Talking About Hobbies & Interests
Friends discover or discuss shared hobbies, new interests, or recommendations for books, movies, or local events.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
hobbies
Activities you enjoy doing in your free time, like reading or sports. Use it when talking about what you like to do for fun.
interests
Things that catch your attention or you are curious about. Similar to hobbies but can include broader topics like music or travel.
rewarding
Something that gives you a sense of satisfaction or achievement. Use it to describe experiences that feel worthwhile, like learning a new skill.
recommendations
Suggestions for something good, like books or products. Ask for them when you want advice on what to try.
beginner
Someone who is just starting to learn or do something. Use it to describe entry-level items or advice for new people.
resources
Tools or materials that help you learn or do something, like websites or books. Common in discussions about education or hobbies.
page-turner
A book that is so exciting you can't stop reading it. Use this idiom to recommend thrilling stories.
exhibition
A public display of art, history, or objects, often in a museum. Mention it when suggesting cultural events.
fascinating
Very interesting and captivating. Use it to express strong positive interest in a topic or experience.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
What have you been up to lately?
This is a casual way to ask about someone's recent activities. The present perfect continuous tense ('have been up to') shows ongoing actions. Useful for starting conversations with friends.
I've always wanted to get into photography.
Expresses a long-term desire to start a hobby. 'Get into' means to become interested in or involved with something. Great for sharing personal interests in casual chats.
Any recommendations for a beginner camera?
Asks for advice on suitable options for newcomers. 'Any' makes it open-ended. This pattern is practical when seeking suggestions for products or activities.
Thanks for the tips!
A polite way to thank someone for advice. 'Tips' means helpful suggestions. Use it after receiving recommendations to show appreciation.
It's on my 'to-read' list.
Means it's planned to be read in the future. 'To-read list' is like a to-do list for books. Useful for discussing future plans with books or movies.
We should totally go together sometime.
Suggests doing an activity with someone in the near future. 'Totally' adds enthusiasm, and 'sometime' keeps it flexible. Ideal for making plans casually.
Let me check my schedule and I'll text you.
Agrees to something but needs to confirm availability. 'Schedule' refers to your timetable. This shows politeness and is common in arranging meetups.
This was a fun chat!
Ends a conversation positively by commenting on it being enjoyable. Use it to wrap up friendly talks and leave a good impression.