Close-up p 144. Consumerism. Oral Mediation

A friend of yours from England is going to give a TED talk about consumerism in different parts of the world. While doing his research, he came across these Google images about consumerism in Spain. He sends them to you so that you can shed some light on consumerism in your country. Your friend also asks you some questions about this topic. You decide to send your friend a voice message with an explanation of 2 minutes.

1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you? Is the Spanish society too consumer oriented?
2. Do you believe that people in Spain tend to give money too much importance?
3. Do you believe that consumer culture has been crucial to improve lives in Spain?
4. Do Spanish citizens feel guilty about spending money on anything? Why?
5. Do you think Spanish people today have an unhealthy interest in material things?
6. Do you know any Spanish people who have more money than sense? In what way?
7. Would you say Spaniards are good at saving money? Why (not)?
8. What do Spanish people normally save for?
9. Do many people in Spain take out loans? What for? Do some people in your country struggle to make ends meet and fall behind with their mortgage repayments?
10. Why do you think Spanish people buy counterfeit goods? What ways of combating counterfeiting can you think of in Spain?
11. An ethical consumer is aware of the impact of the goods he is buying and then makes the best possible purchase decision available. Should Spanish buyers shop more ethically? What would that involve? Can you think of some benefits of buying locally produced food and other goods in Spain? How could Spanish buyers contribute to improve working conditions in sweatshops?
12. Do Spaniards follow the latest fads or do they have their own sense of style?
13. Do people in Spain spend a lot during the sales? Is this justified? Do you believe in the sales? Do you think some people buy things on impulse? What do you think about imported sales promotions like Black Friday landing in Spain?
14. How popular is shopping online in Spain?
15. How popular are flea markets in your area?
16. What effects have shopping centres had on the high street in your region?
17. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having a global economy for Spain? Is globalisation an opportunity or a threat to you?


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