Monthly Archives: March 2025

Complaint Letters/Emails: 2 Warm-ups

General

Writing a complaint letter sounds serious, right? But before I ask my students to get into that, let’s help them loosen up with two quick warm-ups!

 

First—let’s reflect. Do you often complain, or do you just let things go?

Then, let’s turn up the fun! There’s a challenge: can you guess the complaint just by interpreting a few clues? Some might be obvious, but others will definitely make them think!

Once we’ve had a good laugh (and maybe a little self-discovery), we’ll dive into writing complaint letters that actually get results. Here are the two quick warm-ups. Hope your students enjoy them.

WARM-UP 1: CONVERSATION QUESTIONS
  • Do you think you complain a lot, a little, or just enough? In what situations do you usually complain?
  • In your country/culture, is openly complaining common, or is it considered rude? How do people usually complain?
  • What do people in your city/country often complain about? (e.g., public transport, slow service, bad weather)?
  • Can you recall a time you complained and got a solution? How did you handle it?
  • Do you prefer to solve a problem by complaining or ignore it? Why?
WARM-UP 2: GUESS THE EMOJI

Let’s have fun!You will see emoji sequences and you must try to guess what type of complaint each represents.

 

Complaint emojis de cristina.cabal

Gender Stereotypes in Fashion

General, ,

Fashion is one of those topics that can turn a simple conversation into a lively debate—because let’s face it, we all see style a little differently! Some people love experimenting with bold trends, while others stick to their tried-and-true favourites. One person’s “effortlessly cool” might be another’s “what were you thinking?” And don’t even get started on the age-old question: “Why do you need so many shoes?

But, do men and women see fashion the same way? Or is there actually a difference in how they approach style—and even a whole day of shopping? Some are all about the thrill of the hunt, while others might just want to get in and out. Let’s watch a fun video and spark some thoughts on this. Ready for a good laugh and a fresh take on the entire fashion thing?

Let’s get started.

Warming-up: Choose and explain your choice
  1. I plan my outfits carefully, always thinking about how they show my personality and fit with the latest styles, avoiding quickly passing fads.
  2. I like to stay updated on fashion and try out new, unusual combinations to show off my style.
  3. I prefer to buy clothes that will last and not go out of style quickly. Good quality and usefulness are most important to me.
  4. I usually stick to a style I like, focusing on being comfortable, but I sometimes add a special piece to make it interesting.
  5. I choose clothes that work well for my life. I avoid things that are too flashy or uncomfortable.
  6. Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to fashion. As long as my clothes are clean and look okay, I’m happy and focus on other things.
Ready for a healthy laugh? Watch the video. I bet you'll want to watch it more than once.

Speaking: a more serious analysis of the ad
  • The video compares the women’s reaction to the walk-in closet with the men’s reaction to the beer fridge. What do you think the creators of the ad were trying to communicate with this contrast?
  • What assumptions about the target audience do you think the advertisers were making when they created these two scenarios?
  •  If you had unlimited resources? What is your equivalent of a walk-in closet fantasy? A garage full of tools? A high-tech entertainment system?

I hoped you liked this little thing I did for my student. We certainly had some fun!