work?"

"Do you travel a lot?"

"Do you work from home or the office?"

"What are your responsibilities?"

"Does your job pay well?"/"What's  your annual salary?" (This question can be quite personal depending on the person and the job).

"Do you get a lot of time off or a lot of vacation days?"

"Do you tend to take (a lot of) time off?"

"Do you study or do you work?"

"Do you work and go to school (part-time)?"

"Are you a full-time/part-time student?"

"What's your major?"

"What are you majoring in?"

"What subject are you studying/majoring in?"

"How long have you been in school?"

"What university/college are you going to?"

"When do you graduate?"

"What do you want to do when you graduate?"

"How did you choose/decide on your major?"

"Why did you choose that school?"

"Is the tuition high/a lot?"

"Are books/texts/text books costly?"

"What are your grades like?"

"Do you like university/college life?"

"Do you live at home/on/off campus?"

"What is student life like (in university/college)?"

DIALOG:

Now let's take a look at another way to use the expressions above.

Jiao was on her way to her 10AM lecture when John stopped her to ask for directions.

John:  Excuse me.  Do you know how to get to room 301?

Jiao:  Yes, I am heading to my 10 o'clock lecture in room 304B.  You can follow me if you like.

John:  Thank you.  I would really appreciate that.

Jiao: Are you new here?

John:  Yes, I am. It's my first year here. How about you?

Jiao:  This is my last year here. I am graduating in June of next year.

John:  That's great! Good for you.  What's your major?

Jiao:  Thank you. I am majoring in business finance and political science.  How about you?

John:  I am majoring in Internet technology.  However, I did my masters in business 10 years ago at Harvard.  I just wanted to get out of the workforce and do something a little different.  To be honest, I just needed a change.

Jiao:  That's also impressive.  That means you have a lot of work experience!  What did you do?

John:  Well, I was the Chief Financial Officer for GE; General Electric.  Which is a Fortune 500 company. 

Jiao:  What does a Chief Financial Officer do?

John:  I was in charge of finance, so that means training the finance unit and other staff members about finance management matters, developing new business for the company, overseeing all purchases and payroll and so on. It was a lot of responsibility.  I was always in the office.

Jiao:  Wow... It sounds like it!  But I am sure you were paid well.

John:  Yes, I had a six figure salary. What do you plan to do with your business finance and political science major? 

Jiao: I want to do what you did.  However, right now I am looking forward to completing my masters in business.   Here we are!  There is room 301.

John:  Thank you for your help.  It was nice talking to you.

Jiao:  No problem.  See you around. 

John: Bye.

Now  Your Turn!

Create a dialog using the phrases and dialog above as a guide.

You: What do you do?

Your friend: I'm a __________ (job/student).

You:  Where do you go to school?/What does that entail?

Your friend:  _______________ (describe your job/major/student life).

Switch roles and continue.  Try to keep the dialog/conversation going for as long as possible.

Vocabulary Review:     

six figure salary - Refers to a job that pays at least 100 000 dollars.  It's called "six figures" because there are six figures to the left of the decimal place.

oversee - Means to watch and direct usually a project or a task.

in charge of - Means to be responsible for something.

To be honest - Means "honestly" or just another way to be direct or frank with someone.

entail - Means involve.

See you around - It means to see you again sometime or in passing.  You can also say "see you later" in place of it.  However, keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily mean that you will see the person again.

Great job today!

Talking About Routines

It's commonplace  in the American culture for one to talk about routines or a typical day or week.  This topic of conversation is a great way to make small talk; thus, a common way to sum up a typical day in a casual conversation.  A routine is a habitual or ongoing task/chores completed regularly/often. We can describe these 'routines' by using adverbs of frequency and infrequency like, 'always', 'usually', 'sometimes', and so on.

Adverbs of Frequency:

usually
always
frequently
constantly
typically
regularly
predominantly
generally

Adverbs of Infrequency:

Sometimes
rarely
never
seldom
occasionally
from time to time
every now and then
intermittently
once in a blue moon
hardly ever

Dialog:

Now let's take a look at how to use the frequency and infrequency adverbs listed above in a basic English conversation.

Lilly and Jill are studying for a math test.

Lilly:  I am so tired, Jill.  I  have had three tests this well and I will have one more next week and two essays that I am still researching.  I am so behind...

Jill:  That is hectic.  My schedule is no different, but that's just university life. However, keep in mind that that's a typical week for most university student.

Lilly: That's true!  Out of curiosity... What's a typical day like for you?

Jill:  A typical day... Let me think.  Hmmmm... Well, a routine day for me begins at 7:00AM.  I always get up at 7:00AM and brush my teeth and shower immediately afterwards.  After that, I usually eat breakfast at 7:30AM, then get dressed for work.  I am generally out of my house by 8AM, because my first lecture begins at 8:30AM and it takes me about 15 to 20 minutes to arrive at school by bus.  The first lecture goes until 9:30AM and the second begins at 10:00AM and goes until noon, and it goes like that until 3:00PM. 

Lilly: Wow... That's quite a busy school day.

Jill: I know.  Then we always meet at the library and study until 5:00PM.  I typically arrive home at 5:00PM and then eat dinner at 6:00 sometimes 6:30PM. My parents and I usually sit down around 7:00PM and watch television, play a game and catch up on our day. Finally, I take another shower, brush my teeth and head to bed by 8:30PM. That's a typical day for me!

Lilly: And it starts all over again. I am tired just listening to that! A routine school day for me is not very different, however, I am not usually up until 8AM and I always arrive at school by 9:25AM, just in time for my 9:30AM lecture.  My lectures also go until 3:00PM and I we usually meet in the library and study until 5:00PM together.  However, after I leave the library I usually go to my part-time job downstairs in the school bookstore until 8:00PM and I am usually in my dorm around 8:15PM.  Then I microwave the frozen food my mom makes for me.  Finally, I take a shower, brush my teeth and then hit the hay typically around 10:00PM.

Jill:  I have come to realize that we need more fun in our lives. (Laughs).

Lilly: I second that! I never have any fun during the school year... (Laughs).

Now your Turn!

Verbs to describe your daily routine:

brush teeth
brush my hair
wash my hair
make breakfast
eat breakfast
take a shower
drive to work
get dressed
work out/exercise
order lunch
make lunch
play sports
go for a walk
go shopping for grocery
make dinner
prepare dinner

Use the dialog and vocabulary above as a guide to answer the questions above.

What's your daily routine?

What's a typical day like for you?

What's a typical weekend like?

What's your job?

What's your major?

When do you leave  home?

When do you return home?

Great job today!

How to Wish Someone Well for the Holiday Season

It's that festive time of year again when everyone around the world celebrates the end of the old year and beginning of the new year.   In the Western and Eastern culture a variety of celebrations take place like Diwali, American Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Chinese Lantern Festival, Rosh Hashanah, and so on. This is the time of year when family and friends get together to celebrate the holidays home and abroad.  If you are someone who lives in the Western culture or has friends from or in other countries, you may want to wish them well for the holiday season; but is unsure of what to say or how to say what you want to say. Below is a list of phrases that you can use to wish someone well for the holiday season.

Politically correct/Generic Term:

"Happy holidays!" (This includes all  holiday celebrations).

"I wish you all the best for the holidays."

"Seasons greetings!"


More Specific Phrases:

"Happy Thanksgiving!" (A celebration of harvest).

"Merry/Happy Christmas!" (Is a Christian holiday greeting. "Happy Christmas" is used in both America and Britain; however more so in Britain).

"Merry/Happy X-mas." (A shorten or informal Christmas greeting).

"Happy Hanukkah!" (A Jewish holiday greeting).

"Happy Kwanzaa!" (An African-American celebration of family and community).

"Happy New Year!"


Dialog:

Now let's look at how to use the vocabulary above in a typical English conversation.
As Terry and Maya wrap-up for the holiday season; Terry hands Maya a Christmas card. 

Maya: Thanks Terry!  I am so sorry, but I did not get you anything.

Terry: Don't worry about it. This is my way of playing "Santa". We have only worked together for 5 months, plus you are new to the company.  I have been making homemade cards for my co-workers for 3 years now.

Maya: That's really nice of you! Let me take a look at your handy work! (She opens the envelope and reads the card). "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Season's greetings".  I love the illustration. This is really great!  However, I don't celebrate Christmas.

Terry:  Oh, I am so sorry!  I didn't think to ask.

Maya: That's okay.  Most people assume that I do.  I am a Christian, but I just don't celebrate Christmas.  I celebrate Kwanzaa.

Terry: I've heard of Kwanzaa; however, I am not sure what entails.

Maya: Kwanzaa means the first fruits of celebration. It's a 7 day celebration which begins December 26th and ends January 1st, annually.  It is celebrated with the lighting of 7 candles in a candle holder or kinera.  The focus is family and community; there is a feast, gift giving and of course great food! (laughs).

Terry:  It sounds wonderful. It sounds a lot like Christmas; but different... Well, for Christmas I will be volunteering at the homeless shelter.  I would like to invite you.

Maya.  Thank you. Let me check my calendar and call you tomorrow. I have gotta' run. Thanks for the card!

Terry:  You are welcome! I am looking forward to that phone call!

Maya: You can hold me to that! Bye.

Terry: Bye.

Now your Turn!

Use the phrases above to role play with a family member or friend!

You: What are you doing for the holiday season?

Your friend/family member:  I am ________________ (respond by stating what your plans are).

You:  That sounds great!/(other adjectives). (If it's a holiday celebration as for your friend to explain the meaning of the holiday).

Your friend/family member: Thank you!/(Respond to the explanation).

Great job today!

Making Small Talk

Small talk is something we all do no matter what culture we are from or country we live in.  It's a polite way to get to know others in social settings.  Making small talk is not just about the ability to say "hello" and nod and smile, but it involves one's ability to speak knowledgeably on a wide array of social topics. Therefore, reading the newspaper, books, magazines, watching the news regularly and by staying up-to-date on current events is a great way to improve one's ability to small talk. This is also a great way to build one's vocabulary. The ability to make 'small talk' can sometimes be influenced by one's personality - so are you outgoing or more of an introvert or a social recluse? So yes, personality does play a part, but it doesn't have to play a huge part.

When making small talk it's important to stay away from taboo subjects like politics, religion, sexuality, money, conflicts between countries and the like.  Making small talk can be easy when there is a common interest. You can talk about the weather (it affects everyone), your work day, a popular book or show, travel, shopping; trivial things.  Additionally, it's not only important to know how to make small talk, but it's also important to know when to end it.  Like making small talk, ending and changing the topic of conversation  is just as important and may also be an art. At the end of the day, making small talk comes easy if one stays up-to-date on current events, finds a common interest, listens well, and knows how and when to end or change the topic of conversation.

Dialog:

Now let's take a look at how to make small talk in a social setting.  You can also use this to role play with a family member or friend.

Lisa is supposed to meet her date, Jay at the Toronto Art Museum at 7:00 pm.  However, decided to leave early to avoid being caught in the evening traffic. She arrives at the museum 6:15 pm and decided to go to the museum store to waste time until her date arrives.

Sales associate: Do you need help finding anything?

Lisa:  No, I am just browsing.

Sales associate:  Okay. If you need help finding anything, please feel free to ask.

Lisa: Thank you.  I am meeting my date here, but I came a little early to beat the evening traffic. I really dislike getting caught in traffic.

Sales associate:  I understand!  It is so frustrating sitting in (congested) traffic waiting for cars to move. It's a waste of time!

Lisa:  I agree! (Laughs). It's also a waste of gas and money! It's quite inconvenient to take cars in big cities like Toronto, so imagine even bigger cities like Tokyo, London, Hong Kong and so on. It must be ten times more overwhelming.

Sales associate:  I have lived in places like London, England and I have to say that the train system is great; however, you are right, driving in the city can be really stressful.

Lisa: Oh, look at the time.  My date should be here already. It was really great speaking with you. My name is Lisa.

Sales associate:  Nice to meet you.  (Hand shake). My  name is Julie.  It was great speaking with you too. See  you around.  Take care.

Lisa: You too.  Bye.

Sales associate:  Bye.

Now your turn!

Topics of Small Talk:

Self-introduction - introduce name, hobbies, likes and dislikes, hometown or country of birth etc., and vise versa

Sports - popular sports, favorite teams, seasonal sports...

Family - children, spouse, parents...

Media - popular books and magazines, channels, music, the internet, current movies or favorite movies...

Weather - current weather forecast, favorite season(s), favorite seasonal activities or interests...

Work - career, career interest, your passion, employment...

Shopping - grocery shopping, clothes shopping, current trends in fashion, expenses...

Celebrities (a popular topic of conversation) - Hollywood, celebrities in the news; your favorite celebrity, actor or actress; singers and other artists...

Education - your major, schools attended ...

Current Events - (be careful here not to talk about politics or conflicts between countries unless you know the person well); natural disasters, crime/crime rate, the Prince of England's engagement...

Create your own dialog using the above list of popular topics of small talk as a guide when making small talk.

Below is an outline of how to do that.

You: How was your day at work?

Your friend/family member:  It was great/boring/...___________ (adjective).

You:  I am sorry to hear that./I am glad to hear that you had a good work day.

Your friend/family member: Thank you. How was yours?

You: __________________ (Respond).

Your friend/Family member: ___________ (Respond).


Vocabulary Review:


- Someone who is shy or gets nervous in social situations.

- a person who lives alone or in isolation.

 - When someone is informed of the latest information or news event.

current events - events or issues of interest to you found in the daily news

 - When something has a strong emotional effect on someone.

 - A build-up or increase of something (like cars on the road during rush hour).

  - Something that is of little importance.

 - This refers to when groups of people in government make collective decisions.  It also refers to the attitude and behavior of the government and people in different work environments.

Wide array - A variety of choices, collection, or opinion.  It is also a large collection of something.

Great job today!

 If you would like to know more about how to make small talk, the book below is quite informative.

Ending or Changing the topic of Conversation

Ending a conversation is never an easy thing. Most of us find ourselves in long-drawn-out (just another way to say 'a very long time') conversations  that are boring, uncomfortable and have no real substance.  Many a times/many times (they mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably) we choose not to end them because we do not want to be rude. Well, ending a conversation or changing the topic of conversation is kind of like saying goodbye. Below are some phrases that one can use to end or change the topic of conversation.

Ending a Conversation With a Stranger:

"It was nice meeting you."

"I have to go. Nice talking to you."

"It was nice speaking with you, but I have to go now. Bye."

"Have a good day. Bye."

"I have an appointment, so I've got to go."


In General:

"I've got some work to do."

"Talk to you later."

"We will continue this (conversation) later."

"Could we change the topic (of conversation)?"

"This is not the best topic of conversation."

"I am not comfortable having this conversation with you."

"I would prefer not to discuss this (topic)z with you."

"Why don't you call me later?"

"I'm busy."

"I have a lot on my plate right now.  Maybe we can continue this later."

"Let's pick up this conversation later/after breakfast/tomorrow/in a hour..."

"Sorry to cut you off, but..."

Dialog:

Now let's take a look at how to develop a conversation using the above phrases.

Sam is waiting at the bus stop for a bus when an old lady approaches...

Old lady: Excuse me young man.  Do you know when the next bus is?

Sam:  Yes.  In about 5  minutes.      

Old lady: Thank you. (Pause). Nice day isn't it?

Sam: Yes it is.  It's supposed to get hotter tomorrow.

Old lady:  Is that so? Oh...

Sam:  Well, here comes the bus. It was nice speaking with you.

Old lady:  You too. Thanks.

Now your Turn!

I will give you two situations in which you will need to create your own dialog for. You can role play with a family member or a friend. 

Situation 1:

You are in a taxi cab and the taxi driver is talking about his day and not paying attention to the road.  How would you handle it? Use the phrases above to help you.

Situation 2:

You are at the movie theatre with a friend and the person sitting next  to you is talking about the premise of the movie  you are about to watch.  How would you respond? Use the phrases above to help you.

Multiple Choice!
Choose the best  way to end the conversation.

1.  You are shopping for a Christmas gifts at the Gap store and a fellow shopper starts complaining to you about how they hate to shop for Christmas presents.  You are focused on getting some shopping done because you have a busy schedule. What's the best response under the circumstance?

a.  "I know. Christmas shopping is expensive! I hate it too..."
b.  "I agree.  Shopping for gifts can be overwhelming."
c.  "I understand. Hope it gets better! Have a good day."
d.  "I know.  There is always a large crowd. Blah, blah, blah..."

2.  You are on the train reading a good book and the person sitting next to you ask you for the time.  You give her the time and she continues to talk about her day; however, you would really love to get back to reading your book.  How would you respond?

a. Continue listening and just nod in agreement to show that you are listening.
b. "Sounds like you had a busy day." Then continue to listen.
c. Ignore her and return to reading your book.
d. "I hope your evening gets better, but I was hoping to finish this chapter."

3.  Your friend calls you on the phone because he or she is bored, but you were in the middle of watching your favorite t.v. sitcom; Friends.  Would you respond by saying...

a. "Call me back later./I will call you back later.  I am in the middle of something."
b. "Would like to get together and do something fun?"
c. "I am sorry to  hear that you are bored and I hope you feel better, but I am busy."
d. "Ha! Ha! Ha!! Phoebe is so funny.  Sorry. What were you saying?"

4. Your spouse is in the other room reading to the children. Therefore you decided that it's best time to video Skype your friend Donna in France and in the middle of your conversation your son runs out crying and demands your attention.  You respond by saying...

a.  "I am so sorry Donna, but my son is upset." Then find out what's wrong, resolve the matter and return to your video conference.
b. "Go see your dad.  I am in the middle of a conversation."
c. Continue talking and ignore your son.
d. "Excuse me Donna.  What's the matter son? (Wait for a response). Sorry Donna, I will have to call you back.  Talk to you later."

Great job today!

Ans: c, d, a, a/d

Saying Goodbye

It's always difficutl to say goodbye, especially when it's family or a close friend. However, there are some things we can say or do to make saying goodbye easier.  We can make saying goodbye a little easier by letting our friend know that we will write emails or letters, call or Skype them, and of course, visit them.  This can sometimes make saying goodbye easier because it's a way to reasure each other that goodbyes are not forever. Below are some phrases that one can use when saying goodbye.

Business/Formal Goodbye: (Usually accompanied by a handshake)

"It was nice meeting you..."

"I will be in touch..."

"Here is my  number; call me..."

"Goodbye./Bye."

Informal Goodbyes:

"I will miss you..."

"Please stay in touch..."

"Let's stay in touch..."

"I will call/email/write/visit you sometimes..."

"See you soon/later..."

"Bye for now..."

"I've got to run./I gotta' run."

"Talk to you later."
"Catch you/ya' later."

"See you around."

"Hope to see you again soon."

Saying Goodbye on the Telephone:

"I've got to let you go."

"I am sorry to cut you off, but I have to go now."

"I have to go now."

"I am sorry to end our conversation, but I've got to go."

"I will talk to you later. Bye."

"It was nice talking to you. Goodbye./Bye."

"I have to end our call now. Bye."

Below is a sample dialog of how to use the above phrases in everyday English conversation.  You can role play with a friend or family member .

Beth just called her friend June to invite her to join her study group.

Phone rings...

Beth:  Hi June!  How are you doing?

June: I'm good and you?

Beth: Fine. Thanks!  I was just calling to invite you to join my study group this evening. We are getting together at North Public Library at 6pm.

June:  Thank you for thinking of me Beth, but I have plans this evening.  Maybe another time.

Beth:  I understand.  Well, I would love to chat, but I have a lot of preparing to do. Talk to you later.

June: Okay. Take care.  Bye.

Beth: Bye.

NOW YOUR TURN!

Firstly, I would like you to create your own dialog with a friend or family member.  You can create a scenario for yourself and your partner. Are you saying goodbye at the bus stop, subway station, on the phone or at the end of a work day?  There are many scenarios that you can come up with to make the situation as realistic as possible.

Secondly, I would like you to pretend that your friend is going to study abroad. How would you say goodbye? Would you promise to visit, to phone, Skype or to write them? Would you tell them that you are going to miss them? Openly communicate what you are thinking  and feeling to make this role play as realistic as possible.

Great job today!

Superstitions

Superstitions, as aforementioned, are a set of beliefs or practices that aren't based on fact, experience or rationale.  It remains in most cultures because of fear or faith, however, it's not founded on results. There are cultural, cross-cultural, personal and religious superstitions.




Superstitions in the American culture:

Do not walk under a ladder, it will bring bad luck.

Breaking a mirror it will bring seven years of bad luck.

A groom can not see his bride before the wedding, because it's bad luck.

A bride must have something old, something new, borrowed and blue before she weds, otherwise it's bad luck.

It's bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.

It's good luck to carry a rabbits foot.

Knock on wood three times if someone says something unfavorable/unkind.

Say "Bless you" if someone sneezes, for good luck.

The 13th floor in any building is bad luck.

The number 13 is bad luck.

The dialog below is a good example of how to apply the phrases above. You can role play using the dialog below.

Teacher Jenny and her students are looking at the meaning of "superstition" in their E.S.L. class.

Teacher Jenny: Last class we were supposed to cover "describing people", however, we ended up covering "taboo subjects".  This was great because we were able to cover a topic I would not have otherwise covered.  On account that some of you confused "superstitions" with "taboos", I have decided to cover "superstitions" today.

Student 2:  That's great! I went home from the last class we had and I thought about some superstitions in my culture.

Teacher Jenny:  That's great! You are one step ahead of me.  I was just going to ask everyone to think of some superstitions in their culture.  Here is a handout with a list of some American superstitions. Please pass it around. Thank you.

Student 2:  I am Korean and in my culture we believe that  you will have bad luck if you see crows in morning before school or work.

Teacher Jenny:  That's very interesting...  Thank you for sharing. Crows are bad luck in the American culture too.  It's probably because of the nature of crows themselves. Anyone else?

Student 3:  I am from India and in my culture we believe that if you look at a picture of your mother's face or God just after waking up then it will bring good luck the entire day.

Teacher Jenny:  That's a really good one! As a mother, I am lead to believe that it true.  He he  he.  Thank you for sharing. 

Students:  (All laughs).

Teacher Jenny: Would anyone else like to volunteer?

Student 1:  In the Chinese culture we believe that on Chinese New Year everyone must open all the windows in their house to let the old year old out and the new year in.

Student 4:  Can I share something?

Teacher Jenny:  Sure!  Please go ahead.

Student 4:  In the Japanese culture "umeboshi" means pickled plum and in my culture we believe that eating  umeboshi everyday will bring luck. 

Teacher Jenny:  Thank you.  Now I will share.  I believe most of you already know this but in the American culture we believe that if a black cat crosses your path it will bring bad luck. To avoid bad luck one should turn around and go the other way.

Student 4:  We believe the same thing in Japan. 

Teacher Jenny:  That's interesting! I believe most cultures share a lot of the same superstitions, because of the cross-cultural exchange.  As you all know, many countries have historical and cultural ties and because of immigration and colonization a lot of these cultures have the same beliefs and/or superstitions.

Student 1:  I agree.  I can see that from the list on your handout.

Teacher Jenny:  Thank you for coming today everyone!  Great job! See you all tomorrow.


Now your turn!

Make a list of some superstitions you know and role play with a friend or family member using the outline below.

You:  In my culture we believe ____________ (state the superstition).

Your friend:  Why is that?

You:  We believe that because ____________ (explain).

Your friend:  That's very interesting.  In my culture/country we believe _________ (state the superstition(s)).

You:  Could you explain why you believe that?

Your friend:  We believe that because ________ (explain).

You:  We have the same belief./That's interesting!

Great job today!

Talking About Taboo Subjects

In every country and/or culture there are subjects which are considered taboo.  These include religion, politics, sexuality, poverty, historical conflict and relationships between countries.  There are times when what we are accustomed to or comfortable with is taboo in another culture and vise versa.

Dialog:

The dialog below is an example of how to approach taboo subjects in the Western culture.

In the process of teaching her E.S.L. class the students had some general questions for teacher Jenny about American culture, which turned out to be a great teaching opportunity.

Teacher Jenny:  Okay, class. Let's begin!  Today we are going to talk about describing people and their personality. This is a great subject because everyday we meet people and we may or may not like them,  however, it's great to be able to put into works what we think of them or what we have observed about them. Can anyone give me an example?

Student 1:  You can describe someone by their religious beliefs.

Teacher Jenny: That's right, but we don't, because it's considered to be a taboo.  We can describe someone's personality by using adjectives like "kind" or "loving". We can describe someone's physical appearance by using words like "tall" or "short".  However, we would not talk about their religious or political beliefs.  We would not talk about their wealth or sexuality and so on.  Does everyone understand that?

Student 1: So taboo means topics that makes people uncomfortable?

Teacher Jenny:  That's right! That's a good definition.

Student 2: Is walking under a ladder a taboo?

Teacher Jenny:  Good effort! However, that is a superstition.  Can anyone tell me what a superstition is?

Student 3:  They are beliefs or practices that aren't based on fact, experience or reason.

Teacher Jenny:  Perfect! That's exactly what superstition means. Now can someone give me an example of a taboo?

Student 2: Okay. An example of a taboo subject is someone's sexual preference. Right?

Teacher Jenny:  That's a great example. Yes. To make sure that we have a good grasps or understanding of what taboo means; could someone give me another example?

Student 4: How about an open conversation about race?

Teacher Jenny:  That's right!  It is inappropriate and socially unacceptable to speak openly about race. The foundation for that is because we are human beings first. Any questions?

Students: No! (in unison)

Teacher Jenny:  Great! Well done today everyone!  Tomorrow we will finish covering describing people and their personality. See you all tomorrow...

Now your turn!

Have a conversation or role play with a family member or friend about some taboo subjects in your country and another foreign country.  If you have immigrated, then have an open discussion about taboos in your country of birth and the country you immigrated to.  Use the outline below as a guide.

You:  In my country/In ____________ (give country name), __________ (say subject) is taboo.

Your friend:  Why is it considered taboo?

You:  It's taboo, because __________ (explain).  What are some taboos that you can come up with?

Your friend:  Let me think...  In my country/In ______ (give country name), ____________ (taboo subject) is taboo.

You:  Why is it a taboo subject?

Your friend:  It's taboo because __________ (explain).

You: Very interesting/That's great!

Great job today!

To learn more about taboos around the world you can purchase the book below.

Apologizing

In English there are a few expressions used when apologizing to others.  There are times when we apologize to take responsibility for an act commited or to show empathy.  When an apology is given to show empathy;  it's because someone has experienced a great loss and an apology is a used in a effort to comfort the person on the receiving end. Now we are going to look at how to apologize in English and how to accept an apology.

Dialog:

Below is a sample dialog of how to apologize in English.

Jamie was late meeting his dad David for dinner. 

Jamie:  I'm sorry I'm late, dad.  The highway was congested and when I arrived it was tough finding a parking spot.

David:  I understand that the situation could not be helped, but you know it's rush hour.  You could have left a little earlier.  I left work early so that I could be here on time.

Jamie:  I am sorry!  I don't know what else to say.  I tried my best.

David:  Well, we lost our table.  When they are this busy they don't keep the reservation for longer than an hour past the time you are supposed to be here.

Jamie:  I should have called.

David:  I called and you did not answer your phone.  However, you are often late, Jamie.  You  need to work on being more punctual.

Jamie:  My phone didn't ring.  I did not get your call.  Can we just try to find another restarant?

David: I'm up for that!

Now your turn!

Use the expressions of apologizing and and responding to an apology to practice.

Expressions of Apology:

"I'm sorry."


"I apologize."


"I regret what has happened."


"I regret putting you in that situation."



Responses to Apology:

"I understand."


"I am sorry too."


"That's/It's okay."


"I accept your apology."


"No problem."


"Don't worry about it."

Role Play:

You:  I am sorry that I _________ ( broke your cup) use your own example .

Your Friend:  That's okay. _______ (I can replace it ) comment."

Now switch places!

Great job today!

Reporting Using Direct and Indirect Speech

We often report what we observe or experience regularly.  There are different ways in which this is done in English.  We can do by the use of direct speech or by the use of indirect speech.  Direct speech is when one "quotes" or reports exactly what the person has said. However, indirect speech is when what the person has said is stated using the past, present, future or the appropriate tense depending on the information being reported.  However, it's also important to remember that we do not repeat or report exactly what is said and to also change pronouns and time signifiers.

DIRECT SPEECH:

She said, "We are going to the beach tomorrow."


"We are going to the beach tomorrow", she said.


He said, "I want to ride my bike tomorrow."

INDIRECT SPEECH:

She said that we would go to beach tomorrow.


He said that he wanted to ride his bike tomorrow.

DIALOG:

Below is a dialog of how to apply the expressions above in English.  This dialog is also a great tool for role playing.

Judy and Jason are having a conversation about their day.

Judy:  How was your day today, Jason?

Jason:  Well, it was busy as usual; however, my boss says that he wanted everyone to wear suits everyday.  I really looked forward to 'casual Fridays'! 

Judy:  I know how you feel. I got that priviledge taken away months ago.

Jason:  She is always micromanaging and complaining about how none of us meet the dress code. Therefore, she gave us all list of what is required daily.

Judy:  Now, that's frustrating.  I have to say that I am happy that my boss is a little more laid back than that. He said, "I am not going to watch over your shoulders; we are all adults here." I really do appreciate that kind of mentality, because I cannot work understand pressure.

Jason:  Neither can I.  That's why I have been job hunting for the past few months or so, because I am not sure that this job is for me anymore.

Judy:  Well, you know I support your decision to move on.

Jason: Thank you.

Now your turn!

Report what you've seen or experience today at home with the children, shopping, driving and so on.

You:  My daughter/son/husband said, "_______________." (quote directly) OR INDIRECTLY

He/she/they/you said that (pronoun) __________________ (report indirectly what was said).

Your friend: My boss/brother/sister/mother said, "______________." (Use direct speech)

OR INDIRECTLY:  They/he/you/we said that (pronoun) ________." (Quote indirectly)

Great job today!

Asking For and Giving Directions

Following and giving direction can be quite challenging at times.  However, there are some key words that one can use that are very important when giving directions.  It's important to drill these if you are not comfortable or familiar with them in order to remember them.  A more effective way to  use them is to practice!

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS:

"Excuse me.  Could you please tell me where the ________ (name of place) is?"


"Excuse me.  Where is the _______ (name of place) is?"


"Excuse me. I am not sure where ______ (name of place) is. Could you tell me where _______ (name of place) is."


"Excuse me.  I am lost.  Could you tell me where _______ (name of place) is?"


"Excuse me.  Where is the best way to the ________ (name of place) is?"


"Excuse me.  I am looking for the ______ (name of place).  Do you know where it is?"


"Excuse me.  Could you point me to the nearest Shopping center/gas station/convenience store...?" (This expression is used if you are looking for a general service station or amenity).


"Excuse me.  Could you give me some quick directions to the _______ (name of place)?"




KEY VOCABULARY- GIVING DIRECTIONS:

Turn left/right on/at (the) ___________ (name of street/place).


Make a left/right at the corner of _______ (name of place/street).


At the intersection make a left/right onto _______ (name of street).


Go straight...


At the corner of...


Across from


Next to...


In front of...
adjacent to...
 
There's a landmark/look for the landmark ______ (give name).
 
Go one/two mile...
 
Go one/two block(s)...
 
At the first/second/third set of lights make a (left/right).
 
At the stop sign...
 
At the first/second/third stop sign make a left/right.
 
Go north/south on....
 
Go east/west on...
 
Take ramp (give name) onto the highway.
 
Take exit (give name) off the highway.
 
Exit at (give name of exit).
 
Dialog:

Below is a dialog of how to use or apply the expressions above in an everyday English conversation.

Jaz is unclear about the directions Fin give her to the mall, so she called to clarify.
 
Fin: Hello? Hi Jaz!  I just arrived at the shopping center.
 
Jaz:  I am on my way, but I am not sure if I am going the right way.
 
Fin:  Where are you?
 
Jaz:  Well, I am on Manchester street and I just past the intersection of Manchester and Eaton street.
 
Fin:  Great.  You are going the right way.  Now all you have to do is take Manchester to Center street. 
 
Jaz:  Okay...
 
Fin:  When you come to Center street, make a right onto Center street.  Then drive for about one mile until you come to fork in the road.  Keep right of that until you see a landmark; a war memorial.
 
Jaz:  Okay.  I see it now. 
 
Fin:  Drive right past it and you will see the mall directly in back of it.
 
Jaz: I see it!
 
Fin: Great!  You can park anywhere.  I am waiting in the entrance way.  You will see "Welcome" overhead.
 
Jaz:  Thanks Fin!  I'll see you in a minute.
 
Fin: Bye.
 
Now you turn!
  
Role play using the key words above to ask for and give directions to a familiar place in your neighborhood.  Use the outline below as a guide.
 
You:  Excuse me.  Could you tell me where the gas station/mall/Dollar store/Grocery store/... is?
 
Your Friend:  It's ___________ (use the key words above).
 
Now switch places and continue role playing.   Practice until you are comfortable.
 
Great job today!

Describing someone's personality

There are lots of great adjectives we can use to describe someone's personality or character.  Today I am going to look at how we can describe someone's personality and their strong points or weak points.

People can  be...

Positive Personality Traits:

Outgoing - fun, sociable, warm and charming

Confident - feeling and showing confidence or certainty about something

Sociable - someone who likes to talk others and meet others.

Fun - someone who enjoys like and loves people.

Brave - someone who is not afraid.

Clever - someone who mentally quick or sharp in terms of their response to things.

Witty - A form of intellectual humor.

Hard-working - Someone who puts a lot of time and effort into carrying out tasks.

Smart - Someone who resourceful, bright and thinks quickly.

Interesting - Someone who catches your attention.

Charming - Someone who pleasantly attracts someone's attention and is also delightful.

Intelligent - Someone who is able to acquire and apply information.

Friendly - Someone who is kind and behaves like a friend.

Honest - Someone who is fair and truthful.

Trustworthy - Someone who has earned your trust and is dependable and reliable.

Funny/Humorous - Someone who can make others laugh by telling jokes or by being witty.

Kind/giving - Someone who is considerate and helpful by nature.

Generous - Someone who is gives and shares willing and openly.

Optimistic/positive - Someone who expects the best in all situations.

Perceptive -  Someone who has the ability to understand, analyze or to perceive.

Neat - Someone who likes to clean and/or keep things tidy and orderly.

Frugal - Someone who does not like to spend a lot of money or someone who watches their spending.

Negative Personality Traits:

Mean /Unkind - Someone who lacks kindness, lacks understanding and is unable to give.
Nasty - Someone who is unkind or clean.

Workaholic - Someone who works too much.

Addictive personality - Someone who does something too much or personality traits that increases the likeliness of someone being predisposed to something that can affect the quality of life. This includes things like food, drugs, hobbies and so on.

Moody - Someone whose emotions changes often or from one moment to the next.

Pessimistic/negative - Someone who expects the worst in all situations.

Rude - Someone who is impolite or unkind verbally and non-verbally.

Selfish - Caring only for one's self and interest.

Talkative/chatty - Someone who talks a lot.

Lazy - Someone who does not like to do work or is unproductive.


Use the dialog below to role play using the vocabulary above.

Sharon and Jack are at the shopping mall.

Sharon:  I am still undecided about what to get my best friend May for Christmas.

Jack:  Shouldn't shopping be easy at this point, seeing that you've been friends since elementary school?

Sharon:  It isn't, because May is such an adventurous person! She is always into the new technology, trend and the list goes on... She loves to travel and I never know where she is going to be monthly.

Jack:  That does sound challenging.  Why not buy her luggages?!  I am sure that it's time for a replacement seeing that she does travel a lot.

Sharon:  That is a great idea!  You are not only smart but perceptive... However, luggages can be quite costly and I am not sure that I am willing to spend a lot on luggages. 

Jack:  You are quite frugal.

Sharon:  It's not that I am frugal, but I have to be smart with my money.  I have a lot of people to shop for! Christmas can get really expensive if one does not spend wisely.

Jack:  I understand. Well, at least check out the luggage store.  It's that time of year again and they could be on sale.

Sharon: That's a great idea! I open to it. Let's go!

Jack:  Great!

Now your turn!  

Use the vocabulary above to describe yourself and your friend(s).

You:  I am ________________________ (use the adjectives above).
         You are _____________________ (use the adjectives above).

Your friend:  I am __________________ (Use the adjectives above).
                    You are _______________ (Use the adjectives above).


Great job today!

Describing People

Describing the Physical Appearance of Others

There are many ways in which one can describe others. Let's look at some adjectives that we can use to describe others. Please use the forms below.

"Is he/she...?"


"He/she is..."

"You are..."

"They are..."

HAIR:                                                        

Black
Brown/brunette
Blond (e)/fair
Red/redhead
Grey/salt and pepper
Long/medium length/short/bald
Straight/curly/wavy
Big/small curls
Thick/thin/full head of hair

FACIAL SHAPE:

Long
Thin
Round
Oval

EYES:                                            

Blue/green/brown/dark/black
Big/bulging
Almond-shaped
Round
Deep-set
Close-set
Wide-spaced

NOSE:                                            

Long/pudgy/straight
Pointy/big/sharp/pierced (nose ring)
Thin/wide/broad
Flat/rounded/square

LIPS:                                                           

Thin
Full
Big
Small

EYEBROWS:                                       

Thick
Thin
Unibrow
Penciled/tattooed

BUILD:                                                  

Thin/skinny/slim
Fat/chubby/plump
Muscular/heavy built/well-built
Medium built/average weight/fit
Slightly built
Overweight/slightly overweight
Obese

HEIGHT:                                      

Tall/long (babies)
Average/normal
Height

COMPLEXION:                                   
Dark
Black
White
Pale
freckles
Light
Brown/light-brown
Asian complexion
Tanned

OTHER ADJECTIVES:                          

High cheekbones
large forehead
Beautiful/cute/pretty/handsome
Average looking
Wears glasses/contacts
moustache/beard                                           


Use the dialog below to role play/practice using the adjectives above.

Don arranged a blind date for his friend Matt.

Don: I have known you since kindergarten.  Trust me, you will like her.

Matt:  Last time you set me up on a blind date it did not go so well.  To be honest with you, I am not sure that I do trust you. But I haven't been on a date in a long time and that's why I agreed to go on this date.

Don:  This girl could be the one! I want you to find happiness like I did.  You are 40 and single!

Matt: I am also happy and single!  Who says that I want to get married?

Don:  Don't forget I've known you since kindergarten?!

Matt: Okay, whatever man... At least tell me what she looks like.

Don:  Well, she is about average height; 5 feet 5 inches.  She has brown eyes and short brown hair...

Matt: Is she at least cute?

Don:  I would say that she's pretty?

Matt:  Knowing your taste, that means she is average looking.

Don:  I wouldn't lie to you! She is quite attractive.  Why don't you meet her first before you pass judgement.

Matt: Okay, okay...  So tell me more about her.

Don: She has beautiful almond-shaped eyes and some freckles. 

Matt: Is she thin, fit, average weight?

Don: She is a cross between average weight and fit.

Matt: I think you are being honest.  I am actually looking forward to this date.

Don: I am glad to hear that!

Now you turn!
Use the vocabulary above to role play with a friend until you are comfortable using them.  You can begin by taking turn describing each other and then yourselves.  You can continue role playing by describing someone in your family or someone close to you.

You:  I am short/tall/average height ___________________ (use the adjectives above).
The color of my hair is _______________.  It is long/short/curly...
I have a tan/freckles.


Your friend:  You are pretty/attractive/cute_______________.
You have blue/green/brown/dark eyes.