Setting House Rules & Conflict Resolution
Establishing boundaries and discussing potential house rules for common areas, responsibilities, and how to address disagreements or conflicts should they arise.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
cleaning schedule
A plan that assigns specific times or days for cleaning shared spaces, like the kitchen or living room, to ensure everyone contributes fairly.
common areas
Shared spaces in a home, such as the living room, kitchen, or bathroom, that all roommates use together.
tidy
Clean and organized; use it to describe keeping things neat, like 'Keep the room tidy' to avoid mess.
heads-up
An informal warning or notice in advance, like 'Give me a heads-up' meaning tell me beforehand about plans.
gathering
A small group of people meeting socially, similar to a party but less formal, often used for casual events at home.
conflict
A disagreement or argument between people; in roommate situations, it means handling issues like noise or chores calmly.
compromise
An agreement where both sides give up something to reach a solution, important for resolving roommate disagreements.
check-in
A short meeting or talk to discuss updates or issues; here, it means a monthly roommate meeting to prevent problems.
on the same page
An idiom meaning everyone agrees or understands the situation similarly, useful for confirming shared ideas in discussions.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
How do you feel about a cleaning schedule?
This is a polite way to ask for someone's opinion on an idea. Use it in discussions to start talking about shared responsibilities. The structure 'How do you feel about + noun?' is common for seeking agreement.
That sounds fair.
A simple expression of agreement, meaning something seems just or reasonable. It's useful in conversations to show support without saying too much. 'Sounds' makes it casual and natural.
I'd just appreciate a heads-up if someone's staying over.
This politely requests advance notice for events. 'I'd appreciate' softens the request, making it courteous. Use it when setting boundaries with roommates about guests.
Keeping noise down late at night is a must.
This states a firm rule using 'is a must' to mean it's essential. It's practical for house rules. The phrase emphasizes importance without being rude.
I believe in direct communication.
This expresses a personal philosophy using 'I believe in + noun' to share values. It's useful when discussing how to handle problems, showing maturity in conflicts.
We could even try to have a quick check-in once a month.
A suggestion using 'could + verb' for possibility, with 'even' to add emphasis. It's helpful for proposing ongoing solutions like regular meetings to prevent issues.
A monthly check-in sounds proactive and responsible.
This agrees with an idea by describing it positively. 'Sounds + adjective' gives an opinion. Use it to praise suggestions in roommate talks, building rapport.
It seems like we're definitely on the same page.
An idiomatic way to confirm agreement using 'on the same page.' 'It seems like' softens the statement. Perfect for ending positive discussions to show harmony.