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Home and Living Environment
Lesson
6
Level 4
IELTS Speaking Test Preperation
Lesson Target
In this lesson, you'll describe your home and neighborhood. You'll learn vocabulary for talking about where you live and how your environment affects your daily life.
Warm-Up
Discuss the warm-up words with your tutor.
apartment
neighborhood
quiet
Vocabulary
Practice saying these words with your tutor. If you don’t know one, ask your tutor to explain it.
Word
Definition
Definition
apartment
noun
bathroom
noun
bright
adjective
space
noun
bedroom
noun
clean
adj., verb
cozy
adjective
living room
noun
comfortable
adjective
quiet
adjective
kitchen
noun
spending time
phrasal verb
safe
adjective
Use these words in sentences with your tutor to check that you fully understand their meaning and how to use them correctly.
Useful Phrases
I live in a...
My home has...
I like my neighborhood because...
One thing I’d change about my home is...
In the future, I hope to live...
Response Structure
Begin with a clear answer or opinion. Then support it with details or examples using who, what, when, where, why, or how.
1
Give your main idea directly and briefly.
I live in a...
2
Add details or examples to explain your main idea.
For example, my home has...
3
If you have a second idea, repeat steps 1 and 2.
One thing I like about my area is...
Practice 1
Read the dialogue with your tutor. Then, work together to analyze the student's responses. Try to understand the speaker’s purpose and find useful words or phrases you can use in your own answers. Finally, practice responding to the same questions with your tutor.
Examiner
Can you describe your home?
Max
I live in a small apartment with my family. It has two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The rooms are not very big, but they are clean and comfortable. I like spending time in the living room because it’s bright and cozy.
Examine the Response
-
Why is this a good response?
-
What's the main idea?
-
Key details: Find the who, what, where, when, why, or how in the response.
-
Which words or phrases can you use from these responses?
Examiner
What’s your neighborhood like?
Max
My neighborhood is quiet and safe. There are many small shops, a park, and a few cafés nearby. I often go for walks in the park or meet friends at the café. The people in my neighborhood are friendly, and I enjoy living there.
Examiner
Is there anything you would like to change about your home?
Max
Yes, I would like to have a bigger kitchen. Right now, it’s small, and there isn’t much space to cook. If the kitchen was bigger, it would be easier to prepare meals and invite friends over. Maybe in the future, I can move to a larger place.
Practice 2
Read the dialogue with your tutor. Each sentence is missing either the main idea or a key detail. Use the dialogue to fill in the missing parts and complete the sentences.
Examiner
What do you like most about your home?
Max
I like the living room most because it’s bright and comfortable.
______________________________________. (fill in the supporting details)
Examiner
How do you spend time at home on weekends?
Max
______________________________________. (fill in the main ideas)
I watch movies, read books, or listen to music. Sometimes I cook special meals and enjoy them with my family. It’s nice to have quiet time after a busy week.
Examiner
Is it better to live in a house or an apartment? Why?
Max
I think living in a house is better because there is more space.
______________________________________. (fill in the supporting details)
Practice 3
Answer each question clearly and completely. Start with the main idea, then support it with key details or examples.
Examiner
Do most people prefer to live in a house or apartment in your country?
How important is it to live in a safe area?
What kind of home would you like to live in the future?
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