Dress code: formal or casual?

Iulia | Dec 18, 2023Dec 18, 2023

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• respond to information from a text and a video,
• practise vocabulary related to dress code,
• listen for specific information,
• share opinions about workplace regulations. 

Students read about office attire in different decades and watch a fun video about today’s approach to dress code. They also learn vocabulary (e.g. office attire, follow a dress code) and use it to talk about dress code ideas and regulations. 

TEXT & VOCABULARY

In the warm-up activity, students explain what they think ‘dress code’ might be and say what people wear in different workplaces. Then, students read the text about office attire in different decades. They need to decide which decade the clothes in some pictures are from. They also need to underline the parts of the text that made them think so. Next, students read the text again and match some words and phrases (e.g. smart casual, office attire, dress for success) with their meanings. After that, they complete sentences about office attire in different decades. They also talk about dress code and its trends and decide which styles are best for different professions. 

VIDEO & TALKING ABOUT DRESS CODE

In this part of the lesson, students watch the video and see what the speaker’s opinion on dress code is. Then, they watch the video for the second time and decide whether some statements are true or false. They need to correct false statements. After the video, they talk about dress code a bit more. They explain why they agree or disagree with the speaker and whether dress code can sometimes be harmful. Finally, students read an email about a company that considers introducing a formal dress code and discuss how they would react if they got it. They also consider if dress code influences employee productivity.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students write or talk about dress code by giving advice about what to wear in some situations. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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