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.