Everyday Idioms 2

Episode 4:

Roommate Issues
Warm-Up
A. Preview

In the last episode, Kate met her new roommate, Yuki.

Even before Kate unpacked her bags, the roommates
seemed to be off to a rocky start. Just a few weeks
have passed, but Kate has already had enough of Yuki
and her “entourage.” In this episode, Kate approaches
the campus “Don” about her problems. What do you
think Kate’s Don will do about her roommate issues?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the idioms on the left

to the correct definitions on the right.

1. go-to person a) not interesting

2. first things first b) to resolve an issue

c) only just
3. get ahead of oneself
d) not really, emphasizes “not”
4. dry
e) a remark used when one wants to discuss or
5. barely even attend to the first issue before moving on

6. never mind f) to talk about someone to another person (usually negative comments)

7. on one’s plate g) to make plans or to show concern too far in advance

h) on one’s to-do list, things that need to be addressed or completed

8. work something out
i) emphasis on something even less likely
9. talk behind one’s back
j) a person who has the answers and
10. not exactly can offer guidance on a certain topic

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 Roommate Issues
Episode 4 of 15 | Everyday Idioms 2

Listening
Fill in the blanks as you listen. Then read the dialogue with your partner a
few times. Take turns being each character. Practice your intonation and
pronunciation. Underline or highlight any new words or phrases that you
don’t understand. Kate Alex

You’re Alex, right? I hear you are the about dorm room problems.
I’ve been looking for you everywhere.

Whoa. . What room are you in?

Sorry, I . I’m Kate. Room 17 on the seventh floor.

Hi, Kate. Yes, I’m the don for floor 7. How have you enjoyed the first few weeks of school?

My classes are bit , but I guess that is to be expected for first year.
I'm having a major problem with my roommate, though.

Uh-oh. Already? School has started, Kate.

Is Yuki keeping you up too late or something?

It’s not about the late nights. She just always has someone over in our room.
The room is barely big enough for the two of us, her boyfriends.

Boyfriends? Oh, does she have more than one this year?

Well, I don’t think she’s really dating any of them, but she never
comes to the room without an entourage. It’s impossible to study.

Have you tried using the study hall or the library? It’s only a ten-minute walk across campus.

I know, but I like studying on my bed. That’s what I always did in high school.

Look, I can talk to Yuki, but I have a few more serious issues right now.
I suggest you take it up with her first. Come see me again if you two can't .

There’s one other thing. Yuki and her friends never talk in English.
It feels like they’re .

It may be annoying, but it’s against the

rules to speak your native language, Kate. This isn’t high school, remember?

I know, but I'm just wondering if I can request a room change. I think a single room would suit me better.

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 Roommate Issues
Episode 4 of 15 | Everyday Idioms 2

Comprehension
Are you afraid
Answer and discuss these questions in pairs or as a class. to be alone?
Then write your answers in your notebook. The term entourage is
often used when talking about
1. Who is Alex? celebrities. Famous people
often have a group of people
2. What small talk does Alex try to make before discussing the main issue? who travel everywhere with
them. A musician’s entourage
3. True or False? Kate is having a major may include a security guard,
problem with her classes in her first week. a makeup artist, a few fans,
and a manager.
4. Why can’t Kate study?
Some everyday people travel
5. What suggestion does Alex have for Kate in relation to studying? with an entourage too. Do you
know anyone like this?
6. What does Alex want Kate to do before he looks further into the issue?
Unfortunately for Kate,
7. What does the Don say is not against the rules? Yuki is one of these people.
Yuki doesn’t seem to need
8. What request does Kate make at the end of the conversation?
any alone time.

Vocabulary Review
Circle the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. I’m having trouble studying 3. Sorry I haven’t called recently. 5. You studied for the
because the material is so . I’ve had so much . exam. How did you get an A?

a) damp a) on my plate a) not exactly

b) dry b) at my back b) first thing
c) hot c) at my desk c) ahead
d) fresh d) off my work d) barely even

2. You didn’t ask me to 4. Kate thinks Yuki’s friends

turn the music down. How was are talking .
I to know it was bothering you?
a) in her face
a) never b) to her hand
b) bare c) behind her back
c) exactly d) at her side
d) mind

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 Roommate Issues
Episode 4 of 15 | Everyday Idioms 2

Discussion
MY LIFE

Discuss these questions with your class

or write your responses in a journal entry.

1. Who is your “go-to person” for education-related issues?

Who is your “go-to person” for personal issues?

2. If you were Kate, would you request a room change?

3. Where do you like to study and why?

4. Have you ever caught someone talking behind your back?

How did you feel? What did you do?

5. Do you like to have your “alone time”?

Group Activity
In groups, brainstorm the pros and cons of living with or without a roommate
and fill in the chart below. After the discussion, take a vote to see who would
rather live alone and who would rather live with a roommate.

Living with a Roommate Living Alone

Pros Cons Pros Cons

Stay Tuned
In Episode 5, Kate runs short on cash.

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 Roommate Issues
Episode 4 of 15 | Everyday Idioms 2

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Int – Adv

In this episode, Kate approaches Alex, the dormitory “Don,” about TIME: 1–2 hours
her roommate issues. She thinks a single room would suit her
TAGS:  idioms, roommate, roommates, conflict,
better. Students discuss the pros and cons of living alone.
conflict resolution, privacy, living alone

Warm-Up Discussion

A. PREVIEW Answers will vary. Have a class discussion about the questions
or have students write their responses in a journal entry.
Read the preview together and have students make predictions.

Group Activity
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW

1. j 3. g 5. c 7. h 9. f Answers will vary. Put students in groups and have them discuss
2. e 4. a 6. i 8. b 10. d the pros and cons of living with/without roommates and record
their answers in the chart. After the discussion, they can vote to

Listening see who would rather live alone.

Have students fill in the blanks as they listen to the dialogue. Dialogue Building
After correction, have them practice reading it aloud in pairs.
The full transcript is on page 6 (optional handout). This optional task is included on page 7. Students should
cut up the strips and rearrange them into the correct order.

Comprehension 1. d 4. g 7. i 10. h 13. f

2. b 5. k 8. e 11. o 14. n
1. Alex is the Don at Kate’s residence. 3. l 6. a 9. m 12. j 15. c
He looks after the residents’ concerns.
2. Alex initiates small talk about Kate’s first week of classes. SPELLING NOTE:
3. False
This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practice.
4. Kate can’t study because her roommate always has friends over.
Most other English-speaking countries spell this word this way:
5. Alex suggests that Kate uses the study hall or library.
Practise (when used as a verb, Practice when used as a noun).
6. Alex wants Kate to try to discuss the problem with Yuki.
Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in
7. Alex says it is not against the rules to
the lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.
speak a language other than English.
8. At the end of the conversation, Kate asks for a
EDITOR’S NOTE:
room change. She wants to try living in a single room.
In the United States, American students refer to on-campus
Vocabulary Review housing as “dorms.” Students in other English-speaking
countries also use the terms “res,” “rez,” and “residence.” American
1. b 2. c 3. a 4. c 5. d students refer to a “don” as “RA,” or “Resident Assistant.”

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 Roommate Issues
Episode 4 of 15 | Everyday Idioms 2

Dialogue Transcript
Read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns being
each character. Practice your intonation and pronunciation. Underline
or highlight any new words or phrases that you don’t understand. Kate Alex

You’re Alex, right? I hear you are the go-to person about dorm room problems.
I’ve been looking for you everywhere.

Whoa. First things first. What room are you in?

Sorry, I got ahead of myself. I’m Kate. Room 17 on the seventh floor.

Hi, Kate. Yes, I’m the don for floor 7. How have you enjoyed the first few weeks of school?

My classes are a bit dry, but I guess that is to be expected for first year.
I'm having a major problem with my roommate, though.

Uh-oh. Already? School has barely even started, Kate. Is Yuki keeping you up too late or something?

It’s not about the late nights. She just always has someone over in our room.
The room is barely big enough for the two of us, never mind her boyfriends.

Boyfriends? Oh, does she have more than one this year?

Well, I don’t think she’s really dating any of them, but she never
comes to the room without an entourage. It’s impossible to study.

Have you tried using the study hall or the library? It’s only a ten-minute walk across campus.

I know, but I like studying on my bed. That’s what I always did in high school.

Look, I can talk to Yuki, but I have a few more serious issues on my plate right now.
I suggest you take it up with her first. Come see me again if you two can't work something out.

There’s one other thing. Yuki and her friends never talk in English.
It feels like they’re talking behind my back.

It may be annoying, but it’s not exactly against the rules to speak
your native language, Kate. This isn’t high school, remember?

I know, but I'm just wondering if I can request a room change. I think a single room would suit me better.

Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( I N T – A DV / V E R S I O N 2 . 0) 6

Dialogue Building
The dialogue below is not in the right order. Cut up the
strips and then work alone or with a partner to rearrange
them into the correct order. Then read the dialogue out loud.
Uh-oh. Already? School has barely
a even started, Kate. Is Yuki keeping
you up too late or something?
Whoa. First things first.
b
What room are you in?
I know, but I'm just wondering if I
c can request a room change. I think a
single room would suit me better.
You’re Alex, right? I hear you are
the go-to person about dorm room
d that is to be expected for first year.
problems. I’ve been looking for
you everywhere.
Boyfriends? Oh, does she
e Sorry, I got ahead of myself. I’m Kate.
have more than one this year?
There’s one other thing. Yuki and her
f friends never talk in English. It feels
like they’re talking behind my back.
Hi, Kate. Yes, I’m the don for floor 7.
g How have you enjoyed the first few
weeks of school?
Have you tried using the study hall or
h the library? It’s only a ten-minute walk
across campus.
Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only.
Roommate Issues
Episode 4 of 15 | Everyday Idioms 2
It’s not about the late nights. She
just always has someone over in
i our room. The room is barely big
enough for the two of us, never
mind her boyfriends.
Look, I can talk to Yuki, but I have a
few more serious issues on my plate
j right now. I suggest you take it up
with her first. Come see me again if
you two can’t work something out.
My classes are bit dry, but I guess
k
I’m having a major problem with my
roommate, though.
l
Room 17 on the seventh floor.
Well, I don’t think she’s really dating
any of them, but she never comes
m
to the room without an entourage.
It’s impossible to study.
It may be annoying, but it’s not
exactly against the rules to speak
n
your native language, Kate. This
isn’t high school, remember?
I know, but I like studying on my
o bed. That’s what I always did in
high school.
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