Proposing a Chore System Change
A roommate suggests an alteration to the current chore system, perhaps due to changing schedules, an imbalance in workload, or general dissatisfaction with the current arrangement.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
chore
A chore is a regular household task, like cleaning or washing dishes, that needs to be done to keep the home tidy.
system
A system is an organized plan or method for doing something regularly, like how to divide chores among roommates.
arrangement
An arrangement is the way things are set up or agreed upon, such as who does which chores in a shared home.
heavy lifting
Heavy lifting means the most difficult or time-consuming part of a task, often used figuratively for hard work, not just physical.
schedule
A schedule is a plan that shows when things will happen, like work hours or cleaning times.
rotating
Rotating means taking turns in a cycle, so everyone shares the responsibility over time, like switching chores weekly.
alternate
To alternate is to switch between two or more things regularly, such as one person doing a task one week and the other the next.
fair
Fair means just and equal, without favoring one person over another, important in shared living to avoid arguments.
balance
To balance something means to make it even or equal, like dividing work so no one does more than their share.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hey John, do you have a minute? I wanted to chat about our chore system.
This is a polite way to start a conversation by asking if someone has time. 'Do you have a minute?' means 'Are you free now?' It's useful for introducing a topic like chores without being abrupt. Use it when you need to discuss something important casually.
What's up? Everything okay with the current arrangement?
'What's up?' is an informal greeting meaning 'What's the matter?' or 'Why are you talking to me?' The sentence shows concern and asks about the status quo. It's great for responding when someone wants to talk, helping to keep the conversation open and friendly.
I feel like I'm doing a bit more of the heavy lifting lately.
This expresses a personal feeling about an imbalance in work. 'I feel like' softens the complaint, and 'a bit more' means slightly more. 'Heavy lifting' is an idiom for hard work. Use this to politely point out unfairness in shared responsibilities.
What were you thinking?
This is a casual way to ask for someone's ideas or suggestions. The past continuous 'were thinking' makes it sound natural and non-demanding. It's useful in discussions to invite input and show you're open to their thoughts.
I was wondering if we could try a rotating schedule.
'I was wondering if' is a polite way to make a suggestion or request. It uses the past continuous for indirectness, making it less direct. This sentence proposes a change; use it when suggesting improvements to avoid sounding bossy.
That sounds fair.
This is a simple agreement showing approval. 'Sounds' expresses opinion based on hearing the idea. It's useful for positive responses in negotiations, helping to build agreement quickly in everyday talks like chore division.
Just to confirm, we'd still split the common areas like the living room the same way?
'Just to confirm' means 'to make sure I understand correctly.' This sentence uses a question to clarify details. It's helpful in agreements to avoid misunderstandings, especially when changing parts of a plan while keeping others the same.
How about starting this coming Monday?
'How about' introduces a suggestion politely. 'This coming Monday' refers to the next Monday soon. Use this for proposing specific times or actions; it's practical for setting start dates in plans like new chore systems.
Sounds good to me. Appreciate you bringing it up.
'Sounds good to me' means 'I like that idea.' 'Appreciate you bringing it up' thanks someone for raising the topic. This wraps up positively; use it to agree and show gratitude, maintaining good relationships in shared living.