Global English
Language & Culture
You’re off to great places, today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!
dr. seuss
American children’s author and cartoonist
Chapter 1
The United States
Pack your bags and get ready to travel across the United States ! In this chapter, you’ll learn about the history of blue jeans, take a road trip on the famous Route 66, and try foods that Americans love. You’ll also read about a girl who has to start a new life in Esperanza Rising, and discover how Americans use language to express themselves. Each section will teach you something new about American life, history, and culture.
I can understand and use English to describe the United States and talk about its places, people, and culture.
to affect invloed hebben op army leger brand merk city stad company bedrijf country land decision beslissing event gebeurtenis famous beroemd influence invloed invention uitvinding light bulb gloeilamp skyscraper wolkenkrabber space agency ruimtevaartorganisatie learning goal
Start The US, a country of big influence
What do you think of when you hear America ? Hamburgers? Hollywood? Skyscrapers? Or world politics? US decisions affect many other countries.
The United States, or America, has huge cities, wild landscapes, and famous brands like Coca-Cola, Apple, and Nike. From the bright lights of New York City to the beauty of the Grand Canyon, the US has many famous places. It also has the world’s biggest economy and a strong army. Because of this, the US has a big influence on other countries and world events.
The US is also known for new ideas. It is a leader in technology, with companies like Google, Microsoft, and Tesla changing the modern world. NASA, the US space agency, was the first to put a person on the moon. American inventions like the light bulb, aeroplane, and internet have changed how people live and work.
Exercise 1
What do you know about the US?
Read the text and look at the map. Write down two things you already knew and one new thing you learned. Compare your answers with a classmate. T 2
Exercise 2
Check the facts
Read the text and look at the map.
a Name one city and one natural place. R
b Name two technology companies. R
c Why does the US have a big influence on other countries? T 1
UNITED STATES
Exercise 3
Fill in the words
Complete each sentence using only words from the word list on page 10. T 1
a Nike is a famous ……… from the US.
b The US has a strong ……… .
c NASA is the US
d When you hear America, do you think of a tall ……… ?
e US decisions ……… many other countries.
f The ……… made it possible for people to work at night.
g The internet is an important American
Exercise 4
Let’s talk !
Talk with your classmate. Take turns asking and answering the questions. T 2
a What’s the first thing you think of when you hear America? Why? Sentence starter : I think of … because …
b Would you like to go there one day? Why / why not?
Sentence starter: I would (not) like to go because …
Use words like : beautiful / big / cities / different / expensive / exciting / famous / far / interesting / nature
beautiful mooi different anders exciting spannend expensive duur far ver
Los Angeles Mount Rushmore
Statue of Liberty
The White House
Grand Canyon
Golden Gate Bridge
learning goal
I can understand short texts and conversations about clothes and shopping, and take part in polite conversations.
Blue jeans From work clothes to fashion everywhere
Did you know blue jeans were first made for workers, not for fashion?
In 1873, two men, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis, made the first jeans for workers. These workers needed strong trousers for their jobs.
Levi and Davis used a strong fabric called denim. They used small metal pieces, called rivets, to make the pockets stronger. Soon, jeans became popular because they were strong, comfortable, and looked good. Many people started making and selling jeans. Today, jeans are sold all over the world, and millions of people wear them.
to call noemen comfortable comfortabel
denim spijkerstof fabric stof fashion mode to need nodig hebben piece onderdeel pocket zak popular populair rivet klinknagel strong sterk to sell verkopen trousers broek to wear dragen work clothes werkkleding worker arbeider
Did you know ?
v The word denim comes from Nîmes, a city in France. The name comes from the French words de Nîmes (‘from Nîmes’).
v In Dutch, jeans are called spijkerbroeken because of the metal rivets (klinknagels) on the pockets.
v In the 1950s, many schools said ‘No jeans here!’ They were seen as rebel clothes.
Denim fabric and rivets make jeans strong
Exercise 5
Jeans: Facts and ideas
Read the text on page 12 about the history of jeans. Look at the pictures on the right. Answer the questions in one or two sentences.
a Who made the first jeans? T 1
b What small metal pieces make jeans stronger? T 1
c Why do you think jeans became popular all over the world? T 2
d challenge Do you like wearing jeans? Why or why not? I Sentence starter: I (don’t) like wearing jeans because
Exercise 6
Matching jeans parts
Read the keywords and their descriptions below. Then, look at the picture of jeans and match the words with the correct parts (A, B, C, et cetera). T 1
Keywords: Parts of jeans
1 button closes the jeans at the waist
2 zipper opens and closes jeans easily
3 pockets jeans usually have five pockets
4 rivets make the pockets stronger
5 belt loops hold your belt in place
6 denim a strong material, usually blue
Jeans as work clothes
Jeans became popular in movies
Jeans for everyone, everywhere
19th century 1950s Today
capitals hoofdletters full stops punten lower case kleine letters
Did you know ?
In English, people often use the 12-hour clock with a.m. (night / morning) and p.m. (afternoon / evening).
9:00 a.m. = 09:00
2:00 p.m. = 14:00
12:00 a.m. = 00:00 (midnight)
12:00 p.m. = 12:00 (noon)
What do a.m. and p.m. mean?
a.m. = ante meridiem (Latin: ‘before midday’)
p.m. = post meridiem (Latin: ‘after midday’)
American English: usually AM / PM (without full stops, in capitals). British English: often a.m. / p.m. (with full stops, lower case).
Exercise 7
Order confirmation
Read the message from a web shop and answer the questions. T 1
From : noreply @ DenimStore.com
Subject : Order Confirmation
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for your order!
You bought 1 pair of blue jeans in size M. Your package will arrive on Friday between 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Enjoy your new jeans!
a What did Jamie order? R
b What do you think the M means in ‘size M’? T1
c Will the package arrive in the morning, afternoon, or evening? T1
d The jeans don’t fit. Can Jamie reply to this email?
Look at the email address. Why (not)? I
Exercise 8
a What is it in English?
Look at the pictures (A–F). Choose the correct English words from the boxes. T1
jeans
b Clothes in sentences
Write one short sentence for each item (A–F). T2
Use: I wear / This is / These are
examples
v I wear jeans at school.
v This jacket is brown.
v These jeans are comfortable.
Exercise 9
What people say about The Perfect Fit Store
You want to buy a new pair of jeans, so you read reviews of The Perfect Fit Store online. Read what customers say about the shop and answer the questions. T2
‘ The staff was very helpful, but the jeans were expensive.’
‘I found the perfect size, and the quality is great!’
‘They have a good selection, but the prices are too high.’
a What did customers like about the shop? R
b What did customers not like about the shop? R
c Why is the shop called The Perfect Fit Store? T2
d Would you go to this shop? Why or why not? I
Customer reviews
How ‘jeans’ got their name
The name jeans comes from Gênes, the French name for the city of Genoa in Italy. Sailors there wore trousers made of strong fabric, similar to denim.
The name jeans became popular in the 1950s, when jeans became fashion. Before that, they were often called overalls.
‘Store’ or ‘shop’?
In the US, people usually say store when talking about places to buy things, like a grocery store, and roles like store assistant
In the UK, people say shop, like grocery shop or shop assistant
These terms mean the same thing, so you can use either.
v Zinsvolgorde (word order)
In het Engels hebben zinnen dezelfde basisvolgorde als in het Nederlands : onderwerp / persoonsvorm / rest van de zin
The shop sells jeans. De winkel verkoopt spijkerbroeken.
onderwerp persoonsvorm rest van de zin
v Plaats en tijd
1 Als je wilt aangeven waar of wanneer iets gebeurt, dan zet je dit achteraan in de zin.
I wear pyjamas in bed / She wears a skirt on Sundays.
2 Als je wilt benadrukken waar of wanneer iets gebeurt, dan kun je dit ook vooraan in de zin zetten.
In bed I wear pyjamas. / On Sundays she wears a skirt.
v Lidwoorden : a / an / the (articles)
1 Het Nederlandse lidwoord een vertaal je in het Engels met a of an
v Gebruik a als de eerste klank van het volgende woord een medeklinker is (b, c, d, f, g, …).
a jacket / a nice idea / a house (‘haus’) / a uniform (‘joenieform’)
v Gebruik an als de eerste klank van het volgende woord een klinker is (a, e, i, o, u).
an item / an old shirt / an hour (‘auwe’)
2 De Nederlandse lidwoorden de en het worden allebei vertaald met the. the button on my jacket the designers who created these jeans the expensive T-shirt that my friend has
Exercise 10
Reordering mixed sentences
Put the parts of the sentence in the correct order. T 1
a buys / a new pair of jeans / she
b sells / the store assistant / jeans
c denim / a strong material / is
d prefer / many people / comfortable jeans
e tries on / she / a pair of jeans
f denim jackets / wear / people
g jeans / Levi Strauss / invented
h comfortable / jeans / are
challenge Exercise 11
Word order with place and time
a Make two sentences about clothes. Put where or when at the end of the sentence. I
examples
She wears jeans at school / I wear a hoodie on Sundays.
b Make one sentence about clothes. Put where or when at the beginning of the sentence (to show it is important). I
examples
At school she wears jeans. / On Sundays I wear a hoodie.
You can use words like: hoodie / jeans / jacket / T-shirt / at home / at school / in the park / on Mondays / in the morning / at night
Exercise 12
Choose the correct article
Fill in the blanks with a, an, or the. T1
a I bought …… pair of jeans yesterday.
b We liked jeans you wore yesterday.
c She wants new jacket to go with her jeans.
d He found …… old denim shirt in his closet.
e Can you give me …… idea for a new jeans outfit?
f …… zipper on my jeans is broken.
g She bought amazing pair of designer jeans.
h He is looking for …… belt to wear with his jeans.
v Need more grammar practice?
Watch the online video and try the exercises.
Why do we say ‘a pair of jeans’?
In English, we often say a pair of jeans even though it’s just one item. This is because jeans used to be made from two separate parts — one for each leg!
v Say jeans when you talk about jeans in general. I love jeans / Jeans are comfortable.
v Say a pair of jeans when you mean one piece of clothing. She buys a new pair of jeans.
Language Tip Who, what, when, where, and why
You don’t need to understand every word to follow a conversation. Focus on the big picture by asking the 5 Ws:
v Who is talking? v Where are they?
v What is it about? v Why are they talking?
v When does it happen?
Exercise 13
Who, what, when, where, and why?
Listen to the conversation online. Answer the 5 Ws from the Language Tip above. T2
Exercise 14
Shopping for jeans
Listen again to the conversation between Amina and Carlos. Read along and fill in the blanks. T 1
carlos [ a ] ! Welcome. My name is Carlos. How can I help you?
amina Hi! I’m looking for a pair of ……… [ b ], please.
carlos What ……… [ c ] are you looking for?
amina Do you have this pair in size ……… [ c ] ?
carlos Yes, we do! It’s made from strong ……… [ e ]. Would you like to try them on?
amina Sure, where is an empty ……… [ f ] room ?
carlos Over there, on your right.
amina These jeans fit well. How much do they ……… [ g] ?
carlos They’re $ 40, but today you only pay $ 32.
amina Thank you !
carlos You’re welcome. Goodbye! Have a nice ……… [ h ] and enjoy the weekend.
Exercise 15
Articles
Find one example each of a, an, and the in the conversation. T1
Exercise 16
Polite phrases
Write down at least two polite sentences from the conversation. hint Check the polite phrases on page 20. T1
Exercise 17
Listening to the Wrangler jeans ad
Watch the Wrangler jeans ad online and answer the questions below.
a What does the singer do after waking up? T 2
b How does he feel afterwards? T 2
c What happens to the music? T 2
d What does the main guy do to the jukebox? T 2
e challenge The ad ends with the text ‘Wrangler — for the ride of life’. What do you think this means? I
f challenge Do you think ads like this one influence what you buy? Why or why not? I (Use a sentence starter to answer: I think ads influence me because … / I don’t think ads influence me because … )
Did you know? Cowboys in the US
v Watch the video online and then read the following text.
v Movies and ads often show the same picture of cowboys — white men riding horses in the Wild West. Did you know there are many African American cowboys in states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana? They have their own rodeos, music, and traditions.
Why do US prices look cheaper?
v In the US, prices in stores do not include tax (like Dutch btw ). The tax is added when you pay, and it is different depending on where you are.
v In the UK and the Netherlands, prices include tax. The price on the tag is the final price you pay.
PHRASES
In the US, people use please, thank you, and excuse me a lot, especially in stores and restaurants. 1
note
Polite phrases
v please alsjeblieft
Can you help me, please?
v thank you dank je Thank you for your help.
v you’re welcome graag gedaan You’re welcome!
v excuse me pardon Excuse me, where is the fitting room?
2
Shopping requests
v How much do these jeans cost? Hoeveel kost deze spijkerbroek?
v Do you have this in size M? Heeft u dit in maat M?
v Can I try this pair of jeans on? Mag ik deze spijkerbroek passen?
v Can I pay by card? Kan ik met de pinpas/creditcard betalen?
note
In the US, credit cards or cash are more common than debit cards (pinpassen).
note
Talking about what you like and don’t like
v I like … Ik vind … leuk. I like baggy jeans. They’re really comfortable.
v I don’t like … Ik vind … niet leuk. I don’t like red dresses. Red is not my colour.
v I love … Ik hou van … I love my new hoodie. It’s soft and warm.
v I hate … Ik heb een hekel aan … / ik haat … I hate wearing tight jeans in summer. Too hot!
v I like … because … Ik vind … leuk omdat …
I don’t like T-shirts. — Really? Why is that? 3 4
I like this jumper because it’s soft and fits well.
v I don’t like … because … Ik vind … niet leuk omdat … I don’t like these shoes because they hurt my feet.
Reacting to opinions
v me too ik ook I like hoodies. — Me too!
v not me ik niet I love dresses. — Not me. I hate them.
v I agree. Ik ben het ermee eens. Jeans are comfortable. — I agree. Jeans are great.
v I don’t agree. Ik ben het er niet mee eens. Skinny jeans are the best. — I don’t agree. Baggy jeans are much nicer.
v that’s true dat is waar These trainers are nice. — That’s true. They look cool.
v Really? Echt?
People often say I hate… for small things, like food or clothes. It sounds strong, but it’s normal in everyday English.
Just be careful — don’t use it to talk about people. note Short reactions like Really? or Me too show you’re listening and interested.
1.2 S SPEAKING
v Listen and learn
Go online for more examples and pronunciation support.
Pronunciation of the ‘j’ sound
In English, the letter j sounds like ‘dzj’ in Dutch. You can hear it in names like James and Jack. When spelling a word, j is pronounced ‘dzjay’ (Dutch: ‘dzjeej’).
note The ‘dzj’ sound is also used in some words that begin with the letter g (like gym and gel).
Practice sentences
v James wears a jacket.
v Jeans is spelled j-e-a-n-s.
tip Don’t mix ‘dzj’ (like Jack) with ‘tsj’ (like chest).
Exercise 18
Minimal pairs
Work in pairs. Student A: Pick a word in each pair and pronounce them. Student B : Listen and write down which words you hear. Check together if the words are the same. Then switch roles. T 2
a joke / choke
b jeep / cheap
c gin / chin
d Jess / chess
e Jill / chill
f Jerry / cherry
jeans jacket price skirt denim store jumper fabric order T-shirt discount customer
Exercise 19
Sort the words
Draw three columns in your notebook: 1 Clothes / 2 Materials / 3 Shopping Put the words on the left in the right column. T 2
Exercise 20
Talking about clothes
Work in pairs. Take turns asking and answering the question. T 1
a What’s your favourite item of clothing ?
b I like / love my … because …
Choose from:
v dress / hoodie / jacket / jeans / jumper / T-shirt / trainers
v colourful / comfortable / cool / fits well / soft / warm
Exercise 21
Jeans shopping roleplay
a Pair up and roleplay a shopping conversation between a customer and a store assistant. Use the phrases from pages 20-21. T 2
instructions
1 Choose roles: customer or store assistant.
2 Use the prompts below to build a short conversation.
3 Switch roles and try again.
prompts Customer
v Ask how much the jeans cost.
v Ask if you can try the jeans on.
v Use polite phrases like Excuse me, I’m sorry, and Thank you.
Store assistant
v Answer the questions
v Use polite phrases like Can I help you ?, You’re welcome
b challenge Ew! There’s a stain on the jeans ! You find awesome jeans — but wait ... there’s a big, weird stain on them! Talk to the store assistant. Say 2–4 short sentences. I
v Say there’s a stain and react (That’s gross! Ew! Yikes! Oh no! ).
v Say you want a different pair.
v The store assistant should react politely.
Exercise 22
Fit and style
a Complete the sentences with the correct words on the right. T 1
1 These jeans are too small. They are
2 This jumper is very big. It’s ……
3 These trousers have very big legs. They are ……
4 My hoodie is soft and nice to wear. It’s very
5 My new T-shirt has red, yellow, and blue stripes. It’s
6 Everyone wants this jacket. It’s really ……
b Describe your partner’s clothes. Look at your partner’s clothes. Use at least two words from the box to describe them. T 2
example
Your jumper is colourful and comfortable.
Well, what do you think?
Exercise 23
Which jeans are popular today?
Look at the illustration of different types of jeans below. Choose one style and write two sentences about why you like or don’t like them. T 1
hints
v Use words like comfortable, trendy, cool, relaxed, fitted, or retro
v Make your sentences between 6–10 words.
v Use phrases from ‘Talking about what you like and don’t like’ and ‘Reacting to opinions’ on page 21.
example
I love ripped jeans because they look cool.
skinny jeans tight fit from top to bottom
baggy jeans very loose and oversized fit
mom jeans high-waisted and relaxed around the hips
Exercise 24
ripped jeans ripped fabric with holes for a casual or edgy look
Where do you buy your clothes?
Do you buy your clothes in a store or online?
flared jeans wide at the bottom, narrow at the top
Write 2–3 sentences about your choice. Use at least one of these words: easy, price, try on, selection. T 2
hints
v Use the phrases from pages 20-21 to help you start your sentences.
v You can also mention what’s better for the planet, or more fair to people.
Exercise 25
Shopping words
a Match the words on the right with the correct definition. R
1 the person who buys something
2 not much money
3 to buy something by asking for it in a shop or online
4 it costs a lot of money
5 when your package arrives
6 a place where you can buy things
7 friendly and ready to help
b Online or in store? Put the words in the correct category. T 1
v online only:
v in a store only:
v both: ……
challenge Exercise 26
Write two more sentences
a Do you prefer second-hand clothes or new ones? Why? T 2
b What is better for the planet: shopping in a store or online? Why?
Use words like cheap, expensive, new, old, travel, delivery, time I
Exercise 27
Make a jeans advertisement
Create your own advertisement for your dream jeans.
a Write 3–4 sentences: describe the jeans (colour, fit, style), write the price, and say why people should buy them. I
b Add a slogan, like a real brand. Make it catchy! I
example
These jeans are blue and baggy. They are very comfortable and perfect for summer. Only $25 !
hint
Use at least 3 words from exercises 19 and 22.
order customer delivery store helpful cheap expensive
learning outcomes
R
v Understand words about jeans, shopping, and clothing.
v Understand common polite phrases, shopping questions, and expressions for giving opinions.
T 1
v Understand and use the basic rules for articles (a, an, the).
v Read short texts and understand the main idea and key details.
v Understand short spoken English about shopping and clothing.
T 2
v Write short sentences about your favourite jeans and shopping choices.
v Use polite expressions and shoppingrelated phrases in conversations.
I
v Share your own ideas about shopping experiences and explain your opinions.
v Recognise cultural differences in shopping-related language.
boom.nl /voortgezet-onderwijs november 2025