1. staircase
2. open fire
3. posts
Work in pairs. Discuss and tick (V) the features of a stilt house from the list below. Share your opinions with the class.
A stilt house ______.
- has a flat cement roof 
- stands on big posts 
- is made from natural materials 
- has a modern toilet 
- is a flat in a big block 
- is close to nature 
Read the passage and tick (V) T (True) or F (False)
Stilt houses
Stilt houses are popular among different ethnic minority groups, from the Thai in the Northern Highlands to the Khmer in the Mekong Delta. The houses come in different sizes and styles, and show the traditional culture of their owners.
Stilt houses are made from natural materials like wood, bamboo, and leaves. They stand on strong posts, about two or three metres above the ground. This allows them to keep people safe from wild animals. People climb a seven- or nine-step staircase to enter the house. The most important place in the house is the kitchen. It has an open fire in the middle of the house. It is the place for family gatherings and receiving guests.
The stilt houses of the Tay and Nung usually overlook a field. The stilt houses of the Thai, however, face mountains or a forest. The Bahnar and Ede have a communal house (called a Rong house) as the heart of their village. These communal houses are the largest and tallest ones in the village.
| T | F | |
| 1. Only a few minority groups live in stilt houses. | ||
| 2. All stilt houses look alike. | ||
| 3. Family gatherings take place by the open fire in the middle of the house. | ||
| 4. The Rong house serves as the center of an Ede village. |
Read the passage again and fill in each blank with ONE word.
1. A stilt house shows the ____________ culture of the owner.
2. The Tay’s and Nung’s stilt houses overlook a ____________.
3. The Thai's stilt houses overlook a ____________ or ____________.
4. The largest and tallest house in an Ede village isthe ____________ house.
Work in pairs. Ask and answer about the type of home each of you lives in. Take notes of your partner’s answers and report what you find to the class.
Suggested questions:
- That type of home do you live in? (a flat, a house, a detached house, a stilt house, a farmhouse, a cottage, a tree house,...)
- What meterials is it made from?
- What is the most important part of your home? What do you do there?
