Comparison Shopping with Online Department Store Sites

Ask students if they like shopping. Ask volunteers to tell about the last time they went shopping and what they bought. Begin the lesson with conversation questions projected. Have students speak in pairs or small groups about the following: 

1.  What are your favorite stores: grocery store, clothing store, department store?  Why do you like these stores better than others of their kind?

2.  What are some American brands or products that are popular or well-known in your country?

3.  What are some brands or products that are popular or well-known in the USA and/or other places around the world?

4.  Are you loyal to certain brands?  If so, which, which products, and why?  If not, why not?

5.  What is your shopping philosophy:  A) always buy a well-known brand even though it may cost more because its products are reputable or B) buy the least expensive or generic brand to save money?

6.  Are you a bargain shopper or an impulse buyer?  Do you compare prices or buy an item at the first store you go to?

7.  Do you ever shop online?  If so, what sites do you use, and what products do you buy online?  What are some benefits of shopping online?  What are some disadvantages of shopping online?  What is something you would never buy online and why?

Tell students:

In our lesson, you are going to learn and practice the grammar form for making comparisons. Then you will use this grammar structure to talk about buying decisions.

Teach students language for comparatives and superlatives. Use the slideshow and have students be active learners by taking notes on the note-taking form.

Communicative Practice:

Groups of students will be provided suggestions of various items to “buy” and will use online sites to gather information about two or three brands of the item and take notes (e.g., car, mountain bike, bookshelf, computer or cell phone, other). Together the group will write a total of 10 sentences: 5 that use comparative adjectives and adverbs, 3 that use superlative adjectives, one that indicates which product they definitely won’t buy or recommend and why, and one that indicates which product they definitely will buy and why. 

The groups will “present” their sentences to the class. The teacher will note errors for grammar review.

Students will think of one item they need or would like to buy. They will search online for the item, take notes on three brands or styles, and create a Google slideshow, PowerPoint slideshow, or print out pictures to make a poster presentation.

Students will use websites for department stores and other stores to compare products and save money.