M6: Speaking

Instructional Objective

You will be able to ask about prices and bargain the price at the market or shopping place

Video 1 : Buying and Selling

Watch the video and practice

Dialogue 1

Practice the dialogue bellow with your friend

Shopkeeper    : Good Afternoon. Has anyone helped you yet?
Customer       : No, not yet.
Shopkeeper    : What can I do for you?
Customer       : I’m looking for some socks.
Shopkeeper    : What kind of shocks?
Customer       : I’d like to buy some warm winter socks.
Shopkeeper    : I’m sorry all we have is thin dress socks.
Customer       : Do you know where i can buy winter socks?
Shopkeeper    : Yes, there’s an outdoor clothing store located on the third level.
Customer       : Oh, Ok. I’ll try there. Thanks for your help.
Shopkeeper    : You’re welcome.

(2nd shop)

Shopkeeper    : Hello!
Customer       : Hi!
Shopkeeper    : Can I help you something?
Customer       : Sure, I’m looking for a tie.
Shopkeeper    : Oh. All of our ties are in the middle aisle.
Customer       : Thank you!
Shopkeeper    : You’re welcome.
Customer       : Oh, by the way, are any of your ties on sale.
Shopkeeper    : Yes, all of our silk ties are on sale today.
Customer       : Oh! Do you have any thin ties? I prefer the thin style.
Shopkeeper    : Yes, we do. Although we don’t have many left. You will find
some located on the back rack.
Customer       : One more question. Do you have any solid color ties without any designs?
Shopkeeper    : No, I’m so sorry. We don’t. All of our solid colors have been sold.

Video 2 : At the market

Watch the video and practice

Dialogue 2

Practice the dialogue bellow with your friend

Seller               : Clocks, clocks for everyone! Watches and clocks!
Customer       : Excuse me, how much is this clock?
Seller               : For you, I could do that clock for 10 Pound.
Customer       : Ten Pound?
Seller               : Yeah, that’s right.
Customer       : Here you are.
Seller               : Thanks.
Customer       : Thank you.

(Scene 2)

Customer       : Excuse me, this clock doesn’t work.
Seller               : What’s wrong with it?
Customer       : Look!
Seller               : Oh, yeah. I see. Well, I could give you a different one.
Customer       : Can I have my money back?
Seller               : Your money back?! Well, as it’s broken, okay. Here you are.
Customer : Thanks.

Video 3 : Buying at a supermarket

Watch the video and practice

Dialogue 3

Practice the dialogue bellow with your friend

Customer       : Hey, I wanted to buy oats. Can you help me out?
Shopkeeper    : Sure Sir. Which brand are you looking for?
Customer       : I’m looking for Kellogs. On which counter will i find it?
Shopkeeper    : It’s counter three. It’s at the back, near the dairy section
Customer       : Thanks. Will i find the other brands on the same counter?
Shopkeeper    : Yes! We have all the major brands displayed there.
Customer       : Okay. Thanks for your help!
Shopkeeper    : You’re welcome.

(scene 2)

Customer       : Hi. I got some stuff and now I’m wondering. Do you take credit cards?
Cashier           : Yes Sir. We do.
Customer       : Do you accept cards from all banks?
Cashier           : Yes Sir. Any American Bank would do.
Customer       : I have a Citibank credit card.
Cashier           : That would be fine, Sir. Can I have your card to swipe?
Customer       : Sure. Here it is.

(scene 3)

Customer       : I have a loyalty card from here. Will that grant me any discount?
Cashier           : Yes, Sir. It will get you 5% off on the total purchase.
Customer       : Can I club it with another discount card?
Cashier           : No, Sir. I’m sorry, That’s not allowed.
Customer       : Ok. That’s not a problem. Is it going to get me loyalty points too?
Cashier           : Yes, Sir. Every time you pay with it. You get some points which you can redeem later on.
Customer       : That’s great. Thanks for the information. I didn’t know that.

Dialogue 4 : Negotiating a Better Price

Practice the dialogue with your partner

Practice a dialogue between a seller and a customer negotiating the purchase of vegetables and fruits at a traditional market:

Seller: Good morning! Welcome to our market. How can I assist you today?

Customer: Good morning! I’m looking to buy some fresh vegetables and fruits for the week.

Seller: Wonderful! We have a variety of options available. What are you interested in?

Customer: I’m interested in buying some tomatoes, carrots, apples, and bananas. Could you show me what you have?

Seller: Absolutely! Here are our tomatoes. They’re fresh from the farm. For these, it’s 30.000 rupiah per kilogram.

Customer: Hmm, that sounds reasonable. I’ll take two kilograms, please.

Seller: Great choice! Here you go. Now, for the carrots, they’re 20.000 rupiah per bunch.

Customer: Could I get two bunches for 30.000 rupiah?

Seller: I can offer you a discount and give you two bunches for 35.000 rupiah.

Customer: Alright, that works for me. Thank you.

Seller: My pleasure. Now, let’s move on to the fruits. Here are our apples. They’re 45.000 rupiah per kilogram.

Customer: I see. Can I try these apples? Are they sweet?

Seller: Of course! Here, have a taste. They’re freshly picked from the orchard nearby.

Customer: Mmm, delicious! I’ll take one kilogram, please.

Seller: Perfect! And finally, we have our bananas. They’re 18.000 rupiah per bunch.

Customer: I’ll take two bunches, please.

Seller: Sure thing! That’ll be 153.000 rupiah.

Customer: Here you go.

Seller: Thank you very much. Here are your vegetables and fruits. Is there anything else you need?

Customer: No, thank you. I’m all set for now.

Seller: Alright then, have a wonderful day and thank you for choosing us!

Customer: Thank you. Same to you!

More practice you can explore these links:

  1. Grocery Store – English Conversation
  2. Sales English – Sales English Conversations
  3. At the shop
  4. Shopping for clothes and shoes
  5. Find Someone Who
  6. Spoken English: Supermarket
  7. How to Go Shopping in English