Do you want to improve your English speaking skills? One of the best ways to practice is by talking about topics that offer a wealth of vocabulary.
Why not try having an English conversation about housing - its advantages and disadvantages - the differences between urban and rural housing - new homes and old homes - whether it’s big or small.
Talking about housing can be a fantastic way to for ESL learners to improve their skills!
Let's dive into some sample questions designed to start discussion and help boost your English conversation skills today!
Here are some examples questions on the topic of housing - a common IELTS speaking topic.
Include examples and reasons to support your ideas, point of view or opinion.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions About Housing
- What kind of housing do you live in?
- Would you prefer to live in a flat/apartment or a house? [Why?]
- Do you live in a house or apartment?
- Do you live in a house or flat? (flat = apartment in British English)
- Can you compare houses and flats/apartments.
- Do most people in your hometown live in a house or a flat/apartment? [Why?]
- What kinds of home are popular in your country?
- What kind of home is most popular in your country?
- Do most people live in houses in your country?
- How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
- Which part of your country do most people live in?
- In your country, where do most young people (e.g. 20 to 25-year-olds) live?
- Do they still live with their parents?
- What types of places (homes) do most people in your country live in?
- What kind of homes are popular in your country?
- Compare houses that rural people live in with the flats/apartments that most city people live in.
- How are relations betweens neighbours different in cities and in the countryside (as a result of these different housing situations)?
- What kind of housing situation is best for allowing neighbours to chat to each other?
- How has housing changed in your country?
Housing Problems
- What are some housing problems that exist in your country?
- What is the government doing to try to solve these problems?
- In cities in your country, are there many people who do not have a place to live? (homeless people)
- Where do they sleep?
- Do you think the prices of homes in your country are too expensive for the average person?
- What are some of the reasons why the prices so high?
- What is the government doing about this problem?
- What can the government do about this problem?
- Do you think the government should help low-income people buy a home? [Why? How?/Why not?]
- Do you think the government should supply low-cost housing for those people who have low incomes?
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of living in a newly-built home and living in an old one.
- Some people like decorating their homes while other people don't care too much about decorating. Why do you think this is?
- Some people like decorating their homes with flowers while other people don't have flowers inside their home. Why do you think this is?
- How do you think homes (= houses or flats) in the future will be decorated (and furnished)?
How would you answer these IELTS questions about housing, housing problems, and city and rural housing?
Essential Housing Vocabulary
Examples of essential vocabulary to talk about housing:
Urban housing: housing in a town or city
Rural housing: housing located in the countryside
Residential area: an area with a lot of houses
Landlord/landlady (n): a person who owns and rents out a house or apartment
Tenant (n.): someone who lives in a house or apartment that they rent from a landlord
Rent (n.): money paid to a landlord in exchange for living in their property
Mortgage (n.): money borrowed from a bank to buy a house
Examples of essential vocabulary to talk about urban housing:
Tenement building (noun): a type of large residential building typically found in cities, often containing many small apartments and shared common areas
Apartment Building (noun): a large building containing multiple housing units, often found in urban areas.
Townhouse (noun): a type of dwelling that is built as part of a row of similar structures and typically has two or three stories, often found in densely populated urban areas
Condominium (noun): a type of multi-occupant residential building where each occupant owns an individual unit and shares common areas, such as a lobby or pool.
Loft (noun): an apartment that is typically large and open with high ceilings, often found in industrial areas of cities
Gentrification (noun): the process by which a neighborhood’s existing population is replaced with wealthier people, resulting in changes to the area’s housing market and culture
Redlining (noun): a discriminatory practice in which lenders withhold financing from certain neighborhoods, primarily those populated by people of color
Public housing (noun): low-cost residences owned and operated by the government, usually reserved for low-income families and individuals
Co-housing (noun): a type of intentional community in which individual homes are designed for private living, but the residents share common facilities such as gardens, kitchens, and recreation spaces
Rent control (noun): a regulation that places limits on the amount landlords can charge tenants for rent in certain areas
Affordable housing (noun): housing that is offered at below-market prices to people whose incomes are below certain limits
Examples of essential vocabulary to talk about rural housing:
Homestead (noun): a house or other dwelling, usually with land and outbuildings, occupied by a family or single person as their permanent residence.
Farm (noun): an area of land consisting of a house, barns, and outbuildings, occupied by a family that engages in farming.
Country House (noun): a large house in the country, usually owned by a wealthy person or family.
Cottage (noun): a small, simple house or dwelling, usually in a rural area.
Log Cabin (noun): a rustic house built of logs, often found in rural areas.
Ranch House (noun): a type of single-story home with an open floor plan and low-pitched roof that is designed for living in rural areas.
Bungalow (noun): a small, single-story house that typically has a wide veranda, often found in suburban or rural areas.
Mobile Home (noun): a type of prefabricated home that can be moved from one place to another, usually with its own chassis and wheels.
Villa (noun): a type of dwelling that is usually larger than a house but smaller than a mansion.
Examples of essential vocabulary to talk about common housing problems:
Overcrowding (noun): the state of having too many people living in one place, often leading to poor living conditions.
Dilapidation (noun): the state of disrepair or neglect resulting from a lack of maintenance over time.
Inadequate Facilities (noun): insufficient access to basic services such as water, electricity, sewage, and garbage collection.
Unsafe Neighborhoods (noun): areas where there is an increased risk of crime or violence due to poverty, lack of resources, or other factors.
Pollution (noun): the presence of harmful substances in the environment, such as air and water pollution.
Insect Infestation (noun): the presence of insects such as cockroaches, ants, and rats in a home or area due to inadequate sanitation.