22nd of July, 1st of August

Different uses of get:

http://www.phrasemix.com/collections/the-different-uses-of-get

http://esl.about.com/od/vocabularyreference/a/Uses-Of-Get.htm

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/get1.php

Write a synonym of get in the following sentences:

1. Where can I get a good sandwich around here?

2. What time did they get here last night?

3. It got very cold all of a sudden last night.

4. I need to get some stamps to post this letter.

5. He usually gets to work by train.

Still friends?

friends reunited

listening 1

listening 2

1st of August

Housing and Renting Apartments

Russian buys world's priciest home

A new world record for a home has been set by an unidentified Russian billionaire. The mystery tycoon has spent $750 million on a luxurious villa on the French Riviera. The price tag smashes the previous record of the Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal earlier this year. He paid $235 million for a mansion on London’s ‘Billionaire Boulevard’. The new record was for the historic Villa Leopolda estate on France’s Cote d'Azur. For his or her money, the unnamed purchaser gets a mansion built by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1902. The grounds include 20 acres of gardens that require fifty full-time gardeners, and 1,200 olive, lemon and orange trees. Jonathan Hewlett, a London property expert, told the BBC that Central London and the French Riviera are the “current hotpots” for Russia’s new mega-rich.

The world’s media have been guessing the identity of the new owner of the Villa Leopolda. Many press reports say it is an oil fat cat. Initial rumours were that Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club, was the mystery buyer. He already owns an exclusive property near Antibes, also on the French Riviera. According to a local French newspaper, there are now over 60 villas or mansions on the Cote d’Azur owned by wealthy Russians. Britain’s Times newspaper quoted a French luxury-home salesman as saying Russians become angry if they are offered a property at any price below $150 million. The latest record, however, will not last long. India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani will soon move into his $2 billion 27-storey home. The property was supposedly inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Housing Crisis in the UK

There is currently a housing crisis in the UK, where there aren't enough homes for people to live in and the homes that are being built are getting smaller and smaller. People have to become 'creative' with their space in order to have enough room for their family and belongings.

Useful Vocab:

housing crisis

shortage of houses / high prices of houses available to buy

to get a foot on the property ladder

to buy your first house

on the market

available to buy

room to swing a cat

lots of space

to squeeze

here: to push into a small space

minimalist

having no more than what is necessary

to de-clutter

getting rid of things you don't need

Exercise - Now watch the news article on BBC and answer the following questions 

1. What is Gary Chang's job?
2. Who does Gary live with?
3. How big is his apartment?
4. How does Gary make his apartment multi-functional?
5. Where is the kitchen?
6. Why has he designed his apartment like this?
7. What does Maple Ma use to cook? What does this appliance allow her to do?
8. What does Mr Chang believe?

Writing Task:

Write an advertisement for an estate agent advertising a tiny apartment in London. It is a studio apartment with one single bed and one bathroom, with a small kitchenette. Make sure you include lots of detail but use positive vocabulary to try and sell the apartment. 

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Listening Exercise:

1. What is the main topic of the conversation?
A. problems with living in an apartment
B. a search for a new apartment
C. the cost of rent near universities

2. Why doesn't Ann like her current apartment?
A. It's too expensive.
B. The neighborhood is noisy.
C. It's located some distance from school.

3. How much money does Ann want to pay for rent?
A. no more than $200
B. around $200
C. a little more than $200

4. What kind of place is she looking for?
A. somewhere that is within a short driving distance of campus
B. an apartment with furniture already in it
C. a place where she can live alone

5. How is Roger going to help her?
A. He is planning on calling a friend who owns an apartment building.
B. He will check the newspapers to see if he can find an apartment for rent.
C. He is going to visit an apartment building near his place.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Could you please let me know if people move out and there are ________________? I'd really to rent a place here if that happens.
   1.   utilities
   2.   vacancies
   3.   furnishings
2. I was told that the rent for this apartment includes all ________________ including gas, electricity, and water.
   1.   furniture
   2.   tenants
   3.   utilities
3. Renting ______________ apartment with a sofa, bed, and table would make life easier.
   1.   an empty
   2.   a vacant
   3.   a furnished
4. It takes me about 30 minutes to _______________ to work by train everyday.
   1.   fly
   2.   go
   3.   commute
5. It's not the best apartment for me, but I think things will _____________ out in the long run.
   1.   work
   2.   go
   3.   live

RENT DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘rent’?
2)	Do you think landlords charge too much for rent?
3)	Is it better to rent or buy property?
4)	Should kids with jobs pay rent to their parents?
5)	What do you need to think about before renting a place to live?
6)	How important are rent agreements?
7)	How do you find rented accommodation in your town?
8)	Would you rent out a room in your house to a lodger?
9)	What are the advantages and disadvantages of renting rather than buying?
10)	How often should a landlord put the rent up?

Hundreds more free handouts at www.eslDiscussions.com

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RENT DISCUSSION

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1)	What experiences do you have of paying rent?
2)	Would you rather rent an apartment or a house?
3)	Would you rather rent somewhere just for yourself or with friends?
4)	What would you worry about if you rented your house or apartment to someone?
5)	Would you feel like it’s your real home if you rented?
6)	If you rented your property, would you keep visiting it to keep an eye on it?
7)	What’s the most you would pay in rent?
8)	How should rent be divided between four people in a 3-bedroom house, when 2 people share one bedroom?
9)	What is a good landlord and a bad landlord?
10)	Would you spend money on wallpaper, paint, the garden, etc. if you lived in rented accommodation?

Discussion Topic - What are the most important factors when finding somewhere to live?

Talk about the type of apartment Ann is trying to find. 

• Discuss the ideal living situation for students going to a college or university in your country and abroad. 
• Compare living in an apartment, house, and dormitory. 
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each in terms of privacy, price, space, and location? 

Click this link to listen to the record