Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 28

LOWER INTERMEDIATE SALON 28

FASHION IN THE WORKPLACE

Aims
1. To revise vocabulary and to decide if certain words are verbs or nouns
2. To develop reading for detail
3. To practise speaking and listening by exchanging points of view

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Preparation
- Copies of worksheet ‘Fashion in the workplace’ (p3)
- Copies of worksheet ‘Clothes and fashion discussion’ (p4)

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Procedure

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Lead-in: Elicit opinions about dressing for work e.g. Do Chinese people usually dress smartly for
work? Tell the student(s) that in this lesson they are going to read and talk about fashion in the

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workplace.

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Main Activity: Fashion in the workplace activity:

1. Divide the group into pairs. Handout copies of the worksheet and refer to the instructions for
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section 1. Check comprehension. Set a time for task completion (5 minutes) in which the pairs
should compare whether they think the items of clothing are formal, informal or both. In one-to-
one classes teacher and student can work as a pair.
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2. Check task results by inviting random students to give examples of their findings e.g. a ‘long
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dress’ may be formal but a ‘light summer dress’ may be informal; jeans can be smart or casual; a
suit may be very formal etc
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Suggested answers:

• Formal: suit /tie / smart jacket

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• Informal: jeans / T-shirt / casual jacket / sweatshirt

• Both: skirt / dress / trousers
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3. Tell the student(s) that they are going to read an extract from a report. Refer to the instructions
for section 2 and check the meaning of ‘scan’. Explain to the student(s) that scanning is a useful
reading skill as reading every word isn’t always necessary. Conduct a quick survey of student
guesses before the reading task. Allocate reading time in which the student(s) should scan the
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first paragraph to check their answers. (2 minutes)

Answers: a) 68% b) 75% c) 57%

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4. Instruct the student(s) to read the article. Set task completion time (5-10 minutes). Circulate
and assist with vocabulary where necessary.

5. Refer to the question in section 3. Ask the student(s) to describe the job of an ‘image
consultant’. (To give advice to people on how to dress and present themselves e.g. to dress
smartly).

6. Refer to the instructions for section 4 and have the students work in pairs to complete the task
– allocate a time limit. In one-to-one classes, have the student work on an individual basis to

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 28

complete the task. The student(s) should mark the words from the article N (noun), V (verb) or
N/V (noun and verb). If appropriate, reinforce the vocabulary by asking the student(s) to create
sentences about their companies or companies they would like to work for using some of the
words.
Answers:
• N/V = survey / present / coach / interview / dress / boost / signal
• N = promotion / advice / consultant / recruiter / success
• V = invest / impress

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Wind-Down - Clothes and fashion discussion:

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1. Refer to the instructions and encourage a whole group discussion or pair work. Monitor for the
use of opinions, agreeing and disagreeing language.

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2. In the case of pair work, invite random students to report their discussion to the whole group.

3. Conduct a short feedback slot summarising discussion outcomes and highlighting the use of

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target language.

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 28

FASHION IN THE WORKPLACE – WORKSHEET

A survey reported that what you wear in the workplace can be important for your salary and your
career

1. Are these items of clothing usually formal, informal or both? Compare your answers with a
partner

a suit a tie jeans a smart jacket trousers

a dress a skirt a casual jacket a T-shirt a sweatshirt

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2. Look at the extract from a report and guess the correct figures. Scan paragraph 1 to check
your answers

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a) 68% / 86% of people believe how you dress can help you get promoted
b) 50% / 75% of recruiters think that how you dress influences your job and salary
c) 57% / 25% of people are happy to buy a new set of clothes for an interview

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Dress to impress

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How important is fashion in the workplace? A survey about dress code in the office confirms that
what you wear is very important. 68% of interviewees believe that how employees dress at work
affects their chances of promotion. 75% of recruiters think that how you dress for work affects
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your job and salary. Imagine you are going to an important interview. Do you buy a new outfit?
Over half (57%) of people who took part in the survey would buy a completely new wardrobe.
Similarly, people ‘dress to impress’ in order to get that dreamed-of promotion.
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Clearly, how you present yourself sends signals about your attitude to work. Do you present
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yourself smartly – tidy hair, clean nails? There are ‘career coaches’ willing to charge you a fee for
advice on fashion at work. The best advice from these ‘image consultants’ is: take care how you
dress.
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Think about investing in high-quality clothing – such as a smart jacket. Conservative styles are
always best. The biggest crime for men seems to be wearing jackets and trousers which are too
long; and for women – a skirt or trousers that are too tight.
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Yahoo! ran a survey and discovered that 82% of those questioned are employed in less formal
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workplaces where it is sometimes difficult to decide what is appropriate: ‘smart casual’? A suit or
jeans? Overdressing seems to be better than dressing down and even in a casual culture it pays
to look professional. That means – no torn jeans! In a more formal, corporate environment, a
casual suit is simply not appropriate. However, in a creative environment you can afford to
dress…creatively. For men that might mean matching a jacket with jeans, and for women, clever
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use of accessories such as jewellery or an eye-catching handbag. So the answer is: ‘Dress for
success’. Dressing well can, it seems, give you confidence and boost your self-esteem.
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3. Read the whole article. What kind of advice do ‘image consultants’ offer about dress in the
workplace?

4. Mark the following words from the article N (noun), V (verb) or N/V (both a noun and a verb)

survey present promotion advice coach interview invest

consultant recruiter dress boost impress success signal

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 28

CLOTHES AND FASHION - DISCUSSION

Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups. Prepare to report your findings to the
class. Try to use language for agreeing, disagreeing, asking for and giving opinions.

1. Have you ever had to wear a uniform? Who do you think should wear a uniform and why?

2. Is there a ‘dress code’ in your school / company? If yes, what is it? Do you follow it?

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3. How important do you think dress is for work? Do you think it influences salary and
promotion?

4. Can you give any advice like the ideas given by the ‘image consultants’ in the article?

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5. Do you follow fashion trends? Why do you think fashion is important to some people?

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6. How long does it take you to decide what to wear when you get dressed?

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7. What would you never wear? Why?

8. Have you ever been to a fancy dress party? Who did you go as? What did you wear? (If
you have never been to a fancy dress party, who or what would you go as and why?)

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9. How have clothes changed in your country over the last 20 years?
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CLOTHES AND FASHION - DISCUSSION
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Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups. Prepare to report your findings to the
class. Try to use language for agreeing, disagreeing, asking for and giving opinions.
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1. Have you ever had to wear a uniform? Who do you think should wear a uniform and why?

2. Is there a ‘dress code’ in your school / company? If yes, what is it? Do you follow it?
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3. How important do you think dress is for work? Do you think it influences salary and
promotion?
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4. Can you give any advice like the ideas given by the ‘image consultants’ in the article?

5. Do you follow fashion trends? Why do you think fashion is important to some people?
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6. How long does it take you to decide what to wear when you get dressed?

7. What would you never wear? Why?

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8. Have you ever been to a fancy dress party? Who did you go as? What did you wear? (If
you have never been to a fancy dress party, who or what would you go as and why?)

9. How have clothes changed in your country over the last 20 years?

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 28

Student Preparation Sheet

Write down 3 types of clothing or footwear you can wear:

1. on your upper-body;

2. on your lower-body;

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3. on your feet.

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