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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 38 · Out and about · A1–A2
Describing your home and neighbourhood
Describe where you live, what your home is like and what's nearby.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
When do you need English for describing your home and neighbourhood? What words do you already know?
Key phrase 1 of 8
I live in a two-bedroom unit.
In Australia, a 'unit' is a flat or apartment.
Key phrase 2 of 8
It's a house with a small backyard.
A backyard is the garden behind a house.
Key phrase 3 of 8
It's on the first floor.
In Australia, the first floor is one level above the ground floor.
Key phrase 4 of 8
It's a quiet street.
Describe the street.
Key phrase 5 of 8
It's close to the shops and the station.
'Close to' means near.
Key phrase 6 of 8
There's a park around the corner.
'Around the corner' means very near.
Key phrase 7 of 8
The neighbours are really friendly.
Talk about the people who live near you.
Key phrase 8 of 8
What's your area like?
Ask about someone's neighbourhood.
Conversation
Ben and Aisha
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 10
Ben
I heard you moved, Aisha. Where are you living now?
Conversation · line 2 of 10
Ben: I heard you moved, Aisha. Where are you living now?
Aisha
In Brunswick. It's a suburb in the north of Melbourne.
Conversation · line 3 of 10
Aisha: In Brunswick. It's a suburb in the north of Melbourne.
Ben
Nice. Is it a house?
Conversation · line 4 of 10
Ben: Nice. Is it a house?
Aisha
No, it's a two-bedroom unit on the first floor. It's small, but it's really bright.
Conversation · line 5 of 10
Aisha: No, it's a two-bedroom unit on the first floor. It's small, but it's really bright.
Ben
What's the area like?
Conversation · line 6 of 10
Ben: What's the area like?
Aisha
I love it. It's a quiet street, but it's close to the shops and the tram.
Conversation · line 7 of 10
Aisha: I love it. It's a quiet street, but it's close to the shops and the tram.
Ben
Is there a park nearby?
Conversation · line 8 of 10
Ben: Is there a park nearby?
Aisha
Yes, there's one around the corner. I walk there every morning.
Conversation · line 9 of 10
Aisha: Yes, there's one around the corner. I walk there every morning.
Ben
And the neighbours?
Conversation · line 10 of 10
Ben: And the neighbours?
Aisha
Really friendly. The man next door gave us lemons from his tree!
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Ben. Student B is Aisha. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
I live in a … with …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
It's close to the … and the …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
What's your area like?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 4
'There's a park around the corner' means the park is…
- A far away
- B very near
- C inside the building
✓ B: 'Around the corner' means very close, often just a short walk.
Quiz · question 2 of 4
Choose the correct sentence.
- A There is two bedrooms.
- B It has two bedroom.
- C There are two bedrooms.
✓ C: Use 'there are' with plural nouns, and add -s: two bedrooms.
Quiz · question 3 of 4
A 'backyard' is…
- A the garden behind a house
- B the street in front of a house
- C a room inside a house
✓ A: The backyard is behind the house. The front yard is at the front.
Quiz · question 4 of 4
Which question asks about someone's neighbourhood?
- A How big is your kitchen?
- B What's your area like?
- C When did you move?
✓ B: 'Area' here means the neighbourhood around your home.
Culture talk
How does this work in your country? Tell your partner.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.co/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.co
· englishcoaching.co
Teacher notes
Level: Out and about · A1–A2 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "When do you need English for describing your home and neighbourhood? What words do you already know?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Ben and student B is Aisha. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Ben is read by Josh and Aisha by Mel. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Culture talk
End by asking learners how this works in their country. It's a natural way to practise the new phrases and to learn from each other.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Describing your home and neighbourhood. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 38: Describing your home and neighbourhood
Describe where you live, what your home is like and what's nearby.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: area · around · backyard · bedroom · first · neighbours · station · street
- I live in a two- unit. (In Australia, a 'unit' is a flat or apartment)
- It's a house with a small . (A backyard is the garden behind a house)
- It's on the floor. (In Australia, the first floor is one level above the ground floor)
- It's a quiet . (Describe the street)
- It's close to the shops and the . ('Close to' means near)
- There's a park the corner. ('Around the corner' means very near)
- The are really friendly. (Talk about the people who live near you)
- What's your like? (Ask about someone's neighbourhood)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Ben: I heard you moved, Aisha. Where are you now?
- Aisha: In Brunswick. It's a in the north of Melbourne.
- Ben: Nice. Is it a ?
- Aisha: No, it's a two-bedroom unit on the first floor. It's small, but it's bright.
- Ben: What's the area ?
- Aisha: I love it. It's a street, but it's close to the shops and the tram.
- Ben: Is there a park ?
- Aisha: Yes, there's one around the corner. I walk there every .
- Ben: And neighbours?
- Aisha: Really . The man next door gave us lemons from his tree!
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
'There's a park around the corner' means the park is…
a) far awayb) very nearc) inside the building
Choose the correct sentence.
a) There is two bedrooms.b) It has two bedroom.c) There are two bedrooms.
A 'backyard' is…
a) the garden behind a houseb) the street in front of a housec) a room inside a house
Which question asks about someone's neighbourhood?
a) How big is your kitchen?b) What's your area like?c) When did you move?
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- I live in a with
- It's close to the and the
- What's your area like?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/describing-your-home-and-neighbourhood/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 38: Describing your home and neighbourhood
A. Key phrases
- I live in a two-bedroom unit.
- It's a house with a small backyard.
- It's on the first floor.
- It's a quiet street.
- It's close to the shops and the station.
- There's a park around the corner.
- The neighbours are really friendly.
- What's your area like?
B. Conversation gaps
- living
- suburb
- house
- really
- like
- quiet
- nearby
- morning
- the
- friendly
C. Quiz
- b) very near
- c) There are two bedrooms.
- a) the garden behind a house
- b) What's your area like?
englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/describing-your-home-and-neighbourhood/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach describing your home and neighbourhood to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Out and about level, about CEFR A1–A2. It is lesson 38 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/describing-your-home-and-neighbourhood/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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