Luxury Bag Purchase Causes Huge Debate in Singapore.
Singapore Inequality
Script:
A recent TikTok post by a 17-year-old named Zoe Gabriel has sparked a heated debate about class and social inequality in Singapore. The post was about her first luxury item, a tote bag from a store called Charles & Keith, which was purchased for her by her father for $60. This store is popular in other countries such as India and Thailand, but in Singapore it is not considered a luxury brand.
Many people on TikTok made fun of the post and called it a joke, but Zoe responded with an emotional video explaining how this bag was a luxury to her and her family. This response received a lot of support, and her TikTok following quickly grew by over 200,000. Zoe, who is from the Philippines, was overwhelmed by the negative comments about her father, who is a mechanical engineer.
"class is becoming a growing concern"
The debate has even reached the government, with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, mentioning it in a speech. He encouraged Singaporeans not to focus too much on status and social prestige. In Singapore, class is becoming a growing concern, as the country is known for its wealth and high-class lifestyle, but also has a large income gap between the rich and the poor. The cost of living in Singapore is also becoming a problem, as prices for everyday items are increasing. Despite this, many Singaporeans still see themselves as middle-class.
Questions:
Part 1: Comprehension
Read and summarize the article thinking of who, what, when, where & why.
Part 2: True or False Questions
a) True or False - Zoe Gabriel's TikTok post was about a luxury item she received from her father. T/F
b) True or False - The store where the tote bag was purchased, Charles & Keith, is considered a luxury brand in Singapore. T/F
d) True or False - Zoe Gabriel's father is a mechanical engineer from Singapore. T/F
Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary/phrases.
a) "Heated debate"
b) "Luxury item"
c) "Made fun of"
d) "Social prestige"
Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a.
a) Heated debate:
b) Luxury item:
c) Made fun of:
d) Social prestige:
Part 5: Talking Points
1.What is your opinion on social inequality in Singapore?
2. How do you define luxury items?
3. Do you think that the cost of living in Singapore is becoming a problem?
4. In your opinion, what causes the income gap between the rich and the poor in Singapore? Is there a big rich/poor gap in your country?
5. What are some popular brands in your country? Why are they popular?
6. Do you think that the reaction to Zoe's TikTok post was fair?
7. What is your opinion on the government's response to the debate on class in Singapore?
8. What is your opinion on the importance of social prestige in Singapore?
9. How do you think that class affects everyday life in your country?
10. What is the most expensive purchase you have ever made excluding house and car?
Part 6: Role play Scenarios
1. Social Inequality in Singapore:
A debate between two friends about Zoe's TikTok post. One friend supports Zoe's perspective and the other does not. The two friends can discuss the social inequalities in Singapore and why this bag was a luxury item for Zoe and her family.
2. A Government Perspective:
A role play between two students, one playing the role of Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, and the other playing a journalist. The student playing the role of the Deputy Prime Minister will talk about his views on the importance of not focusing too much on status and social prestige.
3. Class in Singapore:
A role play between two students who are discussing their own thoughts on class in Singapore. They can discuss their own experiences and perspectives on the growing concern of class in Singapore, as well as the cost of living and income gap between the rich and poor.
Part 7: Writing Activity:
Present tense - "Singapore is known for its wealth and high-class lifestyle." Write a short paragraph describing your country using present simple tense.
Part 8: Critical Thinking
In most countries around the world there is a widening gap between the rich and the poor. In groups come up with a 3 point strategy that the government could use to reduce this gap. Then come together as a class and reach a consensus on the top 3 points.
Answers:
Part 1: Comprehension
The article is about a debate surrounding class and social inequality in Singapore that was sparked by a TikTok post by a 17-year-old named Zoe Gabriel about her first luxury item, a tote bag. The negative comments about the bag and her father led to Zoe responding with an emotional video that received a lot of support and caused her TikTok following to grow rapidly. The debate has reached the government, with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore encouraging citizens not to focus on status and prestige. The article highlights the growing concern about class in Singapore due to the country's wealth and high-class lifestyle, combined with the large income gap and increasing cost of living.
Part 2: True or False
A: True B: False C: False D: False
Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary or phrases.
A) "Heated debate" Answer: This is a passionate and intense discussion or argument in which the participants express strong emotions and opposing viewpoints because in the article they talk about how this issue caused a lot of controversy online.
b) "Luxury item" Answer: I think this refers to a high-end product, often associated with wealth, that is seen as an indicator of status or prestige. In the article, it refers to the tote bag from the store Charles & Keith, which was purchased for the 17-year-old, Zoe Gabriel, by her father.
c) "Made fun of" Answer: I think this means to mock or ridicule someone, often in a hurtful or unkind manner, because in the article they talk about how Zoe received a lot of online abuse.
d) "Social prestige" Answer: This refers to the status or respect that a person is accorded in society based on their wealth, education, occupation, or other factors. In the article, it is a central issue in the debate about class and inequality in Singapore.
Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a. (examples)
a) Heated debate: The heated debate in the town hall meeting left both sides feeling strongly about their positions but without a clear resolution.
b) Luxury item: I treated myself to a luxury item, a designer handbag, as a reward for her hard work.
c) Made fun of: The children made fun of their classmate's accent, unaware of how much their words hurt her feelings.
d) Social prestige:Her family's wealth and connections afforded her a high level of social prestige within the community.
Part 7: Writing (example)
My home country is Spain. Spain is a country famous for its diverse culture, beautiful landscapes, and lively traditions. It has a rich history, and cities like Barcelona and Seville are full of old buildings and stories from the past. The weather in Spain is usually warm, and there are many lovely beaches. Spanish food is delicious, especially the small dishes called "tapas" and the famous rice dish called "paella." People in Spain love to dance and play traditional music, and you can often see and hear the exciting Flamenco dance. Life in Spain is relaxed, and communities are close-knit, making it a friendly place. Spain values its history while also looking to the future, which makes it an interesting and vibrant country to explore and live in.
