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.