In this B1/B2 English listening lesson, you will listen to Jade talking about how she saves money when shopping. Jade speaks quickly, with a south-eastern British English accent, and she uses slang and filler phrases.
Complete the exercises below, then check the transcript to make sure you understood all of the words you heard.
Contents
Listen in full
Watch the video and listen to Jade’s story. Listen again if you need to. Then, answer the questions and start the exercises.
Gist questions
Answer these general questions about Jade’s talk:
1. What is Jade’s general approach to shopping?
a) She always shops in the same store for everything b) She chooses where to shop based on price and convenience c) She avoids shopping as much as possible2. How does Jade feel about buying online?
a) She avoids it because it’s confusing b) She likes it but knows it has drawbacks c) She only shops online during holidays3. What challenge does Jade mention about discount stores?
a) Items are often out of stock b) They’re expensive in the long run c) They tempt people to overspend if not carefulDetail questions
Here are some more detailed questions about Jade’s talk. See how many you can answer:
4. Why does Jade sometimes choose Noodol for shopping?
a) It’s quieter and more relaxing b) It’s a discount store with lower prices c) It delivers groceries to her house5. What does Jade do to avoid overspending?
a) She uses a budgeting app b) She brings only a limited amount of money c) She makes a shopping list and plans ahead6. What issue does Jade mention with shopping online for clothes?
a) The website is often slow b) She receives too many ads c) Clothes don’t always fit and returns can be a hassle7. Why does Jade go to shopping centres sometimes?
a) To hang out with friends b) To try things on before buying c) To shop during late-night hours8. What does Jade say about finding deals in shops?
a) She never pays attention to sales b) She finds good deals when there are sales c) She prefers full-price items for better qualityTrain your ear
Listen for words
Listen 1
Listen and write the words you hear.
And though it’s .
Listen 2
Listen and write the words you hear.
Things there.
Listen 3
Listen and write the words you hear.
They’ve always got on offer.
Listen 4
Listen and write the words you hear.
But it can get really busy .
Listen 5
Listen and write the words you hear.
You can end up buying .
Dictation
Listen to Jade and write down what she says in the box below. Then, check what you wrote. Any mistakes you make will be in blue.
Listen and read!
Read the transcript of Jade’s talk, and listen at the same time. Click on any part of the text to listen again.
Words and phrases
Here are some useful words and expressions from the text about shopping that you might want to learn and use.
Words
a supermarket (n) – a large shop that sells food and household goods
pricier (adj) – more expensive than something else
convenient (adj) – easy and practical to use
a discount (n) – a lower price than usual
an offer (n) – a special price or deal in a shop
to overspend (v) – to spend more money than you planned
a fortune (n) – a very large amount of money
to compare (v) – to look at two or more things to see how they are different
a shopping centre (n) – a group of shops in one large building or area
a deal (n) – something you buy for a good price
a market (n) – an outdoor place where people sell food, clothes, or gifts
to bargain (v) – to try to agree on a lower price when buying something
Phrases
do a bit of food shopping – buy some food or groceries
a budget shop – a shopping trip where you try not to spend much
on offer – being sold at a lower price for a short time
plan ahead – prepare or think about what you will do before it happens
make a shopping list – write down what you plan to buy
end up (doing something) – finally do something, often by accident
way too much – much more than you need
spend a fortune – use a lot of money
buying stuff online – shopping on the internet
don’t fit properly – not the right size or shape
send (something) back – return an item you bought
a bit of a pain – something annoying or inconvenient
wait for the sales – buy things when shops reduce their prices
find good deals – get things for a good price
walk around – move through an area while looking at things
bargain for a better price – try to pay less for something
depends on what I need – changes according to the situation
how much I want to spend – the amount of money I plan to use
how quickly I need it – the amount of time I have before I need something
Grammar from the transcript
This shopping description includes several useful grammar patterns. The first section stays the same, and all other sections contain new patterns taken directly from this text.
Comparative structures
The speaker uses comparatives to show differences in amount, price, or quality.
- a bit pricier
- things are a lot cheaper there
- The prices at Noodol are a lot lower than at Baggles
Prepositional clauses with “when / whenever / when it comes to”
These clauses organise ideas and show when something is relevant or true.
- Whenever I do a bit of food shopping…
- When things are cheap or on offer, you can end up buying way too much
- When it comes to buying clothes though, I tend to shop online
Have got to for obligation
“Have got to” expresses strong necessity or obligation in everyday English.
- you’ve gotta be careful
- it has got pretty much everything I need (different meaning, possession, but authentic form)
- I’ve got to go to a shopping centre if I need something quickly
Noun clauses with wh-words
Wh-clauses act as the object of a verb and express information or decisions.
- it really depends on what I need
- depends on how much I want to spend
- depends on how quickly I need it
Adjective + to-infinitive clause
Jade uses common adjectives followed by a to-infinitive to express purpose or function.
- it’s always fun to walk around
- it’s nice to bargain for a better price
Defining relative clauses (reduced)
Reduced defining relative clauses add essential information in a shorter form:
- everything I need (everything that I need)
- something I do every week (something which I need)
Develop your English listening skills with more A2, B1 and B2 listening exercises and lessons!
