Idioms & Expressions:
health nut (noun; used for a person who doesn’t like junk food and prefers to eat natural food instead)
I used to be overweight, but now I’m a health nut and I haven’t had fast food in months.
eat out / go out (verbs; refer to eating at a restaurant)
We went out to a restaurant for my grandfather’s birthday last night.
home-cooked (adjective; describes food cooked at home)
I miss my mother’s home-cooked meals.
staple (noun; this is a common food in a certain region’s diet)
cuisine (noun; this refers to all the foods that people in a certain country or region enjoy)
Beans are a staple of Mexican cuisine.
sweet tooth (noun; refers to a person’s preference for desserts and other sugary foods)
I have a sweet tooth and often opt for ice cream after dinner.
foodie (noun; a person who loves eating and trying new meals)
Being a foodie, trying new dishes is my favorite part of traveling.
dish (noun; another word for a part of a meal. For example, a chicken dish is served as part of a larger meal)
Last night, I tried a new Turkish dish for dinner.
commercial / residential (adjectives; describe types of property)
This is a commercial area with a lot of malls.
landmark (noun; a recognizable building or structure that identifies the area it is in)
The Capitol Building is one of Washington D.C.’s landmarks.
spot (noun; a location you like to eat, drink, or spend time at)
Tonight I’ll take you to one my favorite pizza spots.
Part I: Group Discussion
- What sorts of food do you like eating most?
I like Western food, such as sandwiches, pizza, and coffee.
- Who normally does the cooking in your home?
No one. I always eat out. My housemates cook a lot, but I don’t.
- Do you watch cooking shows on TV?
No, I don’t find them interesting.
- In general, do you prefer eating out or eating at home?
I only eat out. It’s quicker and cheaper. Not as healthy, but that’s a tradeoff I have to accept.
Part II: Individual Presentations
Describe a house/apartment that someone you know lives in. You should say:
- Whose house/apartment this is
- Where the house/apartment is
- What it looks inside
- And explain what you like or dislike about this person’s house/apartment
I remember I visited my aunt’s house in Galveston, Texas. She married a rich man and so her home was pretty big and situated right on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It was three stories tall and painted white and blue. The most interesting feature of it was that it was raised up on stilts, in order to keep the house safe from flooding. There was also an elevator inside the house, to carry them up from the garage where they parked their car. The kitchen was massive, and the living room had twenty-foot tall ceilings. There was also a really wide deck that looked out on the water, which was good for sunsets. It was pretty cool to see such a rich home, because I’d never really been in one before. I’ve been there more than once, since I got the opportunity to go back and visit a few years later during a family reunion, actually.
Part III: Class Discussion
- What kinds of home are most popular in your country?
Most people in rural America live in houses – small houses, one or two floors. In cities, everyone lives in apartments.
- What do you think are the advantages of living in a house rather than an apartment?
In a house, you have more privacy. You probably own the home, too. But in apartment, you can’t make much noise and you have to follow the rules on the building.
- Do you think that everyone would like to live in a larger home? Why?
A lot of people would. Especially if they made a lot of money. But I don’t think I would – I don’t need too much space.
- How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
It’s easy enough, but most rent is pretty expensive in America.
- Do you think it is better to rent or to buy a place to live in?
Right now, I think it makes more sense to rent. Homes are extremely expensive, and to live in one, you have to pay a huge amount of money to the bank in the form of a mortgage.
- Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents? Why?
I think it’s good for young adults to move out as quickly as possible, so they start to understand how to live in the real world.
