Introduction
Some of the following materials are specifically designed for persons whose native language is Chinese.
Lesson 15
Section 1
Discussing Hobbies
This lesson focuses on a common topic of discussion: Hobbies.
Speaking about hobbies is an important part of everyday English. As with any activity, hobbies can have lots of jargon, specific expressions, and idioms related to the particular hobby.
Exercise #1
Work with a classmate.
Research with your partner each of the hobby types below. If you don't know the hobby, look the hobby up on the internet to discover photos and other clues to learn about that hobby. Try to use each hobby type in a short sentence to explain the hobby.
You may be called upon in class to read the explanations you have created.
Collecting
Arts & Crafts
Model & Electronic
Action Figures
Antiques
Autograph Collecting
Car Collecting
Coin Collecting
Comic Books
Concert Posters
Doll Collecting
Fine Art Collecting
Hot Wheel and Matchbox Cars
Manga
Movie Memorabilia
Music Memorabilia
Spoon Collecting
Sports Collectibles
Sports Trading Cards
Stamp Collecting
Vinyl Records
Watch Collecting
Gun and Pistols
Animation
Architecture
Calligraphy
Candle Making
Crochet
Film Making
Gardening
Jewelry Making
Origami
Photography
Sewing
Sculpting
Ceramics / Pottery
Fashion Design
Floristry
Graffiti
Knitting
Paper Airplanes
Painting and Drawing
Quilting
Scrapbooking
Woodworking
Tattoo
Ham Radio
RC Boats
RC Cars
RC Helicopters
RC Planes
Robotics
Scale Models
Model Cars
Model Airplanes
Model Railroading
Model Rockets
Model Ship / Boat Kits
Performing Arts
Food & Drink
Music
Dancing
Ballet
Break Dancing
Line Dancing
Salsa
Swing
Tango
Waltz
Acting
Juggling
Magic Tricks
Puppetry
Stand Up Comedy
Banjo
Bass Guitar
Cello
Clarinet
Drum Set
French Horn
Guitar
Harmonica
Oboe
Piano / Keyboard
Trumpet
Trombone
Violin
Viola
Rapping
Singing
Start A Band
Bartending
Beer Brewing
Beer Tasting
Cigar Smoking
Cheese Tasting
Coffee Roasting
Competitive Eating
Cooking
Liquor Distillation
Hookah Smoking
Spirits / Liquor Tasting
Sushi Making
Tea Drinking
Wine Making
Wine Tasting
Sake Tasting
Grilling
Pets
Games
Martial Arts
Outdoor Activities
Cats
Dogs
Parrots
Rabbits
Reptiles
Rodents
Snakes
Turtles
Fishkeeping
Arcade Games
Ball and Jacks
Billiards / Pool
Board Games
Bridge
Card Games
Card Tricks
Chess
Dominoes
Foosball
Geocaching
Jigsaw Puzzles
Kite Flying / Making
Mah Jong
Pinball Machines
Poker
Table Tennis - Ping Pong
Video Games
Birdwatching
Camping
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting
Kayak and Canoe
Mountain Biking
Mountain climbing
Paintball
River Rafting
Rock Climbing
Sailing
Scuba Diving
Fly Fishing
Backpacking
Aikido
Jiu Jitsu
Judo
Karate
Kung Fu
Taekwondo
Individual Sports
Team Sports
Board Sports
Motor Sports
Archery
Acrobatics
Badminton
Bodybuilding
Bowling
Boxing
Croquet
Cycling
Diving
Golf
Gymnastics
Fencing
Horseback Riding
Ice Skating
Inline Skating
Pilates
Running
Swimming
Squash
Tai Chi
Tennis
Weight Training
Yoga
basketball
baseball
football
cricket
volleyball
soccer
water polo
Kitesurfing
Skateboarding
Skiing
Snowboarding
Surfing
Windsurfing
Autoracing
Go Karts
Motocross
Motorcycle - Touring
Motorcycle - Stunts
Off Road Driving
Snowmobiling
Section 2
Quiz #1
Use one of the hobby types below to fill in the gap in the descriptions on the right below.
Hobby Type
individual sports
motorsports
games
board sports
models and electronics
martial arts
collecting
outdoor activity
team sport
food & drink
performing arts
Fill in the Gap
__________ requires you to find as many as possible of one type of thing such as baseball cards, or vinyl records.
Arcade _____ include pinball machines and a wide variety of computer games that are played in a large room.
You play a ________ if you play basketball, soccer or water polo.
Snowboarding and windsurfing are types of ____________.
If you like bartending and cooking you look _________.
Head to the mountains to enjoy _________ such as kayaking, river rafting, and rafting.
___________ such as snowmobiling and go karts can be rather expensive, especially if you don't know how to repair vehicles.
Some people prefer ______________ rather than team sports. These include boxing, fencing and golf.
People all over the world practice ________ such as Kung Fu and Aikido.
_________________ often include building your own model.
People who sing, act or dance participate in the _______________.
Section 3
Quiz #2
Match the hobby or activity to the definition. In some cases, a number of hobbies may be correct.
Hobby or Activity
Definition
This is a type of dancing that comes from Vienna.
This is an activity that involves smoking something that looks like a long, brown stick.
This is an activity that involves making small reproductions of airplanes.
You play this instrument with a bow.
In order to keep these pets you shouldn't be queasy.
This is an individual sport that can calm you, as well as keep you in shape.
You might climb Everest if you do this hobby.
Ride a motorized vehicle with two wheels for this hobby.
If you collect this type of comic book, you might need to read Japanese.
This hobby involves telling jokes.
You must know poker and blackjack if you do this hobby.
You must have a good relationship with animals to participate in this sport.
This martial art comes from Korea.
Fly down the snowy hill on a board with this hobby.
Your partner will be stuffed if you take up this hobby.
Motocross / Motorcycle - Touring / Motorcycle Stunts
Yoga / Tai Chi / Pilates
Model airplanes
Waltz
Violin / Viola / Cello
Rodents / Snakes / Reptiles
Cigar smoking
Card games
Mountain climbing
Cooking
Manga
Stand up comedy
Taekwondo
Horseback riding
Snowboarding / Skiing
Section 4
Exercise #2
Game - 20 Questions to guess the hobby
Divide into groups of 3 - 5 classmates.
Each student chooses a hobby they know well.
Each student will take a turn.
The other students in the group ask yes/no questions to discover the hobby of the student whose turn it is.
The objective of the game is to that the other members of the group determine the student’s hobby in no more than 20 questions.
Section 5
Exercise #3
Divide into groups of 3 - 5 classmates.
Choose a hobby you'd like to learn.
Learn the new hobby’s vocabulary. Visit a site dedicated to the chosen hobby. About.com has a wide selection of excellent hobby guides.
Collect the following information for the chosen hobby:
Skills Required
Equipment Required
Estimated Cost
Break up the hobby into various phases or tasks.
For example, the tasks for building a model airplane might include:
Choosing a Model To Build
Setting up Your Workspace
Gluing Pieces Together
Painting Your Model
Tools to Use
Each student of each group then details steps to achieving one or more specific tasks or phases of the hobby using the imperative form of verbs. The imperative form (see Section 6) is used for giving instructions.
Once the tasks or phases have been detailed, find photos and pictures to illustrate.
The group then prepares a presentation on the hobby using PowerPoint or other technology. The slideshow should contain just one slide for each phase or task of the hobby.
The group will present the slideshow in class to the rest of the class.
Come up with a gap fill activity to test fellow students on your presentation.
Section 6
The Imperative Form of Verbs
There are three major forms of verbs in English:
the indicative form is used to make factual statements, express an opinion or pose questions. The majority of English sentences are in the indicative form. An example is:
"Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering, and it's all over much too soon."
the subjunctive form to show a wish, doubt, or anything else contrary to fact. An example is:
"If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack."
the imperative form is the form of the verb that makes direct commands and requests. Examples are:
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
“Just do it.”
“Close the door!
“Hustle!”
“Stop staring.”
The imperative form uses the zero infinitive form. The zero infinitive is used after verbs of perception (such as see, feel, and hear), many auxiliary verbs (such as may, should, and must), the verbs make and let, and the expressions had better and would rather. Examples are:
“I didn't feel like trying the crawfish. My sister made me try it.”
“Witnesses saw the man leave the bank and run into the side street.”
“Government policies should help capture and store carbon emissions.”
“Recent actions may help remedy past and present discrimination.”