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E-examiner S-student 
(0:00 – 0:33)
E: We’ve been talking about hobbies, and I’d like to discuss with you one or two more general questions related to this. Let’s consider, first of all, current and future hobbies. What do you think are the most popular types of hobby in Germany?
S: For male Germans is probably football {Um hm}. And for females, it’s… might be
Shopping? {Laughter} I don’t know. {Laughter} Could be shopping, but
many people
are actually doing sports. So, they would go jogging
in… in their spare time.
(0:33 – 1:04)
E: Why do you think these hobbies are so popular?
S: Because I think you need balance in life. The working life is quite hard, and
nowadays in Germany was… the… the economic situation, et cetera. Everybody
needs
an anchor point or a balance to their struggle
during their working hours. So, I guess
just to find f… relaxation and… to… to… to… to calm down… and… and as a stress
relief. I think sports
is a, is a good
way to do so. And I think that’s why many Germans are doing it. It’s
probably worldwide, the case.
(1:04 – 1:56)
E: Let’s pick up on that point of leisure time. You, you mentioned that the “work and leisure balance” in Germany is perhaps a little bit out of balance. Could you tell me more about that?
S: Yeah, I mean the regular working hours would be nine… eight to nine hours a day,
but nowadays competition is quite big because of the unemployment. So, everyday
is really putting on a lot of overtime in their work and pro… most of the time
probably don’t get paid for it. And leisure time is increasingly, of course, getting less and less, and so people are definitely looking forward to the ho… holidays or their
weekends to enjoy
family life. But I think family life is… isn’t that what it was
before, because everybody’s so focused on their careers and to keep their jobs and
have a good income and…and survive basically in the system. So…
(1:56 – 2:13)
E: Do you think this will continue in the future?
S: Well, probably next ten years till the eco… conomy again sk… picking up, and
our social affair system is getting better again, because it was quite good two years
ago, but the last ten years, I would say it really declined a bit.
(2:13 – 3:09)
E: I see. Let’s move back among for, for… on hobbies and think about the social benefits of hobbies. What do you think are the social benefits of having a hobby?
S: Well, it’s depending on what your hobby is. If you would, f, for example, do hobby
where you don’t meet anybody, you, if you are hiking or climbing alone, there is not a big
social {lip smacking} effect
on that, I would say. But if you do it in a community,
like, for example
soccer or rugby or what… whatever, then you are in a way share time with people and
have
the opportunity to get to know each other better and closer and e… exchange ideas
and
…
And opinions. So, I think for that reason, a hobby is very, very important, because
usually you… you… you find that people who are not at your work… working
environment.
It’s, it’s… they are not part of your family. So, they come from different backgrounds,
and so I think you get a quite good insight into other people’s opinions. And…
(3:09 – 3:29)
E: So you get to know them in a different way… That’s what you’re saying.
S: In a… yeah, in a different way because everybody’s also relax. In your working
environment, for example, I mean everybody’s quite formal and tries to do the proper
thing, obviously. But if you’re doing sports together, it, it’s more casual,
everything, and I think you would open up yourself more to the other person.
(3:29 – 4:00)
E: So you think it influences the way you behave at work subsequently?
S: Well, I…I… It could be, but I don’t think that it necessarily has to {lip smacking}. It could be if, if
you would have a hobby. I mean it’s just hypothetically now, but it could be. If you
have a hobby and, and have good experience with other people and that quite relaxed
with other people, that it would have a good influence in your… in your work and, and
the relationships you hold at your working place. But that’s quite hyp, hypothetically
now, from my point of view.
(4:00 – 4:20)
E: Do you think there’re any dangers in spending too much time on hobbies?
S: If you would neglect your family, yes. {Laughter} If the hobby is more important
than your
family life and in your working life, maybe, then yes, that could be a danger that you
lose track with what is going on in your relationship with your partner and children, et
cetera.
(4:20 – 4:25)
E: Thank you very much. That’s the end of the speaking test.
Pronunciation guide:
- /ɫ/: also known as the dark ‘l’, which is ‘l’ pronounced in syllable-final position
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