Speaking (Homes / Websites / Shopping)

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Idioms & Expressions:

home sweet home

 

home is where the heart is (both expressions that mean the things you value are at home)

 

stomping grounds (noun; the area where you frequently hang out /socialize)

I miss living in this town. These streets are my old stomping grounds.

 

vibe / feel / ambience (nouns; can be combined with an adjective to describe a place, such as “pleasant feel, or “nice vibe,” etc)

The restaurant has a good menu and a pleasant vibe.

I like the relaxed ambience in this coffee shop.

 

mom & pop store (noun; these are small stores on the street that are usually operated by a family)

There’s a mom & pop store on the corner where you go pick up some milk.

 

with the click/touch of a button (a phrase that describes a process that’s performed very easily)

Many people prefer online shopping because they can order things with the click of a button.

 

Part I: Group Discussion

  1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?

It’s a small room that I rent in a house I share with six other people. It’s all I need though. I don’t need a whole lot of space.

  1. What does your apartment look like?

It’s actually kind of an old place and it’s not that flashy or modern. I don’t really mind, though.

  1. What can you see through your windows?

I can just see the houses across the street. It’s not that special of a view, but it’s not ugly.

  1. What is your ideal house in the future?

The same kind of place I live in now. I want to rent a house so that a landlord can handle all the annoying tasks that come with living in a place.

  1. What is your hometown?

I am from a small town near the ocean. I always wanted to be from a city, though. My hometown is peaceful and quiet, but things close early and it can be hard to find something to do if you’re in the mood for entertainment.

Since my town is on the water, the beach is a popular place for people to go in the summer. Hampton Beach (my town’s beach) is actually pretty famous. There is a venue called the Casino Ballroom where many big bands and comedians have come to perform. So a lot of tourists come to my hometown as well.

  1. Do you like your hometown? Why?

Yes, but I don’t want to live there. Hampton is a great place to live if you’re ready to start a family. It’s quiet and peaceful, usually, and the schools are decent. But it’s too slow and familiar and quiet for me.

  1. Would you return back to your hometown in the future?

No. My family has moved away from there, so there’s no point.

Part II: Individual Presentations

Describe a useful website you have visited. You should say:

  • What the website was
  • How you found the address for this website
  • What the website contained

and explain why it was useful to you.

I like to go by Reddit.com. It’s basically a giant message board where people post things and discuss literally every topic you can possibly think of. Most people post as anonymous users, under a username that they choose themselves. I’m actually not a registered user of the site, but I go to the homepage every day and see what the most popular topics and links are. It can be a good way to get another perspective on current events, and learn some interesting trivia. I can’t post anything, but I can see what other people are saying, and sometimes the things they say are pretty funny.

I heard about it through a few friends, and decided to give it a try myself. Like I said, I’m not a member, but that might change at some point in the future if I decide to start posting.

Part III: Class Discussion

  1. What websites do you use for online shopping?

None. I don’t like to shop online really.

  1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping?

It’s convenient and more private to shop online. And the prices are usually better. The only drawback I can think of is that you have to wait a little while for your package to arrive. Personally, I’m impatient, so I like to head over to a store to buy an item in person if I can.

  1. Does online shopping affect the offline markets?

I think so. Someday, people will shop almost exclusively online I think – because going to a real store is a hassle.

  1. How can regular supermarkets compete with online shopping?

They can right now, but as people get more connected, I think they will order groceries digitally more frequently.

  1. Will people use online shopping more often in the future?

Of course – the internet will become more available and easier to use.