The future of our leisure habits

How will you be spending your free time in the future? Maybe you will be going to a modern art exhibition or seeing the latest movies at the theater. Or will you be listening to your favorite group performing live?

The truth is that since the COVID-19 pandemic, everything about our lives has changed so much that we don’t know what we will be doing this time next week, next month or next year.

We probably won’t be watching our favourite stars in plays in full theaters. Nor will we be sitting in venues, which are full of people listening to live concerts.

Everyone will be thinking of new ways to make and present art to audiences. And art will be reflecting life as directors film more scenes outside, and characters communicate with each other by phone or video call. Special effects too will be taking a central role in all types of movies, not just adventure and fantasy. Composers will be writing music for musicians to play on their instruments while performing together as an orchestra from different locations.

Artists will probably have to make fewer changes to the way they work, as they will still be producing canvases and making sculptures in their studios. The problem will be showing this work to the public. We will probably be viewing more art installations online, which mix different techniques like painting, film and photography.

As for literature, it looks like activities such as reading novels and poetry will be increasing in popularity in the future, as other leisure activities become more difficult for us to do. We have recently seen many new editions of classic works of literature, in print, e-books and audiobooks. Soon there may also be books published a chapter a week, to replace the episodes of our favorite TV programs, which producers maybe won’t be recording for some time to come. Who knows!

4 CERT Read the questions and choose the correct option (A, B, C or D).

1 How does Helen suggest you might be spending your leisure time in the future?

A eating out in a restaurant

B going to a nightclub

C seeing a musical at the theater

D watching a new movie

2 What has the COVID-19 pandemic changed?

A everything in our lives

B many things in our lives

C nothing in our lives

D the type of entertainment we want

3 What won’t we be doing for a while?

A going to busy venues

B listening to live music

C playing video games

D seeing our favorite stars

4 How will movies change?

A They will be recorded on cell phones.

B They won’t have any people in them.

C They won’t have any special effects.

D They won’t show scenes filmed inside.

5 Which art form will be more difficult to show than make?

A visual art

B film

C literature

D music

6 What might replace TV programs?

A art installations

B movies

C novels

D poetry

Grammar: Future continuous

How will you be spending your free time in the future?

We probably won’t be watching our favorite stars in plays in full theaters.

Everyone will be thinking of new ways to make art.

We use the Future continuous to talk about actions and events which will be in progress at a particular time in the future.

 Grammar reference p. 58

5 Complete the conversation with the Future continuous of the verbs from the box.

A What 1 you this time tomorrow?

B I 2 the violin with the orchestra.

A 3 the orchestra live?

B No, not tomorrow, we 4 just for the concert.

A 5 they the concert for TV or radio?

B Yes, I think they 6 it on TV later this month.

6 Read the first sentence and complete the second sentence with the Future continuous of the verbs in parentheses.

1 Julie is packing her suitcase. This time tomorrow she… (go on vacation)

2 Trevor is finishing his piano practice. As soon as he finishes, he… (go out / play football)

3 We are doing a literature test. This time next week we… (discuss results)

4 The kids are on video chat. In an hour’s time they… (still chat)

5 The washing machine is broken. This time next week it probably… (not work)

6 ‘Are you painting a new canvas?’ ‘Yes, but it’s taking ages, I…’ (not finish soon)

Speaking

7 Pairwork Tell each other what you will/won’t be doing in an hour’s time, on the weekend, in a week’s time, in a month’s time and in a year’s time.

In an hour’s time I won’t be going to my dance class. I’ll be doing it at home online instead.