B2 – Upper Intermediate
As housing prices continue to rise across the United States, more Americans are turning to an unconventional solution: living in recreational vehicles (RVs). Once seen primarily as a vacation option, RV living is increasingly becoming a full-time lifestyle for people seeking affordable and flexible housing alternatives.
Read this article or watch this video to learn more.
Vocabulary Questions:
- Define “makeshift“. “The RV doesn’t have any tables or chairs, so he sat on a makeshift bed covered by a SpongeBob blanket with a cutting board on his lap, chopping peaches, apples and kiwis while his mom cooked hamburger patties on the RV’s small gas range.” Use this in a sentence and give a synonym.
- What does “cordon off” mean? “Now, living out of a roughly 175-square-foot RV with his mom and 6-year-old sister, Dante’s space is limited to a twin bed wedged under a loft, cordoned off with privacy curtains.” Use this in a sentence and give a synonym.
- What’s the meaning of “to leave someone underwater“? “Loan terms can be spread out over long periods to lower monthly payments, but that can quickly leave borrowers underwater — owing more on their loan than their RV is worth.” Use this in a sentence and give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Share your opinion on this: It estimated 342,000 people were living in an RV, boat or van, an increase of 41% from 2019.
- Could RV living become a long-term solution for housing crises, or is it just a temporary trend? Why?
- How can RV/van living be a debt trap?
- Do you think the same problem in housing affordability and rising cost-of-living also exist in your country? Share what you know about this issue.
- Do you believe living in a motorcoach is worth it especially if housing costs were very high in your city? Why or why not?