EFL and ESL Materials and Topics – Christmas Shopping
Introduction: Christmas Shopping for ESL Students
Christmas shopping is the activity of buying gifts, food, and decorations in preparation for Christmas. It is one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year in many countries and offers rich opportunities for ESL and EFL students to practice real-life English, including shopping vocabulary, everyday expressions, and cultural discussion.
This topic helps learners talk about gift-giving traditions, shopping habits, and consumer culture, while teachers can use it for speaking, role-plays, reading, and vocabulary lessons.
Christmas Shopping in a Nutshell
People usually start Christmas shopping weeks before December 25. They shop online, in shopping malls, department stores, Christmas markets, and local shops. Many stores offer sales, discounts, and special deals, making this season ideal for teaching practical English related to money, prices, and decisions.
Key Vocabulary for Christmas Shopping
Here is a list of vocabulary items related to Christmas shopping:
Shopping Items
- wrapping paper
- gift card
- wishlist
- stockings
- Advent calendar
- baubles
- tinsel
- gift set
- mulled wine
- chestnuts
Shopping Actions & Places
- checkout
- sale / discount
- out of stock
- receipt
- exchange / return
- department store
- supermarket
- charity shop
- Christmas market
- online / in-store
→ Check this post for more vocabulary: Christmas Vocabulary
Useful Shopping Phrases
Here are some useful shopping phrases.
- I’m looking for a gift for my…
- How much is this?
- Is this on sale?
- Do you have this in another size?
- Can I pay by cash or card?
- Can I exchange this if needed?
Perfect for role-plays and speaking fluency.
→ Check this post about shopping phrases.
Discussion & Conversation Starters
Suggested discussion and conversation starters:
Gift Giving
- Who is the hardest person to buy a gift for?
- What is the best or worst gift you’ve ever received?
- Do you prefer homemade or store-bought gifts?
- Are gift cards a good idea?
Shopping Habits
- Do you shop early or at the last minute?
- Do you prefer online shopping or shopping in stores? Why?
- Do you enjoy Christmas shopping or find it stressful?
Traditions
- How do people shop for Christmas in your country?
- What are typical Christmas gifts or foods where you live?
Consumerism
- Is Christmas too commercial today?
- Should people stop exchanging gifts?
Experiences
- Have you ever returned a Christmas gift?
- Have you visited Christmas markets?
- Have you shopped in famous stores (e.g., Harrods)?
→ Suggested Christmas shopping conversation task for ESL learners.
Classroom Activities & Role-Plays
Here are examples of classroom activities and role-plays.
1. Planning Activity
Students create a Christmas shopping list for their family and decide:
- what to buy
- where to buy it (bookshop, supermarket, online, market)
2. Role-Play: In the Shop
Students act out:
- buying decorations
- buying food for Christmas dinner
- buying gifts (asking about prices, sizes, and payment)
3. Wishlists (Grammar Practice)
Students write wishlists using:
- I’d like…
- I hope to get…
- Conditionals: If I had more money, I would buy…
4. Debate Activity
- Early shopping vs. last-minute shopping
- Should we stop exchanging gifts?
→ More Christmas shopping classroom activities.
Videos & Reading for ESL Classes
Teachers can use short videos or texts about:
- London’s Christmas lights
- Christmas shopping in England
- Christmas markets in Europe
- Souvenir shops and department stores
These work well for listening comprehension and discussion.→
→ Here is an example of a listening comprehension activity about Christmas shopping for ESL students.
Related Pages (Internal Links)
- Christmas Shopping – reading and activities
- Christmas – traditions and celebrations
- Christmas Vocabulary – themed word lists
- Santa Claus – cultural background
- Last Christmas (song) – listening activity
- Jingle Bells (song) – listening activity
- Christmas Gifts and Presents Word Drag-and-Drop Game – learning English with fun
Takeaways for ESL Teachers & Learners
- Christmas is a real-life, high-interest ESL topic
- It supports vocabulary, speaking, role-plays, and culture
- It encourages personal opinions and interaction
- It works well for mixed-level classes