Shopping for School Supplies (Novice-Intermediate)

Practice on Your Own

Imagine you are in a country where the language is spoken and you need to buy some school supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, ruler, notebooks, etc.

• Make a list of items that you need to buy. The list should be in the target language.
• Practice saying the words out loud to see if you can pronounce them well.
• Write a dialogue where you go to a shop to buy school supplies. The shopkeeper asks you about your choices and needs, and you tell the shopkeeper what you want. Remember to include appropriate greetings and polite expressions (“please,” “thank you,” etc.).
  • Practice the conversation out loud as well.
• If you are not sure how to say certain things, make a list of questions to ask your conversation partner.

Practice in Conversation Session

• Be prepared to tell your conversation partner and fellow students the items you need to buy. Make sure you pronounce them correctly. Your conversation partner can help if you have questions.
• Be prepared to do a role play where your role play partner will be the shopkeeper and you will be the customer. If bargaining is appropriate in this situation, be prepared to practice that, too.
• Do another role play where you will be the shopkeeper and your role play partner will be the customer.
• Your conversation partner can answer questions and provide cultural information. How is this kind of interaction different in the country/ies where the language is spoken than it would be in your home country?