Spot the Difference

Topic: Housing, Rooms, Furniture

Mode: Interpretive; Presentational

Level: Novice

Students will practice listening and speaking through spot the difference activities.

Components of this activity: Scripts, spot the difference pictures, worksheets

Instruction to the teacher

There are three versions of spot the difference activities below. The first two are interpretive listening activities in which students listen to a description and answer questions about the pictures they see. In the third version, students work with a partner and discuss the differences between the pictures.

Version 1: Listening

Script

My bedroom is very comfortable. There is a bed with a pillow that has polka dots, and a window with red curtains. I have a table next to the bed. There are no pictures on my walls yet. I like to read before I go to sleep, so there is a lamp on the table. My comb is also on the table, but I do not know why. 

Instructions to students

Listen to the audio and choose the best answer. 

1. Which room belongs to the speaker?

1. The room on the left   
2. The room on the right

Version 2: Listening

Script

My kitchen is my favorite room in the house. It is where the food is! When you walk in the door you see the table. To the right, there are some shelves. The refrigerator is next to the shelves. We don’t eat in the kitchen very often, so there are not any chairs at the table. 

Instructions to students

Listen to the audio and choose the best answers. 

1. Which room belongs to the speaker?
   1. the room on the left of the screen       
   2. the room on the right of the screen
2. Which room has a table with a green tablecloth?
   1. the room on the left of the screen       
   2. the room on the right of the screen
3. There are two chairs at the table in this room.
   1. the room on the left of the screen       
   2. the room on the right of the screen
4. There is a clock above the refrigerator.
   1. the room on the left of the screen
   2. the room on the right of the screen
5. There is not anything on the shelves.
   1. the room on the left of the screen   
   2. the room on the right of the screen
6. There is an apple on the table. 
   1. the room on the left of the screen
   2. the room on the right of the screen

Version 3: Speaking

Instructions to the teacher

1. Teach students furniture vocabulary.

2. Place students into pairs or small groups.

3. Ask students to spot differences in the pictures below, then present the living room (and kitchen, if time allows) differences orally.

Pictures