Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Free time

1

Owen – spending time online

Kyle – collecting, playing sport

Erin – playing an instrument, reading books, photography

2    1 ✓

      2 ✗  (you learn a lot from it)

      3 ✓   4 ✓   5 ✓

      6 ✗  (I use my dad’s camera)

Audioscript

Owen:   Some people like dancing or doing sport, but I like using the computer. There are lots of great websites to visit. You can find information, share videos and photographs, keep a blog, download music – and lots more. I’ve had my own computer for three years. It’s in my room on my desk, and I use it after school. Some people say you shouldn’t spend a lot of time on the computer, but I don’t agree – you learn a lot and it’s certainly not bad for you!

Kyle:   I like to be busy. I don’t like spending time on the computer or watching TV. My sister watches TV for hours – cartoons, films … anything! I have quite a few hobbies – I especially like collecting things. These days, it’s badges – I’ve got 90 of them now and I’m always looking for more. When I was younger, I collected football cards too, but I haven’t bought any of those for a long time. I’ve played football since I was very little, and I started hockey a few months ago.

Erin:   I’ve got lots of hobbies. My favourite is playing the guitar. I’ve played it for two years now, and I’m improving fast. I’ve got two guitars – I’ve had one of them since I was ten. The other one is new – I’ve had that since January. I also love reading. I’ve got at least 50 books in my room! I also like taking photos. I use my dad’s camera. He’s had it since he was a teenager, but it’s a really good one. I’ve taken some great pictures with it.

1   She’s speaking to her class. She’s done her hobby for two years.

2   1 ✗   2 ✗   3 ✓   4 ✓   5 ✓   6 ✗   7 ✗

Audioscript

Mrs Jones:   OK everyone, quiet please. As you know, every week a different student is going to tell us all about their hobby. Today, we are hearing from Libby, who keeps bees. Libby, you can start.

Libby:   Thanks, Mrs Jones. Yes, my hobby is beekeeping! I started after someone gave my mum some bees as a present. She didn’t have time to look after them, so I decided to do it instead. I had to go on a course first to learn all about it. I’m so glad I did that! I was the only teenager on the course, but I had a great time. I knew immediately that beekeeping was the perfect hobby for me.

The bees stay inside the hive for the winter, so I don’t have to do much with them. Then in spring, when it’s warm enough, they come out and start looking for food. Through the summer I am quite busy looking after them. I love spending time with them. I’ve heard that they can recognise faces, and I believe that. When I look into the hive, I have the feeling they know who I am and they’re happy to see me.

I have to be careful not to let the hive get too crowded. That’s because when the number of bees in a hive gets too large, they all fly away. I also have to collect the honey. I do this three times during the summer and get about 50 kilos of honey from my hive. I don’t really enjoy taking the honey – it makes me feel bad! The bees work so hard to make it. And did you know that each bee makes less than a gram of honey in its lifetime? So think about how many bees you need to make just one jar of honey!

Anyway, I’ve been a beekeeper for two years, now and I think it’s a brilliant hobby. If you want to know more, just ask!

Mrs Jones:   Thanks, Libby – that certainly was an interesting talk. OK – does anyone have any questions?

1   C

2   1 ✗   2 ✗   3 ✓   4 ✗   5 ✗   6 ✗   7 ✓   8 ✓   9 ✓   10 ✗

Audioscript

Dilek:   Hi, I’m Dilek and I come from Edirne in Turkey. I’ve been a dancer for about six years – I started when I was ten. I do other free-time activities, but I like this one best. I dance in a group which usually meets once a week, but sometimes we meet twice or more in a week if we need to practise for a competition. We haven’t won any competitions yet, but that doesn’t matter. As well as dancing in competitions all around Turkey, our group dances at weddings and birthday parties. We dance to Turkish folk music, which I love. When we practise, we wear normal jeans and T-shirts, but at parties and competitions we wear special dresses and shoes.

Burak:   Hi, I’m Burak and I’m from Konya, in Turkey. The free-time activity I enjoy most is playing a wooden Turkish musical instrument called an oud – that’s spelt O-U-D. It’s very difficult to play, but it makes a beautiful sound. It’s really good to play for sad songs! I’ve played it since I was six. My dad plays it too, and he taught me. I enjoyed learning because Dad likes the instrument so much and plays so well. He plays in concerts and in a restaurant in my town, and sometimes I play with him. I learned to play the guitar as well, but I prefer playing the oud. I play it every night and I’d like to be a professional oud player when I’m older.