1. Leisure and spare time activities
How do people in the UK spend their spare time?

2. People in the UK said they did these during the year: (2007/2008)
Activity %
Watching television
Spending time with friends/family 80
Listening to music
Shopping
Reading
Eating out at restaurants 63
Days out
Internet/ ing
Sport/exercise
Gardening
Going to pubs/bars/clubs 45
Going to the cinema

3. ‘Top ten active sports: by gender, 2007/08 in England
Men %
Women
Indoor swimming or diving 28 35
Snooker, pool, billiards 23
Health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities 22
Cycling 21
Keep fit, aerobics and dance exercise 16
Outdoor swimming or diving 14
Outdoor football 20
Tenpin bowling 13
Golf, pitch and putt, putting 18
Jogging 8 15 7
Darts 12
Badminton
Yoga 6

4. What do you do in your spare time?
Survey those in your group about what they normally do if/when they have free time.
Each group will report back on one person in their group and tell us about the most interesting free time activity that you heard about.
You need to listen and remember!

5. Two popular sporting activities
Playing cricket
Walking with friends

6. Time spent using the media
Watching television is very popular.
Using the internet is increasingly popular.
Listening to music is very popular. Downloads are replacing CDs.
Many people watch films on DVD.
More people are going to the cinema, especially younger people.
Some people enjoy listening to the radio.
The sale of newspapers is declining.
Reading for pleasure is popular and some people borrow books from public libraries.

7. The Arts
Some people join choirs or perform music in groups or orchestras.
Painting and crafts are popular spare-time activities.
Drama is another popular activity.
Others go to the theatre, attend concerts and visit art galleries and museums.

8. Bracknell Choral Society

9. Participation in education
Some people take courses which will help them with their careers.
Learning languages is popular; people may learn a language because they are planning a foreign holiday.
Painting and crafts are popular classes.
Some people take courses in subjects that interest them, such as history and literature.

10. Gardening Many people live in houses with gardens.
Many people enjoy working in their gardens, growing flowers and vegetables.
Some people have allotments where they grow vegetables.
Some gardeners join gardening clubs.
Radio and television programmes about gardening are popular.
People enjoy visiting gardens that are open for the public to visit.

11. Gardens and gardening

12. Cooking and food
Some people enjoy cooking interesting dishes and making cakes.
There is a great interest in food from around the world.
Eating out is popular. Often people choose to eat Italian, Indian or Chinese food.
There are many programmes about cookery on television and some people collect cookery books.

13. Cooking and eating out

14. Religion, politics and volunteering
Some people take part in activities linked to their religious affiliation.
Some people are active in political parties or trade unions.
Others take part in volunteering, to help others or look after the environment.

15. Fishing – a hobby or a sport?

16. Morris dancing – a more unusual spare-time activity

17. What would you like to do?
If you had more time, what would you like to do and why?
Ask a few others they would like to do if they had more free time.
Find out why they would like to do what they have told you.

18. Things that I enjoy doing
Going to the Gym
Cycling
Walking
Photography
Playing Golf
Travelling
Reading
Watching television/movies
Going to the Theatre
Eating and drinking out
Involved in my local church
Some “extreme sports”

21. What Chinese Hobby would you recommend for me?
In groups, list three hobbies or pastimes to recommend to me, choose the best one.
Why would it be good for me?