In this short beginner English conversation, two students talk about their favorite subjects in school: art and chemistry. It’s written for A2 learners. Watch Camille and Calvin read it together in the video, learn the vocabulary and the phrase “get the hang of it,” then test yourself with the quiz.
Level: A2 (beginner)
Reading time: About 1 minute
Topic: School, hobbies, art, science
From the book: 105 Beginner English Conversations
How to use this lesson
First, watch the video and listen to Camille and Calvin read the conversation. Next, read it below on your own and check any new words in the vocabulary list. Then practice the conversation out loud, with a partner if you can. Finally, take the quiz.
The conversation: What’s your favorite subject?
Ashley: What’s your favorite subject in school?
Zach: I really like art. I love painting and pottery. What about you?
Ashley: Oh, that’s cool. I love chemistry. What do you usually paint?
Zach: Mostly portraits and landscapes. Chemistry seems cool.
Ashley: I love all the experiments, but there’s also a lot of observing and writing reports. Pottery sounds fun. Do you make bowls or vases?
Zach: Both. And sometimes small sculptures. It’s messy, but I enjoy it.
Ashley: That sounds amazing. I’d love to try pottery one day.
Zach: You should. It’s frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s relaxing.
Ashley: I bet. Maybe I’ll take a class next summer.
Key vocabulary from the conversation
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example from the conversation |
|---|---|---|
| subject | something you study in school, like math or art | What’s your favorite subject in school? |
| pottery | making bowls, cups, and other things from clay | I love painting and pottery. |
| chemistry | the science of what things are made of and how they change | I love chemistry. |
| portrait | a painting or photo of a person | Mostly portraits and landscapes. |
| landscape | a painting or photo of nature, like mountains or fields | Mostly portraits and landscapes. |
| experiment | a test scientists do to learn something | I love all the experiments. |
| observe | watch something carefully | There’s a lot of observing. |
| report | a written paper that explains what you learned | There’s a lot of writing reports. |
| vase | a container for flowers | Do you make bowls or vases? |
| sculpture | art made in 3D, from clay, stone, or metal | Sometimes small sculptures. |
| messy | dirty, not clean or neat | It’s messy, but I enjoy it. |
| frustrating | making you feel annoyed because it’s difficult | It’s frustrating at first. |
| relaxing | making you feel calm | It’s relaxing. |
| I bet | I believe you, I think so too | I bet. |
| take a class | sign up to learn something | Maybe I’ll take a class next summer. |
Real life English tip: get the hang of something
To get the hang of something means to learn how to do something, usually after some practice. It’s very common in everyday American English.
- Pottery is frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s relaxing.
- I’m getting the hang of learning English.
- I’m getting the hang of playing the ukulele.
- I never got the hang of driving a manual car. I gave up!
As Camille says, “Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of things if you don’t give up.”
Try it: Write one sentence about something you’re getting the hang of right now.
More school subjects in English
Here are other common school subjects you can use to answer “What’s your favorite subject?”: math, science, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography, English, art, music, and PE (physical education, or sports class).
Calvin’s favorites were math, PE, and English. Camille’s answer was English, which is no surprise!
Practice the conversation
Read the conversation out loud with a partner, then switch roles. For more practice, change the subjects and activities to your own. For example: “What’s your favorite subject in school?” “I really like history. I love learning about ancient cultures.”
Check your understanding
- What is Zach’s favorite subject?
a) Chemistry b) Art c) Math - What is Ashley’s favorite subject?
a) Chemistry b) History c) Pottery - What does Zach usually paint?
a) Animals and flowers b) Portraits and landscapes c) Cars and buildings - How does Zach describe pottery?
a) Easy and boring b) Messy, but he enjoys it c) Expensive and difficult - What does Ashley want to try one day?
a) Painting b) Chemistry experiments c) Pottery
REVEAL THE QUIZ ANSWERS
Answers:
1-b, 2-a, 3-b, 4-b, 5-c
Practice with 104 more conversations
“What’s your favorite subject?” is one of 105 conversations in 105 Beginner English Conversations. Each conversation comes with a Real Life English tip and comprehension questions, plus free audio so you can practice listening and speaking.
The book includes: 105 minutes of audio FREE ($15 value!), 315 comprehension questions and 105 Real Life English Tips.
Prefer stories? Try The Job Interview from 60 Beginner English Short Stories.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What level is this English conversation?
This conversation is for A2 learners. If you can have simple conversations in English and want more natural, everyday vocabulary, it’s a great fit.
What does "get the hang of it" mean?
It means to learn how to do something after some practice. For example: “Driving was hard at first, but I got the hang of it.”
How do you answer "What's your favorite subject?" in English?
You can say, “I really like [subject]” or “My favorite subject is [subject],” then add a reason: “I love chemistry because the experiments are fun.”
Does the book have audio?
Yes! 105 Beginner English Conversations and all my books include free audio to help you learn English faster and more effectively!
Where is this conversation from?
It’s from 105 Beginner English Conversations by Camille Hanson.
Your turn!
What was your favorite subject in school, or what is it now? Tell us in the comments on the YouTube video!
