
Learn the vocabulary needed to to return or exchange clothes in a clothing store
FOLLOW ESL DIRECTIONS ON
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
Week of Dec. 15/25
Teach your beginner ESL students about preparing for a traditional Canadian Christmas and encourage them to share their own cultural traditions.
The lesson includes interactive vocabulary activities, a short video, and reflection questions to…
Keep readingLesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the vocabulary needed to return or exchange clothes in a clothing store |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5-2 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Getting things done Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending instructions Getting things done Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Practice formulating questions. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students understand politeness formulas (e.g., standard greetings and farewells, ways to phrase questions) expected in Canadian commercial conversations. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn the basic vocabulary needed to return or exchange clothes in a clothing store. Students listen to and practice a sample role play and an open-ended role play. Students discuss their own experiences interacting with sales clerks. Students discuss the pros and cons of shopping in-person and online. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn the vocabulary needed to return or exchange clothes in a clothing store.
- What is clothing?
- What is a clothing store?
- What is a sales clerk?
- What is a customer?
- What is the difference between returning and exchanging clothes?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Pay attention to how to say the words and phrases and what they mean.)
Skill-using tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Returning and exchanging clothes* 🎥 (Ask students to tell you some vocabulary words and phrases after the video.)
- Audio, role play, and comprehension questions* 🔊
- Who says what?*
- Gap fill*
Assessment/review tasks
- Open-ended questions and answers*
- Vocabulary quiz*
- Pair or no pair*
- Spin the wheel* (Ask students to explain the meaning of each word or phrase in their own words.)
Reflection questions
- Can you name three words or phrases you learned today?
- Where do you usually shop for clothes?
- Have you returned clothes to a clothing store in Canada? How did that go for you?
- Is it easier to return or exchange clothes in-person or online? Describe your experiences.
- Is this process different here than in your home country?
- Are politeness requirements different here than in your home country?
RELATED PAGES
Trying on clothes
This lesson plan teaches your beginner ESL students how to ask basic questions about colour, fit, and size in clothing stores.…
Keep readingBuying clothes
This lesson plan will teach your beginner ESL students the vocabulary they need to buy clothes in a clothing store. The…
Keep readingHOME AND COMMUNITY YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click on the small right arrow at the top of this video to play the videos or go to the YouTube Your Home and Community Playlist.

COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURS WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Community and neighbours” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
SHARE THIS PAGE:

ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
FOLLOW ESL DIRECTIONS ON
CONTACT US










