‘what do we mean by consumerism and materialism‘?
Some ideas/ concepts can be tricky to discuss such as ‘consumerism and materialism‘.
Here are some definitions of these concepts:
Consumerism means we consume more and throw away more as a consequence. For example, instead of preparing food at home we tend to buy semi-prepared foods from supermarkets or instead of repairing items we buy a new one. In fact, it could be positive in the sense that it drives the economy and benefits everyone in society.
Materialism is defined as giving a great value to unnecessary and luxury items, such as expensive cars or clothing brands. We associate these items with social and financial status of a person who is using them. I consider materialism negative because it brings discrimination and destroys spirituality.
Now can you relate your understanding of these concepts to the environment:
Some people think that increasing consumerism in the world is harmful for our environment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Write down a list of potential impacts of ‘consumerism‘ on the environment.
ALISTAIR BROWN: As a writing and speaking examiner for more than 10 years, I bring a lot of experience. I have seen the frustrations that students have with IELTS from a career where I have actively guided and corrected students’ studies. I am looking for the most effective ways to teach IELTS as I understand students’ needs.