IELTS Topic: Home
Learning Objectives
In this lesson you will:
Practice Discussion questions based on the IELTS topic.
Create sentences related to the IELTS topic, and also practice paraphrasing sentences.
Practice answering IELTS Part 1 questions using the A R/E method.
Prepare and answer Part 2 questions using some helpful language as a guide.
Lastly, we will practise answering Part 3 questions using the A R/E A method.
We will then end the class with some feedback and a homework task.
NB:
Please remember to always bring a pen and paper to take notes. (Especially for part 2).
Exercise 1
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly. Also Practice paraphrasing and finding synonyms by paraphrasing at least two of the example sentences, as this will help you in all parts of the IELTS test.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
furnished: (noun)
Meaning: to provide furniture in a rented apartment or house (antonym – unfurnished)
Example: I rented a furnished apartment when I stayed in London.
Your own sentence: ___
recreation room: (noun)
Meaning: a room in a building where people can relax and play games.
Example: I usually spend my time in the recreation room after a long day at work.
Your own sentence: ___
courtyard: (noun)
Meaning: an unroofed square or small outside yard
Example: I have some lovely flowers in my courtyard.
Your own sentence: ___
condominium: (noun)
Meaning: condo for short; similar to an apartment, but usually has common grounds like gym, pool, etc.
Example: I recently moved from my flat downtown to a condominium.
Your own sentence: ___
single - story: (noun)
Meaning: a building with only a ground floor level.
Example: My apartment is a single-story home.
Your own sentence: ___
outskirts: (noun)
Meaning: the outer areas of a town or city
Example: I live on the outskirts of our town.
Your own sentence: ___
mortgage: (noun)
Meaning: an agreement that allows you to borrow money from a bank or similar organization, especially to buy a house
Example: They hope to pay off the mortgage on their home soon
Your own sentence: ___
neighborhood: (noun)
Meaning: the people living near one another; a district in a town or city
Example: I live in a very safe neighborhood.
Your own sentence: ___
rental agreement or leasing terms: (noun)
Meaning: the legal conditions/terms between the owner and renter of an apartment, condo, etc.
Example: I have just signed a one-year rental agreement.
Your own sentence: ___
move-in: (phrasal verb)
Meaning: to start living in a home
Example: We are hoping to move into our new home next month.
Your own sentence: ___
move out: (phrasal verb)
Meaning: to leave a home usually to live in another one
Example: The previous tenants just moved out of the apartment recently.
Your own sentence: ___
home sweet home: (idiom)
Meaning: after being away to say that one is happy to be home
Example: When I arrived home from the airport, I said ‘’home sweet home’’.
Your own sentence: ___
a roof over my head: (idiom)
Meaning: a place to live
Example: I am grateful for the roof over my head and a place to live.
Your own sentence: ___
there’s no place like home: (an expression)
Meaning: that means your home is a special place
Example: In the movie the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy had to say the words, there’s no place like home in order to return to her home.
Your own sentence: ___
Exercise 2
Useful Language
Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor you can use these phrases in your answer.
That’s an interesting question!
Well, let’s see. Let me think for a minute.
Let me just try to work out the best way to answer that question.
What a good question! I’ve never really thought about that before.
PART 1 QUESTIONS
Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the first part, the examiner will ask you a number of general questions
Topic
Let’s talk about your home
Where do you live?
Who do you live with?
Can you tell me about your home?
What do you like and dislike about it?
Now let’s talk about what you like about your home
What is your favourite room in your home? Why?
What would you like to change about your home?
How long do you plan to live in your home?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Let’s move on to the topic of gardens and furniture?
Does your home have a garden?
Do you enjoy gardening?
What sort of furniture do you have in your home?
Do you have a favourite piece of furniture?
Exercise 3
Useful Language
Use these phrases to help you plan your following part 2 question.
I would like to describe .................
........... lives there with ...........
on the outside it looks like.......................... it has ............................ and ..................................
on the inside it has ................................. and .......................................
the reason I found this house/ apartment interesting is because ...........................................
PART 2 QUESTIONS
Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
You will have 1 minute to prepare to speak, and then you will talk for 2 minutes, during which the examiner will not speak.
Part 2 – sample task card
Sample A
Part 2 Questions
Describe an interesting house or apartment that you have visited.
You should say
where the house or apartment was
who lived there
what it looked like on the outside and/or inside
and explain why you found this house or apartment interesting.
Sample B
Part 2 Questions
Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in.
You should say:
where it is/where it would be
what you would (like to) do there
who you would (like to) live with
and explain why you would like to live in this place
Exercise 4
PART 3 QUESTIONS
Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the last part, you will talk with the examiner about issues related to the topic on the card.
How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
Do you think it's better to rent or to buy a place to live in?
Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents?
How are relations between neighbours different in cities and in the countryside ?
What kind of housing situation is best for allowing neighbours to chat with each other?
