A06 – Shopping and Services
Vlastnosti
| predmet | Anglický jazyk |
| typ | maturitná téma |
| okruh | anglický jazyk |
| číslo | 6 |
| stav | vypracované |
Talk about the types of shops and the way people shop, the services people use, paying and complaining, advertising, and your own shopping habits.
1. Osnova témy
- Why people shop — necessity, pleasure, hunting for bargains.
- Types of shops — small specialised shops versus supermarkets and shopping malls.
- Ways of shopping — direct sale, mail order, online shopping.
- Ways of paying, prices, sales and complaining about faulty goods.
- Services people use — banks, insurance, travel agencies, dry-cleaner's, repairs, courses.
- Advertising and its influence on customers.
- Your own shopping habits and the services you use.
2. Kľúčová slovná zásoba
- small specialised shops: grocer's (potraviny), baker's (pekáreň), butcher's (mäsiarstvo), greengrocer's (zelovoc), chemist's (drogéria, AmE drugstore), stationer's (papiernictvo), newsagent's (novinový stánok), florist's (kvetinárstvo), confectioner's (cukráreň), tobacconist's, off-licence, DIY store, pet shop, bookshop, boutique
- larger shops: supermarket, hypermarket, department store (obchodný dom), shopping mall, chain store, corner shop
- people in trade: shop assistant (predavač), cashier (pokladník), retailer (maloobchodník), wholesaler (veľkoobchodník), customer, bargain hunter, window shopper
- trading activities: to do the shopping, to purchase (zakúpiť), to negotiate the price, to haggle (jednať sa), to queue / stand in a line, to go window shopping (pozerať výklady), to go on a shopping spree
- ways of shopping: direct sale, mail order (zásielkový predaj), door-to-door selling, catalogue sale, online sale, hire purchase (na splátky)
- ways of payment: in cash (v hotovosti), by credit card, by debit card, by cheque, in instalments (na splátky), internet banking, direct bank transfer (prevod), invoice (faktúra)
- prices: expensive, costly, reasonable (primeraný), affordable (dostupný), reduced (znížený), it costs a fortune; prices go up / rise, prices go down / fall
- in the shop: cash desk (pokladňa), shopping cart (vozík), shopping basket, shopping list, price tag (cenovka), care label, receipt (blok), out of stock (vypredané), on sale, clearance (výpredaj)
- complaining: faulty goods (chybný tovar), to complain (reklamovať), to return, to exchange, refund (vrátenie peňazí), warranty / guarantee (záruka)
- services: dry-cleaner's (čistiareň), hairdresser's (kaderníctvo), shoe repair (oprava obuvi), key cutting (výroba kľúčov), car service, estate agency (realitná kancelária), travel agency (cestovná kancelária), insurance company (poisťovňa)
- bank services: bank account (účet), loan (pôžička), mortgage (hypotéka), insurance, credit card, to exchange money, exchange rate (kurz)
- advertising: advertisement (advert, ad), commercial (reklama v TV), billboard, brand (značka), to promote goods, potential customer, consumer
3. Užitočné frázy a väzby
- People go shopping either because they have to, or because they enjoy it.
- Personally, I am not a great shopper — I buy what I need and leave.
- Small shops offer personal contact, while supermarkets offer a wider choice.
- The main advantage of a shopping mall is that everything is under one roof.
- More and more people shop online, because it is cheaper and more convenient.
- I usually pay by card, but I always keep the receipt.
- If the goods are faulty, you have the right to complain and ask for a refund.
- Advertising can be useful, but it often persuades people to buy things they do not need.
- Whenever I need my hair cut, I go to…
- All in all, services make everyday life much easier.
4. Modelová odpoveď
People go shopping for different reasons. For some it is simply a necessity — you have to buy food, clothes and everyday things. For others, especially for many young people, shopping is an enjoyable activity and a way of spending free time. Some customers are real bargain hunters who wait for the sales, while others just go window shopping without buying anything at all.
There are two basic kinds of shops. Small specialised shops such as the baker's, the butcher's, the greengrocer's or the chemist's sell one kind of goods. Their advantage is fresh food and personal contact with the shop assistant, who often knows the customers by name. On the other hand, large supermarkets, hypermarkets and shopping malls offer a much wider choice, lower prices, free parking and the convenience of having everything under one roof. That is why small shops in Slovakia have been disappearing over the last twenty years.
Ways of shopping have changed a lot. Besides ordinary direct sale, people use mail order, catalogue sale and above all online shopping. Buying on the internet is cheaper and you can do it at any time of the day, but you cannot try the goods on and you have to wait for delivery. As for payment, you can pay in cash, by credit or debit card, by bank transfer or in instalments. Most people nowadays pay by card.
Every customer should also know their rights. If the goods turn out to be faulty, you can complain, and within the warranty period the shop must repair the product, exchange it or give you your money back. That is why it is important to keep the receipt.
Apart from shops, we all use a great number of services. Banks offer accounts, loans, mortgages, credit cards and the exchange of currency. Insurance companies insure our health, homes and cars. Travel agencies arrange holidays, accommodation and tickets. There are estate agencies, dry-cleaner's, hairdresser's, shoe and computer repair shops, key cutting services and language or computer courses. Leisure services such as fitness centres, swimming pools and cinemas help people relax.
Advertising plays a huge role in all of this. Advertisements inform customers about new products, but their real intention is to persuade people to buy. Personally I think a good advertisement can be entertaining, but we should be careful, because advertising often creates needs that we do not really have.
As for me, I use services quite often. I go to the cinema and to the swimming pool with my friends, my mother sometimes sends me to collect a coat from the dry-cleaner's, and I do most of my shopping in the supermarket near our house. When I start working, the first thing I will do is open my own bank account.
5. Otázky na diskusiu
- Do you enjoy shopping, or do you consider it a waste of time?
- What are the advantages of small specialised shops compared with supermarkets?
- Why are shopping malls so popular nowadays?
- Do you shop online? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
- How do you usually pay, and why?
- What would you do if you bought something that turned out to be faulty?
- Which services do you and your family use most often?
- How does advertising influence what people buy?
- Should shops be open on Sundays? Give arguments for both sides.
- Do you think people today buy far more than they really need?
6. Zhrnutie na ústnu odpoveď
- Prečo nakupujeme: necessity vs. pleasure vs. bargain hunting.
- Druhy obchodov: specialised shops (fresh, personal) vs. supermarkets and malls (choice, price, one roof).
- Spôsoby nákupu: direct sale · mail order · online — always give one advantage and one disadvantage.
- Platenie: in cash, by card, by transfer, in instalments; keep the receipt.
- Reklamácia: faulty goods → warranty → repair, exchange or refund.
- Služby: banks (account, loan, mortgage) · insurance · travel agency · dry-cleaner's · repairs · courses · leisure.
- Reklama: informs but mainly persuades; your own opinion.
Nedeľné otváracie hodiny sú vďačná otázka na názor a učiteľkin materiál ju priamo kladie. Priprav si obe strany: zákazníkom sa hodí, že môžu nakúpiť cez víkend — ale zamestnanci obchodov potom nemajú voľno na rodinu. Keď povieš obe a až potom svoj názor, pôsobí to oveľa lepšie.
Súvisiace poznámky
- A05 – Food and Eating — nákup potravín
- A18 – Fashion and Clothing — nakupovanie oblečenia
- A16 – Mass Media — reklama v médiách
- A09 – Jobs and Employment — práca predavača a v službách
- Anglické ekvivalenty — slovná zásoba a termíny po anglicky
Kontrolné otázky
Do you enjoy shopping, or do you consider it a waste of time?
I enjoy buying electronics or clothes I need, but I do not like walking around shops for hours.
What are the advantages of small specialised shops compared with supermarkets?
They offer expert advice, better quality and a personal approach, although they are usually more expensive.
Why are shopping malls so popular nowadays?
You find everything under one roof – shops, restaurants, cinema – and you can spend the whole day there regardless of the weather.
Do you shop online? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Yes. It is fast, there is a huge choice and you can compare prices. But you cannot try things on and there is a risk of fraud.
How do you usually pay, and why?
Mostly by card or mobile phone. It is quick and I do not have to carry cash.
What would you do if you bought something that turned out to be faulty?
I would take it back with the receipt and make a complaint. I can ask for a repair, an exchange or a refund.
Which services do you and your family use most often?
The post office, the bank, the hairdresser, car services and online delivery.
How does advertising influence what people buy?
Adverts make us want things we do not need, they create trends and use celebrities to make products look attractive.
Should shops be open on Sundays? Give arguments for both sides.
For: it is convenient for people who work during the week. Against: shop assistants deserve a day off with their families.
Do you think people today buy far more than they really need?
Yes. Consumerism and cheap products make people buy and throw away too much, which also harms the environment.