Lesson 08 – Talking About Common Topics: Finding Things in Common

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

travel (noun / verb)

/ˈtræv.əl/ – to go from one place to another, especially for fun or learning.

I love to travel and see new cultures.

▸ Where did you travel last year?
▸ Travel is one of the easiest topics to talk about.

music (noun)

/ˈmjuː.zɪk/ – sounds made by voices or instruments that you enjoy listening to.

What kind of music do you listen to?

▸ Music always makes people feel more relaxed.

food (noun)

/fuːd/ – what people eat or cook.

I like trying different kinds of food.

▸ Talking about food can lead to new restaurant ideas.

movie (noun)

/ˈmuː.vi/ – a film that tells a story.

Have you seen any good movies recently?

▸ Movies are an easy way to find shared interests.

hobby (noun)

/ˈhɒb.i/ – an activity you do for fun.

What’s your favorite hobby?

▸ People love talking about their hobbies.

job (noun)

/dʒɒb/ – the work someone does to earn money.

What do you like most about your job?

▸ It’s fine to talk about work, but keep it light.

family (noun)

/ˈfæm.əl.i/ – your parents, siblings, or relatives.

Tell me about your family — are you close?

▸ Family stories often make people smile.

Exercise 2

Useful Expressions

Do you like to travel?
What kind of music helps you relax?
Have you watched anything good lately?
What’s your favorite type of food?
Do you have any hobbies outside of work?
That’s interesting, tell me more about it.
Oh really? I didn’t know that.
Same here, I love that too.

Exercise 3

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor.

So, do you like to travel?

Yes, a lot. I went to Greece last summer — beautiful beaches and amazing food.

Nice, I’ve always wanted to visit there. Speaking of food, what’s your favorite dish?

Probably sushi. I love how simple but fresh it is. What about you?

Italian food. Pasta, pizza… it’s comfort food for me.

I get that. What kind of music do you listen to when you cook?

Mostly jazz or lo-fi, something calm. It makes the evening better.

That’s cool. I listen to acoustic songs when I work. It keeps me focused.

So we both like calm vibes. That’s a good start.

Yeah, finding things in common always makes the talk flow easier.

Exercise 4

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the dialogue.

Two people are chatting about what they like and discovering things in common.

Do you like to (1) ?

Yes, I went to Japan last year. The (2) was amazing.

That’s great. I love Japanese (3) too.

Really? I didn’t expect that. What kind of (4) do you usually listen to?

Mostly chill songs when I cook or work. It helps me (5) .

Same here. Talking about (6) always makes people smile.

I agree. Finding a common (7) is the best way to connect.

Exactly. Shared (8) make any date feel easy and natural.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 8

Answer Pool (Questions 1-8)

travel food culture hobby music topic relax interest

Exercise 5

Role Play

Role-play the following situation with your tutor.

Situation

Start a conversation with your partner using one of these topics: travel, food, movies, or hobbies.
Ask follow-up questions and try to find something you both like.
Keep the exchange light and positive.
Your teacher will play the other person.

Exercise 6

Discussion

What topics are easiest for you to talk about on a first date?
Why do people enjoy sharing travel or food stories?
Which subjects make you feel more connected to someone?
What topics should you avoid until you know the person better?
How do you show real interest when someone talks about their hobbies?
Can you connect with someone even if you have different interests? How?

Correction – Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks

(1) → travel
(2) → culture
(3) → food
(4) → music
(5) → relax
(6) → topic
(7) → interest
(8) → hobby