Shopping: ESL vocabulary lesson for online shopping

Learning to talk about online shopping in English is a practical and engaging way to build communication skills for everyday life. As online shopping becomes increasingly popular worldwide, being able to discuss websites, purchases, and delivery processes is a valuable skill for English learners.

This lesson introduces essential vocabulary, versatile phrases, and realistic conversations to help learners confidently describe their online shopping experiences. Designed for beginners and intermediate learners, this lesson includes clear examples, interactive activities, and tips to make learning relevant. By the end, learners will be able to talk about their favorite shopping websites, explain their buying habits, and ask others about their online shopping preferences.

Basic vocabulary

Start with essential words related to online shopping. These should be simple, commonly used terms that learners can easily apply.

Vocabulary list

• Online shopping: Buying things on the internet.
• Website: A place on the internet where you shop (e.g., Amazon, eBay).
• Cart: The virtual “basket” where you add items before buying.
• Checkout: The process of paying for items online.
• Order: The items you buy and request to be delivered.
• Delivery: When items are sent to your home.
• Payment: The method of paying (e.g., credit card, PayPal).
• Price: The cost of an item (e.g., $20).
• Discount/sale: A reduced price (e.g., 20% off).
• Account: A user profile on a shopping website.
• Shipping: The process or cost of sending items.
• Review: Feedback or opinions about a product.
• Item/product: Something you buy (e.g., a phone, a book).
• Add to cart: To select an item for purchase.
• Track: To check the status of a delivery.

Vocabulary for extension

1. Wishlist: A list of items you want to buy later.
2. Coupon: A code or voucher for a discount (e.g., $5 off).
3. Return: Sending an item back if you don’t want it.
4. Refund: Money given back after a return.
5. Stock: Whether an item is available (e.g., in stock, out of stock).
6. Category: A group of similar items (e.g., electronics, clothing).
7. Filter: A tool to narrow down search results (e.g., filter by price).
8. Deal: A special offer or low price.
9. Customer service: Support for shoppers (e.g., help with an order).
10. Notification: An alert about your order (e.g., “Your package has shipped”).

Teaching tips

• Use visuals like screenshots of shopping websites (e.g., Amazon’s cart or checkout page) to connect vocabulary to real contexts.
• Practice pronunciation of terms like “checkout” (CHECK-out) or “delivery” (de-LIV-ery).
• Create flashcards with words on one side and definitions or images on the other for quick recall.

Useful phrases

Teach simple sentence structures for discussing online shopping. These phrases should be versatile and easy to adapt.

Key phrases

1. Talking about shopping online
   • “I shop online at [website].”
   • “I like to buy [items] online.”
   • “I added [item] to my cart.”
   • “I ordered [item] yesterday.”
2. Describing the process
   • “I use [payment method] to pay.”
   • “Delivery takes [time].”
   • “I check reviews before I buy.”
   • “The price is [amount], but there’s a discount.”
3. Expressing opinions
   • “Online shopping is [easy/convenient/expensive].”
   • “I like it because [reason].”
   • “I don’t like it because [reason].”
   • “My favorite website is [website].”
4. Asking questions
   • “Do you shop online?”
   • “What do you buy online?”
   • “Is the delivery fast?” / “How fast is the delivery?”
   • “What’s your favorite shopping website?”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a board or handout and model their use (e.g., “I shop online at Amazon. It’s convenient.”).
• Have learners substitute their own preferences (e.g., items they buy or websites they use) into the phrases.
• Practice question forms to encourage interactive dialogue.

Example conversations

Provide short, realistic dialogues to model how to talk about online shopping. These examples progress from basic to more detailed.

Conversation 1: Basic exchange

Anna: Do you shop online, Tom?
Tom: Yes, I shop on Amazon.
Anna: What do you buy?
Tom: I buy books and clothes.
Anna: Is it easy?
Tom: Yes, it’s very easy and fast!

Conversation 2: Adding details

Sara: Hey, do you like online shopping, Juan?
Juan: Yes, I use eBay a lot. I buy electronics.
Sara: Nice! Do you check reviews?
Juan: Yes, I always read reviews before I buy.
Sara: How’s the delivery?
Juan: It takes about a week. It’s okay.

Conversation 3: More advanced

Mark: Hi, Lisa! Do you shop online often?
Lisa: Yes, I love it! I shop on Etsy for handmade gifts.
Mark: Cool! Is it expensive?
Lisa: Sometimes, but I wait for sales. I use PayPal to pay.
Mark: How long is the delivery?
Lisa: It depends, but usually 3 to 5 days. I track my orders online.

Teaching tips

• Role-play these dialogues with the learner, switching roles to practice asking and answering.
• Encourage learners to adapt the dialogues using their own shopping habits or favorite websites.
• In group settings, pair students to practice, prompting them to ask at least one follow-up question.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step lesson plan to teach this topic effectively (approximately 45 minutes). The extra vocabulary words above can be used for extension.

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “Do you ever buy things on the internet? What?” to spark interest.
• Show a screenshot of a shopping website (e.g., Amazon’s homepage) and point out features like “cart” or “checkout” to introduce the topic.

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the vocabulary list using visuals or a slideshow of a shopping website.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for terms like “discount” or “shipping.”
• Play a quick game: Say a word (e.g., “cart”), and learners explain what it means or use it in a sentence.

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Display key phrases and model them with your own example (e.g., “I shop online at eBay. I like it because it’s cheap.”).
• Have learners practice by filling in the blanks (e.g., “I shop online at ____. I buy ____.”).
• Correct pronunciation and grammar gently as they practice.

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read one example conversation aloud, emphasizing natural tone and flow.
• Pair learners (or role-play with them) to practice the dialogues, encouraging personalization.
• Ask learners to create their own short dialogue about their online shopping habits.

Step 5: Wrap-up and personalization (5 minutes)

• Have each learner share one or two sentences about their online shopping (e.g., “I shop on Amazon. I buy clothes and electronics.”).
• Provide feedback on their use of vocabulary and phrases.
• Assign homework: Write 3-5 sentences about their favorite shopping website or practice a dialogue with a friend.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Be aware that some learners may not shop online due to access, cost, or preference. Allow flexibility to discuss in-store shopping if needed.
• Visual aids: Use screenshots or short videos of online shopping processes (e.g., adding to cart, checking out) to make the lesson engaging.
• Listening practice: Play a short audio or video clip (e.g., from YouTube or ESL resources) of someone talking about online shopping to expose learners to different accents.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases (e.g., “I buy books online.”). For intermediate learners, encourage details (e.g., “I check reviews because I want good products.”).
• Incorporate technology: If teaching online, share a screen with a shopping website or use a virtual whiteboard to highlight vocabulary.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners may say “I shop on Amazon” instead of “I shop at Amazon.” Clarify prepositions (“at” for websites, “on” for the internet generally).
• Pronunciation: Terms like “delivery” or “discount” may be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Word choice: Clarify differences like “cart” (before buying) vs. “order” (after buying).

Example activity: “Shopping scenario”

For group classes, try this interactive activity:

• Give each learner a card with a scenario (e.g., “You bought a phone online. Describe the website and delivery.”).
• Learners take turns explaining their scenario while others ask questions (e.g., “Was it expensive?” or “Did you read reviews?”).
• Alternatively, create a “Find Someone Who” game (e.g., “Find someone who buys clothes online”).

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about your online shopping habits or favorite website.
• Speaking: Record a 30-second audio or video describing what you buy online and why.
• Research: Visit a shopping website and write down three new words related to online shopping (e.g., “coupon,” “return,” “wishlist”).