Consumer Decisions ESL Lesson Plan

OBJECTIVE & OVERVIEW

This consumer decisions ESL lesson plan contains PDF worksheets, activities, and digital materials for advanced C1 students. By the end of the lesson, students will learn and be able to use vocabulary based on impulse buying, consumer decisions, and shopping. They will also be able to set up a new store concept and use a variety of advanced adjectives to describe different aspects of the store.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

This ESL lesson on consumer decisions starts with students exploring certain factors that impact consumer decisions, such as store layout, product display, and store ambiance. Then, students discuss a few questions about impulse buying. There are a few topics about consumer behavior for students to express whether they agree or disagree. There is also a section for students to make some predictions about the video information.

VIDEO & LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Students proceed to watch a short informational from Vox about the furniture retail giant, IKEA. In the video, a reporter and creative store director of IKEA discuss unplanned purchases and impulse buying when shopping. They mention the influence of store design on consumer behavior. The design includes store layout, lighting, and technology to encourage more spending. 

In the listening comprehension sections, students answer a question about the "Gruen Effect", as well as complete a mind map with information about IKEA. The final section features some sentences for students to complete, which refer back to their predictions in the preview part of the lesson. 

DISCUSSION & VOCABULARY

After watching the video, students discuss a few questions about the video and IKEA's strategies for getting consumers to buy more. The second activity has students look at some different store layouts/floor plans discussed in the video. Students should match the type of layout with the images. Then, there are some adjectives for students to describe other aspects of a store, including:

• Lighting/Ambiance
• Music
• Technology Integration
• Product Displays

STORE CONCEPT: SET-UP & PRESENTATION

The featured communicative activity in this lesson plan has students imagine they are creative directors of a new store, and they must set up and design the new store. They can choose the kind of store they want. They are responsible for organizing aspects like lighting, music, layout, displays, all in order to attract customers and boost spending. They present their ideas to receive feedback from a "boss / CEO" (another student or teacher). 

Benefits of using this ESL lesson plan on consumer decisions and buying:

Critical Thinking: The lesson encourages critical thinking and analysis as students discuss the factors that influence consumer decisions and reflect on their own shopping behavior.

Speaking & Presentation Skills: The planned activity promotes speaking and presentation skills as students pitch their store design ideas to a "CEO" or their peers.

Creativity: The activity stimulates creativity and problem-solving as students brainstorm and design a store to attract customers.