Written by Gabriela Estrada

Tired of answering with a simple "My hobby is reading"? Don't worry, it is common when speaking English to answer in a limited and basic way if you do not have more advanced formulas. When the objective is to sound fluent in English, whether in casual conversation, in a job interview, or in an exam such as the IELTS Speakingexam, you need to go further.

That is why today we will learn how to develop the conversation in English when talking about hobbies using tools that I will share with you to sound more natural and demonstrate a wider vocabulary. Read with me to the end and surprise your interlocutors - let's get started!

How to transform a basic answer into a detailed and convincing speech about your hobby. hobby

Fluency is not just about speed; it is about lexical quality, coherence and the ability to develop an idea. lexical quality, coherence and the ability to develop an idea.. To demonstrate advanced English, avoid simple phrases and common vocabulary. There are many alternatives to sound more natural and it's a matter of being strategic when demonstrating your vocabulary. Let's look at some tools:

• Describe vs. just name

• Instead of saying: I like... (I like). Try withI am passionate about... /I am really into....
• Instead of saying: I do it a lot (I do it a lot). Try withI do it regularly/I make time for it (or set aside time for it).
• Instead of saying: I started it 5 years ago (I started it 5 years ago). Try with: I adopted it 5 years ago.
• Instead of saying: It makes me happy (It makes me happy). Try: It's incredibly rewarding/It's a great stress reliever/It's a way to unwind (or relax).

• Structure to develop the topic about your hobby

The development of a topic involves digging deeper, and to develop your answer and demonstrate coherence, it is key to use these four questions four questions as a structure for your speech.

• What is it exactly? This suggests giving definition and category to your hobby.

For example; the hobby watching movies is a good starting point, but it is very general and does not demonstrate advanced fluency. Be specific. Don't just say "I like to watch movies". You can try this to sound more fluent and detailed: I'm a big movie enthusiast, and I mainly follow independent films and documentaries.

• Why did you start it? Here you will be able to argue the origins of your preference. Explain your initial motivation for watching movies.

Use key phrases such as: "I started doing it when..."/"I was inspired by..."/"This comes from my childhood..."

• How does it make you feel and what does it do for you? Take the opportunity to mention the benefits of your hobby.

Use emotional and outcome vocabulary. KeyKey phrases may be: "It is extremely therapeutic"/"It gives me great satisfaction"/"It helps me to clear my mind."

• What are your goals or plans for the future? Talk about your personal or professional projection.

Use this question to show ambition and plans. In this answer, highlight the best of your fluency.

Use key phrases such as: "I am planning to raise the level"/"I hope to diversify into..."/"My next step is..."

English fluency strategies: what to consider

For your response to flow naturally, you must master certain discursive techniques. discursive techniques:

• Avoid excessive hesitationif you need to gain time to think, use Discourse Markers (Discourse Markers) instead of a prolonged "umm...".
• For example: Well, that's a good question...., To be honest with you..., I guess I would say...
• Use connectors for structure (cohesion).Make sure your answer is not a list of short sentences. Rather, use linking words. For example: also, in addition to that, however, the main reason is...
• Variety of verb tenses: demonstrate your command of the language. Use the present perfect (I have been doing this for three years) for duration, and the simple past (I started when I was ten years old) for the origin.

5 common hobbies to practice your speech

Here are 5 ideas for you to start practicing your speech for an IELTS or job interview today, applying the structure of the 4 questions and the discursive questions:

• Gardening

• Cooking/Baking

• Hiking/Trekking (trekking)

• Podcasting/Vlogging (digital content creation)

• Learning a New Skill Online (learning a new skill online, e.g., coding, guitar)

Remember that talking about your hobbies is a golden opportunity to show your level of English. In an important interview, depth, lexical variety and cohesion will be key to the success of your conversation.

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What about you, what is your favorite hobby and what new phrase will you use today to describe it?

I hope this topic will be helpful to improve your English fluency. Thanks for reading, see you in the next blog!

With love, 

Planet Immiland