Travelling/Holidays/Free Time

Leisure Time - hobbies

Leisure time - hobbies

Level: Lower Intermediate

Time: 45 - 50 minutes

Skills: Speaking/Writing

A. Here is a list of hobbies.

 take flying lessons

 go jogging

 paint T-shirts

 do voluntary work at a local hospital

 go to an evening class in flower arranging

 join a chess club

 join a walking club

 collect phone cards

1. Do you enjoy any of these pastimes? Do you have any particular hobbies? Talk about
them with a partner.

2. Now read the following texts and choose the hobbies you think are the best for each
person. You can also choose a hobby which is not on the list.

Peter has a very demanding job in an advertising agency. His friends think he is a kind of
workaholic and he does not have much time for hobbies. However he would like to find a
hobby which is both stimulating and relaxing.

Sheila used to be a nurse but she has been unemployed for almost six months. She spends
most of her day knitting and reading but is now getting very bored. She is also very
worried about her future.

Brian is a pharmacist and spends most of her day working alone. She has several hobbies –
she enjoys gardening and doing needle work – but she would like to get out of the house
and meet people.

George is a machine operator. His job is tiring but very monotonous. He spends much of
his spare time watching the local football team and listening to music, but he would like an
active, creative hobby which would give him more personal satisfaction.

3. Look at the table below. What does it tell you about the way British people spend
their leisure time?

HOW WE SPEND OUR LEISURE TIME

Middle class Working class

Snooker, pool, billiards ........ 13% 13%

Swimming .............................. 13% 7%

keep fit, yoga ........................ 10% 7%

Darts ...................................... 6% 9%

Squash .................................. 5% 1%

Walking ................................ 45% 38%

Golf ....................................... 10% 3%

Running/Jogging .................. 6% 3%

Soccer .................................. 3% 4%

Tennis ................................... 3% 1%

Fishing .................................. 2% 3%

TV Viewing
23:50 31:56
(hours: mins per week) .......

4. What about Portuguese people? Produce a similar table to show how people in Portugal
spend their free time.