English speaking lesson · Home & Living
Home insurance
You're on the phone with an insurer, arranging cover for your new home. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A call to an insurer · you talk to the insurance advisor
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Ask for a policy, describe your property, choose your cover, and confirm the policy. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Hello, thanks for calling — what can I do for you today?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the insurance advisor.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Say what you need
Say you'd like to arrange home insurance.
“Hello! I'd like home insurance, please.”
- 02
Describe your home
Describe your home.
“It's a small flat with two bedrooms.”
- 03
Choose your cover
Say what cover you'd like.
“Cover for my things, please.”
- 04
Check the policy
Check the policy is right, and say if the price works.
“Yes, that's good. How much a month?”
- 05
Confirm and finish
Say when you'd like cover to start, and finish.
“From next week, please. Thanks a lot!”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the insurance advisor.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- insurance
- protection you pay for in case of loss
- “I'd like home insurance.”
- home
- where you live
- “It's for my home.”
- flat
- an apartment in a building
- “It's a small flat.”
- small
- not big
- “It's a small flat.”
- two
- the number 2
- “It has two bedrooms.”
- things
- the items you own
- “Cover for my things, please.”
- cover
- the protection a policy gives
- “Cover for my things, please.”
- month
- a period of about thirty days
- “How much a month?”
- please
- a polite word when you ask
- “Home insurance, please.”
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks a lot!”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- policy
- an insurance agreement
- “I'd like to set up a policy.”
- contents
- the belongings inside a home
- “Contents cover, please.”
- buildings
- the structure of the property itself
- “Do I need buildings cover?”
- bedrooms
- rooms for sleeping
- “It has two bedrooms.”
- rented
- lived in but not owned
- “It's a rented flat.”
- premium
- the amount you pay for insurance
- “What's the monthly premium?”
- excess
- the amount you pay first on a claim
- “What's the excess?”
- correct
- right, with no mistakes
- “Yes, that's correct.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I appreciate you explaining that.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers for that!”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- comprehensive
- covering a wide range of risks
- “Is comprehensive cover available?”
- valuables
- items worth a lot of money
- “Would valuables be covered?”
- accidental
- happening by mistake, not on purpose
- “Is accidental damage included?”
- claim
- a request for payment from an insurer
- “How would I make a claim?”
- renewal
- extending a policy past its end date
- “Is renewal automatic?”
- specified
- individually listed on a policy
- “Should items be specified?”
- liability
- responsibility for damage or harm
- “Does it include liability cover?”
- sorted
- arranged and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
- confirm
- to say something is definitely settled
- “Could you confirm in writing?”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- underinsured
- not covered for enough value
- “I don't want to be underinsured.”
- loopholes
- gaps that let an insurer avoid paying
- “Any loopholes I should know about?”
- smallprint
- the detailed terms of an agreement
- “I'll read the smallprint properly.”
- peace
- freedom from worry — 'peace of mind'
- “It's mostly for peace of mind.”
- ballpark
- a rough figure or estimate
- “A ballpark on the premium?”
- hassle
- annoying trouble or difficulty
- “Is claiming much hassle?”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged, thank you.”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “Great, we're sorted.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers, appreciated.”
- cover
- the protection a policy gives
- “What cover makes sense here?”
More Home & Living lessons
- Renting an apartment
- Reporting a repair
- Calling a plumber
- Getting internet installed
- Moving day
- Furniture delivery
- Meeting a neighbour
- Talking to the building manager
- Setting up utilities