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.
