Idioms & Expressions:
pad/spread/spot (nouns that are used to casually refer to you home)
Come on over to my pad later. We’re having a dinner party.
feel right at home (an expression that describes a place or an activity that makes you comfortable)
When I’m working on a new project, I feel right at home.
make yourself at home (something you say to guests so that they’ll relax while they’re at your home)
Come on in and make yourself at home!
home sweet home (an expression you can say when you’re grateful to return to your home or hometown)
home is where the heart is (this means that the things that are most important or valuable to you are at home)
home away from home (noun that refers to another place besides your home where you stay often and feel comfortable)
My friend has a very nice place. I stay there often, and it’s my home away from home.
eat (someone) out of house and home (an expression that refers to staying at someone’s house and eating everything they have)
I don’t want to eat you out of house and home!
nothing to write home about (an expression that means something was unremarkable)
The movie wasn’t great, it was just OK. Nothing much to write home about.
come home to _____ (a phrase that lists who or what is waiting for you when you return home)
Every night, I come home to my dog.
home stretch (a noun that refers to the last part of something)
It’s December, so we’re in the home stretch of the year.
hit a home run (verb, this means to do something exceptionally well)
He’s been hitting home runs all year, he needs a break!
Part I: Group Discussions
Are you living in a house or in an apartment?
I live in an apartment right now. Actually – I have lived in apartments for the past four or five years. My previous jobs have required me to live close to the schools where I work, and the most convenient housing option has always been an apartment.
Do you prefer living near the sea?
I think so, because I grew up near the ocean. I like to take a walk on the shore and have a chat with my friends or family. I’ve lived near the ocean almost my entire life, no matter what country I’ve been in. Come to think of it, Hanoi is the furthest I’ve ever lived from an ocean!
What are factors for you to decide where to live?
I usually just go to where my job is. I have lived in four countries now. I like to live in cities – even if I hate traffic and congestion. I like to be among people and to have lots of options for places to eat and hang out. And living in a city helps you have a more diverse social group.
Part II: Group Discussions (Con’t)
What are some of the various reasons why people move to a new home?
People move for all sorts of reasons. People move so they can take a new job, or because they just want a new experience. I have moved five or six times in my life, and it’s always been because of work. So I think that’s the most dominant reason dictating where people decide to move.
Who do you think can better adapt after a move, children or adults?
Adults, unquestionably. Children don’t like change. My family’s first move was when I was six years old, and it was the greatest tragedy I could have imagined at that current time! Of course, by the time I grew up, moving because almost second nature to me.
Do you think elderly people can easily adapt to a new environment?
I imagine that they can, since they’ve probably moved a whole bunch of times in their lives. The only problem is that it’s harder for them to move their bodies, which makes the actual moving process difficult. But when it comes to adapting, they have had practice with that before in their lives!
What do you think are the benefits, and disadvantages, of living in the house for a long time (such as a lifetime)?
I think there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable. If you truly like a place and feel at home, then you should stay! But I also think it’s important to meet as many people as you can, and absorb as many influences as you can. And you can easily accomplish this by moving at least a few times in your life. I think “shaking off the dust,” so to speak, can be an invaluable, refreshing experience.
Part III: Individual Presentations
Describe a time when you moved to a new school or home. You should say:
When you moved
The biggest move I can remember was when I moved from my home in New Hampshire, USA to Shenzhen, China. That’s a distance of 8,000 miles! This was six years ago, and I’d been hired as an English teacher. I arrived in China in August, and stayed there for two years.
Where you moved from and to
From the USA to China. Obviously, this was a massive transition. But I had been to China before, and knew what to expect from the place. Still, it was a little jarring to move from a small oceanside town to a massive city of 14 million people.
Why you moved
I had wanted to move to Asia, China specifically, for a long time. I had spent some time there in college, and since I was getting bored with America, I began looking for jobs overseas. Fortunately, I found a good program in China that agreed to hire me, and so I made the move.
And explain how you felt about this move
I was really excited. I have never really liked living in America, so I couldn’t wait to move. I had to wait from March, when I found out that I’d been accepted for the position, until August until I could actually make the move. But when that day came, I was truly, legitimately excited.
