Introduction

Talking about hobbies and interests is a great way to start conversations, make friends, and express yourself in English. Knowing how to ask about someone’s hobbies and describe your own helps improve your fluency and confidence in speaking.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
✔️ Improve your listening comprehension
✔️ Learn common phrases for discussing hobbies and interests
✔️ Understand how to ask and answer questions about hobbies
✔️ Practice real-life conversation skills

Let’s get started! 🎨🎶⚽📚

Step 1: Listen to the Conversation

🎧 Instructions:

Listen carefully to the conversation between two friends talking about hobbies.
Pay attention to how they ask about interests and respond.
After listening, answer the comprehension questions below.

📌 Audio Script (What Do You Like to Do? Conversation)

Emma: Hey, Jake! What do you like to do in your free time?

Jake: Hi, Emma! I love playing the guitar and watching movies. What about you?

Emma: That’s cool! I enjoy painting and reading books.

Jake: Nice! What kind of books do you like?

Emma: Mostly fiction, but sometimes I read history books too.

Jake: That’s interesting. Have you ever painted a landscape?

Emma: Yes! I love painting nature scenes. It’s so relaxing.

Jake: That sounds great! Maybe I can play guitar while you paint.

Emma: That would be fun!

Step 2: Comprehension Questions

Test your listening skills by answering the following questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

What does Jake like to do in his free time?
a) Play soccer and dance
b) Play the guitar and watch movies
c) Write stories and travel
d) Cook and do yoga
What does Emma enjoy?
a) Playing video games
b) Singing and swimming
c) Painting and reading books
d) Running and cooking
What type of books does Emma like?
a) Science fiction only
b) History and fiction books
c) Only non-fiction books
d) Comic books
What does Jake suggest?
a) That they watch a movie together
b) That they go to a concert
c) That he plays guitar while Emma paints
d) That they take a painting class
How does Emma feel about Jake’s suggestion?
a) She thinks it would be fun
b) She doesn’t like the idea
c) She prefers to paint alone
d) She says she’s too busy

(Answer Key: 1-b, 2-c, 3-b, 4-c, 5-a)

Step 3: Vocabulary Practice

Here are some important words and phrases from the conversation. Learn their meanings and practice using them in sentences.

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
Free time	Time when you are not working or studying	In my free time, I like to read and go for walks.
Hobby	An activity you enjoy doing regularly	Painting is my favorite hobby.
Fiction	Books with made-up stories	I love reading fiction novels about adventure.
Landscape	A picture of natural scenery	She painted a beautiful landscape of the mountains.
Relaxing	Making you feel calm and peaceful	Listening to music is very relaxing.

✅ Exercise:
Fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words above.

I love reading _______ because I enjoy imaginative stories.
Playing the piano is my favorite _______.
After a busy day, taking a walk by the beach is very _______.
He painted a beautiful _______ of a sunset over the ocean.
In my _______ I like to watch movies or go hiking.

(Answer Key: 1. fiction, 2. hobby, 3. relaxing, 4. landscape, 5. free time)

Step 4: Grammar Focus – Asking About and Describing Hobbies

When discussing hobbies, we use specific phrases to ask questions and express our interests.

Common Questions About Hobbies:

What do you like to do in your free time?
Do you have any hobbies?
How often do you do [activity]?
What kind of [books/movies/music] do you like?
Have you ever tried [activity]?

How to Talk About Your Interests:

I love playing the piano and reading books.
I enjoy cooking and learning new recipes.
I’m really into photography and nature walks.
One of my favorite hobbies is drawing.

Practice Exercise:

Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentences.

_______ any hobbies?
_______ to do on weekends?
_______ reading science fiction books?
_______ new hobbies recently?
_______ playing sports in your free time?

(Answer Key: 1. Do you have, 2. What do you like, 3. Do you enjoy, 4. Have you tried, 5. Do you like)

Step 5: Discussion Questions

Practice speaking by discussing these questions with a friend or writing down your answers.

What are your favorite hobbies?
How often do you do your hobbies?
Have you ever tried a new hobby? What was it?
Do you prefer indoor or outdoor hobbies? Why?
If you could learn any new hobby, what would it be?

Step 6: Writing Challenge

✍ Creative Writing Exercise
Imagine you are introducing yourself to a new friend. Write a short paragraph about your hobbies and interests.

🔹 Example Start:
“Hi, my name is Alex. In my free time, I enjoy reading mystery novels and playing the piano. I also love hiking on weekends because it’s relaxing and a great way to explore nature. What about you? What do you like to do?”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I ask someone about their hobbies?

You can say:

What do you like to do in your free time?
Do you have any hobbies?
What’s your favorite activity outside of work/school?

2. How do I describe my hobbies?

Some examples include:

I enjoy drawing and painting landscapes.
One of my favorite hobbies is playing guitar.
I love watching movies and reading books.

3. How do I ask follow-up questions about hobbies?

How often do you do [activity]?
What made you interested in [hobby]?
Have you ever tried [new activity]?

4. How do I talk about a hobby I want to try?

I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the violin.
I’d love to try surfing someday.
I think photography would be an interesting hobby.

5. What are common hobbies people talk about?

Sports (soccer, basketball, tennis)
Music (playing an instrument, singing)
Art (painting, drawing, photography)
Reading and writing
Outdoor activities (hiking, cycling, running)

Conclusion

This lesson helps you improve your listening, vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills while learning how to talk about hobbies and interests in English.

✅ What’s Next?

Listen to the audio again and practice talking about your hobbies.
Try asking a friend about their favorite activities.
Write a short paragraph describing your hobbies!