English for department store staff

[Ritter]

Karstadt class Tue April 21st:
- focus on short dialogues between customer and shop assistant
- Expressions and phrases like: How can I help you ? It's over there! You're welcome! Sorry, we haven't got any...
- some/any, directions and prepositions of place, price enquiries
most students pick up new words and phrases really well

[L]

Karstadt class Wed April 22:

Today we did something new: we went on location to the children's department (trainer +3 participants) and practiced what we've learned so far. It was interesting but quite difficult because they felt more under pressure. We will repeat this exercise with other groups in the future to make sure that they are really effective in real-life situations.
Prior to that we did a general review:
-Numbers and prices
-Alphabet
-Directions
-Customer/salesperson dialogues

[Ritter]

Karstadt class on Apr 28:

We focussed on roleplay exercises. I made everyone write down a product
from his/her dept and give it to his/her desk neighbour. We then practised
asking for a specific item
and serving the customer accordingly - Shopping dialogue from "How can I help
you ? - to "Here's your change" and
"Have a nice Day". Revision of directions.

[Ritter]

Karstadt class on Apr 29:
basic adjectives and comparatives, practise of phrases like: it looks good on you
have and have got, departments and their products (extend list of product names)
negative: we don't have/haven't got .... (e.g. nappies)
directions (it's over there)
specific vocabulary (e.g. brand)

[Torsten]

Dear El and Stefan,

Thanks a lot for your great work with the Karstadt groups. I'm sure have been able to engage everyone in speaking activities using pattern drill exercises and make them repeat specific phrases. El, I think it is an excellent idea to actually go to the different departments and practice the language with tangible objects on site, so to speak. You can also try to use objects and have the learners describe them (shape, dimensions, materials, colors, textures, features, advantages, benefits, etc.)
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Ritter]

Karstadt group on May 5th 2009
Today's lesson was all about fashion - First we looked at clothing items and worked out a vocabulary list (incl. words like loose/tight), then we practised standard phrases, difference beween match/suit/fit as a verb for German "passen" we extended our roleplay exercises further, much/many, short answers

[L]

Karstadt class Wed May 6:
-Numbers and prices
-Adjectives and comparatives
-Product description using adjectives and comparatives
-On-location workshop (women's fashion) with 2 participants
-Vocabulary puzzle

[RimcMullen]

Are there any textbooks for EFL learners specifically aimed at retail employees? I would be interested in to know about catering for hotels/restaurants too.

[Ritter]

Karstadt class May 12th 2009:
revision on fashion matters, patterns, materials and shapes, sizes
sales dialogues especially for electronics/home entertainment dept
specific vocabulary and questions to ask, e.g. about technical features
(e.g. in-built digital receiver, what size memory are you looking for ?)
presenting benefits and selling points
There is a text book called "shopping matters" which I find quite useful
(Cornelsen)

[L]

Karstadt class May 13th 2009:
-Numbers and prices
-Greetings
-Question words
-Directions
-Dialogues
-On location workshop with 2 participants

[L]

Karstadt class May 20:
-Adjectives and comparatives
-Descriptions using adj., comp. and personal objects (bag, clothing items..)
-Dialogues
-Numbers
-Alphabet
-Question words

[Ritter]

Karstadt class May 19th, problem-solving:
return of a product to the store,
apologies,
time expressions (practising ago)
present perfect (when have you bought it?)
warranty
role-play with examples taken from history of students

[Ritter]

Karstadt class May 27th
revision of all the stuff:
introducing oneself,
basics for serving customer,
comparatives,
directions,
problem solving

[Ritter]

Karstadt May 28th, Beginner's class:
there were only a few students (due to industrial action)
recap of basic stuff: describing items,
comparative statements,
clothing items,
basic shopping dialogue and directions