The Reading / Listening - Levi's Jeans - Level 6

Fashion is ephemeral. This is particularly so for jeans. The latest trend in jeans is the baggy look. Many fashionistas are attributing this switch to looser-fitting jeans to coronavirus. Many of us have put on weight during the pandemic. As a result, we can no longer slide into our skinny jeans, which have been all the rage for the past few years. Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about the latest trend in baggier jeans. He said: "Cycles do come and go, and I think the pandemic definitely played a contributing role in consumers looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim." He added: "This is not the first time we've seen this [baggy look] resonating with consumers."

Mr Bergh predicted that the new fashion in jeans could last for a decade, and that skinny jeans are out and "balloon jeans" are in. He said: "Some people have said that this is going to create a new denim cycle, and we think that that could very well be true. The last real denim cycle was driven by skinny jeans. That cycle lasted about 10 years." He added: "I don't think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely, but clearly, right now we are seeing a very strong demand for these looser fits, both the men's side of the business, as well as the women's side." Levi's CFO Harmit Singh agreed. He said: "Some time in 2020, we came up with the balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a lot more casual."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Levi's Jeans - Level 4  or  Levi's Jeans - Level 5

Sources
  • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/levis-balloon-jeans-emerge-as-the-post-pandemic-hot-style-170424046.html
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/08/skinny-jeans-are-out-wide-leg-denim-in-vogue-levis-ceo-chip-bergh.html
  • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9454551/Levis-CEO-confirms-millennial-loved-skinny-jeans-baggy-denim-in.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. FASHION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about fashion. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       fashion / jeans / fashionistas / baggy / weight / all the rage / cycles / pandemic /
       Levi's / decade / balloon / denim / skinny / demand / 10 years / business / casual
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. JEANS: Students A strongly believe we should be able to wear jeans to school and at work; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TRENDS: What are the latest trends regarding these things? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Trends

Thoughts

Fashion

 

 

Restaurants

 

 

Music

 

 

Games

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Internet

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. DENIM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "denim". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CLOTHES: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important clothes at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Jeans
  • Socks
  • Hats
  • Jackets
  • Hoodies
  • T-shirts
  • Gloves
  • Shirts

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. ephemeral a. (of clothing) loose and hanging in folds.
      2. trend b. Lasting for a very short time.
      3. baggy c. An enthusiastic follower of fashion.
      4. fashionista d. Regarding something as being caused by someone or something.
      5. attributing e. A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
      6. all the rage f. (of an idea or action) meet with someone's agreement.
      7. resonating g. Very popular, trendy and fashionable.

    Paragraph 2

      8. predicted h. A period of ten years.
      9. decade i. The particular way in which something, especially an item of clothing, goes around or into something.
      10. driven j. Said or estimated that (a specified thing) will happen in the future.
      11. skinny k. Motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling.
      12. fit l. Thought of something new.
      13. came up with m. Very thin.
      14. casual n. Without formality of style or manner, particularly with clothing.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says that fashions in jeans are not so ephemeral.     T / F
  2. The article says many people lost weight during the pandemic.     T / F
  3. Skinny jeans have caused people to get into a rage.     T / F
  4. Levi's said it is not the first time people have liked the baggy look.     T / F
  5. The Levi's said the new trend in baggy jeans would only last a few years. T / F
  6. Women are taking to the baggier jeans, but men aren't.     T / F
  7. A Levi's executive said Levi's came up with the balloon jeans in 2020.     T / F
  8. The executive said people are becoming more causal.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. ephemeral
  2. trend
  3. attributing
  4. all the rage
  5. consumers
  6. predicted
  7. driven
  8. clearly
  9. agreed
  10. casual
  1. concurred
  2. customers
  3. popular
  4. forecast
  5. short-lived
  6. obviously
  7. laid-back
  8. crediting
  9. prompted
  10. fashion

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Fashion is
  2. Many of us have put
  3. skinny jeans, have been all
  4. the pandemic definitely played a
  5. we've seen this baggy look resonating
  6. jeans could last
  7. that could very
  8. we are seeing a very strong
  9. Some time in 2020, we came
  10. we have seen people becoming a
  1. for a decade
  2. contributing role
  3. lot more casual
  4. ephemeral
  5. up with the balloon jeans
  6. the rage
  7. demand
  8. with consumers
  9. well be true
  10. on weight

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
attributing
rage
role
pandemic
particularly
trend
resonating
slide

Fashion is ephemeral. This is (1) _____________________ so for jeans. The latest trend in jeans is the baggy look. Many fashionistas are (2) _____________________ this switch to looser-fitting jeans to coronavirus. Many of us have put on weight during the (3) _____________________. As a result, we can no longer (4) _____________________ into our skinny jeans, which have been all the (5) _____________________ for the past few years. Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about the latest (6) _____________________ in baggier jeans. He said: "Cycles do come and go, and I think the pandemic definitely played a contributing (7) _____________________ in consumers looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim." He added: "This is not the first time we've seen this [baggy look] (8) _____________________ with consumers."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
driven
create
fits
last
clearly
casual
well
agreed

Mr Bergh predicted that the new fashion in jeans could (9) _____________________ for a decade, and that skinny jeans are out and "balloon jeans" are in. He said: "Some people have said that this is going to (10) _____________________ a new denim cycle, and we think that that could very (11) _____________________ be true. The last real denim cycle was (12) _____________________ by skinny jeans. That cycle lasted about 10 years." He added: "I don't think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely, but (13) _____________________, right now we are seeing a very strong demand for these looser (14) _____________________, both the men's side of the business, as well as the women's side." Levi's CFO Harmit Singh (15) _____________________. He said: "Some time in 2020, we came up with the balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a lot more (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Fashion is ephemeral. This is particularly ______
     a.  such for jeans
     b.  sew for jeans
     c.  sewn for jeans
     d.  so for jeans
2)  slide into our skinny jeans, which have been ______
     a.  all enrage
     b.  all a rage
     c.  all then rage
     d.  all the rage
3)  Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about ______
     a.  the latest trendy
     b.  the late test trend
     c.  the latest trend
     d.  the lay test trend
4)  Cycles do come and go, and I think the pandemic definitely played ______
     a.  a contribute in role
     b.  a contribute thing role
     c.  a contributing role
     d.  a con tribute tin role
5)  the first time we've seen this baggy look resonating ______
     a.  with consumer
     b.  with consumers
     c.  with con assumers
     d.  with con assumes

6)  Mr Bergh predicted that the new fashion in jeans could last ______
     a.  four a decade
     b.  for a decade
     c.  form a decade
     d.  fore a decade
7)  and that skinny jeans are out and "balloon ______
     a.  jeans" are in
     b.  jeans" are in
     c.  jeans" are in
     d.  jeans" are in
8)  create a new denim cycle, and we think that that could very ______
     a.  well be truth
     b.  well be true
     c.  well be truism
     d.  well be trues
9)  but clearly, right now we are seeing a very strong demand for ______
     a.  these looser fits
     b.  these looser fits
     c.  these looser fits
     d.  these looser fits
10)  balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a ______
     a.  lots more casual
     b.  slot more casual
     c.  lot more casual
     d.  loads more casual

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Fashion is ephemeral. This is (1) ____________________ jeans. The latest trend in jeans is the baggy look. Many fashionistas are attributing this switch to looser-fitting jeans to coronavirus. Many of us have (2) ____________________ during the pandemic. As a result, we can no longer slide into our skinny jeans, which have been (3) ____________________ for the past few years. Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about the (4) ____________________ baggier jeans. He said: "Cycles do come and go, and I think the (5) ____________________ a contributing role in consumers looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim." He added: "This is not the first time we've seen this [baggy look] (6) ____________________."

Mr Bergh (7) ____________________ new fashion in jeans could last (8) ____________________, and that skinny jeans are out and "balloon jeans" are in. He said: "Some people have said that this is going to create a new denim cycle, and we think that that could very (9) ____________________. The last real denim cycle was driven by skinny jeans. That cycle lasted about 10 years." He added: "I don't think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely, (10) ____________________ now we are seeing a very strong demand for these looser fits, both the men's side (11) ____________________, as well as the women's side." Levi's CFO Harmit Singh agreed. He said: "Some time in 2020, we came up with the balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the opening sentence call fashion?
  2. Who is attributing the baggier look to coronavirus?
  3. What does the article say people can no longer slide into?
  4. Who is Chip Bergh?
  5. Who did Chip Bergh say a "baggy look" is resonating with?
  6. How long did Mr Bergh say the trend in baggier jeans could last?
  7. What drove the last denim cycle?
  8. What did the Levi's CEO say there has been a strong demand for?
  9. Who is Harmit Singh?
  10. What did Harmit Singh say people are becoming?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the opening sentence call fashion?
a) a waste of time
b) ephemeral
c) innovative
d) invigorating
2) Who is attributing the baggier look to coronavirus?
a) fashion designers
b) journalists
c) people who wear jeans
d) fashionistas
3) What does the article say people can no longer slide into?
a) the bath
b) swimming pools
c) skinny jeans
d) pyjamas
4) Who is Chip Bergh?
a) the Levi's CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
b) a journalist
c) the Levi's CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
d) a jeans expert
5) Who did Chip Bergh say a "baggy look" is resonating with?
a) Harmit Singh
b) consumers
c) fashion designers
d) jeans shop owners

6) How long did Mr Bergh say the trend in baggier jeans could last?
a) a decade
b) a few years
c) he doesn't know
d) until people get bored
7) What drove the last denim cycle?
a) fast cars
b) richer people
c) skinny jeans
d) the celebrity culture
8) What did the Levi's CEO say there has been a strong demand for?
a) looser fits
b) denim
c) red jeans
d) short jeans
9) Who is Harmit Singh?
a) a jeans store owner
b) the Levi's CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
c) a jeans expert
d) the Levi's CFO (Chief Financial Officer)

10) What did Harmit Singh say people are becoming?
a) experts on jeans
b) fashionistas
c) a lot more casual
d) larger

Role play

Role  A – Jeans
You think jeans are the most important items of clothing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): T-shirts, gloves or socks.

Role  B – T-shirts
You think T-shirts are the most important items of clothing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): jeans, gloves or socks.

Role  C – Gloves
You think gloves are the most important items of clothing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): T-shirts, jeans or socks.

Role  D – Socks
You think socks are the most important items of clothing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): T-shirts, gloves or jeans.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'balloon'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'jeans'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • particularly
    • switch
    • result
    • rage
    • role
    • first
    • decade
    • create
    • driven
    • right
    • business
    • came

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Levi's Jeans

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'jeans'?
    3. What do you think of jeans?
    4. Why are jeans so popular?
    5. How important are jeans to you?
    6. What do you think of fashion?
    7. What do things come in and go out of fashion?
    8. How important is it to be fashionable?
    9. What do you know about the history of jeans?
    10. Are baggy or skinny jeans better?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'balloon'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Will jeans ever go out of fashion?
    5. Who decides what fashions are out and what fashions are in?
    6. Should everyone be allowed to wear jeans at work?
    7. What is the best jeans company?
    8. What was your best ever pair of jeans?
    9. What is the best colour for jeans?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Levi's boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Fashion is ephemeral. This is (1) ____ so for jeans. The latest trend in jeans is the baggy look. Many fashionistas are (2) ____ this switch to looser-fitting jeans to coronavirus. Many of us have put (3) ____ weight during the pandemic. As a result, we can no longer slide into our skinny jeans, which have been all the (4) ____ for the past few years. Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about the latest trend in baggier jeans. He said: "Cycles do come and go, and I think the pandemic definitely (5) ____ a contributing role in consumers looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim." He added: "This is not the first time we've seen this [baggy look] resonating (6) ____ consumers."

    Mr Bergh predicted that the new fashion (7) ____ jeans could last for a decade, and that skinny jeans are out and "balloon jeans" are in. He said: "Some people have said that this is going to create a new denim cycle, and we think that that could very (8) ____ be true. The last real denim cycle was (9) ____ by skinny jeans. That cycle lasted about 10 years." He added: "I don't think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely, but (10) ____, right now we are seeing a very strong demand for these looser (11) ____, both the men's side of the business, as well as the women's side." Levi's CFO Harmit Singh agreed. He said: "Some time in 2020, we came (12) ____ with the balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a lot more casual."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     particularly     (b)     particulars     (c)     particular     (d)     peculiar    
    2. (a)     retribution     (b)     acclimatising     (c)     attributing     (d)     acculturation    
    3. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     on     (d)     off    
    4. (a)     upset     (b)     fury     (c)     anger     (d)     rage    
    5. (a)     played     (b)     joked     (c)     enjoyed     (d)     entertained    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     with     (c)     by     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     is     (b)     by     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    8. (a)     truth     (b)     well     (c)     good     (d)     goodly    
    9. (a)     cycled     (b)     piloted     (c)     driven     (d)     rowed    
    10. (a)     opaquely     (b)     clearly     (c)     evident     (d)     clarity    
    11. (a)     pits     (b)     hits     (c)     bits     (d)     fits    
    12. (a)     down     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     via

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Fashion is haepmrele
    2. Many sashnaisofit are attributing this switch
    3. put on weight during the mnaipecd
    4. lsycec do come and go
    5. ilnedyieft played a contributing role
    6. stornnaieg with consumers

    Paragraph 2

    1. Mr Bergh pceirdedt that
    2. could last for a ecdaed
    3. erdniv by skinny jeans
    4. go away clylmteeop
    5. the men's side of the ebsnsuis
    6. becoming a lot more aacusl

    Put the text back together

    (...)  time in 2020, we came up with the balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a lot more casual."
    (...)  in baggier jeans. He said: "Cycles do come and go, and I think the pandemic definitely played
    (...)  lasted about 10 years." He added: "I don't think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely, but clearly, right
    (  1  ) Fashion is ephemeral. This is particularly so for jeans. The latest trend in jeans is the baggy look. Many fashionistas are
    (...)  cycle, and we think that that could very well be true. The last real denim cycle was driven by skinny jeans. That cycle
    (...)  weight during the pandemic. As a result, we can no longer slide into our skinny jeans, which have been all the
    (...)  not the first time we've seen this [baggy look] resonating with consumers."
    (...)  Mr Bergh predicted that the new fashion in jeans could last for a decade, and that skinny jeans are
    (...)  rage for the past few years. Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about the latest trend
    (...)  now we are seeing a very strong demand for these looser fits, both the men's
    (...)  side of the business, as well as the women's side." Levi's CFO Harmit Singh agreed. He said: "Some
    (...)  a contributing role in consumers looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim." He added: "This is
    (...)  attributing this switch to looser-fitting jeans to coronavirus. Many of us have put on
    (...)  out and "balloon jeans" are in. He said: "Some people have said that this is going to create a new denim

    Put the words in the right order

    1. is   baggy   the   look   .   The   latest   jeans   trend
    2. coronavirus   .   Attributing   to   jeans   this   switch   looser-fitting   to
    3. no   We   can   slide   jeans   .   longer   our   into
    4. role   .   definitely   The   a   played   pandemic   contributing
    5. this   .   the   seen   we've   time   first   isn't   This
    6. new   fashion   could   decade   .   This   a   last   for
    7. is   create   going   This   new   cycle   .   a   to
    8. for   We're   strong   very   a   seeing   these   .   demand
    9. In   jeans   .   up   2020   we   with   these   came
    10. more   people   becoming   We've   casual   .   lot   seen   a

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Fashion is ephemeral. This is particular / particularly so for jeans. The latest trend in jeans is the baggy look. Many fashionistas are attributed / attributing this switch to looser-fitting jeans to coronavirus. Many of us have put on / in weight during the pandemic. As a result, we can no lengthen / longer slide into our skinny jeans, which have been all the rage / enrage for the past few years. Chip Bergh, the CEO of top jeans manufacture / maker Levi Strauss & Co., spoke about the latest trend / trendy in baggier jeans. He said: "Cycles do come and go / gone, and I think the pandemic definitely played a contributing role on / in consumers looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim." He added: "This is not the first time we've seen this [baggy look] resonating of / with consumers."

    Mr Bergh predicted that the new fashion on / in jeans could last for a decade, and that skinny jeans are about / out and "balloon jeans" are in. He said: "Some people have said that this is going to create a new denim cycle, and we think that that could very good / well be true. The last real denim cycle was driven / cycled by skinny jeans. That cycle lasted about 10 years." He added: "I don't think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely, but clearly / clarity, right now we are seeing a very strong demand to / for these looser / loosely fits, both the men's side of the business, as well as the women's side." Levi's CFO Harmit Singh agreed / agreeable. He said: "Some time in 2020, we came down / up with the balloon jeans, and we have seen people becoming a lot more casually / casual."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    F_sh__n  _s  _ph_m_r_l.  Th_s  _s  p_rt_c_l_rly  s_  f_r  j__ns.  Th_  l_t_st  tr_nd  _n  j__ns  _s  th_  b_ggy  l__k.  M_ny  f_sh__n_st_s  _r_  _ttr_b_t_ng  th_s  sw_tch  t_  l__s_r-f_tt_ng  j__ns  t_  c_r_n_v_r_s.  M_ny  _f  _s  h_v_  p_t  _n  w__ght  d_r_ng  th_  p_nd_m_c.  _s  _  r_s_lt,  w_  c_n  n_  l_ng_r  sl_d_  _nt_  __r  sk_nny  j__ns,  wh_ch  h_v_  b__n  _ll  th_  r_g_  f_r  th_  p_st  f_w  y__rs.  Ch_p  B_rgh,  th_  C__  _f  t_p  j__ns  m_k_r  L_v_  Str__ss  &  C_.,  sp_k_  _b__t  th_  l_t_st  tr_nd  _n  b_gg__r  j__ns.  H_  s__d:  "Cycl_s  d_  c_m_  _nd  g_,  _nd  _  th_nk  th_  p_nd_m_c  d_f_n_t_ly  pl_y_d  _  c_ntr_b_t_ng  r_l_  _n  c_ns_m_rs  l__k_ng  f_r  _  m_r_  c_mf_rt_bl_,  m_r_  r_l_x_ng  d_n_m."  H_  _dd_d:  "Th_s  _s  n_t  th_  f_rst  t_m_  w_'v_  s__n  th_s  [b_ggy  l__k]  r_s_n_t_ng  w_th  c_ns_m_rs."

    Mr  B_rgh  pr_d_ct_d  th_t  th_  n_w  f_sh__n  _n  j__ns  c__ld  l_st  f_r  _  d_c_d_,  _nd  th_t  sk_nny  j__ns  _r_  __t  _nd  "b_ll__n  j__ns"  _r_  _n.  H_  s__d:  "S_m_  p__pl_  h_v_  s__d  th_t  th_s  _s  g__ng  t_  cr__t_  _  n_w  d_n_m  cycl_,  _nd  w_  th_nk  th_t  th_t  c__ld  v_ry  w_ll  b_  tr__.  Th_  l_st  r__l  d_n_m  cycl_  w_s  dr_v_n  by  sk_nny  j__ns.  Th_t  cycl_  l_st_d  _b__t  10  y__rs."  H_  _dd_d:  "_  d_n't  th_nk  sk_nny  j__ns  _r_  _v_r  g__ng  t_  g_  _w_y  c_mpl_t_ly,  b_t  cl__rly,  r_ght  n_w  w_  _r_  s___ng  _  v_ry  str_ng  d_m_nd  f_r  th_s_  l__s_r  f_ts,  b_th  th_  m_n's  s_d_  _f  th_  b_s_n_ss,  _s  w_ll  _s  th_  w_m_n's  s_d_."  L_v_'s  CF_  H_rm_t  S_ngh  _gr__d.  H_  s__d:  "S_m_  t_m_  _n  2020,  w_  c_m_  _p  w_th  th_  b_ll__n  j__ns,  _nd  w_  h_v_  s__n  p__pl_  b_c_m_ng  _  l_t  m_r_  c_s__l."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    fashion is ephemeral this is particularly so for jeans the latest trend in jeans is the baggy look many fashionistas are attributing this switch to looserfitting jeans to coronavirus many of us have put on weight during the pandemic as a result we can no longer slide into our skinny jeans which have been all the rage for the past few years chip bergh the ceo of top jeans maker levi strauss  co spoke about the latest trend in baggier jeans he said cycles do come and go and i think the pandemic definitely played a contributing role in consumers looking for a more comfortable more relaxing denim he added this is not the first time weve seen this baggy look resonating with consumers

    mr bergh predicted that the new fashion in jeans could last for a decade and that skinny jeans are out and balloon jeans are in he said some people have said that this is going to create a new denim cycle and we think that that could very well be true the last real denim cycle was driven by skinny jeans that cycle lasted about 10 years he added i dont think skinny jeans are ever going to go away completely but clearly right now we are seeing a very strong demand for these looser fits both the mens side of the business as well as the womens side levis cfo harmit singh agreed he said some time in 2020 we came up with the balloon jeans and we have seen people becoming a lot more casual

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Fashionisephemeral.Thisisparticularlysoforjeans.Thelatesttrendinj
    eansisthebaggylook.Manyfashionistasareattributingthisswitchtoloo
    ser-fittingjeanstocoronavirus.Manyofushaveputonweightduringt
    hepandemic.Asaresult,wecannolongerslideintoourskinnyjeans,whi
    chhavebeenalltherageforthepastfewyears.ChipBergh,theCEOoftopj
    eansmakerLeviStrauss&Co.,spokeaboutthelatesttrendinbaggierjea
    ns.Hesaid:"Cyclesdocomeandgo,andIthinkthepandemicdefinitelypl
    ayedacontributingroleinconsumerslookingforamorecomfortable,mo
    rerelaxingdenim."Headded:"Thisisnotthefirsttimewe'veseenthis[ba
    ggylook]resonatingwithconsumers."MrBerghpredictedthatthenewf
    ashioninjeanscouldlastforadecade,andthatskinnyjeansareoutand"b
    alloonjeans"arein.Hesaid:"Somepeoplehavesaidthatthisisgoingtocr
    eateanewdenimcycle,andwethinkthatthatcouldverywellbetrue.Thel
    astrealdenimcyclewasdrivenbyskinnyjeans.Thatcyclelastedabout1
    0years."Headded:"Idon'tthinkskinnyjeansareevergoingtogoawayc
    ompletely,butclearly,rightnowweareseeingaverystrongdemandfort
    heselooserfits,boththemen'ssideofthebusiness,aswellasthewomen'
    sside."Levi'sCFOHarmitSinghagreed.Hesaid:"Sometimein2020,we
    cameupwiththeballoonjeans,andwehaveseenpeoplebecomingalotm
    orecasual."

    Free writing

    Write about jeans for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Jeans are the most important item of clothing in our wardrobes. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. LEVI'S: Make a poster about the company Levi's. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. JEANS: Write a magazine article about allowing everyone to wear jeans at work. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on jeans. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on jeans. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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