Useful hobbies
USEFUL HOBBIES
Subject: Sports & Leisure
Listening skill: Finding the main ideas (2)
Listening task: Radio program discussing different kinds of hobbies
Listening skill
Finding the main ideas (2)
Often speakers announce their main ideas by emphasizing key words (words that explain idea or information). This means they pause and then they say keywords, usually in a slightly different tone. Listening for this change in speed and tone can prepare you for the main idea.
A. What hobbies do you have? Discuss your answers.
Listen to the dialogue and circle the details.
B. Listen to the radio program and check (√) the words/phrases that are emphasized (Audio 16)
Listening
C. Write what you think of each activity as a hobby
(1) | (2) |
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………………………………........... ……………………………………... …………………………………….. …………………………………….. ……………………………………… |
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D. Listen to the radio program and take notes ( Audio 17)
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Idea (1) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… |
Idea (2) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… |
PRACTICE
E. Circle the correct answer (s), using your notes to guide you. Then listen again to the radio program to check your answers (Audio 17)
1. What are the two main ideas of the radio program? | 2. Which sentence summarizes the main idea of the whole radio program? |
a. Some hobbies being more useful b. Bird-watching becoming more useful over time c. Search engines and websites starting as hobbies d. What people enjoy doing in their free time | a. Bird-watching is an important hobby b. Some people like inline skating c. Some hobbies are more useful than others d. Some people are very interested in computers |
Tip Look for keywords in the answers and underline them. These words are usually about the main ideas.
Pronunciation focus
Ideas in contrast
A speaker may stress some words to show a contrast or difference between two ideas. These words are usually those that introduce the second idea, such as but, although or however
F. Listen ( Audio 18)
Almost everyone has a hobby, however, some hobbies are, well, let’s say, more useful than others.
G. Listen to the statements and circle the two contrasting ideas. Then write the word that introduces the second idea ( Audio 19)
1 | a. Rock climbing everyday | 2 | a. Hobbies help creativity |
| b. Only on weekends |
| b. little time for homework |
| c. Loves rock climbing |
| c. Little time for hobbies |
Integration
H. Read the passage ( Audio 20)
Some people believe the word “hobby” comes from the time when people liked to play with pet birds. One of the most popular birds to have as a pet was a” the hobby” – a kind of FALCON. From then on, people have called an activity a “hobby”.