Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 2 > Lesson 5
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This lesson presents a problem that the student needs to solve. Read the situation, then use the content from the three sections (Reading, Listening, and Interview) to complete the final task.
By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to compare three candidates and choose the best one.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to able to decide which roommate candidate is the best by:
1) stating what information is important for them in a candidate e.g. I don't want someone as a roommate if they are very messy.
2) getting information on each candidate (listening / interview)
3) comparing the good points of each candidate
4) comparing the bad points of each candidate
5) discussing which candidate will be the best fit
Words and rules:
The student should be able to ask for information using a range of questions e.g. who / what / when / where etc.
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: We usually make eye contact when interviewing someone.
Register: When interviewing people a polite register is usually used.
Social rules: We usually don't tell someone they are successful or unsuccessful during an interview. We usually contact them later with that information.
Cultural references: Room sharing and house sharing are quite popular in major cities e.g. New York, due to the high price of rent.
Track #11
Well, my name is Steven. I’m 25. And I’m a freelance artist. I’m currently
living with my mother in a loft on 44th street, but I’d like to move to be closer to the park. I love drawing. I especially like drawing
animals. I don’t really have a lot of work at the moment, so I might be late with the rent some months. But I’m really quiet, I’m sure you won’t even know I’m here most of the time.
Track #12
Hey, I’m Steve. I’m a drummer in a rock band. I just love music. I like listening to heavy metal and classic rock. I usually listen to it quite loud. I also like practicing my drums at night. Oh, and I really hate cleaning, so my room is usually quite a mess. But, I am a very good cook, I can cook many delicious dishes. My specialty is Mexican food.
The following vocabulary is included in the lesson:
1) furnished. (adj)
2) a bedside table (n)
3) a walk-in closet (n)
4) a 4th floor walkup (n)
5) peaceful (adj)
6) accessible (adj)
7) a laundromat (n)
8) around the corner (exp)
9) fiber optic internet (n)
10) respond (v)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★
Type: Warm up
Purpose: To make the goal of the lesson more personalized
Method: Before you start the lesson, discuss two points. Where they would like to live, and what they would look for in a roommate. Discuss some possible dealbreakers.
Option 2:
Difficulty ★★
Type: Reading - Vocabulary search
Purpose: To introduce vocabulary / check comprehension
Method: After the student has read the reading activity and completed the questions, have them find the following words in the reading by listening to their definitions. The teacher reads the definition and the student needs to find the correct word. After the student has found all the words, ask the student to give you a summary of the reading. Hopefully, the student will use some of the new words in their summary.
Furnished - to provide (a room or building) with furniture
A Bedside table - a table close to bed
A Walk-in closet - a large place you can store your clothing
A 4th floor walkup - an apartment on the fourth floor that doesn’t have an elevator
Peaceful - quiet and calm : without noise, excitement, etc.
Accessible - able to be reached or approached
A Laundromat - a business that washes and dries clothes
Around the corner - very close
Fiber optic internet - very fast internet
Respond - to say or write something as an answer to a question or request
Option 3:
Difficulty ★★
Type: Task - Teaching point - Conditionals
Purpose: To teach the student how to make conditional sentences to compare the candidates
Method: After you have completed the task role-play one time. Teach the student how to use the first conditional, so that they can compare the different candidates. e.g. If Steven moves in, he might have a problem paying the rent because he doesn't have a good job.
Option 4:
Difficulty ★★
Type: Task - Role-play
Purpose: To increase fluency and confidence
Method: After you have completed the task role-play one time. Give the student some feedback and
then do it again. Time permitting, you are welcome to do this multiple times.
Option 5:
Difficulty ★★★
Type: Task - Role-play Expansion
Purpose: To increase difficulty of final Task
Method: Complete one or both of the options below to increase the difficulty of the final task
1) Describe the apartment and the local area in detail to the third applicant. Then find out about if they would be a good match. Find out about their personality / their job / their hobbies / their lifestyle.
2) Compare the three candidates and discuss which one you would like to live with and why. Then
call the successful applicant on the phone and let them know the good news. Discuss when they can move in and what they need to do before they can move in. e.g. sign application form, bring hanko, pay first month’s rent etc.
Reading
Read the newspaper article and answer the questions below.
1) How long will it be available for?
4 months
2) What's the neighborhood like?
It's nice. It's peaceful. It has lots of good restaurants.
3) How much is the rent?
$2000 per month.
Listening
Listen to the two applicants and note down good and bad points of living with them.
Steven.
Good: quiet
Bad: doesn't have regular work
Steven
Good: good cooking
Bad: messy and noisy
Interview
Your teacher is the third person interested in being your roommate. Interview them and see if they would be a good match?
- How often do you clean?
- What do you do on the weekends?
- Do you like to have friends over or keep the party outside?
- Do you smoke?
- How often do you drink at home?
- Are you still friends with your old roommates?
- Do you have references?
- What time do you go to bed?
- Do you have any pets? Are you considering getting any?
- What do you do for a living?
- How long is your average workday?
- Do you work from home?
- Do you expect a lot of out-of-town visitors?
- What’s your romantic situation?
- What do you want in a roommate?
- Can you put down a deposit?
- How often do you cook?
- How long do you plan to stay?
- Anything else I should know?
Source: http://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2014/07/questions_to_ask_your_potential_roommate
Task
Discuss which candidate you would like to live with and why.
A) So, how many candidates did you get for the apartment.
B) Three.
A) What are their names?
B) There is Steve, Steven and Jacob.
A) Tell me about Steve.
B) He's a designer. He sounds a little shy. He lives with his mother.
A) Do you think he'll be a good roommate?
B) Well, he's very quiet, but he doesn’t have a lot of money.
A) I see. How about Steven?
B) He's a drummer in a band.
A) Cool.
B) But, he likes to practice at night, so it might be annoying. Also, he said he is very messy.
A) OK, so maybe not him. Who was the last person?
B) Jacob. [teacher's role previous interview]
A) Tell me about him.
B) Well, he's a doctor. So he has lots of money, also he works nights, so he won't be in the apartment much.
A) Does he seem like a nice guy?
B) Yeah, he seems OK.
A) I think he is the best. You should call him back and tell him he can be your new roommate.
B) OK. I'll do that.