10 Fun ESL Activities to Discuss Hobbies and Interests

Introduction

When it comes to teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), topics related to hobbies and interests are a great way to get students engaged and motivated. By discussing something that they are passionate about, students are more likely to express themselves and communicate effectively in English. In this article, we will explore ten fun ESL activities that teachers can use to help students develop their language skills while discussing hobbies and interests.

Activity 1: Famous Hobbies

In this activity, students work in pairs to research and present famous people and their hobbies. Each group can choose a different celebrity, politician, athlete, or artist to research. After presenting their findings, students can discuss their personal hobbies and interests with the class.

Activity 2: Hobby Match

This activity requires students to match different hobbies with the correct image. Images can be printed or projected onto a whiteboard. To make the activity more challenging, you can include hobbies that are not common in your culture or country.

Activity 3: Conversation Starters

Give each student a list of conversation starters related to hobbies and interests. Encourage them to use the questions to get to know each other better and practice their English skills.

Activity 4: Hobby Swap

In this activity, students exchange hobbies with their classmates. They have to explain and describe the new hobby they received, as well as ask questions to learn more about the hobbies of their classmates.

Activity 5: Hobby Exhibition

Ask students to bring in something related to their hobby, such as a musical instrument, a painting, or a photograph. Organize a class exhibition where everyone can show off and talk about their hobbies in English.

Activity 6: Hobbies and Memory

Give students a list of hobbies and ask them to memorize them in order. Then, remove some of the hobbies from the list and ask them to recall the missing hobbies. This activity helps students learn new vocabulary and improve their memory skills.

Activity 7: Hobby Opinions

Students work in pairs and take turns expressing their opinions about different hobbies. One student chooses a hobby and shares their opinion about it, while the other student listens and responds with their own opinion.

Activity 8: Hobbies and Time

This activity requires students to make a schedule for their week that includes time for their hobbies. They need to allocate specific times for each of their hobbies and discuss their schedules with their classmates.

Activity 9: Hobby Survey

Students create and conduct a hobby survey in their class or community. They ask their peers about their hobbies, collect and analyze the data, and present their findings to the class.

Activity 10: Hobbies and Music

Students listen to songs that express different hobbies and interests. They then write down the hobbies that they hear in the lyrics and discuss the meaning and context of the song.

Conclusion

Engaging and fun ESL activities that involve hobbies and interests are a great way to build language skills while keeping students motivated and interested in learning. By incorporating hobbies and interests into the classroom, teachers can help students develop their communication and language skills, while also building their confidence and encouraging self-expression. Try out these ten activities in your classroom and see the difference they can make!