Activity and Handout:
Living in the City Where the Shopping Is Easy

Students’ writing, Community Learning Center, Cambridge, MA

Instructions

Students respond in writing to this question: If you were to buy a home in the United States and could choose between the city and suburbs, which location would you choose? Give at least two reasons for your answer. Also give at least two reasons why you would decide against the other location.

Sample student writings

1. If I could choose between the city and the suburbs, I would choose the suburbs. In the suburbs you don’t have to deal with a lot of traffic. It’s very quiet and relaxing and it’s very nice to live in peace. If you live in the city you have to deal with traffic and a lot of noise. In the city you have to live in buildings and you don’t have too much privacy. What I mean by living in peace is when you have your own house and there’s not a person living next to you like in one complex building always people back and forth. That is what I mean by not having much privacy because you don’t have your own house.

2. I’d like to buy a house in the suburbs; I’d like to have a house with a big yard to grow plants, flowers and vegetables, I would like the water to come from the earth, to have a very healthy spring water and build up a nice pool. I could locate my house in one state where the climate was very delicious, I mean, not too cold not too hot. I think a house like this will make me feel comfortable and happy. Having a house in the suburbs could have some disadvantages, like to be far from the shopping store, to get my daily stuff. To buy a house in the city is good too, but the pollution, the noise, etc., probably don’t make me feel comfortable and happy.

3. I would choose the suburbs. Because in the suburbs it’s a lot safer than in the city. You don’t see many people in the street. It’s more quiet, and secure. Life in the suburbs is very expensive, too much money. I would like the life in the suburbs because it’s more private, and the neighborhood is more peaceful. Life in the city is very different from living in the suburbs. We have huge buildings, many people in the street, very noisy life in the city, is not too expensive, the stores are very close, the shopping is easy, it’s not like you know everybody like the life in the suburbs. But I do like the city, just for transportation, you have choice of school, because there are many. I like being in the city for many reasons. But I do like to buy my house in the suburbs.

4. When I was a little kid I have been thinking of buying a home in the city. I have lived in the city and I love the city very much. I think buying a home in the city is important in that it reduces transportation costs. It helps you to move free without any restriction. If you don’t own a car the availabilities of public transport at reasonable costs will be a great help to you. As you think of uniting with your families from your native country to the United States, having a home in the city will assist your families and friends accommodation. If you don’t have cash it is important for you to have a job before thinking of buying a home. In the United States most jobs are located in the city and it’s significant to buying a home in the city. Contrary to buying a home in a city it’s very costly and expensive to buy a home in the suburbs. A lot of people find it difficult to get jobs in their community where they live. For others who are able to find one it became difficult for them to commute due the shortage of public transportation available to their community. I think buying a home in the city is economical and I prefer to live in the city.

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