Work in pairs. Talk about your apartment or house, describing each room and what is in it. As your partner listens, he or she draws a picture or plan of your home. When you finish, check your partner's diagram. Then change roles.

Great activity for practicing describing and listening. Here’s a ready-to-use guide you can follow, plus sample dialogues and a checklist you can use to compare diagrams. 1) Quick prep: useful phrases and vocabulary - Rooms to name: living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, hall/corridor, study/office, balcony/patio, laundry room. - Common furniture/items: - Living room: sofa/sofas, armchairs, coffee table, TV/television, rug, shelves, lamp, plant. - Dining: dining table, chairs, sideboard. - Kitchen: fridge, stove, oven, sink, counters, dishwasher, microwave. - Bedroom: bed, nightstands, wardrobe/wardrobe closet, dresser, mirror, lamps. - Bathroom: sink, toilet, shower, bathtub, mirror. - Misc.: window, door, balcony, radiator. - Helpful prepositions and phrases: - Locations: in, on, under, behind, in front of, beside/next to, between, opposite, near. - Relative positions: to the left of / to the right of, behind, in the corner. - Describing size and condition: big/large, small, spacious, cozy, modern, old-fashioned; new/old. - Agreement: There is/There are (singular vs. plural). 2) How to run the activity (step-by-step with timings) - Step 1 (2–3 minutes): Person A describes their home room by room, from entry to other areas. Speak in complete sentences, using present simple and the prepositions above. - Step 2 (3–5 minutes): Person B listens and draws a picture or a floor plan as accurately as possible. - Step 3 (2–3 minutes): Compare diagrams. Person A checks: Are the main rooms and objects in the right places? Are there any mistakes or missing items? Explain or suggest corrections. - Step 4: Switch roles and repeat with Person B describing their home. - Optional timing: 10–12 minutes total per pair, plus 2–3 minutes for self-checks. 3) Sample dialogue: A describes, B draws (you can adapt to your home) - A: “Let me describe my apartment. It’s a two-bedroom flat on the third floor. When you come in, you’re in a small hallway.” - A: “To the left is the living room. There’s a gray sofa along the left wall, a wooden coffee table in front of it, and a flat-screen TV on a stand opposite the sofa. A large rug is under the coffee table, and there are two beige armchairs near the window.” - A: “Next to the living room is the dining area with a round wooden table for four and a small sideboard against the wall.” - A: “The kitchen is to the right of the dining area. It has a fridge near the door, a stove, a sink, and overhead cabinets. There’s a small window above the sink.” - A: “The hallway leads to my bedroom and the bathroom. The bedroom has a double bed in the center, two nightstands, and a wardrobe along the far wall. There’s a mirror on the dresser.” - A: “The bathroom has a shower, a toilet, and a sink with a mirror above it. There’s a towel rack next to the shower.” - A: “Finally, there’s a small balcony with one chair and a plant near the door.” - B: (listens and draws as A describes) - After A finishes: B shows the drawn plan and you both check for accuracy. 4) Diagram-checking questions (to use when you review) - Where is the sofa located? What color is it? - Is the TV opposite the sofa or near a wall? - What items are on the coffee table or nearby? - Where is the dining table relative to the living room? - What is in the kitchen (fridge, stove, sink) and where are they located? - Where is the bed in the bedroom? What else is there (nightstands, wardrobe)? - Are there any windows mentioned? Where are they? - Do you see any items that might be missing or placed differently from the description? - Is the bathroom equipped with a bath/shower, sink, and toilet? Where are they relative to the door? 5) Tips for success (exam-ready) - Speak in clear, complete sentences; use present simple consistently. - Use prepositions accurately to place items (e.g., “on the left wall,” “next to the window,” “opposite the sofa”). - Details matter: color, number of items, and approximate size help accuracy. - If you’re unsure about a detail, describe what you know and skip uncertain items, or ask a clarifying question. - When checking the diagram, point out at least three accurate placements and one or two corrections you think are necessary. 6) Variations and tips - If you have more time, include approximate measurements (e.g., “the living room is about 5 meters by 4 meters”). - For more advanced learners, add features like “There’s a bookshelf against the wall” or “There’s a ceiling lamp in the dining area.” - If you’re short on time, you can describe only 3–4 rooms in detail and sketch a simple plan focusing on those rooms. 7) Quick vocabulary list (repeatable) - Rooms: hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, balcony, study - Furniture/items: sofa, armchair, coffee table, rug, TV/television, bookshelf, dining table, chairs, fridge, stove, sink, bed, nightstand, wardrobe, dresser, mirror, shower, bathtub, toilet - Prepositions: in, on, under, behind, in front of, next to, beside, near, between, opposite - Descriptive words: big, small, spacious, cozy, modern, old-fashioned, colorful, bright If you’d like, I can tailor a short description for you to practice with (e.g., a two-bedroom apartment, or a studio) or create a ready-made partner-drawing sheet you can print. Tell me the setting you want to use (number of rooms, approximate sizes, and items you’d like included).