My Free Time: Talking about Hobbies — Free ESL lesson plan

Lesson plan

Objectives

Can identify and name common hobbies and free time activities.
Can ask and answer simple questions about hobbies using 'What do you like to do?'
Can express likes and dislikes about activities using 'I like/love/enjoy + -ing' and 'I don't like/hate + -ing'.
Can share information about their own hobbies and listen to others.

Materials

Whiteboard or flipchart
Markers or pens
Handouts (reading passage, grammar worksheet, speaking activity prompts)
Pictures of various hobbies (e.g., reading, cooking, playing football, gardening, painting)
Optional: Realia related to hobbies (e.g., a book, a small ball)

Warm-up

Begin by showing students 3-4 pictures of different hobbies (e.g., someone reading, someone cooking, someone playing a sport). Ask, 'What are these people doing?' and 'Do you do this?' Write 'Hobby' on the board and ask students to brainstorm other activities they do for fun or in their free time for 2 minutes. Write their ideas on the board.

Presentation

Introduce the target language for hobbies and preferences. Write on the board: **Asking about hobbies:** * What do you like to do in your free time? * What are your hobbies? **Expressing likes:** * I like + -ing (e.g., I like reading.) * I love + -ing (e.g., I love cooking.) * I enjoy + -ing (e.g., I enjoy playing sports.) **Expressing dislikes:** * I don't like + -ing (e.g., I don't like gardening.) * I hate + -ing (e.g., I hate cleaning.) Explain that '-ing' is used after these verbs when talking about activities. Provide several examples for each and drill pronunciation of the verbs and the -ing forms. Use the pictures from the warm-up to provide more examples: 'I like reading books,' 'She loves cooking delicious food,' 'They enjoy playing football.'

Guided practice

Distribute the grammar worksheet. Start with Exercise 1 (fill-in-the-gap with the correct -ing form) and do the first few together as a class. Then, have students complete the rest individually or in pairs. Circulate to provide support. After they finish, check answers as a class. Next, move to Exercise 2 (sentence transformation) where students change 'I like to read' to 'I like reading'. This reinforces the gerund structure. If time allows, have students share one sentence they completed with a partner.

Freer practice

Divide students into pairs. Give each pair a copy of Speaking Activity 2: 'Interview Your Partner'. Explain the task: students will ask each other about their hobbies using the phrases learned. Encourage them to ask follow-up questions like 'How often do you [hobby]?' or 'Why do you like [hobby]?'. Circulate, listen, and note down any common errors for later feedback. After 5-7 minutes, ask a few students to share something interesting they learned about their partner's hobbies with the whole class.

Wrap-up

Bring the class back together. Ask students to quickly share one new hobby they learned about today or one new phrase they will try to use. Review the main structures: 'I like/love/enjoy + -ing' and 'I don't like/hate + -ing'. Ask, 'What was the most interesting hobby you heard about today?' Thank students for their participation.

The Community Hobby Fair!

Last Saturday, our town had a big Community Hobby Fair. Many people came to show their hobbies and learn new things. It was a very exciting day! First, I went to the 'Art Corner'. A woman named Maria was there. She loves painting. She paints beautiful pictures of nature: trees, flowers, and mountains. Maria said, 'Painting is my passion. I feel happy when I paint. I often paint in my garden on sunny days.' She also makes small sculptures from clay. Many people watched her paint and asked questions. Some children tried painting for the first time. Next, I visited the 'Sporty Zone'. Here, I saw people playing different games. A young man, Tom, was showing how to play badminton. He enjoys playing badminton with his friends every weekend. 'It's a great way to exercise and meet people,' Tom said. There was also a group of people who love hiking. They showed photos of their trips to the mountains. They explained that hiking is good for your health and lets you see amazing views. After that, I walked to the 'Quiet Corner'. Here, I met an older gentleman, Mr. Lee. He loves reading books, especially history books. He had many interesting books on his table. 'Reading helps me relax and learn new things,' Mr. Lee explained. He said he reads for at least one hour every day before bed. Next to him, a woman named Sarah was showing her collection of stamps. She loves collecting stamps from different countries. Each stamp has a story, she said. 'Collecting stamps is like traveling the world without leaving my home!' she laughed. Finally, I stopped at the 'Creative Kitchen'. Here, a chef named Elena was giving a cooking demonstration. She enjoys cooking and trying new recipes. She made a delicious vegetable soup. 'Cooking is fun, and it's wonderful to share food with family and friends,' Elena said. Many people enjoyed tasting her soup and asked for the recipe. The Community Hobby Fair was a fantastic day. It showed me that there are so many interesting things to do in our free time!

Comprehension

What event happened last Saturday?
Answer: A Community Hobby Fair happened last Saturday.
What is Maria's hobby?
Answer: Maria's hobby is painting.
What does Maria paint pictures of?
Answer: Maria paints pictures of nature: trees, flowers, and mountains.
What sport does Tom enjoy playing?
Answer: Tom enjoys playing badminton.
Why do people like hiking?
Answer: People like hiking because it's good for health and lets you see amazing views.
What kind of books does Mr. Lee love to read?
Answer: Mr. Lee loves to read history books.
What does Sarah collect?
Answer: Sarah collects stamps from different countries.
What did Elena do at the 'Creative Kitchen'?
Answer: Elena gave a cooking demonstration and made vegetable soup.
What did Elena say about cooking?
Answer: Elena said cooking is fun and wonderful to share food with family and friends.
How did the author feel about the Community Hobby Fair?
Answer: The author felt it was a fantastic day.

Grammar — Verbs + -ing (Gerunds) for Hobbies and Preferences

When we talk about activities we like, love, enjoy, or dislike, hate, we often use a verb followed by the -ing form of another verb. This -ing form is called a gerund. It acts like a noun. For example, instead of saying 'I like to read books,' we can say 'I like reading books.' Both are correct, but 'like + -ing' is very common when talking about hobbies and general preferences. Remember to add '-ing' to the main verb of the activity. Examples: I **love cooking** Italian food. She **enjoys playing** tennis. He **doesn't like cleaning** his room. They **hate waiting** in long lines.

Complete the sentences with the -ing form of the verb in parentheses:
Answer: 1. He loves (read) **reading** comic books. 2. My sister enjoys (paint) **painting** landscapes. 3. We don't like (do) **doing** homework on weekends. 4. Do you like (swim) **swimming** in the ocean? 5. They hate (wait) **waiting** for the bus in the rain. 6. She enjoys (listen) **listening** to classical music. 7. I don't mind (walk) **walking** to work. 8. My parents love (travel) **traveling** to new countries. 9. He is good at (play) **playing** the guitar. 10. We enjoy (eat) **eating** pizza on Friday nights.
Rewrite the sentences, changing 'to + verb' to 'verb + -ing'.
Answer: 1. I like to watch movies. -> I like **watching** movies. 2. She loves to bake cakes. -> She loves **baking** cakes. 3. We enjoy to play board games. -> We enjoy **playing** board games. 4. They don't like to clean the house. -> They don't like **cleaning** the house. 5. He hates to wake up early. -> He hates **waking** up early.

Pronunciation

Focus: /ɪŋ/ (as in 'singing', 'reading')

Minimal pairs

sin /sɪn/ - sing /sɪŋ/
win /wɪn/ - wing /wɪŋ/
thin /θɪn/ - thing /θɪŋ/
ran /ræn/ - rang /ræŋ/
fan /fæn/ - fang /fæŋ/
tone /toʊn/ - tongue /tʌŋ/

Drill

Listen and repeat the words, focusing on the /ɪŋ/ sound at the end. Make sure your tongue touches the back of your mouth, not the front for /n/. **Words:** * sing, talking, doing, reading, cooking, playing, watching, walking, thinking, learning **Sentences:** * I enjoy **reading** books. * She loves **cooking** dinner. * They are **playing** football. * Are you **watching** a movie? * He is **thinking** about his hobbies. * We are **learning** English.

Conversation — Two friends, Alex and Ben, meet after work and are talking about their plans for the weekend and what they like to do in their free time.

Role A

You are Alex. You want to relax this weekend but also do something fun. You want to know what Ben likes to do. Ask Ben about his hobbies and free time activities. Suggest doing something together, maybe going to the park or watching a movie.

Role B

You are Ben. You had a busy week and are looking forward to the weekend. You have a few hobbies you enjoy, like playing video games and listening to music. You are open to Alex's suggestions but also want to share your own interests. Mention what you usually do in your free time.

Useful phrases

What do you like to do in your free time?
What are your hobbies?
I really enjoy + -ing...
I love + -ing...
I don't really like + -ing...
How about + -ing... this weekend?
Do you fancy + -ing...?
That sounds good!
I'm not a big fan of + -ing...
What about you?

My Hobbies and Free Time

Write 5-7 sentences about your favorite hobby. What is it? Why do you like it? How often do you do it?
Find three new hobbies online or in a magazine. Write down their names and one sentence for each explaining what it is.
Practice saying these sentences aloud: 'I love playing chess.' 'She enjoys drawing pictures.' 'They don't like jogging in the rain.' 'He hates doing laundry.'
Ask two family members or friends about their hobbies. Write down their names and one hobby they like.
Prepare to tell the class about a hobby you would like to try in the future. Why do you want to try it?

Vocabulary

hobby: an activity you do for pleasure in your free time.; "My favorite hobby is reading books."
free time: time when you are not working or studying and can do what you want.; "In my free time, I like to listen to music."
read: to look at and understand written words.; "I like to read newspapers in the morning."
cook: to prepare food by heating it.; "My mother loves to cook delicious meals."
play sports: to take part in a game or physical activity, often with a ball.; "Do you enjoy playing sports like football or basketball?"
garden: to work in a garden, growing plants and flowers.; "My grandmother likes to garden every day."
watch movies: to look at films, usually on a screen.; "On weekends, I enjoy watching movies with my family."
listen to music: to hear sounds made by instruments or voices.; "I often listen to music when I am studying."
travel: to go from one place to another, often over a long distance.; "They love to travel to new countries every year."
paint: to make a picture or apply color to a surface.; "She likes to paint landscapes in her free time."
collect: to gather things together, often as a hobby.; "My brother collects coins from different countries."
exercise: to do physical activity to make your body strong and healthy.; "I try to exercise for 30 minutes every morning."
relax: to rest and become calm.; "After a long day, I like to relax by listening to soft music."
passion: a very strong feeling of love or enthusiasm for something.; "Gardening is her passion; she spends hours in the garden."

Activities

Hobby Guessing Game · 12 minutes
In pairs, one student thinks of a hobby but doesn't say it. They describe the hobby using sentences like 'I do this outside', 'You need a ball', 'You play with friends'. The partner asks questions like 'Is it [hobby]?' or 'Do you use [object]?' until they guess the hobby. Then, switch roles. Encourage using 'I like/love/enjoy + -ing' and 'I don't like + -ing' in descriptions.
Interview Your Partner · 10 minutes
Work in pairs. Ask your partner the questions below about their hobbies and free time. Listen carefully to their answers. After the interview, be ready to share one interesting thing you learned about your partner with the class. Remember to use 'I like/love/enjoy + -ing' and 'I don't like/hate + -ing' in your answers.
Class Survey: Find Someone Who... · 15 minutes
Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates the questions on your sheet. When you find someone who says 'yes' to a question, write their name next to it. Try to find a different person for each question. You must ask a follow-up question, for example, 'What kind of music do you like listening to?'.

✈️My Free Time: Talking about Hobbies