The influence of advertising
Lesson examines the influence of advertising, discussing its impact on consumer behavior, society, and decision-making.
Part 1
Warm-up
You will see an advert for an unknown product.
See if you can guess what the product is before the reveal at the end of the commercial
Part 2
Vocabulary
Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.
Student can skip the words they already know.
campaign
/kæmˈpeɪn/
A series of actions planned to achieve a specific goal, often in marketing or politics.
The new ad campaign for the chocolate bar starts next week.
She worked on a campaign to save the local library.
commercial
/kəˈmɜr.ʃəl/
An advertisement on television or radio.
I saw a funny commercial about a new type of sneaker.
My favorite commercial is the one with the singing dog.
consumer
/kənˈsuː.mər/
A person who buys goods or services for personal use.
Consumers can choose from many different products.
She is a smart consumer who always reads reviews.
influence
/ˈɪn.flu.əns/
to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves, or thinks
Famous people often have a big influence on fashion. (N)
Social media can influence how we think about issues. (V)
endorse
/ɪnˈdɔːrs/
(= agree with) to make a public statement of your approval or support for something or someone
He endorsed the plan to improve the parks.
Our teacher endorsed the idea of more homework help sessions.
slogan
/ˈsloʊɡən/
a short easily remembered phrase, especially one used to advertise an idea or a product
The company's slogan is "Just Do It."
Every famous brand has its own slogan.
Make up your own sentences using the words.
Part 3
Reading comprehension
Read the article and answer questions.
Teacher helps student correct their pronunciation.
The influence of advertising
Advertising is everywhere! It has a big influence on what we think and buy. Companies use advertising campaigns to tell us about their products. These campaigns often have commercials on TV or online. When we see these commercials, we learn about new things we might want.
A famous person might endorse a product. This means they say they like it and use it. This can make more people want to buy it. Also, a catchy slogan can make a product easy to remember. For example, “Just Do It” is a famous slogan that many people recognize.
We are all consumers, which means we buy and use products. Advertising helps us decide what to buy. Sometimes, we buy things just because we saw a good commercial or because someone we like endorsed it. So, advertising can really change our choices.
In short, advertising is powerful. It uses campaigns, commercials, and slogans to influence consumers. And when products are endorsed by someone we admire, we are even more likely to be interested in them.
Check your understanding
What do you think is the most effective method of advertising mentioned in the article, and why?
Do you think it’s fair for celebrities to endorse products, or can it confuse consumers? Why or why not? (this question is a free question, it is not mention to the article)
Sample answer
- I think the most effective method of advertising mentioned is celebrities endorsing products. This is because when someone famous likes something, it makes other people want to buy it too.
- I think it's okay for celebrities to endorse products, but it can sometimes confuse consumers. People might think the product is better than it really is just because someone famous is using it. So, they should be careful about what they promote.
Part 4
Debate
Topic 1: Should there be stricter regulations on advertising?
In a debate on this topic, you need to talk about whether we should have stricter rules for ads. Say if you agree or disagree, give reasons, and use simple examples.
Preparation (2 minutes)
Student has 2 mins to think about their arguments.
Suggesting points:
- Support: protection for kids, truth in advertising, healthier choices
- Against: freedom to advertise, business impact, difficult to manage
Debate (4 minutes)
Student has 2-4 mins to present their arguments.
Teacher helps student to expand their ideas, think critically & more views about this topic (by asking more questions about this topic).
Example
I want to talk about why we need stricter regulations on advertising. First, it's important to protect kids. Many ads on TV and online are for unhealthy snacks and toys that can make children want things that are not good for them. By having stricter rules, we can make sure ads show healthier options.
Another reason is about telling the truth. Sometimes, ads are not honest. They make products look better than they really are or hide bad things. If we have stronger rules, companies will have to be more honest, and that means people can trust what they see in ads.
Lastly, stricter regulations can help everyone make healthier choices. If there are fewer ads for unhealthy foods, maybe people will eat better and be healthier. This is good for everyone.
So, stricter rules on ads can help protect us all, especially children, and make sure ads are honest and promote good choices.
Part 5
Discussion
Let’s use the vocabulary you’ve learned during the lesson and talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
Do you think advertisements are too frequent on TV and online?
What is your favorite advertisement and why do you like it?
Do commercials make you want to buy things even if you don’t need them?
How do advertisements make you feel about a product before you buy it?
Do you believe advertisements are necessary for a company to be successful?
Should ads for unhealthy products, like junk food, be limited? Why or why not?
Do you think advertisements aimed at children should be controlled or limited?
How can consumers protect themselves from being too influenced by advertisements?
Review
Let’s review the lesson with teacher
6 words and phrases in the lesson
Debate on stricter regulations for advertising.
Discussing about the influence of advertising & its impact on consumer behavior
See you next lesson
Homework
Do homework
Choose an advertisement you (student) come across in your daily life. Write a short paragraph explaining the strategies it uses to influence consumers and whether you think it’s effective.
And send to teacher for checking mistakes
