Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. seasonal
    • ex. We buy seasonal fruits like strawberries in summer.
  2. goods
    • ex. The store sells many goods, like toys, clothes, and food.
  3. look forward to (something)
    • ex. We look forward to going to the beach this summer.
  4. festive
    • ex. The house looked very festive with all the Christmas lights and decorations.
  5. jump-start
    • ex. I will jump-start the holiday by putting a Christmas tree in my house in September.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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In the U.S., stores are starting to offer holiday items at an earlier time because shoppers want to enjoy seasonal goods for a longer time. Shoppers look forward to enjoying festive products before the holidays officially begin. This growing demand is leading businesses to jump-start the holiday season sooner. Some shoppers even think that seasonal items should be available all year.

Shoppers wanted to start the holiday shopping season earlier even before the pandemic, but the health crisis made this trend grow even more. Many people enjoy buying things early, so they can celebrate the season longer.  However, some businesses say that the trend is due to shoppers who also want to find happiness during these uncertain times.

As a result, stores that sell clothes, food, and home goods started selling festive collections before November 1, the start of the holiday shopping season. These businesses were more than happy to start holiday sales earlier. They wanted to attract shoppers so they could spend money for a longer period. For stores, starting the holiday sale early is a chance to make more sales.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Seasonal Goods

  • As a consumer, would you also like for stores in your country to sell seasonal goods earlier? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Some shoppers think that seasonal items should be available all year. Do you agree with them? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What seasonal goods are popular in your country? Discuss.

Shopping Season

  • When is the shopping season in your country? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, where is the best place to shop in your city? Why? Discuss.
  • Some businesses say that many customers want to start the holiday shopping season early to find happiness during uncertain times. Do you agree that shopping can bring happiness during uncertain times? Why or why not? Discuss.