ROAD TO B1: LESSON 5

FREE TIME AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES!

Questions related to the topic. Think of some more you could add to this list:

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

What sort of hobbies do you have?

Are you keen on sports?

Do you like going to restaurants?

Learn how to talk or write about what you do in your free time:

In my free time I…

I relax by (+gerund) 

I'm interested in (+ noun / gerund)

I'm keen on (+ noun / gerund)

I'm into (+ noun / gerund)

I enjoy (+ noun / gerund)

You can add "really" or "quite" after "I'm…" for emphasis: "I'm really keen on football."

You can add "at all" to a negative sentence if you don't like something: "I don't like cricket at all."

You can add more details about your hobbies and interests:

I like arts and crafts. I'm a creative / practical person, and like doing things with my hands.

I'm an outgoing person, and like socialising / hanging out with friends.

I enjoy being physically active, and spend a lot of time playing sports and team games.

You can also explain why you spend time on your hobby to make the conversation longer and more interesting.

I really enjoy going to the gym because

…it keeps me fit.
…it gets me out of the house, you know!
…it's sociable. I've met lots of new people.
…it gives me something interesting to do with my time.
…it's not very expensive, and anyone can do it!

You can say why you like your hobby by describing it with an -ing adjective.

I like swimming because it's relaxing.

Watching football is exciting.

It's interesting to surf the net.

More words that you can use to describe your hobbies:

creative
fascinating
practical
cheap
enjoyable
relaxing
different
unusual

Use adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, rarely etc) or another phrase to talk about how often or when you do your hobby.

I only watch football at the weekends.

I go to the gym four times a week.

I don't often have time to socialise with friends.

Vocabulary related to hobbies:

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Reading

Mary has a lot of hobbies and interests. She usually gets up early so she can run before work. She doesn't often have time to ski, but she occasionally goes on Saturdays during the winter. Mary often rides a horse at a stable near here home. She sometimes goes after work, but she usually goes horseback riding on Sundays. She loves music. She always goes to choir practice on Wednesday evenings and sings in church on Sundays. She doesn't have much extra money, so she rarely goes to concerts in the city. She seldom watches TV because she likes doing things outside. She usually goes to the gym if it's raining outside. She isn't often alone because she has a lot of friends. She occasionally does something alone, but she usually does her activities with one of her friends.

Audio about hobbies

Audio about hobbies (4 min)

(Transcript)

Speaking: Interview a friend about his/her hobbies WORKSHEET

Extra: More conversation questions to talk about hobbies and interests

• 
  
• How much time do you usually spend on your hobbies?
• Are your hobbies expensive?
• What is your number one hobby?
• How long have you had this hobby?
• Why did you start your hobby?
• Can you make money from doing your hobby?
• Does your hobby interfere with your work or personal life?
• Does your hobby influence your choice of friends?
• Did you have any hobbies when you were a child?
• Are there any hobbies you would like to try?
• Are there any activities that you used to do but don’t do anymore? Why did you stop?
• 
  
• Writing:  Now complete this WORKSHEET and write about your hobbies.