Today we had a wide-ranging discussion that began with current events and moved into vocabulary and practice around negotiating, real estate, and renting apartments.
Warm-Up Conversation: Tariffs and Political Frustration
We started by discussing recent U.S.–China trade issues. One student observed:
“Now they’re buying extra things from China before the tariffs, so his sales are up a little.”
The group discussed how these political tensions affect international trade and the economy. One speaker expressed a strong opinion:
“It’s a bad idea. I don’t think he knows what he’s doing. He’s just trying to be a bully.”
We also talked about how some Americans are considering moving abroad, even temporarily. One said:
“My wife and I are going to Mexico in a couple of weeks… we’d rather live there until Trump is gone.”
Then we checked the stock market live and saw it had dropped significantly—over 5% just that morning. The group expressed disbelief and concern.
Topic Shift: Negotiation Skills and Vocabulary
We moved on to Level 9 vocabulary for negotiating. One student requested:
“Could you teach me the Level 9 unit? I need it to negotiate.”
We reviewed the pronunciation of “negotiation” and “negotiating,” noting that “ti” in many words sounds like “sh”:
- negotiation → negoSHAtion
- negotiating → negoSHAting
- patience → paSHUNCE
These spelling patterns can be confusing, so we practiced saying them aloud.
Picture Discussion: Real Estate Offices and Apartment Hunting
We looked at several photos related to house and apartment hunting.
- Photo 1: A woman is looking at listings in a real estate window. Students guessed she was looking for an apartment or house to rent.
- Photo 2: A couple is sitting with a car salesman. We practiced describing the negotiation process. The salesperson seems friendly but pushy: “He’ll say, ‘I can give you $1,000 off, but you have to buy it today.’ That’s pressure!”
- Photo 3: A real estate agent is showing a house. The client might be asking: “But I want a larger kitchen.” The salesperson tries to close the deal: “This house is perfect for your family. Let’s make a deal!”
- Photo 4: The couple signs a contract. The teacher explained: “You have to sign before you get the key. These days, most signatures are electronic.”
Personal Experience: Apartment Preferences
We talked about what kind of apartment we would want, and how that might depend on lifestyle.
- Someone who works at home might want a nice view or something near the ocean.
- A student or someone with little time at home might only need a small studio apartment.
- We also talked about how many people sometimes share a house or apartment to save money.
Negotiation Role Play: Renting an Apartment
We practiced negotiating a rental agreement.
Original Listing:
- Rent: £1,100 per month
- Deposit: 2 months’ rent
- Contract: 2 years
- Distance to station: 5 km
- Type: Open space (studio)
Student tries to negotiate:
- Wants rent reduced to £800
- Landlord says no, but offers £1,050/month
- If the student agrees to 5 years, they can reduce rent to £900
- Deposit required: 3 months
- Student offers to pay 6 months up front, and adds £50/month for indoor parking
Landlord agrees and says:
“Let’s draw up the contract.”
We practiced polite ways to delay:
“I need to check with my family first.”
“I want to think about it overnight.”
Final Review: Reading and Pronunciation Practice
We closed with a pronunciation and reading review. We practiced the difference between:
- negotiation (noun)
- negotiating (verb)
We also talked about misleading phrases in advertisements like “open space” which often means studio apartment.
Advanced Vocabulary from the Lesson
Tariff (TAR-iff) – a tax on imported goods
Negotiate (ne-GO-shi-ate) – to discuss and reach an agreement
Studio (STU-dee-o) – a one-room apartment
Deposit (de-POS-it) – money paid in advance, usually to protect the landlord
Commission (com-MISH-un) – money a salesperson earns from selling something
Patience (PAY-shunce) – the ability to wait without getting upset
Contract (CON-tract) – a legal agreement
Pushy (PUSH-ee) – aggressive or overly eager to convince
Cramped (KRAMPT) – small and crowded
Draw up (phrasal verb) – to write or prepare a document
