KRISTIAN: Hello, and welcome back to another episode of “Cambridge Advanced Speaking”! I’m your host, Kristian, here to guide you on your English learning journey. Today, we’re diving deep into the fun and engaging topic of hobbies and free time.
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KRISTIAN: Let’s begin with some idioms that will help you spice up your English conversations.
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KRISTIAN: Our first idiom is ‘paint the town red’, which means to go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly (tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness). Picture this – you’ve just finished your Cambridge exam, and you and your friends decide to celebrate by going to a music concert. You could say, “After finishing our exam, we are going to paint the town red.”
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KRISTIAN: Now, let’s look at another idiom: ‘a hard nut to crack’. This refers to a problem that’s difficult to solve, or a person who is hard to understand. If you were struggling with the final level of a video game, you might say, “The final level of the video game was a hard nut to crack.” Or do you remember the topic of the previous episode? It was about the topic of “learning languages”. Well, you might say, “I love learning languages, but Czech grammar is really a hard nut to crack.
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KRISTIAN: Moving on, we have ‘not cut out for’. This idiom means not being suitable or fit for a particular purpose. Let’s say you tried mountain biking but found it too extreme. You might say, “I tried mountain biking, but I quickly realised I was not cut out for such an extreme sport.”
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KRISTIAN: Next is ‘have too many irons in the fire’, meaning to be involved in too many activities or tasks at the same time. If you were learning Spanish, going to the gym, and reading books all at once, you might say, “I fear I may have too many irons in the fire.” That’s an example about my life, so I’m currently not learning Spanish. Shame on me!
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KRISTIAN: Our last idiom is ‘in a league of one’s own’, meaning to be significantly better than anyone else. If your grandmother’s cooking is incomparable, you could say, “When it comes to cooking, my grandmother is in a league of her own.”
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KRISTIAN: Now, let’s delve into a sample question from the Cambridge C1 Advanced Speaking exam. The question is: “In your opinion, do hobbies predominantly serve as a stress-reliever, or can they sometimes add to our stress levels?”
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KRISTIAN: Here’s a possible model answer: “That’s an interesting point to ponder. I reckon hobbies mostly serve as a kind of breather (a short rest), a way to unplug from the daily grind. Like, when I’m reading a book, I’m in my own world, far from worries. Yet, I can’t ignore that hobbies can turn stressful too. Imagine a hobby that evolves into a demanding pursuit (hobby) – let’s say, a friendly game of football that turns into a fierce match. That could surely add to the stress.”
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KRISTIAN: Now, why is this a good answer? It provides a balanced perspective, uses personal examples to strengthen the argument, and communicates ideas in a clear and engaging way. These are key elements to aim for in your speaking exam.
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KRISTIAN: Speaking of engaging conversations, I’d like to invite you to join the C1 Speaking Club. It’s a supportive community where you can practise your English speaking skills in a fun and interactive environment. You can check it out at www.getreadyforsuccess.com/c1-speaking-club/.
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KRISTIAN: The club is designed to help you boost your English confidence with powerful speaking practice opportunities. We have interactive lessons, lively group discussions, and even fun challenges. So why not join us and take the first step today?
Oh and before I forget, up until June 13th, that’s my birthday, you can still claim an extra 50% off on your first year’s subscription. After my birthday, this special offer is gone.
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KRISTIAN: That’s it for today’s episode. I hope you’ve found it enlightening and that it’s given you some new ideas for your English learning journey. Remember, practice makes progress, so don’t shy away from using these idioms and giving your own answer to our sample question.
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KRISTIAN: Once again, this is Kristian from “Cambridge Advanced Speaking”. Tune in next time for more tips, insights, and helpful English language content. Until then, keep practising, keep improving, and I’ll catch you in the next episode!
Bye bye
