Lesson: Hobbies and Free Time

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Activity I: Vocabulary

Hobby – An activity done for pleasure in one's spare time.
Free time – Time when you are not working or busy.
Enjoy – To get pleasure from something.
Play – To take part in a game or sport.
Read – To look at and understand written words.
Watch – To look at something for a period of time.
Listen – To pay attention to sound.
Relax – To rest and become less tense.

Activity II: Reading

What do you like to do when you are not working or busy? This is your free time. The activities we do for fun and pleasure in our free time are called hobbies. Hobbies are important for everyone, especially adults. They help us relax, have fun, and sometimes even learn new things. Talking about hobbies is also a great way to start a conversation and get to know people better. It's a common topic because everyone has something they enjoy doing.

There are many different kinds of hobbies. Some hobbies are quiet and can be done indoors. For example, many people enjoy reading books or magazines. Others like to watch movies or their favorite TV shows. Playing video games or board games can also be a fun hobby. Cooking new recipes or baking cakes are creative hobbies too. Some hobbies take us outdoors. Walking in a park, gardening, or playing sports like football or basketball are popular outdoor activities. You can do hobbies alone, or you can do them with friends and family, which can make them even more enjoyable.

It's easy to talk about your hobbies in English. You can say, "I like to read," or "In my free time, I enjoy gardening." Another simple way is, "My hobby is playing the guitar." When you want to ask someone about their hobbies, you can say, "What do you like to do in your free time?" or "Do you have any hobbies?" Listening to their answers and asking more simple questions shows you are interested. For example, if someone says they like cooking, you could ask, "What kind of food do you like to cook?"

Having hobbies is good for us. They can help reduce stress from work or daily life. Hobbies can also help us meet new people who have similar interests. Sometimes, we can learn valuable new skills through our hobbies, like learning a new language or how to fix things. Most importantly, hobbies make us feel happy and give us something to look forward to. If you don't have a hobby, try different activities until you find something you enjoy. Hobbies make life more interesting and fun.

Activity III: Role Play (Chatting During a Coffee Break)

Instructions: Practice the dialogue with a partner. Take turns being A and B.

A: Hi Ben, how's your day going?

B: Pretty good, Anna. Just needed this coffee. How about you?

A: Same here. Looking forward to the weekend. Do you have any plans?

B: Not much. I like to relax in my free time. Maybe watch a movie.

A: That sounds nice. I enjoy watching movies too. What kind do you like?

B: I like comedies. They help me unwind. What about you, what do you do for fun?

A: My main hobby is gardening. I love growing flowers and vegetables.

B: Gardening? That's interesting! Do you have a big garden?

A: Not too big, but it keeps me busy. It's very relaxing.

B: I can imagine. I don't have any outdoor hobbies. I prefer to read.

A: Reading is a great hobby. What kind of books do you read?

B: I like mystery novels. They are exciting. Do you read much?

A: Sometimes. I also like to listen to music in my free time.

B: Oh, me too! What kind of music do you listen to?

A: I like pop music. It's good for relaxing. Well, break time is almost over.

B: You're right. It was nice talking about our hobbies, Anna!

Activity IV: Let's Practice

Talk About Your Hobbies.

With a partner or your teacher, talk about your hobbies and what you like to do in your free time. Ask them about their hobbies too. Use the vocabulary and phrases you learned in this lesson. For example: "My hobby is...", "I enjoy...", "What do you like to do?"