Lesson 2: Celebrity Lines
I’m planning to launch my own line of sunglasses.

I can talk about a line of products.

INTRODUCE

Talking about the products you like can give your friends an idea of what your tastes or preferences are.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and answer the questions.

    1. To have an eye for something means to be able to notice something or to have good taste in it.

     

    She’s studying fashion because she has an eye for style.

     

    Q: What do you have an eye for?

     

     

    2. To launch something means to introduce a new product or service to the public.

     

    The company is planning to launch a new line of smartphones next year.

     

    Q: What products or services did your favorite brand launch recently?

     

     

    3. To be all the rage means to be very popular.

     

    Short hair is all the rage right now.

     

    Q: What trend is currently all the rage in Japan?

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

Important words in a sentence are often stressed to give a clear picture.
Phrase Example

all the rage

/ ALL the RAGE /

Clown costumes are / ALL the RAGE / this Halloween.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Toru is talking with his celebrity friend, Adam Jones, at a bar in LA.

Adam:

Oh, speaking of work, a local fashion brand invited me to collaborate with them. They said I should launch my own line!

Toru:

Wow, that’s great! What kind of product do you have in mind?

Adam:

Well, nothing’s final yet, but I’m planning to launch my own line of sunglasses.

Toru:

Go for it, man! That’s a good idea. Celebrity-designed sunglasses are all the rage right now!

Adam:

That’s true. But I’m a bit worried because there are a lot of really well-known brands already. How can I compete with them?

Toru:

Are you kidding me? You’re an A-list celebrity, Adam! Your fans will buy anything with your name on it. Not to mention, you have an eye for design!

Adam:

(laughs) Thanks for the encouragement.

Toru:

Anytime! Besides, you have me. I can lend you some of my sales expertise. Half price for friends. (laughs)

Adam:

Thanks for the offer, man. I’ll really need your help if I agree to the collaboration. Anyway, let’s talk more about this next week. I have an award show tomorrow, so I should go home and get some beauty sleep.

Toru:

Good luck tomorrow!

TRIVIA

In Japan, most celebrities simply endorse companies’ products. In Hollywood, however, it’s common for celebrities to launch their own lines. Some collaborate with famous brands, while others start companies from scratch, but either way, they can make a ton of money from their lines. One young celebrity recently made over $14 million in just three hours when she launched her own makeup line!

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Complete the conversations using the expressions in the box. Some expressions may be used more than once, and the form of some expressions may need to be changed.

have an eye for something
launch something
be all the rage

1.

Tutor: I see a lot of shops selling leather jackets these days.

Student: Yeah, leather jackets _____ these days.

 

2.

Tutor: Your house has really beautiful antique furniture.

Student: Thanks! My mother _____. She was the one who bought it all.

 

3.

Tutor: When did Lara Nicholson release her new fashion line?

Student: She _____ two days ago.

 

4.

Tutor: Wow! Those electronic bikes are selling out fast!

Student: That’s because they _____ these days.

 

5.

Tutor: I love the color you painted your walls!

Student: My brother Josh chose it. He _____.

STEP B EXERCISE

Make sentences using the pictures, words, and expressions in the parentheses.

Sally

watches

ex. (have an eye for something)
→ Sally has an eye for watches.

 

Lauren

new line of skincare products

1. (launch something)

 

Ralph

architecture

2. (have an eye for something)

 

new chat app

teenagers

3. (be all the rage)

 

RJL Technologies

new laptop model

4. (launch something)

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your friend wants to buy a new bag, so the two of you are shopping. Help your friend decide what kind of bag to buy.

Today's Expressions

  • have an eye for something
  • launch something
  • be all the rage

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

CELEBRITY LINES
2

BRANDS
3

AN EYE FOR SOMETHING
1

CELEBRITY LINES

  1. What celebrity lines have you heard of?  
  2. Why do you think people buy products from celebrity lines?  
  3. If a Japanese celebrity launched a line of products, do you think it would be very popular?
  4. Which Japanese celebrity would you like to launch his/her own line? What product should he/she launch?

2BRANDS

  1. Do you have an eye for good brands?  
  2. What brand is all the rage in Japan?  
  3. Why do you think that brand is so popular?
  4. Do you buy products based on how popular a brand is?

3AN EYE FOR SOMETHING

  1. If you could develop an eye for something, what would it be (ex. photos, fashion)?  
  2. In what situations can you use your eye for it?  
  3. Do you have any family or friends who have an eye for something?
  4. Is having an eye for something a natural talent, or can you develop it?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about a line of products.

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