Do you have a favourite room in your home?
In this B1/B2 listening lesson, Emily is talking about a room in her house that she enjoys spending time in. Emily talks quite slowly, so her English is easier to understand.
After you finish the exercises, try reading the transcript at the bottom to check what you heard is correct.
Contents
Listen in full
Watch the video and listen to Emily’s story, then answer the questions and start the exercises.
Gist questions
Answer these general questions about Emily’s talk:
1. Why does Emily feel her living room is special?
a) It’s the biggest room in the house b) It’s where she works most of the time c) It feels welcoming whether she’s alone or with others2. What does Emily suggest is most important in a living room?
a) A space that feels relaxing and like home b) Having the newest entertainment system c) Filling it with art and decorations3. How does Emily mainly use her living room?
a) For eating and doing homework b) For relaxing alone or spending time with others c) As a guest room when people stay overDetail questions
Here are some more detailed questions about Emily’s talk. See how many you can answer:
4. What kind of decorations does Emily have on her walls?
a) Travel photos and a few small paintings b) Posters of her favourite musicians c) Mirrors and framed certificates5. Why does Emily like having plants in her living room?
a) They’re easy to take care of b) They brighten up the room and add atmosphere c) They help her focus when studying6. What does Emily typically use her coffee table for?
a) Displaying books and magazines b) Eating dinner with guests c) Placing tea, candles, or other small items7. What does Emily say about spending time in her living room with friends?
a) They mostly study and do homework together b) They hang out and watch films c) They go online and play video games8. What makes the living room feel like home to Emily?
a) Its location in the house b) The fact that she decorated it alone c) Its atmosphere and how comfortable it isTrain your ear
Listen for words
Listen 1
Listen and write the words you hear.
It’s big.
Listen 2
Listen and write the words you hear.
I tend to prefer neutral colours .
Listen 3
Listen and write the words you hear.
And also pictures hanging up.
Listen 4
Listen and write the words you hear.
One or two little paintings .
Listen 5
Listen and write the words you hear.
There’s a small bookshelf with books plants.
Dictation
Listen to Emily and write down what she says in the box below. Then, check what you wrote. Any mistakes you make will be in blue.
Listen and read!
Read the transcript of Emily talking about her room – and listen at the same time. Click on any phrase to listen again.
Words and phrases
Here are some words and phrases from the text that you might find useful when talking about your home or describing rooms.
Words
a living room (n) – the main room in a home where people relax or watch TV
cozy (adj) – warm and comfortable
neutral colours (n) – soft, light colours like cream or beige
a bookshelf (n) – a piece of furniture for holding books
a plant (n) – a green living thing that grows in a pot or garden
a difference (n) – a change or improvement
a sofa (n) – a large seat for two or more people
squishy (adj) – soft and comfortable to sit on
a cushion (n) – a soft pillow used for comfort or decoration
a blanket (n) – a warm cover used when sitting or sleeping
a coffee table (n) – a small table in front of a sofa
a candle (n) – a stick of wax that gives light when it burns
fairy lights (n) – small decorative lights, often on a string
comfortable (adj) – giving a feeling of rest and ease
welcoming (adj) – friendly and pleasant; making people feel at home
flashy (adj) – showy; too bright or expensive-looking
expensive (adj) – costing a lot of money
Phrases
my favorite room – the room I like best
has got to be – definitely is; for sure
to be honest – I’m telling the truth
spend most of my time (somewhere) – be in a place very often
on the whole – in general; mostly
hang (something) up – put something on a wall
make a difference – cause a positive change
brighten (something) up – make something look lighter or happier
the best part of (something) – the thing you like most
loads of (something) – a lot of something
turn on (the lights) – make the lights start working
instead of (something) – in place of something
feel at home – feel relaxed and comfortable
spend time with (someone) – be with another person to enjoy yourself
come over – visit someone at their home
hang out – spend time relaxing or chatting
chat about (something) – talk informally about a topic
on my own – alone; without other people
meant to be (something) – supposed to be or designed for something
a nice place to be – somewhere that feels good and comfortable
Grammar from the transcript
Here are a few key English grammar examples from the transcript:
Adjective patterns
Adjectives like nice are often followed by infinitives, e.g. "It's nice to see you!"
- It’s nice to turn on my fairy lights..
Find out more about adjective patterns here.
Relative clause with "where"
Emily uses a relative clause starting with "where" to give more information about a place:
- ...a place where you can really feel at home.
Preference verb (like) + -ing verb
Preference verbs like "like", "enjoy" and "love" are usually followed by -ing verbs. This is a kind of verb pattern.
- I like spending time with friends and family.
- I love relaxing on my sofa.
for + -ing pattern
We use patterns like “for + -ing” to explain what something is used for.
- It’s great for relaxing on my own.
- It’s great for spending time with friends and family.
More free A2, B1 and B2 English listening exercises and lessons here!
