Lesson 4: Fake Fashion
If I had that kind of money, I wouldn’t be buying a knock-off!

I can give my opinion on fake fashion.

INTRODUCE

France, as a leader of the luxury and fashion markets, is well-known for being strict about fake designer-brand products. In recent years, they’ve begun to crack down even more on people who buy and own them.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.

    1. Counterfeit describes something that is fake but was made to trick people into thinking it’s the real thing.

    Why does Hannah look so sad?

    Apparently, she wasn’t able to go to the concert last night because the tickets she bought were counterfeit.

    Q: Are counterfeit products commonly available in Japan?

     

     

    2. To land in jail means to end up being in prison.

    We’re going to Singapore next weekend.

    Be careful. Singapore has strict laws. You don’t want to land in jail because you unknowingly broke one.

    Q: Do you know anyone who’s landed in jail?

     

     

    3.                                                                .

    Did you see Susan’s new bag? I didn’t know she could afford a Vanel.

    Well, it’s probably just a knock-off. She isn’t the kind to spend so much money on a bag anyway.

    Q: What do you think a knock-off means?

STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND

Sometimes you want to explain what is really happening.

    I thought Kat would be really down because she failed her final exam. But it looks like she’s doing well.

    She’s trying to be positive about it, but in reality, she’s still really upset. I saw her crying about it this morning.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Yuri, a Japanese tourist, is shopping with her French friend Sophie at a night market.

Yuri:

Oh, gosh! Is that what I think it is?

Sophie:

Huh?

Yuri:

That bag! It looks like Brava’s new velvet handbag!

Sophie:

Oh? Does it really look the same?

Yuri:

Yeah! From the material to the color, it looks just like the real thing! And it’s really cheap too! Just 40 euros. I think I’ll buy it.

Sophie:

Are you sure about that? You know, the police are very strict about people buying counterfeit goods here. You saw all those posters about the penalties at the airport, didn’t you?

Yuri:

Oh, come on, it’ll be fine. It’s just one little fake handbag. Besides, I heard those posters are just a scare tactic to stop tourists from buying knock-offs.

Sophie:

It’s not just a scare tactic. Just last week, there were tourists caught with counterfeit brand-name cellphone cases, and they were fined 300,000 euros.

Yuri:

Are you serious?! 300,000 euros? If I had that kind of money, I wouldn’t be buying a knock-off!

Sophie:

That’s why I’m warning you. You don’t want to pay a huge fine, or worse, land in jail just because of a bag.

Yuri:

Ugh! Why are the penalties here so heavy?

Sophie:

You know how France is the fashion capital of the world? Well, the brands have a lot of power here, and they pushed for stricter laws because they said the counterfeit products were hurting their sales.

Yuri:

Huh? How? I don’t think the people who buy 40-euro knock-offs are the same people who would buy a brand-name bag for 2,000 euros…

Sophie:

(laughs) Yeah, that’s true.

TRIVIA

Did you know that in France, penalties for tourists who buy counterfeit goods are extremely severe? If you’re caught buying fake items, you can face up to 3 years in jail and/or a fine of up to 300,000 euros.

PRACTICE

Follow the instructions in parentheses using the pictures and the expressions in the box. Some expressions may be used more than once, and more than one answer may be possible.

a knock-off
counterfeit
land in jail

1. (Tell your tutor how to spot fake bills.)

2. (Tell your tutor one thing that will cause you to go to prison.)

3. (Tell your tutor where one could easily buy fake products.)

4. (Tell your tutor how one can spot an imitation of a product.)

5. (Tell your tutor one traffic violation that may send you to prison.)

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You and your foreign friend were invited to a colleague’s party. Your friend just lost an expensive name-brand watch that he/she was planning to show off at the party. Now, he/she is thinking of buying a fake one. Give your friend advice on whether or not to buy a fake replacement.

Today's Expressions

  • counterfeit
  • land in jail
  • a knock-off

Speak Your Mind

  • In reality, …

Challenge 2

What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.

If Time
Allows
1

COUNTERFEIT GOODS
2

LANDING IN JAIL
1

COUNTERFEIT GOODS

  1. Does your country have strict policies against counterfeit goods?
  2. Why do you think counterfeit goods are so popular in many countries?
  3. Do you think it’s possible to fully stop the sale of counterfeit goods?

2LANDING IN JAIL

  1. What is jail like in your country?
  2. What are the common reasons why people land in jail in your country?
  3. Do you think there are better ways to punish criminals than sending them to jail?

FEEDBACK

I can give my opinion on fake fashion.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK