Unit 4.2 Online Markets

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

4.2: Online Markets
Warm-up: How many times each day do you use the internet?

What devices do you use to go online? What apps do you use most often?

Look at the logos and answer the questions

... is an online food delivery service. 

... started as an online, it's now the largest online retailer in the USA.

... is China's biggest e-commerce and shopping website. 

... is a global online auction and shopping site for individuals and small businesses.

How can an individual earn money using e-commerce websites and apps?

Read the article 'Who wants to be a sofapreneur?

What is a 'sofapreneur'?
Someone who...

1. earns money while working from home.
2. spends a lot of time sitting on his/her sofa.
3. runs an online business which sells furniture.
4. makes furniture (especially sofas)

Read the article again

(5 minutes)

What two employment statistics are mentioned from the USA?

Which two groups have difficulties doing traditional jobs?

What is the risk to other small businesses from sofapreneurs?

What does the writer think governments must do? Why?

How does Einar Parker feel about his full-time job?

Why does he enjoy his jewellery business?

Is the writer in general positive or negative about sofapreneurs?

Can you think of one more benefits and disadvantages of online marketplaces?

Do you think that websites like PeoplePerHour are changing the way companies employ people?

YES

NO

MAYBE

I don't know

Do you know anyone who sells products or gets freelance work via online marketplaces?

Present Simple and Past Simple Passive

Somebody cleans the classroom every day. (Active) 

The classroom is cleaned every day. (Passive)

Somebody cleaned the classroom yesterday. (Active) 

The classroom was cleaned yesterday. (Passive)

Look at the extracts from the article. What verb forms are the words in bold? What tense are they?

1. Alibaba is used by hundreds of millions of people around the world. 

2. The site was started twelve years ago to sell homemade goods. 

Present Simple Passive

Past Simple Passive

Present simple:
the documents / print

the window / open

the shoes / buy

the car / wash

the litter / throw away

Past tense passive:
the test / write

the table / set

the cat / feed

the lights / switch on

the house / build

Complete the listings on an e-commerce site with the active or present passive form of the verbs in brackets. 

(use the scan in Teams)

1. These personalised necklaces ... (make) of wood.

2. Orders ... (deliver) within 72 hours in the EU.

3. Each handmade ceramic bowl ... (paint) by hand.

4. It ... (not recommend) to put them in the microwave, oven or dishwasher.

5. We ... (ship) worldwide.

6. Our high-quality cotton T-shirts ... (print) specially to order and (7) ... (dispatch) within two days.

8. Just ... (select) yout size and colour and the words you (9) ... (require)

10. These coffee cups and mugs ... (design) by me and (11) ... (pack) in a gift box.

12. If your items ... (need) by a certain date, please contact me.

Complete the passive sentences with the past or present passive form of the verb in brackets.

1. Alibaba ... (set up) by Jack Ma, who is said to be one of China's richest men today.

2. Sellers using Alibaba's and Ebay's sites ... (not charge) a commission on goods sold.

3. Airbnb's headquarters ... (base) in San Francisco, California.

4. Hotels ... (not allow) to advertise rooms on the Airbnb site.

5. Some homes/offices on the website ... (own) by Airbnb.

6. When eBay ... (create) in 1995 it ... (call) AuctionWeb.

7. eBay ... (buy) by Google in 2016.

8. Very little money ... (need) to start an Etsy shop online.

Writing

Work in pairs. Imagine you want to be a sofapreneur. Look at the examples in exercise 6 again. Think about what products you could make and sell online

Find the 'my self assessment' of unit 4 on Teams. Reflect on what you have learnt in 4.2.