We’d have figures of all types, some are fantasy, anything from ancient Egyptians to different comic book characters, Dick Tracy and his space coupe. My name is Bob Kotimaki, and this is the House of Hobbies. The House of Hobbies is a playhouse for boys from 8 to 80, and sometimes further than that. Anything that they can put into miniature we can almost duplicate in a kit. These are strictly kits that make everything from Formula One cars, to NASCAR, to regular cars, and show cars, it just depends on what your cup of tea is. Ala Kart, these are cars that have won shows, but it might be 50 years ago. Well, we started back in 1962 and we've had many locations. What made you get into Hobbies?My hobby got out of hand. I acquired too many things, and I had too many interests so, I started selling some of these. The kits that we sell today, still, are kits that you have to put your touch to, you have to have skills in assembly and its pride in workmanship when you're finished. When you study history, there are certain things that you just can't buy, but you can make a miniature of it and get an idea of what it was like back in the day when that was actually made.
We've seen an uptake after COVID entered the picture in even picture puzzles. People were craving things that they could do at home because you were limited to travel and even socializing. Model building became a big thing, bigger than they had been in the past because now you're confined to a location.
“there are certain things that you just can't buy”
We have a lot of people on first time entering the building when they feel that the further they go they're reliving their youth. They’re finding things that they did back in the day and they want to take one of those things back with him that day, you know, just to remind them of a day's gone by. Hobbies as far as a retail store like this one is a dinosaur, and they're going away like dinosaurs. The hobby will go on as long as dad or grandfather instills this in the youth to show how much pleasure you can get out of creating whatever it is in a miniature. So that he can then pass it on to the next generation, a piece of him. But it is pride and workmanship and that's what we're getting away from. And we need to go back to.
Questions:
Part 1: Comprehension
Watch and summarize the video thinking of who, what, when, where & why.
Part 2: True or False Questions
a) True or false – Bob Kotimaki was born in 1962. T/F
b) True or False – Bob Kotimaki opened the store because of COVID. T/F
c) True or False – Girls are not interested in this store. T/F
d) True or False – Stores like Bob Kotimaki’s are dying off. T/F
Part 3: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary.
a) "Duplicate" (0:35 min)
b) "Cup of tea"(0:46 min)
c) "Confined" (2:10 min)
d) "Reliving their youth" (2:20 min)
Part 4: Dictation
a) Fill in the blanks (0:01 - 0:20 minutes) We’d _______________________________________coupe.
b) Fill in the blanks (1:15 - 1:33 minutes) The___________________________________________finished.
c) Fill in the blanks (2:45 - 2:59 minutes) The___________________________________________miniature.
Part 5: Talking Points
Part 6: Role play Scenarios
Scenario 1: Hobby Shop Customer
You are a customer visiting the House of Hobbies for the first time. You are interested in building a model car, but you have never done it before. You need help finding the right kit and tools, and you have some questions about the process.
Scenario 2: Hobby Shop Owner
You are the owner of the House of Hobbies, and a customer has just walked in looking for help with building a model car. You are an expert in the hobby and are happy to provide guidance and answer any questions. You want to make sure the customer has a positive experience and leaves feeling confident about their new project.
Scenario 3: Reliving your youth
In pairs talk about when you were growing up. What were some popular toys? Describe these toys to someone who has never heard of them before.
Part 7: Writing Activity
Write about a special memory you had when you were growing up, think of a hobby or an activity you did.
Part 8: Critical Thinking - IT and the next generation.
Objective: Debate the following statement:
"Children spend too much time on phones, tablets, or computers. They should be banned from using them and made to take up a old traditional hobby".
Team A supports this statement and team B opposes it.
In groups talk about the pros and cons of this statement, then come back as a class and reach a consensus of the best strategy for raising children in terms of hobbies and interests.
Answers:
Part 1: Comprehension
This is a report from a local American news channel called Fox which is based in Tampa. The report introduces Bob Kotimaki and his House of Hobbies store. Bob Kotimaki started in 1962 because his hobbies got out of hand and he needed to start selling things. Bob says that the House of Hobbies is a playhouse for boys 8 to 80 and sometimes older. The store specializes in miniature models and Bob says that anything they can put into miniature the store can almost duplicate in a kit. Bob believes that the kits they sell today are kits that you have to put your touch and this means that you have to have skill in assembly and take pride in your workmanship. When the coronavirus pandemic started, House of Hobbies saw a major uptick in business because people were staying at home more and wanted something creative to do. However, Kotimaki says hobby stores like are dinosaurs and they are going extinct. I think this news report was created to highlight the impact that covid has on the latest hobby trends and to make people aware of the rising interest in models again.
Part 2: True or False
A: False B: False C: False D: True
Part 3: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary or phrases.
a) "Duplicate" Answer: I think duplicate means to make an exact copy of something because Bob talks about models and states that if it can be in miniature format then it can be made into a kit meaning that a duplicate of the miniature could be made.
b) "Cup of tea" Answer: In this situation, it means something that is suited to a person’s taste or preference because in the video the speaker talks about having a variety of different types of models to suit everyone.
c) "Confined" Answer: I think confined means to be stuck in one location as the speaker talks about the effects that COVID had on hobby trends and states that most people had to stay at home.
d) "Reliving their youth" Answer: I think this means living through a similar time in your life again. For example, the video talks about getting back into hobbies that people used to do when they were teenagers so it feels like reliving that period of time.
Part 4: Dictation
a) Fill in the blanks (0:01 - 0:20 minutes) We’d have figures of all types, some are fantasy, anything from ancient Egyptians to different comic book characters, Dick Tracy and his space coupe.
b) Fill in the blanks (1:15 - 1:33 minutes) The kits that we sell today, still, are kits that you have to put your touch to, you have to have skills in assembly and pride in workmanship when you're finished.
c) Fill in the blanks (2:45 - 2:59 minutes) The hobby will go on as long as dad or grandfather instills this in the youth to show how much pleasure you can get out of creating whatever it is in a miniature.
Part 7: Writing (example)
When I was a kid, I had this amazing time playing with Star Wars figures. Picture a room filled with little plastic characters – Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and the formidable Darth Vader. I'd spend hours creating epic battles on the carpet, using shoeboxes as spaceship landscapes. My friends and I would come together to develop intricate stories, blending our imagination with the Star Wars universe. What made it special was the innocent joy, the sense of adventure, and the friendships formed over these make-believe journeys. Even now, at 45, I look back and realize those moments weren't just play; they were the starting point for a lifelong love of creativity and storytelling. Star Wars figures may be tucked away, but the memories they created remain a vivid part of my childhood.
