Lesson Seven工作之余

（after-work entertainments, choosing and developing topics of conversation）

Introducing topics/agendas

I’m glad to bump into you. I wanted to ask you about…

While we’re on the subject…

I just wanted to mention…

You know you mention…?

There were a couple of points I wanted to mention…

The other point was…

There’s just one thing I wanted to say…

Changing/ending a topic

Anyway, let’s talk about something else.

So, let’s leave that (for later).

Changing the subject for a moment…

By the way…

Talking of…

That reminds me…

 Checking and clarifying

Do you see what I’m getting at?

Is that clear?

Do you mean…?

Are you saying…?

Let me see if I get it clear/correctly. Do you mean…?

 Asking about hobbies and interests

Do you have any hobbies and interests?

What do you do in your spare/free time?

 Expressing likes and dislikes

I like football.

I love reading.

I enjoy cooking.

I adore Tom Cruise.

I’m interested in antiques collections, especially Chinese antique furniture.

I’m quite into golf.

I’m crazy/mad about rock’n’roll.

I fall for folk dance.

John is enthusiastic about hiking.

I don’t like soccer.

I hate boxing.

 Expressing preferences

I prefer jazz to pop.

I prefer staying at home to going out with him tonight.

I prefer to play badminton rather than play basketball.

Joe has a preference for European movies.

Of all kinds of music, I like R&B best.

Classical music is my favorite music.

Hip Hop is my least favorite.

As far as I am concerned, poetry reading is for the birds.

For me, the best time is to sit back with a cold beer in my hand.

I’d rather take the bus home.

Sample Dialogue

A: Have you watched any movie lately?

B: Not really. I have been kept busy recently.

A: That’s too bad. I went to watch the Red Dragon the other day. It’s really fantastic.

B: Red Dragon? I haven’t even heard about it.

A: What are you? From the cave? It has been an instant hit after it was put on show in the theatre.

B: Well, I told you I was busy. So what was it about?

A: It’s actually the prequel to The silence of the Lambs. In this one, the story of a former FBI agent Will Graham, who was nearly killed by Hannibal Lecter, is told, and it includes the initial capture of “the Cannibal”.

B: Really? I have watched The silence of the Lambs. It features Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, right?

A: You are right. But the new movie has a stronger cast, including young talents like Edward Norton and Ralph Fiennes. Of course, Anthony Hopkins stays and still plays Dr. Lecter.

B: It sounds really exciting. I should try to find some time to go