Talking About Hobbies/Interests In English

A great way to make small talk is to talk about what you do for fun or your hobbies.  It's also a great way to get to know someone. There are a few expressions that one can use when talking  about your interests and/or your  hobbies.

Conversation Opener:

"What are you into?"
"What are your interests/hobbies?"
"What do you like to do in your free/spare time?"
"Do you do anything for fun?"
"Do you have any interests/hobbies?"
"What sort of things do you do to relax?"/"What sort of things do like to do to help you relax?"
"What sort of  hobbies do you have?"
"What are you keen on?"

Possible Responses:

"I am really/quite into...(verb+ing/gerund + noun)."
"My interests and/or hobbies are....(verb+ing/gerund + noun)."
"I really like/enjoy..."
"In my spare/free time I like to _________."
"I like to __________ (list  hobby/hobbies) for fun."
"I like to...."
"My hobby is/hobbies are...."
"I am really keen on ____________ (verb+ing/gerund + noun)."
"I like/enjoy relaxing to ________ (noun)."
"I relax by _________ (verb+ing/gerund + noun)."

List of Reasons Why:


"...because it's a great way to relieve stress."/"...because it's a great stress reliever."
"...because it helps me to relax."
"...because it's fun and interesting."
"...because it's exciting/(other adjectives)."
"...because it helps me meditate/to clear my head/mind."
"...because it helps me to think."
"...because it's a great way to escape/get away from the everyday."
"...because it's a great form of meditation."
"...because my mom/dad/friend introduced me to it (and I've been doing it ever since)."

Dialog:

Jason has taken up a new hobby and has decided to call his friend Juan to share the news.

Juan:  Hello?

Jason: Hey man. Guess what?  Today I was at the bookstore and I found a Spiderman comic book from 1971.  Guess how much it's worth?

Juan: I am not into comics so my guess wouldn't be good.  How much?

Jason: $140!  Can you believe it?!

Juan:  I guess $140 is a good price?

Jason: Yes.  One reason is because there aren't a lot of them out there anymore and the second reason is because I only paid $2 for it!

Juan:  That is really good...  I didn't know you were into comic books?  I thought you were keen on collecting model cars?

Jason:  I am still into that, but I was at the bookstore with and saw boxes of old comic books a week ago that they were trying to get rid of and started to go through it and found it to be fruitful. 

Juan:  Really?  How?

Jason:  Because most of the comic books were in fine to very fine condition.  The problem is that they have so many of them and nowhere to store them. Maybe you would like to consider collecting...

Juan:  That's okay.  I will stick to collecting guitars, but thanks for the invitation.

Jason:  You are going to regret it... I got to run. 

Juan:  Bye.

Now Your Turn!

Use the phrases above to talk about your hobbies/interests or things you do to relax.

You:  What are you into? (You can replace it with any of the questions above).

Your friend:  I am really/quite into ___________ (verb+ing/gerund + noun).

You:  Why do you enjoy doing that?

Your friend:  I like it because/I like to doing that because....(give a reason)."

List of hobbies:
reading
fishing
hiking
bunji jumping
skiing
cycling
walking
stamp collecting
playing sports (can be more specific)
knitting
sewing
drawing
painting
sketching
baking
cooking
writing
blogging
playing board games
water sports
fixing things (computers, cars, things that are broken,...)
watching/observing wildlife
playing video games
collecting/trading comic books
collecting action figures
scrapbooking
creating things with my hands
pottery
designing websites
photography
inventing things
collecting coins
collecting toys
collecting leaves
collecting insects
travelling
thrill seeker
collecting Cd's/DVDs
listening to music
gardening
meeting new people
playing computer games
collecting musical instruments (e.g.; guitars)
collecting paintings
dancing
learning a new language
playing a musical instrument
exploring different cultures

Great job today!

TOEFL Vocabulary Development

In English there are words and phrases that are commonly used.  The best way to increase these expressions is by reading and highlighting the words that you do not know.  Then by looking them up in the dictionary. On account that there is more than one meaning for most words, it's important to make sure that the definition found is in context to how it is used in the sentence.  Additionally, review the new words and practice using them in conversation when the situation arises. 

The words below may or may not be on the TOEFL; however, they are great vocabulary builders.

Choose the definition that best fits the word highlighted in each sentence.



1.  I am intrigued by you.

a. unsure about
b. aroused the interest of
c. confused by
d. in love with

2.  Refrain from eating too much chocolate.

a. a verse
b. don't stop
c. resist the impulse
d. to do often

3. That statement is redundant.

a. repetitive
b. unique
c. boring
d. unimportant

4.  I am contracted to work on that project.
a. to shrink or reduce
b. compression
c. a document or writing containing an agreement
d. an understanding

5. The evidence gathered proves she committed the crime.

a. belief
b. idea
c. proof
d. DNA


                                                                                                                                     Answer:
                                                                                                                         1.b 2.c 3.a 4.c 5.c

Talking About Getting Together with Friends In English

In English there are expressions used when we want to make plans, get out and have fun or "get together" with others. But what does "get gether" means? It means to meet or gather with family members or friends at an informal social gathering.  I am going to take a look at how to apply those expressions in everyday conversations.

Phrases:

"Let's get together..."
"Let's hang out..."
"Let's meet up..."/"Let's meet..."
"Let's do something fun and interesting..."
"Let's join up with..."

Possible Responses:

"Sure!  I would love together."
"I have (other) plans. Maybe another time."
"Sorry, I won't be able to make it."
"Sorry.  Maybe another time."
"I'm sorry, but I will have to take a rain check."
"Sure! When is it and where would you like to meet?"
"Great! Sounds like a plan."
"I love coffee/Chinese food/American food/to shop. Let's meet up!/I'll be there."

Dialog:

Nina is studying for the TOEFL.  She then decides to call her friend Joe, who is also preparing for the TOEFL, to study with her.

The phone rings...

Joe:  Hello.

Nina: Hi Joe.  How are you doing?

Joe:  Good, and you?

Nina:  Not so good.  I am studying for the TOEFL and really having a tough time focusing. I was wondering if you would like to meet up at the library and study together?

Joe:  Sounds great.  I haven't looked at the TOEFL practice exercises for days now.  I am so unmotivated right now.

Nina: Okay. Then let's get together! Can you be ready in a hour?

Joe:  I can be ready in less time.  However, see you within the hour.

Nina:  I'll be in the study area on the second floor. See you then.

Joe:  Thanks for calling.  See you.

Now Your Turn!

Create a scenario using the expressions above.  Call a friend, an acquaintance or family member and make plans to "get together".

You: Would you like to ______________________(expressions above) and have some coffee?

Your friend:  Sure!  I would love to get together! (Use the responses above).

Switch and keep practicing until you are comfortable with the dialog.

Great job today!

Click on the link and image below if you are looking for a text to help you prepare for the TOEFL.

Expressions to Use When Shopping in a Retail Store

Shopping can be overwhelming when you are looking for something specific.  How do you explain to the sales representative what it is that you are looking for, especially when they don't have a large number of that product or item. 

Shopping can be much easier when you are shopping for yourself, but what if you are shopping for someone else, children or a spouse?  Below are a list of phrases that one can use as a guide.

Phrases/Expressions:

When Shopping for Yourself:

"Excuse me? Can you help me?"


"I am looking for a suit/pants/shirt/sweater/skirt/dress..."


"I am a size 3/7/9/11. Do you have this in my size?"


"Do you have this/that in another color?"


"Is this on sale?"


"There isn't a price tag on this. Could you do a price check for me?"


"What is the price for this?"


"Could you tell me the price for this?"


"Do you have a bag/pair of shoes/earrings/hat/... to go with this?"



When Shopping for Someone else:

"I am looking for a shirt/dress/pants/sweater/shoes/... for a 7 year old/for my nephew/for my spouse..."


"I am shopping for my spouse/friend/....  Could you help me decide?"

"I am shopping for my spouse/friend/niece/sister/...  Could you suggest/recommend something?"


When Shopping for an Occasion:

"What do you think would make a good birthday gift for a 40 year old man?/a 4 year old child?/a friend?"


"What would be a good Christmas gift/Mother's Day/Wedding gift/....?


"Do you think that this would make a good house-warming/Father's Day/birthday/... gift?"


"Could you suggest something for a house-warming/wedding/Father's Day/birthday/... gift?

Dialog:

Now let's take a look at how to apply the phrases above in a natural English conversation.

Molly has decided to join a gym and is now shopping for a new pair of workout shoes.

Molly walks into the shoes store...

Sales Agent: Welcome to the Shoe Lockers.  Can I help you?

Molly:  As a matter of fact, yes.  I am looking for a comfortable pair of workout shoes.

Sales Agent:  What size are you?

Molly:  I am a size 7. 

Sales Agent:  What kind of exercise will you be doing?

Molly:  Well, I will be doing some high impact aerobics, jogging outdoors and on the treadmill.

Sales Agent:  In that case, you need something with good  traction and fit.  More so, something that absorbs shock is good. Here, try this on.

Molly:  This fits comfortably, but it doesn't quite fit.  It's a little big for my feet. Do you have something in probably a 6 and a 1/2 ?

Sales Agent:  We do carry half sizes in that brand.  Give me a minute...

Molly:  No problem.

Sales Agent:  Here you go... This should do the trick.

Molly:  These fit perfectly.  Sometimes I wear a half size bigger or smaller depending on the make of the shoes.

Sales Agent:  That's pretty common, because every brand of shoes is made differently.

Molly:  I like this pair; however, do you have it in another color?  I would prefer anything but pink and grey.

Sales Agent: As a matter of fact, we do carry that pair in a dark blue with white trimmings.

Molly:  Great!  That's actually my favorite color. I will take that.

Sales Agent: Great! I will ring that up for you.

Molly: Thank you very much.

Now your turn!

Create your own dialog using the expressions above and the outline below as a guide.

You: Excuse me? Can you help me?

Your friend:  What are you looking for?

You:  I am looking for a ____________ (describe what you are shopping for).

Your friend:  We have that in red/pink/white/blue/...and a size 5/6/7/...  (use the expressions above).

Keep the dialog going for as long as you can and then change roles.

Great Job Today!

Talking About What You Do

In social settings we are often asked about what we do.  This usually refers to one's job or occupation.  There are a number of things that one can say whether you are talking about what you do or inquiring about what someone else does.

Phrases/Expressions when giving information about your job:

"I'm a teacher/lawyer/technician..."

"I'm a professional student/student."

"I'm a stay-at-home mom."

"I oversee the technical department."

"I am a self-employee."

"I work from home."

"I sometimes work from home and the office other times."

"I travel (sometimes/a lot/...) for my job/work."

"I am usually away from the office."

"I primarily run my real estate business out of my home."

"I mainly work as a customer service representative."

"I work part-time/full-time as an office manager/teacher/internet technician..."

Phrases/Expressions when inquiring about what someone does:

"What does your job involve/entail?"

"What do you do (for a living).?"

"What does IT/... mean?

"What do podiatrists/prosecutors/... do?"

"Do you work full-time/part-time?"

"Are you a full-time/part-time employee?"

"Do you travel for your job/work?"

"Do you travel a lot?"

"Do you work from home or the office?"

"What are your responsibilities?"

"Does your job pay well?"/"What's  your annual salary?" (This question can be quite personal depending on the person and the job).

"Do you get a lot of time off or a lot of vacation days?"

"Do you tend to take (a lot of) time off?"

"Do you study or do you work?"

"Do you work and go to school (part-time)?"

"Are you a full-time/part-time student?"

"What's your major?"

"What are you majoring in?"

"What subject are you studying/majoring in?"

"How long have you been in school?"

"What university/college are you going to?"

"When do you graduate?"

"What do you want to do when you graduate?"

"How did you choose/decide on your major?"

"Why did you choose that school?"

"Is the tuition high/a lot?"

"Are books/texts/text books costly?"

"What are your grades like?"

"Do you like university/college life?"

"Do you live at home/on/off campus?"

"What is student life like (in university/college)?"

DIALOG:

Now let's take a look at another way to use the expressions above.

Jiao was on her way to her 10AM lecture when John stopped her to ask for directions.

John:  Excuse me.  Do you know how to get to room 301?

Jiao:  Yes, I am heading to my 10 o'clock lecture in room 304B.  You can follow me if you like.

John:  Thank you.  I would really appreciate that.

Jiao: Are you new here?

John:  Yes, I am. It's my first year here. How about you?

Jiao:  This is my last year here. I am graduating in June of next year.

John:  That's great! Good for you.  What's your major?

Jiao:  Thank you. I am majoring in business finance and political science.  How about you?

John:  I am majoring in Internet technology.  However, I did my masters in business 10 years ago at Harvard.  I just wanted to get out of the workforce and do something a little different.  To be honest, I just needed a change.

Jiao:  That's also impressive.  That means you have a lot of work experience!  What did you do?

John:  Well, I was the Chief Financial Officer for GE; General Electric.  Which is a Fortune 500 company. 

Jiao:  What does a Chief Financial Officer do?

John:  I was in charge of finance, so that means training the finance unit and other staff members about finance management matters, developing new business for the company, overseeing all purchases and payroll and so on. It was a lot of responsibility.  I was always in the office.

Jiao:  Wow... It sounds like it!  But I am sure you were paid well.

John:  Yes, I had a six figure salary. What do you plan to do with your business finance and political science major? 

Jiao: I want to do what you did.  However, right now I am looking forward to completing my masters in business.   Here we are!  There is room 301.

John:  Thank you for your help.  It was nice talking to you.

Jiao:  No problem.  See you around. 

John: Bye.

Now  Your Turn!

Create a dialog using the phrases and dialog above as a guide.

You: What do you do?

Your friend: I'm a __________ (job/student).

You:  Where do you go to school?/What does that entail?

Your friend:  _______________ (describe your job/major/student life).

Switch roles and continue.  Try to keep the dialog/conversation going for as long as possible.

Vocabulary Review:     

six figure salary - Refers to a job that pays at least 100 000 dollars.  It's called "six figures" because there are six figures to the left of the decimal place.

oversee - Means to watch and direct usually a project or a task.

in charge of - Means to be responsible for something.

To be honest - Means "honestly" or just another way to be direct or frank with someone.

entail - Means involve.

See you around - It means to see you again sometime or in passing.  You can also say "see you later" in place of it.  However, keep in mind that it doesn't necessarily mean that you will see the person again.

Great job today!