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Œ Warm Up Work with a partner.

l When was the last time you had your hair cut? Where did you go?

 Vocabulary #1

Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. to cut a. to make straight hair curly

2. to shave b. to change the style of someone’s hair
3. to blow dry c. to wash someone’s hair
4. to trim d. to make curly hair straight
5. to perm e. to dry hair with hot air
6. to shampoo f. to change the color of someone’s hair
7. to straighten g. to use scissors to make hair shorter
8. to color h. to use a razor to cut hair
9. to style i. to make hair neat by cutting

Most of these words can be used as nouns (e.g. “a cut”). Which one cannot?

Ž Vocabulary #2 Can you think of any more haircut phrases? Make notes.

 Conversation Practice with a partner.

A Please take a seat.

Scene: At a barber’s B Thank you.
A What can I do for you today?
Person A is a hairdresser. B I’d like a trim please.

Person B is a customer.
A OK. Would you like me to shampoo your hair first?
B No, thank you.
A How much shall I take off?
B Um, about 3 centimeters. Thank you.
A Will there be anything else?
B No, that will be fine.

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 Role-playing #1 Practice changing the conversation using the notes below.

l You would like to have your hair washed and cut (5cm taken off).
You would also like a blow dry.

l You would like to have your hair washed, trimmed and then permed.
You would like to have 4cm taken off.

l You would like a trim. You would like to have 1cm taken off.

l You would like to have your hair cut, and then straightened.
You would like 6cm taken off.

l You would like a trim, and to have your hair styled.

You would like 10cm taken off.

l You would like to have your hair washed, have 5cm taken off, and then
have it washed again.

l You would like to have your hair washed, trimmed (2cm taken off), and then
colored.

l You would like a trim (3 cm taken off) and a shave.

‘ Role-playing #2 Practice changing the conversation using your own ideas.

Ø Ask for a haircut that you would like.

Ø Think of some new questions and answers. Ask your teacher if you can’t think of any.
Ø Remember to be polite!
Ø Ask the staff member for styling advice if you need to. Use questions that start: “Do you think I should….”.

’ Discussion Ask and answer in pairs or groups.

l Do you like having your hair cut? Why or why not?

l Have you ever had a bad haircut? What happened?

l What kinds of haircut are fashionable now?

l Have you ever had your hair cut abroad? How was it? Did you get what you wanted?

l Where is the cheapest place you know of to get a haircut? Would you go there?

l Do you like your hairstyle? Why or why not?

l Who in your class has the best haircut? Take a vote.

l Which celebrity do you think has the best haircut? Which celebrity has the worst?

l What would be the perfect haircut for you?

l Do you like to talk while you are having your hair cut? What do you like to talk about?

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Target Structure: Conversation

Vocabulary: Haircut-related
Level: Lower-Intermediate and above
Time: 45 minutes
Preparation: None

Suggested Teaching Method

This theme worksheet has vocabulary, role-play and discussion practice.

Œ Direct students to the title. Elicit the meaning of salon, and ask students for other words with similar meanings.
(barber / hairdresser)

Students should work in pairs and ask the opening questions to a partner. Don’t spend too long on this.

 Students can work alone, and then check in pairs. Go though the answers with the group, and assist with
unknown vocabulary.

Ž Students can work in pairs. Go through possible answers on the board.

 Assign new pairs. Students should read the conversation once, and change roles.

 Students should read through the role-play cues before beginning. Answer any vocabulary questions.

Using the conversation from exercise four as a base, model an example conversation with a confident student.

‘ Follow the same pattern as in the previous exercise. This time, encourage students not to look at the example
conversation.

When students are practising, monitor, and make notes of errors. Go through these errors on the board after the
role-plays draw to a close.

’ Leave plenty of time for class discussion. To maximize student talking time, it’s best to put students in pairs, or
small groups. Students should read all the questions first, before beginning the discussion.

Encourage eye contact and follow-up questions.

While the students are speaking, monitor the conversations, but try not to interrupt. When the discussion comes
to a close, ask a few of the questions yourself, and go through any points of English you made a note of while
monitoring.

Answer key on next page.

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Answer Key (other answers may be possible)


1. To cut to use scissors to make hair shorter
2. To shave to use a razor to cut hair
3. To blow dry to dry hair with hot air
4. To trim to make neat by cutting
5. To perm to make hair curly
6. To shampoo to wash hair
7. To straighten to make hair straight
8. To color to change the color of someone’s hair
9. To style to change the style of someone’s hair

‘Straighten’ cannot be used as a noun.

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Updated 12/10/2010

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