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Confessions of a Shopaholic

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Date: Apr 08 2009

Themes: Fashion, Hobbies

Grammar: Contractions and Abbreviations

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

OK, so maybe you don’t need that cute new pair of jeans. And maybe you can’t afford them. But they look so good on you! And they’re on sale! You can cut back on other expenses, right? Who really needs to eat lunch?

Many of us have conversations like this with ourselves all the time. When someone’s spending is really out of control, we say they’re a shopaholic.

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a new romantic comedy about a woman who’s addicted to shopping. Devan hopes the movie will give her some advice on how to control her own spending habits. Listen to her and Ella talk about the movie and shopping.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Ella

Ella

Devan

Devan

Ella:  So I’m not gonna lie. I’m a total shopaholic. And when Confessions of a Shopaholic came out I was completely excited.

Devan:  Did you go see it?

Ella:  I haven’t seen it yet. But I’ve seen a lot of the previews and stuff. So it looks great, and I love Isla Fisher.

Devan:  Yeah, I saw a preview for that too and I don’t know if I’ll be jealous of all the clothes she buys in the movies or if it’ll be helpful ‘cause I have a shopping problem too. I’m drowning in debt from all of my credit cards. I’m just a total compulsive shopper. So maybe I can get some tips from that movie about what to do.

Ella:  Yeah totally. So in the movie it looks like she just shops all the time for no reason. Some people use it for therapy but it seems like she just does it to do it.

Devan:  Yeah. I’m more of a shopper when I’m sad or after I get dumped, you know? And I just go crazy spending money.

Ella:  I’m more of a window-shopper if I don’t have the money, but I like to do it if I need to get something.

Devan:  I definitely need to learn how to prioritize. I’m much more likely to go buy a new shirt than to, you know, buy trash bags.

 

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Discussion

Ella loves to shop and is excited to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. Devan is worried that if she sees the movie it will just make her want to shop more. She is in debt from being a compulsive shopper.

People shop for different reasons. Devan shops when she’s feeling depressed. It’s like therapy for her. Ella only shops when she can afford it or when she needs something.

Are you a shopaholic or do you know anyone who is? Why do you think people love to shop so much?

 

Comments

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theperfectdisaster

Israel

i'm not gonna lie too, yes i am a shopaholic, i like to be always special and different!

07:01 PM Apr 10 2009 |

theperfectdisaster

Israel

i'm not gonna lie too, yes i am a shopaholic, i like to be always special and different!

07:01 PM Apr 10 2009 |

Rufita

Rufita

Kazakhstan

of course,a shopaholic it's not only female problem. my boyfriend sometimes is shopasholic ,

11:54 AM Apr 10 2009 |

akacsan

akacsan

United States

I'm not a shopaholic but today I spent out 500 €... not a shopaholic, not a shopaholic.. : )

06:54 PM Apr 09 2009 |

nghiemhoa

Viet Nam

no, i'm not a shopaholic. i always save money and only spend it when really necessary because i still haven't earned money yet and my family not wealthy.however sometimes i'm out of control my expense, for instance, i have just bought a new sandal, its pretty expensive but i really like it…..hic

05:06 PM Apr 09 2009 |

silvia_cristina

Spain

I love to shop but I think that I`m not a shopaholic. I prefer spending my money travelling, for example . But te film is funny

Of course I don´t think that shopaholic is a female problem :)

04:55 PM Apr 09 2009 |

dinuka warapitiya

Sri Lanka

what exact meaning of shopaholic ?

03:09 PM Apr 09 2009 |

vineet gurjar

India

It is  great  website  whenever  I chat  here  I  Can increase  my english

01:19 PM Apr 09 2009 |

joaco

joaco

Argentina

all of you should see "the history of stuff" by Annie Lennox, i think it will be very useful, hope you enjoy it.

great lesson! thank you…..

11:16 AM Apr 09 2009 |

kimberry29

kimberry29

Thailand

I'm a total shopaholic.

I uasually stay at home and buy everything that I a bit love it~~

07:14 AM Apr 09 2009 |

Rufita

Rufita

Kazakhstan

i was so happy,i think this website help me and other like me to learn Ehglish. Speak in Eglish it's my favorite dream

05:16 AM Apr 09 2009 |

yvetttte

Taiwan

Thank you for answering me. I found this website recently and started this online lesson for only two days. It's my first time to try to write down my question and i was surprised I could get so good response. Thank you very much. It's really a good place to learn English and make friends! Laughing

01:46 AM Apr 09 2009 |

chief_wang

chief_wang

China

What is the real reason on earth that a girl or lady becomes a shopaholic? Personally, I'd say the only reason from the very beginning before she realizes, is depression or bad mood. So with this answer, we can change habits of those compulsive shoppers.

Besides, almost all shopaholics are female. 

This, from this lesson, should be the tip we can obtain.

09:29 PM Apr 08 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I confess,I’m a little consumerist hehe,but if I don’t have no money,not spend what I don’t have ;)

08:15 PM Apr 08 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I'm nothing shopaholic…Really,I love to buy things that I like,but I'm careful,If I haven't money I don't go to the shop spend what I don't have! hehe

08:11 PM Apr 08 2009 |

Yingqiu

China

To be honest, Ella confused me a little bit in this movie. At the beginning, she admitted she was a shopaholic, but at the end, she said she was much more like a window-shopper, that confused me. She seems having two different spending habits. Would you guys explaint it for me?

08:07 PM Apr 08 2009 |

Yingqiu

China

Girls are easy to be shopahoic. I don't know why. They like to buy a lot of trash bags. I don't think it is a problem for man.

08:00 PM Apr 08 2009 |

madzia-19811

Poland

i am not a shopaholic:) at all. what can i add? i do spent my money but on things which i really need. and to be honest i don't like shopping, it is really good that i don't have to do them so often.

anyway i watched that movie and i really liked and i can recommend it to anyone:)

07:29 PM Apr 08 2009 |

ciberd7

ciberd7

Brazil

I´m not a shopaholic, I mean, there are some people who can´t help spending the money they suffers to make, so they buy unecessary clothes and stuffs like a illness or madness to satisfy themselves.

At first, You need to think about lots of issues and the things that You need to put in first place, then, if you get some spare money you can buy that wonderful jacket or that slacks you got obsessed for.

But, In my opinion, I hate to spend my money buying things I´ll regret to have bought after some seconds ehehe.

04:37 PM Apr 08 2009 |

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