IELTS Speaking - Part 1: Free time/Hobby or inclination

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, to answer IELTS examiner’s questions in a natural and fluent way, you should focus on one idea only and then expand that idea into a long meaningful sentence using grammar patterns and vocabulary, which can help you get Band 8.0+ for IELTS Speaking.

Let’s practice this with some easy questions about a popular topic: Free time/Hobby or inclination.

Free time/Hobby or inclination

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•           What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
•      How much time do you have each week for doing these things?
•        Why do you like doing these activities?
•        How did you start doing this activity at first?
•        Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?
•       Do you prefer to stay alone or with your friends?
•       What do you usually do at weekends and on weekdays?
•       What do you usually do when you go out?
•       What do you usually do with your friends?
•       Do you like reading?
•       Do you like English? Why or why not?
•       What do you think of the importance of English?
•       What are good hobbies and bad hobbies? Why?
•        How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Do you have any hobbies?

Answer 1: Well, everyone has their own leisure pursuits, and mine is reading. The book I’m reading at the moment is The Godfather by renowned author Mario Puzo. It’s a classic, really, and I’d recommend it.

Answer 2: Of course, Yes, I have several hobbies. But, I love painting the most because It makes me feel relaxed. I think this is my passion.

Answer 3: Yes, I have numerous hobbies such as reading books, playing cricket, adventure sports, Art and craft activities.After that my favourite hobby is reading books as well as with the help of reading books I can enhance my knowledge and vocabulary.

2. Is it important to have a hobby?

Definitely! I mean nowadays life is getting more and more hectic, so people are always under an enormous amount of stress. That’s why it’s helpful to get into some recreational activities to be able to unwind and just forget about life for a minute, you know?

3. Is it harmful to spend too much time on a hobby?

Yes, I believe spending excessive time on a hobby may have an adverse effect on people. You may end up having not enough time for your priorities like family or work. For example, it’s easy for me to lose myself in books and neglect the deadlines at work.

4. What free-time activities would you like to try in the future?

I would love to have a crack at extreme sports in the future, maybe ski-diving. It looks like a blast and I think I will get a real kick out of free-falling from enormous heights.

5. What equipment do you need for it?

Answer 1: Well, there are many advanced tools that we need when we want to paint something, such as paintbrushes and painting surfaces like canvas, wood, or others.

Answer 2: Well, I do so many things in the salad days of the millennium. Furthermore, In my spare time, I do art activities which make me happy After doing this hobby, I feel fresh and relief the tension and worries.

6. Do you think hobbies should be shared with other people?

Answer 1: Yeah, we do hobbies to enjoy, for fun purposes, we will feel happy because of it, so by sharing our hobby with another person, I think, it could make them happy as well.

Answer 2: Yes, definitely, in my perspective, the hobby ought to be shared with someone. Apart from it, after sharing my hobbies with others, I can give the knowledge about my interest as well as sharing is the best way to share the things with others. After that, with the help of sharing, I can build up my interrelation with someone.

7. Did you have a hobby as a child?

Answer 1: Yes, I did. I have had a few hobbies since my childhood. I liked reading, writing poems, dancing, and so on. But, for now, I’m interested in painting, because it’s like a cup of tea when I do that.

Answer 2: Yes, in my childhood I used to have so many hobbies. During my childhood, my favourite hobby was playing badminton and watching tv shows. Apart from that, I utilized my all-time to play badminton.

8. What hobbies are popular in your country?

Answer 1: Belarusian people love the outdoors and the cities of Belarus have plenty of parks and open spaces. One of the most popular types of outdoor activities in Belarus is fishing. Despite the fact that Belarus does not have access to the sea (there is the Minsk Sea, but in fact, it is a lake), the catch in the country is often very good. Another kind of entertainment in the country is hunting. It is also not surprising, because the territory of Belarus consists in 40% of the forests. People in Belarus are also passionate about sport, and there are many high-quality sporting facilities throughout the country including: swimming pools, ski resorts, playgrounds.

9. Why do you think people have hobbies?

Answer 1: Well, having a hobby is like a natural thing for the human being. Loving something to do and in passion with it would make our life happy and motivate us when we feel lost for a while.

Answer 2: Well, hobbies is the best way to utilize their leisure time. Apart from that, hobbies help them to relieve tension and stress. After doing a hobby, people can maintain their body as well as they can share their talent with others. So hobbies play an indispensable role in human life.

 

  Vocabulary

• Leisure pursuit (Досуг): hobby
  Eg; Sports is his leisure pursuit.
• Renowned (Известный): known or talked about by many people; famous.
• Eg: He's renowned as a brilliant speaker.
• Hectic (Cуматошный): full of incessant or frantic activity.
• Eg: I have a hectic schedule this week.
• Under an enormous amount of stress (под огромным стрессом): extremely great worry caused by a difficult situation
• Eg: That creates an enormous amount of stress and anxiety, and I think people are trying to work out that conflict".
• Have an adverse effect on (оказывать неблагоприятное воздействие на):  to have a disadvantageous effect upon smb.
• Eg: They fear it could have an adverse effect on global financial markets.
• Have a crack at (Попробовать): to try to do something although you are not certain that you will succeed
  Eg: She tried to have a crack at dance.
• Blast (Взрыв): a thrill
  Eg: “I did Bungee jumping yesterday. It was a blast”
• Get a real kick out of (doing) something (Получить настоящий кайф от чего-либо): it means to enjoy something very much
  Eg: She got a real kick out of snorkelling.
• End up doing something (В конце концов сделать что-то): to be in a particular place or state after doing something
  Eg: They ended up doing something interesting.

• Expressions to Talk About Your Hobbies and Interests
  My hobby is…	making videos/playing football/playing guitar
  I have a great interest in…	photography/gardening/fixing cars
  I collect…	coins/video games/records
  I spend a lot of my time…	going to concerts/listening to music/surfing
  In my free time I like to…	go swimming/go to the cinema/go training/go to the gym/bake
  I practise…	yoga/meditation/piano …/everyday/once a week/twice a week
  I go training…	in the gym/at the club/in the community centre
  (acting/painting/DIY)	…is a labour of love for me
  My favourite leisure activity is…	cooking/reading/watching TV
  I am pursuing…	a certificate/a degree/a medal
  I watch…	TV/Films/horror movies/detective films/TV series
  I play…	drums/snooker/hockey
  I make/create/craft…	candles/furniture/decorations
  I get a kick out of…	my pets/funny videos/old movies/taking photos
  running/cooking/playing games/being in nature...	helps me to relax
  I’m obsessed with…	rock music/K-Pop/make-up/fashion
  music/building models/collecting memorabilia	…is an obsession of mine
  I am talented at…	singing/playing basketball/painting
  I can’t go a day without…	cycling/watching videos on youtube/posting on instagram/taking photos
  I have a flair for…	art/music/sport
  I have an eye for…	detail/art/photography/interesting subjects
  People tell me I’m good at…	playing music/writing/cooking
  I’m really keen on…	music from the 50s/making my own music/writing every day/sports
  I consider myself a master at…	coding/decorating cakes/bringing people together
  I have a knack for…	languages/fixing things/building