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• Dec 23, 2022

Talking about grocery shopping in English (AUDIO reading, dialogue, and practice questions included)

Recommended level: Beginner / Low intermediate

How often do you go grocery shopping? What do you usually buy? How much money do you usually spend on groceries? Keep reading (or listening) to learn how to talk about shopping for groceries.

Let's start with a dialogue.

Mark: I'm going to the grocery store to pick up some snacks for the party. What else do we need?

Diana: Well, we ran out of milk this morning, and we're almost out of bread.

Mark: Okay, I'll pick some up. Anything else?

Diana: Yeah, could you also get some apples and bananas?

Mark: No problem. Oh, and I think we're almost out of jam.

Diana: What? We still have lots of ham.

Mark: Not ham. Jam!

Diana: Oh. Sorry. I guess I didn't hear you.

Mark: No worries. See you in an hour.

Diana: Bye!

Now, let's take a closer look at some of the vocabulary in this dialogue.

First of all, the verb "go" is very important when we talk about grocery shopping. Note these examples and the highlighted words:

"I'm going to the grocery store ."

"I'm going grocery shopping ."

In English, you go to a place . You can also go shopping . Here are some other possible sentences you might hear with these phrases:

"I went shopping for groceries this morning."

"I need to go to the store."

"We're going grocery shopping later."

"I'm going to the market. Do you want me to get anything for you?"

The first example above has an important word: groceries . Groceries are the foods and beverages you buy from a grocery store or a market. In English, you can buy groceries , get groceries , do groceries , or pick up groceries . Yes, you can go to the grocery store to do groceries. You can also say the groceries with the phrases above to make your meaning more specific. Note the examples below:

"I did the groceries this morning." (You can also say "I did groceries this morning" to speak in a more general sense.)

"Where do you normally buy your groceries?"

"Could you get the groceries today?" (Meaning, I want you to get them, probably because I'm usually the one who buys them.)

"I'll be home soon. I just need to pick up some groceries first."

If you pick something up, you buy it or acquire it . If you use "pick up" in the context of grocery shopping, you can be specific. For instance, you can say "I need to pick up some spinach," or "Could you pick some milk up from the store?" Notice that you can separate "pick up." This means it's possible to say "I want to pick up something for dinner" and "I want to pick something up for dinner."

Finally, why do we need to go grocery shopping in the first place? Because we have no more of something in our kitchen! Let's look at some common sentences and ways to talk about what we have or don't have in our kitchen:

"We need more bread." (Meaning, we don't have any bread.)

" We're out of oranges." (Meaning, we have no oranges.)

" We're almost out of potatoes." (Meaning, we still have some potatoes, but they're almost finished.)

" We ran out of juice." (Meaning, we used all of the juice and have none now.)

" We're running out of cream cheese." (This is similar to saying "We're almost out of cream cheese," but in this case, the focus is on the process of eating the cheese and having almost no more cheese as a result.)

This is a lot of information, but don't worry: I will help you to practice it . Look at the questions and the sample answers below. Write your answers in the comments, and make sure to read them out loud to practice your speaking.

Who normally does the groceries in your house?

Sample answer: My mom normally does the groceries.

Are you almost out of something in your kitchen?

Sample answer: I'm almost out of ketchup.

What is something you are completely out of?

Sample answer: I'm completely out of eggs.

When was the last time you went to the grocery store?

Sample answer: The last time I went to the grocery store was two days ago.

What did you pick up the last time you went grocery shopping?

Sample answer: The last time I went grocery shopping, I picked up fruit, meat, and vegetables.

How much money do you spend on groceries per week?

Sample answer: I spend around $200 (two-hundred dollars) on groceries per week.

How often do you go grocery shopping?

Sample answer: I go grocery shopping about once per week.

What do you run out of quickly at your house?

Sample answer: We run out of milk quickly.

That's it for this lesson. I hope you feel more comfortable and confident talking about grocery shopping in English. Remember to write your answers in the comments.

Finally, if you enjoyed this article and you want to support English with Alex , consider purchasing a digital or physical version of one of my books . I wrote all of them with English learners and teachers in mind. Thank you for your support, and until next time, I wish you success in your studies.

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This article is for beginner and low intermediate students, but it's also beneficial for higher level students like me. For instance, a English native speaker says, " We're out of oranges," and I say, "We are no more oranges." a native speaker says, "W e're almost out of bread." I say, "We are about to finish the bread.". I believe people will understand what I am talking about, but it is not how English native speakers do. That is why I think this article also benefits people who want to speak like natives.

How to talk about SHOPPING in English

This is a Big Topics lesson plan.

Most people go shopping.

Some people really love shopping, while others can’t stand it. But it is a necessary activity that we need to do regularly.

In this guide, I want to show you how to talk about shopping in English.

I will introduce the different kinds of shops we use when going shopping and then provide you with all the useful things we can say in English for shopping.

I cover lots of useful vocabulary and verbs and then I have given you many activities for you to use. You can do these activities in the classroom or in small groups with your friends. Many of them you can still do as one student alone.

There is a lot to cover here, so please take your time when reading this guide!

Are you ready to begin?

Table of Contents

What Kind of Shops are there?

There are shops for everything you need to buy. In the UK and Australia, we use the word shop. In America and Canada, they use the word store. But they are the same thing.

Usually, we apply the word shop or store for the kind of shop that it is. For example, shoe shop, bookstore, clothes shop, sports store and so on.

This is a list of most shops and stores you need to know in English along with what you can buy there.

Baker/Bread Shop/Bread Store

In the bread shop, you can buy bread, cakes, pastries, croissants and other food made from flour. If the shop is a traditional bakery, then they make the bread and cakes on the premises. But many bread shops today are part of a chain and they have all the bread delivered to the shop every day.

Corner Shop

A corner shop is a British tradition. We can usually find a corner shop at the end of a local street in many neighbourhoods in towns and cities across the UK. Locals usually refer to it as The Corner Shop.

A mother might give her young son some money and say: “Go to the corner shop and buy some milk.”

The corner shop sells all kinds of household goods and simple food. It also sells newspapers, cigarettes, soft drinks and sometimes alcohol.

Many towns have a market. You can find a market in some larger cities too. The market is usually an open-air space filled with stalls that sell different items.

There could be a fruit and vegetable market and this would only sell fruit and vegetables — and maybe some other food too. This is often known as a farmers market in America. In Asia, it is known as a wet market.

But there are markets for clothes, books, second-hand items and electronics.

Convenience Store

Convenience stores are originally from America. Probably the most well-known convenience store is 7-Eleven.

Convenience stores are like corner shops from Britain. The only difference being is that convenience stores are often open 24-hours.

We can now find them all over the world — each country has its own brand of convenience stores as well as the global brand 7-Eleven.

This is a shop that sells all kinds of meat. A traditional butcher may be hard to find these days as the larger supermarkets have taken over.

A few years ago, a butcher shop would employ people that were trained in the meat industry. They understood how to cut the meat in the right way and could advise customers on different types of meat.

But now people usually buy meat in the supermarket.

Off License/Liquor Store

As the name implies, this is where you buy wine. You can also buy beer and stronger alcohol, such as whisky, vodka and gin.

In the UK, we use the term off-license. These shops operate on strict licensing laws. You can only buy alcohol if you are over the age of 18 and during certain times of the day.

In America, you must be over 21 to buy any alcohol and the licensing times of day may be different for each state.

Computer Shop/Computer Store

This is where you buy computers and all computer parts and accessories.

The computer shop is usually privately owned and run by people that have a good understanding of computers. The shop may also run a service department where you can have your computer repaired.

Bookshop/Book Store

The book shop sells books!

Book shops are becoming quite rare these days. Years ago, it was easy to find two or three bookshops in any town. But larger book chains took over and the smaller shops died out. Examples of large book shop chains are Waterstones in the UK and Barnes & Noble in America.

But now even the larger chains are against competition as people buy digital books from Amazon.

Music Shop/Music Store

The music shop sells all kinds of musical instruments and accessories. The staff in the music shop are usually musicians, but not always.

Customers can often get music lessons in the music shop. They can learn to play guitar or piano.

Chemist/Drugstore/Pharmacy

In the UK, we say chemist or pharmacy. In America, they say drugstore or pharmacy.

This is where you buy all your medicine. You can buy medicine for a cough and common cold, for headaches and other minor ailments.

If you have a doctor’s prescription, the chemist can supply this medicine for you too.

Often the chemist sells other products, such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo and skin products.

Many countries have chain-store drugstores these days. These are like small supermarkets that sell a big range of health and beauty products as well as medicine.

Shopping Mall

The shopping mall concept originally started in America. Now we can see shopping malls all over the world.

Shopping malls are often very big. There could be several floors. You can buy cosmetics, women’s fashion, men’s fashion, shoes, electronics and home products.

There could also be an electronics department.

On the top floor, there might be a cinema. And in the basement, a food court. This is full of restaurants, and coffee shops.

Clothes Shop/Clothes Store

And the clothes shop sells clothes!

These days, we can usually find clothes shops in the shopping mall or department store. But you might still see them in town centres too.

Clothes shops usually cater for defined markets. So you might have a clothes shop that sells casual fashion wear for young people or smart clothes for the professional. There are many variations of clothes shops.

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Gift Shop/Gift Store

If you want to buy someone a special gift for their birthday or any other celebration, then you can visit the gift shop.

Gift shops sell items such as cups and other chinaware, simple kind of jewellery, scented candles, t-shirts and hats with a special slogan written on the front, board games, puzzles and simple decorations.

These places are ideal to buy someone a gift, but you have no idea what to give to them.

Florist/Flower Shop/Flower Store

The florist sells flowers and plants. Usually, a good florist or flower shop can advise you on which flowers and plants to buy. They can present the flowers in a beautiful bouquet too.

You can see flower shops everywhere but often near a hospital as people like to give hospital patients flowers.

Sport Shop/Sports Store

This is where you can buy all your sports clothing, accessories and equipment. The sports shop might sell top range sports shoes such as Nike and Adidas. But also lesser-known brands for tennis equipment or swimming or any other sport.

Greengrocer

This is a very old-fashioned shop that sells fruit and vegetables. We use the word ‘green’ for all the green healthy vegetables in the shop.

These days people usually buy their fruit and vegetables in a supermarket because it is more convenient. But you might still find a traditional greengrocer in a small town.

Camera Shop/Camera Store

If you need to buy a camera, then you go to the camera shop.

The camera shop sells cameras, camera accessories and other photographic equipment. The people that work in the camera shop usually have a very strong interest in photography and have great knowledge of cameras and camera equipment.

Some camera shops are still able to process traditional film stock. But these days most cameras are digital.

Ironmonger/Hardware Store

This is where you buy all kinds of tools for domestic use in the house or garden. Items include hammer, saw, screwdriver, nails and screws.

These shops are becoming rare as large chain stores catering to house and home have taken over.

Fishmonger/Fish Shop

If you want to buy fish for dinner, you can buy it in the fishmonger.

The fishmonger is also rapidly disappearing as people usually buy fish in the supermarket these days.

If you still have a traditional fishmonger in your town, then the people working there will be experts on what fish to eat and how to cook it.

Newsagent/News Kiosk

In the UK, a newsagent is a shop that mainly sells newspapers — Britain has many daily newspapers. But in other countries, people often buy a newspaper from a news kiosk. This is a very small store in the middle of the pavement/sidewalk. People can just stop and buy a newspaper very quickly without actually entering a shop.

Boutique/Fashion Store

This is a type of clothes shop. It is very fashionable and may sell clothing items unavailable in other shops or stores. The clothes could be unique and special.

Pet Shop/Pet Store

This is where people buy a pet.

You might see pet dogs or cats in the window to attract customers. The people working in the pet store must have a good knowledge of animals.

Some pet shops sell exotic pets — such as spiders, snakes or lizards.

Most pet stores sell pet accessories and some may sell animal health products.

Supermarket

There are supermarkets everywhere these days. This is where we buy our food — fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and eggs. Along with other household items such as soap or cleaning products.

Supermarkets are designed to be very convenient as we can buy all the regular household items under one roof.

Shoe Shop/Shoe Store

People buy shoes in a shoe shop.

You can find shoe shops everywhere, but these days they are very common in a shopping mall. You can also buy shoe accessories in a shoe shop such as laces and shoe cleaning products.

Jewellery Shop/Jewelry Store

If you need to buy jewellery, then this is where you come. A jewellery shop sells rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. They may also sell special stones like diamonds and rubies. They could also sell gold.

Please note the spelling:

Jewellery — British English

Jewelry — American English

Sweet Shop/Candy Store

And children love the sweet shop — some adults too!

The sweet shop is another dying tradition. Now, if people want to buy sweets or candy, they can buy it in the supermarket or the convenience store.

But years ago, sweet shops could be found easily. Usually near a school.

Department Store

This is a very large store usually with several floors and many shops or outlets on each floor. Department stores can be big, but not as big as a shopping mall.

You can buy clothes, shoes, electrical items and household products in a department store. Sometimes there is a supermarket in the department store.

Toy Shop/Toy Store

And this is where people go to buy toys.

This is another shop that is rapidly disappearing as people usually buy toys in large supermarkets, department stores or shopping malls. There are also large chain toy stores, but people buy many toys online too.

An optician is where you go to buy glasses.

You can also have your eyes tested here. The optician sells glasses and accessories for glasses. The staff are usually qualified to test people’s eyes.

Read out loud all the above introductions to different shops and stores.

If you find any new words, write them down in your vocabulary notebook. Use a dictionary to find out the meaning of the new words. Then write a sentence of your own using the new words.

For example:

Croissant — a kind of French pastry made of rolled dough and butter. It is very light in texture.

I wanted to get some croissants for breakfast, so I went to the bread shop on the High Street.

Do this for all the new words. You should try to expand your vocabulary all the time!

Things People Say about Shops

Look at the extracts of things people might say when talking about different shops. Practice these yourself by reading out loud. This will give you more confidence in speaking.

We’re very lucky because we have a traditional baker in our neighbourhood. They make fresh bread every day. Sometimes I like to go there and buy a loaf of bread. It still feels warm because it has just come out of the oven.

There’s an electronics market near my house. I’ve bought lots of things there. Many of the shops there sell reconditioned computers. I like to walk around this market. I don’t even need to buy anything there, but I just find the place very interesting.

I like to drink a glass of wine in the evening after dinner. And I usually buy my wine in the liquor store just down the road. They have a great selection. All the usual wine from France and Italy, but also the new world wine from places like Australia and Chile. And it’s not too expensive either.

On a Saturday, I like to go to the shopping mall with my friends. We do a bit of window shopping, sometimes I might buy something, but the shops in the mall can be a little expensive. Then we might go to Starbucks on the first floor and drink some coffee.

I am really into photography so I sometimes need to buy things, such as new camera equipment and accessories. I’m very lucky because we have this fantastic camera shop in the centre of town. The guys that work there know so much about the cameras and equipment they sell. I bought my camera there, and last week I also bought a new lens. Any time I have questions about photography I ask one of the people that work in the camera shop.

We bought our pet rabbit in the pet store near to us. They had a big selection of rabbits to choose from. And they helped us with all the other things we needed to look after the rabbit. So we bought a rabbit hutch there too. The rabbit likes to have straw in his hutch, so we get fresh straw from the pet shop every week. I like the smell in the shop too. It just smells of animals and makes me think of nature.

I have to wear glasses so I find that I have to go to the opticians now and then. We have a great optician shop in the town centre and I have got to know the people who work there quite well. I might buy new glasses every two years or so. And when I do, the staff always tell me to have an eye test. They’re just very professional so I am glad they are there.

Read through all the extracts. Find any new words you don’t know and write them in your vocabulary notebook. Use a dictionary to find the meanings and then make sentences of your own.

Read out loud all the extracts above. Say each one as if it is about you and your life.

Then change each extract to fit your own life. For example, the first extract is about a baker. Maybe you want to talk about a fruit and vegetable shop or a butcher. Or maybe you buy bread in the local supermarket.

You should try to talk about your own life and the shops in your neighbourhood. The more you do this, the easier it will get.

Vocabulary for Shops

There is special vocabulary that is suited for shops. Let’s take a look at some of these words below.

Look at all the vocabulary above. These are words you may use when talking about shops and the things you may find in shops.

Go through all the vocabulary and write down any new words in your vocabulary notebook. Use a dictionary to find the meanings of all the new words.

Then think of a sentence in your own words using the new words and write that in your notebook too.

It should look something like this:

Aisle — a passageway or walkway in shops and supermarkets for people to walk.

Karen walked along the aisle of the shop looking at all the items for sale.

Verbs We Use about Shops and Shopping

All of these verbs and phrasal verbs can be used when talking about shopping. Go through all the verbs and write any new words or phrases in your vocabulary notebook.

Use a dictionary to find out the meanings of any new words.

Remember — all the verbs are in the context of shopping.

Write down the meanings of any new words in your notebook. Then write down sentences of your own using the new verbs and phrasal verbs.

Pay for — to give money to the shop assistant in exchange for goods or items you found in the shop.

I paid $75 for this new shirt, so I hope it looks good.

I Love Shopping!

This is a presentation exercise. All the students should work individually.

Take some time and prepare a short talk about shopping. You should talk about a shop that you like to visit regularly. It can be any kind of shop you like — it doesn’t matter.

The following questions can help you with your talk.

• What kind of shop is it?
• What does it sell?
• How often do you go there?
• What do you usually buy there?
• Why do you like this shop?

In your talk, try to speak between one to two minutes.

Local Shops & City Centre Shops

This is a group exercise. Get into small groups of three or four students.

In your groups, talk about what local shops you have near your homes and what kind of shops you can see in the city centre.

Go back to the shops list at the beginning of the lesson plan. Separate all the local shops and city centre shops.

Then look at the following questions to help you come up with answers.

Local Shops

• What kind of shops are near to your home?
• What do these shops sell?
• Why do they sell these things?
• What kind of local shops would you like to see? Why?

City Centre Shops

• What kind of shops are there in the town centre or city centre?
• Why do they sell these items?
• What kind of shops should the city centre have? Why?

Spend some time in your group to think of as many different local shops and city centre shops.

When you are ready, present all your information as one group to all the class.

I am a Shopaholic!

Read Cheryl’s account below:

I know I have a problem. I like to shop and I can’t stop.

It’s terrible. I will literally buy anything I see. Every Saturday, I feel the need to go out to the shops and go shopping.

I don’t even need anything. I just have this strong desire to buy something, anything at all.

Take last Saturday, for example. I woke up at eight am.

That’s too early. At the weekend, I could sleep in all day — I don’t have to work, but my brain automatically wakes me up.

It’s like it’s telling me to get out of bed and go shopping.

So up I get. I wash my face, brush my teeth and have some breakfast.

Then I get ready to go out and get on with the task at hand — shopping.

I am always the first to arrive at the shops. I get there just before they open. I like to watch as they open their doors and get ready for the customers.

Then I spend all day wandering around, looking at the different shoes and clothes. The bags, the bottles of perfume. And all the accessories that can accompany any clothes I might buy — scarves, gloves, jewellery, hats.

I love all of it.

I always buy at least one expensive item and maybe two or three cheaper items. I never go home empty-handed. If I went to the shops and didn’t buy anything, I think that would just be a big waste of time.

But when I get home, I take all the things out of the bags and put them on my bed, and I just feel terrible. I feel like I have a terrible addiction to shopping and it’s taking over my life.

And it’s not like I can afford it — I can’t.

I have a handful of credit cards and they are all maxed out. It’s got to a point now where I am juggling all the cards, using one to pay off the other. It’s just a matter of time before I get into serious trouble with my finances.

And another thing, my friends are all saving money. Some have paid a deposit on a flat. So they are investing their money into the future. While I just go out and buy more designer jeans and fashionable clothes.

I have so many shoes, I am running out of room to store them.

But all these items are not really worth much money. Once I have paid for them, they then become second-hand. They don’t increase in value.

I know I need to stop, but I just don’t know how.

I think I need some professional help to get me out of this shopping addiction.

What can I do?

Reading Comprehension Questions

What does Cheryl like to do?

What does she buy?

When does she like to go shopping?

Does she need to buy something?

Why does she go shopping?

What time did she wake up last Saturday?

Why does she wake up at this time?

What time does she get to the shops?

How long does she spend walking around the shops?

What items does she say she looks at in the shops?

How many items does she buy each time she goes shopping?

How does she feel when she gets home?

Does Cheryl have the money for her shopping habit?

What financial problem does Cheryl have?

What do Cheryl’s friends do with their money?

Do the items that Cheryl buys have any real value?

Discussion Questions

What do you think of Cheryl’s shopping habit?

Do you know anyone like this?

Do you think Cheryl is happy or not? Explain your reasons.

Why does she refer to her habit as an addiction?

Do you think Cheryl lives alone? Or is she married with a family? Or living with her mother and father? What do you think? Why do you think this?

How could Cheryl stop her shopping addiction? Give some useful suggestions.

How do you think Cheryl’s friends regard her shopping habit?

Do you think Cheryl wears all the clothes and other items she buys?

What is impulse buying?

Do you buy anything on impulse? If so, what items did you buy?

Have you ever bought anything, only to regret it later when you got home? What was the item you bought?

Is advertising responsible for making buy things they don’t need? Why/why not?

Can you think of any companies that unfairly advertise their products? What do you think about this?

Do we have too many shopping malls?

Are there too many online stores?

What is ‘retail therapy’? Look this phrase up in your dictionary.

Do you think retail therapy is a real condition?

Does Cheryl have retail therapy? Or does she have a more serious condition?

This is a role play activity.

Divide into pairs and choose your roles below.

There are two characters in this role play:

Cheryl — You are Cheryl in the previous story. You have planned a big day for shopping. There are many sales on, and you want to take advantage of it. You have invited your best friend to go with you.

The only problem is — she doesn’t want to go!

She says that shopping is boring and that you should both try other things like walking around hills or helping children. What is wrong with her?

You need to convince her that you both need to go shopping — or you will miss out on some great bargains.

Cheryl’s Friend — You are Cheryl’s best friend. Cheryl has invited you to go shopping — but you don’t want to go.

You think shopping all day is a boring activity. You believe there are many other interesting ways to spend your free time — such as walking over the nearby hills, helping out at the local children’s centre or joining a workshop to learn a new skill. There are so many other things to do.

You need to encourage Cheryl to not go shopping as you think it is not good for her. And to try to make her do some more interesting things with her free time.

You must use all the following phrases in your role play:

There are more interesting things to do in life!

But the sales are on!

Why don’t we do something else?

Does it make you feel happy with yourself though?

I can’t think of a better way to spend my free time!

Do you know how many bargains we can find today?

Spend some time preparing your role play. Then, once you are ready, you can show the rest of the class.

Debate — Too Many Shopping Malls!

This is a debate activity.

Divide the class into two teams of equal number. Choose one person to be the debate chairperson. Their job is to chair the debate and ensure everyone has a chance to speak.

There are two teams:

You think there are too many shopping malls. You strongly believe that they only encourage people to consume and buy and get into debt.

You think it would be better if the city spent more money on community centres. There could be more parks and play areas for children. There could be more libraries and areas of culture and learning.

You would like the city to redesign some of the shopping malls into museums or libraries. And for the older ones to be knocked down. They could create parks and other places where people can relax, and play games instead.

You think there is no problem with the number of shopping malls in the city.

The number is just fine, and the shopping malls provide a lot of advantages. The first advantage is that they provide a lot of jobs for people. All the shops need staff who are well-trained and able to deal with the customers.

Plus the shopping malls need security staff, cleaning staff, maintenance workers along with accounting, marketing and human resources. Each mall is a huge employer.

The malls also pay a lot of money in rent each month and this is good for the city’s economy.

And people like to go shopping! It is not a dangerous activity at all. People can enjoy shopping under one roof along with all the other services the malls offer such as restaurants, coffee shops and cinemas.

In your teams, discuss what you want to say in the debate. Prepare all your lines of argument carefully.

Then, when you are ready — begin the debate!

Conversation Questions

Ask and answer all the questions below in the class. If you are one student working alone, read the questions out loud and answer them as best you can.

What do you think about shopping?

What kind of things do you like to buy?

What is the most money you have spent on one item? What was it, and why did you buy it?

Where do you usually go shopping? Can you describe the place you like to go?

Do you shop online? What is the difference between shopping online and going to a real shop?

Do you like to go shopping on your own? Or with others? What is the difference in feeling?

Do you pay attention to the cost of items when you go shopping? Why/why not?

Do you save money to buy something? Or do you pay for things on credit? Why do you do this?

Have you ever bought anything you don’t need? What was it? Why did you buy it?

What is a reasonable amount to spend on a pair of jeans? How about a fashionable shirt? Or some shoes?

Do you ever buy fake products? Or not at all? Why/why not?

Think of three items you would like to buy today if you had the money. Why do you need to buy these things?

Do you believe ‘shopping therapy’ is a real condition? Can it help people? How?

Are there too many shopping malls in your town or city? Or not enough? Explain your reasoning.

What are shoplifters? Do you have these people in your country? Why do they do this?

What do you hate about shopping?

So there it is.

I have not covered everything to do with shopping — that would require a small book, I think!

But I have given you a lot of useful vocabulary and phrases to use when going shopping. I hope all the activities were useful for you and that you were able to put all the new words about shopping to good use.

Keep practising and make sure to note down any new words you find. Use a dictionary all the time — this is very important!

Let me know what you thought of this guide in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.

Many thanks!

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Building Speech Skills At The Grocery Store

6 Easy, Fun and Purposeful Ways to Skip the Grocery Shopping Drama and Keep Little Minds Engaged

Ok, I’ll say it, some chores are just less fun when you have the kids in tow and grocery shopping can definitely be one of those chores. 

The idea of dragging unwilling kids through a grocery store makes us cringe (and with good reason) BUT there are some fun and easy ways to engage their racing brains, cleverly work on building speech skills and get through your grocery list in no time!

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

Describe, discuss & sort.

A simple trip to the grocery store provides an endless source of things to talk about. 

What new foods do you see? What does that bin of apples look like to you? How can we find breakfast bars, would they be with the hamburgers or the cereal? We need ice cream, what part of the store do you think that will be in? This part of the store is cold, why do you think that is?

Asking questions then allowing kids to explain and discuss, gives them the chance to use describing vocabulary, engage their problem solving muscles and build speech skills.

A Prepositional Phrase Challenge!

Prepositional phrases work as the helper to the subject of a sentence. 

At the grocery store you can create a fun “find it” challenge by using prepositional phrases to help kids correctly identify an item in a particular place on a shelf.

“The item you’re looking for is between the canned corn and canned beans.” “The cereal you’re looking for is on the second shelf next to the granola bars.”

Maybe you start a point system or give a sticker for each item found. Make it fun, make it engaging and they won’t even remember they’re at the grocery store!

Following Direction Fun!

Grocery shopping is an easy way to incorporate some good direction following practice.

The directions can be as simple as, “Please get 2 boxes of crackers off the shelf” or more complex, “Please get 3 boxes of mac and cheese, put them in the cart and then point to the kind of cookies you would like me to get.”

Either set of directions allows kids to use active listening, problem solving and sequencing skills. And a sticker for each step provides great motivation when building speech skills!

Sound Search!

Focus on specific letter sounds by assigning each child a sound and see how many things they can find in the grocery store that begin with that sound. 

Create a list of sounds that they can check off as they find it. Challenge them to find something that has their sound at the end of the word or in the middle.

Sound identification can be tricky for some kids and a trip to the grocery is a great way to practice!

‘I Spy’ – Grocery Store Edition!

I Spy is always a favorite! It’s easy to play just about anywhere, so try it out on your next grocery trip. 

“I spy with my little eye a food that is yellow, skinny and comes in a bunch.” “I spy with my little eyes something cold and sweet and begins with the long ‘i’ sound.” “I spy with my little eye a fruit that is red.”

This simple game allows kids to work on recall, sound identification, articulation and so much more. And if you’re looking to take it up a notch try encouraging the kids to make up a short story about the banana they just correctly identified, have them tell you where the banana goes in the kitchen at home, ask what we can bake using the banana.

I Spy with my little eye…strong speech skills!

Executive Functioning Practice!

Before you even head to the grocery store with the kids, make a plan that they can be a part of! 

Choose a recipe you can make together and make a list of what you need. Ask them to help you decide what’s running low in the pantry and add those things to your list. Allow them to decide what treat they would like to choose at the store.

By planning ahead, organizing ingredients, making decisions and making a list of what you need, kids are practicing those all important executive functioning skills.

Photo by  Kamaji Ogino  from  Pexels

Grocery shopping with the kids doesn’t have to feel like a chore! 

By incorporating some fun games, activities and challenges that keep them entertained while shopping AND allow them to be building speech skills along the way, you’re checking two things off your list at once! 

Happy Shopping!

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Speaking Topic 10 – Shopping

Our next speaking topic is Shopping. If you are new here and want to practice speaking on this topic, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/BpaA9KyyeRmkJfmU6   

You can refer to this introduction to understand the program “Pair speaking practice with eJOY”.

1- Discussion questions for Topic Shopping

• Do you like shopping?
• What’s your favourite shop?
• Do you prefer shopping alone or with others? 
• What kinds of shops are there where you live?
• Have you ever bought anything online?
• Do you think men and women have different opinions about shopping?

These are suggested questions. You may not want to limit your conversation to those questions. Feel free to add your own and raise any question to your partner during the online meetup. Besides, you may want to have an ice-breaking session at the beginning. Also, don’t forget to wrap up at the end of the discussion.

2- Suggested videos – Topic Shopping

You need to train your ears to get familiar with how native speakers talk about Shopping and also to broaden your vocabulary.

eJOY Epic – Laptop

If you own a PRO eJOY account, you can learn with the following video to practice listening comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.

Learn with Shopping for Boots .  

Read more: How to learn on Epic .

eJOY App/ Go web – Mobile & Laptop

Below are English videos that you can practice with 4 skills (listen-speak-read-write) on eJOY App and eJOY Go web.

• English Way – DVD 05 – Lesson 02 – Shopping
• Shopping is Fun
• Shopping for a Suit
• The Future of Shopping
• What I HATE about SHOPPING
• How to learn on eJOY App
• How to learn on eJOY Go

3- Prepare for the talk

This is the to-do list for you:

• Watch the suggested videos to get some ideas and vocabularies. Add new vocabularies from section 5 as well, if you need them. Use eJOY extension (laptop) or eJOY Reader app (mobile) to save them.
• Write your own answers to the questions in section 1 of this article. Try to answer them out loud by yourself as well.
• Set up your device, the platform you choose to make a call to your partner. Make sure your internet works well and you have a quiet place.

Please be noticed that:

• Audio call is used to make sure the connection stable
• Have free talk and maintain your conversation as long as possible with no limit.
• Turn on recording (if possible) so that you will have your audio file to review after the talk

4- Check in to find your speaking partner for topic Shopping

When you have done the homework, try your best to write down the answers to the discussion questions and do rehearsal on your own. And then, fill out the check-in form to help us find your perfect speaking partner who has the same English level, same level of confidence, and same time slot with you. 

5- Vocabulary

• to go shopping/to do the shopping 
• Department stores have a wide range of goods on sale.
• One of my favourite activities on a Saturday is to go window shopping with my friends to see the latest fashions.
• I love bargain hunting and feel great when I find something I need at a knock-down price.
• I always shop around before buying high value items as prices can vary considerably.
• I often browse around the clothes shops to see if I can pick up any bargains.
• I need some retail therapy to help me get over the disappointment of not getting a promotion at work.
• to go on a shopping spree 
• I’m taking a bus into the city with some friends on Saturday and we’re going to hit the shops.
• My waterproof jacket was an impulse buy 
• I am a shopaholic
• flea market 
• shopping mall
• shopping centre
• be worth the cost
• Over-priced
• discount/sale
• Second-hand
• loyalty card
• shop / store / retail outlet
• to return an item

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GROCERY: Functional Skills Unit for Speech and Language

Learn about GROCERIES and keep therapy functional for older students in speech and language!

Keep therapy functional for older students in speech and language! This digital resource includes 145 no-print, no-prep worksheets to support students with grocery-related life skills and scenarios. It is packed with visuals and tools to help your students be successful, including…

A Grocery Checklist: The skills involved with each grocery shopping task are outlined in this student-friendly, parent-friendly checklist. Great for use during community based instruction and/or classroom activities that involve grocery store prep/money, as well as to send home for collaboration between the parent/guardian and SLP.

Sequencing Activities: Pages include a visual for checking out with a cashier, as well as a visual for using the self checkout. Steps are scrambled for students to sequence on the accompanying worksheets.

Photo Vocabulary Pages: These pages include photos accompanying various grocery store terminology (produce, barcode, aisle, etc.).

Section Guide and List Templates: These pages include a visual for the various sections in a grocery store and guided shopping lists with category headings.

Photo Identification Pages: These worksheets describe and discuss various products (fruits, vegetables, snacks, dairy, etc.) and accessories (cart, basket, paper bag, etc.) that are found at the grocery store. Each worksheet includes WH questions with visuals on the item’s functions and features (i.e. where do we find it? why do we use it? etc. ). Additional practice pages with comprehension questions regarding categories and attributes are also included.

Hypothetical scenarios: Read short passages or situations and respond to questions in the areas of planning, problem solving , cause and effect , and inferencing.

Flyer Hunts: use a grocery store flyer to find and describe items based on attribute!

…plus more!

This resource opens up so many possibilities and helps keep therapy FUNCTIONAL! Great for teletherapy OR in-person sessions with middle or high school students working on developing important life skills. The possibilities are endless!

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10 Ways to Practice Speech & Language at the Grocery Store

You’ve got errands to run and groceries to buy. The weekly to-do’s are piling up, and there’s little time left over for educational activities and focusing on your child’s development. But did you know the grocery store has endless opportunities to practice speech and language skills? Here are a few fun tips to keep your child learning while still finding time for errands.

10 Ways To Promote Speech At The SuperMarket:

1. turn your grocery list into a scavenger hunt..

Choose items on your grocery list, and give your child clues as to where it might be. Encourage your child to cross items off the list as they put them in the cart (e.g. “We’re looking for a vegetable. Where do you think we might find it?”).

Target skills: listening, problem solving, categories

2. Play a category game.

Encourage your child to find objects based on the color, food group, texture, or temperature. For example, you might encourage your child to find “3 red things”, “2 cold things” or “1 dairy product”.

Target skills: listening, categories

3. Play “I spy”.

Give your child 3 clues about a secret item, and encourage your child to guess what the item is. For example, you might say “I’m thinking of something that is cold, it goes in the freezer, and you eat it on a cone!”

4. Play the “Alphabet Game”.

Go through the alphabet, and search for items that begin with each letter of the alphabet. For example, you might encourage your child “What begins with A?… apple begins with A! Can you think of something that begins with B?”

Target skills: alphabet, letter-sound recognition

5. Plan a fun snack together.

Help your child make a list of items needed for their snack. Write down each step needed to prepare the snack (e.g. “First I will wash the celery. Next, I will put peanut butter on the celery. Last, I will put raisons on top!”). Encourage your child to share their snack with family and friends, and describe how they made it.

Target skills: executive function, sequencing, expressive language, social communication

6. Give your child special roles.

Encourage your child to listen to your directions, and find items that you ask for. For example, ask your child to “put 3 apples in the bag” or “put 1 box of crackers at the bottom of the cart.”

Target skills: following directions, location concepts, listening

7. Have a speech-sound contest.

Find items that begin with specific speech sounds. For example, if your child is learning to say “s”, have a contest to see who can find the most “s-words”. Say each s-word as you find it (e.g. “syrup starts with S!”)

Target skill: articulation

8. Practice greeting others.

When you get to the check-out line, encourage your child to greet the cashier. If your child is older, let them help with the transaction. (e.g. “How much did the groceries cost? What should we give the cashier?”). Encourage your child to say goodbye as you leave.

Target skills: social communication, problem solving

9. Let your child “be the teacher”.

Encourage your child to give you directions, and tell you where to put items. Make silly errors, and encourage your child to use their language to correct you. For example, you might put an apple on your head and ask “is this where it goes?… No! Where does the apple go?”

Target skills: expressive language, location concepts

10. Finally, have fun together!

Enjoy spending time with your child. Describe what is happening and what you see. Ask your child questions, and encourage them to talk about what they see.

Target skills: listening, expressive language, social communication

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Going To A Grocery Store: Language & Pragmatic Skills!!

Many of you have enjoyed my Going To A Restaurant: Language & Pragmatic Skills pack.  I've gotten requests “will you make more!?”  Yes!!  My goal for this school year is to have monthly community themes for my life skills students.  I plan to use my restaurant one and now I have a grocery store pack!!

This pack has similar activities and format to my restaurant one.  But I added a couple  new ones!!

In this pack:

-Sorting Items:  Students can sort the pictures into whether or not they will find them in a grocery store.

-Sorting Items:  Students can sort the grocery store items into the sections they may find them in.  Not all sections were included but the most common.

-Grocery Store Vocabulary Matching:  Cards contain a vocabulary word with its definition.  You can use these to teach vocabulary and for memory matching games to practice.  A worksheet is provided to review.

-Following Directions: Print and laminate the shopping cart and grocery bag mats and place them in the center.  Print and laminate the groceries and place them next to or around the mat.  Read the direction cards to your students and let them use the mats and groceries to complete them.

-Role Playing Fun: Two grocery lists were provided, one with pictures and one without.

-Role Playing Script:  Use this script to introduce how to act and what to say when going to a grocery store.

-Scenario Cards:  Students can practice expressing what they would do if they are in the situations provided.  A board game is provided to use as a reinforcer/motivator.

-Make Your Own Grocery List:  Students can create their own lists to use during role playing activities.  Great for eliciting conversation, problem solving skills, and more.  Feel free to provide students with grocery store ads from newspapers.  Let your students look for coupons to help them make a list and save money too!

-The Shopper Has:  This activity can be used as a file folder activity.  Print and glue onto a file folder the male and female shoppers.  For each item card, students must use the sentence strips provided to express which shopping has the item.  This activity can also be used to work on “who” questions, pronouns, and possessives.

-Who Can Name More?: You can use this worksheet as a competition between students.  You can set a timer and allow students to write as many items they can recall for each section of a grocery store.  Points can be achieved for each category.  The student with the most points is the winner!

-Parent letter: Feel free to send this letter home to let parents know about your grocery store theme!!  This will help with carryover of skills.

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IELTS Speaking Lesson about Shopping

Download this ielts speaking lesson pdf.

Shopping: Lesson Notes

In IELTS Speaking Shopping is a very common topic. It can appear in Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3 . 

In this lesson, there is lots vocabulary , including collocations , phrasal verbs and idioms , that you need to talk fluently about the topic of shopping in the IELTS Speaking test. You will learn how to talk about your favourite shops, shopping habits and changes in they way we shop. 

Keith O'Hare

I have taught over 10,000 students from over 20 different countries worldwide on my online courses , many having passed the exam with a band 7, 8 and even some 9s, so hopefully, I know what I am doing! Enjoy this lesson!

What you will learn

Ielts speaking vocabulary: shopping.

Here is some essential language to talk about the IELTS Speaking topic of Shopping  

• to purchase ( formal )  
• to pick up ( informal )  

Cheap (adj.)  

• inexpensive
• low-priced goods / food
• affordable goods / clothes  

Expensive (adj.)  

A shop (n.) = A store (n.) (US)

To shop (v.)  

To shop for clothes / food

To shop around = to look for the best price

To do the weekly shop / shopping = buy food for the whole week

To go shopping for clothes / food

Collocations  

A shopping mall / centre

To go window shopping = look in shops without buying

A High-street shop (baker’s, butcher’s newsagents…)

A Corner shop

Retail shops = shops that sells to customers

Wholesale shops = sells to businesses/shops

A One-stop shop = one shop that sells everything you need

To shop till you drop = to shop for hours

Phrasal Verbs

To pay for = to buy  

Can I pay for this with cash?

To sell out = to have no more stock

They have sold out of those lovely cup cakes

To set s.o. back = to cost (someone an amount of money)

It set me back about 20 USD

To splash out = to spend a lot of money

I like to splash out on new clothes in the Spring sales

Debates and Discussions about Shopping

Enjoying shopping.

Here are some ideas and language to discuss this issue

It tends to depend on …..

That depends….

I love browsing shops = going from shop to shop

I’m an impulsive shopper = I buy things whenever I feel like it, without planning  

I’m a shopaholic = I am (almost) addicted to shopping

I like to window shop , as I don’t have much money to spend on clothes.

I like to see all the different things on display  

Aisle (n.)   – passageway, corridor (in a shop, church, airplane…)

I like to walk along the aisles in my local supermarket.

The snack aisle is my favourite.  

I do, my local supermarket gives us coupons or vouchers that offer discounts to incentivise (=motivate) us shop more

Adverts are ever-more (=increasingly) cunning (clever) and attractive.  

The adverts grab my attention / capture my attention

A brick and mortar shop = a physical shop

Online shopping: A good or a bad thing?

Here are some nice phrases you can use to talk fluently about this debate:

Bad Things  

It’s an inevitable thing  

It’s a shame that so many physical shops are disappearing

So many companies are going out of business due to COVID.

All of the following mean “to go out of business ”

• To close down  
• To go into liquidation  
• To go bankrupt  
• To go belly up

Unfortunately we lose the personal touch of chatting and socialising with other shoppers and shop assistants when we shop online

It’s not a good thing as we don’t know which sites to trust .

I am always wary (= careful with) of online payments, I mean you hear of so many scams (=dishonest attempts to get your money) , so is it really safe and secure?

Good Things

The rise of online shopping means we can busy things from anywhere in the world, at the click of a button (=immediately)

Online shopping makes the purchase of most things much easier and more convenient.

Online shopping has been a lifesaver during COVID. It’s easy to get anything, even everyday essentials like food.  

Online versus offline shopping

Here are some phrases you can use to discuss this issue

• I prefer ____
• I lean towards _____ (=I like/prefer)
• Online shopping saves time. It saves a ton of time.  
• It depends on what I am buying
• I like physical shopping because I can try stuff on. (Clothes)
• I like physical shopping because I can try stuff out. (Electronic things)
• I can actually touch the products if I am in a real shop
• Online shopping is much more practical and the delivery is usually pretty quick.
• With the rise of companies like Amazon, then online delivery is very fast nowadays.
• Online shopping is fun, if you like opening boxes.
• I shop online for clothes a lot, but you never know if the size is going to fit , so there is always a bit of a risk.
• Despite the convenience that comes with online shopping I still prefer offline shopping as it enables me to inspect my goods before paying.

Idioms to talk about Shopping

My new bike cost an arm ’n’ a leg = to be expensive  

I paid over the odds for it = I paid too much  

I paid through the nose = I paid too much

It was going for a song = it’s cheap  

I like retail therapy , it cheers me up! = shopping that makes you happy  

To talk shop = talk about your work (usually negative)

He is so boring, he is always talking shop at parties.

Students' Questions about Shopping

Keith, what is the product which is consumed most in your country? 

To be honest, I don’t know statistically speaking which is the most

consumed   product in Britain, but I do know that British people buy and sell a lot

of cheese.   We love cheese.

So, there are many varieties of cheese that are sold across   the country : mature

cheese, blue cheese, crumbly cheese, cheese spreads.  

It’s something that’s may be connected with our eating culture and our  culinary

heritage .  

We like to have cheese on sandwiches. We often eat sandwiches at lunch time.  

So, cheese with different sauces or different kinds of vegetables is a very,

very   common thing for us t o consume either at lunch time or at another time of

the   day, in the afternoon.  

So, I’d say, yeah, cheese is one of the most popular , most widely

consumed   products in my country.

More live lessons for you

If you liked this lesson,  leave a comment below!

There are more lessons you can follow in the links below too.

SCIENCE in IELTS Speaking. Learn vocabulary and idioms to talk about different branches of science you like and get ideas to talk about.

PHOTOGRAPHY in IELTS Speaking. Learn vocabulary of taking, storing and sharing photos.

CLOTHES in IELTS Speaking. Vocabulary you need to describe clothes you like and dislike, as well as formal and informal styles.

Find our more about IELTS Speaking Part 2  

Find our more about IELTS Speaking Part 3  

24 thoughts on “IELTS Speaking Lesson about Shopping”

I am pleased to let you know I got 7 in speaking test by practicing your all free live lessons. I have been bowled over by your generosity as you share such a wonderful lessons for free. Thank you very much indeed.

Congratulations – delighted to hear that!

Hello Keith, thank you for your free lessons and videos.I m learning with them,hope to increase my band score from 6to 8.You are awesome teacher. Much love from SriLanka ❤️

Keep practicing, be patient and I am sure you will eventually make it. Good luck!

Welldone , dear Keith

you are the best IELTS tutor I’ve ever seen. your method grabs my attention and motivates me to follow the lessons. thanks a million

Glad you like the lesson, and thanks for the kind words – it means a lot to me!

I am really satisfied with it I am lucky to get this site’s I hope I will do well with your help thanks ☺️

I am sure you will do great – thanks for studying with me.

I liked it. Trying to get high score.I hope it helps me!

Me too – keep practicing and you will make it!

Can we say I bought it next to nothing? Or it was as cheap as chips .

Yes, almost. “I bought it FOR next to nothing. It was as cheap as chips!”

Thank you, sir. I am a new student to try to study IELTS speaking. Honestly, my ability is very under.

Welcome and you are in the right place. I hope the website can provide lots of resources to help you.

very, very useful, easy and interesting, thanks))

Pleased it can help!

Really remarkable use of vocabulary,idioms and phrases with easy sentences which are unforgettable….thank you Keith sir …

Really glad it helps, thanks for commenting.

i am very much fortunate in that your all things are so useful, it helps us to get high brand score which we deserve….

Glad you find it useful and I agree – you do deserve a good score – keep practicing!

Absolutely amazing, extremely knowledgeable, and loaded with great vocabulary, idioms and idiomatic expressions. 👌👌👌

Thanks and so glad you like it!

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103 Online Shopping Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

🏆 best online shopping topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good online shopping topic ideas to research, 📌 most interesting online shopping topics to write about, ❓ research question about online shopping.

When it comes to choosing an essay topic, online shopping has plenty ideas to offer. That’s why we present to you our online shopping topic list! Here, you will find best hand-picked essay titles and research ideas.

But that’s not all of it! In addition to our shopping essay topics, we also offer free sample papers. Check them out!

• Online Shopping vs. Traditional Shopping The advent of internet shopping in the late nineties created a revolution in the retail industry. It is possible to know about the sizes, features, and costs of products in online and traditional shopping.
• Traditional vs. Online Shopping Traditional shopping involves shoppers physically entering a brick-and-mortar store or shopping mall to select items of their choice, pay for them in cash or by credit card, and either take delivery personally or have them […]
• Influence of Online Shopping Apps on Impulsive Buying Olsen et al.go further and confirms that online shopping apps have increased impulse buying due to the wealth of information they provide the consumer.
• Advantages of Online Shopping In addition to this, the number of people adapting to online shopping is expected to grow, due to the numerous benefits associated with it.
• International Students Attitudes Towards Online Shopping The researcher strived to answer three key questions, which sought to find out students’ attitudes towards online shopping, the nationality of students who make the largest number of online purchases, and the barriers that prevent […]
• Drawbacks and Benefits of Online Shopping One of the benefits of online shopping is that it makes the customer have quick access to items that are identical regardless of where he or she does the shopping for them.
• Consumer Behavior in Online Shopping On the one hand, earlier studies argue that purchase intention is the key motivator for the consumers. Qualitative method is based upon judgment and intuition of the experts in the matter and consumers.
• Product Reviews in Online Shopping The paper will discuss strategies used by online retailers in their product reviews as well as describe a research study that can be used to explore the relationship between customer comments and their buying habits.
• Online Shopping Characteristics and Effectiveness Background information on online shopping will be presented, and the way on how to succeed in online shopping will be discussed. What are the details of online shopping DMC students should be aware of?
• Online Shopping as a Method of Supply Online shopping is the method of selling goods and services that allows individuals to sell goods directly over the internet. This mode of operation is better than the use of door-to-door sales people who can […]
• The Era of Online Shopping Today, online shopping has become a great phenomenon thanks to the rapid development of internet security technologies and a similar pace in the penetration of the World Wide Web.
• Consumer Attitudes Towards Online Shopping Since the online environment gives consumer a wider choice of products and product platforms from where to make their purchases, this study seeks to establish the exact consumer behaviour portrayed in an e-commerce environment and […]
• Amazon’s Success: Online Shopping Psychology One of the many factors contributing to Amazon’s success is its thorough understanding of its consumers, which is shown in the layout of its website and the numerous innovations it has brought to online retail.
• Saudi Women’s Perspective on Online Shopping Owing to the existence of different sites, the researcher examined the growth and expansion of the e-commerce segment in the nation.
• Consumer Behavior in Online Shopping: A Study of Aizawl The article shows the effective use of credibility of the authors, appropriate structure and organization, regional relevance of the cited literature, and functional illustrative material.
• The Effects of Online Shopping on Customer Loyalty For example, the study by Afrashteh, Azad, and Tabatabaei Hanzayy is dedicated to the concept of online shopping and the use of this electronic marketing technique to influence customer loyalty in conditions of the state […]
• Jordan’s Furniture Company and Online Shopping First of all, I would like to point out that Jordan’s Furniture is a furniture retailer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the U.S.A.
• Survey Analysis: Phones vs. PC in Online Shopping The findings of the survey indicate that the majority of female online shoppers prefer using mobile phones to make purchases; both computer and mobile apps are used to shop online.
• How Motivation Influences Online Shopping The Balanced Buyer: In this cluster, about a third of the sample was moderately driven by the desire to seek variety.
• Online Shopping and Its Advantages The decision of a customer to buy a product from a specific website depends on the reputation of the company and brand, which owns it.
• Amazon’s Online Shopping and Innovative Delivery The company started as an online seller of books, but later, Amazon became the platform for a variety of goods and services to sell.
• UK Consumer Attitudes Towards Online Shopping It means that delivery represents a vital component of the overall purchasing or service reception experience and contributes to the development of customer loyalty.
• Online Shopping Impact on the Global Retail Industry While the significance and the convenience of e-commerce are indisputable, it is important to study its impact on the traditional retail industry around the world to identify the challenges, which it has to withstand.
• Secure Online Shopping System Integration Therefore, the new service called SOSS, which is proposed in the management of the online ticketing business, will form part of the actual customer safety guarantee service.
• Peacock Fashion Company’s Online Shops The purpose of the paper will be to determine the characteristics and feelings of online shoppers as related to online fashion shopping in United Kingdom market.
• Online Shopping Impact on the Fashion & Design Industry In this report, the aim will be to determine the impact of online shopping on the fashion and design industry. The increased profitability of this industry means that the individual firms have the capacity to […]
• Consumer Science: Online Shopping in the United Arab Emirates In an attempt to identify these factors, the present study uses a mixed-methods methodology to show the importance of online shopping and how this concept has changed consumer habits on shopping in the UAE. The […]
• Online Shopping: Benefits and Drawbacks Essay The last major advantage of online shopping is that it assists the customer to find the best deal on a product.
• Online Shopping Platform for La Donna Boutique By using online services, La Donna cost of production will be reduced because it will be selling goods directly to the customers and this will make producers to get rid of costly intermediaries. The e-commerce […]
• Secure Online Shopping System Model on Customer Behavior The aim is to find respondents who are the potential, if not actual customers of our online products who fall within the category of youths and young adults described in the introduction.
• Service Marketing: Online Shopping Competition Their website allows customers to register with them and be able to do their shopping from the comfort of their homes.
• Online Shopping and Purchase Decision The above is a detailed explanation of the buying process for an online product specifically E-reader from Kindle. The customer will then evaluate the alternatives and make a purchase decision.
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IvyPanda. (2024, February 29). 103 Online Shopping Topic Ideas & Essay Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/online-shopping-essay-topics/

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Build Speech and Language Skills at the Grocery Store

After a long day at work, I was never ‘thrilled’ to take my daughter grocery shopping.  Mostly, it was because I was just drained and I knew that she was too.  I never knew if we would be ‘that family’ that had the meltdown in the grocery store (I’m including myself in that meltdown too!)  Grocery shopping became easier when I kept us both engaged in learning and fun!  Here are some tips that you can share with your student’s parents that will encourage bringing the kids to the store and building their speech and language while they are there!

1.) Build Vocabulary by Labeling and Describing EVERYTHING!   The grocery store is filled with speech and language opportunities. Parents and students can discuss size, color, function, category, location, etc.. Trying to find a few items in the same category is always fun!

2.) Work on Prepositional Phrases!   Is the item that you are looking for on the top shelf? Between the canned corn and the canned green beans? Is it on the second shelf?

3.) Work on Following Directions!  It can be as simple as ‘please grab the big box of Chex’ or more complex such as ‘After you grab the small box of Chex cereal and put it in the cart, point to the kind of instant oatmeal you would like us to buy this time.’

4.) Work on Taking Turns and Inferencing Skills!   That is right, play good ole’ I SPY in the grocery store!  Encourage parents to take turns with their kids in describing an item, its use, where it comes from (tree, cow, etc..), and its appearance while the communication partner guesses!

5.) Work on Pragmatic Skills!   Model and reinforce positive social skills and language to demonstrate good manners.  Practice taking turns asking and answering questions about the environment, what they need to find next, where they might find the item, and using please and thank you when asking the bakery for that free cookie or sample (not all stores offer the cookie but you would be surprised how many do!)

6.) Have a Sound Search Party!  While walking down the aisle, how many items can the student find that has their sound?  Where is the sound located in the word (initial, medial, final position)? Did the student find more or the parent (I always encourage making it into a game)?

7.) Build Executive Functioning Skills!   Prior to going shopping have parents and students decide on a recipe they want to complete at home and make the shopping list for it or just a shopping list for that week’s groceries.  By planning ahead, getting organized, making a list, and developing a plan for where in the store they need to go, student’s are building executive functioning skills!

8.)  Expand on these Lessons at Home with the Little Ones!  If they have a play kitchen at home… bonus!  However, these days parent’s can get cheap toy food at the local dollar store or at some of the chain stores.  Continuing to practice the above-mentioned tips at home during play will increase speech and language skills too (plus it is a bonus if you just really can’t bring yourself to include the kids at the grocery store due to the fear of meltdowns)!

How do you encourage parents to build speech and language skills at the grocery store?  There are a million ways (including learning money names, values, and concepts)!  To get your own copy of my Speech and Language Skills at the Grocery Store handout, simply complete the form below and I will email it to you.

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Meet Tamatha

Tamatha Cauckwell is an ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist with experience working in a variety of settings. Prior to obtaining her Masters in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, she was an SLP Assistant, a Self-contained Special Education Teacher, and a Preschool Teacher and Director. Her combined professional career experiences have given her a unique outlook and understanding regarding behavior management and collaborative needs when working with other professionals, colleagues, and families.

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Persuasive Speech About Shopping

Shopping is a calming pastime. An average person spends about three and a half hours shopping per week. It truly is not about what one purchases, it is about the thrill of the process. Shopping is simply entering a world of new possibilities and having full control on the next steps and decision process. Shopping preference is different for everybody. There are many things that one can go to purchase such as, groceries, school supplies, house supplies, tools, shoes, and clothing. Shopping is a very beneficial notion. It creates an outlet for relieving stress, promotes creativity, encourages taking a break from tasks, generates happiness while lowering one’s blood pressure, helps eliminate excessive worrying, and increases one mental wellness by decreases levels of depression and anxiety. Shopping is a great source for anyone, even the people who do not like to spend their money. Though people say that shopping only distresses while emptying one’s pocket, it is more about the experience than purchase of items. Just the thought of having a choice alone boosts up one’s self-esteem and mood. Shopping, especially in-store shopping, is a great escape from one’s troubles and responsibilities. I know from experience that being in a new environment while being in full control on deciding on the stores and items is liberating. For those on a budget or those who just want to be economical with their money, it is best to keep a lookout for coupons and sales. On days that I am stressed or just do not have anything to do, I love to go shopping. Although I enjoy shopping for all sorts of things, I prefer shopping for clothing and shoes, looking forward to expanding my closet. My shopping trips calm and empower me by showing me my ability of being in full control of situations. When it comes to shopping, I am extremely stingy with my money. The thought of my money being seized away from my pocket just makes me sick. Watching a money conservative go shopping is quite a sight. Often times I walk out with little to nothing but the experience is all worth it. Before I set foot into the mall, I create a budget for myself and force myself to stick with it. For example, if I am just window shopping I limit

Walmart Persuasive Speech

You have probably already heard all about the Walmart stores that are going out of buisness. Not all Walmarts are closing but a nice amount of them are. I have to be honest, thought, I'm not really surprised. Walmart has never been my favorite store. It's the store I go to when no other place has what I'm looking for, and there is just not enough time to order it online. Or when I need to re-stock on my camping gear.

The Signs Of Shopping By Anne Norton

“The Signs of Shopping” by Anne Norton mainly talks about the hidden semiotic meanings behind the concept of shopping. She mentioned how women shopped to obtain a sense of self-identities by spending money to possess property(88). The reading also implies that

It is believed that about 6% of Americans have a shopping addiction; of the 6% 90% are women. To a shopping addict trips to the mall become the main way to cope with stress, even when it is having a negative impact on the rest of their life. The addiction will affect their relationships and finances. (Omniomania: Shopping Addiction, 2010) It is a never ending merry-go-round; the stress from relationships and finances just reinforces the urge to shop more in order to feel better.

Chapter Seven Teaches Us That There Are More Addictions

Shopping can be defined as a compulsive buying behavior. Individuals become addicted to shopping because they see it as a stress relief, which triggers them to do it again. Women are more prone to experience compulsive buying behaviors than men.

Analyzing Gladwell's 'Consuming Passion'

Shopping is the art of purchasing goods from stores, it's one of my favorite hobbies. The feeling of attaining a new piece of clothing or multiple pieces of clothing gives me a high that no chemical can compare to. However I have come to the realization that it is just not my own on motivation driving me to want to shop but the stores have a way of manipulating their customers to buy more. One of my favorite store growing up would be Hollister Co. my friends and I were patrons of this store. Looking back I think Hollister is the perfect example of how retail stores use special tactics to manipulate their customers. As soon as you walk in into Hollister all your senses are overtaken by their carefully planned tactics to make their customers

City Vs Country Dwellers

Most cities have huge shopping malls, which tempt city residents to go shopping any chance they can get. For a city dweller, shopping is a stress-reliever. For country dwellers, on the other hand, shopping can cause stress. People who live in the country

Mini Ethnographic Essay

My original topic I chose was intended to be the study of the shopping differences between men and women, with other factors being taken into consideration. I had picked this topic because I know in today’s society, women are pictured as over-emotional and over-spending who can’t control themselves. I wanted to somehow prove this wrong. During my four hours researching, I found that no one was buying anything. I decided to switch my question into something that was more applicable: Are people still buying things at the mall? I would watch as groups of people walk past carrying nothing. If no one was buying, why are malls still being built?

The Science Of Shopping Analysis

2. Gladwell’s tone in this selection was very informative and explained what retailers do to try to sell items as efficient has possible. By making there shops more appealing to customers. At first the author thought that it was scary but after spending time with Paco’s video, the less scary it seems. The thought of stores watching you and trying to manipulate is scary.

Health Buster Activity Essay

This truly was an eye opener because I personally had to fight the urge to not impulse buy within the first 30 seconds of the store visit. As I previously stated an average store visit is about 4 minutes. I could only imagine how much extra revenue stores have gained due to these methods. This is why we need to create lists in order to avoid unnecessary spending when going shopping. With todays store visit, I not only got a closer in depth view about impulse buying but I also impulse bought myself. I came in doing research and ended up leaving with a grande vanilla bean Frappuccino. I know this goes against my studies but I couldn’t help

Buy Nothing Day: A Cultural Addiction

Buy, buy, buy. Spend, spend, spend. Day in and day out we are taught by society to buy and spend. This mentality plays such a large role in American society that shopping is no longer thought of as an "addiction", but simply a part of the "culture". The fact, Americans have become addicted to the act

Critical Thinking Trap

I will open up a few tabs with some of my favorite stores and merely browse around. After hours upon hours of browsing, I will sometimes purchase something small and cheap to assure myself that I did not just waste my time. Lappe says that “buying thing seems to be a common human strategy to ease feelings of insecurity and fear” (Lappe 47). In many movies and TV shoes, you hear about those rich women who shop all day. Although these women do have the resources to do so, it can also be said that they need to shop to make themselves feel better. The typical rich, trophy wife type of woman is typically insecure with their personal relationships with others. The most common is that their husband is not around, therefore, they believe that if they can purchase things, it will fix all their problems in their relationships. In this case, their consumerism directly effects their personal relationships. As well as effecting their direct relationships, the shopping sprees also make these women feel empowered and effect how the other shoppers are perceiving them. I know the feeling of walking around a crowded mall with multiple bags on your shoulders. You feel like you are on a whole different level than those with one or two. As humans, “we focus more on money, image, and status” (Lapee 47). When these trophy wives walk through the malls, on the surface they feel proud and more superior than others when in fact, they are

High School Football Research Paper

All girls have something they love that boys don't like as much, and most likely this is shopping. I love to shop, this is what the shopping bags represent from my mandala. I don't care how long i'm shopping or where i'm shopping i love to shop. Me and my mom go shopping at least once a week and this is how we relax and have down time. Shopping is something that i love to do and could not live without.

Compare And Contrast Online Shopping In Store Shopping

Online shopping and in- store shopping are different in various ways. Online shopping has become an increasingly common staple of life in the 21st century. It is popularity can be credited to the fact that convenience highly valued in our world today. Online shopping is most convenient for individuals that don’t have time to go to the store. If you’re busy with an online job or online classes then online shopping can sometimes be more convenient. It’s also convenient since you don’t have to drive, catch the bus, wait in a long line, or deal with not being able to find item. All you have to do is type in the item you are looking for and it’s there. Once you find the item, you can order it anytime because online stores never close.

Shopping: Online vs. Store Essay

For the draw backing for in-store shopping is; you do spend hours looking for the right product or in the lines trying to just purchase it. Or listening to all the people around you and all the additional noises you hear in stores. Not to mention stores have set hours on when you can shop and when you can not, this is something which can change with a sign on the door.

Online Shopping Is Better Than Traditional Shopping Essay

Nowadays with the ever rapid development and increasing popularity of the information technology, shopping on the internet has been a fashion especially among the youngsters. But some people think brick and mortal stores are better than online stores. In my opinion, online shopping has more benefits in modern capitalist countries. Although traditional shopping can buy merchandise directly, online shopping is not only more convenient for people to buy it, but it is easier to compare goods than traditional shopping, and it also promotes economic development and promotes the development of other industries.

Related Topics

• Online shopping

Speaking and Vocabulary Activities for Shopping

August 11th, 2023

Shopping is one of those topics that easily engages students if you have good exercises at the right level. Teaching activities might include: shopping role plays, dialogues about shopping experiences, and exercises matching shopping vocabulary words with pictures or definitions.

1 Bargaining

This is a lesson about shopping and bargaining at a market. It includes vocabulary/picture matching, brainstorming, a gap fill dialogue and open-ended questions.

Bargaining gap fill video (YouTube Shorts)

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2 Gift shop conversation and role play

A gift shop customer – salesperson role play is nice because there are so many kinds of gifts and a variety of interesting and creative conversations can be created by students.

(see the video on YouTube)

3 Expressing opinions about shopping

A vocabulary and critical thinking exercise for shopping. Students use the words at the bottom of the page to complete the sentences and then agree/disagree with the statements and give reasons for their choices.

(download PDF)

3 Talking about shopping

This is an elementary ESL speaking exercise for practicing language useful for talking about shopping. Shopping is a great topic for English language students  as it is universally accessible. Using pictures with the questions gives context. The vocabulary at the bottom of the page can be matched to the pictures as an icebreaker. Students can discuss and answer the questions in groups or in pairs.

Talking about shopping (PDF)

(see the YouTube video)

4  Common expressions for shopping (with audio and answers)

This is an elementary ESL shopping expressions and vocabulary listening/speaking exercise for practicing language useful for talking about shopping. Shopping is a great topic for English language students  as it is universally accessible. Using pictures  and audio gives context.

Common expressions for shopping (PDF)

(video mp4)      (video mp4 on YouTube)

5  Common expressions for shopping 2 (with answers and audio)

This is a slightly more advanced ESL shopping expressions and vocabulary listening/speaking exercise. I often like to make some pictures similar with subtle distinctions so students have to use their critical thinking skills.

Common expressions for shopping 2(PDF)

6 Common shopping conversations (with answers)

This is a fairly elementary exercise. It challenges students to understand the context of each picture and complete the speech bubbles.

Common  shopping conversations (PDF)

7  Brainstorming icebreaker for shopping: meanings of colors

A really nice breaker for shopping is brainstorming the meanings and associations of colors. This is a pretty fun and engaging way to start a class.

Brainstorming the meanings of colors(PDF)

8 Fashion and shopping word map

This is an elementary brainstorming exercise that aims to elicit some vocabulary and warm up the students for a lesson about fashion and shopping.  Try to get as much vocabulary as possible on the word maps  from the students and then ask them to complete the questions at the bottom of the page. Then they can ask and answers questions in pairs or groups.

Fashion and  shopping word map(PDF)

9 Talking shopping 2

This is a really easy elementary exercise for pretty low level English language learners to talk about shopping. Students match the words and expressions to the pictures and then have short conversations.

Talking shopping 2 (PDF)

10 Fashion choices and preferences brainstorm and speaking

This is a more advanced  exercise for students to talk about shopping choices and preferences. Students match the words and expressions to the pictures and then have short conversations. Once again try to get as much vocabulary as possible on the word maps  from the students and then ask them to complete the questions at the bottom of the page. Then they can ask and answers questions in pairs or groups. The students also need to understand how to use “Do you prefer…?” and “Would you rather…?”

Fashion choices and preferences brainstorm (PDF)

Related Resources

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7 Essential Speaking Activities (PDF)

2 Replies to “Talking about shopping speaking activity for ESL students”

Really useful activities!

Thanks for the comment. I’ve added audio to make them much better.

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Speech on Online Shopping

Online shopping is like a virtual marketplace at your fingertips. You can buy almost anything without leaving your couch.

It’s quick, convenient, and open around the clock. No need to worry about store hours or long queues.

1-minute Speech on Online Shopping

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk about online shopping. It’s like magic. With just a few clicks on your computer or taps on your phone, you can buy anything from anywhere.

First, let’s think about convenience. You can shop anytime, day or night. No need to worry if the stores are open. You don’t even have to leave your home. You save time, energy, and often money. With online shopping, the world is at your fingertips.

Second, the variety is amazing. You can find everything from clothes, toys, books, to even food. It’s all there online. And it’s not just the things in your local stores. You can buy products from around the world. So, it’s like having all the shops of the world in your pocket.

Third, comparing prices is easy online. You can check different websites in minutes. This helps you find the best deals. So, you can save money and get more value for it.

But remember, not everything is perfect. Sometimes, you may not get what you see on the website. Or it may take a long time to arrive. So, always read reviews and check the seller’s ratings. Also, be careful with your private information. Always use safe and secure websites.

In conclusion, online shopping is a great tool. It gives you convenience, variety, and good prices. But, like a tool, you must use it wisely. So, shop smart and enjoy the benefits of online shopping. Thank you.

Also check:

• Essay on Online Shopping

2-minute Speech on Online Shopping

Good day, everyone!

Let’s talk about online shopping. It’s like a big supermarket right in your pocket. Just think about it, you can shop for anything, anytime, without even stepping out of your home. Isn’t that cool? It’s as easy as playing a game on your smartphone.

Online shopping has changed the way we buy things. Before, we had to go to the store, walk around, pick out what we wanted, and then stand in a long line to pay. But now, we can sit on our couch, tap a few buttons on our phone or computer, and get what we want delivered right to our door. It’s like magic!

But the magic doesn’t stop there. Online shopping also gives us the power to compare prices and products from different stores all at once. No more going from one shop to another to find the best deal. Now, with just a few clicks, we can see which shop offers the best price or the best quality. It’s like having a magic wand that helps us make the best shopping decisions.

And there’s more! With online shopping, we can read reviews from other people who have bought the same product. So, before we buy something, we can learn from others’ experiences. It’s like having a friend who has tried everything and can tell us what’s good and what’s not.

But just like all magic, online shopping also has its tricks. Sometimes, what we see on the screen is not what we get. Or sometimes, we might have to wait a long time for our order to arrive. So, we need to be smart shoppers. We need to read the product description carefully, check the seller’s rating, and understand the return policy.

Online shopping is a powerful tool. Like all tools, it can be used for good or bad. It can make our lives easier, or it can trick us. But if we use it wisely, it can bring magic into our lives.

So, let’s embrace this magic, but let’s also remember to use it wisely. Let’s enjoy the convenience of online shopping, but let’s also keep our eyes open for the tricks.

Thank you for your attention. Happy shopping, everyone!

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Shopping List Game – Ways to Play to Support Language Development

Playing a game with your child is a brilliant opportunity to support their learning and language development. Whether you are concerned about your child’s language skills or not, games and play time are excellent opportunities to share our knowledge and experience with our kids. As a speech and language therapist, I always tell parents that one of the best gifts we can give our kids is our time. Time in which they have our undivided attention. Time to play with them, chat, read, whatever it might be.The Shopping List Game by Orchard Toys is a fantastic and affordable addition to any household.

What is Shopping List Game

If you haven’t heard of ‘Shopping List’, you can have a look here . In essence, it is a simple, fun and incredibly engaging picture based game that children from about 3 years, will love to play. More importantly it is packed with language learning opportunities and skills you probably didn’t even think of.  When it comes to the types of games and activities to do with children, it is often the most simple ideas and games that will resonate with them.

Shopping List is a timeless game I have been using in clinics for years. More recently I have also been playing it at home with my older son. Shopping List Game of course comes with wonderful instructions of rules of play. Orchard Toys provide great information about what skills each of their games target. I have written this post to share with parents some additional ways you can use this game to support your child’s language development.

5 Skills Your Child Can Practice Using Shopping List Game

1. pronouns: practising ‘he’ and ‘she’.

Why not cut a picture of a girl and boy out and stand them beside the trolleys and baskets. That way when you play the game you can use pronouns like he and she on each turn. For example:

• ‘ She has carrots in her trolley’
• ‘ He has socks in his trolley’

If you don’t have a printer, get creative. Use a magazine or catalogue to find a picture of a boy and girl.

2. Listening Skills and Following Directions

I sometimes play an ‘Eye Spy’ type game with the boards and cards. I turn all the pictures face up and then give the kids clues as to what I want them to find. E.g. ‘They are orange, and long, and reindeer love to eat them’ (carrots). This task can be made more difficult for older children by giving them less information and more cryptic clues. E.g. ‘It’s white, and comes in a tube’ (toothpaste).

You can also make it more difficult by giving your child two different descriptions and ask them to find two items. For example: ‘I am looking for a green fruit and something I can read’ (apple and a magazine).

These types of task are great for supporting your child’s auditory processing skills and ability to remember and follow longer and more complex directions. It is also great for attention and visual scanning.

3. Turn takings and Understanding Rules

Shopping List Game is great to play with younger kids as a means of teaching them about playing a game together. Waiting your turn. Paying attention to what the other player is doing. Anticipating whose turn it is next. Learning from other players. Understanding the goal and rules of the game is also really important. Remember when sitting down to play with your child, everything is a learning opportunity for them.

4. Joint Attention

Although you might be trying hard to get your child to look at the pictures and say the words, don’t become disheartened if they don’t. They can just as easily learn new words from the experience of playing the game itself. New vocabulary like ‘waiting’ ‘my turn’ ‘these cards are the same’ ‘different’ ‘winner’ on so on. Sharing the experience of the game and encouraging joint attention, is in itself a great achievement.

5. Expanding Vocabulary

Shopping List Game provides children with a wide range of potentially new words that you would find in a supermarket. Remember to keep your intonation upbeat and energetic to keep the momentum going and maintain your child’s interest.

Where to buy ‘Shopping List’

Orchard Toys ‘Shopping List’ is available in most good toy shops around Ireland and the U.K. including Cogs the Brain Shop.  You can use Emma10 for 10% off in Cogs – this is not an ad just a local business with a great range!

Orchard Toys also sell their full range directly from their website .

Looking for more ideas for games to support speech and language development?

Have a read of 5 Games to Support Your Toddler’s Speech and Language Development

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Pros and Cons of Online Shopping

6 Benefits and Drawbacks to Keep in Mind When You Shop Online

Pros of Online Shopping

Cons of online shopping, how to make the most of online shopping, money-saving tips for online shopping, frequently asked questions (faqs).

The Balance / Jiaqi Zhou

Online shopping is more popular today than ever before. U.S. businesses pulled in a record $285.2 billion from retail e-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For comparison, retail e-commerce sales were $69.2 billion in the same period one decade prior.

Due in part to new and growing technology, online shopping has become incredibly easy and convenient. It also offers a greater selection than one storefront, opening the doors to products and services that may not be available at a nearby brick-and-mortar store .

While online shopping comes with several benefits, there are drawbacks to know about, too. Let's dive deeper into the pros and cons of shopping online.

Key Takeaways

• Online shopping is convenient and offers a variety of products you may not be able to find at your local stores.
• It's easier to comparison shop online, where you can access prices, reviews, and product details with a click.
• When you shop online, you need to wait for your product to be delivered to you, and you might spend more than you would if you went to a brick-and-mortar store.
• There's also a risk of fraud when you shop online. You can combat this by choosing trusted stores and paying with a card that offers fraud protection.

Convenience

Greater selection

Easy access to information

Can be more expensive

Increases risk of fraud

Leads to longer wait times

Using your computer or another digital device for your shopping needs can be convenient, offer more options, and provide insight you might not find in person at a store.

The greatest benefit of online shopping is its convenience. Through the digital space, you can buy almost anything you want from the comfort of your own home. Since online stores are open 24/7 and accessible from anywhere with internet access, it's easy to fit online shopping into your life no matter how busy you are. You don't have to plan your purchases based on when a brick-and-mortar store is open and available to serve you.

Greater Selection

Because products online live within the digital space, online retailers are not restricted to shelves and often have more inventory on hand with a wider selection of products. Also, online shopping gives you the chance to buy anything from any retailer, no matter where you're located. If you're in the market for a new lamp, for example, you'll have more options available to you than you would if you only shopped at stores in your local area.

Easy Access to Information

When shopping online, you will often find more details about a business's products than you would get in physical stores. Instead of speaking to one or two sales associates in person, you can peruse product descriptions, recommendations of similar products, and reviews from other shoppers online that may help you make a more informed purchasing decision.

Online retailers also tend to have membership options, typically via email or newsletters, that give shoppers early access to sales, seasonal releases , and other events. This way, you can be one of the first to know of offerings from your favorite brands.

Shopping for items online can also have its pitfalls, including hidden price mark-ups, an increased risk of fraud, and the inability to use or wear the item you purchased right away.

Can Be More Expensive

Online purchases can cost you more for several reasons. Even though many major online retailers offer free shipping, they generally require you to meet a minimum to qualify for it. In addition, online retailers may use several strategies to encourage you to buy more items or more expensive items than if you were shopping in person.

Depending on the state you live in, you may be required to pay an internet sales tax , too. In Texas, for example, you may have to pay a tax on out-of-state purchases delivered into Texas or purchases made from online-only sellers.

Many online retailers take part in digital tactics to convince shoppers to make more purchases, often considered impulse buys . Some include using "limited-time" sale pop-ups that reset every time users reload the page, fake customer testimonials, or messages that promote higher-cost items.

Increases Risk of Fraud

Unfortunately, online shopping scams do exist. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), online shopping is among the most common fraud category for consumers. Some scammers pretend to be legitimate online sellers with fake websites or create fake ads on real sites.

Always pay by credit card rather than a debit card, as you can easily report fraud to your credit card company. Also, it is best to avoid online sellers that only accept payment via money transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Scammers may encourage you to pay through these methods so they can access your money faster.

Leads to Longer Wait Times

When you shop at a brick-and-mortar store, you can generally walk away with the product you bought and use or wear it right away. Online shopping forces you to wait days, weeks, or even longer for your order to arrive. If you're in a time crunch and need a product right away, such as a gift, going to an in-person shop may be a better option for you.

These tips can allow you to enhance your online shopping experience.

Know Which Products to Buy Online

Some items are better to buy online than others because you can find countless consumer reviews, discounts, or other deals pertaining to them. For items you regularly use (such as a laptop, phone charger, luggage, or textbook), the internet may be the best place to compare offers. For things you require to have long-lasting value (like a car) or must get right away (such as groceries), shopping in person may be best.

Additionally, if there's a brand you trust or are familiar with, it may be best to bypass third-party sellers and purchase directly from their website in order to avoid potential counterfeit products or unauthorized resellers.

Read Reviews

Before you check out, read reviews on the retailer's website as well as third-party sites like Google and Facebook. This can help you find out if the retailer is legitimate and whether there may be any potential issues with the product you're about to invest in. Reviews are beneficial for small businesses , too. Ninety-seven percent of consumers read online reviews of local businesses, according to marketing consultancy BrightLocal.

Some companies have more nuanced review options than others. Clothing rental service Nuuly, for example, lets customers add photos of themselves wearing products with written reviews, enabling future customers to make empowered, smart purchasing decisions.

Examine Product Details

If you’re interested in a product, read its description. Make sure you know what it’s made out of, whether it comes with a warranty, what sizes are available, and so on. By doing so, you can avoid unwanted surprises that cost you time, money, and headaches when the product arrives.

There are many ways to save some money while making online purchases. Consider these tips to improve your online shopping experience.

Comparison Shop

If you have a specific product in mind, it's in your best interest to comparison shop, similar to how you would when looking for life insurance. Look at various online stores that offer what you want. Then, compare prices so you can find the best deal.

As you comparison shop, read product descriptions very closely. The FTC recommends looking out for words like "refurbished" or "vintage," as this could mean a product will arrive at your door in less-than-perfect condition.

Follow Online Retailers on Social Media

Online retailers often promote their sales and discounted items on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media channels. If you follow some of your favorite companies on social media, you may be one of the first to see and purchase the latest offers.

Use Money-Saving Apps or Plug-ins

There is no shortage of apps or plug-ins that allow you to save money online without the hassle. Some examples are Honey, Swagbucks, Capital One Shopping, and Rakuten. You can also look for coupon codes online on sites like RetailMeNot.com and Coupons.com.

How do you get your money back from an online purchase?

This process varies by retailer. Some may automatically refund your money when you report a problem with your purchase; others may require you to return the product first. You may not be able to get your money back at all, especially if it's after the retailer's return window. If you're buying something that may not work for you, like clothing, check the retailer's refund policy before you buy.

How has the internet changed shopping?

The internet has completely changed the shopping experience. People have access to products from around the globe. Payments are instant, and recommendations are tailored to your shopping and browsing habits. Brick-and-mortar retailers have had to respond by launching websites and improving their in-person customer experience.

U.S. Census Bureau. " Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales ," Page 1.

U.S. Census Bureau. " Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales 4th Quarter 2013 ," Page 2.

Texas Comptroller's Office. " Taxes: Online Orders - Texas Purchasers and Sellers ."

University of Michigan. " Impulse Buying: Design Practices and Consumer Needs ," Pages 6, 9, and 11.

Federal Trade Commission. " Consumer Sentinel Network ," Page 8.

BrightLocal. " Local Consumer Review Survey ."

Nuuly. " Forget Me Not Mini Dress ."

Federal Trade Commission. " Online Shopping ," See "Comparison Shopping."

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The First Amendment Goes Shopping: Coming soon to a Mall near you

Jan 05 2017

• Posted By: Chris A. Jenny & William R. West
• Practice Area: Real Estate & Retail Real Estate

Generally all types of expression are constitutionally protected in traditional "public forums" such as streets, sidewalks and parks, as well as plazas and government buildings that have been opened up to the public for similar speech activities. Given today's divisive political climate and the number of recent, high profile protests across the country on various socio-economic, political and environmental issues, landlords and retail tenants may wonder what is legally allowed, what their rights are should the demonstrations enter their private property, and whether they should exercise those rights.

The landmark decision involving free speech rights in private shopping centers is Pruneyard v. Robins , which was decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1980. There, the Supreme Court upheld the general notion that citizens have no absolute First Amendment rights to enter and remain on private property to express themselves. However, the Court also found that while the U.S. Constitution does not provide such broad protections, individual state constitutions may "grant greater freedom to individuals to use such property, so long as the restrictions do not amount to a taking without just compensation or contravene any other federal constitutional provision."

Since Pruneyard , a few states have interpreted their own state constitutions to provide even greater free speech protection than that offered by the federal Constitution. States that interpret their own state constitutions to permit free speech in private forums, subject to various limitations and restrictions in scope, include California (speech and petition), Colorado, Massachusetts (limited to ballot access), New Jersey (leafleting and related speech supporting or opposing causes, candidates or parties), Oregon (initiative petitions), and Washington. Most state supreme courts that have examined the issue, however, including Wisconsin, have disagreed. In Jacobs v. Major , the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that owners of private property (namely shopping malls) did not have to permit non-consensual use of their facilities by others for freedom of speech purposes. These limitations on speech generally extend to all areas of the private property, including parking lots and green spaces on the shopping center grounds.

Some reminders and suggestions for retail real estate owners and tenants to help prevent, prepare for and hopefully avoid potential issues with demonstrators include:

• Consider who you rent to and how that may impact future demonstrations at or near your property;
• Set clear, concise and visible rules limiting patrons' free speech and other behavior at your premises;
• Implement a consistent policy against picketing, demonstrating or similar types of activities;
• Enforce the shopping center policies in a consistent, nondiscriminatory manner;
• Post signs around the shopping center stating that the opinions of any such individuals or groups gathering on the shopping center are not shared by the shopping center owner;
• Remember that even if demonstrators are lawfully assembled on the sidewalks or streets, they do not have the right to be disruptive or block entrances to retail real estate locations and must let pedestrians pass;
• Order offensive demonstrators off the property, but be mindful that such an action could escalate the problem and the length of time the demonstrators remain at the property;
• Contact local law enforcement if demonstrators disobey the rules or are impeding shoppers; and
• Consider other legal action, such as filing for injunctions and temporary restraining orders, for prolonged and repeated violations or in anticipation of such violations in order to protect their property rights.

Because free speech protections vary from state to state, owners and tenants are advised to tailor their policies to state specific requirements. 

von Briesen & Roper Legal Update is a periodic publication of von Briesen & Roper, s.c. It is intended for general information purposes for the community and highlights recent changes and developments in the legal area. This publication does not constitute legal advice, and the reader should consult legal counsel to determine how this information applies to any specific situation.

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Free Speech at the Shopping Mall

Sunday, August 18, 2013

This article was originally published by California Lawyer, a leading legal magazine, in April 2011. © The Daily Journal Corporation. All rights reserved. by Marc Price Wolf.

Free speech is a right cherished by every American. For well over two centuries, we have experienced (if not always enjoyed) robust debate in public forums. However, it’s not always easy to determine whether a particular forum is public.

A couple of generations ago, it was fair to assume that public forums were publicly owned: street corners, parks, and plazas adjacent to government buildings. Although we have long thought of free speech in the context of the proverbial town square, that concept has evolved over the years. One of its more ubiquitous iterations is the modern shopping mall.

Shopping malls generally resemble public forums in that they are places of free public access where people regularly congregate for a variety of reasons. Most, however, are privately owned. This modern duality between public access and private ownership complicates the already labyrinthine area of free speech law. Shopping malls are not only where the rubber meets the road for fashion aficionados, they are the fulcrum in the balance between the values of private property ownership and free speech.

The High Court Speaks

The U.S. Supreme Court initially applied the First Amendment to private property in 1946 when it held that the business district of a privately owned “company town” could not restrict expressive rights because the town was the functional equivalent of a municipality. The Court concluded that “the more an owner, for his advantage, opens up his property for use by the public in general, the more do his rights become circumscribed by the statutory and constitutional rights of those who use it.” (Marsh v. Alabama, 326 U.S. 501, 506 (1946).) Two decades later, the Court held that a privately owned shopping mall was the “functional equivalent” of the business district described in Marsh. (See Amalgamated Food Employees Union v. Logan Valley Plaza, Inc., 391 U.S. 308, 318 (1968).)

However, in 1976 the Court took a big step in the opposite direction, expanding property rights at the expense of free speech. In the context of a labor dispute, the justices held that the First Amendment did not guarantee the right to free speech in privately owned shopping centers because the centers were not state actors (Hudgens v. NLRB, 424 U.S. 507, 519 – 521 (1976)). Four years later, the Court reaffirmed the notion that individuals do not have First Amendment rights to freely express themselves in privately owned shopping malls (Pruneyard Shopping Ctr. v. Robins, 447 U.S. 74, 80 (1980)). However, Pruneyard is also notable for a second holding–that state constitutions may confer upon citizens broader speech rights than the federal Constitution does.

California’s Free Speech Clause

The Pruneyard case involved an appeal from the California Supreme Court, which had relied on the state constitution, primarily article I, section 2, to find that the reasonable exercise of speech and of petition rights on privately owned shopping malls are protected activities (Robins v. Pruneyard Shopping Ctr., 23 Cal. 3d 899 (1979)). One important difference between the First Amendment and the free speech clause of California’s constitution is that the rights guaranteed under the latter do not depend on those guaranteed by the former. California prides itself on the fact that its constitution has always been “a document of independent force and effect particularly in the area of individual liberties.” (Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Lyons, 24 Cal. 4th 468, 489 – 490 (2000).) The free speech clause and the right to freedom of speech contained in the California Constitution “are not only as broad and as great as the First Amendment’s, they are even ‘broader’ and ‘greater.’ ” (Gerawan, 24 Cal. 4th at 491.)

In Pruneyard, a local shopping center in Campbell prohibited a group of high school students from soliciting opposition to a United Nations resolution against Zionism. The California Supreme Court held that the mall could not prohibit the students’ efforts even though their free speech activity was unrelated to the business of the shopping mall. The court compared the public areas of shopping malls to the streets and sidewalks of the central business districts of cities, which have “immemorially been used for purposes of assembly, communicating thoughts between citizens and discussing public questions.” (Hague v. CIO, 307 U.S. 496, 515 (1939).) Recognizing the growing importance of the shopping center to American life, the court held that “to prohibit expressive activity in the centers would impinge on constitutional rights beyond speech rights.” (Pruneyard, 23 Cal. 3d at 907.)

Other States

Although the constitutions of 34 states have free speech provisions virtually identical to California’s, few of them have been interpreted as being more expansive than the First Amendment. The high courts of Massachusetts and Washington, for example, have recognized a limited expressive right to solicit signatures for electoral petitions at private shopping centers, but their rulings were grounded in free elections rights, not in free speech rights alone (Batchelder v. Allied Stores Int’l, Inc., 445 N.E.2d 590, 595 (Mass. 1983); Alderwood Assocs. v. Wash. Envtl. Council, 635 P.2d 108, 116 – 117 (Wash. 1981) (plurality opinion)). In Colorado, the state supreme court ruled that a particular shopping mall was effectively a public entity because of the mall’s financial and other relationships with the city government (Bock v. Westminster Mall Co., 43 P.2d 55 (Colo. 1991)).

New Jersey is the only state to wholeheartedly follow California’s lead. In fact, its supreme court has even gone a few steps further and affirmed the protection of speech outside of the mall context, such as in private universities and hallways in residential buildings. (See State v. Schmid, 423 A.2d 615, 631 – 633 (N.J. 1980); Guttenberg Taxpayers & Rentpayers Ass’n v. Galaxy Towers Condominium Ass’n, 688 A.2d 156 (N.J. Super. Ct. Ch. Div. 1996), aff’d, 688 A.2d 108 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1996).)

That so few states have taken California’s approach should not be too surprising. Unlike most public forums, private shopping centers are not owned by the government, paid for by taxpayers, or maintained by government employees. The private owner of a shopping center is responsible for paying property taxes, hiring employees, safeguarding the premises, maintaining the structure, and keeping the common areas clean. Shopping malls generally do not incorporate housing, town halls, libraries, places of worship, hospitals, or schools. There is no “mayor of the mall,” and shoppers do not expect to have a say in the everyday affairs of a commercial shopping center. Despite these differences, the California Supreme Court upheld free speech rights at shopping malls in Pruneyard, and reaffirmed its holding nearly 30 years later. (See Fashion Valley Mall, LLC v. NLRB, 42 Cal. 4th 850 (2007).)

Pruneyard Revisited

The Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego had a rule that prohibited anyone from “interfering” with the business of a mall merchant by “encouraging” customers not to patronize that business. When a group of union members attempted to pass out flyers urging a boycott of a mall department store, the mall’s management disbanded the group by claiming trespass, threatening civil litigation and possible arrest. But the California Supreme Court held that requiring shopping malls to allow free speech activity did not “unreasonably impair the value or use of their property as a shopping center.” (Fashion Valley Mall, 42 Cal. 4th at 863.) The court balanced private property rights against free speech needs, and the latter, by a slim 4 – 3 majority, prevailed.

The court explained that the application of free speech rights is not solely determined by the distinction between public and private ownership of property. The focus of the court’s analysis was on the use of the property in question. And although it concluded that the California Constitution protects the right to free speech in shopping malls–including the right to advocate a boycott–the court emphasized a shopping center’s right to impose reasonable regulations upon expressive activity.

What’s Reasonable?

In California, litigation involving speech at shopping malls has centered on the boundaries of such regulations. The level of scrutiny a court will apply to a given regulation varies with the context.

If the rule is truly content neutral and governs the “time, place or manner” of the speech activity, the court will utilize an intermediate level of scrutiny to determine whether the rule (1) is narrowly tailored; (2) serves a significant government interest; and (3) leaves open ample alternative avenues of communication (Fashion Valley Mall, 42 Cal. 4th at 865).

On the other hand, if the rule regulates the speech on the basis of content, it will be subject to strict scrutiny–which means that the restriction must be necessary to serve a compelling state interest and narrowly drawn to achieve that end (42 Cal. 4th at 869).

Although the rule in the Fashion Valley Mall case applied to all requests for a consumer boycott, the court did not view it as content neutral. The court noted that such a regulation might be viewpoint neutral because it treats all boycotts the same way; but it is not content neutral because it prohibits speech that urges a boycott while it permits speech that does not. Case law has demonstrated time and again that few content-based regulations on speech–including a shopping mall’s rule prohibiting boycott advocacy–can withstand strict scrutiny.

In one case, a suit arose after a security guard at Westfield Mall near Sacramento observed Matthew Snatchko, a youth pastor, chatting about his religion with three women whom he did not know. The women appeared to welcome the conversation. After Snatchko refused the security guard’s request that he leave the mall, the guard handcuffed him and local police arrested him for disturbing the peace. Although the charges were dropped, Snatchko sued the security guard and the mall, contending the restrictions violated his First Amendment rights.

At issue was the constitutionality of the mall’s rules requiring persons to obtain a permit before engaging in any “non-commercial expressive activity.” Westfield said the phrase referred to any activity that had a “political, religious or other non-commercial purpose.” (Snatchko v. Westfield, LLC, 187 Cal. App. 4th 469, 478 (2010).)

As such, Westfield’s regulation went a giant step further than the one struck down in Fashion Valley Mall. Instead of prohibiting only speech promoting boycotts, it banned even peaceful, consensual, spontaneous conversations between strangers. The net result was that mall patrons were technically prohibited from talking to a stranger about the weather, a current event, or even the latest TV episode of Top Chef. While the rule might turn the mall into a safe zone from bad pick-up lines, it also places a restriction on the content of speech. When the court subjected the regulation to strict scrutiny, it failed to pass constitutional muster.

Even if the court had considered the restriction to be content neutral, the rule burdened substantially more speech than was necessary to advance any of its purported legitimate safety and convenience interests. A rule prohibiting strangers from engaging in impromptu chitchat is akin to a rule one would expect to find in a totalitarian police state, not a suburban shopping mall in Roseville.

The court aptly noted that providing a “stress-free shopping atmosphere” for patrons–the purported intent of Westfield Mall’s rules–was not a compelling interest compared with the free speech rights of other individuals in the mall: A shopping mall cannot justify the prohibition of peaceful, noncommercial speech “because it might result in lost profits if shoppers become annoyed or offended and leave.” (Snatchko, 187 Cal. App. 4th at 489.)

And just last month, the court of appeal decided a case in which a shopping mall imposed rules granting preferential treatment to labor-related speech–a fact that no doubt would have delighted the labor protestors in the Fashion Valley Mall case. However, the court held that it was improper for the mall to prefer one type of speech over another based on content. It noted that “a shopping mall must allow protests within aural and visual range of a targeted business whenever the mall is open to the public.” A mall cannot impose a “blanket ban on the time or place of free speech” unless it is the only way “to prevent substantial disruption of normal business operations.” (See Best Friends Animal Soc. v. Macerich Westside Pavilion Property LLC (2011 WL 711584).)

Big-Box Stores Although California courts have extended free speech protections to shopping malls, they have not done the same for speech in stand-alone stores. While difficult to define, a stand-alone store generally is a place of business not physically attached to another place of business. (See Albertson’s, Inc. v. Young, 107 Cal. App. 4th 106, 109 (2003) (individual grocery store).)

For free speech protections to apply on private property, the owner must open the premises for public use so as to “make it the functional equivalent of a traditional public forum.” (Albertson’s, 107 Cal. App. 4th at 118 (citing Trader Joe’s Co. v. Progressive Campaigns, Inc., 73 Cal. App. 4th 425, 433 – 444 (1999)).) Courts consider a variety of factors, including the extent of the invitation by the property owner to the public; the nature of the primary use of the property; any relationship between the speech activities and the primary use of the property; the size of the business; and the public’s interest in using the property as a venue for free speech (Albertson’s, 107 Cal. App. 4th at 119).

Big-box stores have become more relevant in the free speech debate as they continue to proliferate. Many big-box outlets now replicate the diverse shopping options of a mall, but in one enormous store. For instance, in addition to selling clothing, electronics, home and garden supplies, furniture, and jewelry, many of these stores have large grocery departments, food courts, and open spaces for congregation. Indeed, big-box stores and shopping malls are becoming indistinguishable in terms of the five public-forum factors cited in the Albertson’s case.

More than 30 years ago, California took the lead in protecting speech at shopping malls. Only time will tell if the Golden State becomes the first to extend free speech protections to big-box stores.

Marc Price Wolf is an associate in the litigation department at Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin in San Francisco.

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Breaking news, jerry seinfeld booed by anti-israel protesters who walk out of his duke commencement speech.

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Dozens of students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday to protest guest speaker Jerry Seinfield over his support of Israel during the war in Gaza.

Video of the incident shows a group of students walking out of their seats and carrying a Palestinian flag as soon as the comedian and TV star was called to the stage. 

The attention to the protesters was quickly diverted by the cheering crowd, who chanted, “Jerry! Jerry!” as Seinfeld would go on to give his speech and accept an honorary degree from Duke. 

While Seinfeld appeared to receive support from the majority of the crowd, once the cheers eased up, several boos and shouts of “Free Palestine,” could be heard erupting through. 

Seinfeld has been vocal over his support for the Jewish State following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 massacre that killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped another 252. 

The comedian also met with families of the hostages and visited a kibbutz destroyed by the terror attack during a trip to Israel in December.

Seinfeld, however, opted to steer clear of the war during his speech at Duke — and instead told students to embrace hard work and what they love as they move forward on the next major step in their lives, according to WRAL News .      

“Find something where you love the good parts and don’t mind the bad parts too much — the torture you’re comfortable with,” the comedian joked. 

“This is the golden path to victory in life. Work. Exercise. Relationships,” he added.” They all have a solid component of pure torture, and they are all 1,000% worth it.”

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The walkout was the only disruption to the commencement ceremony, with no other incident taking place during or after Seinfeld’s speech. 

The animus Seinfeld faced at Duke was not the first time he was targeted by protesters over his support for Israel. 

In February, Seinfeld was heckled by a group of protesters after leaving an event in the Upper East Side, where demonstrators called him a “genocide supporter.” 

The Duke walkout was the latest in manifestations that have erupted in college campuses across the US calling on universities to divest and end their ties with Israel over the war in Gaza.  

About 60 students at Rutgers University walked out of their own commencement ceremony on Sunday to protest the war, with many of the protesters swapping graduation caps for keffiyehs, NJ.com reports. 

The Rutgers walkout broke out halfway through the ceremony, with students waving around a banner with the colors of the Palestinian flag. 

University officials did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.  

On Saturday, students also held a walkout at Virginia Commonwealth University during a commencement ceremony addressed by Republican Gov. Glenn Younking, and at the University of California, Berkeley, students stalled their own ceremony as they waved Palestinian flags in the middle of the stadium.   

With Post wires

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Jerry Seinfeld's Duke University Commencement Speech Met With Student Protests and Support

The 'Unfrosted' star delivered his speech on Sunday, as several students walked out in protest.

Jerry Seinfeld delivered the annual commencement speech at Duke University on Sunday, and his appearance was met with both cheers and support from the audience, as well as protests by student activists.

Before Seinfeld, 70, stepped up onto the dais to deliver his speech at Wallace Wade Stadium, several groups of students walked out as Duke University President Vincent Price introduced the comic.

According to some reports , Price's introduction was met with chanting and jeering, with some students yelling "Free Palestine." Additionally, protestors could reportedly be heard chanting the same message outside of the ceremony.

Frank Tramble, vice president for marketing, communications and public affairs for Duke, addressed the student walkouts in a statement to ET on Sunday.

"We're excited and delighted for the Class of 2024 and their families," Tramble stated. "We understand the depth of feeling in our community, and as we have all year, we respect the right of everyone at Duke to express their views peacefully, without preventing graduates and their families from celebrating their achievement."

It appears that the protests were peaceful, that there was no damage to any property and that police were not called in response.

Amid the walkouts, several other students reportedly cheered for Seinfeld, chanting his name. The actor and comedian -- who has been outwardly vocal in his support for Israel in recent weeks amid the violent conflict in Gaza -- did not touch on political matters during his speech.

At the ceremony, Seinfeld received an honorary doctorate from Duke -- where both he and his wife, Jessica, serve as national chairs of Duke's Parents Committee. During his commencement speech, Seinfeld expressed his belief in the power of putting in hard work and commitment.

"Whatever you're doing, I don't care if it's your job, your hobby, a relationship, getting a reservation at M Sushi -- make an effort," Seinfeld shared. "Just pure, stupid, no-real-idea-what-I'm-doing-here effort. Effort always yields a positive value, even if the outcome of the effort is absolute failure of the desired result. This is a rule of life."

Seinfeld's speech also seemed to subtly address comments he's recently made about younger generations' sense of humor, political correctness and so-called "cancel culture."

"The slightly uncomfortable feeling of awkward humor is OK," he shared. "I totally admire the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society."

However, he encouraged students to not lose their sense of humor and to not limit speech, explaining, "It is worth the sacrifice of an occasional discomfort to have some laughs. Don't lose that. Even if it's at the cost of occasional hard feelings, it's OK. You gotta laugh. That is the one thing, at the end of your life, you will not wish you did less of."

"Humor is the most powerful, most survival essential quality you will ever have or need to navigate through the human experience," he added.

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

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• Jerry Seinfeld

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Trump calls fictional character Hannibal Lecter a ‘wonderful man’ in rambling speech

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US presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to Hannibal Lecter as a ‘wonderful man’ during a recent campaign rally.

The 90 minute speech, in Wildwood, New Jersey , saw Mr Trump complain about current President Joe Biden ’s administration’s stance on migrants as well.

In front of 100,000 supporters, Mr Trump said: ‘Has anyone ever seen “The Silence of the Lambs”? The late, great Hannibal Lecter . He’s a wonderful man.

‘He oftentimes would have a friend for dinner. Remember the last scene? “Excuse me, I’m about to have a friend for dinner,” as this poor doctor walked by. But Hannibal Lecter. Congratulations, the late great Hannibal Lecter.

‘We have people who are being released into our country that we don’t want in our country, and they’re coming in totally unchecked, totally unvetted,’ he added.

‘And we can’t let this happen. They’re destroying our country, and we’re sitting back and we better damn well win this election, because if we don’t, our country is going to be doomed. It’s going to be doomed.’

The bizarre tangent appears to be linked to Mr Trump’s claims about those who cross the border being mentally ill or violent criminals.

He previously brought up Lecter in another speech, once calling him ‘legendary’, and in another instance, calling him a ‘nice fellow’.

The New York Times points out that Mr Trump has also referenced Al Capone – who he has compared himself to.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said: ‘I’ve been indicted more than the great Alphonse Capone. Scarface.

‘Al Capone was so mean that if you went to dinner with him and he didn’t like you, you’d be dead the next morning. And I got indicted more than him.’

The ex-president went back on the campaign trail briefly as he continues court appearances for his trial, accused of working with a tabloid publisher to prevent stories about his sex life becoming public during his 2016 presidential run.

The criminal trial, held in New York, is the first ever to be held for an ex-US president.

Since the trial began on April 15, Mr Trump has been subject to a gag order telling him not to make public statements about people involved in the case.

He was fined $9,000 by the court for violating the terms of the order.

But he recently made further comments on television, saying the jury is ‘95% Democratic’ and saying the judge is ‘rushing the trial like crazy’.

He had been fined a further $1,000 as a result, and given the letter raising the possibility of incarceration.

In it, Judge Merchan writes that Mr Trump ‘violated the Order by making public statements about the jury and how it was selected.

‘In doing so, Defendant not only called into question the integrity, and therefore the legitimacy of these proceedings, but again raised the specter of fear for the safety of the jurors and of their loved ones.’

In recent weeks, witnesses in the trial  included Mr Trump’s former presidential aide Hope Hicks , who became emotional during questioning and had to leave the court to compose herself.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Travel fees and tax-free shopping ban are hurting Britain, says Heathrow

Airport claims Sunak’s measures curtail the UK’s global connectivity

Heathrow Airport has claimed that Rishi Sunak’s tourist tax is undermining Britain’s position as a global transport hub.

Britain’s biggest airport criticised the decision taken by Mr Sunak when he was chancellor to scrap tax-free shopping for international visitors , in addition to a £10 charge for visa-exempt passengers arriving in the UK that was introduced last year.

These measures are “curtailing the UK’s global connectivity”, Heathrow said.

The airport announced it was on track for its busiest year on record after passenger numbers rose by 4.8pc last month to 6.7 million. It also enjoyed its busiest day since October 2019 when 1,337 planes either took off or landed at the airport on April 19 2024.

However, Thomas Woldbye, chief executive, warned: “To unlock our full potential to help grow the country’s economy, we need the Government to implement policies that support UK aviation’s ability to compete globally.”

Nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are now required to pay a £10 fee when they change flights at Heathrow or enter the UK for a limited period without a legal residence or visa.

The electronic travel authorisation scheme , introduced last November, is due to be extended to include most other countries in the autumn and to EU, European Economic Area and Swiss nationals in early 2025.

The Government said the scheme would help boost border security and improve travel for legitimate visitors.

But Heathrow has argued that applying the scheme to passengers who only ever transit between flights puts UK airports at a disadvantage to European hubs such as Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

The fees may already be having an impact, with 19,000 fewer transit passengers travelling from Qatar to Heathrow in the first four months of the scheme. The route recorded its lowest monthly proportion of transfer traffic in over 10 years during the period.

Heathrow also hit out at the so-called tourist tax , which came about after Mr Sunak axed VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors in 2020 following Britain’s departure from the EU. The Treasury has claimed that scrapping the tax would cost the exchequer £2bn.

But campaigners have argued it may be costing the Treasury almost £11bn annually as it deters two million tourists from visiting, according to research published last year by the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Heathrow said: “Initiatives like the introduction of unnecessary visas for transiting passengers, the absence of tax-free shopping and the recently proposed hike in business rates underscore the need for ministers to take a cross-government approach to policy making.”

A government spokesman said: “The UK aviation industry is one of the best in the world and we remain committed to supporting airports to boost our global connectivity and grow our economy.

“Requiring transit passengers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation ensures we are making the border more secure, and stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining their permission to travel to the UK when they do not have it. We are keeping this under review as we continue to rollout the scheme.”

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Sen. Bob Menendez's trial starts and Steve Buscemi punched in NYC: Morning Rundown

Michael Cohen is set to testify today in Trump’s hush money trial. Russia is ramping up sabotage across Europe. And students at Duke University walk out of Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech. 

Here’s what to know today.

Michael Cohen to take stand as star witness in Trump’s hush money trial

Michael Cohen, one of the most anticipated witnesses in the Manhattan district attorney’s hush money case against Donald Trump, will take the stand today to start what’s expected to be days of testimony against the former president.

Cohen, who at one point worked as Trump’s personal attorney, paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 presidential campaign so that she would not go public with her claim that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. He has previously said he made the payment “at the direction” of Trump. 

Trump reimbursed Cohen in a series of payments in 2017, during the first months of his presidency. Prosecutors charge that Trump falsified business records relating to those payments by classifying them as legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records. He has also denied having an affair with Daniels.

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Todd Blanche, Trump’s lead attorney, said in his opening statement that Cohen was indeed being paid for his legal services and “cannot be trusted.” He also told the jury that Cohen is “obsessed” with Trump and blames him for “virtually all of his problems.” Cohen has repeatedly mocked Trump on social media and in interviews since the start of the trial, leading the judge to warn that Cohen could be excluded from the gag order that bars Trump from attacking witnesses if he kept it up. 

Cohen will be questioned by veteran prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, who has been preparing him for about a year. He’ll be cross-examined by Blanche. His testimony is crucial to the prosecution as the trial inches closer to the finish line.    

Russia’s sabotage campaign intensifies across Europe 

Russia is running a sabotage campaign across Europe in an effort by President Vladimir Putin to undermine Western support for Ukraine, hoping to damage railways, military bases and other spots that are used to supply arms to Kyiv, according to U.S. and European officials. European officials are also concerned that Russian propaganda campaigns are being conducted in advance of next month’s European Union parliamentary elections.

The attempted sabotage includes an alleged Russian-backed arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked warehouse in the United Kingdom, a plot to bomb or set fire to military bases in Germany, attempts to hack and disrupt Europe’s railway signal network and the jamming of GPS systems for civil aviation. 

The hacking effort also targeted German companies in the defense and aerospace industries. The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence service, Thomas Haldenwang, has warned that the threat of sabotage from Russia — including cyberattacks — is mounting and carries “a high potential for damage.” The reported sabotage reflects Russia’s brand of “hybrid warfare,” placing psychological and political operations alongside military force to weaken an adversary, experts and officials say. 

Read more:  

• Putin proposed replacing Sergei Shoigu as Russia’s defense minister in a major shakeup.
• At least 4,000 civilians have fled the Kharkiv region in Ukraine since Friday, when Moscow’s forces launched a renewed border assault. 

Duke students walk out of Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was met with a wave of boos when students at Duke University in North Carolina walked out just before his commencement speech. 

Students and some attendees in the bleachers stood up from their seats and began walking out of the stadium. Videos on social media showed a group of students with Palestinian flags walking down an aisle on the stadium field. 

Protests also erupted at two different ceremonies at the University of California, Berkeley. During Friday’s law school graduation, students removed their gowns to reveal white shirts that read “UC Divest.” The next day, chants of “Free Palestine” erupted as the student speaker tried to deliver her address at a different ceremony. At the Virginia Commonwealth University ceremony, students walked out of a commencement address being delivered by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

A slew of anti-war demonstrations began to take root on college campuses after students at Columbia University set up an encampment on their university’s lawn. Students have been demanding that their universities divest from companies that either profit from war or from the occupation of Palestinian territories and cut ties to Israel, with many also asking their schools to call for an immediate cease-fire.

Read more on the Israel-Hamas war:

• Israel is battling a regrouped Hamas in nort hern Gaza as the U.S. has issued some if its harshest criticism yet, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning that Israel has no plan to defeat the militant group. 
• Social media users are urging one another to block the social accounts of celebrities who have remained silent about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• As pro-Palestinian protesters clash with counter-protesters at U.S. colleges, among the most vocal defenders of Israel  are members of the Iranian-Jewish community.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham  compared Israel’s military operations to the U.S.  dropping atomic bombs on Japan in World War II, saying, “Israel, do whatever you have to do.”

Jury selection to begin in Sen. Bob Menendez bribery case in New York

Jury selection begins today in the federal criminal trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who has been charged with accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars” in bribes — including some in gold bars — in return for official acts. The indictment alleges that federal investigators found more than $480,000 in cash in his home stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe. 

The senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, has been charged as well, but she will stand trial at a later date because of a medical issue. The indictment alleges that Menendez and his wife received “gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle and other items of value,” such as jewelry and exercise equipment.

The federal criminal trial is the second that Menendez has faced since he was elected to the Senate in 2006. He was charged in 2015 with illegally accepting favors from a Florida eye doctor, including flights on a private jet, three nights at a five-star hotel in Paris and more than $750,000 in political contributions for him and the Democratic Party.

Steve Buscemi punched randomly while walking in New York City 

Actor Steve Buscemi was walking in midtown Manhattan in New York City last week when someone punched him in broad daylight.  He is known for his roles in the films “Fargo” and “Reservoir Dogs,” and was last seen on screen in the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” 

Police arrived to find Buscemi with bruising, swelling and bleeding in his left eye. He was stable when emergency services took him to a hospital. An investigation continues, police said, and no arrests have been made. The attack is the latest in a string of odd incidents in which New York City pedestrians — including several celebrities and influencers — have been attacked while walking on the street.

Politics in Brief

Exclusive: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said it’s up to the federal government to remedy its past infrastructure wrongs that have harmed valuable local communities, and a video on the subject, shared first with NBC News, highlights an initiative to help reconnect Philadelphia’s Chinatown, which was cut off by an expressway decades ago. 

Student loans: President Joe Biden has been proposing plans to reduce or erase student loan debts for millions of borrowers, but many have struggled to make sense of what all these initiatives mean for them about when debts will be forgiven.

GOP VP hopefuls: Vice presidential prospects JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, Elise Stefanik and Marjorie Taylor Greene are each trying to take a unique opportunity to try to appeal to Trump. 

Local elections: The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a suit that will determine the future of ballot drop boxes in the battleground state’s elections.

First on NBC: Biden’s campaign plans to host a fundraiser in Los Angeles next month with former President Barack Obama and Hollywood stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts , according to details first shared with NBC News. 

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Staff Pick: A toast to the aunts, aunties and tías

This Mother’s Day, the editors for NBC Asian America, NBC BLK, NBC Latino and NBC Out wanted to open up the field to celebrate the many people who take motherly roles in our lives. We got the idea for this project after a study from earlier this year showed aunts played an important role in supporting Black and Latino LGBTQ youth when they were in danger of becoming unhoused. That got us talking about the aunties, tías and ayis who are the pillars of our communities. We love them, we are them. So whether you’re the jet-setting wine aunt (me, aspiringly) or the family matriarch,  this one’s for you.

—  Joy Y. Wang,  senior editorial director

In Case You Missed It

•  WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is  working to capitalize on the rising interest  in the women’s game, but also recognizes the outrage over the pay dispartiy with the NBA. 
• Thomas Jefferson University is apologizing after the names of some graduates of the nursing program were unrecognizably pronounced at their commencement, as seen in videos from the ceremony that have since gone viral.
• Switzerland’s Nemo won Eurovision, becoming the first nonbinary winner in the song contest’s history.
• A missing person’s case from 1968 has finally been put to rest after authorities were able to identify remains that were discovered nearly 40 years ago. 
• A mysterious ailment causing fish in the Florida Keys to spin in circles and die has touched off a race to find the cause and save the endangered sawfish.
• Some people  will still be able to get a glimpse of the Auroras  in some areas of the U.S. into Tuesday. 

Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

 Though it may be satisfying to pop and pick at blackheads, experts say this only makes the problem worse. But  these blackhead treatments  will help get the job done.

  Sign up to The Selection  newsletter for exclusive reviews and shopping content from NBC Select.

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Katie Maloney Gives a New Look at the Something About Her Exterior Ahead of Its Opening

The  Vanderpump Rules  cast member is almost ready to open the doors of her and Ariana Madix's long-awaited sandwich shop. 

On the April 30 episode of   Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen ,  Katie Maloney  and  Ariana Madix  revealed that their long-awaited sandwich shop ,  Something About Her , is finally set to open on May 22. 

How to Watch

Watch Vanderpump Rules on Bravo Tuesdays at 8/7c and next day on  Peacock . Catch up on the Bravo app .  

After years of  permit issues,   staffing changes , and  menu tastings , the  Vanderpump Rules  co-owners were excited to share the news of their beloved business. In addition to their appearance at the Clubhouse, Katie took to her Instagram Stories on May 6 to revel in the anticipation around her business' fast-approaching opening date. The West Hollywood resident shared a photo of the Something About Her storefront, looking up at the shop's beautiful black-and-white sign and white lights. 

Here's What You May Have Missed on Bravo:

Below Deck's Dylan Explains *That* Vanderpump Rules Cameo with Katie Maloney

Lala Kent Comments on Seeing Sandoval Out with a “Tall Drink of Water on His Arm" at Events

Brock Davies Drops a Bombshell on Katie & Ariana’s Something About Her Drama with Penny

Though that was the only photo Katie shared, which gave us just a  small  peek at the exterior of the store, luckily she and Ariana gave BravoTV.com a tour of the space in the video you can watch above. In the video tour, Katie revealed it was " designed by Jon Hutman,  who is Nancy Meyers' production designer," adding, "That was the whole inspiration of this sandwich shop in general. We wanted it to feel like main-character energy in a rom-com."

Katie Maloney & Ariana Madix Reveal Exactly When Something About Her Will Open: "Finally"

Ariana explained, "We also wanted it to feel like us. We wanted it to feel very California yet European," to which Katie added, "California country meets European cafe." 

As Vanderpump Rules  fans saw on   Season 11, Episode 14, which aired on April 30, Ariana and Katie hired  Tom Sandoval 's former assistant Ann Maddox to work at Something About Her. On April 26,  Ann told  The Daily Dish  via email, "I am very excited about my new job at Something About Her. Ariana and Katie are the best bosses a girl can ask for! [I] can’t wait to 'break bread' with all the lovely fans of  VPR  at the sandwich shop. See you soon!"

Does Ann Maddox still work at Something About Her? 

In addition to our interview,  WWHL  host  Andy Cohen asked Katie and Ariana during the aforementioned April 30 episode about Ann's employment status. 

"We got some viewer questions wanting to know how Ann wound up becoming a Something About Her employee, and is she still working for the two of you?" he questioned. 

Ariana shared, "We actually just got a message from her the other day," and noted, "She's had another temporary job."

Watch the video above for a tour of Something About Her. 

RELATED:  Channel the Rom-Com Vibes of Vanderpump Rules' Something About Her Wth This Decor 

• Katie Maloney

Vanderpump Rules

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Dozens of Duke students walk out ahead of Jerry Seinfeld's commencement speech

DURHAM, N.C. -- Sunday was a big day for students like Victor.

"It's something that like it's been like a dream for me come true," he said.

Uwe is from Nigeria and is now graduating with his master's degree at Duke University with his son watching him walk.

"You know, when he sees his dad coming to Duke University, graduating from Duke University, he's going to feel empowered... He's going to feel energetic, you know, to do the same," he said.

Romina Sequeira said she also felt the weight of the moment walking as a first-generation college student.

"It's an accomplishment for my whole family and also for this class because everyone works really hard. So congratulations to Duke students," she said.

The commencement speaker, Jerry Seinfeld, brought mixed reactions as he took the podium. A few dozen students walked out of the ceremony, some carrying Palestinian flags while chanting "Free Palestine" that were later replaced with "Jerry, Jerry" chants from the crowd. Seinfeld has been vocal about his support for Israel.

As you might expect from the famed comedian, his speech was filled with jokes.

"You went to Duke, that is an unbelievable privilege. I now have an honorary doctorate, a humane letters degree from Duke University, and if I can figure out a way to use that, I will," Seinfeld said adding a piece of advice to graduates.

"Find something where you love the good parts and don't mind the bad parts too much. The torture you're comfortable with, this is the golden path to victory in life."

Ultimately, Seinfeld told students to work hard and keep their humor as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

ALSO SEE: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduation goes off with minor interruption

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