2. Can you describe your home? What rooms does it have? How is it decorated? Do you have ornaments on display?

3. How long have you lived there? Why did you choose to live there?

4. What do you like to do when you are at home?

5. Do you get on with your neighbours? What problems can people have with their neighbours?

6. What are the main reasons people move house?

7. Would you like to move house? Why or why not? What are the most important things to take into consideration when choosing a new home? What would your dream home be?

8. Would you prefer to live in the city centre, the suburbs or in the countryside? Why?

2. Which people tend to have second homes in your country? Where do they usually have these? If you had a second home, where would you like it to be? What are the problems associated with second homes?

3. What home improvements would you like to make to your home?

4. What chores do you do in the house? Who usually does the housework where you live?

5. Is there enough social housing near where you live? Should the government provide more social housing? Why or why not? Would you be happy if the government planned to build social housing in your neighbourhood? Why or why not?

6. What are the main reasons people become homeless? How can we help homeless people?

2. What are all the different types of places people can make a home?

3. What are the pros and cons of living in an apartment compared to a house? 4. Is it better to buy a house or rent? Why? 5. What risks do homes face? How can you keep your home safe and secure?

6. What do you think the phrase “an Englishman’s home is his castle” means? Do you agree with this?

7. Do you agree that “home is where the heart is”? What does this phrase mean?

8. How will the homes of the future be different to those of today?

• What does the word “home” mean to you?

• Do you prefer spending time at home or going out? Why?

• What is your favorite room in your home? What do you usually do there?

🗣️ Personal experience

• Can you describe your home to someone who has never been there?

• How has your idea of a “perfect home” changed over time?

• Have you ever moved house? How did you feel about it?

• What makes a place feel like home rather than just a house?

💭 Opinions & preferences

• Do you think it’s better to live in a house or an apartment? Why?

• Is it important to own your home, or is renting better? Explain your opinion.

• How important is location when choosing a home?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of living alone?

🌍 Broader topics

• How are homes in your country different from homes in other countries?

• Do you think people will live differently in the future? (e.g., smaller homes, smart homes)

• What problems do people face when trying to find a home today?

• Should governments help people buy homes? Why or why not?

🔥 Discussion / Debate

• “Home is a place, not a feeling.” Do you agree or disagree?

• It’s better to live close to family than far away. Discuss.

• Everyone should have the right to a comfortable home. What does “comfortable” mean?

• nk this will change in the future?

Topic: Relaxation and stress

• What do you usually do to unwind after a busy day?

• Do you think people today have enough time to relax?

• Is it better to unwind alone or with others? Why?

🏡 Inhabit

Topic: Living spaces and environments

• What kind of places do people usually inhabit in your country?

• Would you like to inhabit a very unusual place (e.g., a tiny house, a boat)? Why/why not?

• How does the place people inhabit affect their lifestyle?

🌲 Seclude

Topic: Privacy vs social life

• Do you sometimes like to seclude yourself from others? When and why?

• Is it healthy to spend time away from people?

• Would you enjoy living in a secluded area? Explain.

🌍 Sustainable lifestyle

Topic: Environment and daily habits

• What does a sustainable lifestyle mean to you?

• What small changes can people make to live more sustainably?

• Do you think living sustainably is easy or difficult in your country?

🏠 Straw bale

Topic: Alternative housing

• Have you heard of straw bale houses? What do you think about them?

• Would you live in a house made of natural materials? Why/why not?

• Are eco-friendly homes the future?

😄 Whole “nother thing”

Topic: Emphasis & comparison (informal language)

• What’s something that seems easy but is actually a whole “nother thing” when you try it?

• Is learning a language in class different from using it in real life? How?

• What skills require completely different abilities than people expect?

⭐ Stand out

Topic: Individuality and success

• What makes a person stand out in a positive way?

• Is it important to stand out at work or school?

• Can standing out ever be a disadvantage?

🚪 Abandon

Topic: Change and difficult decisions

• Why do people abandon projects or goals?

• Have you ever abandoned something important? What happened?

• Is it sometimes better to abandon a plan than continue it?

🏙️ Borough

Topic: Cities and communities

• What is your favorite borough or area in your city? Why?

• How are different parts of a city different from each other?

• Would you prefer to live in a busy or quiet borough?

🤔 Peculiar

Topic: Unusual behavior and culture

• What is the most peculiar habit you have seen?

• Do you enjoy meeting peculiar people? Why/why not?

• Are there any peculiar traditions in your country?

🌿 Unwind (relax after stress)

• Are you working or relaxing?

• Do you feel stressed or calm?

• Do you usually do this after a busy time? (yes)

🏡 Inhabit (live in a place)

• Do people live there or just visit?

• Is it about staying for a short or long time? (long)

• Can animals also do this? (yes)

🌲 Seclude (separate yourself from others)

• Are you with other people or alone?

• Do you choose to be alone? (yes)

• Is it usually for peace and quiet? (yes)

🌍 Sustainable lifestyle (environmentally friendly way of living)

• Does this lifestyle help or harm the environment? (help)

• Do people try to use more or fewer natural resources? (fewer)

• Is it about the present only or also the future? (future too)

🏠 Straw bale (building material made from dried plants)

• Is it a natural or artificial material? (natural)

• Is it used for building houses? (yes)

• Is it made from plants like wheat? (yes)

😄 Whole “nother thing” (completely different situation – informal)

• Is it the same or very different? (very different)

• Is this formal or informal language? (informal)

• Do people use it in writing or mainly speaking? (speaking)

⭐ Stand out (be noticeable/different)

• Do people notice it easily? (yes)

• Is it the same as everything else? (no)

• Is it usually in a positive way? (often yes)

🚪 Abandon (leave something completely)

• Do you stay or leave it? (leave)

• Do you plan to come back? (no)

• Is it finished or stopped? (stopped)

🏙️ Borough (area of a city)

• Is it a whole city or part of a city? (part)

• Do people live there? (yes)

• Is it usually a small or large area inside a city? (smaller part)

🤔 Peculiar (strange or unusual)

• Is it normal or unusual? (unusual)

• Can it be a bit surprising? (yes)

• Is it always negative? (not always)

🎯 CELTA tip

After CCQs, you can check form/pronunciation:

• drill stress (e.g., pe-CU-liar, a-BAN-don)

• highlight register (whole “nother thing” = informal)

CCQs:

• Is a con man honest or dishonest?

• Does a con man trick people or help them?

• Does he usually take money from people?

Practice:

• Have you ever heard a story about a con man? What happened?

• How can people protect themselves from con men?

2. Vellum

CCQs:

• Is vellum paper or animal skin?

• Is it modern or traditional material?

• Was it used in the past for important documents?

Practice:

• Why do you think people used vellum instead of paper?

• What important things today might deserve to be written on vellum?

3. Cipher

CCQs:

• Is a cipher easy or difficult to understand?

• Do you need a key to read a cipher?

• Is it used for secret communication?

Practice:

• Why do people use ciphers?

• Can you think of jobs where ciphers are important?

4. Embellishment (note: correct spelling)

CCQs:

• Is embellishment adding details or removing them?

• Are the added details always true?

• Do people embellish stories to make them more interesting?

Practice:

• Do people sometimes embellish their CVs? Why?

• Tell a short story and add some embellishment to make it more exciting.

5. Gibberish

CCQs:

• Can you understand gibberish?

• Is it real language or nonsense?

• Do babies sometimes speak gibberish?

Practice:

• When was the last time you heard gibberish?

• How do you feel when someone speaks gibberish to you?

6. Gullible (correct spelling)

CCQs:

• Is a gullible person easy or difficult to trick?

• Do gullible people believe things quickly?

• Is being gullible usually positive or negative?

Practice:

• Are children more gullible than adults? Why?

• What advice would you give to a gullible person?

7. Divination

CCQs:

• Is divination based on science or belief?

• Do people use it to know the past or the future?

• Is it connected with magic or religion?

Practice:

• Do you believe in divination? Why/why not?

• What are common forms of divination in your culture?

8. Coven

CCQs:

• Is a coven a group or one person?

• Is it usually connected to witches?

• Do members of a coven meet regularly?

Practice:

• What do people usually imagine when they hear the word “coven”?

• Why do you think covens appear often in films and stories?

Optional Controlled Practice (Fill in the gaps)

1. The fortune teller used _________ to predict the future.

2. He told me an amazing story, but I think it was full of _________.

3. The message was written in a secret _________.

4. That email is from a _________ trying to steal your money.

5. I couldn’t understand anything—he was speaking complete _________.

6. She’s very _________ and believes everything she reads online.

7. The ancient manuscript was written on _________.

8. The witches gathered in a _________ in the forest.