English as a Foreign Language for B2 students. Topic: Fashion, physical appearance, urban tribes... Linguistic contents: conjuctions, word formation and common writing mistakes. All the resources are mentioned in the bibliography.

1. Are you in?
Fashion and appearance
by Isabel Pascual

2. Listening
Watch a short scene from Sex and the City 2 and listen carefully to what they say.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZS1lkvaW6w
a. When did Carrie arrive in New York?
b. Which exact part of NY did she arrive in?
c. Besides “taxi”, what is the other word Carrie uses to try to stop the taxi?
d. Where did she meet Charlotte?
e. When did she meet Miranda?
f. What did Samatha do for a living in the 80's?
g. And finally, which colour are Carrie's shoes? Can you name the designer?
Speaking
1. According to the clip you just watched, how many differences can you find between
the 80's and the 00's? What decade do you prefer?

3. Reading & Use of English
The importance of getting your
appearance in order
Putting more thought into your appearance is one of the easiest ways to improve your
social prospects and the way people see you. It falls under the broader category of
non-verbal communication. Unless you're really likable as a person, a lot of people will
have a hard time looking past a sloppy exterior. And why not live up to your
appearance's full potential?
Most people are pretty superficial and mentally lazy when they size others up. If you
look like you have your act together, they can't help but assume you really do. The
opposite is true too, if you don't look all that great, people will attribute all kinds of
negative traits to you. But clean up your look, and suddenly you don't seem so bad,
and they're more willing to give you a chance, even though you're the same person
deep down.
This article is about the kinds of good grooming and dressing that cuts across all social
groups and identities. Sometimes certain ways of dressing or styling yourself are
central to a group you belong to. I'm not saying everyone has to adopt a standardized
'fashionable' uniform. I'm more talking about just looking the best you can, whatever
your scene is, and not selling yourself short.
For some people improving their appearance can have a drastic effect on their social
lives. As an example, several times I've heard anecdotes from people regarding the
impact of losing a lot of weight. Rightly or wrongly, when they got in better shape
everyone started treating them much, much better. They realized:
For years I couldn't seem to get anywhere with people, even though I
considered myself someone who made an effort to be personable and
friendly and try to get to know everyone. I got pretty depressed and
wondered what was wrong with me. Then I lost the weight, and it became
clear that my only problem in the past was that I was fat, and people
weren't giving me a chance because of it. Now they suddenly think I'm
likable and worth knowing, even though I'm the same person.
I won't lie, stories like that can make you lose faith in your fellow man, but it does
drive home how much outward appearances play a role in social situations.
1. According to the context, what do you think the underlined words mean?
2. Now, fill in the gaps with the missing word.

4. The two levels of improving your look
When I talk about looking better, there are two degrees of this. The first is to just get
yourself looking half-decent and eliminate any blatant appearance-related mistakes.
I'd have a hard time arguing that someone shouldn't at least do this. There aren't any
downsides at all to it.
The second level would be to put the effort into becoming more fashionable than
average. There are a lot of benefits to doing this, but it takes more work. You have to
learn about clothes and style, devote more time to shopping, and possibly spend more
money.
You can read further in: http://www.succeedsocially.com/lookbetter
Speaking & Vocabulary
Are you shopaholic?
1. Are you shopaholic? Say how true these statements are for you: 1 is not true, 5 is
very true.
1 2 3 4 5
1. I never feel like I have enough clothes.
2. When I see people with really nice things, I want to have them or go
shopping for them.
3. I always need to have the best products available.
4. When I am upset, I calm down by shopping.
5. I never know where all my savings go.
6. I spend more money on myself than anything else.
7. I try to find confidence in how I look.
8. What people say about how I look really affects me.
9. I am ashamed if people see me when I'm not looking my best.
10. I can't put a limit on what I spend.
2. Work with a group to examine the results. Are there any patterns?
3. Work with a partner to define what you imagine to be the characteristics of a
male shopper and the characteristics of a female shopper. Share your results
with the class.

5. First thoughts & Vocabulary
1. Can you match these names of teenage/urban cults to the photographs? Which
do you know?
Skinheads Goths Hippies Punks
Mods Emos Chavs Skaters
2. Why do you think people need to belong to an urban tribe? When did they
appear?
3. Can you tell anything on these points for the cultures above?
· clothes · jewellery ·make up ·philosophy
·origins ·influences · interests

6. Reading
You are going to read a magazine article about Teenage Cults. Choose the most
suitable heading from the list A-H for each part (1-6) of the article. There is one extra
heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning.
A The teenage idol theory
B The class theory
C The drug culture theory
D The capitalist domination theory
E The negativity theory
F The global village theory
G The reaction theory
H The technology theory
Understanding Teenage Cults
Ever since the early 1950s there have been attempts to explain why youth cults
happen. None of them has been entirely convincing.
0: G
Teenagers want to show how different they are from their parents and, perhaps
more importantly, their older brothers and sisters. If the last fashion had long hair and
wide trousers, then the next one will have short hair and narrow trousers. There seems
to be a lot of truth in this.
1: ___
Because of films, records, television and radio, teenagers ara aware of what
their contemporaries are doing all around th English-speaking world. Almost as soon
as there were hippies in San Francisco, we had them too. A problem with this theory is
that the time has to be right for a style to be adopted. The main influence on teenagers
remains their friends.
2: ___
Teenagers imitate the people they look up to, chiefly film stars and pop
performers. When David Bowie used eye shadow, so did many of his male fans.

7. However, this only succeeds if the pop star is in tune with the way youth culture is
already going.
3: ___
Many developments in teenage culture were possible only because of new
technology. Electric guitars plus amplification meant you could have pop groups and
pop festivals. The transistor radio made pop music inevitable.
4: ___
This theory suggests that the nature of a youth cult is determined by the drugs
that it takes. Speed (amphetamine) equals aggression and energy -think of punks and
skinheads. Pot (cannabis) equals relaxation and mysticism - think of hippies. Even
'ordinary' society has its drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine, coffee, etc. But maybe the
style came before the drug.
5: ___
Youth culture happened because commerce understood that teenagers had
money to spend and worked out ways of making them buy more records, clothes and
concert tickets. This does not account for cults that were anti-consumerist like the
punks and hippies.
6: ___
This is a sophisticated left-wing theory. Youth cults assert the solidarity of young
people who are victimized by society. Skinheads take aspects of working class culture
to an extreme. They almost enjoy people looking down on them.
There is no simple explanation. My own
research points to these general observations.
Firstly, cults don't arrive fully-formed, flourish
and then die. They are constantly changing and
their message evolving. Secondly, teenagers only
join a cult if it feels right, but most kids want to
be something and cults give them something to
be.
Speaking
1. Which theory do you agree to? Could they be combined? Discuss with the group.

8. Language study
Conjuctions
Conjunctions are used to join verbs, adjectives or parts of a sentence together. Choose
the most appropriate conjunction, A, B or C, to complete the following sentences. The
sentences must agree with the sense of the article you have just read.
1. Teenagers want to show they're different … they react against their families
A. because B. but C. so
2. … do they react against their parents but against older brothers and sisters too.
A. Also B. Not only C. And
3. Young people know what's going on … communications are so good.
A. yet B. since C. so
4. … they are able to copy each other
A. Even so B. As well C. That's why
5. … teenagers copy pop idols, the stars have to understand what the young really
want.
A. As well as B. Because C. For
6. Pop music is popular … modern technology.
A. thanks B. because C. due to
7. There are other drugs … alcohol and nicotine.
A. as well as B. too C. besides
8. Businessmen invented youth cults … to exploit the young.
A. in order B. therefore C. also
9. …, this does not explain cults such as the punks.
A. In addition B. Nevertheless C. Therefore
10. Skinheads feel victimised by society. …, they form a culture of their own.
A. Consequently B. In order to C. And
Gossip Girl

9. Writing
Teenagers not only need help in fashion and style, but also in writing essays. Correct
the mistakes in the text below.
Although almost all people know drugs are dangerous
and can ruin them, there are many people who have
addicted them.
Some people have them because drugs makes them
feel good. There are other people who have drugs
because they feel alone or they want to escape from
they problem and unsatisfied situation.
It is said that there is no solution to the drug problem.
But even so, there are many things we can do to stop
the use of drugs. According to me, the government
should punished people who sell drugs severe.
Moreover, they should warn people how dangerous
drugs are and how do they harm people.
In adittion to this, the government would build a lot of
hospitals for people who are addicts. On the whole, I
think people should think about this problem much
more and try to improve the situation.

10. Use of English
1. Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals al the end of each line to form a
word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example at the beginning.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways of keeping depression away. It
improves your body and your mind and ___________ you to perform
better in the work place and at home.
Proper ___________ is essential if you want to gent the most from
exercise wand you should also take into ___________ your heart rate.
It can be _________ to do too much, which is why all good fitness
instructors emphasise the __________ of 'listening to your body'.
When you first start you should use good ____________ because it's
easy to make the mistake of using the equipment _____________ or
doing too much at one time. Start slowly and build up gradually.
Exercise should not be seen as a ____________ task; it can be as easy
as a quick walk. To increase your fitness __________, exercise for 20
minutes a day, 4 to 6 times a week and you will notice a ___________
in your body and mind in a few weeks.
DEPRESSED
ABLE
BREATH
CONSIDER
HARM
IMPORTANT
JUDGE
CORRECT
DEMAND
STEADY
DIFFERENT
2. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one
word in each space. There is an example at the beginning.
Vegetarianism
Vegetarians don't eat any meat, fish or poultry, and they avoid foods with animal
products in them. Some people avoid red meat but they include chicken and fish ___
their diet. These are often people who recognize _____ health benefits of a vegetarian
diet, but find they can't ______ up meat completely. This half-way position is
sometimes taken by people who are making the change ____ a completely vegetarian
diet. Vegans go one step further _____ other vegetarians, avoiding all foods of animal
origin, such as dairy produce, eggs and honey.

11. Vegetarians are growing in number. ____ estimated seven per cent of British people are
now vegetarian, and there are a _______ many others who only eat meat occasionally.
In the ____ few years, food manufacturers have expanded their vegetarian ranges, and
it has __________ a lot easier to choose an animal-free diet. Many restaurants also now
offer a wide variety ____ vegetarian dishes.
People might choose a vegetarian diet ____ moral or health reasons, ____ both. Some
vegetarians simply don't like the idea of eating other creatures, and they may dislike
the conditions in _______ many animals are kept before _________ killed for food.
Others may have become vegetarians ____________ of health benefits.
Speaking
Discuss with your fellow students: Do you think that a healthy way of living is a
matter of fashion? What's the importance of exercise and diet in daily appearance? Do
you think that self-consciousness plays a role in what concerns to physical appearance
and psychological wellness?
Listening
Watch this video taken out of Smarter than a 5th
grader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cey35bBWXls
1. Which joke does the showman play to the contestant?
2. Which answer did she want to say? Was it right? Why?
3. What's the correct answer? Why is she surprised? Does “homophony” happen with
another country?
4. What colour is the contestant's hair?
5. After all this, do you really think that physical appearance is related to psycological
skills? Are there any topics? Explain them to your fellow students.

12. Are you in?
Key to the exercises
Listening
a. 3,30 pm, Tuesday, June 11, 1986.
b. She arrived in Manhattan (the island).
c. “Cab”.
d. On a subway car (underground) at 2am.
e. They met in 1989.
f. She was a bartender, a waitress.
g. They are glitter-gold shoes.
Use of English
The two levels of improving your look
When I talk about looking better, there are two degrees of this. The first is to just get
yourself looking half-decent and eliminate any blatant appearance-related mistakes.
I'd have a hard time arguing that someone shouldn't at least do this. There aren't any
downsides at all to it.
The second level would be to put the effort into becoming more fashionable than
average. There are a lot of benefits to doing this, but it takes more work. You have to
learn about clothes and style, devote more time to shopping, and possibly spend more
money.
Reading
1: F, 2: A, 3: H, 4:C, 5: D, 6: B
Language study - conjunctions
1: C, 2: B, 3: B, 4: C, 5: B, 6: C, 7: C, 8: A, 9:B, 10:A

13. Writing – correct the mistakes
Use of English
Exercise
1. enables
2. breathing
3. consideration
4. harmful
5. importance
6. judgement
7. incorrectly
8. demanding
9. steadily
10. difference

14. Vegetarianism
1. in
2. the
3. give
4. to
5. than
6. an
7. great
8. last
9. become
10. of
11. for
12. or
13. which
14. being
15. because
Listening
1. He jokes with her being a woman.
2. She would have said “France”. It would have been wrong, because Budapest is the
capital of Hungary. The capital of France is Paris.
3. The correct answer is Hungary. Se is surprised because this country sounds like
“hungry”, which means someone wants to eat (like “starving”, but not so strong).
Homophony also happens with Turkey, which is a country and also a meal that people
in the States use to cook for Thanks Giving.
4. She's blond.
5. There are some topics concerning blond women.

15. Bibliography and resources
Besides the links displayed on the worksheets (listenings), these are the resources from
which the materials have been taken of:
• NAUNTON, Jon (1996). Think First Certificate. Longman.
◦ ISBN 0-582-27628-4
• HARRISON & KERR (1996). First Certificate Practice tests. Oxford U. P.
◦ 0-19-453311-5
• Different Authors (2009). C1-Advanced English 3. EF.
◦ ISBN 978-3-03758-079-0
• http://www.succeedsocially.com/lookbetter