It is Saturday. You are in a clothes shop. You have two jobs today. First, you want a new jacket. There is a friend's wedding soon, and you need something nice.
You see a jacket you like. But there is a problem — this one is too small for you. You want to ask for a bigger size, and you want to try it on before you buy it. Second job: you have a jumper in your bag. You bought it here last week, but it is not really you. You want to bring it back.
The shop assistant is friendly. They want to help you — but they also want to sell you more things! So you must be polite, but also say "no, thank you" when you need to.
Warm up — talk for one minute
Do you like buying clothes? Do you go to shops, or do you buy online? Why?
Do you try clothes on before you buy them? Have you ever bought something and then taken it back?
Who's who
You
The Shopper 🧥
Friendly and polite. You want a jacket that fits, and you want to bring back an old jumper — with no stress.
The other person
The Shop Assistant 🛍️
Kind and helpful. They can find your size and take the jumper back — but they will also try to sell you more!
Next: learn the phrases you need in the next tab. Then see them in a real conversation. Look at how the shopper asks for a bigger size, tries the jacket on, and says "no, thank you" in a nice way. It is OK to speak slowly. You can ask them to say it again.
Useful Phrases 🧰
Here are the phrases for this conversation. Read each one and say it out loud once. Choose the ones you like. Keep this page open when you practise.
The shape of this conversation
1 · Look around2 · Try it on3 · Decide4 · Take it back
It's a map, not a script. Real talk can skip steps or go back.
Cover it later, when you want to test yourself.
When you're the shopper
🚪 Look around
"I'm just looking, thank you."
"Do you have this in a bigger size?"
👕 Try it on
"Can I try it on?"
"This one is too small."
🪞 Decide
"I'll take it, thanks."
"I'll leave it, thank you. Maybe next time."
🔁 Take it back
"I would like to return this jumper, please."
"Here is the receipt."
When you're the shop assistant
"Can I help you?"
"What size are you?"
"The fitting rooms are over there."
"We have it in blue and black."
When something changes
"Do you have it in blue?"
"Is it on sale?"
"Where do I pay?"
When you need help
"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
"Do you mean…?"
"How do you say … in English?"
Speed round 🎯
Draw a card. Say what you would say, out loud. Then look at one answer.
Press the button to start.
Try a few more rounds with the toolkit covered. When it feels easy, you are ready.
The Conversation 💬
Read it out loud, one person each, then change. Find the phrases from your toolkit. Listen for the polite words.
AssistantGood afternoon! Can I help you?
YouI'm just looking, thank you.
AssistantOf course, no problem. Everything here is 20% off this weekend.
YouOh, nice! I like this jacket. But it's too small for me. Do you have it in a bigger size?
AssistantLet me look… Yes! Here is a large one.
YouThank you. Can I try it on?
AssistantOf course. The fitting room is over there.
YouThis one is good — it fits well. I'll take it, thanks.
AssistantGreat! Do you want the shirt too? It looks very nice with the jacket.
YouNo, thank you — just the jacket today. Oh, one more thing. I bought this jumper here last week, but it's not really me. Can I return it?
AssistantNo problem. Do you have the receipt?
YouYes, here it is. The tags are still on — I haven't worn it.
AssistantPerfect. You are buying the jacket, so I'll just take the jumper off the price. OK?
YouThat's great — thank you so much!
From memory — don't look up!
1. The shopper likes a jacket, but there is a problem. What is the problem, and what do they ask for?
2. The assistant tries to sell one more thing. What is it, and what does the shopper say?
3. The shopper wants to return the jumper. What does the assistant ask for? And how do they fix it at the end?
1. The jacket is too small. So the shopper asks for it in a bigger size — and the assistant finds a large one. 2. The assistant tries to sell a shirt too ("with the jacket"). The shopper says "No, thank you — just the jacket today." 3. The assistant asks for the receipt. Because the shopper is buying the jacket, the assistant takes the jumper's price off the total — an easy fix for both.
Your Turn 🎭
No script this time. You have a real talk with a real person. You have a goal.
1 · Warm up your voice 🎤
Say each sentence out loud. Use your own words in the gaps.
Look around. I'm just ___, thank you.
Try it on. Can I ___?
Decide. I'll ___.
Take it back. I would like to ___ this.
2 · The scene 🎬
Pick a situation. Your partner plays the other person.
Your card
Where
The situation
You have
You want
Your ruleSay "Can I…?" before you try.
Who you're talking to
🏆 Leave with the right thing, or take it back.
⏱ 3:00
Twist deck
🎲 Something changes
Start the scene. After a minute, draw a card. What it says just happened.
Nothing has changed yet.
3 · Swap seats 🔁
Now you are the other person. Your partner takes your old part.
Your card
WhereThe clothes shop
Your goalHelp the shopper find the right size
Your partnerPlays the shopper now
Draw another twist if you like.
4 · Afterwards ✅
Tick what you did, in either seat.
Phrases I want to use next time
Go again
⚡ Same situation, one more time
Do it again. Draw a twist before you start. Try to do it faster this time.
The Echo 🕰️
Five hundred years ago, in the time of the Tudors, you could not just buy any clothes you liked. There were laws about clothes. Only the king and queen could wear purple silk. Only rich, important people could wear red and fine velvet. Everyone else wore simple wool.
Your clothes told people who you were. They showed if you were rich or poor, important or not. You could not choose. And you could not change it.
Today it is very different. You can try a jacket on, buy it or not, and bring an old jumper back — all in one afternoon. A Tudor person could only dream of that!