1 00:00:01,730 --> 00:00:10,700 ‫In this, I am speaking test to cue card lesson, we are going to look at two similar but slightly different 2 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:15,420 ‫topics and that is, of course, hobbies and sport. 3 00:00:15,950 --> 00:00:20,450 ‫So the first cue card we will look at is for hobbies. 4 00:00:20,730 --> 00:00:22,100 ‫And here it is. 5 00:00:23,580 --> 00:00:27,780 ‫Describe a hobby that you particularly enjoy. 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:35,760 ‫You should say what the hobby is when you started doing it. 7 00:00:36,740 --> 00:00:43,230 ‫Where you do this and explain why it is important to you. 8 00:00:44,090 --> 00:00:50,510 ‫So we're looking at the topic of hobbies and there's a really good chance that this could also come 9 00:00:50,510 --> 00:00:55,820 ‫up in TASC one part, one of the aout speaking test. 10 00:00:56,180 --> 00:00:58,980 ‫So we're going to describe a hobby we enjoy. 11 00:00:59,570 --> 00:01:07,450 ‫We need to say what it is when we started doing it, where we do it and why it is important to us. 12 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,070 ‫And let's take a look at the model answer. 13 00:01:14,060 --> 00:01:24,470 ‫Well, one of my favorite activities that I enjoy in my free time is running, actually, at first I 14 00:01:24,470 --> 00:01:31,480 ‫hated it, but after some time and sticking at it, I really love it now. 15 00:01:32,570 --> 00:01:35,090 ‫I suppose it's like coffee. 16 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,140 ‫You don't like everything the first time you try it. 17 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:47,040 ‫I took up running two years ago after a friend encouraged me to give it a go. 18 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:58,400 ‫At first, I thought it seemed so boring and strenuous, I suppose I was actually right about that. 19 00:01:59,610 --> 00:02:05,870 ‫It takes some time to get used to it, but once you're fit enough, it's pretty fun. 20 00:02:07,550 --> 00:02:11,730 ‫This year, I finished my first full marathon. 21 00:02:12,410 --> 00:02:19,720 ‫I had such an adrenaline rush when I finished, I think I was shaking for an hour. 22 00:02:21,590 --> 00:02:30,470 ‫Apart from keeping fit, it's great to take part in outdoor activities and be around nature. 23 00:02:31,220 --> 00:02:39,560 ‫It keeps me calm and when I run, I can really shut down and not stress out over simple things that 24 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,040 ‫are annoying me at that time. 25 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:49,650 ‫Also, I'm really into collecting medals from different races so far. 26 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:55,770 ‫I've got 13 medals and I'm hoping to add a lot more to that in the upcoming months. 27 00:02:56,730 --> 00:03:00,050 ‫I get a lot of satisfaction from running. 28 00:03:00,060 --> 00:03:04,650 ‫So, yes, I'd say it's one of my favorite pastimes. 29 00:03:06,540 --> 00:03:14,340 ‫OK, a great answer, discussing a hobby that turns out actually to be something of a sport. 30 00:03:14,910 --> 00:03:19,440 ‫Let's take a look at the focus language in this model answer. 31 00:03:22,410 --> 00:03:32,940 ‫So the first piece of really interesting language that we use for hobbies is free time, so free time 32 00:03:32,940 --> 00:03:40,150 ‫is another way to talk about a time in the day when you can enjoy a hobby. 33 00:03:40,170 --> 00:03:42,810 ‫It's when you aren't working, you're not studying. 34 00:03:43,170 --> 00:03:48,540 ‫You can enjoy something, an activity such as a hobby. 35 00:03:48,930 --> 00:03:55,660 ‫So in my free time, I like running and this phrase here sticking at it. 36 00:03:56,100 --> 00:04:04,680 ‫So it's kind of like an idiomatic expression because we're not actually sticking to anything, but it 37 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,940 ‫means to not give up. 38 00:04:07,230 --> 00:04:14,520 ‫For example, I found running difficult, but after sticking at it, I really love it now. 39 00:04:14,790 --> 00:04:17,730 ‫A really great native expression. 40 00:04:18,900 --> 00:04:21,300 ‫Next we have give it a go. 41 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:22,890 ‫So it's a collocation. 42 00:04:23,580 --> 00:04:25,090 ‫Give it a go. 43 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:29,420 ‫It's a phrase native speakers used to say, try something. 44 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:31,200 ‫Give it a go. 45 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,190 ‫Here we have just a piece of vocabulary strenuous. 46 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,500 ‫So if something is hard work, it makes you tired. 47 00:04:40,660 --> 00:04:44,010 ‫You can describe it as being strenuous. 48 00:04:45,130 --> 00:04:54,370 ‫And I suppose running would be a good activity to describe a strenuous because it can be quite tiring. 49 00:04:55,940 --> 00:05:04,940 ‫Next up, we have this phrase get used to it, so if you find an activity or something you're doing 50 00:05:05,150 --> 00:05:14,470 ‫difficult, at first it could be you can't understand an accent, but you find it easier later. 51 00:05:14,510 --> 00:05:16,150 ‫You can say get used to it. 52 00:05:16,610 --> 00:05:20,720 ‫In this example, we're saying we find something easier. 53 00:05:20,750 --> 00:05:29,320 ‫So running was difficult at first, but after some time I got used to it and then I enjoyed it. 54 00:05:29,570 --> 00:05:36,650 ‫So it means adapting to something that you find difficult and then finding it easier. 55 00:05:37,790 --> 00:05:42,740 ‫Here we have sort of the phrase adrenaline rush. 56 00:05:43,070 --> 00:05:49,040 ‫So adrenaline is a naturally occurring hormone in our bodies. 57 00:05:49,220 --> 00:05:57,020 ‫And when we do something really exciting, such as snowboarding or skiing, we can often say we get 58 00:05:57,020 --> 00:05:59,000 ‫an adrenaline rush. 59 00:06:00,570 --> 00:06:08,070 ‫Here we have the collocation and keeping fit so we can say, I like keeping fit, I didn't use to keep 60 00:06:08,070 --> 00:06:11,700 ‫fit, that would be one way of using it in a different tent. 61 00:06:12,510 --> 00:06:20,670 ‫And here take part so we can say we take part in activities and here we have outdoor activities. 62 00:06:23,220 --> 00:06:29,490 ‫For some of you that enjoy doing all sorts of activities out in nature, we can say this expression, 63 00:06:29,490 --> 00:06:31,040 ‫be around nature. 64 00:06:31,530 --> 00:06:40,590 ‫For example, a hobby of mine is fishing because I can be around nature, which is calming collocation 65 00:06:40,590 --> 00:06:40,850 ‫here. 66 00:06:40,860 --> 00:06:44,340 ‫And Natally native used expression. 67 00:06:45,390 --> 00:06:52,080 ‫And of course, collecting this is topic specific vocabulary, but used in many different ways. 68 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:59,590 ‫And part of hobbies can be collecting medals or collecting games or collecting newspapers or books. 69 00:07:00,780 --> 00:07:03,110 ‫Here we have satisfaction. 70 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:08,430 ‫So this is a feeling that we have an abstract noun. 71 00:07:08,610 --> 00:07:12,480 ‫So I get satisfaction from my hobby. 72 00:07:13,230 --> 00:07:15,690 ‫And finally, we have past time. 73 00:07:15,690 --> 00:07:19,150 ‫So pastimes is simply a synonym for hobby. 74 00:07:19,260 --> 00:07:21,630 ‫My favorite pastimes are sports. 75 00:07:21,810 --> 00:07:24,600 ‫My favorite hobbies are sports. 76 00:07:25,420 --> 00:07:25,910 ‫Okay. 77 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:32,350 ‫And that's all for this language, all about the task to cue kind of hobbies. 78 00:07:32,550 --> 00:07:35,310 ‫Let's take a look at sports now. 79 00:07:37,250 --> 00:07:42,740 ‫So onto the topic of sports and exercise, here is our cue card. 80 00:07:43,620 --> 00:07:47,870 ‫Describe something you do to keep fit. 81 00:07:48,830 --> 00:07:59,960 ‫You should say what it is when you do it, how long you have done it for and explain if you enjoy doing 82 00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:00,230 ‫it. 83 00:08:00,770 --> 00:08:05,210 ‫So it doesn't actually use the word sports in the cue card. 84 00:08:05,450 --> 00:08:09,690 ‫But this is around a very similar topic of exercise. 85 00:08:10,550 --> 00:08:19,100 ‫It may be that the thing you describe is actually a sport or maybe some things such as weightlifting 86 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:23,810 ‫or just working out aren't actually considered sports mostly anyway. 87 00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:30,440 ‫So we're going to talk about some kind of exercise, what it is when we do it, how long we've been 88 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,050 ‫doing it for and if we enjoy it. 89 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,140 ‫So let's take a look at the model answer. 90 00:08:38,980 --> 00:08:43,220 ‫I love visiting my local sports center in town. 91 00:08:43,900 --> 00:08:53,290 ‫It's where I go at least three or four times a week to play football, work out or just hang around. 92 00:08:53,290 --> 00:08:58,390 ‫Really attached to the main building is also a gym. 93 00:08:58,750 --> 00:09:03,190 ‫So the place has a lot of sports facilities there. 94 00:09:04,390 --> 00:09:14,370 ‫I even got into squash recently, though, I've got to be honest and say I've not really taken to it. 95 00:09:15,930 --> 00:09:22,920 ‫In my opinion, it's important to stay in shape and try and eat healthy foods. 96 00:09:24,260 --> 00:09:30,380 ‫I mean, to say I'm not that old, but now I'm not a young kid anymore. 97 00:09:30,590 --> 00:09:33,080 ‫It's important to look after myself. 98 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:43,910 ‫I joined the sports club a few months back, I used to have a membership at a different gym, but it 99 00:09:43,910 --> 00:09:50,510 ‫was more expensive and to be honest, the facilities were a little dated. 100 00:09:51,970 --> 00:10:00,450 ‫One of the best benefits of my new gym is that once a week they throw in a free personal trainer. 101 00:10:01,210 --> 00:10:04,270 ‫Usually they cost a fortune. 102 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,830 ‫So I've got to say, I'm really satisfied with the new sports center. 103 00:10:12,020 --> 00:10:19,430 ‫Other than exercising and playing different sports, they're also a great group of people who work and 104 00:10:19,430 --> 00:10:20,620 ‫go to train there. 105 00:10:21,050 --> 00:10:24,920 ‫So it's a really fun place to be around. 106 00:10:27,610 --> 00:10:39,100 ‫So a really well developed model answer around that cue card of keeping fit a type of exercise you enjoy 107 00:10:39,250 --> 00:10:42,010 ‫or which could also be a sport. 108 00:10:42,670 --> 00:10:48,150 ‫Now, there's some really good topic, specific vocabulary in this lesson. 109 00:10:48,370 --> 00:10:50,850 ‫So let's take a look at that now. 110 00:10:54,620 --> 00:11:04,430 ‫And we'll begin with this topic, specific vocabulary, a sports center, a sports center is usually 111 00:11:04,430 --> 00:11:12,770 ‫a place where people pay an amount of money to go to one, two or three times a week. 112 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:20,180 ‫And in a sports center, there may be a few different areas that you can go to play sports, whether 113 00:11:20,180 --> 00:11:24,320 ‫it's football or basketball, possibly a swimming pool. 114 00:11:24,470 --> 00:11:28,710 ‫And there may also be some classes that you can join in. 115 00:11:29,390 --> 00:11:35,750 ‫So a sports center, a great part of most towns and villages. 116 00:11:36,560 --> 00:11:41,990 ‫OK, so moving on and we have the expression to work out. 117 00:11:42,350 --> 00:11:53,390 ‫Working out generally means to do exercise, to either build muscle or to lose weight and get fit work 118 00:11:53,390 --> 00:11:53,990 ‫out. 119 00:11:55,430 --> 00:12:01,040 ‫Here we have the expression hang around, so if you're going to hang around, it means that you are 120 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:08,780 ‫staying somewhere with little to do in this example, hang around at a sports center. 121 00:12:08,790 --> 00:12:11,570 ‫So we're not really working out or exercising. 122 00:12:11,610 --> 00:12:14,870 ‫We're going to socialize and speak to people. 123 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:27,860 ‫Next up is sports facilities, so sport facilities means the different kind of resources and equipment 124 00:12:28,070 --> 00:12:33,530 ‫that somewhere has to provide you with the opportunity to play sports. 125 00:12:33,770 --> 00:12:40,010 ‫For example, a gym may have a lot of sports facilities, such as running machines and weights. 126 00:12:40,340 --> 00:12:46,750 ‫A sports center may have great sports facilities like a swimming pool and basketballs. 127 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,470 ‫And these kinds of things got into. 128 00:12:51,500 --> 00:13:00,500 ‫So, again, if you begin enjoying a sport or an activity, you can say, I really got into it. 129 00:13:00,770 --> 00:13:02,720 ‫I started to enjoy it. 130 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:14,440 ‫And here we've got this expression, I've not taken to it, I have not taken to it, it means that we 131 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:18,040 ‫did not find it very easy at all. 132 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:19,390 ‫In this example. 133 00:13:19,660 --> 00:13:23,040 ‫The person has just started playing squash. 134 00:13:23,050 --> 00:13:23,770 ‫They enjoyed it. 135 00:13:23,770 --> 00:13:27,790 ‫They got into squash, but they've not really taken to it. 136 00:13:28,060 --> 00:13:32,080 ‫They they don't think they are very good at it yet. 137 00:13:33,340 --> 00:13:36,400 ‫And next up, it's important to stay in shape. 138 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:46,870 ‫This is a common expression that we use when we say trying to remain pleasing in terms of the looks 139 00:13:46,870 --> 00:13:48,360 ‫of our body. 140 00:13:48,670 --> 00:13:52,700 ‫So often it might be losing weight or building more muscles. 141 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:57,010 ‫Many people join a gym to stay in shape. 142 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:05,020 ‫And in a similar way, this next phrase, look after myself, can also be used as look after yourself. 143 00:14:05,460 --> 00:14:13,950 ‫It means to make sure you are staying fit and healthy, whether through the way you eat or exercise. 144 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:20,370 ‫So here we've got it's important to look after myself, which I partly do agree with. 145 00:14:21,180 --> 00:14:25,290 ‫And much like a sports center, we have a sports club. 146 00:14:25,500 --> 00:14:34,920 ‫And really you can use these two phrases changed in between that they're very similar in meaning a sports 147 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,200 ‫center and a sports club. 148 00:14:38,310 --> 00:14:44,370 ‫Here we have facilities again, which is a piece of vocabulary, a synonym for equipment. 149 00:14:44,940 --> 00:14:53,490 ‫And if you say something is dated or a little dated, it means that the facilities are not new. 150 00:14:53,490 --> 00:14:55,290 ‫They are well used. 151 00:14:56,990 --> 00:15:04,400 ‫Here we have the expression to throw in, we can use it when we sign up for something, whether it's 152 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:05,090 ‫a membership. 153 00:15:05,090 --> 00:15:14,780 ‫So I signed up to the local sports center and they throw in they threw in a free personal trainer. 154 00:15:15,050 --> 00:15:21,380 ‫And a personal trainer is someone that works just with you to help you at the gym and get fit. 155 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,090 ‫Finally, we've got this really native expression. 156 00:15:26,270 --> 00:15:33,260 ‫To say something costs a fortune, or usually it does cost a fortune. 157 00:15:33,860 --> 00:15:38,720 ‫If you say something costs a fortune, it means it's very expensive. 158 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,730 ‫And in this example, we're saying personal trainers cost a fortune. 159 00:15:43,730 --> 00:15:45,740 ‫They are very expensive. 160 00:15:46,650 --> 00:15:52,910 ‫OK, so I hope you enjoyed looking at some of this vocabulary for hobbies and sports. 161 00:15:53,060 --> 00:15:56,210 ‫And of course, I'll see you in the next lesson.