Business English

Level B2
Prof.ssa Giulia Gentili

II semestre
A.A. 2022/2023
giulia.gentili@uniroma2.it
 MODULE 4:
the world of business

LESSON 8
LISTENING, VOCABULARY
AND SPEAKING
20/03/2023
 WARM UP
Watch this video in pairs.

One student watches the video and narrates what’s happening to a partner,

who has their back to the screen.

Then, watch the video again together.

 WARM UP

1. What company is this commercial for? What kind of products do they sell?

2. What is the main message of this commercial?

3. Have you been to their shops?

4. What did you buy?

5. When you buy furniture from these shops, what do you usually have to do?
 VOCABULARY FOCUS
Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.

1. stockings a) someone who sells to the public

2. Flat-pack furniture b) someone who sells to businesses

3. Shop layout c) pens and papers; things used for writing, study or office work

4. stationery d) a large building where raw materials or manufactured goods may be stored

prior to their distribution for sale.

5. warehouse e) furniture that you have to assemble, or build, yourself

6. Wholesaler f) the plan of a shop, the way things are organised and displayed

7. Retailer g) a type of clothing that women wore to cover their feet and legs before tights

were invented
 READING
Read the text and answer to the following questions.

1) What should we thank Ikea for?

2) What is the Ikea effect?

3) Why do Ikea stores have a circular layout?

4) What does mystery create in consumers?

 WORD CLOUD
Using these words, or forms of these words, write a 50-word summary with the main points of the article.
 FOCUSED LISTENING
Watch the first part of the video (to 02:11) and decide whether these
statements are true, false or are not mentioned.
a) Some people don’t understand the store layout. _____
b) Flat packing is arguably their largest invention. _____
c) The fact that there are designated paths doesn’t necessarily mean that the
customers must follow them. _____
d) The floor plan resembles a maze so that customers stay interested. _____
e) The frustratingly winding paths are supposed to inspire people to spend
money. _____
f) Flat packing massively reduces the shipping costs. _____
 FOCUSED LISTENING
Watch the second part of the video (from 02:11) and take notes on the
following.

a) the IKEA effect

b) price tags

c) the founder’s idea

d) democratic design
 SPEAK UP
Discuss with your partner:

1. Which of the ideas that added to IKEA’s success do you find the most unconventional?

2. Would you be keen on assembling your own furniture or would you prefer for furniture to

be sent to your house preassembled? Think about your effort, time and money.

3. Can you think of any other companies that have used the IKEA effect to their

advantage? Consider food, clothing, entertainment.

4. Do you think that democratic design is something that can help society, or is it just

another slogan created to boost sales?

 NOW IT’S UP TO YOU
In pairs, discuss a possible business model for one of the shops below.
Use the questions to guide you. Then, present your ideas to the class.

confectionery shop pet furniture shop shoe shop toy shop

❑ What products will you design and manufacture?

❑ How will you distribute the products?
❑ How can you use the IKEA effect?
❑ How can you use the philosophy of democratic design?
❑ How will you make sure the products are profitable?
❑ Is there any way you can make your shop unconventional, to stand out from the
competition?