Black Friday

Topics for English Language Learners – Black Friday for ESL Students

Introduction

Black Friday refers to the Friday following Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Friday of November. It marks the start of the holiday shopping season in the United States. Retailers open early and often offer huge discounts, making it a busy and exciting day for shoppers.

This Topic hub is designed for ESL and EFL students and teachers. It provides resources, vocabulary, reading materials, and classroom activities related to Black Friday.

Black Friday for ESL Students

1. Quick Overview

• What is Black Friday? The busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S., immediately after Thanksgiving.
• When is it celebrated? On the fourth Friday of November.
• Why is it called Black Friday? The term originated because retailers go from “in the red” (loss) to “in the black” (profit) due to high sales.

→ Read more about Black Friday

2. Vocabulary for ESL Learners

• Retailer – A person or company that sells goods to the public.
  Example: “Many retailers offer huge discounts on Black Friday.”
• Discount – A reduction in price.
  Example: “The store advertised a 50% discount on electronics.”
• Promotion – Special marketing to encourage purchases.
  Example: “Black Friday promotions attract many customers.”
• Queue / Line – A line of people waiting for something.
  Example: “Shoppers waited in long queues for the store to open.”
• Shopper – A person who buys goods in stores.
  Example: “Black Friday attracts millions of shoppers every year.”
• Crowd – A large number of people gathered in one place.
  Example: “The store was full of a huge crowd on Black Friday.”
• Bargain – Something bought at a good price.
  Example: “I found a great bargain on a new laptop.”
• Sales event – A period when many items are sold at reduced prices.
  Example: “Black Friday is the biggest sales event of the year.”
• Consumer – A person who purchases goods or services.
  Example: “Consumers are attracted by lower prices during Black Friday.”
• Shopping spree – Buying many items in a short period.
  Example: “I went on a shopping spree and bought gifts for everyone.”

→ Learn more vocabulary related to Black Friday

3. Shopping Phrases and Expressions

Here are some useful expressions students can practice in dialogues:

• “How much does this cost?” – Asking about the price.
• “Is this on sale?” – Checking if an item has a discount.
• “Do you have this in a different size/color?” – Requesting another option.
• “I’m just looking, thank you.” – Polite way to refuse help from a salesperson.
• “Can I try this on?” – Asking to use the fitting room.
• “Do you accept credit cards?” – Asking about payment options.
• “That’s too expensive.” – Expressing that the price is high.
• “I’ll take it.” – Deciding to buy an item.
• “Can I get a receipt, please?” – Requesting proof of purchase.
• “What time do you open/close?” – Asking about store hours.

→ Learn more expressions and phrases related to shopping in English

4. Classroom Activities

1. Reading Comprehension
   • Students read a text about Black Friday and answer questions.
   • Example questions: “When is Black Friday celebrated?” / “Why do retailers offer discounts?”
2. Vocabulary Matching
   • Match words like retailer, discount, promotion, shopper with definitions.
3. Discussion Questions
   • “Do you think Black Friday is good or bad? Why?”
   • “How is shopping in your country different from Black Friday in the U.S.?”
4. Writing Task
   • Students write a paragraph: “If I went shopping on Black Friday, I would…”
5. Role Play
   • One student plays a cashier, another a shopper. Practice dialogues using the new vocabulary: greetings, asking for discounts, paying, and thanking.

→ Black Friday Worksheet

Explore More About Black Friday

• Black Friday – Full explanation and history of the day.
• Thanksgiving Texts – Learn more about the holiday preceding Black Friday.
• Christmas Vocabulary – Vocabulary related to the holiday season.
• New Year’s Eve – Explore celebrations and vocabulary.
• Shopping Phrases in English – A list of expressions related to shopping.
• Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day – Activities for English Learners.
• Shopping Idioms – Fun idioms connected to shopping and sales.
• Be thankful by Sarah Connor – Learn English Through this Song.
• Thanksgiving Poem – Poem about Thanksgiving for ESL students.

FAQSFAQs: Black Friday for ESL Students