ESL WORKSHEET - Free time and different activities

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

DISCUSSING FREE TIME

LinguaHouse

Nov. 10, 2022

Level: Pre-intermediate (A2-B1)
Type of language: Business English
Tags: Hobby; Filling Time; Business People; Situation Based; Modal Verbs; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 11/10/2022

This lesson looks at talking about free time and the different activities that some people do. Students will have some short texts to read about activities and will listen to three people describe what they do in their free time. Exercises focus on related vocabulary, the modal verbs, should, have to and can and reading and listening skills. (by Joe Wilson)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Speaker 1: I spend a lot of my free time with my daughter. She’s an excellent swimmer and last year she started learning how to surf when we were at the beach. So, we have to go swimming on Saturday mornings at the local pool so she can practice. I used to surf, so I’m helping her to learn and teach her how to swim. She wants to be ready for when we go back to the beach later this year. In the afternoon, we usually go to the movies together. We both love comedy movies, so we’ll watch one if there’s anything good out or sometimes, we just stay home and watch something on Netflix while I cook our evening meal. She really likes my pizza, so I often make that, or burgers. I can make much better burgers than McDonald's does. On Sundays, I will usually do a bit of work in the morning, but we go for a walk in the afternoon, or sometimes we’ll go for a hike in the countryside.
Speaker 2: I find it very relaxing to paint in my free time. I have a room where I keep all of my stuff and I like to go in there, put some classical music on and spend a few hours painting. My husband thinks I like painting more than I like him, and sometimes he’s right! I usually paint flowers or fruit. I love natural colors. I do enjoy going out to eat with my husband. I like Italian food most of all and I like to go to restaurants and try new things. When I’m at home, I see if I can make the same thing in my kitchen. I’ve even learned how to make my own fresh pasta. I made a really good meal using pasta and seafood. My husband said he’d pay good money to eat it in a restaurant, so I was quite pleased with that. I also play golf with my husband sometimes. I’m better than he is, but I have to let him win sometimes, just so he doesn’t feel upset.
Speaker 3: I work in sales and I’m very busy during the week and do a lot of walking. So, at the weekend, I really need to put my feet up. I love to just read a book while I have some music on. My favorite thing to read is a good thriller or a murder mystery. I also go swimming sometimes, but I don’t swim very well. I just like to be in the water and stay where it’s not very deep. It makes me feel calm. I sometimes go to the movies. I should go more often, but it’s very expensive. I watch films at home, but I find that when I’m at the movies, I focus on the film a lot more. When I’m at home. I get distracted more and look at my phone or keep going to the kitchen to make tea or something to eat.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/discussing-free-time. Accessed on April 7, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.