English for USA Immigrants

Source: rong-chang.com

1. I Need a Place to Live 2:13
2. Should I Rent or Lease? 2:04
3. It's Time to Buy a House 2:11
4. Finding a New Home 2:00
5. How to Find a House 2:06
6. Buying Insurance for My Home 2:11
7. Getting Along with New Neighbors 2:21
8. A Good Resume for Finding a Good Job 2:11
9. How to Get Good References 2:10
10. Looking for a Job That You Like 2:25
11. Cover Letters 2:29
12. Employee Benefits 2:37
13. A Valuable Addition to the Team 2:13
14. Adapting to Your New Environment 2:19
15. Trying to Keep Your Job 2:13
16. Do Your Best at Work 2:24
17. Is It a Good Idea to Join a Union? 2:34
18. It's Time to Buy Your First Car 2:36
19. Drive on the Right Side of the Street 2:17
20. Child Seats Can Save Your Baby's Life 2:22
21. Driving Under the Influence Is a Crime 2:30
22. Being Pulled Over by Police 2:23
23. How to Drive Without Getting a Ticket 2:20
24. A Simple Guide to Purchasing Auto Insurance 2:30
25. Ridesharing 2:35
26. Getting Around in the Country 2:35
27. Open Checking and Savings Accounts 2:08
28. How to Manage Your Money 2:09
29. Why I Need a Credit Card 2:26
30. How to Write and Cash Checks 2:36
31. How to Make Your Money Work for You 2:33
32. Why My Credit Rating Is Important 2:31
33. Someone Stole My Identity 2:37
34. When You Should Call 911 2:19
35. When to Go to the Emergency Room 2:12
36. What Is Urgent Care Center 2:13
37. Medical Information Sharing 2:16
38. How to Perform First Aid 2:12
39. What to Do If Someone Is Choking 2:21
40. What to Do in an Auto Accident 2:28
41. I May Need to Hire a Lawyer 2:37
42. Paying Federal and State Taxes 2:51
43. Small Claims Court 2:23
44. The Educational System in the USA 2:20
45. How Grade Point Average Is Set 2:31
46. Extracurricular Activities 2:35
47. Universities, Colleges, and Vocational Schools 2:28
48. Finding a School for your Children 2:10
49. Healthcare System in the United States 2:51
50. Understanding Your Medication and Labels 2:32
51. Reasons Not to Smoke 2:48
52. Vaccinations and Check-ups 2:40
53. Practice Healthy Eating Habits 2:34
54. Diet and Exercise 2:17
55. Importance of Dental Care 2:38
56. How to Be a Good Parent 2:36
57. A Healthy Child Is a Good Child 2:26
58. Holidays in the United States 2:16
59. Dating and Marriage 2:33
60. Saying Hello in the USA 2:26
61. The Benefits of Humor 2:43
62. Being Politically Correct 2:30
63. Social Taboos 2:48
64. Importance of Being on Time 2:43
65. The People of the United State 2:37
66. Freedom of Religion 2:41
67. Public Library System 2:32
68. The U.S. Post Office 2:49
69. Sports in the United States 2:45
70. How Television Viewing has Changed 2:41
71. Parks and Recreation 2:38
72. Garage Sales and Thrift Stores 2:15
73. Using Your Computer and the Internet Safely 2:29
74. Recognizing Spam 2:15
75. Volunteer Opportunities 2:39
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Finding a place to live is one of the first steps for people who move to a new country. Most new arrivals rent a house or an apartment, and they can look for rentals on websites like Craigslist, in newspapers, through a broker, from friends, or by driving around and spotting “For Rent” signs. When they sign a rental agreement they usually have to pay the first month’s rent, the last month’s rent, and a security deposit. The home still belongs to the landlord, so renters should keep it clean and avoid damage. If they take care of the place, they will enjoy a safe and independent life.

  • renters
    • Definition: people who are looking for a place to live by paying rent
    • Example: Renters can use craigslist.com to search for places by price.
  • deposit
    • Definition: an additional sum of money paid to the owner when first renting, whose amount is set by the owner
    • Example: The deposit varies and is set by the building owner.
  • filters
    • Definition: criteria such as price, neighborhood, and number of rooms used to narrow search results on a website
    • Example: With these filters, renters can view only places that meet their needs.
  • broker
    • Definition: a professional who assists renters in finding a home
    • Example: Renters can go to a professional broker to find a place.
  • independence
    • Definition: the sense of self‑reliance a person feels when they have their own rented home
    • Example: Renting a place can give a person a great feeling of independence.
  1. What is the first thing a person should do when searching for a place to live?
    1. Contact a professional broker
    2. Find an affordable place
    3. Pay the deposit immediately
    4. Move in without a lease
  2. Which website does the text suggest as a good starting point for rental searches?
    1. Zillow.com
    2. Craigslist.com
    3. Rent.com
    4. Apartments.com
  3. Which method of finding a rental is NOT mentioned in the passage?
    1. Newspaper rental listings
    2. Word‑of‑mouth recommendations
    3. Driving through neighborhoods looking for “For Rent” signs
    4. Social media advertisements
  4. Besides the first month's rent, what else must renters usually pay when they first rent a place?
    1. Utility bill for the first month
    2. Last month's rent
    3. Broker’s commission
    4. Furniture deposit
  5. Who decides the amount of the security deposit for a rental?
    1. The renter
    2. The city council
    3. The owner of the building
    4. The real estate agent
  • Do you think renting a home gives a person more independence than owning a house? Why or why not?
  • Which method of finding a rental (website, newspaper, broker, word‑of‑mouth, or driving around) seems most reliable to you? Explain your choice.
  • Imagine you ignored the requirement to pay the first and last month’s rent up front. What problems could this cause for you and the landlord?
  • Why do you think landlords ask for a security deposit, and how does it protect both parties?
  • Some people prefer using a professional broker while others use online sites like Craigslist. Which do you think is better for new immigrants and why?
  • Have you ever heard of a friend or family member finding a rental through word‑of‑mouth? Share the story and how it worked out.
  • If you could improve one part of the rental‑search process described in the text, what would you change and how?
  • Should renters be allowed to make small changes to the apartment (like painting walls) without the landlord’s permission? Give reasons for your opinion.
  • Rewrite the last paragraph as a short advice column for new renters, using friendly language.
  • If you could interview a landlord about their expectations, what three questions would you ask?
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0:00 / 2:13 -2:13

100
2 years, 3 months and 12 days ago Level: Upper-Intermediate (B2)

I Need a Place to Live

One of the first things immigrants in a new country need to do is to find a place to live. Most people have to rent an apartment or house the first time around. Renting a house can be challenging. The first thing a person should do is to find an affordable place. There are many options available to a renter when looking for a place to live. The popular website craigslist.com is a good place to start because it allows the renter to search for places by prices, neighborhoods, number of rooms, and so on. With these filters, renters can view only places that meet their needs.

There are, of course, other ways of finding a home. Newspapers also have a section that lists places to rent, or renters can go to a professional broker to find a place. There is also word-of-mouth, where renters hear about places for rent from friends, colleagues and family. Then there is just the old-fashioned way of driving through neighborhoods in search of "For Rent" signs.

Renting a place to live can give a person a great feeling of independence, but renting a home comes with great responsibilities also. Renters must first pay for the first and last month's rent when first renting a place. Additionally, there is usually a deposit that must be paid. The amount of this deposit varies. It is up to the owner of the building to establish the amount for deposit, and even though renters are paying rent, the apartment or home still belongs to the owner, which means renters are expected to take care of the place by not damaging their new home. Treat the home like it belongs to you, and everyone will be happy.

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