Tag: Listening

LISTENING: Train Spotting as a hobby!

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LISTENING: Train Spotting as a hobby?
train spottingTRAIN SPOTTING, TRAIN SPOTTING, Train Spotting – someone is seriously pulling my leg.

What is it?

And, ( shut up!) is it a hobby?
Well, I’ve just watched the video and it isn’t surprising to me that train spotting is mostly an activity taken up by men. Basically, train spotting is a hobby where you do nothing for long periods of time. Train Spotting isn’t a hobby, it’s a way of getting out of doing the cooking, the cleaning and the shopping. I say, lazy, lazy, LAZY!
Oh, I know – please start complaining about my shameless stereotyping. However, I’m not the only one that thinks it’s weird. If you watch the video you are going to hear the following phrases:

  1. It’s a bit of an anorak hobby
  2. It’s a bit geeky
  3. As a hobby I think that’s quite disgusting actually
  4. I think it’s highly popular, if I had the time I might even do it myself although it does belong to a certain part of the anorak community
  5. I haven’t got the faintest idea what it is?

WRITING: Agony Aunt says: Take Up a Hobby Lazy!

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agony auntWRITING : Agony Aunt says take up a hobby
Imagine you have just read the Agony Aunt Advice section of your local tabloid newspaper. A woman in her mid thirties wrote in moaning about how boring her life is. She said she used to be a friendly outgoing person but after a series of tragic events she lost her self-confidence, never went out and didn’t keep in touch with friends.

If you want to help this woman get her life back on track then please send us a postcard suggesting 3 different hobbies she could take up and then explain why these would help her with her problem. If I were in her shoes, I would do these three things:

  1. Join a social activity club
  2. Take up wine tasting
  3. Set up a book club

 

People and Places Video: Volunteering

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volunteerAlbert Little is an American who’s given up two years of his life to serve in the US Peace Corps. He’s an IT expert and is now does voluntary work with local people across Jamaica. This includes rural areas like Jeffrey Town, St Mary where he’s based – a place where the electricity supply and internet connection often fail! Find out more as you practise your listening comprehension skills! Listen to the story.

You can also read the transcript if you need help.

People and Places Video: Cookery Classes

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cookery classes young peopleFood and eating habits are a big issue in Britain at the moment – everyone seems to be worrying that the nation is getting too fat and people don’t know how to feed themselves properly. The latest plan is to make all teenagers do cooking classes. Find out more as you practise your listening comprehension skills! Listen to the story.

You can also read the transcript if you need help.

People and Places Video: Meeting Penguins

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penguinsAccording to scientists penguins who depend on ice for their survival are declining in numbers because of climate change – the sea ice is melting and the penguins are losing the ice they need to build their nests on. Listen to their story.

You can also read the transcript if you need help to understand the interview.