Interviews

High-intermediate

1. Online Shopping Habits: Discuss with students their own experiences with online shopping. What types of items do they usually purchase online? Are there any specific reasons they prefer online shopping over traditional retail?

2. Pros and Cons of Online Shopping: Brainstorm as a group the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping. Encourage students to think about convenience, product variety, shipping costs, returns process, and potential drawbacks such as the inability to inspect items in person before purchasing.

3. Critical Listening Skills: Before playing the interview, provide students with a list of key terms or phrases mentioned in the conversation, such as “grocery delivery,” “hair ties,” “used shoes,” and “pros and cons of online shopping.” Ask them to listen for these specific terms and note down any additional information related to them during the interview.

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the video:

shopping (noun): the act of purchasing goods or services

• I love going shopping with my friends on the weekends.
• Online shopping has become increasingly popular due to its convenience.

anxiety (noun): a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome

• She experienced anxiety before taking her final exams.
• His anxiety about public speaking made it difficult for him to give presentations.

produce (noun): fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption

• The farmer’s market always has fresh produce available.
• She prefers to buy organic produce for her family’s meals.

delivery (noun): the act of bringing goods or services to a specified location

• The pizza delivery arrived faster than expected.
• Online retailers often offer free delivery for orders over a certain amount.

hygiene (noun): conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness

• Proper hygiene includes washing your hands frequently.
• The restaurant received a low rating due to poor hygiene standards in the kitchen.

Now, watch the interview and answer the comprehension questions. You can also turn on the automatically-generated captions for the video once you start it.

Easy:

1. How do you feel about shopping online?
2. What are some items you’ve purchased online recently?

Intermediate:

1. How do Aubrey and Emily’s shopping habits differ? How are they similar?
2. According to Aubrey and Randall’s discussion, what are some advantages and disadvantages of buying groceries online?
3. How does Randall justify his preference for buying used shoes online despite Aubrey’s skepticism?

Advanced:

1. Discuss the impact of online shopping on traditional brick-and-mortar stores. How might smaller businesses adapt to compete with online retailers?
2. Aubrey mentions her anxiety and panic attacks as a factor in her preference for online shopping. How do you think technology can be used to make shopping more accessible and accommodating for individuals with similar challenges?
3. Reflect on the ethical considerations surrounding online shopping, particularly regarding the environmental impact of packaging and shipping, as well as labor practices in the online retail industry.

The following activities deal with related topics to give you additional language practice.

• Grocery Shopping
• Supermarket Shopping
• Shopping Centers
• Shopping for the Day