Business English Conversation Lessons:

Advertising
In this conversation lesson, students learn vocabulary about advertising and discuss
the topic in small groups. Teach the vocabulary and then have students do the
conversation questions in groups.

Vocabulary
Recommended terms to teach:

advertising
advertisement (shortened to ad in American English and advert in British English)

Types of advertising:

television advertising (also teach commercial/TV commercial)

radio advertising
online advertising
print advertising
outdoor advertising (also teach sign and billboard)
product placement

Characteristics of a good ad:

funny/humorous
memorable
persuasive
attention-getting
sexy
shocking (could be good or bad)

Conversation Questions
1. Describe a funny advertisement you saw or heard. What type of advertisement
was it (print, television, online, etc.)?

2. Describe a persuasive advertisement you saw or heard. What type of

advertisement was it (print, television, online, etc.)?
3. Can you think of any ads that offended people? What was offensive about the ad?
Did you think it was shocking?

4. Do you think advertising influences you? How?

5. What are your favorite brands? Do these brands advertise? Do you think you like
these brands because of their advertising or because of the product? Is it a
combination of both?

6. Do you think children are affected by advertising more than adults?

7. Do you think that the government should regulate how companies advertise to
children? How? Do you think the government should restrict advertising in other
ways? How? What laws are there in your country to restrict advertising?

8. What would the world be like without advertisements? What would be the positive
consequences? What would be the negative consequences?