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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 5 · Starter · A1
Shopping at the supermarket
Find products, ask staff for help and get through the checkout.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
Where do you buy your food? What's on your shopping list this week?
Key phrase 1 of 8
Excuse me, where can I find the rice?
Ask where something is.
Key phrase 2 of 8
It's in aisle 7.
An aisle is a row in the supermarket.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Is this on special?
'On special' means at a lower price.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Do you have any more of these?
Ask if there's more stock.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Do you need a bag?
Bags usually cost extra, so many people bring their own.
Key phrase 6 of 8
I'll use the self-serve checkout.
Scan and pay yourself.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Can I get a refund?
Ask for your money back.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Have you got a rewards card?
Staff ask about loyalty cards.
Conversation
Staff and Juan
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Staff
Hi, can I help you find something?
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Staff: Hi, can I help you find something?
Juan
Yes, please. Where can I find the rice?
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Juan: Yes, please. Where can I find the rice?
Staff
It's in aisle 7, next to the pasta.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Staff: It's in aisle 7, next to the pasta.
Juan
Thanks. Is this coffee on special?
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Juan: Thanks. Is this coffee on special?
Staff
Yes, it's half price this week.
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Staff: Yes, it's half price this week.
Juan
Great, I'll take two.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Juan: Great, I'll take two.
Staff
Anything else?
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Staff: Anything else?
Juan
No, that's all. Thanks for your help.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Staff. Student B is Juan. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Excuse me, where can I find the bread?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Is this on special?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
No bag, thanks. I've got my own.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What is an 'aisle'?
- A A row of shelves
- B The checkout
- C A shopping bag
✓ A: Supermarkets have numbered aisles.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
'On special' means…
- A sold out
- B at a lower price
- C new
✓ B: Look for yellow or red 'special' tags.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
How do you ask where something is?
- A Where can I find the milk?
- B How much is the milk?
- C Do you need milk?
✓ A: 'Where can I find…?' is the most useful shop question.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
A refund is…
- A a discount card
- B your money back
- C a receipt
✓ B: Keep your receipt if you might need a refund.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
At the self-serve checkout, you…
- A wait for staff to scan
- B scan and pay yourself
- C pay later
✓ B: Staff are nearby if you need help.
Culture talk
How does this work in your country? Tell your partner.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.co/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.co
· englishcoaching.co
Teacher notes
Level: Starter · A1 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "Where do you buy your food? What's on your shopping list this week?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Staff and student B is Juan. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Staff is read by Mel and Juan by Josh. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Culture talk
End by asking learners how this works in their country. It's a natural way to practise the new phrases and to learn from each other.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Shopping at the supermarket. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 5: Shopping at the supermarket
Find products, ask staff for help and get through the checkout.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: aisle · checkout · find · need · refund · rewards · special · these
- Excuse me, where can I the rice? (Ask where something is)
- It's in 7. (An aisle is a row in the supermarket)
- Is this on ? ('On special' means at a lower price)
- Do you have any more of ? (Ask if there's more stock)
- Do you a bag? (Bags usually cost extra, so many people bring their own)
- I'll use the self-serve . (Scan and pay yourself)
- Can I get a ? (Ask for your money back)
- Have you got a card? (Staff ask about loyalty cards)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Staff: Hi, can I help you find ?
- Juan: Yes, . Where can I find the rice?
- Staff: It's in aisle 7, next to the .
- Juan: Thanks. Is this on special?
- Staff: Yes, it's half this week.
- Juan: Great, I'll two.
- Staff: Anything ?
- Juan: No, that's all. Thanks for your .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What is an 'aisle'?
a) A row of shelvesb) The checkoutc) A shopping bag
'On special' means…
a) sold outb) at a lower pricec) new
How do you ask where something is?
a) Where can I find the milk?b) How much is the milk?c) Do you need milk?
A refund is…
a) a discount cardb) your money backc) a receipt
At the self-serve checkout, you…
a) wait for staff to scanb) scan and pay yourselfc) pay later
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Excuse me, where can I find the bread?
- Is this on special?
- No bag, thanks. I've got my own.
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/shopping-at-the-supermarket/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 5: Shopping at the supermarket
A. Key phrases
- Excuse me, where can I find the rice?
- It's in aisle 7.
- Is this on special?
- Do you have any more of these?
- Do you need a bag?
- I'll use the self-serve checkout.
- Can I get a refund?
- Have you got a rewards card?
B. Conversation gaps
- something
- please
- pasta
- coffee
- price
- take
- else
- help
C. Quiz
- a) A row of shelves
- b) at a lower price
- a) Where can I find the milk?
- b) your money back
- b) scan and pay yourself
englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/shopping-at-the-supermarket/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach shopping at the supermarket to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Starter level, about CEFR A1. It is lesson 5 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/shopping-at-the-supermarket/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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