B1 (File 4B) : Listening activities + vocabulary bank : houses

6 minutes English BBC- house swapping

A. Before listening- Guess the following questions without listening to the programme.
1. What does house swapping mean?
2. What are the benefits of house swapping? 
3. If you didn't have enough money for a holiday, would you consider the option of house swapping?
4. What kind of houses are mentioned in the programme?
B. While listening- answer this question:
1  According to a recent survey which is the most popular destination for UK home swaps?

a) Australia
b) UK
c) USA

Listen out for the correct answer at the end of the programme! 

• audio
• transcript download
• Vocabulary from the programme ( click here and scroll down)

C. Optional activity -After listening: ( Basics of home exchange in 8 minutes)  

1. Name the advantages of house swapping. Now think about the disadvantages.
2. What kind of houses do you see in the video?

Watch this video and find out! 

3. Movie about home exchange

Have you seen the movie "The Holiday" about home exchange? Click here to read more...

Watch the trailer here. ( and click on media ( trailer)

FYI ( For your interest) : The Holiday Speak up DVD is at the library.

KEYS- FILE 4B - Vocabulary

p. 151-Vocabulary Bank: houses.
1 Types of houses
1 terraced house
2 block of flats
3 cottage
4 detached house

2 Where people live
1g   2 d    3e   4b    5a    6c   7f

3 Parts of a house

1 chimney    2 roof    3 balcony   4 garage    5 wall    6 gate    7 garden   8 steps   9 terrace   10 path

4 Furniture 

bathroom-washbasin, shower
kitchen-sink, dishwasher
living room-coffee table, armchair
bedroom-bedside table, chest of drawers