Lesson 8: Sales
Get a free gift with purchases over ¥20,000.

I can read and understand a sales ad.

INTRODUCE

People get excited when they see sales ads! Foreigners might need your help understanding the terms and conditions written in an ad.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

I. Go over the expressions with your tutor.

    1. If you say that something is worth it, it means that it’s a good deal for the price.

     

    This wallet costs $100, but it’s real leather, so I think it’s worth it.

     

     

    2. Buy one, get one free/half off means that if you buy one product, you will get another item for free or for half the price.

     

    The store is having a buy one, get one free promo on all sunglasses.

     

     

    3. If a store offers a free gift with purchases over price, you will get something free when you spend a certain amount.

     

    Customers will receive a free box of chocolates with purchases over $20.

     

     

    II. Give your opinion about the promos.

     

    It’s worth it!

    It’s not worth it.

    name-brand watches: buy one, get one free for ¥35,000

    sneakers: buy one, get one half off

    free umbrella with purchases over ¥100,000

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

Plural words that end in -es are often pronounced with an extra syllable at the end: / iz /.
Phrase Example

purchases

/ pur-chuh-siz /

Get a free pen with / pur-chuh-siz / over ¥2,000.

UNDERSTAND

READING

Kelsie got a sales flier from her favorite store. It was all in Japanese, so she took a picture of it and asked Yuko to translate it.

Hi, Kelsie!

Here’s the translation of the sales flier you sent me:

 

Come visit our Great Summer Sale!

Find great deals and discounts this season:

  • Summer dresses from Aurora Collection: Buy one, get one free
  • Buy one, get one half off all Pastel flip-flops
  • Save up to 50% on selected Filtr sunglasses
  • Get a free pouch with purchases of Adventurer backpacks
  • Get a free gift with purchases over ¥20,000

 

Hurry! Promo runs until July 10 only.

 

I think they’ve got some really good deals. Do you want to go to the mall together? Let’s buy some dresses from Aurora Collection! They’re kind of expensive, but they’re the cutest dresses I’ve ever seen. They’re definitely worth it!

TRIVIA

Did you know that the Japanese word pochi (ポーチ) is often mistranslated as porch? In English, a porch refers to a veranda or a roofed area outside a house. The actual word for pochi (ポーチ) in English is pouch. Be careful – that can be an expensive mistake!

 

X Free porch with purchases over ¥6,000!

O Free pouch with purchases over ¥6,000!

porch
pouch

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Choose the sentences that best match the original sentences.

1. The camera I bought was pretty expensive, but it has lots of advanced features.

  • I think it’s worth it.
  • I don’t think it’s worth it.

 

2. When I bought a necklace, they gave me another necklace with it.

  • Necklaces: Buy one, get one free.
  • Get a free necklace with purchases over ¥10,000.

 

3. I bought ¥6,000 worth of cosmetics and received this free pouch.

  • Get a free gift with purchases over ¥6,000.
  • Buy one, get one half off all cosmetics.

 

4. I got a 50% discount on another bag when I bought this shoulder bag.

  • Bags: Buy one, get one free.
  • Bags: Buy one, get one half off.

STEP B EXERCISE

Rephrase the sentences using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

buy one, get one free/half off
free gift with purchases over price
worth it

ex. If you buy a laptop, you can get another one 50% off.

→ Buy one, get one half off all laptops.

 

1. If you purchase Purple Storm products worth more than ¥45,000, you will get a free shirt.

→ Get a _____.

 

2. You will get a second Vibrant Lipstick for free when you purchase one.

→ Vibrant Lipstick: _____.

 

3. You won’t regret buying Million Max products!

→ Million Max products are _____!

 

4. When you buy one backpack, you can get another 50% off.

→ Backpacks: _____.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend recently told you that he/she needs to buy new winter clothes but can’t spend a lot of money on them. While shopping, you received a sales flier. Read the flier, then call and tell your friend about it.

Today's Expressions

  • buy one, get one free/half off
  • free gift with purchases over price
  • worth it

Hi-Low Apparel Holiday Sale

Check out our hot winter deals:

  • 100% wool scarves: Buy one, get one half off (regularly priced ¥3,500)
  • Snow Treader winter boots: Buy one, get one half off (regularly priced ¥30,000)
  • Men’s and ladies’ parkas: Buy one, get one half off (regularly priced ¥40,000)
  • Wool socks: Buy one, get one free
  • Free gift with purchases over ¥50,000: Choose from any of our winter hats, gloves, or wool socks

 

Available in all stores nationwide.

Promo lasts until December 31 only!

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

FLIERS
2

SALES
3

FREE GIFTS
1

FLIERS

  1. Do many stores in Japan give out fliers?
  2. Do you like receiving fliers?
  3. What type of fliers do you usually ignore?
  4. Have you ever passed out fliers?

2SALES

  1. When are sales usually held in Japan?
  2. Do you like going to sales?
  3. What’s the best thing about sales?
  4. What do you consider before buying an item on sale?

3FREE GIFTS

  1. What type of products usually have free gifts?
  2. What was the best free gift you’ve ever received?
  3. What do you think is the worst kind of free gift?
  4. Do you think free gifts are effective for promotion?

FEEDBACK

I can read and understand a sales ad.

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