Recommending a Hobby
One person is looking for a new hobby or something to do in their free time. A friend suggests one of their own interests, like knitting or learning a new game, and briefly explains why they enjoy it.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
hobby
A hobby is an activity you do for pleasure in your free time, not for work or money. For example, reading or painting can be a hobby.
recommendations
Recommendations are suggestions for something good or useful. You ask for recommendations when you want advice, like 'Do you have any recommendations for a new book?'
woodworking
Woodworking is the activity of making things from wood using tools. It's a popular hobby for creating furniture or decorations.
relaxing
Relaxing means something that helps you feel calm and reduces stress. For hobbies, you might say 'Gardening is very relaxing after a busy day.'
intimidating
Intimidating describes something that seems scary or difficult to start. Like, 'Public speaking can be intimidating for beginners.'
rewarding
Rewarding means something that gives you a sense of satisfaction or achievement. For example, 'Helping others is very rewarding.'
mindful
Mindful means being fully focused on the present moment and aware of what you're doing. It's often used in hobbies like meditation to stay calm and concentrated.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Do you have any recommendations?
This is a polite way to ask for suggestions. It's useful when seeking advice on hobbies or activities. The question form with 'any' makes it open-ended and casual.
I've really gotten into woodworking over the past year.
This sentence uses 'get into something' to mean starting to enjoy an activity a lot. It's great for talking about new hobbies. 'Over the past year' shows time duration.
That sounds a bit intimidating.
Here, 'sounds' expresses an opinion about how something seems. It's useful for sharing first impressions. 'A bit' softens the statement to make it less strong.
You can actually begin with just hand tools and small projects.
This reassures someone by saying it's easy to start simply. 'Actually' adds emphasis to correct a misconception. Useful for encouraging beginners in hobbies.
It's very rewarding when you finish something.
This uses a clause 'when you finish something' to explain the benefit. It's practical for describing why a hobby is enjoyable, focusing on the feeling of accomplishment.
You can definitely start on a budget.
'On a budget' means spending little money. 'Definitely' shows strong agreement or certainty. This sentence is helpful when discussing affordable ways to try new things.
Maybe I'll look into it.
'Look into something' means to investigate or learn more about it. 'Maybe' expresses possibility without commitment. Use this to show interest politely when considering a suggestion.
Let me know if you decide to try it.
This is an offer to help or stay updated. 'Let me know' is a common phrase for requesting information. It's useful in conversations to keep the door open for future talk.