English speaking lesson · Learning & Leisure
Joining a hobby group
You've come along to a local hobby group meeting for the first time. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A local group meeting · you talk to the group member
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Introduce yourself, say why you came, share your experience, and agree to come back. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Hello! New face — welcome along. I'm Jo.
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the group member.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Introduce yourself
Say hello and introduce yourself.
“Hello, I'm Sam — it's my first time here.”
- 02
Say why you came
Say what brought you along.
“A friend told me about it, and I wanted to try it.”
- 03
Share your experience
Say how much you've done before.
“I'm new to this — I've done a little.”
- 04
Find common ground
Say if that sounds familiar, and find common ground.
“That's the same for me!”
- 05
Agree to come back
Say whether you'll come back, and say thanks.
“See you next week! Thanks for the welcome.”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the group member.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- hello
- a friendly greeting
- “Hello, I'm Sam.”
- first
- before any other time
- “It's my first time.”
- time
- an occasion something happens
- “It's my first time here.”
- friend
- someone you know and like
- “A friend told me about it.”
- try
- to attempt something new
- “I wanted to try it.”
- new
- not experienced before
- “I'm new to this.”
- little
- a small amount
- “I've done a little.”
- same
- not different
- “That's the same for me!”
- week
- seven days
- “See you next week!”
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks for the welcome.”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- along
- to a place, joining others
- “I thought I'd come along.”
- recommended
- suggested as good by someone
- “A friend recommended it.”
- curious
- wanting to know more
- “I was curious about it.”
- complete
- total, absolute
- “I'm a complete beginner.”
- beginner
- someone just starting out
- “I'm a complete beginner.”
- started
- began doing something
- “I started a month ago.”
- relate
- to understand and identify with
- “I can relate to that!”
- welcoming
- friendly to newcomers
- “Everyone's so welcoming.”
- definitely
- certainly, without doubt
- “I'll definitely come back.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I appreciate the welcome.”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- atmosphere
- the feeling of a place or group
- “The atmosphere's lovely.”
- intrigued
- curious and interested
- “I was intrigued by it.”
- dabbled
- tried something casually, not seriously
- “I've dabbled a bit.”
- self-taught
- learned without formal lessons
- “I'm mostly self-taught.”
- plateau
- a period with no further progress
- “I hit a plateau alone.”
- resonates
- feels true or meaningful to you
- “That really resonates.”
- inclusive
- welcoming to everyone
- “It feels very inclusive.”
- regular
- someone who comes often
- “I'd like to become a regular.”
- sorted
- arranged and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- stumbled
- found something by chance
- “I stumbled across the group online.”
- hooked
- completely captivated by something
- “I got hooked pretty quickly.”
- rusty
- out of practice
- “I'm fairly rusty, honestly.”
- kindred
- similar in spirit or outlook
- “You lot seem like kindred spirits.”
- wavelength
- a shared way of thinking
- “We're on the same wavelength.”
- regulars
- the people who come often
- “Are you all regulars here?”
- chuffed
- very pleased (informal, British)
- “I'm chuffed I came.”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged for the welcome.”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “Great, that's sorted.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers, see you next week.”
More Learning & Leisure lessons
- At the library
- Buying event tickets
- A museum visit
- Joining a class
- Joining a sports club
- A language exchange
- A group project