◄UNIT 3: HOLIDAY ACTIVITIESUNIT 5: BOOKS AND SCHOOL WORK HABITS►

UNIT 4: CLOTHES AND FASHION

  • UNIT 4: CLOTHES AND FASHION

    A. Listening and speaking

    Introduction
    Divide yourselves into groups of five and then study and discuss the following
    pictures. Describe the clothes worn in each picture. What determines the clothes that
    one wears?
                      
    Name and describe these clothes. Talk about their colour, length, material, pattern and shape
                       
    1. Working in your groups, carry out research on materials used to make clothes. For
        each material, identify the advantages and disadvantages. You may use the library or
        the internet if you are connected to it.
    2. What are the opportunities found in the clothing industry?
    3. Discuss the following and then answer the questions that follow.
        a) List five clothing items you know.
         b) Mention the materials these clothing items are made of. For example, cotton, leather, linen, etc.
         c) Identify different situations that require a certain manner of dressing.
         d) Give reasons for each of the situations you have mentioned above requires that specific kind of dressing
    Working in your groups, read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.

    Before I leave the house, I take a moment to consider what to wear. If it is a normal school
    day, I must put on my school uniform. However, everything changes during the holidays.
    If it is cold, I put on a heavy jacket, coat or cardigan. If it is drizzling, I wear a raincoat and
    gumboots. I wear light clothing on a sunny day.
     
    Therefore, the occasion and weather determine what I wear. The occasion can be formal
    or informal. If it is formal, I wear a formal dress like a suit. An example of a formal occasion
    is an interview. Some people wear suits during a wedding. A suit is a formal dress. If it is
    informal, my clothing will be casual. Informal occasions include sports days and parties.

    Many people wear cultural dresses during traditional ceremonies. Women wear long
    flowing silk gowns mostly in blue and white colours. Men wear white vests and loose
    fitting wrappers tied around the waist. They also wear headgear.

    1. What does the writer consider when choosing what to wear?
    2. What does the writer wear during school days?
    3. Why does the writer’s choice of clothes change during the holidays?
    Discussion
    1. In your group, discuss what you would wear,
        a) in school;
        b) during your friend’s birthday party;
        c) in your place of worship;
    2. Why do the President and Members of Parliament wear suits to Parliament?

    Answer the following questions. Your answers should be in complete sentences. For
    example:

    Question: What are you wearing?
    Answer: I am wearing a navy blue pair of trousers, a light blue shirt and black shoes.
                  or
                  I am wearing a black skirt, a white blouse and brown shoes.
           1. What is your friend wearing?
           2. What is your English teacher wearing?
           3. What do you wear when it is cold?
           4. What are you wearing now that it is sunny?
           5. What is the head teacher wearing?

    Role-play
    Practise reading the following conversation in pairs. Take turns to play the two roles.

    Seller:Welcome to my shop. We sell women’s wear, men’s wear, and children’s wear,
               both formal and casual wear. All you need to look smart. What can I offer you?
    Customer: I need some casual wear, something that would shield me from the cold.
    Seller: In that case, this brown sweater will be perfect. It will cost you 20,000 RWF
                only. Unless you are thinking of something else, maybe a different colour?
    Customer: As you can see, I am wearing a cream blouse. It would match with this brown
                      sweater. However,your price is quite high ...
    Seller :Not at all madam ... here, feel the material. It is soft, pure wool; high quality.
               Actually, our prices are quite low. Take this green floral dress, for example; it is
               22,000 RWF only. Where else would you get such a price for a hot weather
               dress? Besides, I will give you a discount.

    1. What is the customer wearing?
    2. What colour is the sweater?
    3. What material is the sweater made of?
    4. Which reasons does the seller give for charging a high price?

    Debate
    Start by discussing the topic below. Write down all the possible points either for or against
    the topic. Your teacher will then divide you into two groups. One group should propose
    the motion while the other opposes it.
            “School uniform for primary and secondary school pupils should be abolished”.
             Appoint a secretary for each group to summarise the points raised. The secretary should
    present these points to the class to determine the winners of the motion.

    B. Reading and comprehension

    Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

    Dressing for an interview
    Our clothes say a lot about us. People form an impression about us depending on what we        
    are wearing. How are you supposed to dress for an interview?                                       
           If you are a man, dress in a manner that is professionally
    appropriate. Generally, this means wearing a suit. It is wrong to
    “dress down”. Wear a clean shirt, a tie and matching socks. A neat
    dark-coloured suit with a light, well-pressed coloured shirt is your
    best option.
            Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well. Avoid loud colours and flashy ties.






          Bathe on the morning of the interview. Wear a deodorant. Don’t wear a cologne or an
    aftershave. The scent might be overpowering or worse, cause an
    allergic reaction. Brush your teeth and ensure your hair is neat. If   
    you have a full beard or moustache, trim it.
           Your shoes should be well polished, in good condition, and should match your belt.
           
           If you are a woman, wear a suit with a skirt or decent official
    trousers. Your suit should be simple and comfortable. It should fit you well. If your waistband is cutting you in half, you won’t look good.
     
             Avoid tight, bright or short suits. Choose a knee-length skirt.
    Wear a conservative blouse with your suit. Avoid bright colours,
    animal prints, or anything lacy or low-cut.
             Be careful how you wear makeup. Wear shades that are neutral to your skin tone. Avoid bright or unusual colours or very long nails.
             Keep your jewellery and hair accessories to a minimum. Avoid flashy, distracting or
    shiny accessories.
            Wear low-heeled official shoes that are in good condition.
           Your hair should be neat, clean and conservatively styled. Do not wear banana
     clips, brightly coloured scrunches or elastics with a suit. You should look polished and
    professional. You are more likely to be taken seriously when you present yourself this way.


    Answer the questions below.
    1. Match the words and phrases below with their correct meanings as used in the passage:
                         
    2. According to the passage, why is it important to dress properly when going for an interview?
        A. To look sensitive
        B. To get the job interviewed for
        C. To create the right impression
        D. It is what is expected
    3. What should men wear when going for an interview?
        A. A smart suit
        B. Any decent clothing
        C. Professional clothes
        D. A matching suit, shirt, socks and shoes
    4. Describe how a woman should dress when attending an interview.
    5. A strong perfume
        A. can cause an allergic reaction
        B. can make your interviewers faint
        C. can create a wrong impression of you
        D. is not to be worn
    6. Give a synonym of the word ‘flashy’ as used in the passage. Name any flashy colour.
    7. How should a new student looking for a place in a school dress and why?
    8. Why do you think ill-fitting clothes are inappropriate for an interview?

    Think about this

    1. Discuss in your groups why you think young people should consider the making and
        selling of clothes as a form of employment.
    2. Some young women today wear very tight clothes to work. Young men tie belts that
        hold their trousers around the middle area of their bottom. Discuss with the members
        of your group whether this is proper or not.

    C. Language use

    Present continuous tense

    Read the following sentences out loud

    1. Maria is wearing a blue blouse.

    2. John is removing his shirt.

    3. Mrs. Gasana is wearing a black pair of trousers.

    4. Charles is wearing a T-shirt and a brown pair of shorts.

    5. Alice is wearing a white blouse and a black skirt.

                   

    The present continuous tense is used when talking about an action or a feeling, which is                                                              still going on. This is the case in the five sentences that you have just read.

    Now study the following sentences.

    1. He is the boy who is wearing my jacket.

    2. Why she is wearing a suit when she is going to the farm is not clear.

    3. I can’t understand why you are wearing a T-shirt when it is very cold.

    4. I wonder why he is wearing those tight shorts when he is not comfortable.

    5. It is not easy to see why she is wearing that wedding gown when the wedding is over.

    The sentences you have just read describe the clothing aspect using a WH clause. A clause is a                                          group of words that include a subject and a verb. These words form a complete sentence                                                            or part of a sentence. A WH clause has word/words that have a w and h, or an h sound in                                                            it. They include: what, when, where, why and how.


    Make correct sentences from the following table.

                                       

    We can describe clothes by looking at their colour, length, material, pattern, shape and                                                              thickness. Read the following sentences:

    1. The trouser he is wearing is rather tight. (describing trousers)

    2. The dress she is wearing is new. (describing dress)

    3. The shoes I am wearing are in fashion.(describing style)

    4. The jumper he is wearing is green. (describing colour)

    5. The dress she is wearing is long. (describing length)

    6. The short he is wearing is made of cotton. (describing material)

    7. The cap he is wearing is flowery. (describing pattern)

    8. The scarf I am wearing is rectangular. (describing shape)

    9. The jacket he is wearing when it is cold is very thick. (thickness)                                                                                                In the above sentences, we have described clothes using their colour, length, material,                                                        pattern, shape and thickness.

    Adjectives for describing clothes

       

    Generally, there are adjectives we usually use to describe clothes. These include:


    Discuss these adjectives in your groups. You can use a dictionary to find out their meanings.
    Once you have understood their meanings, use them to construct sentences that describe
    clothing. Your sentences should be in present continuous tense. You will later present
    these sentences to the rest of the class.

    D. Writing

    Descriptive writing
    Descriptive writing has to do with describing things in detail. When you are writing a
    descriptive composition, you must make sure that your reader sees, feels, tastes, hears or
    is able to touch what you are describing in his or her mind.

    For example:

    Unlike his nylon shirt, which is rustling when he walks, the dress she is wearing is as soft
    as wool. However, it is tight-fitting, making it hard for her to move especially when she is
    rushing after him.
    Make the reader feel
    With clothing, you can describe the texture of the material. How does it feel to the touch?
    For example, relate the texture to sand if it is rough and to silk if it is soft.
    Make the reader hear
    Have you ever noticed that clothes produce a sound as a person walks? Talk about it.
    Make the reader see
    Here, talk of the colour and the shape. Is the cloth red, green or yellow? Is it fitting, baggy
    or have a plunging neckline?

    Imagine you are attending a wedding or a party. Write a descriptive composition about what
    is happening. Describe the clothing people are wearing and use the present continuous
    tense. Your composition should be between 150 and 200 words.

     
    Make correct sentences from the table below. Write them down in your exercise
    book.
              

    E . Little laughter

    What did the traffic light say to the car?
    You there, don’t look, I am changing!

    ◄UNIT 3: HOLIDAY ACTIVITIESUNIT 5: BOOKS AND SCHOOL WORK HABITS►