Clothing and Fashion
Listen and Read: Listen to the recording, answer the questions, and then read along with the audio recording.
Every day, I try to dress for the occasion. If I’m going to visit friends, I generally dress casually. I wear jeans, and I might throw on a T-shirt. In the case of a date, I usually wear a nice dress shirt-, but nothing too formal. In the past, I made it a habit to dress up for work in a suit and a tie because it was important to give a good impression, but more people are dressing down in the workplace, and this is more accepted now. When I exercise, I generally wear some shorts and a shirt, and I put on comfortable shoes. Overall, I think new fashions are replacing traditional ones, but I also think we should also try to preserve typical traditional clothing. It’s a part of our culture and heritage.
Discussion
What kinds of clothing do you wear for exercise in different situations? How has fashion changed over the past 50 years in your country?
Role Play
Imagine that you need clothes for school. You have about US $300 to spend, but you don’t know if you want to buy new clothing from a popular fashion clothing store, or a used clothing store across the street from your house. Where would you go to buy clothing and why? Explain your reasons.
Online Investigation
Let’s suppose that you are preparing to go to a job interview for the jobs listed below. Use the internet to find clothes appropriate for the situation. You only have $100 to spend for each situation. Explain your reasons and report on your findings.
college professor, computer programmer, car salesperson, taxi driver, musician
Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com, DailyESL.com, and Trainyouraccent.com):
- Fashion and Clothing – Vocabulary Development
- Clothing Styles – Basic Level
- Clothing Styles – Easy Conversation
- Clothing and Fashion – Accent Training
- Shopping: From Souvenirs to Fashion Clothing – Reading and Discussion
- Store Returns – Difficult Conversation