Shopping English: Sizes, Prices, Returns
In this lesson, students practice real-life shopping language: asking for sizes, checking prices, paying, and handling returns/exchanges politely. The main outcomes are (1) successful role-plays and (2) listening comprehension for short store conversations.
SWBAT (Objectives)
- Ask for help in a store and describe what they want (size, color, style).
- Ask and understand prices, discounts, and payment options.
- Use polite language for returns/exchanges (“I’d like to return this…”, “Do you have the receipt?”).
- Understand key details in short store conversations (item, size, price, problem, solution).
- Complete a shopping role-play confidently as customer and clerk.
Key Phrases (Functional Chunks)
• Excuse me, do you have this in medium?
• Do you have a smaller / bigger size?
• I’m looking for a jacket / shoes / gift.
• Can I try it on?
• How much is this?
• Is it on sale? / Is there a discount?
• I’ll pay by card / cash.
• Can I get a receipt, please?
• I’d like to return this.
• I’d like to exchange it for a different size.
• It doesn’t fit / It’s broken / I changed my mind.
• Do you have the receipt?
• Could you help me, please? · Would it be possible to…? · That’s fine, thank you. · Sorry, one more question…
Model Dialogues
Customer: Excuse me, do you have this in medium?
Clerk: Let me check. Yes—we have medium and large.
Customer: Great. Can I try it on?
Clerk: Sure. The fitting room is over there.
Customer: How much is this sweater?
Clerk: It’s $39.99. It’s 20% off today.
Customer: Perfect. I’ll pay by card.
Clerk: No problem. Would you like a receipt?
Customer: Hi, I’d like to return this. It doesn’t fit.
Clerk: Okay. Do you have the receipt?
Customer: Yes, here it is. Can I exchange it for a bigger size?
Clerk: Sure. We can exchange it today.
Listening Tasks
- Where are they? (clothes store / electronics / supermarket)
- What does the customer want? (buy / exchange / return)
- Is the problem about size, price, or damage?
- Item: __________
- Size/Color: __________
- Price: __________
- Solution: exchange / refund / store credit
Students check off phrases they hear: try it on, How much is…?, receipt, exchange, return.
Role-Play (Customer & Clerk)
- Customer wants a shirt in a different size.
- Ask price + discount.
- Try it on and decide to buy.
- Customer returns an item (too small / broken).
- Clerk asks for receipt and explains policy.
- Agree on solution: exchange, refund, or store credit.
- Used 2 size phrases (small/medium/large)
- Asked about price / discount
- Used one return phrase (“I’d like to return…”)
- Used polite tone (“please”, “thank you”)
Tip: rotate roles every 3–4 minutes. Add “one complication” (no receipt / out of stock / wrong size) for challenge.
Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
- Write 2 questions you can ask in a store (size + price).
- Write 1 return sentence: “I’d like to return this because ____.”
- Write 1 polite closing line: “____. Thank you!”
Homework
- Vocabulary: learn 15 shopping words (size, receipt, refund, exchange, sale, cashier…).
- Writing: write a short return message (40–70 words) explaining the problem politely.
- Speaking: practice the model dialogue aloud (shadowing) for 2 minutes.