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Conversational / EVERYDAY ENGLISH
Lesson 12
Collecting and Interests
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Talk about your collections and personal interests.
2. Ask and answer questions about hobbies involving collecting.
3. Use simple past and present tense when describing your interests.
Exercise 1
Vocabulary
Direction: Listen and repeat after your teacher
noun
Collection
Similar:
compendium
assemblage
appeal
assembling
/kəˈlɛkʃən/
Meaning:
A group of items someone collects
- I have a collection of comic books.
Real Life Tip:
Many Americans collect items like stamps, coins, or sports memorabilia.
noun
Hobbyist
Similar:
amateur
dilettante
gamer
crafter
/ˈhɑːbiɪst/
Meaning:
A person who enjoys a hobby
- He is a hobbyist who collects vintage toys.
Real Life Tip:
Often used to describe people passionate about a specific hobby.
Look for
phrasal verb
Similar:
seek
search
look to
anticipate
/lʊk fɔr/
Meaning:
Try to find something
- I’m looking for rare coins for my collection.
Real Life Tip:
Commonly used in everyday conversation when searching for objects or information.
Take up
phrasal verb
Similar:
similarvocab4.1
similarvocab4.2
similarvocab4.3
similarvocab4.4
/teɪk ʌp/
Meaning:
Start a new hobby or activity
- She took up stamp collecting last year
Real Life Tip:
Often used when talking about learning new skills or hobbies.
Exercise 2
Conversation
Direction: First, read the conversation aloud. Then, practice by role-playing it with your tutor.
Situation: Two friends talking about their collections and interests.
Hey, Jordan! I heard you have a cool collection. What do you collect?
Mia
Hi, Mia! I collect old vinyl records. It’s my favorite hobby.
Jordan
That’s awesome! How long have you been collecting them?
Mia
About five years. I usually look for rare records online.
Jordan
I’d love to start a collection too. Any tips?
Mia
Sure! Start small and take up something you really like.
Jordan
Maybe I’ll collect postcards. I travel a lot, so it fits my interests.
Mia
Perfect! We should share our collections sometime.
Jordan
Exercise 2.1
Questions.
1. What does Jordan collect?
2. How long has Jordan been collecting records?
3. What collection is Mia thinking about starting?
Exercise 3
Practice Time
Direction: Complete the exercise by choosing the correct answer.
1. Jordan / collecting / vinyl records / has / been / for / five years
a) Jordan has been collecting vinyl records for five years
b) Vinyl records Jordan has been collecting for five years
c) Jordan collecting has been for five years vinyl records
2. Mia / postcards / start / thinking / is / about
a) Mia is thinking about start postcards
b) Mia is thinking about starting postcards
c) About starting postcards Mia is thinking
3. rare / usually / Jordan / looks / for / records
a) Jordan usually looks for rare records
b) Usually Jordan looks for rare records
c) Looks for Jordan usually rare records
4. hobby / take up / small / should / start / you / a
a) You should take up a small hobby
b) Should you take up a small hobby
c) Take up a small hobby you should
5. share / we / our / should / collections / sometime
a) We should share our collections sometime
b) Our collections we should share sometime
c) Share our collections we should sometime
Exercise 4
Ask Your Tutor
Direction: Ask your tutor these questions. Listen carefully and learn
1. What is the most unusual collection you’ve ever seen?
2. Do you think collecting hobbies are more popular today or in the past? Why?
3. Have you ever traded or sold items from your collection? How was the experience?
Exercise 5
Discussion
Direction: Use the new words and expression you learnt in this lesson to have a conversation with your tutor.
1. Do you collect anything? If yes, what and why?
2. Would you prefer a collection that is valuable or meaningful?
3. What collection would you start if you had unlimited time and money?
4. Have you ever received a collectible as a gift?
5. What’s more fun: collecting alone or with friends?
6. Do you prefer physical collections or digital collections?
7. Which hobby or interest is most popular in your city?
8. How do hobbies and interests help people meet new friends?
9. Would you take up a new hobby if your friend recommended it?
10. How often do you spend time on your interests each week?
