IELTS Speaking Lesson about Neighbours
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Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Neighbours
- A neighbour (UK) /ˈneɪ. bə/
- A neighbor (US) /ˈneɪ. bər/
I don’t have many neighbours
I don’t know many of my neighbours
My neighbour_is friendly
A neighbourhood = a local area, community
Collocations
- My next door neighbour
- A close neighbour
- A good neighbour
- A friendly neighbour
- Our upstairs neighbours
She’s been a good neighbour to me
She’s a good neighbour to me
To be good to someone
Synonyms
- Close (adj.)
- Near (adj.)
- In close proximity
They live near us They live nearby They live in close proximity
They live upstairs from us [‘near’ + object]
They live downstairs from us. [‘nearby’ has no object]
An argument /ˈɑːɡ.jə.mənt/
I had an argument with my neighbour
Synonyms
- A disagreement (to have)
- A falling-out (to have)
- A row (to have)
- A brawl (to have) – a brawl is a more physical argument
We had a row about parking spaces on our street
- A dispute (there is)
- A conflict (there is)
There is a dispute between some of the neighbours about the new park
Do you get on with your neighbours?
To get on with s.o. = to have a good relationship
- I get on with them
- We get on with our neighbours
- I get along well with them
- We have a superficial relationship
- We treat each other well
- I barely see them
- I never get a chance to see them
Listening Bingo
Listen to a man talking about his neighbours
1) What are the three whistled words?
I know a [1] ________ of my neighbours, mainly those who live very
close by, you know those who live in close [2] _______.
I think I know them because I [3] _______ into them on a regular basis
Click the arrow to see the answer
I know a handful of my neighbours, mainly those who live very close
by, you know those who live in close proximity. I think I know them
because I bump into them on a regular basis
2) Listen to the whole talk. Mark the boxes that contain the exact words you hear. When you have a line of 3, type BINGO (and the words) in the chat.
2) Bingo answers
Click the arrow to see the answer
Full script
Click the arrow to see the full script
I know a handful of my neighbours, mainly those who live very close by you know those who live in close proximity. I think I know them because I bump into (=meet by chance) them on a regular basis (=frequently) and other neighbours who live further away, I don’t know because we just never cross paths (=meet by chance), often I guess, due to different work schedules.
Also some neighbours are not very sociable, they just prefer to keep themselves to themselves, so I don’t really come into contact with them.
I can count on the fingers of one hand (=a few), the number of neighbours I would call friends or let’s say, invite round for dinner. Maybe that’s a good thing. You don’t want everyone in your neighbourhood knowing your business.
Also I think sometimes it’s a good idea to put some distance between you and your neighbours, not to be too close, just in case you have a falling-out with them or there’s an argument over something. You know, like they think the branches of a tree in your garden are hanging into their garden.
All that said, of course, neighbours are important. They can help you out. They can keep an eye on (=look after, take care of) your pets, if you’re going away or even your children, if you know them well enough. If you run out of sugar or tea, they can lend you some.
Most of all neighbours can give you that sense of community. That sense that you belong to a particular place, and for many of us that’s really important.
To keep [yourself] to yourself = to spend time alone not talking to others.
She is a quiet person and prefers to keep to herself
IELTS Speaking Idioms: Neighbours
Can you guess these idioms?
Click the arrow to see the answer
1. To be nosey (nosy) = To be too interested in other people’s lives
My neighbour is so nosey; she always watches from her window when I have visitors.
She is a nosey Parker
2. To get on like a house on fire = To quickly become good friends and get on very well
My new neighbours and I get on like a house on fire; we already plan to have dinner together next week.
3. To look out for [someone] = To take care of someone and make sure they are ok. To keep an eye on someone.
Our neighbours look out for each other, especially if someone is sick or needs help.
4. To pull together = To work as a team to achieve something
When I got promoted, some neighbours pulled together to organise a small party to celebrate.
Dad Jokes 🤣
Why didn’t I say anything to my neighbour who I saw stealing socks off my clothes line?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Why didn’t I say anything to my neighbour who I saw stealing socks off my clothes line?
Answer
Because I got cold feet
To get cold feet = To get nervous and then not do something
Interview with a Neighbour
Click below to watch the interview and answer this question:
1. Does he like all his neighbours?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Yes, except one.
2) Watch again and note any useful collocations
Full Script
Click the arrow to see the full script
Where do you live?
I live in a semi-detached house in one of the suburbs of Manchester.
Do you have a lot of neighbours?
Well yes, I am surrounded by neighbours, I mean you could say everyone on our street is a neighbour. But I only really interact with a handful of them (= a few of them), the ones who live on either side of me and a couple who live across the street (= opposite).
Do you like your neighbours?
I get on with most of them. But there’s this one neighbour who is quite solitary; he likes to do his own thing (=be alone). And that’s fine! But whenever I pass him on the street he never lets on (=to see and recognise someone).
So he kinda makes me feel like I’m a total stranger, even though I see him three or four times a week.
I wouldn’t say I can’t stand him (=really not like him), but nowadays, I don’t go out of my way (=to make a special effort) to be polite or say hello. To be honest, we just go our own ways.
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