Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Owning a house is part of the American dream. A home of your own is a symbol of success and prosperity. Owning also means that you don’t have to deal with annoying or irresponsible landlords.
But there are downsides to owning a house, too. It is a big responsibility. There’s a lot that can go wrong in a house, and when you own your own place, it’s up to you to fix any problems that come up.
Mason recently bought a house. But as you’re about to hear, he has mixed feelings about being his own landlord.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Jeff: Hey, Mason, got a minute?
Mason: Yeah, Jeff, what’s up?
Jeff: It’s bugging me. My landlord…I rent a house, and my landlords are generally cool, but they call me each and every month despite the fact that I’ve paid rent on time every month for over two years.
Mason: What, do they call you and say, “Hey, pay rent”?
Jeff: Rent is due. They remind me every month. I can’t stand it. I wish I owned a house.
Mason: I understand, I…you know…bought the house recently, and so I am my own landlord. But the bank’s got better things to do than email me all the time.
Jeff: So you never escape it.
Mason: Well, you’re never going to escape making payments unless you win the lottery or something. But there’s definitely…I mean, there’s kinda the pros and cons, right, like you gotta deal with a landlord who’s grumpy, I gotta make sure that if my water heater breaks I can fix it, and I have no handyman skills.
Jeff: I got good news for you, buddy. I happen to be a handyman.
Mason: You kidding me? What’s your rate, man? I gotta get you over to my place. I’ve got some projects.
Grammar Point
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Discussion
Jeff asks Mason for advice. He is annoyed with his landlord, who calls him every month to remind him to pay his rent. Jeff wishes that he owned his own house so he wouldn’t have to deal with his landlord anymore.
Mason recently bought a house and he agrees that owning your own place has some advantages. But it also has a few disadvantages. Mason is not good at fixing things when they break in his house. Luckily, it turns out that Jeff is a great handyman. Maybe he can help Mason out.
Do you think it is better to rent or own a home? Why? What is more common in your country, renting or owning?
Comments
United States |
Ukraine |
Brazil |
China |
Argentina |
China |
Hong Kong |
Pakistan |
United States |
Turkey |
China |
South Korea |
United Arab Emirates |
Algeria |
Algeria |
Thailand |
China |
Portugal |
Egypt |
Iran, Islamic Republic Of |