Roommates
In this lesson, we will talk about roommates. We will discuss about their personality and how to solve problems.
Part 1
Warm-up
Imagine you are about to rent a room or a house and need to find a roommate. What are some important qualities of a roommate? Choose the 4 most important ones.
- good-tempered (ôn hoà, tốt tính)
- good cook
- doesn’t snore
- reliable (đáng tin cậy)
- studious
- thoughtful
- sense of humor (khiếu hài hước)
- quiet
- talkative
- neat (gọn gàng)
- considerate
- other: _______
Part 2
Vocabulary
Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.
Student can skip the words they already know.
harmoniously
/hɑːrˈmoʊ.ni.əs.li/
Living or working together in a peaceful and friendly way.
They work harmoniously to finish the project on time.
We shared the kitchen harmoniously.
neat
/niːt/
Tidy and in order; clean
She keeps her room very neat.
He dressed in a neat blue shirt.
sense of humor
/sens ʌv ˈhjuːmər/
The ability to understand, enjoy, or express funny situations or jokes.
She has a great sense of humor.
A good sense of humor is important in life.
lose (one’s) temper
/luz wʌnz ˈtempər/
To suddenly become angry and unable to control one's emotions.
He lost his temper during the meeting.
She lost her temper when the computer crashed.
put (something) away
/pʊt sʌmθɪŋ əˈweɪ/
To put something back in its proper place.
Please put the toys away after playing.
He put away his clothes in the drawer.
do (someone) a favor
/duː ˈsʌmwʌn ə ˈfeɪvər/
To help someone by doing what they ask.
Can you do me a favor and close the window?
She did her brother a favor by driving him.
Make up your own sentences using the words.
Part 3
Dialogue Practice
Practice the conversation with teacher
“Talking about their roommates” Between two friends Emma & Lucas
Emma
Hi, Lucas! How are things going with your new roommate?
Hi, Emma! It’s going pretty well. We live harmoniously together. He’s really neat, which makes everything easier.
Lucas
Emma
That sounds great! My roommate is neat too. She always puts her things away after using them.
Yeah, it’s nice when you don’t have to worry about cleaning up after someone else. Does your roommate have a good sense of humor?
Lucas
Emma
Yes, she does! We always have a good laugh together. It makes living together so much more fun. How about yours?
Absolutely, he’s hilarious! We often joke around. It’s good because it helps if someone starts to lose their temper.
Lucas
Emma
That’s a good point. Speaking of which, could you do me a favor?
Sure, what do you need?
Lucas
Emma
Could you help me think of a birthday gift for my roommate? I want to get her something special.
Of course! Let’s think about what she likes and maybe find something that can make her laugh.
Lucas
Emma
Great idea, thanks Lucas!
Student summarizes what the two people discussed in the conversation
Part 4
Listening 1
Do the people like the cities they live in? Listen and check ✅ the correct answer.
Click to play the Audio
a. considerate
b. messy
c. helpful
d. unreliable
a. unfriendly
b. talkative
c. studious
d. generous
a. messy
b. studious
c. sociable
d. humorous
a. unreliable
b. inconsiderate
c. neat
d. helpful
a. neat
b. sociable
c. considerate
d. studious
a. lazy
b. quiet
c. studious
d. bad-tempered
Answer
1. a, c
2. b, d
3. b, d
4. a, b
5. a, b
6. a, d
Transcript
1.
I like sharing a room with Greg. He's very quiet and always asks me if it's okay for him to listen to the radio or watch TV. He likes to keep the room nice and clean, just like I do. He helps me a lot with homework, too. He's really smart and is always happy to check over my assignments.
2.
Laura loves baking. She's always making things and giving them to her friends.
Cakes, pies, bread... she bakes everything.
No wonder I'm putting on weight. She loves calling people on the phone, and she spends hours talking to them. She really should spend more time on her schoolwork, though.
3.
I have a great roommate. She's neat and she makes me laugh a lot. She's got a wonderful sense of humor. She's really smart, too. She studies all the time.
I sometimes wish she'd take more time off to make friends because she hardly knows anyone. She doesn't seem to feel comfortable when she's around people.
4.
Tom's awful as a roommate. He always says he's going to do something, like pay the electric bill, but then he doesn't do it. He never does much to keep the place clean, either. He just throws things on the floor and expects me to put them away.
He doesn't care that I have to live in his mess. It drives me crazy.
5.
Bob and I get along pretty well. He keeps the place really clean and neat.
The only thing is, he loves to party. He's always inviting friends over, and they sit around and talk really loudly until it's very late. It makes it really hard for me to study. I've asked him not to do it when I'm studying, but he still does. I guess it doesn't bother him because he never studies.
6.
Ann is difficult to live with because she has very strong opinions. She always has to be right about things. And she just sits around all day watching TV. She never does anything active. The worst thing is she loses her temper very quickly. I think I need to find a new roommate.
Part 4
Listening 2
Listen to the audio. Are these statements true or false?
New words in this listening:
- be out of (something): have no more of something
- do (someone) a favor: help someone
- do (something) oneself: do something by yourself without help
- my folks: This is a friendly way to say “my parents”
Click to play the Audio
1. Ted did not make his bed this morning.
2. Meg invited friends over to play games.
3. John is going to buy dinner for Ken.
4. Carrie forgot to clean the apartment.
Answer
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
Transcript
1.
Hi, Paul. This is Ted. Listen, could you do me a favor?
I left my chemistry book on my bed. I hope you can find it. The bed's a mess because I didn't have time to make it this morning. Could you bring my book with you to class this afternoon? I need it for class, and I don't have time to go back for it. Thanks.
2.
Anne. This is Meg. I've invited a couple of friends to come by tonight at 7:30 to watch TV with us. You know them—Dave and Sue. Would you be able to pick up some snacks? I have a class till 7:00, so I won't have time to buy them before the guests arrive. I'll pay you back when I get home.
Thanks!
3.
Hey, Ken, it's John. Guess what? My folks just sent me an e-mail to say they'll be over to visit around five. Sorry, but I left the living room in a real mess. Could you give it a quick clean up? I have soccer practice till 4:30, and I can't get back to do it myself. We can all go out for dinner together later. I'll buy you whatever you want to eat!
4.
Jill, this is Carrie. I'm calling because we're completely out of food. Sorry, but some friends came by earlier and we finished everything. We were really hungry! The refrigerator is completely empty. Could you get a few things for dinner on the way home? I have to finish an assignment, so I won't be home till about 8:00. By the way, I cleaned the apartment. I hope you like it.
Part 5
Discussion
Lending money to roommates
GUIDE TO DISCUSS
The teacher will guide the student through four steps, then student make their own answer for this topic
Step 1: Understanding “Lending money”:
- Ask the student to guess: “What do you think ‘lending money’ means?”
- Provide the definition: After the student responds, clarify any misunderstandings.
Step 2: Generating ideas:
Time for thinking: “Student has 2-3 minutes to think about your experiences and opinions about lending money to roommates. Consider these questions to help you organize your thoughts:”
- Have you ever lent money to a roommate?
- Did you borrow money from a roommate?
- What type of roommate would you lend money to?
- How would you feel if a roommate did not return the money?
Step 3: Structuring the answer:
Explain structure: “Let’s structure your answer like it’s a speaking test. Here’s how student can organize their response:”
- General statement: Begin by stating your overall opinion about lending money to roommates.
Using “I think…, In my opinion…, I believe…” - Provide reasons: Explain why you hold that opinion. What are your reasons?
- Example/experience: Share a personal story or examples that supports your viewpoint.
- Conclusion: End with a final statement or a personal rule you follow regarding lending money to roommates.
Step 4: Read example then do your own one:
I think lending money to roommates can be okay if you trust them. Trust is very important. For example, I would only lend money to a roommate who is honest and responsible. These qualities are important because they show they will pay back the money. Last year, I had a roommate who was very honest. When he needed money for rent, I helped him. He paid me back very quickly. This made our friendship stronger and our home more comfortable.
I would not lend money to someone who forgets to pay bills or does not talk about money problems. I think it’s good to help each other, but you need to trust they will pay you back. This helps keep the home happy and without stress.
Part 6
Discussion 2
Let’s use the vocabulary you’ve learned during the lesson and talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
How should roommates handle splitting expenses for shared items like groceries and utilities?
What are some common challenges people face when living with roommates?
What are some tips for living harmoniously with multiple roommates?
How should roommates decide who gets which room in the apartment or house?
What is your opinion on having a written agreement or contract between roommates?
How do you think roommates should handle guests visiting the shared living space?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living with a roommate compared to living alone?
How can roommates ensure that everyone does their share of cleaning and maintenance in the shared spaces?
Review
Let’s review the lesson with teacher
6 new words & phrases in this lesson
Discuss about lending money to roommates
Discuss about roommates
See you next lesson
Homework
Do homework
- Write down your answer on the topic of “lending money to roommates.”
Do not use AI or Google Translate; create your own response, but you may use a dictionary - Check for grammar mistakes (you can ask the teacher for help or use ChatGPT)
- Practice and record your voice, then send it to your teacher for feedback on pronunciation errors.
