Week 5 Vocabulary Activities

FURNITURE DIALOGUES

Luis: Hey Laura, have you settled in with your new furniture yet?

Laura: Mostly! I found a great second-hand couch. It’s a bit worn, but it has character, you know?

Luis: That’s awesome! I went for a simple IKEA setup—affordable and easy to assemble. You can’t beat that.

Laura: True, but I miss the handcrafted pieces from back home. There’s something special about furniture that tells a story.

Luis: I get that. I managed to find a small coffee table from a local market that feels a bit like home. It helps.

Laura: That sounds lovely! I think I’ll try searching for more unique pieces too. It would really brighten up the place.

Luis and Laura discuss their new furniture, with Laura having mostly settled in after finding a second-hand couch that has character, while Luis opted for a simple and affordable IKEA setup. Laura expresses a longing for the handcrafted pieces from her hometown, appreciating furniture that tells a story. Luis shares that he found a small coffee table at a local market that reminds him of home, and Laura is inspired to search for more unique pieces to enhance her space.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Statements: 

1. Laura found a new couch that is very expensive. 

2. Luis prefers simple furniture from IKEA. 

3. Laura wants furniture that has a story behind it. 

4. Luis did not find anything special at the local market. 

5. Laura is excited to look for unique furniture pieces. 

Correct answers:

1. False – Laura found a second-hand couch, which is not mentioned as expensive. 

2. True – Luis chose a simple and affordable setup from IKEA. 

3. True – Laura appreciates furniture that tells a story. 

4. False – Luis found a small coffee table at the local market that reminds him of home, which is special to him. 

5. True – Laura is inspired to search for more unique pieces to enhance her space.

Extra Credit for Week 5: Select one of the following discussion questions and answer it in 3-5 sentences in the comments section at the bottom of this page:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Do you have new furniture in your home? 

2. What kind of couch do you like? 

3. Have you ever bought second-hand furniture? 

4. What is your favorite piece of furniture at home? 

5. Do you prefer simple or unique furniture? 

6. Where do you usually buy your furniture? 

7. How important is it for you to have comfortable furniture? 

8. Can you tell me about a special piece of furniture in your family? 

9. Do you like to decorate your room with different styles? 

10. What colors do you like for your furniture?

Luis: Hey Laura, have you found any good furniture stores around here? I need to get some things for my apartment.

Laura: Yeah, I checked out a couple. There’s a place on Main Street that has some nice second-hand stuff. It’s affordable too!

Luis: That sounds great! I’m trying to save money, but I also want something decent. What did you find there?

Laura: I saw a beautiful dining table—solid wood and really sturdy. Plus, it was only a hundred bucks!

Luis: Wow, that’s a steal! I could definitely use a table. Did you see any sofas?

Laura: There were a few, but I didn’t love them. I ended up getting a small couch from Marketplace instead. It’s not too fancy, but it’s comfy.

REPAIRS DIALOGUES

Luis: Hey Laura, did you hear about the roof leak in the apartment upstairs? 

Laura: Yeah, I noticed it when I was coming home. It’s been really rainy lately; they need to get that fixed quickly. 

Luis: For sure. I offered to help them out since I used to do repairs back in my country. 

Laura: That’s great! What do they need to do? Do they have the tools? 

Luis: They mentioned they only have a few basic ones. I might lend them some of mine and show them how to patch it properly. 

Laura: That sounds like a plan. It’s tough for immigrants sometimes; we have to rely on each other for help. 

Luis: Exactly. It’s not just about fixing things; it’s about supporting each other in our new lives.

Luis and Laura discuss a roof leak in the apartment upstairs, which has become a concern due to the recent rainy weather. Luis offers to assist with the repairs, drawing from his past experience in home repairs. He notes that the upstairs neighbors have only basic tools and plans to lend some of his own while teaching them how to properly patch the leak. Laura emphasizes the importance of mutual support among immigrants, highlighting that their community relies on each other for help in navigating challenges in their new lives.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Statements: 

1. Luis wants to help fix a leak in the apartment above. 

2. Laura thinks it is not important to help each other. 

3. The neighbors have many tools for the repairs. 

4. Luis has experience with home repairs. 

5. The community of immigrants supports each other. 

Correct answers:

1. True – Luis offers to help with the leak in the apartment upstairs. 

2. False – Laura emphasizes the importance of helping each other. 

3. False – The neighbors only have basic tools, not many. 

4. True – Luis has past experience in home repairs. 

5. True – The community relies on each other for support.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever helped a neighbor with a problem at home? 

2. What do you think is important when living in an apartment? 

3. Do you like to help others in your community? 

4. How do you feel about rainy weather? 

5. Have you ever had a leak or water problem in your home? 

6. What tools do you have at home for repairs? 

7. Why is it good to support each other in a community? 

8. Can you share a time when someone helped you? 

9. Do you know how to fix small problems at home? 

10. What do you think makes a strong community?

Luis: Hey Laura, did you see the leak in the kitchen? It’s getting worse.

Laura: Yeah, I noticed. We need to fix that before it damages anything else. Do you know how to handle plumbing?

Luis: A little. I think we just need to replace the pipe. But I’m not sure what tools we need.

Laura: I have a wrench and some tape. We might just need a new section of pipe. I can go to the hardware store tomorrow.

Luis: Sounds good. I can help you carry it back. It’ll be easier with two people.

Laura: Perfect! Let’s just hope we can figure it out together. I’d rather not call a plumber if we can avoid it.

PHONE DIALOGUES

Luis: Hey Laura, did you see that new phone model everyone’s talking about?

Laura: Yeah, the one with the amazing camera? It’s impressive, but I hear it’s super pricey.

Luis: I know! It’s hard to justify spending that much when we’re already sending money home every month.

Laura: Exactly. Sometimes I wish we could just get something basic that works well. My old phone is barely hanging on.

Luis: Same here! I just need something that can handle calls and messaging. All these extra features feel unnecessary.

Laura: Right? I just want it to last long enough to keep in touch with family. That’s what matters most.

Luis and Laura discuss a new phone model praised for its impressive camera but criticized for its high price. They express concern about the expense, especially since they regularly send money home. Both agree that they prefer a basic, reliable phone over one with unnecessary features, as their priority is staying connected with family.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Statements: 

1. Luis and Laura think the new phone is too expensive. 

2. They want a phone with many features. 

3. The camera of the new phone is very good. 

4. Luis and Laura do not send money to their families. 

5. They prefer a simple phone to stay in touch with family. 

Correct answers:

1. True – Luis and Laura express concern about the high price of the new phone. 

2. False – They prefer a basic, reliable phone instead of one with many features. 

3. True – The new phone is praised for its impressive camera. 

4. False – They regularly send money home to their families. 

5. True – They agree that a simple phone is better for staying connected with family.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you have a phone? What kind do you use? 

2. How often do you talk to your family on the phone? 

3. What is important for you in a phone? 

4. Have you ever bought a new phone? Why did you choose it? 

5. Do you think phones are too expensive? 

6. What features do you like in a phone? 

7. How do you stay connected with your family? 

8. Do you prefer a simple phone or a smartphone? Why? 

9. How many times a week do you send money home? 

10. What do you think about phones with good cameras?

Luis: Hey Laura, have you seen the new phone model that just came out?

Laura: Yeah, I saw it online. It looks sleek, but I can’t justify spending that much.

Luis: I get that. But if you think about it, it’s more than just a phone. It’s how we stay connected with family back home.

Laura: True, but my current one still works fine. Plus, I need to save for my visa application.

Luis: That’s a good point. But what if we both split the cost? We can share it for calls and video chats.

Laura: That could work! It would make it easier to talk to my parents. Let’s check it out together this weekend.