“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 2: Home and Neighborhood
Story 01: Homes
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Spacious
- Fond memories
- Hide and seek
- Unique
- Built-in
- Canopy bed
- Hues
- Messiest
- Bean bag chair
- Soak
Read or Listen to the following passage:
My home is a spacious two-story house with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It has always been my favorite place to be, and I have many fond memories of growing up there. When I was a kid, my siblings and I used to play hide and seek, and we always found new spots to hide. My parents loved to entertain, and we often had family gatherings in our large dining room.
The bedrooms are all on the second floor, and each one has its own unique style. My parents’ room is large and cozy with a king-sized bed and a big window overlooking the backyard. My room is painted light blue, my favorite color, and it has a built-in bookshelf that I used to fill with all of my favorite books. My younger sister’s room is decorated with pink and purple hues, and she has a canopy bed that she loves to read in. My older brother’s room has always been the messiest, but it’s also the most comfortable, with a large bean bag chair and a TV.
The three bathrooms make it easy for everyone to get ready in the morning, and there’s never any fighting over who gets to use the shower first. The biggest bathroom has a large bathtub that I love to soak in after a long day.
I still live in my childhood home, and it’s still the place where I feel the most comfortable and relaxed. It’s a special place that holds so many memories and I can’t imagine ever leaving it.
Comprehension Questions:
- How many bedrooms does the home have?
- Where are the bedrooms located in the house?
- What did the speaker and their siblings used to play in the house?
- What is unique about each of the bedrooms?
- Why does the speaker love their home?
Conversations Starters:
- Could you describe your current home?
- What are some important factors that you consider when choosing a home? Location, size, amenities, etc.?
- Have you ever lived in a different country? How did the homes there compare to those in your home country?
- What was your childhood home like? What are some fond memories you have of that home?
- Do you prefer living in a house or an apartment? Why?
- Have you ever renovated or made changes to your home? What did you do and why?
- Have you ever experienced a natural disaster or other event that affected your home? How did you deal with it?
- What are some ways that you try to make your home environmentally friendly?
- How important is it to have a sense of community in your neighborhood? Do you know your neighbors?
- Do you think owning a home is important for financial stability? Why or why not?
