Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 13 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 3: Home

Is a tree house a real home?

Some people live in houses in the trees. In this lesson you say where things are. You use the words in, on, under, next to, near, between, in front of and behind.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Trees and houses

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Where is your phone now?
  2. Is there a tree near your home?
  3. What is on your table?
  4. What is under your bed?
  5. Who sits next to you?
  6. Where do you want to live?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say one sentence with the word.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. A tall plant with a trunk and leaves is a .
  2. You climb up a to reach a high place.
  3. The is the top of a house.
  4. A very big area with many trees is a .
  5. To make a house you it.
  6. To go up a tree with your hands and feet is to .
  7. A place without danger is .
  8. From a high place you can see a nice .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a tree has
  2. a roof is on the
  3. a forest has many
  4. to climb = to go
  5. safe = without
  6. high = far from the
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to say where things are.

  • It is in the tree.Це на дереві (всередині).The house is in the tree.
  • It is on the branch.Це на гілці.The bird is on the branch.
  • It is under the roof.Це під дахом.The bed is under the roof.
  • It is next to the ladder.Це поруч із драбиною.The rope is next to the ladder.
  • It is near the house.Це біля будинку.The forest is near the house.
  • It is between the trees.Це між деревами.The bridge is between the trees.
  • It is in front of the door.Це перед дверима.The ladder is in front of the door.
  • It is behind the house.Це за будинком.The garden is behind the house.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Tree houses

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Is a tree house a real home?

Is a tree house a real home? For some people, yes! Reports say that the Korowai people, in Papua, Indonesia, build houses high in the trees, sometimes ten or twenty metres above the ground. The houses are in the forest, on strong trees. There is a ladder, and the rooms are under a roof of leaves. Today many Korowai people live in villages, but some families still have tree houses.

In other countries, a tree house is a hotel. In Sweden, for example, there are tree rooms in a forest hotel. A bed is high in a tree, and there is a bridge between the rooms. Tourists climb a ladder or use a bridge. From the window, there is a beautiful view of the forest.

Are tree houses safe? A good tree house is safe. There is a strong rope and a strong floor, and the branches are thick.

Where do you want a tree house?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Some people live in tree houses.
  2. All Korowai people live in tree houses now.
  3. There are tree hotels in some countries.
  4. A tree house has a ladder or a bridge.
  5. The text says tree houses are always dangerous.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is a tree house a real home?
  2. Do you want to sleep in a tree?
  3. What is good about a tree house?
  4. What is not good about it?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

In, on, under

Use in for a space (in a room, in a tree). Use on for a surface (on a table, on a branch). Use under for below (under a bed, under a roof).

The house is in the tree. The bird is on the branch. The bed is under the roof. The cat is in the box. The book is on the table.

Next to, near, between, in front of, behind

Next to = by the side of. Near = not far. Between = in the middle of two things. In front of = before. Behind = at the back of.

The ladder is next to the door. The forest is near the house. The bridge is between two trees. The car is in front of the house. The garden is behind the house.

Block 3 review

Use the grammar from this block.

there is and there are (L11) · questions with there is and there are (L12)

Common mistakes: use in for a space, on for a surface, under for below. ✗ The cat is in the table → The cat is under the table. ✗ The picture is in the wall → The picture is on the wall. ✗ near of the house → near the house.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. The house is
    the tree.
  2. The bird is
    the branch.
  3. The bed is
    the roof.
  4. The ladder is
    the door.
  5. The forest is
    the house.
  6. The bridge is
    two trees.
  7. The car is
    the house. (before it)
  8. The garden is
    the house. (at the back)
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. The cat is in the table. →
  2. The picture is in the wall. →
  3. The shop is near of my house. →
  4. The bridge is among two trees. →
  5. The book is in the table. →
  6. I live in front the park. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use in, on, under, next to, near, between, in front of and behind.

  1. Where is your phone now?
  2. What is on your table?
  3. What is under your bed?
  4. Who sits next to you?
  5. What is near your home?
  6. What is behind your house or flat?
5

Three people and tree houses, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and tree houses

Three people talk about tree houses. Compare them. Who lives in a tree house? Who sleeps in a tree house hotel? Where do you want a tree house?

Person 1

Dani, 30

  • Lives in the forest
  • His house is in a tree
  • There is a ladder in front of the door
  • The view is amazing
Person 2

Elsa, 25

  • Is a tourist in Sweden
  • Her bed is high in a tree
  • There is a bridge between the rooms
  • The forest is near the hotel
Person 3

Mr Ward, 60

  • Builds tree houses
  • Puts a rope next to the ladder
  • Says safety is important
  • Uses a lot of wood
5.2

Mini-talk: where things are

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say where you live and what is near your home.
  3. Part 2: describe your room (in, on, under, next to).
  4. Part 3: say what you want in a tree house and where it is.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Where do you live?
  2. What is near your home?
  3. What is next to your home?
  4. What is on your desk?
  5. What is under your chair?
  6. What is behind your house or flat?
  7. What is in your bag?
  8. What is in front of your home?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who sits next to you?
  2. Who is behind you?
  3. Who lives near you?
  4. Who is in front of you?
  5. Who has got a tree in the garden?
  6. Who likes to climb trees?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is a tree house a good home?
  2. Is it good to live in a forest?
  3. Is it safe to live high up?
  4. Is it good to live near a park?
  5. Is a tree house a good place for children?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Where is it?

You

Speaker

A friend (your teacher) wants to find things in your room:
  • say where the phone is
  • say where the book is
  • say where the bag is
  • say what is next to the bed
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use in, on, under, next to.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Where is my phone?
  2. Where is the book?
  3. Where is the bag?
  4. What is next to the bed?
7.2

At a tree hotel

You

Tourist

You come to a tree hotel (your teacher is the receptionist):
  • ask where the room is
  • ask if there is a bridge
  • ask where the restaurant is
  • say thank you
You do most of the talking. Use: Where is...? · Is there...? · near · behind · between
Your teacher

Receptionist

Says things like:
  1. Welcome!
  2. It is in the tree.
  3. Yes, there is a bridge.
  4. The restaurant is near the hotel.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

treeladderroofforestbuildclimbsafeview
  1. A tall plant with a trunk and leaves is a .
  2. You climb up a to reach a high place.
  3. The is the top of a house.
  4. A very big area with many trees is a .
  5. To make a house you it.
  6. To go up a tree with your hands and feet is to .
  7. A place without danger is .
  8. From a high place you can see a nice .
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. The cat is the table. (below it)
  2. The book is the desk. (on the surface)
  3. The house is the tree.
  4. The shop is my house.
  5. The bridge is two trees.
  6. The garden is the house. (at the back)
  7. The ladder is the door.
  8. The car is the house. (before it)
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. The house is in the tree.
  2. The picture is in the wall.
  3. The cat is under the table.
  4. The cat is in the table.
  5. The shop is near my house.
  6. The shop is near of my house.
  7. The bridge is between two trees.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. The house is
  2. The bird is
  3. The bed is
  4. The ladder is
  5. The forest is
  6. The bridge is
  7. The garden is

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.