Shadowing Practice: Talk About Your Favorite Hobbies on the Weekend | Real English Conversation - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Chill English Channel.
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I'm Sophia, and I'm really happy you are here with us today.
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And I'm Jake.
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It's great to have you with us again.
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We always imagine you listening somewhere comfortable, maybe at home, in your room, on the bus, or walking outside.
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Yes, and wherever you are, we hope this episode feels calm, friendly, and easy to follow.
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Today we are talking about a simple and enjoyable topic.
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We're going to talk about our favorite hobbies on the weekend, and we will do it in natural English that is good for B1 to B2 learners.
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This topic is useful because hobbies are part of real life.
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When people meet new friends, start a conversation, or talk with co-workers, they often ask about free time.
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That is true.
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A simple question like, what do you usually do on weekends, can open a very nice conversation.
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And you don't need very difficult English to answer it.
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You just need clear phrases, natural sentences, and a little confidence.
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So while you listen, try to notice how we talk about hobbies, feelings, routines, and personal preferences.
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Before we go deeper, we want to give you a simple question to think about.
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Yes, here is the question.
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What is one hobby you really enjoy on the weekend.
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Maybe your hobby is relaxing at home with a book, a movie, or a cup of tea.
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Maybe you enjoy going outside, walking in the park, playing sports, or meeting friends.
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Maybe your favorite hobby is cooking something delicious, learning a new skill, or listening to music while cleaning your room.
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Or maybe your hobby is simply doing nothing for a while, which can also be very important.
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Yes, sometimes doing nothing is not lazy.
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Sometimes it is recovery.
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I agree.
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After a busy week, our brain and body need time to breathe.
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So today we are not only making a list of hobbies.
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We are also talking about why hobbies matter.
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A hobby is an activity you do because you enjoy it, not because someone forces you to do it.
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Exactly.
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A hobby gives you pleasure, relaxation, energy, or even a sense of progress.
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Some hobbies are quiet, like reading, drawing, writing, or gardening.
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Some hobbies are active, like hiking, swimming, dancing, or playing football.
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And some hobbies are social, like having coffee with friends, joining a club, or playing board games with family.
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The beautiful thing is that there is no perfect hobby for everyone.
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The best hobby is the one that fits your personality and your life.
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Sophia, I like that idea.
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A hobby does not need to look impressive to other people.
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Yes, if it makes you feel better, calmer, or more alive, then it has value.
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Okay, let's make this more personal.
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Sophia, what is one hobby you really enjoy on the weekend?
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One of my favorite weekend hobbies is going for a long walk, especially in the morning.
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That sounds peaceful.
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Do you walk in a park or just around your neighborhood?
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Usually around my neighborhood, but if I have more time, I go to a park.
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I like walking slowly and noticing small things around me.
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What kind of small things?
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For example, the color of the sky, people buying bread, someone walking with a coffee, or trees moving in the wind.
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That sounds almost like a movie scene.
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Very calm and simple.
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Yes, and that is why I like it.
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During the week, life can feel fast, but on the weekend, walking helps me slow down.
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Do you listen to music or podcasts while you walk?
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Sometimes, yes, but sometimes I walk without listening to anything.
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I just let my mind rest.
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That is interesting.
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Many people feel uncomfortable with silence now.
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Very true.
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We often fill every empty moment with our phones, videos, messages, or music.
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I do that sometimes, too.
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I open my phone to check one message, and 20 minutes later I'm watching a video about how to organize a kitchen I do not have. That is very real.
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The Internet knows how to take our attention.
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So your weekend walk is like a small escape from noise.
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Exactly.
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It gives me fresh air, movement, and quiet thinking time.
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I like that.
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And it's also a hobby that doesn't cost much money.
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Yes, that is another good point.
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Some hobbies need special tools or classes, but walking is simple.
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You just need comfortable shoes and a little time.
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Now I should share one of my weekend hobbies.
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I really enjoy cooking on Saturdays.
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Oh, that is a good one.
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Are you a serious cook or more of a let's-see-what-happens cook?
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I am definitely a let's-see-what-happens cook.
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That sounds dangerous but exciting.
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Sometimes it is delicious and sometimes it becomes a learning experience.
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That is a polite way to say it goes wrong sometimes.
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Exactly.
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But I enjoy the process.
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I like choosing ingredients, cutting vegetables, adding spices, and smelling the food while it cooks.
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Cooking can be very relaxing when you're not in a hurry.
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Yes.
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During the week, I often eat something quick because I'm busy, but on the weekend, I can take my time.
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What do you like to cook most?
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I like making pasta, soup, rice dishes, and sometimes breakfast food in the afternoon.
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Breakfast food in the afternoon is one of life's small joys.
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Absolutely.
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Pancakes at 3 o'clock can improve almost any weekend.
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Do you usually cook alone or with other people?
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Usually alone, but sometimes with friends.
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Cooking with friends can be fun because everyone has a different style.
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Yes, one person follows the recipe carefully, and another person says, just add more cheese.
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And honestly, the second person is often right.
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So for you, cooking is not only about eating, it is also about creativity.
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Exactly.
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Cooking lets me create something with my hands.
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At the end I can see it, smell it, and share it.
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That is a good phrase, create something with your hands.
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Yes, and I think many people need that feeling.
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We spend so much time looking at screens that doing something physical feels refreshing.
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That is a useful word, refreshing.
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It means something Giving gives you new energy, or makes you feel better.
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For example, a quiet walk can be refreshing.
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And cooking a nice meal can also be refreshing, especially if the kitchen does not become a disaster.
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That part is not guaranteed.
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Let's talk about how people can describe their hobbies in English.
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Many learners know the basic sentence, my hobby is reading, or I like football.
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Those sentences are correct, but we can make them more natural and detailed.
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For example, instead of only saying, I like walking, you can say, I usually go for a long walk on Saturday mornings because it helps me clear my mind.
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That sounds much more natural.
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It gives the activity, the time, and the reason.
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Yes, a good answer often includes three parts.
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What you do, when you do it, and why you enjoy it.
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Let's give another example.
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I enjoy cooking on the weekend because I can take my time and try new recipes.
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Very good.
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And if you want to sound even more conversational, you can add a personal detail.
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Like, sometimes the food is great, and sometimes it's a little strange, but I still enjoy it.
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That makes the answer feel real and human.
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And it also gives the other person something to ask about.
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Exactly.
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They might ask, what do you like to cook?
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Or what was the strangest thing you made?
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I do not want to answer that question publicly.
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Now everyone is curious.
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Let's just say there was one soup that looked confused.
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A confused soup.
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That is a very special dish.
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It had too many ideas in one bowl.
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That is actually a good lesson for hobbies, too.
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Sometimes we try many things before we find what really fits us.
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Yes, and that's normal.
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You don't need to choose one hobby forever.
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Your hobbies can change with your age, your schedule, your energy, and even your mood.
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When I was younger, I wanted exciting hobbies all the time.
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I wanted noise, movement, and people. And now?
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Now I still like people, but I also really enjoy a quiet evening with good food and no plans.
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That is an important change.
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Many people feel their hobbies become quieter as they get older, and that is completely okay.
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Yes, and sometimes quieter hobbies are exactly what we need after a busy week.
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Let's talk about another popular weekend hobby, watching movies or TV shows.
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That is a very common one.
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Some people feel guilty about it, but I think it depends on how you do it.
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I agree.
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If you watch something because you enjoy it and it helps you relax, that can be a nice hobby.
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But if you watch for six hours and then feel tired, heavy, and confused about your life, maybe that is a different situation.
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Yes, there is a big difference between relaxing and disappearing into the sofa.
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That is a good way to say it.
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Relaxing gives you energy back.
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into the sofa takes your energy away.
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For English learners, movies and shows can also be a very useful hobby.
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Definitely.
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You can listen to natural pronunciation, real expressions, different accents, and everyday conversations.
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But it is important to choose the right level.
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If the show is too difficult, you may feel frustrated.
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Frustrated means annoyed or upset because something is difficult or not going the way you want.
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A good idea is to watch something you have already seen in your own language.
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Yes, because you already know the story, so your brain can focus more on the English.
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Another idea is to watch short scenes, not a full episode every time.
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You can watch one scene, repeat it, and try to copy one or two sentences.
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That is called shadowing, when you listen and repeat close to the speaker's rhythm.
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Shadowing can feel strange at first, but it's very powerful for speaking fluency.
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And you can do it with hobbies, too.
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If you enjoy movies, you can turn that hobby into English practice.
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That is a smart combination.
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Enjoyment plus learning.
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Jake, do you have a favorite kind of movie for the weekend?
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I like simple comedy movies on Friday nights, especially when I'm tired.
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Why comedy?
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Because I don't want to think too much.
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I just want to laugh, eat something nice, and forget the busy week for a little while.
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That sounds very honest.
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Sometimes we choose hobbies based on our energy level.
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Exactly.
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If I have a lot of energy, I may go out or cook something new.
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If I have low energy, comedy is perfect.
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I like dramas, too, but sometimes a drama on Sunday evening can make me feel too emotional before Monday.
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Yes, Sunday evening is dangerous.
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You need to protect your mood.
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Very true.
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Now, let's talk about hobbies with friends.
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This is important, because weekends are often the time when people can meet others.
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Some people enjoy going to cafes, walking together, shopping, or playing sports.
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Others prefer staying home and having a simple dinner with friends.
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I think social hobbies are good because they help us feel connected.
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Connected means close to other people, like you're part of something.
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During the week, many people are busy with work, school, family, and responsibilities.
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So the weekend can be a good time to slow down and actually talk to someone.
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Not only send messages, but really sit together and have a conversation.
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That is becoming special now.
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A real conversation with no hurry feels almost rare.
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Yes, and it does not need to be expensive.
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You can invite a friend for tea or go for a walk together.
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Sometimes the best plans are simple plans.
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For example, let's meet at the park at four or come over and we can cook together.
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And if the cooking goes badly, you can order food and call it teamwork work.
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That is a very positive mindset.
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I try.
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But not everyone wants social hobbies every weekend.
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Some people need alone time.
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Yes, and that is not a problem.
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Alone time can be healthy.
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Especially if your week is full of people, noise, meetings, or family duties.
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A quiet hobby can help you feel balanced again.
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Balance means having the right amount of different things in your life.
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and rest, social time and alone time, activity and quiet.
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One quiet hobby I really like is reading in a café.
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That sounds nice.
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You are alone, but you're not completely alone because there are people around you.
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Exactly.
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I like that feeling.
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I can read my book, drink coffee, and hear a little background noise.
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Background noise means sound around you that is not the main thing you are listening to.
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Yes.
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For some reason, cafe sounds help me concentrate.
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That is interesting, because silence helps some people, but soft noise helps others.
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We are all different.
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That is why hobbies should match your personality.
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Speaking of personality, I think hobbies can tell us a lot about a person.
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What do you mean?
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Well, if someone loves hiking, maybe they enjoy nature, movement, and adventure.
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If someone loves painting, maybe they enjoy creativity and quiet focus.
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If someone loves cooking, maybe they enjoy sharing, trying new things, and making people happy.
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And if someone loves sleeping on the weekend?
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Maybe they are realistic. That is fair.
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Sleep can be a hobby for busy people.
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Maybe we should call it advanced relaxation.
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I like that.
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But seriously, rest is important.
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Many people think a good weekend must be full of activities.
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Yes, they feel they must go somewhere, meet someone, take photos, and have an amazing story.
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But a good weekend can also be slow and simple.
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You can clean your room, make a nice meal, call your family, and sleep early.
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That may not sound exciting, but it can make your life feel lighter.
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Lighter means less heavy, less stressful, and easier to manage.
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Sometimes hobbies are not only for fun, they help us repair our energy.
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Repair is a useful word here.
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It means to fix something or make it better again.
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After a stressful week, your hobby can repair your mood.
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A walk can repair your mood, music can repair your mood, a good conversation can repair your mood.
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Even organizing your space can repair your mood if you enjoy it.
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I respect people who enjoy organizing.
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I want to be that person, but I'm still in training.
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What kind of training?
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I put one shirt away and then take a 30-minute break.
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That is not training.
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That is a documentary about procrastination.
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Maybe, but at least the shirt is away.
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One shirt is still progress, and progress counts, even when it is small.
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That is actually a good point.
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Hobbies do not need to be perfect, serious, or beautiful from the outside.
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Yes, you can be a beginner and still enjoy your hobby.
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Many people stop themselves because they think, I'm not good at this.
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But a hobby is not always about being good.
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Sometimes it is simply about feeling good while doing it.
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For example, you can paint badly and still enjoy painting.
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You can dance badly and still enjoy dancing.
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You can sing badly in the shower and still feel like a star.
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That one is very important.
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The shower is a safe place for big musical dreams.
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Absolutely.
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The water is loud, so nobody can judge you.
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This is a useful mindset for learners, too.
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You do not need to speak English perfectly before you enjoy using English.
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Yes, you can enjoy small English moments now.
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You can watch a short video in English, write a few sentences, listen to a podcast, or talk to yourself while making tea.
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Talking to yourself is actually useful practice, even if it feels funny at first.
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You can say simple things like, Today I'm making breakfast, or This weekend I want to relax.
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These small sentences help your brain become more comfortable with English.
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Now let's talk about trying new hobbies, because weekends are a good time for that.
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Yes, but trying something new can feel a little uncomfortable.
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That is normal.
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When you begin a new hobby, you may not know what to do and you may feel awkward.
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Awkward means uncomfortable or not natural in a situation.
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For example, the first time you join a dance class, you may feel awkward because everyone seems to know the steps.
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Or the first time you try cooking a new dish, you may read the recipe five times and still feel unsure.
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But that uncomfortable feeling is part of learning.
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If you continue, the hobby becomes more familiar.
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Familiar means something you know well, so it feels normal and comfortable.
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One helpful idea is to try a new hobby without pressure.
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You can say, I will try this once and see how I feel.
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You do not need to buy expensive equipment immediately.
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Exactly.
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If you want to try photography, you can start with your phone.
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If you want to try exercise, you can start with short videos at home.
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If you want to try reading in English, you can start with short articles or simple stories.
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Starting small makes everything easier.
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Another helpful idea is to connect your hobby with your real life.
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For example, if you like cooking, learn English words for food, recipes, and kitchen tools.
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If you like sports, watch short interviews with athletes in English.
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If you like music, read the meaning of song titles or learn a few expressions from songs.
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When English connects to your hobbies, learning feels less like homework.
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It becomes part of something you already enjoy.
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And that is powerful because enjoyment helps you continue.
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Let's review some useful words and phrases from this episode.
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The first word is hobby.
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A hobby is an activity you do for enjoyment in your free time.
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For example, my weekend hobby is cooking with my friends.
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The next word is relaxing.
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Relaxing means calm and peaceful, without too much stress.
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For example, walking in the park is relaxing for me.
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Another useful word is refreshing.
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Refreshing means giving you new energy or making you feel better.
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For example, a quiet morning walk feels refreshing after a busy week.
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We also use the word frustrated.
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Frustrated means feeling annoyed because something is difficult.
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For example, I feel frustrated when a recipe does not work.
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Another word is connected.
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Connected means feeling close to other people or part of something.
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For example, meeting friends on the weekend helps me feel connected.
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We talked about balance, which means having the right amount of different things in your life.
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For example, I need a balance between social time and alone time.
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We also used awkward.
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Awkward means uncomfortable or not natural.
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For example, I felt awkward in my first dance class.
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And finally, familiar.
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Familiar means something you know well and feel comfortable with.
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For example, after a few weeks the new hobby became familiar.
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If you want to practice, choose one of these words and make your own sentence.
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You can write it, say it out loud, or repeat it while listening again.
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Before we finish, think again about today's question.
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What is one hobby you really enjoy on the weekend?
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And if you want to go a little deeper, ask yourself, why do I enjoy this hobby?
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Maybe it helps you relax.
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Maybe it gives you energy.
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Maybe it helps you feel creative, healthy, connected, or peaceful.
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Your answer does not need to be impressive.
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It only needs to be true for you.
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And if you want to practice English, you can write your answer in the comments.
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You can write, I'm from, your country, and my favorite weekend hobby is… Then add one more sentence with your reason,
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like, I enjoy it because it helps me relax.
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This is a simple way to practice real English and share something about your life.
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We always enjoy reading your comments and learning about your routines, hobbies, and ideas.
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Thank you for spending this calm time with us on Chill English Channel.
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Enjoy your weekend, enjoy your hobbies, and remember, English practice can be part of the life you already love.
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See you in the next episode!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Talk About Your Favorite Hobbies on the Weekend”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: hobby, hobbies, enjoy, weekend, English. This video has 337 sentences and 3426 words to shadow. The speech runs for 20:51. The speaker talks at a natural 164 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hobby noun | /ˈhɑ.bi/ | An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| refresh verb | /ɹɪˈfɹɛʃ/ | To renew or revitalize. |
| awkward adjective | /ˈɔk.wɚd/ | Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments. |
| frustrate verb | /ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪt/ | To disappoint or defeat; to vex by depriving of something expected or desired. |
| uncomfortable adjective | /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/ | Not comfortable; causing discomfort. |
| recipe noun | /ˈɹɛs.ɪ.pi/ | Any set of instructions for preparing a mixture of ingredients. |
| learner noun | /ˈlɜɹnəɹ/ | One who is learning; one receiving instruction. |
| excite verb | /ɪkˈsaɪt/ | To stir the emotions of; to cause to feel excitement. |
| enjoyment noun | /ɪnˈd͡ʒɔɪ.mənt/ | The condition of enjoying anything. |
| organize verb | /ˈɔɹɡənaɪz/ | To arrange in working order. |
| soup noun | /sup/ | Any of various dishes commonly made by combining liquids, such as water or stock, with other ingredients, such as meat and vegetables, that contribute the food… |
| dish noun | /dɪʃ/ | A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| annoy verb | /əˈnoɪ̯/ | To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to bother with unpleasant deeds. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| slow down verb | To decelerate. |
| come over verb | To affect in a sudden, unprecedented or surprising manner; to overwhelm a person's ordinarily contrary impulse. |
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- It's great to have you with us again.
- Sophia, what is one hobby you really enjoy on the weekend?
- What do you like to cook most?
- Do you usually cook alone or with other people?
- They might ask, what do you like to cook?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is not guaranteed · is called · is connected |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | while, which can · people who enjoy · balance, which means |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | enjoy cooking · loves hiking · loves painting |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might ask · may feel · may go |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 18 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, athlete /ˈæθ.liːt/, breathe /bɹiːð/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: refresh /ɹɪˈfɹɛʃ/, dish /dɪʃ/, relaxation /rᵻˌlækˈseɪ.ʃən/, conversational /ˌkɒnvə(ɹ)ˈseɪʃənəl/, procrastination /pɹəʊˌkɹæs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/, creativity /kri.eɪˈtɪv.ᵻ.ti/, conversational /ˌkɒnvə(ɹ)ˈseɪʃənəl/, procrastination /pɹəʊˌkɹæs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like hobby, relax, refresh.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.