Listening

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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. low-income
    • ex. The government provides financial support for low-income families.
  2. prevalent
    • ex. Common colds are prevalent during the winter season.
  3. outlaw
    • ex. The local government decided to outlaw smoking in public parks.
  4. a concept
    • ex. The book has many pictures to help kids understand the concept of numbers.
  5. reappear
    • ex. The sun reappeared after the rain.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Barbara Peraza-Garcia and her family live in a micro-apartment in Seattle. They have a 180-square-foot (17-square-meter) room that serves as their bedroom at night. It’s also where they play or watch TV during the day. And when they have to eat, it becomes their dining room. They have a very simple bathroom, and they have to share a kitchen with the others. This space is too small for the family. But they only have to pay $900 (around ¥136,000) a month, which is $550 (around ¥83,000) less than most apartments in Seattle.

Single-room occupancy units (SROs) were prevalent across the U.S. in the early 1900s. SROs are apartments that rent single rooms to low-income or temporary workers. However, SROs were outlawed and disappeared because of strict housing laws in the past. Today, the concept is reappearing, and is now called “micro-apartment.”

Micro-apartments are especially popular in cities like Seattle with high numbers of homeless people who need affordable housing. Last year, Oregon proposed new laws that encourage micro-apartments to help low-income and homeless people. And now, other cities and states in the U.S. are considering micro-apartments to solve the housing crisis.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Micro-apartments

  • The concept of SRO, which is now called “micro-apartment,” is reappearing recently. In your opinion, does this mean that the quality of life is getting better or worse? Why? Discuss.
  • Do you think your country needs micro-apartments too? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • When renting or buying a house, which do you think is more important: its cost or its comfort? Why? Discuss.

Housing Crisis

  • Why do you think there has been a housing crisis lately (ex. because of the high prices, because people want to live in big cities)? Discuss.
  • How would you describe the housing situation in your country (ex. there are many homeless people, only a few own a house)? Discuss.
  • Are you satisfied with the housing situation in your country? Why or why not? Discuss.