Casual Chat about Hobbies
Two friends or acquaintances are catching up and one asks the other about their hobbies or what they do in their free time. This leads to a brief sharing of interests like reading, listening to music, or playing simple games.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
hobbies
Activities that people do for pleasure in their free time, like reading or playing games. Use it when talking about what you enjoy doing.
free time
The time when you are not working or studying, and can do things you like. It's common in casual conversations about daily life.
reading
The activity of looking at and understanding written words in books or articles. It's a popular hobby for relaxation.
unwind
To relax and reduce stress after a busy day. Often used with hobbies like listening to music.
puzzle games
Games that involve solving problems or riddles, like Sudoku on a phone. Great for short, fun breaks.
binge-watch
To watch multiple episodes of a TV show one after another in a short time. Popular for entertainment in free time.
recipes
Sets of instructions for preparing food or drinks. Sharing recipes is a way to talk about cooking hobbies.
catching up
Talking with someone you haven't seen in a while to share recent news. Used in friendly chats.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
What do you usually do in your free time?
This is a common question to start a conversation about hobbies. Use it with friends to learn about their interests. The word 'usually' shows habits.
Any hobbies you've picked up recently?
Asks about new activities someone has started. 'Picked up' means started doing. Useful for casual talks about changes in life.
I've been spending a lot of time reading, mostly sci-fi novels.
Describes a current hobby using present perfect continuous tense ('I've been spending') for ongoing actions. Share your interests this way.
I'm a big fan of reading too.
Expresses strong liking for something. 'Big fan of' is an idiomatic way to show enthusiasm. Use it to agree or connect with others.
It's a great way to unwind.
Explains the benefit of a hobby. 'Way to' means method for doing something. Good for discussing why you enjoy activities.
I usually just binge-watch shows or try out new recipes.
Talks about regular free-time activities using 'usually' for habits and 'or' to list options. 'Try out' means to test something new.
Cooking sounds like a great hobby.
Gives a positive opinion about someone's interest. 'Sounds like' expresses an impression. Use to show interest in others' hobbies.
It was good catching up.
Ends a conversation politely by saying you enjoyed talking. Present perfect ('was good') for recent past. Common in friendly goodbyes.