Outcomes Advanced p13. Cities and Housing. Speaking

1. Conversation: Talk about the following questions with your partner for about 3 minutes. The pictures are there to help you.

1.    What kind of cities can you see in the first and second picture? Is housing a problem in your city? Why/Why not? Do you think there’ll be housing shortages in your town / country in the future?

2.    What do you find more alluring? Living in the city or in the countryside? What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a vast overpopulated metropolis? And in a secluded village far from any big cities?

3.    What aspects of life in the city would you complain about? Do you think of yourself as being a thoughtful and considerate neighbour? Do you keep your noise levels down in the evening and early morning? Have you ever resorted to making noise to disturb your neighbour on purpose?

4.    What could be done to curb pollution in cities? How can we make our cities safer places to live?

5.    What is your general feeling about the architecture in your local area? Can you think of a building that you would regard as a blot on the landscape? Why?

6.    In the last few years cash-strapped consumers have gone deeper into debt and many of them are beginning to feel the pinch.  What do you think should be done concerning the controversial issues of eviction and repossessions?

2. Partner A/B: Below there are some issues related to the topic. You must talk about at least two of them for 2 minutes approx. You may be asked further questions about the topic when you have finished.

• Give some reasons why people become homeless. What solutions can you think of for people who sleep rough? 
• How has your city changed in the last few years? How do you think your city (or country) will have changed in 10 years’ time?
• Is it better to rent or buy? Give reasons for your answer.
• Do you agree with the proverb "home is where the heart is"? Discuss. 
• Do you think everyone on a low income should get housing benefits / a housing allowance?
• Does your government provide housing for people on low or no income? 
• What would you do about squatting?

Vocabulary

PICTURES

• ·       barracks: (pl. barracks) /ˈbærəks/ any large ugly building or buildings. E.g. that great barracks of a house.
  ·         decrepit: /dɪˈkrepɪt/ (of a thing or person) very old and not in good condition or health. E.g. a decrepit building.
  ·         derelict /ˈderəlɪkt/:  (especially of land or buildings) not used or cared for and in bad condition
  ·         dilapidated: /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪtɪd/ (of furniture and buildings) old and in very bad condition
  ·         ritzy: /ˈrɪtsi/ expensive and fashionable. E.g. a ritzy nightclub.
  ·         affluent: having a lot of money and a good standard of living
  ·         upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops
  ·         demonstration: a public meeting or march at which people show that they are protesting against or supporting somebody/something
  ·         condo or condominium: /ˈkɒndəʊ/ /ˌkɒndəˈmɪniəm/ An apartment that is owned by an individual in a building, with the common areas of the complex shared among all condo owners. Many condo owners rent out their units, either through a management company or listing site, or through classified ads.
  ·         lease (Leasing Agreement): written legal contract between a landlord and a tenant stating the dates, cost, rules, and other terms of the rental agreement for a predetermined length of time. A lease must be in writing to be valid.
  ·         tenant: A person who rents or leases a rental unit from a landlord. (Also known as a lessee.)
  ·         destitute: /ˈdestɪtjuːt/ without money, food and the other things necessary for life. E.g. When he died, his family was left completely destitute.
  CONVERSATION
  ·         shortage /ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ/: a situation when there is not enough of the people or things that are needed
  ·         mortgage: /ˈmɔːɡɪdʒ/ a loan secured by real property. Banks usually give mortgages under certain conditions.
  ·         inflation: It refers to a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, leading to an erosion in the purchasing power of money. Because of the inflation prices went up.
  ·         alluring: attractive and exciting in a mysterious way
  ·         secluded: quiet and private; not used or disturbed by other people
  ·         resort (to sth): to make use of something, especially something bad, as a means of achieving something, often because there is no other possible solution
  ·         urban renewal: The redevelopment of areas within a large city, typically involving the clearance of slums.
  ·         revamp: a change to the form of something, usually to improve its appearance
  ·         a blot on the landscape: an object, especially an ugly building, that spoils the beauty of a place
  ·         a white elephant: a thing that is useless and no longer needed, although it may have cost a lot of money
  ·         to curb: curb something to control or limit something, especially something bad
  ·         cash-strapped: without enough money
  ·         feel the pinch: (informal) to not have enough money
  ·         repossession: /ˌriːpəˈzeʃn/ the act of repossessing property, goods, etc.
  ·         eviction: /ɪˈvɪkʃn/ the act of forcing somebody to leave a house or land, especially when you have the legal right to do so
  MONOLOGUE
  ·         home is where the heart is – a home is not a physical place, but where the people you love are
  ·         throw money down the drain - waste money: "If you ask me, by giving your son all that money, you're really throwing money down the drain."
  ·         to feel homesick – to miss home
  ·         to be broke: For example, I can't go out tonight, I'm broke. To have no money.
  ·         income: the money that a person, a region, a country, etc. earns from work, from investing money, from business, etc.
  ·         poverty-stricken: extremely poor; with very little money
  ·         indigent: /ˈɪndɪdʒənt/ very poor. E.g. Like any other big city, Paris has its fair share of indigents, begging in public places.
  ·         to be strapped [for cash]: To be short of money. E.g. Could you lend me a fiver? I seem to be a bit strapped.
  ·         squatters: a person who is living in a building or on land without permission and without paying rent
  ·         benefits: (British English) money provided by the government to people who need financial help because they are unemployed, ill/sick, etc.
  ·         allowance: an amount of money that is given to somebody regularly or for a particular purpose
  ·         sprawling: spreading in an untidy way
  ·         facilities: buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for a particular purpose.
  ·         property ladder: A series of ascending stages by which people are perceived to progress as they are able to buy more expensive houses, the initial stage consisting of buying one’s first property. ‘first-time buyers can't afford to get on to the property ladder’
  ·         landlord: a person or company from whom you rent a room, a house, an office, etc.
  ·         money doesn't grow on trees: For example: We can't afford to buy a house, money doesn't grow on trees.
  ·         pay, earn, charge, etc. top dollar: a lot of money. E.g. If you want the best, you have to pay to dollar. 
  ·         housing bubble: temporary condition caused by unjustified speculation in the housing market that leads to a rapid increase in real estate prices.