TOPIC: HOUSING LEVEL B1

TASK 1_Monologue: Talk about your dream house, describing the ideal location, services and facilities. What
are the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of housing?

Task 1_pre-task:

 Use the present simple, the conditional (to talk hypothetically) and expressions of existence: There is/are,
It has a..., we find a...

 Use expressions and adverbial phrases for location: in the basement/attic, on the ground/fist/second
floor, It is near a... /close to a... , in the middle of, etc.

 You can use the vocabulary below to enrich your presentation:

I live in a … It’s got…

(semi-)detached / terraced house – a block of
flats – an appartment – a cottage /’kɒtɪdʒ/
I live in… the suburbs /’sʌbɜ:(r)b/ - a
residential area - the town-centre - the
outskirts of town - a noisy/quiet
/’kwaɪət/neighbourhood - the countryside
a lift – an attic – a balcony – a fireplace – wooden
floors – a good view – high ceilings – stairs – a
front/large/back garden – a patio – central heating
– a fully-equipped /ɪ’kwɪpt/ kitchen – all mod cons
(equipment in a house to make life easy) – an en-suite /ɒn
‘swi:t/ bathroom – appliance /ə’plaɪəns/

It’s overlooking a park – It’s well-connected to…

spacious /’speɪʃəs/ – modern – old- To worry about something
fashioned - lively /’laɪvli/ – noisy – quiet – To annoy / stand / endure (ɪn’djʊə(r) – to suffer in a
bright/light – dark – comfortable /’kʌmftəbl/ patient way) your neighbours /’neɪbə(r)/

/ cosy /’kəʊzi/

 Use the comparatives when comparing different kinds of housing: It is quieter – It is closer to main services
– there is more space – rooms are bigger, etc.

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Esta obra está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional.
  Organize your information and ideas:

I’m going to speak about my As I see it…

ideal house and then I will Also, ...
In my opinion….
compare /kəm’peə(r)/ different However, but...
kinds of housing. The best about… On the one hand...
Regarding / As for my ideal The main advantage On the other hand...
house, I would like to… /əd’vɑ:ntɪdʒ/ of living in… Although...
In conclusion, I think that living The pros /prəʊz/ / cons /kɒnz/
in a… of…

 Related links:

http://www.mansioningles.com/listening06.htm (Pam’s House)

http://www.mansioningles.com/listening48.htm (Dee’s House)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGR1pB4wrUs (Vocabulary on Home and Furniture)

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/word-street/flathunting (Clips about flathunting and homes of the

future)

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine-articles/town-or-country-mouse (Read article about living

in a city or the countryside)

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/i-wanna-talk-about/living-my-own (Living on your own)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGR1pB4wrUs (Renting an apartment)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/worldservice/quiznet/quizengine?ContentType=text/html;quiz=120_where_pe
ople_liv (Quiz – Where people live)

Trabajo realizado por la ESCUELA OFICIAL DE IDIOMAS DE ESTEPA (SEVILLA)

Esta obra está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional.
 TASK 2_Dialogue TOPIC: HOUSING

ROLE A

You are getting married very soon and are looking for a place to live. Tell student B (state agent) about
the kind of home that you are looking for and explain the things that are important for you. You might
have children in a couple of years and don’t forget your mother in law, who’s moving in with you. You
and your partner both work in the city centre and you both have a car.

The following phrases/expressions may come in handy:

To make a point : To ask and inform:

Personally, I think that… I would like to take a look at the last one.
The way I see it, it’s better…
Do you have anything closer to the city centre?
I know what you mean, but…
I’m not sure about that. I’m looking for a place with easy access to the
motorway / all the main services
My view is that…
The fact is / The point is that we need… In a really good location / in very good
condition

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ROLE B

You are a state agent. Listen to your client’s needs, ask appropriate questions and try to find the
perfect home for him/her. You can’t really tell him, but you are desperate to sell a cottage in the
countryside at 20 kms from the city centre, whose price is 160,000 €.

The following phrases/expressions may come in handy:

To persuade: To inform:

Surely, it is better to live… It’s in very good condition / well-kept

Isn’t it true that it is more relaxing to …? It was recently rebuilt / modernised
Don’t you think that…? In a really good location
Anyone can see that it is better…
A ten minute’s drive/walk from the city centre
I can assure you that you will be happy with
It allows you easy access to all the main
this purchase /ˈpɜː(r)tʃəs/
services
Close to the motorway

Trabajo realizado por la ESCUELA OFICIAL DE IDIOMAS DE ESTEPA (SEVILLA)

Esta obra está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional.