Your Turn
This time we listened to a fashion expert discuss how she treats outfit shopping as a discount treasure hunt. We also hear Alex and Liam discuss second-hand shopping, consumerism, and ways to bee more conscious about spending. In this session, you’ll be asked to share your views on the topics. You can use the arguments and expressions from the previous TED Talk and the dialog.
Do you practice conscious consumerism
* Some people enjoy shopping at thrift stores, while others think it’s overrated.
Do you ever buy second-hand goods
* Some people feel that consumerism stimulates the economy. How do you feel about it
* What can you do to become a more conscious consumer
Fashionistas suggest thrift store shopping to find unique items.
Some think that second-hand stores use unscrupulous business practices.
There are more one-of-a-kind items at thrift stores.
Second-hand shopping reduces the impact on the environment.
People save money thrift shopping because they can find extraordinary prices there.
Consumer spending will simulate economic growth.
One negative impact of consumerism is the excessive energy usage.
It puts too much pressure on our natural resources.
Businesses spend more in research and development compete with each other.
I think about being a conscious consumer day in and day out.
You should think about donating items to a good cause.
I’ve decided to lower my debt and raise my environmental awareness.
It takes dedication day in and day out.
Some people enjoy shopping at thrift stores, while others think it’s overrated. Do you every buy second-hand goods?
1. If you go to second-hand sores, what kinds of thing do you buy
2. Why do you choose second-hand stores
3. If you don’t, what’s stopping you
Sample Answer
*Paying full price is overrated. Fashionistas, stylists, and fashion-loving celebs love thrift shops, and so do I. When I go, it’s mostly to find unique outfits that no one else has. You can find things there that you’d never see anywhere else. In addition to clothes, you can also find one-of-a-kind accessories, art, and even furniture, al at extraordinary values. Second-hand shopping is the smart way to shop. It’s environmentally friendly and reduces the impact on my wallet too!
*I never go to second-hand stores. I don’t like heir unscrupulous business practices. They sell things for cheap, so people will go there and donate more, thinking it’s for a good cause. Most of the stuff gets bundled and sold overseas to needy people, but at prices much higher than their values. I think it’s unethical and the resources used on sorting and logistics make it environmentally unfriendly.
Some people think that consumerism stimulates the economy. How do you feel about it?
1. What are the advantages or disadvantages of consumerism
2. Does consumerism make goods cheaper and better
3. Is consumerism bad for the environment
Sample Answer
*When goods or services are demanded, businesses must work harder to produce things. This creates a never-ending cycle of buying and selling which allows the economy to grow. As we continue to buy, goods become safer, better, and cheaper. And consumerism stimulates economic growth. That means businesses continue to make investments in R&D to boost creativity and innovation.
* Consumerism puts too much pressure on natural resources and results in excessive energy use. I’ve even heard that consumerism encourages chemical usage, some of which are know to degrade the environment. Ultimately, it leads to net negative impacts on the planet.
What can you do to become a more conscious consumer?
Do you focus on good decision making when buying things
Do you think about how food and goods are made
Do you consider the environment when buying goods