When you’re in the US, there are a few interactions that you’ll have all the time, like at the cash register of a store. And those cashiers talk fast!
These conversations at the cash register are full of little “formulas”, regular questions, and answers the cashier expects to hear. This conversation is quick! No hesitations!
Today, you’ll learn to understand the things you hear when you go shopping in the USA.
FIRST, A BIG THANK YOU
The inspiration for this lesson comes from the blog (in French) Belle Aventure USA, by Katrien a Belgian woman who lives in Tennessee. If you read French, you’ll enjoy her articles at https://bellaventureusa.wordpress.com. I love her sense of humor!
Her article “La couille de Noël: Délices linguistiques de saison” (I told you it was funny!) includes a practical guide for surviving the cash register discussion in American stores.
I thought her article would be a perfect lesson for you guys.
LET’S TEST YOUR COMPREHENSION
In the video, we’ll play a game.
You’re at the cash register at Wal-Mart, a big supermarket in the USA.
I’m the cashier. The person working at the cash register. You’re the customer.
In the game, I ask you some typical questions that you’ll hear at the cash register. You’ll hear each question twice, at regular speaking speed, like Americans really speak when they speak to other Americans.
See if you can understand what I ask you, and if you know how to respond. Good luck.
And now, you’re ready to master the fine art of going through the cash register at the American supermarket!
What about you?
Have you ever gone to a supermarket in the USA?
Did you hear any of these expressions when you went to the cash register? Did you know what to say?
Share your stories with us in the comments. I love reading your stories!
UNDERSTAND 12 EVERYDAY PHRASES WHEN AMERICANS SAY THEM FAST
With the help of a few special Speak English Ambassadors (thanks Eva, Marion, Héloïse, Aurélie, Katrien, Caroline, Laurence, and Severine!), I’ve created the American Accent Survival Kit to help you understand 12 essential everyday phrases when Americans say them fast.
Click here to get your free kit
Thanks so much for being part of the Speak English Community. It’s thanks to our discussions that I can create things like the American Accent Survival Kit for you guys.
Have fun with it,
Christina
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Thank you Christina for this free short interesting lesson about the cashier in the usa. I don’t often watch your video because of a lack of time. But i like your “jeu de scene”, so today i did it, and i liked it because it was short efficient teaching (especially about the “cash back”) and funny…. funny wich is the most important part for me when i wake up on the morning(today is off for me). Have a nice Tuesday
Claude from martinique.
Hi Claude, and how are things in Martinique? I’m glad that you found the video short, funny, and super practical! That’s the objective! I’m glad you took the time today to learn something with me 🙂
Have a lovely day!
Oh!
Not easy to understand Americans when they talk to each other. My God!
Though, your lesson is very interesting because you give us the main questions and the expected answers.
That’s great. Thanks a lot Christina.
Aïcha
Hi Aïcha,
You’re right, it’s not easy to understand when 2 Americans talk to each other, but I want to help make it easier! I’m glad that you liked this very practical lesson! I’ll have to do more like this on other common conversation situations. Have a great day!
Hi Christina. You’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem on listening comprehension is that native people speaks a mile a minute. I have no words to tell you how useful your videos are. Thanks a lot.
By the way, is French your mother tongue? or is the contrary. I’m in two minds.
Hi Ferran, Thanks so much for your comment, and great use of the expressions “hit the nail on the head” and “a mile a minute”. Where did you learn these expressions? Glad this video was so useful for you.
And to answer your question, my native language is English (the American variety 🙂 I started learning French in high school and then in college (university). And then I moved to France and met Romain (the French guy in the videos).
Yes! Finally after more than a year in USA I can understand everything you said!
And that’s really every sentences I hear every single time I’m going to groceries.
The real life with American people is very helpful for that, but your videos are too. It allows me to point out my weaknesses, and then improve my English every week.
Have a great one!
Hi Aurélie, and way to go for you if you can understand everything I said! Woohoo!
I’m sure that being surrounded by American accents for a year has really trained your ear. You’ve got the right approach: Immersing yourself in the language + doing conscious improvement on your English will help so much (as you’ve probably already noticed!)
Hi Christina
I recevied your lesson every week, it’s very interesting. If you have an other lesson about travel exemple at the airportetc etc
I learn english and I appreciate your lesson.
Hi Carole, I’m glad you enjoy the lessons each week! And that’s a very good suggestion for a subject. Do you mean going through customs at the airport? Let me know and I’ll add the subject to my video calendar! Thanks for the idea!
THANK YOUSO MUCH Chris your vedios are amazing go ahead
Thanks so much Mohamed! I’ll continue indeed 🙂
Hello Christima. I like very much this vidéo. Best regards. Freddy
Hey Freddy, how are you doing? Glad you like the video! Have you ever been in these situations? I’m curious 😉
Hi Christina, I found funny and very useful your video. Keep on it giving us simple and teachings videos, mainly for us that english is our second tongue and it is a bit difficult. Thks and greetings.
Hi José, thanks so much! I’m glad that you found the lesson both funny and useful, and I’ll definitely keep doing the lessons for as long as I help others. By the way, if you have a suggestion for a subject for a lesson, please tell me. I love making lessons that people ask for. All the best!
When I was in Japan last year, at a convenience store, the girl at the counter gave me a big spiel to me in Japanese (which I don’t speak!). I think she was just asking me if I wanted a bag or something but it was this huge, long speech in Japanese and she was expecting me to reply at the end. I just stood there – I think one of here colleagues ended up intervening! Lol! She was really young and she’d diligently learned the whole speech to give to clients.
Such a contrast with the English-speaking world where we just trot out a couple of quick, indistinguishable lines. Or sometimes the cashier barely speaks and just shoves the receipt in the bag! I do miss cash back though – we have it in the UK too.
Great idea for a lesson. I’ll have to read the blog post that inspired this video.
Oh dear, I can imagine being just totally like “Uh, what do I do now?” faced with a Japanese cashier who talks to you for more than 2 phrases at a time! And I agree, cash back is SO convenient! I didn’t know they also had it in the UK, but that’s handy to know! Yes, the original blog post is very insightful! Be sure to check it out!
Quick update – I turned this video into a lesson with one of my students. He really struggled to catch your fast speech! It was pretty challenging. We turned it into a role play with me saying the expressions a little slower and him responding. It worked really well. I might try it with your other videos on renting a car or ordering food.
Hi Cara, wow, thanks! I’m always so happy to hear when other teachers (especially teachers I know and respect) use my videos in their classrooms.
I’m actually kind of “happy” to hear that your student struggled because it means that it sounds real! American English (and English spoken at normal speed for native speakers in general…) can be VERY challenging indeed. Not happy that your student struggled, but good to know that it reflects what they hear in the real world.
And of course you knew how to use it as a springboard for a great lesson! Your student surely really enjoyed improving their comprehension skills with you!
Thank you christina… what about Plastic or paper ?
You are so cool! I do not believe I have read through anything like that before.So wonderful to find someone with some unique thoughts on this topic.
Seriously.. thank you for starting this up.
First time to start learning English, and very interesting & funny.
Would like to have a short discuss with you!
Thanks.
Hi, Christina. Thank you for your work. Besides of very much valuable information, your videos contains so much chearfulnes as the big box of oranges.