- What is a hobby?
- Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
- How much free time do you usually have? What do you like to do with your free time? Do you prefer to relax or to be active?
- Do you collect anything? If so, when did you start collecting? How large is your collection?
- What kinds of things do people usually collect?
- Sometimes, the things that people collect become valuable. Can you think of any examples? What kinds of things gain the most value over time?
Useful Expressions
1. When angry, it’s better to speak softly than shout.
2. I really need to tell you something.
3. How long do you intend to collect coins?
4. I had a collection of baseball cards worth $800,000.
5. It was a pleasure having dinner with you.
Model Dialog
Listen as the teacher reads the model dialog.
(Scenario – Paul is being interviewed by a reporter at his home.)
Reporter: How did you begin your collection?
Paul: I was bored one night and looked down at my navel and there it was–fluff.
Reporter: Fluff, the stuff that is inside our belly buttons?
Paul: Yes, that is correct.
Reporter: You’ve got to be kidding! Are you serious?
Paul: I am serious. I started my collection twenty years ago.
Reporter: Does your collection give you pleasure?
Paul: No, it is just something I do before I take a shower. I ….
Reporter: Hold on a second! Every night you take out the lint from your navel and put it in a jar. Is that correct?
Paul: Yup, for the last twenty years.
Reporter: Why do you do it?
Paul: I don’t know, but it has enabled me to be on television and have interviews with people like you.
Reporter: You have a point there. It was a pleasure talking with you. Keep up your unique collection.
Paul: I intend to keep it up. Thank you for the interview.
Focus on Usage (expressions of degree: kind of and sort of )
• When I am kind of bored, I usually play computer games.
• That’s kind of strange.
• I kind of like him.
• I kind of have a problem I need to talk about with you.
• As he was walking along, he sort of stumbled and seemed ill.
Read the following passage, and answer the questions.
Use the words provided below each question.
My Favorite Things!
Do you have any hobbies? I sure do! My name is Simon, and I collect stuffed toy animals. There are over 100 different varieties in my bedroom. I have so many different kinds of stuffed animals that it’s difficult to count them all! The last time I counted, I had five dinosaurs, three zebras, two ducks, seven teddy bears, ten cats, fifteen dogs, over twenty horses, and a few penguins. You can begin to see my problem!
Many of the toys now in my collection were among the gifts I get every year. My family and friends gave most of them to me, although my family doesn’t want to give me any more stuffed animals. They complain that my stuffed animal collection takes up too much room. So, of course, when they
ask me what I want for a gift, I always respond with, “Something for my collection!” It is true that my stuffed animals are all over the place. There are about twenty on my bed, and I have to place them on the floor before I go to sleep. Twelve animals are hanging from my door. My sister thinks it looks messy, but I think it makes my room look extremely cool. She also says it is silly for a 13-year old boy to collect stuffed animals. I think she’s just jealous! I love my collection and I will never get rid of it. I hope my future spouse is excited about stuffed animals!
stuffed: (of a toy) filled inside with something to give it a shape
teddy: a stuffed toy bear
collection: things of a kind one acquires
messy: untidy; dirty
get rid of: to remove; to dispose of
spouse: a person one is married to; husband or wife
1. According to the reading passage, how many of each kind of animal does Simon own?
dinosaur, zebra, duck, teddy, cat
Your answer may begin like: The last time he counted, he had ....
2. What do people you know collect for their hobbies?
postage stamp, coin, currency note, CD, book, painting
Your answer may begin like: To begin with, I collect postage stamps. They say ....
