Topic 1: Where you live
Tell me about your hometown/street/apartment.
What do you like about your hometown/street/house/apartment?
Tell me the good things about your house.
Is there anything you don’t like about it?
Would you like to move to another city/street/house/apartment?
What would you change about your city?
Would you recommend your area/street as a good place to live?
Winding street suburb architecture
The locals (= people) local cuisine shopping Residential area
estate neighbourhood Apartment complex capital
Ø Adjectives
Sprawling regionally important commercial Unique
distinctive built-up Industrial provincial
Ø Idioms
run down (= in bad condition) some areas are run-down
up-market/ chic (= fashionable) some neighbourhoods are very up-market/ chic
Topic 2a: What you do—your job
Tell me about your job./ What job do you do?
Why did you choose this job?
What do you like about your job?
How long have you been doing this job? Is there anything you don’t like?
profession line of business occupation line of work
Ø Verbs
be involved in share responsibility for work within a team
Ø Adjectives
hectic exhausting taxing intricate undemanding
Ø Idioms
work flat out (= work very hard) Sometimes I have to work flat out. on the go (= very busy) I'm always on the go.
get to the bottom of(= solve) I have to get to the bottom of problems related to...
pull out all the stops(=make a special effort)
When it's busy I have to pull out all the stops.
take charge of(= manage) I often have to take charge of the whole department.
pick up the pieces (= take responsibility)
When there's a problem I have to pick up the pieces.
Topic 2b:What you do- your studies
What are you studying?
Where are you studying?
Why did you choose this college I university?
What's good about where you're studying?
What would you like to do after your studies?
school work branch of learning field of study discipline lecturer theory
Ø Verbs
revise comprehend succeed in become skilled in
Ø Adjectives
hands-on (=practical) job-related theoretical reputable highly regarded
compulsory optional
Ø Idioms
Pass with flying colours (= pass with a high score) I pass my entrance exam with flying coulours.
Sail through (= finish sth. Easily and quickly)
I can usually sail through all my assessments.
To flunk (= to fail/ perform badly)
I always seem to flunk my compulsory maths tests.
Cross that bridge when sb. come to it (= deal with a problem when it arrives)
I’m not worried about that now—I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Topic 3: Hobbies/ Free-time activities
Do you have any hobbies?
What do you do in your free time?
What hobbies/ free-time activities are popular in your country?
Is it important to have a hobby?
Why is it important for people to have free-time activities?
Is it harmful to spend too much time on a hobby?
What free-time activities would you like to try in the future?
leisure pursuit spare time pastime
Ø Verbs
amuse oneself by unwind by kill time by
Ø Adjectives
fascinating cativating time-consuming appealing
Ø Idioms
take up (= start) | I’ve recently taken up swimming. |
take part in | I frequently take part in group activities like.. |
get into (= enjoy) | Recently I’ve been getting into fishing. |
have a go at (= try) | I’d really like to have a go at scuba diving. |
idle away the hours (= spend time) | In my time off I often idle away the hours by playing guitar. |
Topic 4: Sports
Do you like playing sports?
How often do you play sports?
What sports are the most popular in your country?
Do you think it is important to play a sport?
What sports would you like to try in the future?
Do you prefer watching or playing sports?
team game spectator spost physical activity squad solo sport
Ø Verbs
compete challenge get fit lose weight stay healthy
Ø Adjectives
strenous physical energizing revitalizing
Ø Idioms
have a crack at (= had a try at) | I had a crack at baseball but it was too strenuous for me. |
get into shape | I’ve been trying to get into shape by going to the gym. |
Topic 5: Televison
Do you like watching TV?
How much time do you spend watching TV?
When do you usually watching TV?
What types of TV programme do you like watching?
What types of TV programme are popular in your country?
Why do children like watching TV?
telly (= TV) | episode | series | soap opera |
documentary | mainstream | sitcom | audience |
viewer | | | |
turn on/ off/ over | tune in | sit in front of theh telly |
repeat | produce | telesise broadcast |
Ø Adjectives | | |
witty | enlightening | mind-numbing (= boring) |
televised pre-recorded | live-broadcast | attention-grabbing (= interesting) |
Ø Idioms | | |
watch the box (= watch TV) | I often watch the box at weekends |
channel surf (=change TV channels frequently) | I usually sit in front of the telly and channel surf |
