Chinh Phuc Ielts Speaking 8.0
Chinh Phuc Ielts Speaking 8.0
Chinh Phuc Ielts Speaking 8.0
Tiếng anh thực sự là một nỗi sợ của mình trước đây, đặc biệt là khi mới bắt đầu học do
mình là dân khối A, hầu như chỉ tập trung vào Toán, Lý và Hoá. Mình đã mất rất nhiều thời
gian và bỏ cuộc rất nhiều lần cho tới khi mình cảm thấy thực sự mình tiến bộ lên nhờ có
phương pháp đúng đắn.
Trong quá trình học và dạy tiếng anh sau này, mình nhận ra rằng nhiều bạn cũng có những
khó khăn mà mình đã từng trải qua, vì vậy cuốn sách này sẽ giúp bạn tiếp cận phương pháp
học hiệu quả, nhằm mục đích nâng cao khả năng tiếng anh của bạn một cách toàn diện đồng
thời định hướng các bạn học IELTS theo các tiêu chí chấm điểm, tư duy ra đề của giám
khảo thay vì học tràn lan tránh việc lãng phí thời gian, tiền bạc.
Tất cả các phần của cuốn sách đều được thiết kế logic và đi từ bản chất của vấn đề nhằm
mục đích giúp người học hiểu nhanh, nhớ lâu, áp dụng linh hoạt các ideas của các chủ
đề trong tiếng anh. Mình hi vọng rằng bạn sẽ áp dụng tốt và đạt được kết quả như các bạn
mong muốn.
Trong quá trình soạn thảo, sẽ không tránh được những thiếu sót, mình mong nhận được sự
góp ý của các bạn để ngày một hoàn thiện hơn.
Thái Hoàng!
Phần thi Ielts Speaking kéo dài từ 11-15 phút và được tổ chức riêng biệt trong khi 3 kỹ năng
Listening, Reading và Writing được tổ chức cùng nhau và sẽ thi liên tục trong khoảng 3
tiếng. Thí sinh có thể thi trước hoặc sau ngày thi viết tuỳ vào lịch mà bạn đăng ký.
Part 1: diễn ra trong khoảng 4-5 phút, Bạn sẽ được hỏi những câu hỏi chung về bản thân
và các chủ đề khác như gia đình, công việc, học tập và sở thích.
Part 2: diễn ra trong khoảng 4 phút (bao gồm thời gian giới thiệu topic của giám khảo),
bạn sẽ nhận được một chủ đề cụ thể từ giám khảo. Bạn sẽ có một phút để chuẩn bị trước
khi nói trong tối đa 2 phút. Sau đó, giám khảo sẽ hỏi thêm bạn một hoặc hai câu về chủ đề
này để kết thúc phần thi.
Part 3: diễn ra trong khoảng thời gian còn lại, bạn sẽ được hỏi thêm các câu hỏi, chủ đề
liên quan tới topic ở part 2.
Nhiều bạn có kỹ năng nói khá tốt, sau khi nhận kết quả thì bất ngờ vì điểm thấp hơn dự
kiến. Một số bạn thì cố gắng nhồi nhét quá nhiều từ vựng lạ trong phòng thi dẫn tới việc sử
dụng ngôn ngữ không đúng ngữ cảnh và thiếu tự nhiên. Bài thi được giám khảo chấm điểm
theo tiêu chí của họ chứ không phải chỉ bằng từ vựng. Vậy, bạn hãy tham khảo các tiêu chí
chấm điểm của giám khảo ở bên dưới để có phương pháp học đúng đắn ngay từ đầu nhé.
Part 2:
Describe a time you visited friends or family members at their workplace
You should say:
Who you visited
Where they worked
Why you visited them at their workplace
Explain how you felt
Do you make friends at work?
Part 3:
Different kinds of workplaces
What things make an office comfortable to work in?
Why do some people prefer working for big companies?
Do you think working for big companies is better than working for small companies?
The importance of leaders at work
Are all ambitious leaders successful?
How do leaders motivate others at work?
Why do people want to become leaders?
Estimated
Criteria Detail Comments
grade
Remember to say the final ‘s’
and ‘ed’ sounds
Consonant clusters are well-
managed
Pronunciation
Vowel sounds are accurate
Chunking is well-managed
Intonation and sentence stress
is quite natural
Able to answer in long turns
Paraphrases effectively
Uses simple structures
accurately
Grammar
Uses complex structures
accurately
Overall
I am from foreign trade university which is one of the biggest universities in my country
with many lecturers who are proficient at their fields.
Moreover, my university friends are not only friendly but also kind b if I run into
problems, they will give me a hand with sound advice.
Phân tích:
Câu trả lời không ngắn quá, và chứa lượng ý tưởng và được giải thích rõ ràng, chi tiết
Sử dụng các từ nối để làm cho câu trả lời mềm mại hơn, tự nhiên hơn
Sử dụng đa dạng từ và các cụm từ
Sử dụng đa dạng các cấu trúc ngữ pháp
Bài thi IELTS kiểm tra khả năng sử dụng toàn diện, thành thạo ngôn ngữ của bạn, vì vậy
nên bạn nên đưa ra câu trả lời đủ dài, gắn kết và giải thích cho câu trả lời của mình thật
logic. Trong quá trình kéo dài câu trả lời của mình bạn hãy chú ý phát âm của mình, đa
dạng cấu trúc ngữ pháp và từ vựng để hoàn thành cả 4 tiêu chí chấm điểm của giám khảo
nhé.
Để kéo dài câu trả lời trong Ielts, bạn có thể áp dụng một số phương pháp sau.
So
Therefore
Luận điểm Luận cứ
Hence
As a result
I have to say that I am really into travelling, so I often take advantage of my free time
to visit some beautiful places in the world to let off steam and discover more cultures.
This is because
Because
Luận điểm Luận cứ
The reason for this is that
As
Well, I am really keen on travelling, and the reason for this is that it is considered as the
best way to take it easy after long working hours. My friends and I often pay visits to
famous tourist attractions in my city to take part in recreational activities together.
I am really into watching movies and go to the cinema twice a week with my friends and
family. This is because watching films is a good way to let off steam after long working
hours. Also, I can discover more cultures and learn foreign languages by watching foreign
movies.
1.3 Kết hợp nguyên nhân, hệ quả với ví dụ, hoặc dùng câu hỏi how, when, where.
I love travelling, and I usually visit famous tourist attractions when I have free time. For
example, I went to Danang city which is one of the most beautiful cities in my country with
my like-minded friends to relax on my last vacation.
Actually, I often go to the cinema to watch some box-office hits to relax with my friends.
For instance, we watched a blockbuster from Hollywood last weekend. This film is really
interesting with many action scenes, so we had a great time together.
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2. Phương pháp ôn tập Ielts speaking part 1&3 - “ Gom đề & Gộp ý”
Ví dụ:
Do you work or study? Can you tell me something about where you
live?
Will you change your job in the future? Will you live in this city in the future
Phân tích:
Do mình đã thực hành rất nhiều nên mình đã có những ideas và từ vựng tủ trong đầu sẵn,
từ đó mình có thể linh hoạt trả lời nhiều câu hỏi khác nhau và sử dụng các ideas đó. Lý do
mình trả lời 2 chủ đề này giống nhau vì đây là 2 chủ đề thường được hỏi ở topic đầu tiên
của part 1, giám khảo hỏi bạn về work-education thì thường sẽ không hỏi bạn về city,
hometown, hay accommodation nữa. Tuy nhiên kể cả giám khảo có hỏi lại mình thì mình
vẫn còn nhiều ideas tủ khác trong đầu để bật ra nên mình sẽ không bao giờ sợ bị trùng lặp
câu trả lời.
Lúc luyện tập ở nhà số câu hỏi có thể lên tới hàng nghìn, nhưng khi đi thi bạn chỉ được hỏi
một số lượng nhỏ câu nhất định. Vì vậy, bạn hãy lên ideas và từ vựng hay dùng thay vì áp
dụng nó cho một câu bạn có thể áp dụng cho 10 câu khác và linh hoạt các ideas với nhau
nhé.
General information
Well/ actually/ as you know
Examples:
Can you tell me something about your job?
Câu trả lời đơn giản:
Well, I am a translator. I work in Hanoi capital. I like it very much because I feel happy
with my job.
Well, I am working as a translator for a foreign company which is one of the biggest
companies in Ha noi capital.
It is an interesting job because I talk with many foreigners who come from different
nations so I gain profound insights into/on other cultures.
Additionally, my colleagues are not only friendly but also kind. They often give me sound
advice when I run into difficulties/problems.
Explain Explain
To illustrate/for example To illustrate/for example
Well, I need to say that I am really into travelling because it helps me relax after long
working hours. I usually travel with my friends who were studying with me at my
university, and we often go to some famous destinations at weekends together.
Câu trả lời band điểm cao:
More questions:
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Past tense
In the past,
Example:
When I was small, I dreamt of becoming a doctor, and the reason for this is that I would
take advantage of my knowledge to take care of my family.
Chú ý:
Trong bài thi IELTS bạn thường được hỏi về những câu hỏi trong quá khứ và tương lai bởi
vì giám khảo có thể dựa vào đó để đánh giá ngữ pháp của ban thông qua khả năng sử dụng
thì, vì vậy bạn hãy thử nói chậm lại để tập thói quen sử dụng đúng thì quá khứ và tương lai
nhé,vì rất nhiều bạn thường sử dụng thì hiện tại cho tất cả các câu hỏi như một thói quen.
More questions:
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Future tense
In the future,
Example:
In the future, I really want to have a master’s degree from a famous university in England.
This is the main reason why I am trying my best to get high scores at university, which
gives me more opportunities to have a scholarship from this country.
More questions:
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“How often”
On weekdays,
Main points Explain in detail
On weekends,
Example:
When I was at my university, I went to the cinema twice a week with my friends to let off
steam because I had a lot of free time. By contrast, I am always on the go, so I don’t usually
go to the cinema now.
Cách 2:
Chú ý;
Dùng mệnh đề đối lập nhau ( by contrast, however) để kéo dài câu trả lời hơn và thể hiện
sự so sánh giữa 2 giai đoạn.
More questions:
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How often do you come into contact with children/ your family?
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Comparison
In the past,
Main points Explain in detail
Nowadays,
Examples:
What are the differences between your hometown now and in the past?
Well, there are several differences between my hometown now and in the past but I think
the main one is that it was a poor town as people heavily relied on agriculture in the past
but now it is one of the richest cities in my country with variety of lucrative jobs thanks to
the appearance of many factories.
Do you think men and women take part in similar sports?
In my opinion, they participate in different activities. For example, while men usually pay
attention to team sports such as football or volleyball, women usually focus on swimming
and other solo sports. Also, men like going to the gym or other public areas to do physical
exercises, women are more likely to prefer staying at home to do yoga.
More questions:
Do you think men and women do the same activities when they have free time?
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What are the differences between old and young people when reading news?
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Example:
What kinds of transport are popular in your country?
Câu trả lời đơn giản:
You know, motorbikes are very common in Vietnam
because they are very cheap and suitable for
people in my country
Is it good enough?
Well, I think motorbikes are very popular in Vietnam because they are not only cheap but
also convenient in small streets in big cities in Vietnam. Cars are also chosen by many
people as they are safer than other forms of transport.
Well, I would say that there are various modes of transport in my country but the most
popular one would be motorbikes, and the reason for this is that they are not only cheap
but also convenient in small streets in densely populated cities in Vietnam.
Furthermore, cars are the second most popular form of transport in Vietnam because they
are much safer and more comfortable than other vehicles.
More questions:
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What are the most popular kinds of activities do people in your country usually do
together?
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MAIN TOPICS
1. Work-Study
Positive points:
It is a well-paid job, so I can earn a great deal of money to raise a family/ support my
family and meet different needs in my life.
It would be a lucrative career because marketing is becoming more and more important.
My boss and colleagues are not only friendly but also kind/ My company has a team-
oriented/ interactive environment. If I run into problems, they usually give me a hand
with sound advice.
It is an international company, so I get to work with people from different cultures and
learn from them.
My leader is inspirational and he often motivates me to work hard to have more promotion
prospects.
My university has a reputation for economic education . Therefore, I would easily take
advantage of my knowledge to work effectively.
My teachers and friends are very supportive. They often put themselves in my shoes to
help me deal with all problems.
I take part in many extracurricular activities and clubs with like-minded friends, so I can
improve my soft skills.
Negative points: ( phủ định các câu trên hoặc tham khảo các câu dưới đây)
I have to try my hand at several jobs to accumulate more work experience because it is
very difficult to have a good job in my country if you are wet behind the ears.
If I make mistakes in my company, my boss will come down on me like a ton of bricks.
Positive points:
I have a close relationship with all family members. We often take part in different activities
to strengthen our relationships.
I have a knack for cooking so I often prepare delicious meals for my family and friends.
At weekends, we often have dinner and talk together.
My father is a good role model in my life as he overcame all difficulties to lay the
foundations for my family.
They always put themselves in my shoes and give me a hand when I run into difficulties.
I am a bit of a social butterfly so I make friends with people from all walks of life,
regardless of their age.
He is a good-looking man as he spends a lot of time playing sports with his friends in order
to get into shape.
Negative points: ( phủ định các câu trên hoặc tham khảo các câu dưới đây)
We often have conflicts due to generational gaps. For instance, while they prefer eating
traditional cuisines, I like tasting foreign food.
Hanoi/Danang/ABC is seen as one of the most beautiful destinations with various tourist
attractions, so I usually pay visits to those places to relax.
It is a beautiful coastal city with many beaches so I often go for a dip in the crystal-clear
water when visiting this place.
It is a famous historical city so I would understand more historical events when going to
this city because I am really keen on learning history.
The locals here are very hospitable. If you run into difficulties, they will give you a hand/
if you get lost, they will put you up for several nights.
This city is located far from industrial zones so the environment here is perfect, ensuring
the best living conditions for citizens.
Hanoi/Danang/ABC is one of the biggest cities in Vietnam with a wide range of companies
so it is very easy for you to look for a well-paid job for a living.
I love the kitchen/ sofa/ piano because I think a house is not a house without a big
kitchen/sofa/piano.
Negative points: ( phủ định các câu trên hoặc tham khảo các câu dưới đây)
It is one of the most crowded cities in Vietnam, so I am usually stuck in traffic congestion
when going anywhere.
The environment has been contaminated due to a lot of factories which often discharge
CO2 emissions to the environment, leading to various potential diseases.
The living costs have been on the rise and citizens are under considerable pressure to earn
enough money to cover their costs.
As people from regional areas have been flocking to my city to live, the job market has
been becoming increasingly competitive.
Watching films/ listening to music/ travelling/ reading books/ playing sports is always my
favorite activity as I can take it easy with my friends and family.
Travelling abroad/ listening to English songs/ reading English books/ watching foreign
movies helps me broaden my horizons as I can learn more foreign cultures and traditions.
Travelling/ listening to music/ watching movies/ playing sports/ reading books/ cooking
can help me strengthen my family bonds. For instance, at weekends, my parents and I
often cook at home, and I can share them all ups and downs when having meals together.
Cooking is my forte so I usually have some friends over for dinner. They give me
compliments on my cooking skills.
If I have free time, I often watch movies/ listen to my favorite songs in my king-sized
bedroom and leave all the worries of the world behind.
Playing sports is the best way to get into shape and improve my health.
Negative points: ( phủ định các câu trên hoặc tham khảo các câu dưới đây)
I am so busy that I usually have to burn the midnight oil to hit deadlines so I don’t have
enough time to participate in any recreational activities.
If I immerse myself in a lot of recreational activities, I will not have good academic
performances.
I have to revise for my exams so I don’t have time for recreational activities.
Spending a lot of time watching movies or listening to music would lead to a sedentary
lifestyle due to the lack of physical activities.
As a students, I am a bit strapped for cash so I dont have enough money to travel.
Computers/ mobile phones/ the internet appears in the four corners of the earth so it is
very convenient for me to use this piece of technology everywhere.
I use it for different purposes. Firstly, I keep in touch with my friends and family members
by chatting with them daily on my mobile phone/computer. Secondly, it also helps me have
a good command of English via many online lessons.
People can tap into limitless of information associated with different fields on a range of
user-generated sites such as Wikipedia.
I often take advantage of my free time to watch some movies/ play games on my
computer/phone to take it easy and leave all the worries of the world behind.
The Internet also brings me into contact with a lot of friends through social networking
websites.
Negative points: ( phủ định các câu trên hoặc tham khảo các câu dưới đây)
Computer/online games are highly addictive so people often spend many hours playing
such games/using computers, which leads to bad results at school.
As people spend a great deal of time using technological devices, they may have a
sedentary lifestyle.
News is often not checked carefully to ensure the accuracy and reliability; hence, readers
may be affected by fake news.
People often immerse themselves in the virtual world so they are indifferent to physical
activities.
TOPIC: WORK-EDUCATION
WORK
I am working as a marketing manager for Canon which is one of the biggest international
companies in Vietnam, and I’ve been working there for nearly 5 years.
Well, working for my company is not an easy task because it requires a great deal of time
and effort. For example, I am always on the go due to my tight schedules, so don’t have
much time for my family. However, we have a team-oriented environment, so I can ask
my colleagues for help if I run into difficulties.
I guess most people would prefer working in the morning to the afternoon because they are
full of energy after getting up, but I am an exception because I just stay focused on my
work in the afternoon. The reason for this is because I am always up to my ears in my job
and work late at night, so I feel tired in the morning and cannot concentrate on tasks.
I love my job because of two main reasons. Firstly, it is a multinational company, so I get
to work with many people from the four corners of the world, and learn from them.
Secondly, my colleagues are not only friendly but also kind, so if I run into problems, they
will give me a hand with sound advice.
It is vitally important to have breaks during work as most people are under a lot of
pressure from work. We can take the weight off our feet/legs or talk with colleagues
about some funny stories to relax after long working hours.
To tell you the truth, I dreamt of becoming a tour guide which could help me go to the
four corners of the world. Actually, I am trying my best to make my dream come true.
I tried my hand at different jobs when I was a student to accumulate more practical
experience. For example, my teamwork and communication skills were improved a lot as I
worked as a waiter with a team in a restaurant 5 years ago. Furthermore, I was a bit
strapped for cash so a temporary job helped me earn money to cover some basic needs in
my life.
Do you think money is the only thing which encourage employees work harder?
I think that money is a key consideration when working for a company but motivation
also stems from other factors. For example, many people try to work around the clock
due to prootion prospects because the higher position they get, the more satisfied they
are.
In the next few years, I still want to work for my company to accumulate as much
experience and money as possible, but in the long term, I would consider coming back to
my hometown to open a business by myself because I want to contribute to the development
of my hometown and live with my parents to look after them.
FUTURE PLANS
Honestly, I am a bit careful, so I always make not only short-term but also long-term plans
rather than just flying the seat of my pants. This is because if I have a plan, I can have
more motivation to achieve my goals unless I cannot stay on tasks
In my opinion, it is vitally important to have plans as we have more motivation to work and
study towards our goals, unless we will feel aimless, leading to a waste of time.
Do you think long term plans are more important than short term plans?
It is an interesting question. I think that short-term and long-term plans are equally
important. A long-term plan is actually a series of short-term ones. For instance, I dream
of becoming an eminent doctor in the future, so I have to accumulate knowledge every
year to achieve my long-term goal.
As a manager, I am always on the go every day, so I often make a detailed plan for my
activities unless I would forget what I have to do. It has become a habit since I was a kid.
CONCENTRATION
(maintain/ keep concentration/ stay focused = stay alert/ the main source of
distraction/ multitasking = do multiple things simultanously/ suffer concentration
issues/ my focus/ people never run out of)
To tell you the truth, my concentration isn’t very good, so it is pretty difficult for me to stay
focused. My computer is the main distraction, so I often get distracted by many online
programs.
Well, people often have different ways to maintain their concentration, but the most
suitable one for me is to set up a goal, which motivates me to stay alert and work towards
my goals. Also, I am a technophile and have a state-of-the-art phone which acts as a
reminder. I installed some apps which often remind me to stay focused. Finally, I can find
a quiet location where I can focus on my work without being disturbed.
In my perspective, there are two main reasons why people find it difficult to stay on tasks.
Firstly, they do not have pressure at work and school, so it is not necessary for them to
concentrate on some tasks to reach a particular target. Secondly, many people are addicted
to social networking websites which allow them to come into contact with others, so they
have an inclination to use these websites as opposed to focusing on working and studying.
Cách 2:
In my opinion, people often fail to maintain their concentration due to both outside
distractions and self-distractions. For example, they cannot stay focused when others
talking around them. Also, many people tend to multitask so one task will suffer. For
example, it is impossible for them to surf the internet and work at the same time, so they
cannot highly concentrate on their work.
According to human nature, people feel more comfortable and efficient in environments
with a variety of tasks; and they are losing a lot of efficiency in the workplace due to
multitasking, outside distractions and self-distractions. (source: cambridge)
STUDY
Well, I am a student at VNU which is one of the best universities in Vietnam. I am majoring
in business management because I dream of becoming a businessman, and enrolling in
my university is the first step to make my dream come true.
I chose my university because of 2 main reasons. Firstly, it is one of the most famous
universities with many proficient teachers and professors, so I would have the chance
to learn valuable knowledge from them. Hence, it is easier for me to look for a well-
paid job. Secondly, my uncle’s house is not far from that university so it is very
convenient for me.
Actually, we get to learn a variety of subjects such as philosophy, economics, math and so
on. However, I have to say that my university teachers place great importance on scores,
so I try my best to cram for knowledge unless I won’t graduate from my university.
I like learning economic management the most because my teachers pass on valuable
knowledge about how to manage a company to me. I think it is very important for me to
make my dream of becoming a businessman come true. Additionally, I also love
philosophy. Most students think that it is an unnecessary subject, but if we focus on this
subject, we can become passive thinkers because it teaches us how to arrange events and
analyze definitions logically.
Actually, both teachers and friends are very important to me. My lecturers specialize
in teaching and give me valuable lessons. However, my friends also give me useful
ideas about how to study effectively at my university.
As I said before, I wish I would become an entrepreneur, so learning these above subjects
is a must for me because I can take advantage of my knowledge to manage my company
in the future properly.
I have a knack for learning languages so I learn different languages. I speak english
as a second language. Also, I have a good command of Japanese because I usually
talk with Japanese people.
It is very difficult to learn a new language bec we have to cram for a lot of vocabulary
and practice a lot. For example, I enrolled in many english courses and spent a great
deal of time learning english at home to speak english fluently.
I love languages so in the future I would consider learning Korean. This is because I
can discover more about this country and its culture. Moreover, I have more job
opportunities to work for Korean companies if I am competent at this language.
Most people in Vietnam start learning math at the age of 6 when they start their primary
education. It is considered one of the most important subjects in the school curriculum.
Well, math is one of my favorite subjects so I usually get high scores. Some years ago, I
passed a math examination with flying colors at my university. My parents were proud
of me and gave me a lot of compliments on my incredible achievement.
In my opinion, math is one of the most important subjects because it helps students improve
logical thinking skills and creativity which are all important in their future career. For
example, most successful people are often proficient at math because they can take
advantage of knowledge associated with math to manage their companies effectively.
SCHOOL
I was studying at Yen Khanh A high school which was seen as one of the best schools in
my province.
I was quite extroverted so I took part in a lot of extra-curricular activities at school, and
I had a lot of friends from different ages. When I ran into problems, they would give me
a hand with sound advice.
Which subject did you find most difficult at your school? Why?
I have to say that English was the most difficult subject for me because it is not my mother
tongue, so I had to spend a great deal of time taking part in extra classes with foreigners to
cram for vocabulary and improve my pronunciation.
English plays a vital role in my life so I am trying my best to have a good command of
English. If I could speak English fluently, I would possess a clear advantage when looking
for a well-paid job in other countries.
I learnt from a number of eminent teachers but I loved my English teacher the most. Her
name is Hoa who always put herself in my shoes to help me solve all problems.
No, because I dream of becoming a tour guide so I am trying my best to make my dream
come true. It is also the main reason why I want to have a good command of English,
which is a must to communicate with people all over the world.
I often listen to music on my mobile phone, particular English songs, and the reason for
this is that I can not only take it easy in the morning but also improve my English through
these songs.
SCIENCE
As you can probably guess, subjects related to science are an important part of the school
curriculum, so students in my country start learning science at primary school where we
learn some basic definitions in math and physics lessons. As we are more mature, we study
in-depth scientific knowledge in secondary school, high school and university.
I do believe that museums are an ideal vehicle for educating science because they often
have a variety of exhibitions related to science. For instance, if people go to Hanoi air force
museum, they may have a closer insight into the evolution of airplanes and how jet engines
are made and used by human beings.
MATH/ NUMBERS
Most people in Vietnam start learning math at the age of 6 when they start their primary
education. It is considered one of the most important subjects in the school curriculum.
Well, math is one of my favorite subjects so I usually get high scores. Some years ago, I
passed a math examination with flying colors at my university. My parents were proud
of me and gave me a lot of compliments on my incredible achievement.
In my opinion, math is one of the most important subjects because it helps students improve
logical thinking skill and creativity which are all important in their future career. As you
may know, most successful people are often proficient at math because they can take
advantage of their knowledge associated with math to manage their companies
effectively.
Yes, every student in my country has a calculator which is very necessary when learning
math. If we have a calculator, we can quickly calculate and solve many exercises at school.
As I said I am quite good at math so numbering is not a problem for me. When I was a
student at high school, my math teacher told me that I should become a bean counter as I
was competent at counting.
Well, I use a lot of numbers every day but I like 18 the most because it is related to my
memories. When I was 18, I started learning at my dream university. It marked the point at
which I was responsible for my life without financial support from my parents.
TOPIC: PEOPLE
FAMILY
Yes, I am living with my family in a house which is located on the outskirts of Hanoi city.
We often take advantage of our free time to talk and relax together. I think it is a good
way to strengthen our relationships.
Well, I am up to my ears in my jobs, so I don’t spend much time with my family. However,
I take advantage of my free time to cook with my mother and play sports with my father
to relax at weekends.
How do you spend time with your family? = what do you do with them?
I always try to take part in as many activities with my family as possible. For example, we
pay visits to beautiful destinations each year to let off steam after long working hours
together. Sometimes, I also cook with my mom as I have a knack for cooking.
Now, I am wet behind the ears so I want to live in Hanoi capital to accumulate more work
experience in big companies. However, I will return to my birthplace to look for a stable
job and live with my family to take care of them.
Yes, I am very close to my parents who always give me sound advice if I run into
difficulties. For example, when I feel down in the dumps, my father puts himself in my
shoes and encourages me to overcome all problems.
My family has considerable influence on me. To be more precise, my father who is the
breadwinner of my family, is a good role model in my life. He was born in a poor family
but he has tried his best to raise my family. I also want to become a good parent like him
in the future.
I am so busy with my job so I don’t have much time to visit my parents and relatives who
are living in my hometown. If I have a long holiday, I will take advantage of my free time
to have some parties with them to be closer to each other.
We often have some parties. We can share all sorts of stories on the dining table. Also, my
relatives and I are very keen on travelling so we often visit some beautiful places to let
off steam on our vacations.
Yesterday, I went to my cousin’s house to celebrate with him as he gets a higher position
in his company. We drank beer and sang some songs together.
FRIENDS
I am quite social so I make friends with people from all walks of life. Older friends pass
their valuable experience and knowledge on to me, and I also help younger ones when
they run into problems.
I am so busy with my job that I usually have to work around the clock to hit deadlines so
I don’t have much time to talk with my friends. However, I take advantage of my free
time at weekends to talk with them about my life.
Do you have any close friends who live far from you?
My best friend is living in HCMC. We were born and bred in a small village in Ninh binh
province but then he moved to HCMC in search of new job opportunities.
I have friends from different ages. Especially, I take part in an English club with like-
minded people who are older or younger than me. We often practice English together to
have a good command of English.
Honestly, my friends play an important role in my life. They give me a hand with sound
advice if I run into difficulties. Last year, I was down in the dumps as I couldn’t pass an
important interview in a big company, they listened to my problems and encouraged me to
wait for more opportunities, which cheered me up.
I have various friends and we always respect each other. My friends are honest, humble and
helpful, so we always try our best and help each other when someone runs into problems.
Actually, I am quite extroverted, so I make friends with people from all walks of life and
talk with them a lot. I also talk with my family and colleagues about all sorts of stories.
Well, my family is my flesh and blood, so I share with them all ups and downs in my
life. Also, talk with my colleagues and friends about my job and hobbies. For example, I
have a passion for sports, so I often talk with my like-minded friends about some sport
events.
Between you and me, I am a bit conservative, so I often think carefully before giving my
ideas. If someone suggests another opinion, I will try to find suitable evidence to support
myself as opposed to accepting their ideas.
Well, people sometimes have different opinions during their conversations because of two
main reasons. Firstly, if people are not confident, they have an inclination to follow the
crow. For example, when a person’s ideas are against others, he may worry and consider
changing his ideas to be consistent with others/ to facilitate their conversation flow.
Moreover, some people also change their thinking when they receive better suggestions and
comments from older people who have accumulated a lot of experience.
Well, as I said I am an extrovert, so I often go to some crowded areas to make friends with
people from all walks of life. Last weekend, I visited Hoan Kiem lake and talked with
some new friends from Russia. I think that the more friends I have, the more meaningful
my life will be.
As an active person, making friends is not a problem for me now, and I can talk with many
friends, regardless of their age and social background. However, I was kind of close-
minded when I was a kid, so I didn’t make many friends.
Well, each person has different ways to strike up a new conversation but I often pretend
that I don’t have a good sense of navigation and then ask them for directions. Most people
are willing to help me and then I can ask them about their family because I think that most
people are proud of their family and want to share information related to their family
members. Then I may talk with them about their hobbies, and our conversation will be
easier if we have some similar interests in something. It is easy to talk with someone who
is like-minded.
Are you afraid of being evaluated when you meet someone for the first time?
Well, I always want to leave good a impression on others, so whenever I talk with
strangers, I ask myself what might they think about me and I will try to be polite to talk
with them.
FAMOUS PEOPLE
celebrities, pop stars/ icons/ divas/ musicians, politicians, singers, musicians, talented
people
I am really keen on music, and often take in information related to famous singers every
day. Last month, I met Mytam who is my favorite singer. She has a reputation for her
high voice and friendliness. In her concert, I asked her for a signature and took some
pictures with her to show off on facebook and other social networking websites. I also met
some celebrities when I was a student at university, they came to my university and
advertised some products.
Well, all kinds of jobs have famous people as long as they are talented. However, most
celebrities are working in the entertainment industry such as singers or actors who always
draw attention from audiences.
It would be my dream to interview celebrities because I believe that they have experienced
a number of problems before becoming famous, so I can learn a lot in the interview. Their
stories about determination and talents can motivate me to work harder to achieve my
goals.
I dream of becoming a famous singer which gives me opportunities to go to the four corners
of the world and make a lot of money. However, it is impossible for me as I am not endowed
with a good singing voice.
AGE
I have a lot of memorable memories every year, so it is quite difficult for me to talk about
my favorite one, but if I have to choose it here I would say 18 when I graduated from my
high school. This year marks the point at which I didn’t rely on my parents’ financial
support as I had my first part time job. Also, I passed the university entrance examination
with flying colors and took part in my dream university, so it was considered as the first
step for me to make my dream of becoming a businessman come true.
I am totally satisfied with my current age as I have just been accepted by my dream
company. I have a good job to pay for my living. Also, all members of my family are
healthy and spend a great deal of time together to strengthen our family relationships.
Finally, I have a lot of friends who are willing to support me any time. Therefore, I love my
current age.
As you can probably guess, most children in Vietnam start enrolling in primary school
when they are 6 years old. This age is suitable as children are mature enough to take care
of themselves.
I am an extrovert, so I make friends with people from all walks of life, regardless of their
age. I believe that the more friends I have, the more meaningful my life is. I share them a
lot of stories about my life and take part in different activities to take it easy. Also, my
friends are the pillar of support and always keep me in line when I have problems.
If you are 18 years old, you are entitled to have a driving license provided by the state, but
in my own opinion, 20 is more suitable as it is the age when people become full-grown
adults. If people have more time, they would be more mature to control their driving
behaviour. In fact, a variety of accidents have been caused by careless drivers who are
teenagers.
Well, I haven’t received this question. I guess no one likes the feeling of growing older
because they may have more concerns to worry about, and I am not an exception. When I
was a student, I just focused on studying as my parents gave me financial and emotional
support. However, now I have to live independently to make money to pay for my living.
I would say yes, because if you behave with people fairly and equally, irrespective of their
age, you will show your respect to them. When I talk with the old and young, I always try
to be polite and gentle.
Well, I am a bit ambitious and often set up a lot of goals for my life. The most incredible
accomplishment was when I was 18 as I passed the university entrance exam with flying
colors and studied at one of the most famous universities in Vietnam. I was over the moon
at that time as my parents were proud of my unbelievable achievement. Also, I was offered
a leadership position after my graduation in my dream university, which made me happy.
NAME
Well, each Vietnamese name often has a special meaning so when a person was born,
parents or grandparents often think carefully before giving a name for their kid. For
example, my name is named after a scientist in my country who contributed a lot to the
development of science in Vietnam so my parents also hope that I would become a
researcher in the future.
Actually, my name is very popular in my country as it is the same as the name of a scientist
/flower /historical figure so many parents want to give a beautiful name for their children.
There are several names in my country but I think the most popular one would be “Bình”
which represents the piece. Additionally, “Vượng’ is also very common in Vietnam as
parents want their children to become successful as the name “Vượng”
According to traditions of Vietnam, parents or grandparents often give names for their
babies as they have a close relationship with infants.
Do people in your country organize a party when they give a name for someone?
Yes, after giving an official name for children, people in my country usually have a special
party to welcome their children. They invite their relatives, neighbors and friends to take
part in this party.
I usually try to remember names of others because it is the best way to show my respect to
them. It would be impossible to have a good relationship with others when you even cannot
remember their name.
TOPIC: PLACES
ACCOMMODATION – FURNITURE
I am living in a terraced house which is located on the outskirts of Hanoi city, and I’ve
been living there for nearly 3 years. However, in the past, I was living with my parents in
a bungalow in a tranquil area of my hometown.
I have a knack for cooking so the kitchen is always my favorite place. Sometimes I cook
delicious meals when I have some friends over. I also like the living room where I put a
big screen and a sofa, so I can watch films to let off steam after hard-working hours.
I am now wet behind the ears so it is vitally important for me to live in the capital to
accumulate more work experience in the near future. However, I will come back to my
hometown to look for a well-paid job and live in a house with my parents as I want to look
after them.
I really want to widen the kitchen to put a big dining table as I am a big fan of cooking so
I can cook delicious meals for my family. We can have dinner and talk about all ups and
downs together. I also want to have a hanging garden with many flowers in a balcony
because I love flowers.
Honestly, I love my house because it is not only spacious but also comfy. I have a big
kitchen where my family and I often cook together. Actually, I have a real knack for
cooking, so I am always happy to prepare delicious/tasty meals for my family.
Additionally, I love my king-sized bedroom where I can take it easy after long working
hours and leave all the worries of the world behind.
Well, my house has a lot of windows as my parents are carpenters and they create windows
to make my house more beautiful. Thanks to such windows, I can look over the beautiful
views from my house. Also, windows are important for air circulation, which is really
important for our health.
Are there any shops and facilities near where you live?
Well, Hanoi is one of the biggest cities with a lot of hustle and bustle, so there are a variety
of shopping malls and modern facilities in the vicinity of my neighborhood. At
weekends, I often go to the cinema to let off steam or do exercise in the park to get into
shape.
In my opinion, it is an ideal place for raising children to become well-rounded adults thanks
to optimum growing conditions. For example, they are entitled to study at high-quality
schools which have proficient teachers. Also, there are some nearby hospitals with highly
qualified doctors who can take advantage of their knowledge to provide the best care to
children.
Do you have good relationships with your neighbours? Is there any special thing about
your neighbourhood?
Well, I have a close relationship with people living nearby because they are all not only
friendly but also kind, so I often ask them for advice when I run into difficulties. We
also have some parties on special occasions. As cooking is my forte, I usually prepare food
for our parties.
I dream of living in a big villa which is well equipped with a lot of modern facilities such
as an infinity swimming pool. This house would cost me a fortune but I will try my best
to make my dream come true. My friends and family members often think that it is
impossible to buy this kind of exorbitant accommodation, but I think if I work hard enough,
I can do almost everything.
Honestly, I prefer living in a house to a flat as I can design and decorate my house based
on my hobbies. By contrast, if I live in a condominium, I need to have permission to repair
my flat.
As most little boys, I dreamt of living in a huge palace with my family because I watched
a lot of cartoons with characters having this kind of house. I often put myself in their shoes
and thought about my dream house.
Actually, my house is well equipped with a lot of furniture such as a king-sized bed, air
conditioner and so on, so I am always comfy in my house. Also, my father used to be a
carpenter so he made some chairs and tables, and we often sit there and have coffee or tea
together.
As I said my house has many pieces of furniture but I like the sofa in the living room the
most as our family usually gathers and watches movies together. It helps us strengthen our
family bonds, and I have to say that I enjoy every moment with my family.
As I am really keen on cooking, I want to have a big dining table so I will have delicious
meals with my family there. It is also more convenient for me to have some friends over
for dinner because now our table is pretty small, so we sometimes need to have meals in
the living room. However, if I have time, I want to make a table with my parents as opposed
to buying it in a store. This is because my father is an ex-carpenter, so making wooden
furniture is in my blood.
Some relatives are also living in my neighbourhood, so I often take advantage of my free
time to visit them and share all sorts of stories. My uncles have accumulated a lot of
experience, so they often pass valuable knowledge on to me. Also, I often play sports or
read books with my cousins as we are all like-minded.
To tell you the truth, I am always on the go, and don’t have much time at home. However,
at weekends, I often amuse myself by listening to music in my bedroom or watching some
movies with my family to take it easy. Also, cooking is my favourite activity to let off
steam as I have a passion for cooking.
HOMETOWN/CITIES
I was born and bred in Ninhbinh city which is one of the most beautiful destinations in
the north of Vietnam, which pulls in tourists from the four corners of the world.
I had been living there for 18 years before moving to Hanoi to pursue my university
education. In the next few years, I still want to live in Hanoi to accumulate more experience
as I am still wet behind the ears, but I would consider coming back to my hometown to
open a business and live with my parents as I want to take care of them when they get older.
I have some relatives who are also living in my hometown, so I often take advantage of
my free time to visit them and share all sorts of stories. My uncles have accumulated a lot
of experience, so they often pass valuable knowledge on to me. Also, I often play sports
or read books with my cousins as we are all like-minded.
What are the differences between your hometown in the past and now?
Well, there are several differences between my hometown now and in the past but I think
the main one is that it was a poor town as people relied on agriculture for most of their
incomes in the past, but now it is one of the richest cities in my country with a variety of
jobs related to industry.
A part from traffic problems, people who live in big cities have to encounter various
matters. For example, many factories and vehicles often discharge exhaust emissions,
which pollute the environment. Therefore, people may suffer from diseases related to the
pollution. In addition, the living cost is also a big problem with people in cities so they are
under a lot of pressure to earn enough money to cover their needs.
Can you tell me something about where are you living? / where are you living?
I am living in Hanoi which is the capital of Vietnam. As you may know, Hanoi is seen as
one of the most beautiful destinations with many tourist attractions. I am a big fan of
travelling so I really like this city. Additionally, people in Hanoi are not only friendly but
also kind. If I run into difficulties, they may give me a hand with sound advice.
Are there any interesting places near the places you live?
Well, I am living in one of the most beautiful cities with many attractive destinations. I
often take advantage of my free time to go to Hoankiem lake to talk with many foreigners
to improve my English or take photos as it is not far from my house. There are also some
parks and gardens in the vicinity of my neighbourhood so I can go there to do exercises to
get into shape.
I have been living in Hanoi for approximately 8 years since I began to study at my
university. It is the biggest city in the north of Vietnam with many companies so I can easily
look for a well-paid job for a living.
There are a variety of benefits of living in cities but I think the most important one is that
you are able to enjoy your life and improve your living standards because the infrastructure,
education, healthcare and other social services are much better in cities than in the
countryside. Moreover, job opportunities should be taken into consideration as it is very
easy for you to have a well-paid job in cities.
I am now wet behind the ears so it is vitally important for me to live in the capital to
accumulate more work experience in the near future. However, I will come back my home
to look for a well-paid job as I want to take time to look after my parents.
You know, Hanoi is seen as one of the most crowded cities in Vietnam as it is the capital.
People from the countryside have flocked to this city in search of job opportunities to
earn money to raise their families.
To be honest, I am not really keen on city life because of two main reasons. Firstly, it is too
crowded that I get traffic congestion every day so I waste a lot of time. Secondly, the living
cost is extremely high so I am under a lot of pressure to make enough money to cover all
bills every day.
TRANSPORTATION
The traffic system here is not very effective although the government has pumped a huge
amount of money into transport. If you live in big cities, you often get stuck in traffic
congestion. If you live in the countryside, it is very difficult to access public transport.
Well, public vehicles are widely used by people in big cities as they can save money by
taking a bus or train. However, most people in rural areas often use private vehicles due to
the lack of public transport.
Well, I haven’t used public transport for a long time. It’s about 5 years ago when I was a
senior student at university, if my memory serves me right. As a student, I was a bit
strapped for cash, so taking a bus was a good way to save money.
Do you want to change anything about the public transport system in your city?
Most buses and trains in my city are quite old, so most people are hesitant to use them. It
would be better if the government invests in high-quality public vehicles which are more
comfy for passengers. Also, I want to have a private lane for public transport, which can
help to reduce traffic congestion.
In the future, I will ride a motorbike to go to work to save time as opposed to taking a bus
or a train because I am on the go everyday so I don’t want to waste time in an
uncomfortable public vehicle. If the government allocates financial sources to modern
subway or railway lines, which are more comfortable and faster, I will use public transport.
To tell you the truth, I love bicycles which are more environmentally-friendly than other
forms of transport. I place importance on the environment, so it is my favorite vehicle.
Also, cycling is a good way to stay healthy. It would be perfect if the government runs
some bike-sharing schemes to encourage more cyclists and a bicycle-friendly city. I am
always up to my ears in my job, and often ride my motorbike to go to work to save time,
but I often cycle with my family at weekends.
MUSEUMS
Honestly, I am really keen on going to museums because they are ideal places to learn
history. When I go to Hanoi museum, I take part in some exhibitions to learn about
historical events. Also, I talked with like-minded friends who share the same interest in
learning history.
In the past, I visited museums twice a month to take it easy and learn more knowledge.
However, I am always on the go now so I just go to the museum twice a year.
People in Vietnam place importance on historical values so we have been building a lot
of museums to educate young generations about history. For example, teachers often take
students to museums and help them actually understand historical events through videos
and documents rather than just relying on history books. Furthermore, museums now are
very modern and they are also equipped with a lot of modern facilities. Therefore, many
people also go there to relax.
YOUR COUNTRY
Well, I was born and bred in Vietnam and I am really proud of being a member of my
country. We have our 4000- year history and all people take pride in what our ancestors
did to lay the foundations for us. Also, it is a beautiful country with a lot of destinations.
Local people are very friendly and kind. Therefore, I really love my country.
I am really keen on learning history and usually read history books and watch some movies
about historical events which took place in Vietnam. Thanks to historical knowledge I
treasure what I have now.
There are different factors which make a culture different to the rest. Geographical location
is a key determiner. For instance, people living near the sea have some activities and
festivals associated with fishing, while people in mountainous areas don’t have this kind of
activities. Also, history decides the culture and customs of people living in a particular area
because older generations often pass historical lessons on to younger ones.
Actually, I am always on the go and don’t have much free time. However, I often take
advantage of my free time at weekends to play sports to get a higher level of fitness or
take part in some family bonding activities to take it easy after long working hours and
strengthen our relationships.
It is up to each person to decide, but I think most people often choose to hang out with their
friends to take part in some recreational activities to let off steam. They may have a cup
of coffee or visit some beautiful destinations. Some people also have special pastimes such
as reading books or playing the guitar. For example, unlike most people who often go out,
my sister just wants to stay at home playing musical instruments as she is endowed with
special musical talents.
What are the differences between your leisure time activities now and in the past?
Well, my parents attached great value to my school records, so I was always up to my ears
in exam revision, and didn’t have much free time. However, I have more freedom now to
enjoy my hobbies. Also, in the past we almost read books or watched movies as
recreational activities as I was living in the countryside, but now I live in Hanoi city with
a lot of hustle and bustle, so I have more forms of entertainment.
What are the differences between free time activities of women and men?
I think that there do exist a variety of disparities between men and women in terms of their
leisure time activities. For example, while men often choose to play sports as they place
importance on their health, women prefer going shopping to other activities as they value
the importance of their beauty over other things. Additionally, men prefer some
activities with their friends while women often spend time with their children.
TRAVELLING/ PICNIC
Do you like travelling?
Well, I am keen on travelling, and the reason for this is that it is seen as the best way to
take it easy. My friends and I often pay visits to famous tourist attractions in my city to
take part in recreational activities together.
Can you tell me the last time you visited a city?
To the best of my recollection, it was about 5 months ago, my friends and I paid a visit to
Da nang city which is seen as one of the most beautiful coastal cities in my country with
several tourist attractions. We went there to let off steam after an examination which I
passed with flying colors.
Do you make plans when going on a vacation?
As a manager, I am always on the go. Therefore, if I want to visit a destination, I always
have to prepare carefully. For example, I booked airline tickets 10 days in advance and
made a detailed schedule for my vacation to Singapore last summer.
Where do you want to visit in the future?
Well, I intend to visit London next year when I have a lot of free time. The reason why I
choose London as an ideal destination is that it is one of the most beautiful cities in the
world with several tourist attractions. I am keen on travelling so it is perfectly suitable for
me. London is also famous for prestigious schools and universities with students from
the four corners of the world so I can easily make friends and discover different cultures.
Would you like to travel into space?
Well, that sounds great. I really want to discover more about our earth and galaxy. However,
I think it is very difficult as travelling into space may cost me a fortune as I have to spend
much money on tickets, food and special state-of-the-art devices.
Is it necessary to discover other planets?
In my opinion, natural resources have been exploited at an alarming rate in recent years
so discovering other planets is important for human beings unless future generations may
have to encounter hash living conditions without any natural resources.
What is your most memorable trip?
I have visited different places but the most memorable trip for me would be 5 years ago. I
passed my toeic examination with flying colors, so my family and I decided to have a trip
to Danang city to celebrate my attainment. It was fantastic for me as I had a chance to visit
one of the most beautiful coastal cities.
PICNICS
To be honest, when I was a kid, my parents placed great importance on my school results,
so I spent most of my time studying at home and school instead of taking picnics. However,
if I got high scores, they would take me to the park or some gardens as a reward to motivate
me to study more.
There were some beautiful gardens in the vicinity of my neighborhood, so we can go there
to let off steam together. We often brought a tent and some food, and had fun there.
I am now always on the go, so I don’t have much time for picnicking but at weekends, I
often take advantage of my free time to go picnic with my family to take it easy after
long working hours.
It is up to each person to decide but I think most people often choose some tranquil areas
to have picnics with their family and friends. They can go to the park or garden to enjoy
the fresh atmosphere with their friends, some people also choose to go to some mountainous
areas to discover nature and escape from the hustle and bustle of cities.
It would be a great experience for us. Normally, people often have meals at home or in
some restaurants, so having an outdoor party is great. I have a real knack for cooking so
when my family has some trips, I often prepare food for all members.
SHOPPING/ CLOTHES
I have to say that I am really keen on shopping which is considered as the best way to take
it easy after long working hours. At weekends, I often take advantage of my free time to go
shopping with my friends or colleagues to let off steam.
It really depends. When I was a university student, I was a bit strapped for cash, so I
didn’t usually go shopping, but now I have a job and a stable income so I go shopping every
weekend to try on new clothes and buy necessary stuff for my life. Sometimes, we just go
to shopping malls for window shopping to get rid of stress.
It’s actually up to where I go shopping. If I go to some market stalls, I can easily haggle
over the price of some items before making purchases, but prices in large shopping malls
and supermarkets are often fixed, so it is impossible to make a bargain.
Yes, I often make a comparison between prices and the quality of products given by
different sellers, particularly when I buy something online. There are some apps which help
consumers easily compare prices and the reputation of shops, so I can choose the most
suitable items for my family.
I place importance on my appearance, so I often choose shirts and trousers and other
elegant items when I go to work. However, if I stay at home, I will choose some casual
clothes like T-shirts and jeans, which make me more comfortable.
Well, I am a bit thin so I will not wear a suit unless I am fatter. It is not suitable for me as I
look terrible in a suit. Even when I buy some items of clothing, I often ask a tailor to fix the
dimensions to make them fit to my body.
Well, as a team leader of a big company, I often wear my company’s uniform on weekdays
or some elegant clothes when I meet my customers. However, at weekends, I often wear
casual pieces of clothing such as jeans or T-shirt as I feel more comfortable when putting
on these clothes. Also, I often go picnic with my family, so I would wear something that I
don’t mind getting dirty.
I like every color, except for yellow because if I wear yellow clothes, I look a bit terrible as
my skin is quite black and I am not suitable with this color. However, people with white
skin like this color as they look more attractive, particularly when they go somewhere under
the sunshine.
I am a bit strapped for cash so hardly do I buy branded clothes which often cost me a
fortune. Therefore, I don’t care about the price of my items, and will wear anything which
is suitable and cheap as opposed to wearing designer labels.
( more ideas: I often buy clothes based on brands as I believe that prestigious companies
often provide high-quality items. Last week, I dressed up the smartest evening wear when
joining in a birthday party. My friends gave me a lot of compliments on my outfit bought
from LV)
MAKING LIST
I am a bit of a careful person, so I often make a lot of lists. This is because if I make some
to-do lists, I can save time and control my tasks effectively. For instance, I am always on
the go, so I cannot remember what I have to do at work unless I have a list of activities that
I have to do every day.
Well, I am quite tech-savvy, and I have a state-of-the-art mobile phone which is very
useful for me because I can take advantage of its interesting features to make some
timetables and lists. By contrast, it is quite inconvenient to make notes on paper because I
am kind of careless and often lose my notes.
Well, as I said I am quite careful and always want to save every moment to work. Therefore,
if I go shopping, I often make detailed notes about what I need to buy, then I mark off items
that I buy. I think it is a great way for me to save my time, unless I would miss some items.
The main reason why some people are reluctant to make lists is because they have
incredible memory which allows them to remember what they have to do, so making a to-
do list is something unnecessary for them. In addition, some people are quite careless, so
they don’t want to make any notes and often ask others for help if they run into problems.
WEEKENDS
As a team leader, I am always on the go, and I don’t have much time on weekdays, so I
often take advantage of my free time at weekends to play sports to get into shape, go
shopping and take part in some recreational activities with my family to take it easy after
long working hours.
In my opinion, weekends are of necessity for all people. In the contemporary world, most
people are under considerable pressure at work and school, so they can get rid of stress at
weekends. Also, people can take part in some activities with friends and family at weekends
to strengthen their relationships.
I am now living in Hanoi which is one of the biggest cities in Vietnam with a lot of hustle
and bustle, so we have a lot of activities on weekends. For example, citizens can go to
walking streets to let off steam with many people, or they can take part in some festivals
to discover local cultures and traditions.
Now, I prefer hanging out with my friends or family to take it easy instead of watching TV
programs. The main reason is that as I spend most of my weekdays in my office so if I do
have free time, I want to take part in some outdoor activities to be more active.
SPORTS
I am really keen on sports, particularly football, so I often take advantage of my free time
at weekends to play this sport with my friends to let off steam and get into shape.
Is there any sport that you particularly like?/ what is your favourite sport?
Well, as I said football is always my favorite sport because of two main reasons. Firstly, it
is considered as the king sport which is very ubiquitous, so I can easily find some like-
minded friends to play this sport together. Secondly, it is a kind of team sport, so I can
improve my teamwork skills by playing football.
When I was a high school student, I was a goal keeper of my team. Actually, I was not
really good at this sport due to some health problems at that time, but my coach put himself
in my shoes and motivated me to play this sport a lot because he believed that I could
overcome all problems if I played sports.
I place importance on my health and usually watch sport programs to learn some tips and
relax. It is perfect to watch some sport games of my favorite teams over the weekend.
My father was really keen on playing sports so he often took me to the part to play football
with him to take it easy and stay healthy.
I am a big fan of Liverpool which is one of the most famous football club in the world. In
the future, I wish I would go to Anfield and meet my idols.
FISHING
I would say that I love fishing as it is considered as the best way to take it easy after long
working hours. As a team leader, I am always up to my ears in my job so am under
considerable pressure. Hence, I often take advantage of my free time to go fishing with
like-minded friends or my dad to let off steam.
Honestly, I have a real knack for cooking and fish is always my favorite food which has
a high level of protein, calcium and vitamins, so I am healthier when I eat fish every day.
At weekends, I often go to the market with my mom and choose some fresh fish to cook
for my family.
It actually depends on where you live. For example, fishing is not a common activity in big
cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city as people have more forms of entertainment like
going to the cinema or the zoo which are often more attractive than fishing. However,
people in the rural areas don’t have many choices and they often choose fishing as a good
way to let off steam.
As you can probably guess, fish can be easily found in lakes, rivers, and ponds. Also,
Vietnam is a coastal country with more than 3000 km of the shore, so fishmen living near
the sea catch fish as the main source of their income.
Well, people are keen on fishing as it is considered as one of the best ways to take it easy
after long working and studying hours. They can go to a lake or river to catch fish and
enjoy tranquil atmosphere.
Raising fish as a pet is not widely chosen by many people because most people choose to
raise a dog or a cat. They can take advantage of their free time to walk a dog or cat to
take it easy but it is quite boring to spend time with fish. However, fish is often cheap, so
some people buy aquariums to raise fish at home.
COOKING/MEALS/ EATING
What are the differences between your eating habits now and in the past?
There are several differences between my eating habits now and in the past but I think the
main one is that I was really keen on fast food which is very convenient. However, I attach
great importance to my health now so I always try to arrange my time to prepare healthy
food for myself to improve my health.
Actually, I often come back home late and have dinner alone. Some years ago, I was living
with my family in my hometown so my mother who has a knack for cooking, helped me
prepare for my meals but I am living alone in Hanoi city and I have to do everything by
myself.
How often do you eat out? Why? How often do you cook?
In my perspective, young adults in my country are keen on playing games or hanging out
with their friends instead of cooking. Their parents often help them to prepare delicious
meals so they don’t pay attention to cooking.
Actually, foreign restaurants are very popular in Vietnam, particularly in big cities like
Hanoi or Saigon city. I guess the reason for this is that Vietnamese citizens always want to
try different kinds of food so they often eat foreign food.
People spend most of their time working and studying so they usually eat out but in the
future, they may have to allocate more time for cooking because it is the best way to prevent
diseases related to food.
I prefer family meals rather than meals in restaurants because having meals helps us
strengthen our family relationships. At weekends, my family and I usually cook together to
prepare for our family’s dinners.
FILMS
I am really into watching movies as it is seen as a good way to take it easy so I go to the
cinema with my friends every weekend to let off steam after long working hours.
There are different kinds of movies screened on the Internet and cinemas but I love action
movies the most because they are so interesting and attractive. Last weekend, I went to
CGV cinema with my best friends to watch “ Fast and Furious’ which is a Box-office hit
in Vietnam. We were totally engrossed in this blockbuster.
Actually, I prefer staying at home to watch some interesting movies on the internet rather
than going to the cinema because I can save a lot of time as well as money. You know, we
can easily find most movies which have been released recently on the internet with special
effects and contents on the Internet.
Well, I am a big fan of Tu Long who is not only a film star but also a good role model in
my life. Although he is very busy with his film projects, he takes part in a lot of volunteer
activities to help poor people so he contributes a lot to society.
I think Vietnamese people are keen on watching foreign movies, particularly some
blockbusters from Hollywood. Therefore, they are fans of movie stars like Selena Gomez,
Angelina Jolie or Tony Stark who are main actresses and actors in many box-office hits.
Actually, I prefer Vietnamese movies to international ones and I always spend more time
watching Vietnamese movies, so I am keen on some famous film stars in my country.
TAKING A REST
Well, people have different ways to take it easy but I usually amuse myself by listening to
music because I am really keen on music. Sometimes, I also have some friends over for
dinner and I am really happy to prepare a lot of food for them.
It really depends. If I feel tired, I would take a nap to recover my health. If my health is
good enough, I want to take advantage of my time to read a book or listen to music to get
rid of stress.
I feel comfortable even if it is just a short sleep and then I can highly concentrate on my
job. Actually, I usually spend 30 minutes sleeping at noon before focusing on working or
studying in the afternoon.
In my opinion, it is vitally important to take rest every day because we are living in a fast-
paced world so we are always up to our ears in our job. Hence, taking a rest can help us
recover our health and let off steam.
TV PROGRAMS
Well, when I come back home from my company, I usually watch online shows on my
mobile phone to take it easy and leave all the worries of the world behind.
There are different TV programs but comedies are always my favorite choice because these
programs help me let off steam after long working hours. Sometimes I also watch news
programs to keep abreast of current affairs.
Do you talk with your friends about the program you watched?
Yes, I often discuss with my friends and colleagues about some TV programs. For instance,
we can talk about some hot pieces of news or some funny shows together.
SINGING
Well, I am really keen on singing as it is considered as the best way to take it easy after
long working hours. In the evening, I often sing alone in my king-sized bedroom and leave
all the worries of the world behind.
I am quite good at singing but I sing a lot. On some special occasions, I often sing with my
friends, colleagues and family. They sometimes give me compliments on my singing skills.
Yes, I really like it. I actually have a group of like-minded friends who share the same
interest in singing. At weekends, we often take advantage of our free time to sing with
each other. Then we can give each other comments on how to improve our skills
TOPIC: TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTER/ THE INTERNET
I am a bean counter so I use my computer every day for my job. Sometimes, I also use it
to keep in touch with my friends and family members by making some video calls on
facebook or chat with them.
Do you think you will use computers more or less in the future?
Well, I think that I will definitely use my computer more and more in the future because it
plays an important role in my job. Sometimes, I have to hit deadlines by burning the
midnight oil so my computer is very necessary to complete my job on time.
Did you use the Internet frequently when you were a child?
Actually, I was under a lot of pressure as my parents placed great importance on learning
English so I used my computer daily to study from virtual lessons on the Internet.
What are the differences between the way people use computers nowadays and in the
past?
There are several differences between the way people use computers now and in the past,
but I think the main one is that people almost used computers for their jobs but now they
can take advantage of computers for different purposes. For example, they can not only
send reports through computers but also let off steam by listening to music or watching
movies.
I am very proficient at editing because I took part in an editing class when I was at my
university. Now, I can use my computer to make a lot of interesting videos to post on
facebook or instagram. Additionally, my typing skill is also good so I can type very fast
with 10 fingers.
As I said I am a voracious reader so I often take advantage of my free time to read books
or news to enrich my knowledge. Reading is also considered as the best way to let off steam
after long working hours.
To tell you the truth, I dream of becoming a businessman, so I often have my nose in
economic books when I have spare time. Some autobiographies written by famous
businessmen in the world give me a lot of knowledge about how to start an enterprise and
how to manage my time and human resources effectively. I think that I can take advantage
of my knowledge to open a business by myself in the future. Also, I have a keen interest
in sports, particularly football, so I take in daily information about sports daily.
Well, when I was a student, I often spent time in the library digging a lot of documents to
improve my knowledge. However, I mostly focused on books related to some subjects at
my school, as I wanted to get as high scores as possible.
I am a voracious reader and I love both magazines and newspapers because magazines
focus on a particular topic, so I can have a profound understanding of a field if I read
magazines. However, newspapers provide information related to different kinds of topics
such as the environment and education, so I have a more well-rounded perspective of life
when reading newspapers
Do you prefer reading online news or paper news? What is more convenient?
I am a technophile, so I prefer reading online news to traditional one. As you know, the
Internet appears in the four corners of the world, so I can easily use my phone to take
in new information online, regardless of my location.
Newspapers keep me up to date with latest information about all aspects of life but I
often pay attention to sports as I attach importance to my health so I want to know some
tips about how to be healthier by playing sports. Sometimes, I also read environmental news
which has also drawn much attention from the public.
Do you think there are still many people who read newspapers today? Why?
As you know, the internet is becoming more popular in the four corners of the world so
people would prefer reading online news because of its convenience rather than buying
printed newspapers.
Yes. My father spends time reading newspapers daily to keep abreast of information
related to all aspects of life. Sometimes, I discuss with him about sensational news, and he
usually explains to me the truth.
What are the differences between young and old people when reading news?
There are several differences between young and old generations when reading news but I
think the main one is that while old people often read newspapers, youngsters have different
ways to read news. For example, I read news through social media such as facebook but
my father only wants to buy printed magazines. Furthermore, older generations often pay
attention to topics related to the environment and politics, while young generations focus
on music or sports.
Do you think online news will become more popular in the future?
The internet appears in the four corners of the world so I think online news has become
ubiquitous everywhere. In the future, only a few people read paper news and most citizens
will use their mobile phones or computers to update new information about all aspects of
life.
I would have to say that I pay attention to both kinds of news. I want to know about
everything which happens in my country everyday but international news also keeps me up
to date with the latest information about the world so I can improve my knowledge.
There are different magazines now but sport magazines are the most popular because
readers have a lot of tips about how to play sports and improve their health. People in my
country place great importance on their health so they read them a lot. Fashion
magazines are also widely chosen as they keep readers up to date with up-to-the-minute
trends.
What are the differences between men and women when reading magazines?
There are several differences between males and females when reading magazines but I
think the main one is that men often pay attention to sport magazines as they are keen on
playing sports. By contrast, women focus more on fashion to update information about new
clothes.
A number of differences between magazines and newspapers can be seen but I think the
main one is that newspapers often provide audiences with information related to all fields
such as politics, education, healthcare and so on, while magazines only focus on a particular
topic such as sport magazines. Additionally, newspapers serve readers from different ages
but magazines are only suitable for a particular group of people.
Despite the development of online newspapers, I still believe that magazines still maintain
their importance as they provide detailed knowledge about particular fields so it is very
convenient for readers
Honestly, when I was small, my parents didn’t allow me to read comics, which is considered
as a waste of time. They attached emphasis to my school results and encouraged me to
spend as much time as possible learning core subjects as opposed to reading comics.
However, when I went to my class when I was not under control of my parents, I read some
comics like Conan with my friends to take it easy.
I don’t know exactly about comic classification but I often read the so-called Manga which
originates from Japan where is famous for comics. Manga is published in black and white.
But what is also remarkable is that manga is printed on cheap paper, so I don’t need to pay
much money. Also, sometimes, I read horror comics because spooky comic books always
pick our curiosity.
They read different kinds of comics but the most popular might be superhero comic strips
which often represent life and how heroes contribute to society. I think that heroism is
always the hot topic for every generation. ( More types: abstract comics, alternative comics,
autobiographical comics)
TEXTING
Have you ever received any messages that you feel a bit confused to answer?
Well, I received a lot of messages from my family and friends but the one that made me
confused the most was about 5 years ago if my memory serves me right. It was a message
from my ex-girlfriend that she decided to tie the knot and invited me to take part in her
wedding party. I was a bit confused whether I should answer or not, but finally, I said ok
and joined in her party.
I would say yes and no. Normally, calling is more convenient than texting because it can
help you save time and provide more information to receivers. However, on some special
occasions, it is easier to text than call. For example, I always want to make a phone call to
my mom and say that I love her on her birthday, but I am always hesitant to do it, so sending
her a message is a more suitable choice for me.
Well, in the past, mobile phones were quite simple and their main functions are to text and
call, so texting was widely chosen. Now they often take advantage of social networking
websites to make video calls or send voice messages to save time.
EMAIL/ HANDWRITING
How often do you use emails? Do you think emails are useful?
Actually, I use emails every day for different purposes. For example, I send reports to my
boss daily through email. I also keep in touch with my friends and family by chatting with
them via email.
Actually, I receive many kinds of emails every day from my boss, customers and relatives
but I really want to receive a confirmation letter in which I passed an interview in Samsung
which is one of the biggest foreign companies in Vietnam as I took part in an interview in
this company 2 weeks ago.
Emails are vitally important in the modern world but I think handwriting will still maintain
its importance as people have to write a lot of things every day in their classes or meetings
and so on. For me, I jot down some notes when I take part in conferences in my company,
which is more convenient than using a computer.
I am revising for my ielts examination so I write a lot of essays every day. I also keep a
diary in which I write everything happening around my life every day. When I get older, I
can read my diary to remember interesting experiences.
Yes, most people will choose to type rather than writing by hand thanks to the appearance
of many technological devices. They can type quickly on computers or mobile phones and
then send to others.
ADVERTISING
I have to say that advertisements are very popular in Vietnam as companies always want to
disseminate information about their products’ attributes so you can easily see
advertisements on buses, billboards, the Internet or TV.
I have seen a lot of commercials but the most special one is the short video in which Son
Tung MTP who is one of the most famous singers in Vietnam talks about the iphone XII
which is a cutting-age mobile phone now. Every fascinating feature of this phone is given
by him in a humorous style with a funny song attached, which attracts a lot of viewers.
To be honest, I am not really into commercials which often interrupt me when I watch
movies but I have to say that they are very useful. Thanks to a lot of advertisements in my
country I know a lot of things about many products.
When I was a kid, I was really into watching advertisements which gave information about
toys with funny sounds. I could not only know more about different kinds of toys but also
relax.
I usually buy products based on commercials. Last week, I decided to buy a state-of-the-
art computer after watching an advertisement from an FPT store, which gave me a lot of
information about interesting features of this computer.
SOCIAL MEDIA
What kind of social networking websites do you like to use? How often do you use
those websites?
Well, I usually use facebook.com which is the most popular networking website in my
country. I have access to this website daily to keep in touch with my friends and family
members. This website also keeps me up to date with up-to-the-minute information
about different things.
I am quite social so I make friends with people from all walks of life. I take part in a group
of like-minded people on facebook. We love playing guitar and music so we discuss about
music every day.
Yes, young people often immerse themselves in social networking websites such as
facebook.com as the Internet appears in the four corners of the earth so people with their
own mobile phones or computers can easily have access to those websites for different
purposes.
OTHER TOPICS
RECYCLING
Actually, I always try my best to recycle because of two main reasons. Firstly, I place
importance on the environment, and by recycling bottles and bags, I can contribute a bit
to the environmental protection. Secondly, I am a bit strapped for cash, so it is also a good
way for me to save money.
Well, I was living in the countryside where people threw rubbish into rivers and lakes, but
then we realized the necessity of recycling and tried to recycle as much as possible. For
instance, waste is often collected and sorted by each family and then sent to nearby
recycling plants.
Actually, most people choose to recycle because they realize the importance of recycling
which plays an important role in saving money and preventing environmental
degradation. They don’t need to pay much money for buying new things and reduce a huge
amount of waste every day. If they don’t recycle, it will lead to a throw-away society due
to disposable goods.
Most materials can be recycled as long as people are aware of the importance of
recycling. Plastic, paper and glass are often recycled, so they can reuse them instead of
buying new items. My family uses plastic bottles as pots for some flowers, while other
families can send them to recycling factories.
A host of solutions can be taken to encourage citizens in using recycled materials. For
example, by running some government sponsored campaigns warning people about the
deterioration of the environment due to waste sources, citizens might try to recycle for
the sake of the environment. Also, some laws forcing businesses to produce recycled
materials can be considered. It might be a good option for the long term.
NEW ACTIVITIES
Honestly, I am really keen on trying out new activities as long as they are positive because
I believe that the more activities I participate in, the more meaningful my life is. For
example, I have a passion for sports, so I often take up some new sports to get into shape
and improve my health. Also, I take part in some new activities like singing at noon to get
rid of stress.
Well, when I was a student, my friends and I often took part in some new activities to take
it easy. We were all under considerable pressure at school due to great competition in
academic learning, so we found some new areas to visit, played some news sports to let off
steam.
Well, I am a bit adventurous, so I want to visit some new and remote destinations by
motorbike. Normally, people often travel by car, but I want to make a difference.
Additionally, I also want to get out of my comfort zone, so I intend to find a new job to
challenge myself.
I think it depends on the activity. For instance, if I hit the gym to lose weight, I would prefer
going alone instead of going with my friends as they may laugh at my face if I cannot
achieve my goal. By contrast, it is better to try out some new activities like learning new
skills or relaxing with our friends who can give me valuable comments for improvement.
The main reason why the elderly are not really keen on new activities is because their
personality is quite different to the young’s one. They place importance on safety and
stability so they just want to do something which they have already been familiar with. For
instance, my parents prefer to stay at home and take care of children at weekends, rather
than visiting new areas or trying out new sports for old people because they are hesitant to
change.
GIFT
Well, it depends on the kind of gift. For instance, I found out a lot about perfume which is
a popular kind of gift in Vietnam, so if someone asks me for choosing a box of perfume I
am willing to help them. However, I don’t know much about fashion, so when I have to
choose an item of clothing, I usually go with my friends who will choose a suitable item
which is the in thing.
As I said before, I have a passion for perfume so I often choose perfume as a gift for my
family and friends. Additionally, I am a technophile and sometimes buy a cutting-edge
phone or computer to give to others on special occasions but these are more expensive so I
need to consider carefully before making a purchase.
I would say yes because I want to receive my favorite gifts. For instance, I am a big fan of
sports, particularly football, so I will be very happy if someone gives me an item of sport
clothing or a ball.
HURRY
Well, I am always on the go, so I often do many things in a hurry. The last time was this
morning when I rushed to work as I woke up late and then got stuck in traffic congestion.
Actually, yesterday evening, I burned the midnight oil to complete my job on time so I
was a bit tired.
Well, it really depends, when I go to work, I often highly stay focused on my job and try
to complete all duties as fast as possible because I would be valued by my boss if my
work productivity is good. However, when I have some parties or reunions with my family,
I want to slow down the time to enjoy every moment with them.
In my perspective, people often do hasty things due to a host of reasons. Firstly, the job
market has become increasingly competitive, which forces them to work effectively in a
short time. Secondly, some people are careless, so they do not often prepare everything
carefully and have to do urgent things.
Do you think people now are more hurried than in the past?
I would say yes, people now are living in a fast-paced life, so they tend to do everything
in a hurry. This is particularly true for life in densely populated cities like Hanoi and Ho
chi minh where people are under considerable pressure and get used to a fast-paced
lifestyle.
Yes, the possibility of making mistakes is high when we do hurry things. For example, I
was often late for school although I went there in a hurry. Also, I forgot books and other
things when going to my class. Moreover, when we make hasty decisions, we also make
mistakes as we don’t have enough time to consider carefully.
TIDY
I am not only careful but also well-organised because if I often organize everything
logically, and I don’t waste time looking for items.
To tell you the truth, I am tidier in my office than any other place as I want to leave a good
impression on my colleagues by being tidy. Additionally, my company has some rules
related to tidiness, so I often clean up my working desk when I finish my work. However,
since I am always up to my ears in my job, so I feel a bit tired after coming home and it
is totally acceptable to create a mess in my bedroom.
Normally, they often give me compliments on my neatness. However, If I feel tired, I may
throw clothes and gadgets on my bed, so my mom sometimes complains and asks me to
have a neat room. However, my dad puts himself in my shoes and avoid talking about
my messy room.
BORROWING/LENDING
Honestly, I am a voracious reader, so I often borrow books from my friends or the library.
Especially, I have a group of like-minded friends who share the same interests in reading
economic books, so we can borrow from each other.
I make friends with people from all walks of life, and we often help each other financially,
so if I am strapped for cash, I will ask them for financial assistance and vice versa.
It will be ok if they just borrow my phone for making a phone call to their friends or family
when they get lost or lose their phones. However, I will not lend them my phone for other
purposes as I am worried about the invasion of privacy. Actually, I save some secrets and
pictures on my phone that I don’t want to share with anyone.
TREES
I love trees because they help to balance the atmosphere. For instance, trees absorb carbon
dioxide and release oxygen on hot days, which makes me feel comfortable.
Hardly do I plant trees because I am now living in Hanoi which is a densely inhabited city
so there are not many places for trees. However, when I come back to my hometown, I
sometimes plant some trees with my parents.
Well, my neighbourhood doesn’t have many trees because I am living in a crowded city
where most of the land is occupied by residential areas and factories. If we want to see a
lot of trees, we need to go to some public places like parks and gardens. However, I was
born in a mountainous area which was surrounded by a lot of trees which provide share for
people.
As you may know, Vietnam is famous for raising bamboos which represent the uprightness
and honesty of local inhabitants. During wars against the French and American empires,
soldiers used trees as their weapons. Now, this kind of trees has economic values because
we export bamboos to other places in the world to make money.
HAPPINESS
Well, I am a bit of a simple and optimistic person so there are just three things which make
me feel happy. Firstly, I place importance on my family and friends, so I will not be
pleased unless they are happy. Secondly, if my health is good enough, I will be very
satisfied with my life. Finally, it would be great when I can do something to contribute to
my society, which may give me a sense of happiness and community.
As you know the covid-19 pandemic has affected people from the four corners of the
world, killing millions of people and leading to a global economic downturn. However,
there have been some vaccines against the coronavirus. Furthermore, some untapped areas
have been discovered, paving the way for new sources of natural resources and ensuring
our survival. I guess most people would be really happy about these pieces of news.
Happiness is the most important motivation for people, so it is vital to be happy everywhere.
However, some people want to experience ups and downs to have a more meaningful life.
I am totally satisfied with my career because I get to work with people from a variety of
backgrounds now, and we support each other. Also, it is a well-paid job so I can earn
enough money to cover all needs in my life and raise my family.
NEW YEAR
I guess it depends. For instance, some people choose to stay at home and celebrate the new
year with their family and give each other different wishes, while others go to public places
to sing, dance and pray for their new year.
If my memory serves me right, it was around 10 years ago when I was still a kid. All of my
relatives from different cities came back to my grandparents’ house to have a reunion and
celebrate our new year together. We drank beer and sang and took a lot of photos.
Well, most people often go shopping to buy new pieces of clothing. They also have a lot of
parties because it is the longest holiday in Vietnam. Old people often pray for their health,
while younger generations set up some new year’s resolutions and try to follow them.
I was born in a small village which is surrounded by a lot of farms. When I was a kid, my
parents often took me to their farms to help me understand various difficulties they needed
to experience to lay the foundations for my life.
I am actually not good at farming so I just helped my parents clean the farm and remove
some grass to create optimum living conditions for trees and vegetables.
As I said there are a variety of farms in my hometown because I was born in the countryside.
Local people often have endless paddy fields and big farms with a lot of vegetables so they
can sell to the market to make money.
COLOR
I love red so I usually buy red items when I go shopping. The reason why I love this color
is because it represents luck and happiness according to the culture of Vietnam.
All rooms are designed and painted with the white color because it makes us feel more
comfortable. By contrast, if walls are painted with blue and showy colors, we will feel very
hot on summer days.
In the past, I was really keen on dark colors. For instance, when wearing black T-Shirt, I
looked a bit cooler and I could attract attention from others. However, now I prefer bright
colors as they are more suitable and flatter my white skin.
To tell you the truth, each color has a special meaning. According to our culture, red
represents luck and happiness so people often use red items on special occasions. Also,
purple represents loyalty while white represents politeness.
Bước 1: chọn các câu hỏi trong cùng một chủ đề nhóm với nhau
Bước 2 : thực hành tất cả các câu hỏi như bình thường
Bước 3 : tìm ra điểm chung giữa các câu trả lời, các cụm từ hay, ghi điểm có thể áp dụng
cho các câu trả lời
Bước 4 : thực hành lại một lần nữa và áp dụng các cụm từ ghi điểm vừa liệt kê bên trên
PEOPLE
Describe a person who you know a lot
Describe an active person
Describe an interesting person from another country
Describe a person who often helps others
Describe a businessman/woman/good leader
Describe a neighbor/ and old person
Describe a famous/popular person/ an actor/ a sport person
Describe a talkative person
Describe a kid
Chú ý:
Hãy phân tích 2 ví dụ dưới đây, bạn sẽ tìm ra các điểm chung về ideas, từ vựng, cách
phát triển đoạn. Từ đó bạn không những trả lời được topics đó mà có thể áp dụng trả
lời rất nhiều chủ đề khác liên quan tới người.
I am a bit of a social butterfly so I make friends with people from all walks of life, and
now I would like to tell you about one of my best friends.
His name is Nam who is 22 years old. He is a handsome man because he pays attention to
his appearance and plays sports a lot to get into shape. Nam was born and bred in
Namdinh city but he is now living and working in Hanoi.
I met Nam for the first time around 4 years ago when I enrolled in an English class. My
parents placed great importance on my school records so they forced me to take part in
this class to have a good command of English. I sat next to him and then we became not
only classmates but also best friends.
We study and talk together every day so I know a lot of things about him. He has a passion
for travelling so he visits different destinations each year to take it easy and broaden his
horizons. Furthermore, he is also keen on music so we often listen to music and sing some
songs at home to take it easy.
He is a good role model in my life. Nam always tries his best to revise for all exams so he
is one of the best students in his university. Also, he is a warm-hearted person and always
puts himself in other shoes. For instance, he takes advantage of his free time to help
impoverished students and donates money to mountainous students through charity
campaigns. In the future, I really want to become similar to him.
I am quite extroverted so I make friends with many people, regardless of their age. Here, I
would like to tell you about one of the most interesting people I have ever known.
His name is Tom who is 30 years old. He is a good-looking man because every day he
spends time playing sports in order to get into shape. He comes from England but he has
been living in Vietnam for years to teach English. At that time, he helped me have a good
command of English.
I met Tom for the first time around 4 years ago when I revised for my ielts examination. I
was under a lot of pressure as my parents attached great importance to learning English,
so I had to learn a lot of new words by heart every day with the hope of improving my
english skill but it was very difficult as I didn't know any foreigners to practice English
together. Luckily, one of my best friends introduced me about an Ielts expert named Tom
who then became not only my teacher but also my friend.
We have become good friends for approximately 4 years; therefore, I know a lot of things
about his hobbies. He has a passion for travelling so he often pays a visit to tourist
attractions in Viet Nam each year to let off steam. In addition, he is a big fan of sports,
particularly some strenuous sports like football or volleyball as they are good for his
health.
He is very interesting because of two main reasons. Firstly, he always puts himself in
others’ shoes to tackle any problems. For example, he tried to understand what difficulties
I experienced when learning English, then gave me sound advice to study this language
properly. Secondly, though he is a foreigner, he pays attention to the local charity.
Sometimes he donates his clothes and money to help impoverished people who are living
in the countryside. In other words, he is a warm-hearted person.
Cũng tương tự như Ielts speaking part 1, mình đã gom hơn 50 câu hỏi thành 4 chủ đề
chính, và mỗi chủ đề mình cũng có các câu mẫu cho các bạn áp dụng linh hoạt để
được điểm cao. Khi đi thi, bạn chỉ được hỏi duy nhất 1 topic nên khi luyện tập bạn
hãy gom các câu hỏi lại với nhau để đưa ra câu trả lời tối ưu chứ đừng trả lời 50
câu hỏi theo 50 cách khác nhau, mã hãy trả lời 50 chủ đề theo 4-5 kiểu của riêng bạn
nhé.
I am quite extroverted/ I am a bit of a social butterfly so I make friends with people from
all walks of life. However, here, I’d like to tell you about one of the most interesting people
I have ever met.
I have known him for around 2 years. After my graduation, I was received by his company
because of my high scores at university. We were working in the same office so he gave
me some sound advice to help me adapt to his company because I was wet behind the
ears at that time.
I met him for the first time some years ago when I started revising for my Ielts/Toeic
examination. I was under a lot of pressure as my parents placed great importance on
learning English
He is a good-looking man because he spends time playing sports with his like-minded
friends daily in order to get into shape/keep fit.
He is also young at heart/has a great sense of humor and usually tells us various funny
stories. Sometimes he makes us grin/smile from ear to ear by telling jokes. In other
words, he is a joker.
He passed an English exam with flying colors because he spent a lot of time studying
English. As you know, practice makes perfect so the more time you spend on learning
English, the better result you will get. If you work hard enough, you can do almost
everything.
He has tried his hand at various jobs to build his career due to difficult working conditions.
Despite those obstacles, he has never given up his ambition before becoming one of the
most successful people in his field.
Dạy Kèm Ielts - Contact/Zalo: 0983665262 | Page 82
Group: Cộng Đồng Ielts Việt Nam
Written by Thai Hoang Logic & Hiệu quả
He is so busy with his job that sometimes he has to work around the clock/ burn the
midnight oil to hit deadlines.
He has tried his best to make his dream come true as he wants to earn a great amount
of money to raise a family.
He has a passion for travelling so he often pays visits to some tourist attractions each year
to let off steam and broaden his horizons.
He is a big fan of sports, particularly some strenuous sports like football or volleyball as
they are good for his health.
He is a voracious reader and usually spends time reading books and newspapers to
improve his knowledge and keep abreast of current affairs. Sometimes he has his nose
in a book and does not care what I say.
Firstly, he always puts himself in others’ shoes to tackle any problems. For example, he
tried to understand what difficulties I experienced when embarking on my career, then
gave me suitable methods to complete all tasks well.
Bạn nên viết các cụm từ riêng của bạn ở bên dưới và áp dụng
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Actually, I am an extrovert so I often make friends with people from all walks of life.
However, here, I’d like to tell you about one of the most special friends with a special style
of clothing.
Her name is Lan who is a beautiful girl because she places importance on her appearance
and often plays sports to get into shape. She often draws attention from others thanks to
her attractive appearance and special clothes.
To the best of my recollection, I met Lan for the first time 2 years ago when I revised for
my Toeicc examination and then enrolled in an English class where I met her. We sat next
to each other and I was really impressed with her beauty and the way she mixed and
matched her outfit. At that time, young people were crazy about jeans which were the in
things but she was an exception, and she chose white pants and T-shirt, which flattered
her white skin.
We are now close friends so we talk a lot about the fashion industry. Unlike most people
who often buy different kinds of clothes on different occasions, she is quite simple and
often chooses casual clothes to wear and home and elegant clothes on special occasions.
For instance, while my female friends dress up with showy dresses, she chose a simple
skirt and T-shirt, which was perfectly fit with her on our last party, and she told me that this
was the smartest evening wear.
I really admire here because she is really special and always knows how to stand out from
the rest thanks to her taste of clothes, instead of following the crowd.
Part 3:
Well, buyers often consider different factors when they buy new items of clothing. Most
people pay attention to prices, and they even compare prices or bargain to have a discount
to save money. Furthermore, materials and origin are also taken into consideration to
ensure the best quality of fabrics. For example, when going shopping, my friends often
ask sellers carefully about how their products are produced before making a purchase.
In my perspective, online shopping is very convenient for people because they can save a
lot of time and money as they don’t need to go to the store and can compare prices of
different producers to choose the cheapest items. However, sometimes, gullible buyers buy
low-quality products which are often exaggerated on online websites.
There has been a complete transformation in fashion styles for office workers over the
years. In the past, people were a bit strapped for cash so they often wore simple and cheap
items of clothing. However, the economic growth, coupled with the development of the
fashion industry have encouraged people in wearing high-quality and expensive clothes.
Moreover, employees often have freedom to choose their own clothes, but they are often
forced to wear their company’s uniform to ensure the homogeneity.
However, in the past, was really keen on showy clothes, so I received negative comments
when putting on these items.
The main reason is that traditional pieces of clothing often have special meanings. As you
may know, Aodai presents the beauty and sweetness of local women and it is often used on
special occasions such as wedding parties, graduation ceremonies and so on.
Furthermore, conventional clothes have been using for many years and represent the values
associated with cultures, customs of people in a particular area. Therefore, they wear
traditional items as a message that they are proud of their origins.
Well, some people are mindful of the unpopularity of traditional clothes due to
globalisation. For instance, as tourists from western countries where are famous for their
outstanding fashion, go to Vietnam, a variety of young people tend to wear similar items
which are the in things in the world.
However, I believe that traditional styles will not completely disappear as they show the
national identities and cultural aspects, so people will wear these traditional pieces of
clothing on special occasions.
It is possible that people from the four corners of the world may wear some similar
clothes. For example, young people in the world often find up-to-the-minute jeans to wear
as a good way to show that they are fashionable. There are also some common items such
as suits and shirts which are widely chosen by people, regardless of their nationality.
However, there do exist some regions where their choices of clothing are restricted by
cultures and regulations, so their styles of clothing are totally different to the rest of the
world.
Fashion is also to blame for environmental degradation due to waste from the fashion
industry. For instance, fabrics and cotton discharged from factories, are not discomposed
for many years, leading to lower quality of soil.
Also, the development of the fashion industry has encouraged people to live in a throw-
away society as they often buy trendy things and throw them away after a short time, which
also increases the amount of waste.
Actually, I am an extrovert so I often make friends with people from all walks of life.
However, here, I’d like to tell you about a special friend who is very open-minded.
His name is Nam who is not only my friend but also my colleague. To the best of my
recollection, I met him for the first time around 5 years ago. As my parents attached great
emphasis to learning English, I decided to enroll in an English class where I met him.
We have been friends for a long time so I know a lot of things about his personality. He
often puts himself in others’ shoes and gives them comments openly without hesitance.
For instance, while people are reluctant to give negative comments, he even criticizes
others if they make mistakes because he thinks that it is good for them in the future.
We are now working for the same company. He is energetic and contributes ideas openly
to my boss and colleagues for the sake of my company. At first, many people hated him
and advised hime to be tactful and avoid talking about anything negative. Now, they
appreciate his contribution and enthusiasm.
To be honest, I learn many things from him and often ask him for advice when I run into
difficulties. He is a surrounding board to listen to my problems and give me comments
on how I should overcome all difficulties. In the future, I hope that we would have more
time together.
Part 3:
People have different ways to show their own ideas and emotions but I usually talk in person
because I think that it is more effective. For instance, if I feel down in the dump, I will
talk everything with my best friend who puts himself in my shoes and then gives me
suitable advice. Sometimes, I also send some messages or write letters to others to show
my feelings.
Do men and women express their opinions and emotions in the same way?
Well, there are a number of differences between the way men and women show their
opinions and feelings. For example, men often show their opinions openly while women
are mindful of being judged so they tactfully show their ideas.
Furthermore, men do not often show their emotion. For example, hardy do they cry even if
they feel really sad, but women are more emotional and always want to find partners to
share happiness and sadness.
There are several benefits of giving open opinions. Firstly, people will understand all
problems quickly. For instance, my boss usually encourages us to give opinions openly in
meetings, so we have a lot of ideas for the development of our company. Moreover, if
people are entitled to show their real opinions openly, they may feel more comfortable.
Apart from some man merits given above, I think that giving straightforward opinions have
some drawbacks. If someone gives negative comments openly, others may have a sense of
dissatisfaction. For example, new employees often make mistakes when embarking on
their career, and they would feel depressed and stressed if their managers criticize them.
Moreover, the relationship between people would be affected due to open comments
because people sometimes lose their patience, leading to some arguments.
I am an extrovert, so make friends with people from all walks of life and talk with them a
lot. However, here, I’d like to tell you about Nam who is one of the most dynamic people
I’ve ever met. He is now 27 years old, and he is working and living in Hanoi capital.
To the best of my recollection/ if my memory serves me right, I met him for the first
time around 5 years when I was still a university student. My parents attached great
importance to learning languages, particularly English, so I decided to enroll in an English
course to have a good command of English, and I met him there.
He was one of the best English speakers in my class and tried to practice English with us a
lot. He was also very energetic and encouraged us to take part in different activities to
improve our communication and other teamwork skills. Now, he is working as my
colleague and always arouses people to work hard and achieve our goals. He also takes
advantage of his free time to join in some volunteer campaigns to help disadvantaged
people who are living in remote areas of Vietnam. In other words, he is a warm-hearted
person.
I consider him as a good role model because of two main reasons. Firstly, he is so dynamic
and tries his hand in different activities. He is always full of energy and motivates me a
lot. Additionally, he puts himself in others’ shoes and inspires others in a positive way. In
the future, I really want to become similar to him.
Part 3:
I am quite energetic so I take part in different activities with my friends and colleagues. I
think that the more dynamic I am, the more productive I am.
Normally, people who have specific ambitions are always full of energy and they show a
great deal of effort and determination to achieve their goal. For instance, my best friend
dreams of becoming an eminent businessman in the future so he is very dynamic and tries
to take part in different activities and jobs to improve his soft skills and accumulate more
experience to step by step achieve his goal. In addition, if people get to study or work with
a team, they have an inclination to be more energetic because their teammates are the
main source of motivation to be dynamic. Finally, people who have a great sense of humor
are often active as they always think in an optimistic way and never feel tired.
Do people do some jobs which require less energy than in the past?
The main reason why less energy is needed in some jobs is that the advancement of
technology has allowed people in certain jobs to be less involved in physical activities.
For instance, agricultural work was considered to be physically demanding, but now
farmers can take advantage of machines such as ploughs to reduce the need for human
involvement. Another example is that workers in the construction industry no longer have
to carry or lift heavy stuff thanks to the appearance of crane machines and trucks.
Do your think people receive money when their jobs require more energy?
In my opinion, it really depends. Normally, if people have to use more energy for their job,
they will earn more money. For instance, if they work overtime, their company will give
them more money and bonuses. However, some manual jobs require a great deal of energy
and effort but workers still receive lower salaries than those working in offices because
employees often offer wages based on the productivity and necessity of the job.
(Vocab: help, aid, support, assistance financial aid, emotional support, contribute to,
help with, put themselves in our shoes, impoverished/disadvantaged people)
Ideas:
- Extroverted – make friends with people from all walks of life – the most special friend
is Nam who ---
- I met him 5 years ago in an english class. Now, he is not only my friend but also
colleague
- He teaches english to others – pass his valuable experience on to others to have a good
command of English. ( help students)
- He is proficient at computer skills and often helps colleagues and friends (help
colleagues, friends)
Part 3:
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Group: Cộng Đồng Ielts Việt Nam
Written by Thai Hoang Logic & Hiệu quả
- In big cities – working parents have been caught up in their jobs and left their children
alone emotional support
- In rural areas – children do not have optimum living conditions due to their parents’
poor financial health financial assistance
- They need different kinds of support -children need mental and physical support as they
are too young to take care of themselves
- Adults need support associated with their work, family and so on. However, they are
more mature and need less assistance.
- To teach them how to use technological devices as they are almost technophobes
Do you think old people need help the most in the society?
- Financial assistance – retired people are under financial burdens as their pension is
not enough to cover the increasing living cost.
- We help friends by financial support – help strangers by giving directions – when they
do not have a good sense of navigation or they are not familiar with a new area.
Do you want to help your neighbors? What are the advantages of helping your
neighbors?
- The main advantage is that I will be very happy- life is more meaningful
Ideas:
- Extroverted – make friends with people from all walks of life – the most special friend
is Nam who always shows his civility.
- I met him 5 years ago in an English class because my parents placed emphasis on
English so I decided to enroll in this course and he was my classmate. Now, he is not
only my friend but also my classmate.
- Nam is a well-educated person – he always respects others, regardless of their age and
socio-economic background. For instance, when he talks with old people, he -----. If he
talks with children, he ----. When he go to public areas, he ----
- I think politeness is vitally important because it makes our lives better. For instance, in
our daily life, ---. In our job, ----.
- He is a good role model in my life. I really admire him and want to learn a lot from him
in the future.
Part 3:
How do people show their politeness in Vietnam?
- Well, people have different ways to show their civility. When they talk with their
relatives and teachers, they ----. If they meet strangers, they -----
- Politeness is also shown in other activities. For example, when people have meals
together, they ---.
- education plays in important role in deciding whether people are polite or not
- In Vietnam, children are given many lessons about the importance of civility by their
teachers and parents. Hence, they always pay attention to their behaviours. For instance,
---
- If we don’t teach children about politeness, they would not have good personality in
the future. For example, ---
Do you think that the definitions of politiness in different countries are different?
- In every country, the main purpose of being polite is to show respect to others.
However, the way people from different nations show their politeness are different
according to their cultures. For instance, in Vietnam, if people have some friends over
for dinner, they often give their guests a lot of food as a good way to show their
hospitality and politeness, but people in other countries often choose their own food.
- Furthermore, in western nations, -----, in Asian countries ---- (when they meet for the
first time/ when they talk together---)
What are the differences between politeness in cities and in the countryside?
- Normally, there are not many differences in the meanings of politeness but the ways
they show their civility are quite different.
- In cities, children have meals with older generations, but in some rural areas they have
meals latter to show their respect to older generations.
Do you think cultures will be similar between different countries due to globalization?
- Globalization leads to cultural assimilation but some special features are still
maintained.
Ideas:
- I am extroverted and make friends with people from all walks of life, regardless of their
age. I have many friends who are older than me and I’d like to tell you about a friend’s
family.
- I am really keen on travelling and last year I went to Danang city where I met a friend
named Nam who is now 35 years old. He has a happy family and they often take part
in different family bonding activities to strengthen their relationships. Nam is an
engineer and his wife is a doctor. They all have good jobs so they can earn enough
money to cover all bills. Also, they had been in a relationship for 8 years before
deciding to tie the knot 10 years ago.
- They always put themselves in other shoes. For instance, when he runs into difficulties,
his wife will listen to him and give him sound advice. Their children are so smart and
cute.
- Now they are living in Danang city but in the future, they will move to Hanoi city to
have better living conditions.
- They are an ideal family as they always try their best to work hard and lay the
foundations for their chidlren’s future. Also, they understand and support each other.
Part 3:
Do you prefer living in a big family or a small family?
- I prefer living with an extended family because older generations can pass valuable
knowledge on to me
- However, now they often discuss with mothers and contribute to their family---
- Grandparents have a lot of experience so they can take advantage of their knowledge
and experience to look after children while young parents lack experience
- However, parents have more scientific knowledge so they can also have good directions
for their children rather than relying on traditional methods.
- They talk with children about some fairy tales to educate children about moral lessons,
then children would become a good member of their society.
- They can also teach children some simple lessons associated with subjects at school.
Ideas:
- I am really keen on music and often take advantage of my free time to listen to many
songs to take it easy. My favorite singer is Tuan hung who is really well-known in
Vietnam.
- I started listening to his music when I was 18 years old. After passing the university
entrance exam with flying colors, I had a month before embarking on my university
education. Therefore, listening to music was the best way to kill time and take it easy.
My friend introduced one of Tuan hung’s songs to me.
- I loved this song after the first time I listened to it because Tuanhung has a high and
special voice. Then, I found out more about his life. He was born in a poor family but
never gave up his ambition before becoming one of the most famous singers in Vietnam
so he arouses young generations to make their dream come true. He is a warm-hearted
person as he takes advantage of his time to help impoverished people living with poor
living conditions.
- He is a good role model in my life so I really want to become similar to him in the
future and I can take care of my family and contribute to my society as he does
Part 3:
What are the differences of famous people now and in the past?
- In the past, they had a passion for their fields, but now they want to become famous to
make money.
- Many famous people are mindful of the invasion of privacy because they always attract
attention from many fans.
I am really keen on travelling and often take advantage of my free time to visit different
destinations to let off steam with my family. However, here, I’d like to tell you one of the
most special places I have ever visited.
Actually, I have been living and working in Ninh Binh city for many years, and I have
tried my hand in various jobs there to build my career. Unfortunately, it is a small city so
I found it difficult to look for a good job to raise a family. Therefore, I want to move to
HCM city to live in the future
Tình huống:
Luckily, I passed this examination with flying colors so my friends and I/ my parents and
I decided to celebrate this attainment by eating out/going shopping/paying a visit to – nhà
hàng/café/khu vui chơi/hồ/địa danh.
I found it difficult to find a job so I was so stressed when talking with my parents. Luckily
one of my best friends invited me to pay a visit to Da Lat city which is one of the most
famous tourist attractions in Vietnam, to let off steam – thành phố/quốc gia/địa điểm du
lịch
Ho Chi Minh city is located in the south of Vietnam. It is considered one of the most
famous tourist attractions in my country with various breathtaking views.
Xofa café is located in the center of Hanoi metropolis. I usually choose to go there at
weekends when I have free time because I am always on the go and don’t have time for
coffee on weekdays.
Làm gì ở đó
As a voracious reader, I usually go there in order to have my nose in a book because this
coffee shop is quiet.
I am a big fan of sports, particularly some strenuous sports like football or volleyball as
they help me stay healthy. Therefore, Thong nhat park/ West lake/ Sam son beach is a
perfect place for me and like-minded friends to play sports together.
Actually, Liverpool can be seen as one of the most famous tourist attractions in the four
corners of the world/earth, which has a number of breathtaking views so it is a must-
choose destination for me because I am particularly keen on travelling.
We visited Đồ Sơn beach which has various stunning views and made sandcastles as well
as went for a dip in the crystal clear water. I also spent time enjoying the atmosphere in
some talking places/tourist attractions in Hai Phong.
In my perspective, this café is out of the world. I fully appreciate the attitude of staff who
are not only amiable but also kind.
Additionally, I am always over the moon when taking part in any activities or listening to
my favourite songs there. I consider it as a must-choose place whenever I want to do
something to take it easy/let off steam.
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DESCRIBE A CITY YOU HAVE VISITED AND YOU WANT TO COME BACK
I am really keen on travelling and often take advantage of my free time to visit different
destinations to let off steam with my family. However, here, I’d like to tell you one of the
most special places I have ever visited and really want to come back in the near future.
To the best of my recollection, I went to Danang city for the first time around some years
ago. As my parents placed great emphasis on English so I was under considerable pressure
to revise for an English exam. Luckily, I passed this examination with flying colors so
my parents and I decided to celebrate this attainment visiting a city.
As you may know, Da nang city is located in the middle of Vietnam. It is considered one
of the most famous tourist attractions in my country with various breathtaking views
so I was blown away when I went there. We visited all tourist attractions and took a lot of
photo together. We also went for a swim in crystal clear water and take it easy.
In the future, I really want to return to this city because I love travelling and this city is
perfectly suitable for me. Also, I was really impressed with local people who were not only
friendly but also kind. They are willing to give tourists support if they run into difficulties.
Part 3
Do you want to live there in the future?
Well, it is a livable city so dream of living there in the future. Although it may cost me a
fortune to buy a house there, but I will try my best to make money to make my dream
come true. Moreover, this city is very suitable for me because it has beautiful beaches so I
can go along beaches every day.
What are the advantages and drawbacks of living in cities and rural areas?
In my opinion, if people live in cities where they have to pay high living costs, they need
to bear financial burdens. In addition, the environment is contaminated due to waste from
factories so more and more people will be affected from diseases associated with
environmental pollution. However, cities have better education and healthcare systems so
people are entitled to better services. They also have better job opportunities so they can
look for well-paid jobs for their living.
In rural areas, people have poor living standards due to the lack of fundamental
infrastructure. For instance, the transport system is terrible so there are a lot of traffic
accidents in the countryside. Nonetheless, in regional areas, people can enjoy fresh air,
which is really good for their health. Moreover, the relationships between neighbours are
also better, which leads to a meaningful life.
What are the differences between cities and people in the past and at present?
There are several disparities associated with both cities and citizens. In the past, there were
just a few high buildings (horizontal development), but now, there are many skyscrapers
(vertical development) to ensure enough accommodation for the population. In addition,
more money has been invested in transport, allowing people to use different forms of
transport rather than just relying on motorbikes and bikes in the past.
Moreover, people were close to each other in the past and they often take advantage of their
free time to take part in different activities. However, now, they are up to their ears in
their job and don’t have enough time together.
Do you think that people are healthier when they live in the countryside?
No, although the environment is better thanks to less factories and vehicles. However, big
cities have better healthcare systems so people are entitled to high-quality medical
services, which helps them become healthier.
Ideas
- I went there for the first time around 5 years ago – after my examination – take it easy
– have free time – go there to play guitar with like minded friends
- It is located in downtown Hanoi – the owner was a guitar musician – wants to connect
people to play guitar
- Order a cup of coffee – listen to music – play guitar – some people are endowed with
special skills for guitar
- In the future---
- 2 months ago, if my memory serves me right – went there with my best friend
- Recently, I have been caught up in my job – could not go there – next month I have
more free time ---
- Go to the cinema
Do you think the way older people relax is different to young people?
- Older people are simple and want to spend time taking care of children and going for a
walk – place importance on their health, reading books to take it easy
- Young people are more active – take part in musical concerts – travel – take up some
dangerous sports.
- It really depends
- Normally, they prefer to take part in outdoor activities – busy at work and study – enjoy
fresh atmosphere
- They have been familiar with their city – go to far-away areas to open their horizons –
for example ---
- They are under considerable pressure – take advantage of their time off to take it easy
Do you think natural habitats are the best places for relaxing?
- Some people like to become closer to nature – feel comfortable as they stay away from
the hustle and bustle from cities
- Some people relax by other ways – listen to music – cook for their family--
Ideas
- 5 years ago – I passed an exam with flying colors – visit --- to take it easy – unluckily,
it was polluted
- Now the environment there is better – I will come back there in the future
Part 3
- Noise pollution – hustle and bustle – escape from the bustling live – find a tranquil area
- People were aware of the pollution but due to the fast pace of life recently, they have
not paid attention to pollution
- It depends
Ideas
- I attach importance to learning history – take advantage of my free time to learn history
everywhere – Hanoi museum is my favorite public place to study history
- I went there for the first time 5 years ago if my memory serves me right – learning from
books was not effective – impossible to cram for a lot of information go there to
learn through exhibitions
- An entertainment center for people to have a cup of coffee and talk together – staff are
friendly
Part 3:
Do you often go there now?
- In the past, I often went to historical areas to discover the history of my own country –
if --- historical events that took place in --- I will treasure what I have, take pride in my
ancestors. These are the best places for learning ---
- I have been caught up in my job so I don’t have much time – however, ---
- However, some historical buildings are quite old-fashioned 🡪 put visitors at risks of
dangers 🡪 should repair but not reconstruct as they may lose their identities.
- Worth – acts as an ideal vehicle for education – for example, young generations in
Vietnam ---
- No – they consider it as a waste of time – not related to their future job – focus on other
subjects and soft skills
- However, some students place importance on historical values – they like learning
history.
- Public areas – the government should be responsible for any payment related to
historical buildings – individuals have already paid through taxes
- However, they can give financial assistance – for example – campaigns – rich people
donate money ---
Ideas
- Dream of becoming a businessman – take advantage of my free time to find out the
history of enterprises – here I’d like to tell you about ---
- FPT – specializes in the Internet – technological devices – gains reputation for ---
- Founded by Mr. ABC- was born in a poor family – never gave up his ambition – try his
hand in different job – make his dream come true- He is a good role model – dream of
becoming a similar entrepreneur
- In the future---
Part 3:
What do you like about this company?
- Place important on the core value of products – benefits both consumers and the
company
- If small starting-up companies are merged into bigger ones – benefits both – big
enterprises pass valuable experience and financial resources onto small companies –
big companies can make profits without having to investing in every thing 🡪 risk-
bearing and profit -sharing scheme
- In small companies which have less rules and regulations – their management scheme
is not as professional as big companies – young graduates also get to work for those
companies
- By contrast, big companies pay higher salaries and often have more requirements from
candidates – the recruitment process often comprises of several steps to select the best
candidates.
- Most employees from big companies are often well qualified – they also have diplomas/
certificates from famous universities – pay high salaries unless they cannot attract
talented workers – for example, ---
- Have more chances to make profits 🡪 employees are entitled to higher paychecks
Ideas
- A big fan of travelling – take advantage of my free time to visit foreign countries to
discover their cultures and beauty- want to learn more about Japan in the future
- Located in the east of Asia – one of the biggest economies in the world despite natural
disasters, wars and poor natural resources – I want to learn about their secret of success
- People in Japan has reputation for being hard working – learn from them as I dream of
becoming a businessman in the future
- Their cultures are similar to Vietnam – drink tea and healthy drink
- This is out of this world – a must visit area – in addition, learn from online websites
Part 3:
Did you talk with your friends about this country?
- Make friends with a lot of people – talk with them about Japan – many people dream
of living and working in Japan – have many things to talk together
- Exchange programs – agreements between Japan and Vietnam – young generations in
Vietnam admire Japan 🡪 talk with them a lot
What are the differences between your country and this country?
- Political institutions – Japan – democratic nation – Vietnam – socialist and republic of
Vietnam
- Economic development
- Technology
How can we protect cultural values nowadays when the world is more globalized?
- Government sponsor campaigns encouraging cultural features – festivals – not only
local but also international tourists have a deeper insight into local cultures.
- Educational programs – for instance, --
Is cultural identity important?
- Vitally important – educate people about their origin – interesting cultures passed on
to different generations – for example, ---
- However, we are living in a global village – difficult – should try to maintain
Nowadays, some people travel to many countries to work and live, is it good or bad?
( an international citizen instead of a citizen of a particular country)
- On the one hand – good – get to work for better companies – make more money – better
career prospects – approach different cultures – have a more well-rounded perspective
of life
- On the other hand – bad – cultural assimilation – miss out on emotional support when
living far from their home country
English is so common now, will other languages disappear?
- Due to the globalization – several languages would become extinct – people learn
international languages, particularly English in favor of their job – many people
become international citizens – hardly they use their mother tongue
- Some people would feel that it is a waste of time to keep local languages which are not
helpful for their job
Is it good for the world to speak only one language?
- On the one hand – save money – not language barriers – work more effectively
- On the other hand – lose interesting and long-established cultures
I am quite social so I make friends with people from all walks of life and here I would like
to tell you about one of the most special occasions when I --- with them. ( dịp làm gì đó với
bạn bè)
I am really keen on travelling and often take advantage of my free time at weekends to
visit different destinations to let off steam with my friends and family. Here, I’d like to tell
you one of the most memorable trips when I --- with my friends/ family. ( dịp đi đâu đó với
bạn bè, gia đình)
It was around 3 years ago when I was still wet behind the ears after my graduation from
my university. I was under considerable pressure as my parents placed great
importance/emphasis on a stable job - Nối thêm lý do tùy tình huống
Tình huống:
I found it difficult to learn English so I decided to buy an Iphone 4s which was the state-
of-the-art smart phone at that time to study English – mua điện thoại/sản phầm công
nghệ/quảng cáo.
As a voracious reader, I decided to buy an English book to improve not only my English
but also my knowledge– mua một cuốn sách/bức tranh.
I passed this examination with flying colors, so my friends and I/ my parents and I
decided to celebrate this attainment by eating out/going shopping/paying a visit to – bữa ăn
ở ngoài/ đi mua sắm/đi chơi.
I found it difficult to find a job so I felt so stressed when talking with my parents. Luckily,
one of my best friends invited me to pay a visit to Hanoi museum to take it easy
– Bức tranh/sự kiện lịch sử/ chuyến đi du lịch/tham gia một sự kiện.
I have been using my mobile phone/computer mainly for learning English by watching
English movies, which was very necessary for my pronunciation and vocabulary. I also use
it to keep in touch with my family members and friends by chatting with them every day.
I was against the clock to prepare everything for my cousin’s party/wedding because he is
one of the most famous businessmen in my village with a wide range of relationships so he
invited thousands of guests to take part in his wedding party. I also enjoy a big slap-up
meal with his friends and family to celebrate him.
I am one of the best English speakers at my university so I gave him some sound advice
about how to raise his English level. Instead of teaching him to learn a lot of new words
by heart/memorization, I taught him how to take notes, highlight keywords and
collocations. After 3 months, he could speak English fluently and even passed an English
examination with flying colors.
I was very happy/over the moon/on cloud nine after receiving this special item from my
father because he put himself in my shoes to understand difficulties I experienced when
learning English. Moreover, as a technophile, I loved this cutting-edge smart phone a
lot. In fact, it has been the best seller for some years despite the fact that, it has cost
customers an arm and a leg/ cost customers a fortune. Actually, my heart just jumped
with happiness/joy after receiving it from my father.
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I am really keen on travelling so I often take advantage of my free time to visit different
destinations to let off steam with my family and friends. Here, I’d like to tell you about a
special occasion when I got lost in a beautiful city.
If my memory serves me right, it was around 2 years ago when I passed an examination at
university with flying colors so I decided to visit somewhere as a reward for myself. There
were different places, but I finally decided to go to Danang alone to discover about local
people and breathtaking views there.
It is one of the most densely populated cities in Vietnam so I lost my direction when going
to the city center. The reason for this is that I didn’t have a good sense of navigation and
I forgot my compass. Moreover, it was the first time I went there so I couldn’t find the right
direction.
At first, I was a bit worried because I was afraid of being late for some plans which I had
prepared before. My mobile phone ran out of battery so it was impossible to find
directions online. Luckily, local people were not only friendly but also kind. They showed
me the direction and even told me that they would put me up for several nights.
It is a valuable lesson for me. Thanks to this occasion, I always remind myself to prepare
carefully before each trip.
Part 3:
I have a terrible sense of direction so I will easily get lost unless I have a mobile phone
which helps me find directions online. Last week, I forgot the way to come home when I
go to the city center so I had to check an online map.
To my mind, it is necessary to teach people to use a map and a compass because they need
to be equipped with all survival skills to protect themselves. For instance, if they go to a
mountainous area, the ability to find right directions can help them stay away from all
dangers. Also, as people use maps or compasses, they can save a lot of time.
What are the differences between the way people use maps in the past and at present?
Well, there are many differences in terms of how people use maps in the past and now. For
instance, most people used paper maps to find directions because the Internet was not
popular. However, modern people take advantage of their phones which are connected
to the Internet to use some online maps which are more convenient and help people save
their time. Furthermore, in the past, older generations often pass on their valuable
experience associated with map skills to young generations, but now most young people
often learn from online apps.
Different people have different ways to solve the problem. For instance, they may ask local
people for help if they cannot find their directions. When I was a kid, I got lost when going
to my uncle’s house and luckily an old man gave me food and helped my find my relatives.
Some people choose to call the police when they get lost. For example, the police help
many travellers who visit remote areas and cannot find the way to come home.
Ideas
- I am a social person so I often take part in different activities with many people. We
are always aware of the importance of lining up. Here, I’d like to tell you about an
occasion when I ---.
- To the best of my recollection, it was around 5 years ago. After an examination which
I passed with flying colors, my friends and I went to a shopping mall to let off steam.
- There were many people who wanted to use the elevator. It was a bit messy so I decided
to talk with everyone to line up. Older people and children stood at the top while
teenagers and adults stood at the end ----
- At first many people were not very satisfied as they came sooner and wanted to go first
but then we explained them---- they politely accepted
- We needed to wait for 30 minutes but it was ok because waiting in a line also shows
our patience and respect to others.
- In the future, I will talk to more and more people about it.
Part 3:
- It is vitally important
- It shows fairness
What are the differences between lining up now and in the past?
- In the past, they had normal lines, sometimes people were impatient---
- Now, they are put in a waiting list, for example, when they go to a hostpital some apps
will automatically put their name in line---. Also, people are more patient because they
realize the importance of lining up.
Ideas
- I am friendly – I make friends with people from all walks of life – I take part in different
activities with groups of friends – today I’d like to tell you about volunteering activities
that I often do with them
- 5 years ago, I passed the final exam with flying colors – I had a lot of free time – amused
myself by --- then my friends invited me to enroll in a volunteer club
- Nam is our leader – who always put himself in our shoes – we learn to cooperate with
each other improve communication and teamwork skills – I was over the moon
- Now I am always on the go – take advantage of my free time to join in our club twice
a year – it is an ideal vehicle for us to become closer to each other
Part 3:
Ideas
- I usually have to make a lot of decisions every day and hardly do I change my opinions.
However, here I’d like to tell you about one of the most special occasions when I
changed my decision.
- It was about 5 years ago if my memory serves me right. I passed an examination with
flying colors and decided to visit somewhere to take it easy. I invited my friends to go
with me and I advised them to go to Haiphong city.
- 2 days later, I read a piece of information about the environmental pollution of this city
so I changed my decision that we would go to Danang city rather than Haiphong city.
- The main reason is that I place importance on my health and want to visit a safe place.
Also, Dannag is one of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam with breathtaking
views and beautiful beaches.
- At first, my friends were not very satisfied as they prepared many things for the trip to
Haiphong city. Then, I explained in detail about my decision and they said ok
Part 3:
- They give opinions at school to contribute to lessons and improve their knowledge. For
instance, ---
- they talk with their family members about their ideas. For instance, ---
- They give ideas at their workplace to build their company. For example,
- they talk about their future career as most people attach emphasis to their carreer
- I am active person, so I usually give my opinions. For instance, I often express my ideas
with my teammates to find the best solution for the sake of my team. Also, I talk with
my friends and family a lot about my ideas and receive advice from the.
Ideas
- I am really keen on music – take advantage of my free time to listen to music to take it
easy because I am always on the go and stressed it is considered as the best way to
take it easy. Also, I am keen on singing and often sing on special occasions at my
workplace and school – today, I’d like to tell you about a special occasion when I
needed to memorize a new song and perform it in a short time.
- 5 years ago – I passed the final exam with flying colors – held a party – invited friends
– sang a song named “ you raise me up” – I didn’t like westlife but the meaning of this
song is suitable with the party as I wanted to say thank you to my family and friends.
- I listened to the song from youtube hundreds of times – wrote the lyrics and
remembered high tones – as my voice is quite low – difficult to sing high tones.
- Finally, I had a performance and explained to my guests the reason why I forgot some
words – they burst into tears – the song really touched their heart.
Part 3:
Ideas
- I am a bit of a social butterfly so I make friends with people from all walks of life and
we often help each other if we run into difficulties. Here, I’d like to tell you about an
occasion when I gave a friend comments on his English acquisition.
- If my memory serves me right, it was around 5 years ago when I enrolled in an English
class where I met Dat who was not really good at English. He found different ways to
improve his English level but he couldn’t speak English.
- I decided to give him some advice because I was the best English speaker in this class.
I encouraged him to practice rather than learning only grammar because I believed that
“practice makes perfect’. I suggested him to go to Hoan kiem lake to practice with
native speakers to improve his pronunciation and fluency.
- After 3 months, his English level was incredibly better and then he passed an exam
with high scores.
- I was over the moon because I could help him improve his English level. Now, we are
working in the same company and give each other advice every day.
Part 3
What are the differences between receiving advice from family and friends?
- family members often give advice related to to lifestyles and future career
- family gives negative comments for the sake of ourselves because they are our flesh
and blood
- friends sometimes are reluctant to give negative advice because they avoid arguments
- when they are going to have an important decision, which can affect their lives
- when they need to learn how to use a technological device because most olde people
are technophobes---
- when they play sports or take part in some recreational activities ---
Ideas
- Today, I’d like to tell you about a special occasion when I talked with my friend about
the truth.
- To the best of my recollection, it was around some years ago when Tien and I took part
in the university entrance examination which was an important exam in our lives.
- We tried our best with the hope of enrolling in a famous university. 30 days after the
exam, I checked our result online and I decided to make a joke. Although he passed the
exam with flying colors, so he was eligible to take part in his dream university.
However, I sent him a message that he got low scores
- He cried a lot and didn’t want to go out for some days but I didn’t know about it. Then,
his mother made a phone call to me to talk about his situation and I knew that I had a
stupid joke.
- I decided to go to his house to say sorry to him and told him the truth. At first, I thought
he would come down on me like a ton of bricks but surprisingly he didn’t do that. He
said that he was sympathetic and forgive me, and the most important think is that we
made our dreams come true.
- In the future, I will never make similar jokes due to the potential of some negative
impacts.
Part 3
- Well, people lie every day on different occasions. For instance, when talking with
friends or colleagues, people may lie as a joke. Also, some people lie for their benefits
---
- Lies are good and necessary on certain occasions. For example, if doctos talk to patients
about their situations, they may have a sense of depression, leading to negative
consequences. Hence, doctors lie for the sake of their patients.
- In addition, some parents need to lie their children when they pester something unless
they will cry a lot.
- there are different ways to detect whether people are lying or not.
- We can look into their eyes and their face, if their face turns red ----
- We can also ask more information to know exactly the truth ----
- Yes, we need to follow all rules and regulations unless we would have a lot of troubles.
For example, if we run off the red light, we may be fined ---
- following the law is a good way to show our responsibility and personality, so we will
be appreciated by others.
- No, it is unfair, leading to many problems in the future when we get used to such
attitude---
- It is better to follow the rule and try our best to improve ourselves rathr than heavily
focus on achievements.
Ideas
- I am a bit of a social butterfly so I make friends with people from all walks of life and
we often have a lot of conversations every day. However, here, I would like to tell you
about a special occasion when I was not interested in a conversation with one of my
best friends.
- Some years ago, when I revised for my university entrance exam, I was under
considerable pressure as my parents attached importance to scores. I spent most of my
time studying at home and school. However, my best friend fell in love with a girl and
they often argued so he talked with me a lot about their relationship.
- Actually, I was not keen on their stories as I just wanted to focus on my exam revision
unless I couldn’t take part in my dream university, but I still have to listen to him to
show my respect and politeness
- My friend realized my indifference to his story and then he asked me for reasons. I
explained him in detail about it and luckily, he put himself in my shoes and didn’t
disturb me more.
- Now we are still good friends and share with each other everything.
Part 3:
What kind of problems do people have when they don’t listen to others carefully?
- if people are reluctant to listen to others, they cannot focus on the conversation and then
they may ask again and again
Ideas
- 5 years ago – passing an exam with flying colors – pay a visit to Haiphong city –
1000km with my friends who were studying with me at university – they always put
themselves in my shoes – they are also like-minded friends
- We hoped that we would have a great trip but we were all disappointed due to some
reasons.
- The city was polluted because a lot of factories released CO2 emissions to the
environment. There were also a lo of trucks and cars, so this city was very noisy.
Finally, we intended to go there for swimming, but the beach was so dirty.
- I was not really keen on this trip because this is considered as a waste of time and
money.
Part 3:
- People use different forms of transport but the most popular one is motorbikes because
they are not only cheap but also convenient. To illustrate, ---
- cars are also widely chosen by many people as they are safe
- there are more transport links from the city center to the outskirts
Should we read books about other areas rather than going to other areas?
- people can save money and time when they read a book about other areas
- however, they cannot gain profound insights into other places unless they go there and
take part in different activities---
- the job market has become increasingly competitive, they go to other nations to look
for a job.
Ideas
- I guess everyone must have received/taken in news, either positive or negative news,
and I am not an exception. However, here, I’d like to tell you about one of the most
important pieces of news.
- To the best of my recollection, it was around 5 years ago when I was a student – as a
technophile – I like technological devices, particularly computers –so I decided to buy
a macbook/ an Iphone which cost me a fortune
- Unluckily, I lost it in a café – so I felt down in the dump – then I posted on facebook
with the hope of finding my device – also, I called the police
- After 5 days, an old man sent me a message and gave it back to me – I was over the
moon as it is important to me and I used it for different purposes – I dream of an English
teacher so I study on my computer – I also keep in touch with my friends by this device
Part 3
- Easier – thanks to the advent of the Internet and technological devices – for example –
now we can send an email or a notice at the push of a button – in the past, wait for the
post main for ages due to geographical boundaries. Also, the quality of news is better -
-- in the past – people relied on loudspeakers
- People have different ways to convey news to friends but I prefer to meet friends in
person because ----. If I am far from them, I will make a phone call – because ---. For
instance---
- Have a secure scheme for sharing news internally – make sure that internal and
important news is not known by other companies – for instance, take advantage of IT
– cannot print or send outside
- Government-based companies – citizens have paid taxes – they are eligible to know --
- for instance
- It depends – on the one hand – help the community to avoid dangerous situations – for
example, Vietnam ---, leading to a successful preventative program
- On the other hand, people are worried about the invasion of privacy – should share their
journeys but hide their name and face/ personal information.
- I often keep abreast of information by reading online news – I can save my time and
money
- I also watch news programs with my father and discuss with him about important news.
- on the radio
- on newspapers
Ideas
- I have a knack for cooking and often take advantage of my free time to cook traditional
cuisines. Sometimes, I also eat foreign dishes and here I’d like to tell you about the first
time I ate sushi with my family.
- If my memory serves me right, it was about some years ago. I passed an examination
with flying colors and my family decided to go to a Japanese restaurant to celebrate my
incredible attainment.
- It was one of the most famous restaurants in my neighbourhood so we had a great meal
together. It was the first time I ate sushi which is made from salmon and other
ingredients. At first, I couldn’t eat a lot because the taste was unfamiliar but then I ate
more and more.
- It was really delicious so I decided to learn some recipes to make this dish at home for
my family as cooking is my forte so I can cook any dish I like.
Part 3
- there are a lot of Korean and Japanese restaurants because many companies from such
countries are operating in Vietnam.
- yes, it is very interesting and they can learn more about important nutrients in food.
- however, we should not force them learn a lot because they are already busy with their
schedules.
- schools are a good environment for students to study and they have rules and
regulations to study effectively from teachers. Also, teachers are proficient at teaching
so they can give valuable lessons to students.
- some parents are also good at cooking and they can teach their children by different
ways.
what are the differences between young and old people towards food?
I would like to tell you about a special decision I’ve ever made.
I am working for FPT which is one of the biggest technological companies in Vietnam. It
is a good job because I can earn enough money to cover all needs in my life. However, I
decided to change my job.
Some days ago, I talked about this decision with my parents. At first, they advised me to
stay at the same organization for a long time because of various benefits associated with
better career prospects and incentives. Then, I explained to them about my dream and
plans for the future so they put themselves in my shoes and motivated me to try my best
to achieve my goal.
I feel confident about my decision and next month I will leave my job. Actually, I never
make any hasty decisions so I consider carefully about the benefits and drawbacks before
having my own choice. Hopefully, I would make my dream come true.
Part 3:
Do you tell friends about that?
To be honest, I usually ask my friends for advice so this choice is not an exception. They
listened to me and gave me valuable comments on what I should do and prepare for my
future job.
In my perspective, they need to make a variety of decisions on a daily basis. For instance,
people have to consider what they should buy for their family due to the availability of
many products. Furthermore, when they go to work, they often have to make hasty
decisions because they are often up to their ears in jobs.
I guess the main reason for this is that before making a decision, people often have to
consider carefully about drawbacks they may have. Most people are afraid of getting
mistakes so they are reluctant to make decisions. For example, my colleagues and I
usually avoid making last-minute decisions because if we have any mistakes, our boss
would come down on us like a tone of bricks.
I think if children are 6 years old, they should be entitled to make decisions because they
are mature enough to choose their favorite activities and schools. However, parents should
consider and give them adequate guidance. To the best of my recollection, when I was a
kid, my parents often gave me opportunities to choose my subjects and extracurricular
activities, then they talked with me about the benefits of my choice, so I had suitable
decisions.
We are living in a fast-paced world so people are always on the go. In the future, they
would have to make more decisions in a short time. Furthermore, the more choices people
have, the more decisions they have to make. For instance, thanks to the development of the
fashion industry, the range of clothes is not limited as in the past, so when going shopping,
people need to think a lot about what they should buy.
Ideas
- I am really keen on taking photos, so I often take advantage of my free time to visit
different destinations and take photos to let off steam – the most favorite photo is---
- 5 years ago, I passed an exam with flying colors so I invited my friends to my house to
have a party – I photo with them and my family – in the picture- we smiled and showed
our happiness
- I love it as it reminds me about a good memory. Now, we are living far from each other,
so this would be a very meaningful photo.
Part 3
- Many people often take photos and throw away after a short time so they don like to
waste their time taking photos
- Many people are endowed with special talents for taking photos
- However, if you want to become a professional photographer, you need to learn editing
software – photoshop---
- Taking photos helps people save memories with friends and family ( for example –
wedding parties)
- Photos have special meanings on some occasions – ( for example – photos about
environmental contamination – raise awareness among people in evnvironmental
campaigns)
What are the differences between photos now and in the past?
- In the past, photos were simple due to the lack of technological devices
Ideas
- I am really keen on toys and I collect toys as a hobby – However I’d like to tell you
about the most special toy I’ve ever had
- To the best of my recollection, it was around 10 years ago when I was still a primary
school student – My parents placed importance on my school records – they promised
to give me a toy if I got high scores – I passed the exam with flying colors
- They bought me an iron man which was my favorite toy – they put themselves in my
shoes and gave me what I really liked.
- It is not only my toy but also my friends – my parents were always on the go and didn’t
have time for me so the toy was really important – I considered it as a friend and talked
all sorts of stories, which made me more comfortable
Part 3
What are the differences between toys for boys and girls?
- One the one hand, children have more information and choose their suitable and
favorite toys
- On the other hand, commercials draw attention from children who may pester their
parents for toys
- It really depends
- some advertisements are funny and have educational values – children can take it easy
and learn valuable information – for instance, ---
- However, some children are too young to realize the importance of toys – advertisers
exaggerate the functions to make profits – this kind of commercials should be
prohibited
What's the difference between toys kids play now and those they played in the past?
- In the past, toys were a bit simple – children often play with robots and dolls
- Now, they have more choices of toys such as car models, robots, electrical toys.
Do you think parents should buy more toys for their kids or spend more time with
them?
- It is up to each family
- if parents have free time, they should play with their children to understand each other
- However, if parents are up to their ears in their jobs, they should buy toys for their
children. Also, playing with toys can help children more creative ---
Ideas
- I am really keen on music and often take advantage of my free time to listen to music
to take it easy because it is considered as the best way to take it easy. Also, I am keen
on singing and often sing on special occasions at my workplace and school, so I know
many songs – today, I’d like to tell you about a special occasion when I heard an
interesting song
- 5 years ago, I passed the final exam with flying colors – I held a party – I had some
friends over for dinner –I sang a song named “ you raise me up” – I didn’t like westlife
but the meaning of this song is suitable with the party as I wanted to say thank you to
my family and friends.
- I listen to the song from youtube hundreds of times – I wrote down the lyrics and
remember high tones – as my voice is quite low – difficult to sing high tones.
- Finally, I had a performance and explained to my guests the reason why I forgot some
words – they burst into tears – the song really touched their heart.
Part 3:
- Each poem or song has a special meaning about cultures, traditions and people in a
particular place – by remembering poems and songs, they understand more about the
true meaning of this work. For instance, if audiences learn the lyric of the song ‘ heal
the world” composed and performed by Micheal Jackson, they may have a sense of
humanity and empathy--- Also, the poem --- reminds people about the difficulties that
our ancestors experienced in the past, so they treasure what we have.
- Educational institutions are the best places for people to improve their knowledge. They
should try their best to study at school to stand a better chance of landing a better job
in the future. However, they should also cultivate soft skills via extra-curricular
activities – important in the future---
- Their life is more meaningful – some people are endowed with special skills related to
literature and music – memorizing helps them comfortable ---
- It really depends
- Some people place importance on historical knowledge so they learn historical events
that took place in the country and the world to understand how their ancestors overcame
problems. Therefore, they avoid similar mistakes in the future
- However, some don't like it at all as history is not directly linked to their future job so
they would rather spend time learning ----, than focusing on history.
- they learn from books – they go to the library to exchange knowledge related to history
with like-minded friends
- they learn from conversations with older generations – for example, ---
- we add videos and documentary films in classes instead of forcing students reading a
lot of paper documents
- normally, adults have better singing skills as they have better health and can conquer
high tones
- However, some children are endowed with special talents for singing
- As an ambitious person – I have a lot of ambitions – but here, I’d like to tell you about
---(becoming a businessman/ an ielts teacher/ getting into shape---)
- I started to dream of becoming --- around 10 years ago – my teacher motivated me ---
- To make my dream come true I need to apply myself to develop real skills –
communication skills – having a good command of ---
- There are two main reason why I really want to achieve my goal. Firstly, --- . Secondly
---.
Part 3
- Become famous
What are the differences between ambitions of people now and in the past?
- In the past, people were simple – want to earn enough money to pay for their lives and
take care of their family
- Now, apart from ambitions for themselves and their families, many people want to
contribute to the society – influencers
- Talk with them a lot – listen to them – find their strengths and weaknesses
- Encourage them in various activities – children have aptitudes for special talents can
have more motivation to achieve their goals
Why do some people want to work in the same position for many years, others want
to have higher positions?
- They are proficient at a particular job and don’t want to learn change as they have to
apply themselves to learn new skills.
Ideas
- I am an animal lover so I spend a lot of time reading information about animals. Here,
I’d like to tell you about my favorite animal/ my pet/ a wild animal which is on the
verge of extinction.
- To the best of my recollection, I first knew about this animal around 10 years ago thanks
to a book/ a lesson at school/ a TV program which provides insights into the fauna and
flora of an area/ I knew this animal when my parents took me to the zoo.
- Tigers are very big and considered as the king of the forest. Its weight is up to 300kg.
Normally, they have short and yellow fur with black spots and stripes. They also have
four long legs, so they are one of the fastest animal species.
- According to the culture of Vietnam, tigers represent power and bravery. Also,
according to local folklore and fairy-tales, tigers can be used for medical purposes so
many people hunt tigers for immoral activities. Therefore, tigers are endangered
- I like tigers because they are beautiful and they are also a part of my childhood as my
parents told me a lot of stories about tigers. In the future, I hope that the state would
have more measures to hinder people from hunting, and then prevent tigers from
extinction.
Part 3
- Moreover, learning about animals can help chidren know more about nature and the
world around them so they can improve their imagination.
- On the one hand, a variety of animals are on the verge of extinction so we need to
allocate money to animal conservation to protect endangered animals.
- On the other hand, there are still many people who are struggling with their life so we
need to give them money because humans are more important than animals. Therefore,
humans should be prioritised and then we can pay a samll amount of money for projects
associated with animals.
- if you live near forests, there are a lot of wild animals there. For instance, ---
- Some animals are also living near humans. For instance, ---
- People raise different kinds of pets but dogs are often chosen by many people because
they are close to humans and loyal.
- Some people also raise fish because fish is cheap and easy to raise at home.
Ideas
- 5 years ago – my best friend gave it to me as he knew that I had a passion for reading
- A message from the book is that if we try our best, we can do almost everything
Part 3
Vocabulary: dream of becoming---, a well-paid job, get to work with highly skilled
colleaugues, career prospects, make my dream come true
Ideas
- I need to try my best to have a good command of English ----. In addition, I need to
learn teaching skills from my parents and friends who always put themselves in my
shoes and give me sound advice.
- The main reason why I have a passion for teaching English is because I get to work
with many students from all walks of life---. Furthermore, I have an opportunity to
work with highly skilled teachers who are very proficient at teaching. I also meet native
speakers and learn their cultures.
- In the future, I wish I would make my dream come true as soon as possible.
Part 3:
- education plays an important role as if they want to work well, they need to be equipped
with enough knowledge. For instance, ---
- Soft skills are also important as they need to learn to communicate with others.
- they can pass valuable knowledge on to new members – helping them adapt to their
company---
- Having a friendly environment can lead to a higher level of satisfaction among workers-
---
- ambitions are an important factor for a successful career because people may have more
motivation to work hard ---
- However, other factors are equally important ---( luck, soft skills, academic knowledge)
- They choose different kinds of job but the most popular one is to become office worker
because ---
- Other jobs like teachers and lawyers are also chosen because ---
- It depends
- Some people wish they they would have chosen another job because ----. For instance,
my father was endowed with special talents for music but he chose to become a teacher
and no he regrets about it.
- Some people are extremely satisfied with their job because ----.
- However, in Vietnam, people don’t choose these jobs due to the lack of job
opportunities in the future as people rely on emotional support of their family.
Vocabulary: dream of becoming---, a well-paid job, get to work with highly skilled
colleaugues, career prospects, make my dream come true
Ideas
- My sister is working for Canon which is one of the biggest companies in the world. Her
company have some vacancies for students so I really want to apply for this position.
- If I get to work for this company, I will work in the customer service depeartnment
which is my favorite job because I talk with many customers.
- I need to learn not only English but also japaness to work with customers in Japan and
other countries. Also, I need to improve my communication and negotiation skills.
- The main reason why I love this job is because I can go to Japan and discover about its
culture, local people who are famous for working hard so I can learn many things from
them. Also, this is a beautiful country with a lot of breathtaking views, I am keen on
travelling so this country is perfectly suitable for me.
Part 3:
What are the benefits of having a short time working in another country?
- to have an internship
- get to work with people from the four corners of the world.
- high salaries
- they don’t want to miss out on emotional support from family when living far from
them
- they like their own country and don’t want cho change their workplace
- I am keen on movies – so I take advantage of my free time to watch movies to let off
steam – today, I would like to tell you about one of the most special movies I have ever
wathced
- I watched this film 5 years ago – to the best of my recollection – I passed an exam with
flying colors – I went to the cinema to relax – watched this movie—
- The movie is about --- ( history/ business/ family relationships ---) – it is adapted from
a novel. ----
- I burst into tears/ I laugh a lot – I put myself in their shoes – in the future, I want to
watch similar movies
Part 3
- Under considerable pressure – dispel worries about exams/ release stress – more
motivation to try their best
- The most effective facial expression – connecting people together – for example, ---
- In the past, I was close - minded – hardly did I smile – now I smile a lot everywhere –
inspire others
- Release stress
- Action movies – people are totally engrossed in these films. For example, --
Do you think that some films are successful because they have famous actors?
- Famous actors play an important role – take advantage of their fame to attract attention
from audiences – for example
- It is vitally important because students are often under considerable pressure due to
expectation from teachers and parents. If they make jobs, students can get rid of stress-
---
- This is also a good way to interact with students. For instance, ---
- Many people consider it as a good way to take it easy after long working hours –
- they can also strengthen their family relationship by watching a film together
- However, some people are always on the go and don’t have enough time for movies.
- yes, people in the four corners of the world smile to show their politiness and
hospitality. For example, if guests visit their house, they would welcome them and
simle a lot, which makes their guests feel comfortable.
Ideas
- I am really keen on shopping and take advantage of my free time to go shopping with
my friends and family. Here, I’d like to tell you about a special item that made me
happy.
- 5 years ago, I passed an exam with flying colors and my parents gave me a gift. We
went to thegioididong store to buy an Iphone which was a state-of-the-art item at that
time.
- As a technophile, I was really happy with this gift because I was really helpful. I used
it for different purposes.
- I keep in touch with my family and friends and make friends with people on social
networking websites.
- In the future, I want to keep it forever because it is a meaningful gift from my family.
Part 3
- Thanks to the appearance of many technological devices, many people choose to buy
things online. For instance, ---
- However, there are those who still choose to go to stores or supermarkets to buy things
because shopping is also considered as a good way to let off steam.
- Yes, people spend a great deal of time shopping because it can help them take it easy.
For instance, my colleagues and I go shopping every weekend to get rid of stress and
buy new things.
- Moreover, thanks to the economic development, they spend more and more money and
time going shopping.
Do they bargain?
- Many people choose to bargain to have a discount as they are strapped for cash
- However, some people are reluctant to haggle over the prices of items as their
negotiation skills are not good.
- I guess they will be very satisfied with their discount because they can save a bit money.
For instance, last week I was really happy because I had a discount coupon when buy
a new mobile phone.
Ideas
- I am keen on learning science – I take advantage of my free time to --- here I’m gonna
talk about space exploration
- 10 years ago, when I was a high school student – my physic teacher motivated me –
found online documents – read books – watch youtube videos
- Some companies in the world such as Space X and Solar city founded by Elon Musk –
Nasa ---
- Space discoveries are important because we need to find a habitable environment for
human beings – find new energy resources as the natural energy has been depleted –
avoid a energy crisis
Part 3:
Are you interested in psychology?
- Keen on science-related subjects and psychology is not an exception – curious about
human beings, their thoughts, behavior.
- In the past, I intended to become a psycho doctor/psychologist ---
Are science subjects important and popular in Vietnam?
- Play an important part of the school curriculum – the bedrock of new inventions –
people are encouraged to learn early – improve creativity – academic knowledge,
paving the way for new scientific breakthroughs
Should children learn science?
- Study as soon as possible – but science is something difficult – give them a suitable
amount of knowledge – motivate them – gradually educate them some simple
definitions.
What do you think about taking children to museums/ libraries to learn about science?
- Good – have a closer insight into science – go to ABC museum – learn about ---
- museums have some experts, exhibitions, documents and videos
- Have like-minded friends to exchange knowledge
Which area of science will develop in the future?
- Psychology – people are more stressed
- Computer science – rely on technology
Should countries collaborate to develop science?
- Yes – they can exchange knowledge – pass their valuable experience on to others
- Each country has their own strengths and talented people
What is the difference between science at school and in real life?
- School almost focus on theory – hardly conduct experiments due to the lack of facilities
- In real life, people get to try practical work – put their knowledge into practice
- However, knowledge at school is the bedrock for scientific research in real life
How does science help people in their daily life?
- Every aspect of life – the advent of the internet, technological devices
- In agriculture – ploughs, shipping machines – less human involvement
- Robots in the industry – dangerous work
What is the most advanced breakthrough?
- Computer – apply for work
- electromagnetic waves and Mobile phone – an ideal vehicle for people to become closer
Ideas
- Vietnam is a special country with 4000-year history. We have different festivals each
year but I’d like to talk about Tet holiday which is one of the most interesting festivals
in our country.
- It is an important event because people have many days off and they often come back
to their hometown and have reunions with their family and friends. Like most people,
I often visit my relatives and have parties with them. We talk about what we do each
year and set new resoulutions.
- We also go to the church or pagoda to pray for a better life. Some people also choose
to visit some beautiful destinations with their family to take it easy.
- I really like this event because of two main reasons. Firstly, as I am always up to my
ears in my job, this is a great opportunity for me to reunite with family members. Also,
I can take part in different cultural activities on Tet holiday as I want to maintain
interesting features passed on to different generations.
- In the future, I will talk about this event with my foreign friends to help them understand
more about my country.
Part 3:
What are the differences between festivals in the past and at present?
- Well, there are several disparities between festivals in the past and today
- In the past, festivals were simple but attract a lot of people who want to maintain
cultural features.
- Now, people are living in a fast-paced world, they take part in festivals to take it easy
rather than maintaining cultural aspects.
How do young people celebrate their new year?
- It is up to each person.
- Some people choose to go to public areas and welcome a new year with others –--
- However, others choose to stay at home with their family and they can have a party
together---
What kinds of activities does the state hold on national holidays?
- They hold festivals and cultural activities---
- They hold some sport competitions ---
What will the tet holiday be like in the future?
- In the future, people will be always on the go and they are indifferent to Tet
- There will be less days off for Tet holiday
- There will be less cultural activities. For instance, people are reluctant to make chung
cake ---
Part 2
Part 3
What can people do to help children?
What can people do to help adults?
What are the differences between helping friends and strangers?
What do people often do when they need for help?
How do people in a neighbourhood help each other?
How do countries help each other?
Part 2
Part 3
What kinds of success do young people want to achieve?
What do they do to achieve their success?
Do you think old people dont need to try to achieve success?
Is the success of individuals is more important than that for teams?
Should parents encourage children to become the best?
Part 2
Part 3
Do people prefer taking photos of people or scenery?
What are the differences between the way they take photos now and in the past?
Why photos are important on some events?
What do you think about different generations taking photos together?
Do people prefer taking photos by a phone or a camera?
Part 2
Part 3
Do children in your country like toy?
What are the differences between toys for boys and girls?
Do people use toys as a gift?
What are the differences between toys now and in the past?
Do you think people from different countries play the same kind of toys?
VOCABULARY
Useful vocabulary Explain/Example
WORK/STUDY
Put yourself in sb's to imagine other’s My boss puts himself in my
place/position/shoes feelings/situations, particulary shoes to understand my
(idiom) in difficult situations. problems.
Try you hand in/at I will try my hand in
To try doing something
something (idiom) different jobs.
I have to work around the
To work very hard, all day
Work around the clock clock to complete my job.
and all night
It is a round-the-clock job.
to work or do other things I am so busy with my job
burn the candle at both from early in the morning that I have to burn the
ends (idiom) until late at night and so get candle at both ends every
very little rest. day.
She has been burning the
Burn the midnight oil To work very hard, especially
midnight oil preparing for a
(idiom) late into the night
new project.
To work/study very hard, to I have been breaking my
Break your/sb’s back
give a great deal of effort to back trying to pass my
(idiom)
do/doing something exam.
Work your fingers to the = To work flat out = to
To work extremely hard
bone (idiom) work around the clock.
Jame created an automatic
Work like a charm
To work very effectively system which works like a
(idiom)
charm.
Unpleasant work or dishonest He gave me all dirty work
Dirty work action that others do not want which is vitally difficult to
to do complete.
I was working as a chief
Bean counter (idiom) An accountant bean counter for a foreign
company.
We want to import some
To prevent something in your new machines from
Gum up the works (idiom) workplace from working England but legal
smoothly. procedures my gum up the
works.
She came down on me like
Come down on sb like a
To critize someone strictly a ton of bricks because I
ton of bricks (idiom)
made a serious mistake.
I think we will have to cross
Cross that bridge when sb To tackle with a matter when
that bridge when we come
comes to it (idiom) it happens
to it.
Engage in something =
take part in something Students engage in extracurricular activities after school and
on weekends.
Extra-curricular activities
Skyscraper
This office block was pulled down to make way for a new
Pull down = demolish skyscraper.
Office block
Residential area An area where people live.
Neighbourhood There are many kids who are living in my neighbourhood.
Rush hour = peak hour The time when many people do the same thing
BOAT/THE SEA
The skin becomes brown as a result of sunbathing.
Get a suntan
I got a suntan when I visited Doson beach last year.
Da Nang is one of the most beautiful costal cities with a
Coastal (a)
variety of breathtaking views.
I have a knack for swimming so I often go for a dip with my
Go for a dip
friends on the beach.
Scuba-diving (n)
I will have a crack at some adventurous sports such as
scuba-diving or surfing.
Adventurous (a)
Crystal clear water I like going for a dip on crystal clear water.
FAMILY/ ACCOMMODATION
a family consisting of two parents and their children, but
A nuclear family
not including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.
He is a person who earns a huge amount of money. In other
Breadwinner (idiom)
words, he is a breadwinner.
housewife She had dreamed of being a housewife, and she
took great pride in that role.
Take pride in something
ADVERTISING/NEWSPAPER/MEDIA
He is a creative director at the American-owned
Advertising agency (n) advertising agency that will be producing all the poster
,leaflet, and television work.
Manipulate (v)
Commercial (n) Advertisers manipulate buyers via a variety of commercials
Adverstisement(n)
a short interruption of a television or
Commercial break (n)
radio programme to broadcast advertisements
letters or emails, usually advertising products or services,
junk mail (n)
sent to people although they have not asked to receive.
Mass media (n) newspapers, television, radio, and the internet
websites and computer programs that allow people to
Social media (n) communicate and share information on the internet using
a computer or mobile phone.
Disseminate (v) Some companies usually disseminate the information about
Attribute (v) their products via a variety of commercials.
To take information
Take in (v) Buyers take in the information about many products’
attributes on a daily basis.
Gullible (a) Advertisers often exaggerate their products’ attributes but
consumers don’t realize that. In other words, they are so
Exaggerate (v) gullible.
Word-of-mouth marketing is not popular nowadays as
Word-of-mouth (a)
companies often focus on social media marketing.
Consumers often believe in eye-catching commercials and
Eye-catching (a)
posters
Sensational (a) The mass media often focus on/convey sensational news
Convey (v) which picks people’s curiosity.
Firsthand (adv) The reporter keeps us up to date with this event by providing
Firsthand (a) firsthand information.
TELEVISION/FILMS
Keep sb up to date with I hope that you would keep me up to date with the
sth (idiom) information about Le Roi singer.
MUSIC
Live concert (n) Live performance of music
Melody (n)
His songs are always strong on melody.
Melodious (a)
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTER/PHONE
SPORT
In good shape She is in good shape as she goes to the gym every day to get
Get into shape into shape.
physical exercises to keep your body healthy, often
Keep fit
done regularly with other people.
Strenuous sports (n) Sports require much effort and energy
Spectator sports (n) Sports that many people go to watch
Have a crack at It will have a crack at a strenuous sport.
Team sports (n) Sports played with teammates.
Solo sports (n) Individual sports
related to heart
Cardiovascular (a) Playing sports would protect people from cardiovascular
diseases/heart-related diseases.
WEATHER
SHOPPING/CLOTHES
I am living in the city center so I do a lot of window
Window shopping (n)
shopping
Window-shop (v) We go to some shopping malls to window-shop.
Tight budget (n) I have a tight budget so hardly do I go shopping.
Haggle over the price of
To bargain (n,v)
sth
Pick out (v) She picks out carefully when going shopping.
Something expensive from famous companies.
designer label (n)
She spent much money buying some designer labels.
Local shops (n) Local stores
Market stall (n) = kiosk
Casual clothes (n) I only use casual clothes every day.
Trendy (a)/ up-to-the-
Hot/ the latest
minute (a)
TRAFFIC
MỤC LỤC
SCHOOL .............................................................................................................................................................. 32
SCIENCE ............................................................................................................................................................. 33
MATH/ NUMBERS ............................................................................................................................................. 33
PEOPLE .................................................................................................................................. 82
DESCRIBE A PERSON WHO WORE UNUSUAL/ BEAUTIFUL CLOTHERS ............................................. 84
You should say: .................................................................................................................................................... 84
Who the person is ........................................................................................................................................ 84
How you knew this person ........................................................................................................................... 84
What this person wore ................................................................................................................................. 84
And explain how you felt about this person ................................................................................................ 84
DESCRIBE A PERSON WHO SHARES OPINIONS OPENLY ....................................................................... 87
You should say: .................................................................................................................................................... 87
Who the person is ........................................................................................................................................ 87
How you knew this person ........................................................................................................................... 87
DESCRIBE A CITY YOU HAVE VISITED AND YOU WANT TO COME BACK .............. 102
DESCRIBE AN AREA OF SCIENCE (e.g. maths, physics, psychology) THAT INTERESTS YOU 164
You should say: .................................................................................................................................................. 164
What it is .................................................................................................................................................... 164
How you learn about it .............................................................................................................................. 164
Who you learn with.................................................................................................................................... 164
And explain why you like it........................................................................................................................ 164
VOCABULARY ...............................................................................................................173