How To Speak English Well

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PREFACE
The book "H o w To Speak English W e ll" is designed to provide you

English learners of pre-intermediate and intermediate levels with 50 hot
topics related to daily life. Each topic helps you enrich you r vocabulary
- - - - - - . . . . . .
as well as get more ideas about the topic you are involved in. In
addition, questions in each topic facilitate you to practice your speaking
skills.
Practicing speaking is not only speaking. Besides, the learners have to

improve their reading and listening skills, grammar and vocabulary.
One of the. most important factors that can help you get the good result
in speaking English is the self-<onfidence. Moreover, you should
enounce you r ideas and join class discussions actively. In English
speaking, shyness prevents you from mastering i t Also, when you do not
know ho w to pronounce or h o w to use an English word, you shoufd
check it up in a dictionary or ask your classmates or teachers about it
O ver all, don't be afraid o f making mistakes when practicing speaking
English. Jb
i hope that this book can partly help you improve your English speaking
skill. Surely, limitations in this book could not be avoided, so your
contributions w ill be highly appreciated.
H A V E A B IG SUCCESS I N Y O U R S T U D Y !
45
Nguyen Hong Anh, M.A. in TESOL

(Canberra University, Australia)
r V
H<w> To S p e a k E nglish W eü
T O P IC Is M Y SE L F I M R 0 i n CT 1 0 \
I’m very happy to introduce myself. My name is Linh

but my friends usually call m e Katy.
I live in Bac U eu province, a province in the west of

Vietnam. My family consists of four people: m y parents,
m y younger brother and i. M y father is a farmer, and m y
mother is a house-wife who always takes a good care of
my family. My brother is an 11 th grade student. And l am
a junior of Van Lang University.
I like learning English very much. I have learnt it for years at high school
and university, but my speaking skill is not good enough. Therefore, I try
my best to leam it now, and I hope I can speak it well one day. When l
graduate from university, I will be a teacher of English because it is my
major.
In my free time, I like listening to music, watching movies, reading

newspapers, and going shopping. O n Sundays, i usually go to the coffee
shop to chat with m y friends in the morning, and I always join the English
Speaking Club to improve my speaking skill in the afternoon.
In short, I am very happy with m y life. O f course, ! am going to make it

happier and more meaningful.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to consist (of) [kan'sist] = to include

Ex: The committee consists often mmbers
Uy ban gdm co mifcn thanh wen
2. to take care of " to look after
Ex: /always take care of my family
3. junior (n) fdOurnjs]: the third-year student
freshman
sophomore
junior
senior
2
N guyen H o ttg A n h , M.A. in TE SO L
QUESTIONS FO R P1SCPSSIOM
1. May ! know your name? W here are you from? What do you do?
2. How many people are there in your family? W hat is your position in
your family? W ho do you think loves you most in your family? A
3. Which school are you studying at? W hat is your major? W h y do you
choose it?
4. Wnat do you like about your classroom? What do you dislike about
your classroom?
5. What do you think about your classmates? What do you think about
your instructors
6 . What are you going to do after graduating from your university? Do
you think you will be successful in your future job?
7. Do you like listening to music? If yes, what kind of m usic do you like
best? 'v v '
8 . W hat do you think about watching T V or films? What is your favorite
channel?
9. What do you often do at weekends? Which activity do you like best?
10. Do you want to change your daily life? If yes, how will be it changed?
TOPIC 2: TBOEFIKST BA Y I WENT TO SCHOOL

I will never forget the first day 1 went to school. O n
that day, my mother accompanied m e to school.
Soon a teacher came and led us to som e

classrooms. Th e re we were put into four separate
classes. Th is was when som e children began to
cry a s T h e parents were not allowed into the
classrooms. I did not cry because I had been to
kindergarten before.
it w as an enjoyable time for me as I got to know m y new classmates.

Th e teacher w as very busy writing down our particulars, so w e had
plenty of time to ourselves.
‘W hen the break came, m y new friends and I managed to make friend
with two girls. Soon w e were laughing and playing together. O nce in a
while the teacher had to tell us to keep quiet as w e were making too
much noise.
inally the bell rang for us to go home. Som e of us were very relieved to
e reunited with our parents. I too w as glad to see m y mother wafting for
le at the school gate. I had m ade m any friends. It had been a
"St day at school.
O C A B U U R i TIP A
. to accompany [a ’kA m p s n i]: to go with

Ex: l s hould ask m y friend io accompany me to school
Tói phài nhò ban tói dr cùng töi den truòng
. separate ['se p rat] (a ) : dii
Ex: We were put into four separate classes
Chùng tói duoc phàn vào càc lop khàc nhau
. kindergarten ['kinds,go :tn ] (n ) : a school for children
. to be busy + v-ing {»nth something)
Ex: She 's busy with her homework
Có ày b$n cóng wee ò nhà
She's busy writing letters
Co ay dang ban viét this
. particular [petikjule(r)] (n): detail, event
. to manage = to by
. Once in a while (exp.) = sometimes
Ex: Once in a while we go to a restaurant
Thtnh thoàng chùng tói di än nhà häng
. be relieved [ri'iirv ): be comfortable
0. to reunite [,r i:ju :'n a it]: to come together
1. to see s.o do/doing s.tfr:
O tE ST lO M S FOK D ISCUSSIO X
W hen did you start your schooling? Did you go to a public high
school or a private one?
Did you have to w ear a uniform in high school? How about
elementary school?
Have you ever been absent from class? If yes, how m any times
were you absent from school?
Have you ever been late for class? If so, w hy? W hen w as the last
time? Did the teacher get angry?
Did your school have a band? If so, did you play in it? Do you play
on any of the school's sports teams?
Did you have any close friends at elementary school? Do you still
keep in touch with them?
What classes did you not like? W h y didn't you like them? W hat did
you like best about high school? 4
4
8. W hat school did you graduate from? W hat high school? W hat junior
high school?
9. W hat were som e of the rules you had to follow at your high school?
Which rules did you think w ere unfair? Did you ever get caught
breaking any school rules? .Were you allowed to eat food in the ^
classroom? ' '
10. W hat was your favourite subject? W h y do you like it? Which
subjects were you good at? W hich subjects w ere you poor at?
T O P IC 3s M V F A iu n v r
There are five m em bers in m y family: m y parents,

m y older bother, m y younger sister and l.
. . . . . . '
M y parents are living in one of the central provinces.
M y mother is 53 years old. She is a housewife. M y
father is 55 years old. H e is a fisherman. M y older
brother gets married, living separately near m y
parents 1 home. He has two children and works for
an industrial park with his wife. M y younger sister is
a schoolgirl. She is three years older than me. W e
are very united.
N ow i'm living in H C M C for m y higher education. However, I always miss

and think about m y family because it is the best place for m e in the
world. Th e re I can feel safe, warm, and free. My home is a place where 1
keep all things that I love and am with people who love me m o s t It is
also the place w here I spend the happiest moments in m y life, in
addition, l believe that m y hom e is a foundation for me to develop myself
and a school that forms m y personality.
v f
In short, I always keep the sentence “no place is like home* in m y mind.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. foundation [faun'dei/nj (n): base

2. to form =* to create
H<nc To S p e a k E nglish W ell

QUESTIO NS FOK PISCTJSSIOtt
ow m any people are there in your family? Do you live with your
imily? W ho is the most important one in your family?
/hy do people say, T a m ily is the foundation of society”? What do
)u think about Vietnam ese family's foundation?
it the sam e or different between the family structure in the past and
ie at present? W hat do you think of the traditional family? is it better
¡an the m odem one? W hy/why not?
Ihich one do you prefer between living in a large family with m any
snerations and living in a small one? W hat are advantages and
sadvantages of living in a large / small family?
s a saying goes “Th e re is no place like home*. D o you think so?
'hat should w e do to preserve the structure of Vietnamese family?
ow is a happy family? Do you want to live with your parents,
others or sisters in the same house? W h y (or why not)?
o you agree that the more m odem society is, the more easily the
mily is broken? W hat makes the value of family in Vietnam
jw ngrade? <^=5
you have one choice between m oney and family, which one would
>u choose? W h y?
tiy are more and more people being interested in earning money?
Tiat do you think of people who change their wives or friends when
iing rich?
ave you ever left your family for a long time? If yes, how did you 6
6,7 c T
6
T O P IC 4 ; M Y C H U J fflO O P
j§ It is said that childhood is the best period of one’s

g life. I also have a beautiful childhood.
I Since I was bom, my mother has always taken a

I good care of me in everything. M y father usually
1 appeared at important events in my life. For
H example, he took me to the school on the first day .
his care, I always got good results.
My grandparents also loved me so. much. W henever they came back

home from their business trips or from the market, they always had
presents for- me. M y unforgettable memory is when I sat on the verandah
with my grandma listening to her fairy tales. M y favorite story was “ Ta m
and Cam ”.
\ also have a lot of memories during my schooling years. O nce I cut

class to go to the cinema with m y classmates. But my teacher and my
mother punished m e seriously for that. Th e teacher made me kneel for
one hour at the com er of the classroom, and m y mother gave me a
sound spanking. ■
V -/
In short, 1 never forget my childhood.
1. period fpieriad] (n): stage

Ex: Our country has many periods of history
Day nu&c ta c6 nhieu giai (Scan Ijch sir
2. event [Tvent] (n): incident
Ex: Graduating from university is a big event in my life.
3. to encourage [irikQridG]: to stimulate
Ex: My friends usually encourage me to lose weight
4. verandah [va'raenda] (n): the open porch
5. fairy tale: fairy story
6. serious psiarias] (a) - strict
Ex:
c i . . fwy leacner nas
My teacher has a se.
serious look
Thay t6; co ve nghiem khac
Y W to kneel jni:Q: to go down on knees
a sound spanking: the act of slapping
| H o w To S p e a k E nglish W ell 7
\)dng gop PDF bcri GV. Nguyen Thanh Tu WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOIDUONGHOAHOCQUYNHON

QmESTIOUfS FO R PISCPSSIO M
low m any children are there In your family? W hat is your position in
te family?
/here were you bom ? W here did you grow up? W hen did you go to
chool? How did you feel?
/as your childhood happy or unhappy? W h y? Do you still keep any
eautiful memories? [f yes, could you tell us som e of yours?
/hat do you rem em ber most about your childhood? Do you think
lat childhood is the best period of your life?
o you think that we had best time when we were in our childhood?
ow did you spend your childhood? W hat did you like best w hen you
ere a child?
/ho was your best friend when you were a child? C an you describe
m/her? D o you still keep relation with him/her?
/hen you were a little child, who did you love m ost? W hich toy did
)U like best? What kinds of entertainment did you use to have?
'hat kinds of gam es did you usually play? W ho did you usually play
ith? A r
Tiat did you hate eating? W h a fs your most vivid m em ory of the
)use or flat where you grew up?
d you think that ifs very hard for us to get what have gone? Do you
;ual?y talk to your friends about your childhood?
d you ever wish that you could live a childhood life again?
TO PIC 5; By MY LIFE
3y usually begins at 6. I get up and do

exercise for about an hour. Th en I take
After that I get dressed and have
fast with my family. I usually have a
breakfast. At 7.30 I leave for school.
n take a bus to school. I catch the bus

my house, and it takes me about 30
es to get to school. My first class starts
)Q a m. and finishes at 1*1 a.m. Sometimes I stay there for the
oon class. However, I usually stay at home in the afternoons.
! evening, I go to evening classes. I’m teaming English at Youth

jn Language School. W hen I get home, I have dinner and watch
To S p e a k E nglish W ell
T V for an hour. Th e n I start m y homework. Sometimes I go out with m y
friends. I usuaiiy go to bed at 12.
O n Sundays, I usually go to coffee shops for chatting with m y friends.

Sometimes we go fishing or singing karaoke. You know, every Sunday
afternoon, I go to the English Speaking Club to improve my speaking
skill.
c ?
When I have free time, I usually listen to music. I like English songs very
much because they help me improve m y English. A day in my life is very '
interesting. ' JQ
QUESTIONS F O B PISC U SSIO X
1. What time do you usually get up? Do you take any exercise after
getting up? W hat form of exercise, if any, do you take?
2. Do you usually have breakfast at home or at work or on the way to
work? Do you often have coffee?
3. What do you have for lunch? Do you bring your lunch to work or have
lunch outside work or go home for it? ^
4. What time do you leave your work? Do you have to work overtime?
In night shifts? Do you like your job? ^
5. What time do you arrive home from work? W hen do you usually have
dinner? Do you stay home and watch T V , read books or magazines,
do the needle work, listen to music, or have a talk with your partner?
6. How often do you go out after dinner? Do you go to evening classes?
What courses of study are, you taking? What plans do you have for
such courses?
7. How do you spend your time on Sundays? What do you do in your
free time? W hat do you do at weekends?
8. Do you think that your daily life is O K , compared with others in your
family? Do you think your daily routine is boring? Have you ever
thought of doing something else for a change?
9. Are you still going to school? W hat time does your school begin?
What do you often do before school? How do you prepare your
lessons before school? How do you go to school? How long does it
take you to get there? When does your school finish? Do you go
straight home after school?
10. Are you pleased with a day in your life?
r V
B o te To S p e a k English W ell
TOPIC te THOE SUBJECT I LIKE
If I would have the opportunity to study a subject
I do not know yet, I would choose to study the
outer space. ' A ,
I think it is very interesting to work on a space

ship, gathering different kinds of information,
probes and specimens. Also I have chances to
know what is beyond our solar system as well as
t is beyond our universe.
ther reason for studying the space is that I might make new
overies. I think it is a great feeling to give people new knowledge,
srtunities and experience. Thanks to these discoveries, people know
s about our universe.
lort, I believe that in the future, people will be able to visit the space
as they go to a museum now.
PABULAR Y T IP
obe Iproub] (n): yp exploration

earner [spesiman] (n): sample
yond [bfjDnd] (acfv-pre): out of reach
E x: Fuji and other mountains beyond are covered in snow.
NOi Phü S i vä cäc ngpn nOi phia xa kta dSu phü däy tuyet
OUUSTIOrcS FO B P ISC U SSIO fl
Vhat do you like about your classroom? W hat do you don’t like about
our classroom?
>o you think that smart students always sit down in front? Do you
jel comfortable about your seat? Do you like the location of your
esk in your classroom? W here is your seat the best for you?
>o you think the teacher should assign seats to students? What is
ie ideal seating plan or arrangement m a classroom?
tfhat are five things you would like to change in your classroom? Do
ou enjoy changing classrooms for different classes?
; there any air-conditioning in your classroom? Is your classroom a
ice place to study?
To S p e a k Engüsh W eü 10
N guyên H o n g A n h , M A . in T E SO L
5. How m any subjects do you have to study? W hich subjects are you
bad at? W hich subjects are you good at?
7. W hich subject do you like best? W h y do you like it? Are you good at
this subject?
8. Do you learn English as one subject in you r school? Do you like it?
Am ong four skills, which one do you like best? A
9. Which subjects do you think are not practical? W h y do you think so? «5
T O PIC 7z W HAT I H ATE DOING

*
A s human beings, we all have four main feeling
as happiness, anger, likes and dislikes. O f
course, w e want to do what w e like; however,
s ometimes, w e m ust do things that we do
not like. Ta k e m e for example.
I hate getting up early very m uch, tt is so

relaxing to wake up without the help of an
alarm d o c k and to lie fifteen minutes more
recalling your dream s. How ever, I have to get
up at 6 o’clock every morning. Th e n I put on m y T-sh irt and shorts and
go jogging. Som etim es I want to break m y alarm dock, but I can’t
because I have to go to school on time. J h
■ ' J v
Moreover, l hate shopping. It is m y opinion that shopping takes too much
time which t can spend doing other things I like. But every week, I have
to do som e shopping at a certain superm arket Otherwise, m y
refrigerator will be empty, and I cannot afford to have lunch and dinner at
the restaurant every day.
In short, in our life, w e cannot avoid doing things we do not w a n t
VOCABULARY IX P
1. to recall [riled:!] = to reminisce

2. to break = to destroy
3. to afford [a’fO.d]: to have enough money
Ex: / cant afford to buy a new car
Hove T o S p e a k E nglish W ell II

QUESTIONS FO R DISCUSSION
I. What annoys you most about living at home with your family? What
•annoys you about the place where you live now?
L What annoys you about taking buses to work or to school? What
annoys you about driving a motorbike?
What annoying habits does your best friend have? What is the most
annoying thing for you?
i. Do you get annoyed when other people display bad manners? Give
some examples.
>. Do you annoy people with some of your habits? W hat is something
that your parents like to do but you don’t?
5. What do you often like doing everyday? W h y do you like doing it? Do
you think your family m embers like what you like?
r. Do you like getting up early? W h y or why not? W hat do you think if
someone wakes you up early?
1. What do you hate doing during a day? W hy do you hate it? What will
happen if you don’t do what you hate?
i. W ho usually forces you to do what you don’t like? Do you often ask
someone to do what they don’t like?
10. What can you draw from today’s discussion?
t o p ic fc m y v i t n f i o f y o iik u fe
I do not know what you think of your life. I myself
think that m y life is very beautiful and lucky. W hy
do I say so?
I find that at least two people in this world love

m e so much that they would devote themselves
'm* to me. Moreover, m any people around me love
me because I often make them happy with m y
help and smiles.
n addition, I ’am optimistic. W henever I make a mistake, 1 find that

omething good com es from it. W hen m any people say that the world
ias turned its back on them, I myself think that I have likely turned m y
iack on the world. And when' people think they have no chances of
letting what they want, 1 believe that sooner or later I will get It
live happily, I always rem em ber the compliments I’ve received and
orget about the rude remarks.
I<ytc To S p e a k English W ell 12

Briefly, we are in different situations, so we m ay have different
conceptions of life. W h y don’t we share them together to make our life
better and better?
VO CABULARY TCP
1. to devote [di’vout] = to sacrifice

Ex: I devote m y time to learn English
73/ danh het thdi gian de hoc tieng Anh
2. optimistic [.Upti'mistik] (a): expecting the best
Ex: Nam is not optimstic about the result
3. to turn back on s.o: not pay attention to
4. compliment (n): praise 0 ,
5. rude [ru:d] {a): impolite
Ex: It's rude to interrupt the teacher
Ngat icri th iy co la khiem nha
6. conception (n): opinion, idea
Q U ESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. W hat do you think of your life: lucky or unlucky? Do you think that
G od doesn't give us everything w e ask for?
2. Is it right to say that it's those small daily happenings that make life
so special? In which w a y do you think so?
3. It is said that under everyone's hard shell is som eone who w ants to
be appreciated and loved. Do you agree with it?
4. W hat do you think about an idea that 'to ignore the facts does not
change the facts??
5. W h o love you m ost in your life? W hat will happen to you If you lose
that one som e da ? ?/
6. Have you ever thought that the world turns its back on you ? A t that
time do you think that you turn your back on the w orld?
7. A re you in love now? A re you of the opinion that love, not time, heals
all wounds'?
8. I believe that the easiest w a y for m e to grow as a person is to
surround myself with people who are sm arter than I am. W hat do you
think?:
9. D o you agree with m e that life is tough, but w e are tougher, and no
one is perfect until we fall in love with them ?
10. I've learned that everyone wants to live on the top of the mountain,
but ail happiness occurs while I’m climbing it. Do you think so?
How To S p e a k E n g lish W ell 13

T o p ic 9s A N T1YFOBGETTABUB MEMORY
Graduat ion is a very important event in a
person’s life, and it is my pleasure to share with
you m y high school day graduation.
My mother helped me prepare for the day. A t

first, we went shopping to buy a dress and a pair
of shoes. However, we could not find a pair of
shoes that would fit to my dress. Therefore, two
days before the graduation day, t had hot 'got
any shoes. However, my mother assured me that she could m anage it
and promised me that she would show up when the grad day came.
Unfortunately, she could not do that because she had an important
business to do on that day.
Th e event took place from 8 am till 11 am. Looking at m y schoolmates, I

felt a little sad because they were with their relatives. However, it
happened for just a m om ent During the ceremony, l was very excited to
wait for m y turn to hold the degree.
Well! i forgot to tell you that m y mother appeared at the end of the
graduation. She hugged, kissed and congratulated me. She also gave
me a present that l have kep as m y most valuable thing in my life. After
that, she took me to a small restaurant and treated me a special lunch.
That day has gone, but I never forget it. It is the first step for me to enter
my life. J f f
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to fit = ¿0 to match
2. to assure {a'/ua, a'/D:] = to insure
Ex: Hard work usually assures success
Cham chi thu-cmg bao dam sis thanh cong
3. T o show up = to appear
Ex: Will you show up at her wedding party?
4. grad graduation
5. to take place - to happen
Ex: Our meeting will take place next Monday.
6. ceremony [serimani] (n) a formal act
X jlx : My friend wedding ceremony will take place in church.
7. to hug = to embrace
H ow To S p e a k E nglish W ell 14
g u E sn o x s fo b m s c u s s io r c
1. Do you have a good m em ory or a bad memory? Do you usually

remember or forget things? Are there some things or times that you
will never forget?
2. Would you like to have a perfect memory? W h y or w hy not? Are
there some things or times that you wish you could forget?
3. Have you ever forgotten something important like your keys or ypur
phone?
4. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten w hy you went there?
Have you ever forgotten an important date, like a birthday or an
anniversary?
5. What’s your earliest m emory? W hen w as it? W h afs your most vivid
(clear or sharp) m em ory? W hen was it?
6. “Memories make the man’ . What do you think of this saying? G ive
examples.
7. Th ose who forget the past will repeat it W hat do you think this
means? G ive examples.
8. Many people find that visiting certain place brings back a childhood
memory very strongly (such as the scene of an old family holiday).
W h y do you think this is?
9. If you could edit your memories, which ones would you erase and
why? Which ones would you make dearer and more vivid?
10. W hat can you draw from today’s discussion?
TOPIC 10: MY H O BBIES

Everyone has his own hobbies'7such as reading,/
watching T V or film s / travelling/ listening to
music/etc. I also have m y own hobbies. In m y
free time/l have some things to enjoy.
Th e hobby i like best/is playing guitar.jkut i can

just play/a few simple tunes My uncle tells m e /
that 1 have to practice a lot/and then it will be
O K . Another hobby I alsp spend much time on/is/
keeping fish. I have a small beautiful aquarium/where I keep a variety of
little fish. I Jove watching them swimming about very. much. I collect
stamps, too. But I just take the stamps from envelopes/that m y relatives
and friends send to m e. Most of them are local stamps. One more hobby
I d like to mention here/is singing Karaoke. How exciting it is when I can
enjoy my own voice/klthough it is not very good.
hefe are other hobbies that I’m also interested ir/such as going fishing
r chatting on the Internet ^ r with my friends in coffee shops Jar bars/at
eekends. Sometimes/l also go shopping for some things I need. How
re your hobbies?
VOCABULARY TIP
. tune ftu:nj (n): melody

Ex: My friend always sings in tune.
Ban toi tuon hat dung dieu
. aquarium [aTcwesriam] (n): a place where fish is raised
. local (a) = domestic
QUESTIONS FO B DISCUSSION
. Do you have a lot of free time? How do you spend it? What are your
hobbies? Which one do you like best?
. Do you like watching T V ? Do you watch T V a lot? How often do you
watch T V ? W hen do you usually watch ft? What kinds of programs do
you usually watch? W hat’s your "favorite program? What’s your
favorite channel?
. Do you like watching films? What kinds of films do you prefer? What
is your favorite film? Can you tell me which film stars are your idols?
Where do usually see films: at home or cinema?
. Do you listen to the radio a lot? How much time do you listen to it
every day? W hen do you,listen to it? What kinds of programs do you
often listen to? Do you ever listen to programs in English? What’s
your favorite radio station? Do you ever listen to the radio in bed?
. Do you like listening to music? What kinds of music do you listen to?
W ho are your favorite singers and groups? Do you like listening to
Music Programs on H C M Radio Station? Have you ever asked the
station for songs you like?
. Do you play any sports? What sports do you like most? W hen do you
usually play? How do you feel after playing?
. What do you usually dp at the weekends? W hat do you think of
singing karaoke? Do you like it? Do you often go to Karaoke Bars?
Which one do you like best? W hy? How often do you go singing
karaoke?
. 4 Singing karaoke is good or bad to you? Does singing karaoke help
you get rid of the burden or difficulty in your life? Do you think you are
more confident when singing karaoke? Is it the best way for you to
improve your confidence?
Hou; To S p e a k English WeR 16

9. There are many kinds of entertainment now, which one do you like
best? Can you explain it dearly, please?
TO PIC 11; M AKW G FKIFJVBS
W hen making new friends, there are usually

three parts to the conversation y o u will have
with your new friend.
T h e first is the greeting. In this part, you and

your new friend will greet each other and tell
each other your names.
T h e second part is the conversation. Sometimes the conversation is a

small talk, and some times the conversation is about important matters,
such as business. A "small talk" means that the conversation is about
matters that are not very important. W hen conversing with your new
friend, it is customary to give information about ypur family, your work, or
you will talk about any matter that is important to you and your new
friend.
T h e third part of the conversation is the leave-taking. In this part, you tell
your new friend that you are happy to meet him and that you must end
the conversation.
1 hope w e will have more and more friends thanks to our ways of
behaviour.
C F
VOCABULARY U P
. □
1. greeting fgri:tinJ ( n £ y loi chao hoi ai
Ex: Please send my greetings to your family
Xin vui Jdng gCri ten chao cua toi den gia dinh ban nhe.
2. customary [’kOstameri] (a): usual
Ex: Is it customary to tip waiters in your country?
O nuoc ban, ngudi ta co tbudng cho hau ban ti&n boa bay khong?
.0 QUESTIONS FO B DISCUSSION
m O b you enjoy meeting new people? W hat are some good things to
ask someone you just met? What are som e things you shouldn't ask
people you just met?
2. Is it O K to ask a person's age in your country?
Hcnc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 17

3. Are you nervous when you are introduced to someone new? What
are some ways to overcome being nervous about meeting new
people?
4. ’ About how m any new people do you meet a week? What kind of
people do you like to meet?
5. Where are some good places to meet people? How important are
first impressions to you?
6. What do you do rf you forget the name of someone you’ve just been
introduced to?
7. How do you “w in p e o p le 's he a rt”! Have you ever won anyone’s
heart?
8. What are the advantages of winning others’ affection? What happens
if people around you hate you?
9. W hy should we be a good listener and not talk much about
ourselves? W hat do you think about those who are talkative? Are you
tollrotniAO
Camping is a very popular activity to all

Vietnamese pupils and students. On special
occasions such as the Teacher’s Day, the
¡Hlffi Anniversary of T h e Ho Chi Minh
B8L/ Communist Youth Union or the
Independence Day, they usually go
nping is a great
w ay to spend time with classmates. However, sometimes at weekends
or on holidays, I go camping with m y family and close friends. In most
cases, I look for a campsite that has a lot of shade from the sun, is near
a river or on the hill, and has a good spot to pitch a tent
Th e most interesting time is when the camp-fire is built. After dinner, we

all sit around the fire and telLstones, sing songs or play games together.
Thanks to these activities, our relation is closer. Moreover, we can forget
ail tiredness of our daily life.
W hen you have enough free time, you should go camping to feel its real
merest.
ffotr T o S p o o k English W eil

V O C A B U L A R Y T IP
1. to encamp: to set up camp

2. a campsite: a place to encamp
3. shade [I'eid] (n) an area of darkness
4. a spot (n) = a place
Ex: My home is in a remote spot.
Quê toi à mot noi hèo lânh.
5. to pitch = to build, to set up
1. Do you like cam ping? If yes, how often do you do that? 0 ?

2. W hat camping opportunities are available in and around your
hometown?
3. W hat should w e prepare for a camping trip? How long does it usually
take you to prepare for it?
4. Do you have to make a campsite reservation? How do you make it?
5. Suppose your are preparing to go camping a couple of days in a
famous place like Mui Ne, how can you reserve a campsite at one of
these locations or one of your own choice?
6. W hen going camping, do you always avoid polluting the
environment? W hat are some commonsense rules for keeping safe
while camping?
7. Are there any restrictions on what you can do and bring into the park
in our city? W hich park in our city do you like best?
8. W hat activities are most popular in a camping trip in Vietnam? Which
activity do you like best? W h y do you like it?
9. W ho do you prefer to go camping with between your friends and your
family m em bers? W h ic h ca m p in g trip is unforgettable in y o u r
life? V*-
19
w w w .f a c e b o o k .c o m /b o i d u o n g h o a h o c q u y n h o n
TO PIC 13s SIJPKBW ABKETS
In .order to satisfy the need of shopping in a big

city, supermarkets have com e into existence
with their ever-increasing number, and shopping
supermarkets is no longer a “m o d e ’ to city
dwellers. It is a m ust in a m odem city like
H C M C . I also like shopping at a supermarket,
and I usually go to the supermarket once or
twice a w eek to buy things I need.
Since I do a lot of shopping, I usually need a shopping cart to cany

everything. 1 first stop by the ready-food counter to pick up som e food 1
like. Th e n , I look for som e fruits and vegetables in the produce section,
but I make sure they are fresh. M y roommates like milk, so 1 swing by
the dairy section and grab a few boxes of milk. Also, there are times
when l do not have much time to cook, so I usually pick up som e frozen
food. If the store is out of stock of any of the items I need, then I drop by
a different supermarket on m y w ay hom e. I generally pay with cash at
the checkout counter.
Supermarkets are really convenient for us now. O nce we come into any
supermarket, we can find almost everything we want there. It does not
take us much time to go to different stores. Moreover, goods of nearly all
kinds are displayed on open shelves, so we can choose whatever we
want and take them to the checkout counter.
Thanks to supermarkets, our lives seem to be easier. I hope more and

more supermarket are opened near our community so that w e do not
waste time on shopping.
1. ready-food counter: quay thipc àn làm s in

2. to swing: to move back and forth
Ex The car swung sharply round the comer
3. to grab to take quickly
^ Ex The cat grabs the mouse
4. frozen food: thi>c an dong b=mh
5. checkout counter: q u ly tinh tien
H oic To S p e a k E nglish W ell 20

OL ESTIOIVS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Which shops do you often visit? How often you go shopping? Who do
ft?
you often go with? W hy? D o you find it interesting to go shopping?
shopping your hobby?
2. How do you spend your money on shopping? Are you willing to
spend a lot of money on shopping? Do you have any budget for
shopping?
3. Have you ever gone shopping for fun? And what do you Iflce doing
there? If you buy faulty goods, what will you do with it?
4. W hat is the difference between “g o s h o p p in g ” and “g o to the
m a rk e t? W ho has a higher demand for shopping, man or wom an? Is
it true that only women are interested in shopping?
5. in your opinion, when does shopping activity become busiest? What
are reasons for supermarkets to boom?
6. What do you think of the competition among manufacturers in our city
now? What do you think about prices of commodities displayed and
sold in supermarkets?
7. W hat are main commodities sold in the marts, domestic or imported
products? What do you think of the iifdrig of imported commodities?
8. W hat should the government do to help local manufacturers to
compete with foreigners?
9. What do comment on the supermarkets in our city? Between
traditional markets and supermarkets, which one do you prefer?
W h y?
TOPIC 14; THE OH THE C O m T R Y SID F?

As we see, more and more people are
coming to big cities to live or earn their
living now. Although I am living and
working in H C M City, I prefer to live in
the countryside.
First of ail, most cities now are

polluted. Th e smoke from factories, industrial waste and noise spoil the
environment seriously. Moreover, many people drop litter everywhere.
Then, traffic jams happen all the time causing m e a lot of trouble.
Another problem is that the sanitary system does not work very well; as
a consequence, streets are flooded whenever it rains heaviiy. Also, city
people lose their touch with nature. Last but not least, human
Htne To S p e a k E nglish W ell 21

relationship is not good, and social life is sometimes complicated
because of crimes, social evils, or unemployment.
On the contrary, in the countryside, life is very peaceful, and people are
too. Moreover, country people treat one another quite well. T h e y are
always very hospitable and wiling to help others. Moreover, the
countryman can live with nature and enjoy its real beauty.
In short, although the standard of living in the countryside is not high and
it lacks schools, hospitals, or entertainment activities, I still prefer to live
in it. Jfc"
V O C A B U L A R Y TIP
1. industrial waste: chatthal cong nghiep

2. to drop litter to leave rubbish
3. sanitary system: he thong thoat niroc
4. as a consequence: ['lonsikwansj âsa result
5. to flood [fiDd] to overflow
Ex: Mekong Delta is flooded every year.
Chinese motorcycles flood the Vietnamese market.
6. to lose s.o's touch with s.tft / s.o else: thfeu ti£p xuc, lien lac
7. standard of Irving: material comfort
8. hospitable fhuspitabf] (a): having an open
mind
QUESTIONS FOR MSCIJSSIOM

3 i!
1. Where were you born? Have you ever lived in a rural area? What are
the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country?
2. Do you like countrymen? What are their characteristics? What do you
think about students coming from provinces?
3. Have you ever taken part in the ‘ Greer? Sum m er Volunteer
Campaign”” in remote country? What do think about it?
4. If you have a chance to work in the rural, are you wilting to take it? If
you want to get married, which one will you choose - a wife (a
husband) coming from the countryside or from a big city?
S. Do you think rural men are more honest than urban ones? What do
you think of Saigonese? What are their characteristics?
p i What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city?
Do you think jiving in the big city, mart becomes a robot? Why/why
A* not?
22
7. Nowadays, w h y do not m any students from provinces, after
graduating, w ant to com e back to their provinces to work? Do you
think this m atter makes the gap between the rural and the urban
areas bigger and bigger?
8 . T o you, what is the main gap between the rural and the urban in our
country? If you w ere President, what would you do to fill this gap?
9. C a n you guess how rural areas in our country will be in ten years’
tim e? W h a t should the governm ent do to speed up the process of
urbanization?
TO PIC 15; T H E IM PORTANCE O F B R E A K FA ST
T h e first meal of the day, breakfast, is actually

the most important one. However, this meal is
often ignored or neglected by m any people in the
mad rush to m ake it to the workplace. Since the
time gap between the last food w e eat like dinner
or supper and the next one like breakfast is
rather long, skipping breakfast can seriously
affect our health.
According to experts, breakfast boosts our brain-power, keeps us slim

and lifts our mood. It is not advisable to m anage on a cup of tea and a
couple of biscuits till lunchtime. Ensure that you and your family
m em bers have a proper breakfast, which will supply you the required
energy to start your day well. Th e re are different choices for breakfast
items. W hile som e swear by toast and egg variety, others go in for
porridge, milk and cornflakes, noodles, pasta, bacon or other options.
Because of being busy, m any people have breakfast out, but I usually
cook breakfast for myself.
Cooking breakfast can be fun if we enjoy it, and making food for
ourselves is even better. I usually cook eggs for m y breakfast. First, l
warm up the stove and then beat the eggs in a bowl, i prefer scrambled
eggs, but I can m ake just about any type. 1 warm up the oil, and I pour
the eggs in a frying pan. I use a spatula to mix and turn over the eggs
O n ce the eggs are done, 1 remove them from the pan and serve myself, I
usually enjoy it with a loaf and som e salad. B y this way, I can save a
little m oney because eating out is expensive now. In the future, I will
learn to cook m ore types of breakfast so that I can change it every day.
H ow To S p e a k E nglish W eil 23
In short, breakfast is very important for us. Don’t skip it to have enough
energy to begin your day well.
1. to ignore = to neglect
2. mad rush =
3. to skip =
4. to boost =
5. to lift s.o’s mood=
6. to swear by -
7. scrambled (a): rskraembl] thrown together
8. to pour [pC:j: to cause to flow
Ex: The
Theriver
riverpours
pourshitself into the sea.
Sòng do ra bièn.
9. pan (n): a container for cooking
10. spatula Tspaet/utej: xéng trôn nâu àn
11. a loaf poufj: a portion of bread
1. Are you a good cook? What food do you cook the most often?
2. Are you a vegetarian? Are you concerned about your daily calorie
intake when choosing something to eat?
3. At what times do you usually eat your meals (breakfast, lunch, and
dinner)? Do you eat beef? Do you eat bread every day? Do you eat
fruit every day?
4. Did you eat breakfast today? Do you always eat breakfast with your
family? ^ ■
5. W hat kinds of food do you often make for breakfast? Are there any
foods you eat for breakfast that are specific to you r country or
hometown?
6. If an international student from a different country ate breakfast at
your house, what would you serve him or her?
7. Did you drink coffee this morning? Do you drink milk every day? Do
you drink tea every day? Do you have coffee for breakfast?
8. Do you ever skip breakfast? If so, how often and w hy? Do you have a
favorite bar or cafe? If so, where is it? W h y do you like it?
9. Do you have coffee for "breakfast? Do you like food from other
countries? If yes, which do you like the most?
i lk Do you like to eat at fast food restaurants? How often do you eat at a
fast-food restaurant?
11. Do you like to eat cakes? Do you like to eat junk food? Have you
ever been a diet? If so, how long did you stayed on it?
H ow To S p e a k E nglish W ell
TOPIC lfcF A S X F O O B
In recent years, more and more fast food
restaurants like Lotteria, Kentucky, or Fried Chicken
are open in our city. Th ese restaurants are very
convenient for city people.
W hen 1 need a bite to eat, i drop by a fast food

restaurant and buy a quick meal. 1 usually order a
pizza or hamburger, and som e fries. O n the
hamburger, I ask them to put everything on it onions, lettuce, mustard,
ketchup, pickles, and tomato, but I don’t like the mayonnaise. I also
order a bottle of soft drink to wash everything down. &
Sometimes at weekend, my family and f go there to change our taste.

Going out to eat together can be a pleasurable experience, particuiarfy if
foe atmosphere is just right and foe prices are within our budget
I do not eat fast food too often because it contains a lot of fat. However,
fast food restaurants are good for those who are always busy with their
business.
1. to drop by = to stop by
2. lettuce fletis}: (n): rau diép
3. mustard fmGstacf]: mù tac
4. ketchup fketfap]: niróc sôt cà chua
5. pickles fpikl]: dò chua, dua chua
6. mayonnaise [meia'neiz] (n): xót ma-don-ne
7. taste (n): the sense of food
, V et aside
Ex: I always have budget for my future study
QUESTIONS UOK DISCUSSION
1. How m any meals do you have a day? What are they? Do you often
eat something between main meals?
2. ,What kinds of food do you eat most often? W hy? What is your
opinion about an ideal meal?
W What influences your appetite in eating? How much does food
influence your health? Do you eat before the bedtime?
4. W hat are the advantages and disadvantages of eating at a fast food
restaurant? Consider convenience, cost, and nutrition in your answer.
5. With so m any fast food restaurants in business, it is difficult to know
which provides the best value in terms of price and healthy food
choices.
6. What kind of pizza do you like and what toppings do you like on it?
7. W here would you like to eat (at Home, in a restaurant, in a canteen,
in a cafeteria, at a party)? What are reasons for people to eat out?
8. Which is cheaper, eating in or out? In which ways is eating at home
better for us? W hat are advantages and disadvantages of eating in
and out?
9. How is a good meal? D o you think the atmosphere affect a lot to our
appetite? Do you eat to live or live to eat?
TO PIC 1 7 s im iB O K M E M T A L PO IX C TIO N
In recent years, the problem of environmental pollution has
become a serious problem in big cities in our country. So,
what are reasons and possible m easures for this
problem?
Nowadays, we are living in a city with high

population density, so domestic waste is the first
reason. Then many people’s social consciousness
is not high. several areas, they throw rubbish on
the street or canals and rivers. It is easy for us to see
rubbish of all kinds floating on the water. Moreover, uncultured people
even “make water" in the public place.
Now, let’s com e to other reason. O u r city is overloaded with vehicles that
expel a lot of smoke and dust. This contributes to the heat of the air, and
causes pollution.
Besides that, in several places, trees have been cut down to have room
for buildings, hotels, or supermarkets. Th is makes the atmosphere in our
city m uggy and stuffy.
In addition, many plants and factories send out waste into the canals or
poisonous gas into the air.
26
Last but not least, the drainage system in our city is very old and
downgrade, so it’s always flooded whenever it rains.
Thus, how can we solve this problem? Let’s talk about it.
VOCABULARY H P
1. density (n)= thickness
2. domestic (a)= home
3. canal(n) = [ka’nael] channel, a small river
4. to float = to drift
5. to make water = to urinate
6. to expel - [iks’pel] to eject
7. muggy (a) = uncomfortable
8. drainage = rdreinidD] system of waste water
1. Do you agree that air pollution is really alarming problem now? What
are in your opinion, the causes leading to air pollution?
2. What do you think about the smoke from industrial factories, from
motorcycles and automobiles in our city? What measures do you
recommend to limit such smoke?
3. Can you give the harmful effect that air pollution exerts on people’s
health? D o you wear mask when going out? W h y?
4. What do you think about the fact that m any city dwellers litter
anywhere they like? Could you suggest som e measures to help stop
this situation?
5. Could you find some bad actions of the people who make our city
dirtier? What are some difficulties for us in keeping the city clean and
green?
6. Are you disturbed by the noise around you when working or
studying? What kind of noise is it? W hat are the original causes of
that noise?
7. How do you feel when passing a bridge in our city? In your opinion,
who has to suffer most from those black rivers and canals?
8. Have you ever heard of “T h e W eek of Keeping the City Clean and
Green?" Can you forecast the future situation of our city in the next
few years, clearer or dirtier?
S. W h y are we concerned about the environment not only in our country
but also all over the world? Can you name some environmental
dangers that happened recently in our country and in the world?
10. W hat should people do to prevent environmental pollution? Do
you think that a dirty city will make bad impression on foreign
tourists?
27
TOPIC 18; VACATION PLAN
I love going traveling very much, so 1 usually
go somewhere when l have a few days off.
:
Before going traveling, I always plan m y trip.
For starters, I usually take a look at travel
guide books or go online and review possible
destinations. Th en, ! check the costs involved
in traveling to that particular place. I also
consider means of transportation such as going by plane, train, or by
motorbike. Besides, I need to locate a hotel for m y accommodation.
Finally, I try to budget money for meals and other sightseeing expenses.
A: W hat do you think of package holidays?

B: Well, they're usually very cheap, but joining a crowd of noisy people
and eating plastic food is not m y idea of a holiday.
A: Are the resorts worth visiting?
B: Som e of them are, but m fny experience it’s better to arrange
private accommodation rather than accepting the tour operator's
choice of hotel.
A: But surely, you can see what you’re getting in the holiday brochure.
B: You m ay see a picture of the hotel and there m ay even be a
popular beach, but if you want to go to a nicer locality, you can
spend all day getting there.
A: Then how do you go about making your own arrangements?
B: !t’s not as difficult as you think. First, you look at the advertisement
in some newspapers or travel shop windows to get an idea of the
best time to go. I usually go in early June or mid Septem ber to
avoid school children. Th ere’s a good range of flights and prices
aren’t too high.
A: H o w do you find private accommodation?
B: That's very easy in our city. T h e y advertise in journals.
suppose that if they own these homes, they must be in nice
Dcations.
that's the point. Also, they are usually well maintained and the
>wners will leave you details of the best shops, restaurants and
)laces to visit. Th e y really want you to recommend their homes to
H ow To S p e a k English W ell 28
your friends. However, rem em ber to ask them about transport,
especially if you don’t drive.
A: Surety, most of these resorts would have bus services.
B: There are two problem s here. Som e of these hom es are a long w ay
from bus routes. M oreover, bus services can disappear altogether
when the tourist season comes to an end. M any of these resorts
are like ghost towns from October to M ay.
1. for starters ~ at first

2. destination = the place to come
3. particular [pa’tjkjute(r)} = spécifie
4. accommodation [e.kDme'deiJn] room and board
5. sightseeing fsat,si:»nJ visiting sights
Q UESTIO NS FO R PISCC SSIO M

y
1. D o you prefer to book holidays through travel agents or to make your
own arrangem ents? Describe your best and worst holidays?
2. W hich form of accommodation would you prefer for your next holiday
and how m any people would you like to accom pany you?
3. A friend wants to get to know your country and is planning a tour.
W hat advice would you give about places to visit, travel,
accommodation, eating out, shopping, sightseeing, things to bring
and souvenirs to buy?
4. W hen is the holiday celebrated? Is it celebrated as a family or a
group? Does your family celebrate this holiday? H a s your family
always celebrated this holiday? If not, when did you start celebrating
it?
5. W hat are your favorite holiday activities? W ould you like to go on a
cruise? W h y o r w h y not? Will you go bade to the sam e place again?
6. in your opinion, what are the five most essential items to pack on any
holiday?
7. W ho do y p ii know that really needs a holiday, and w hy? W here
should they go and what should they do?
8. Com pare traveling alone to traveling with a companion. C om pare
package tours with do-it-yourself tours.
9. H o w m any holidays do you have in your country? W hat special foods
are associated with your favorite holiday? W hat is your favorite
holiday m em ory? *■«.
Huu: To S p e a k E nglish W eil 29

T O P IC 1 9 : U E A B T O G EN G LISH
I attend English classes at a language school

in my city because I want to improve my
communication skills.
English has become the international language

around the world, and I m ay be able to get
better employment and make more friends if l
learn to speak fluently.
I take four classes a day that ail focus on different language skills
including reading, writing, listening, speaking, and g ra m m a r.! don’t know
why some people can leam a foreign language and master it very
quickly, but I don't think I can do that. T o me, teaming to speak English
well requires a great amount of effort, patience, and practice. T o o often, I
just speak English in m y classes, but I go back to using m y native
language after school ends.
I think I should adjust my ways of teaming English. For example, I should

spend more time teaming, reviewing, and practicing everything I am
studying. Otherwise, I will never leam and master it.
to know for sure
2. effort fefot]: attempt

Ex: They tiffed the heavy rock without effort
3. native language: mother tongue
4. to adjust [a’dOQsfJ to alter
Ex: She carefu,
carefully adjusted her clothes before going out
Nang chinh don quan ao kyhrdng trudc khi di ra ngoai
1. W hat do you expect from your English? Please tell me your main
purposes and motivations'
2. What do you think about teaching and learning English in our country
now? W hat are advantages and disadvantages?
Have you got any difficulties when you are teaming English? If yes,
how do you overcome your difficulties?
How To S p e a k English W ell 30

4. Among four skills: speaking. listening, reading, and writing, which one
do you think is the most important and difficult?
5. Please share your own experience in learning English with me and
tell me the best w ay to improve each skill?
6. How do you improve your speaking skills? Do you think joining
English Speaking Club is one the best ways to improve it?
7. W hat can you derive from your study? What is the importance of
English language when it is used as an international language? % "
8. In addition to your professional qualifications, is it necessary that a
certificate of English should be included?
9. How can the English ability help your work and your study?
T O P IC 2<h L E A B M M 6 O M JM E
Nowadays, with the development of information

technology, learning is not ve ry difficult any more.
Online learning is very convenient and cheap

because we just stay at home and use a
computer. Many universities in the world have
been offering classes online for a number of years,
and m any students seem to like them. One reason
is because they do not have to travel to school at a set timetable to listen
to the professor. C/ v
I’ve also decided to get an online university degree through distance

education instead of attending a traditional school. In such a program, I
do not have to attend classes in a regular classroom. Instead, I go online
and interact with other students and the teacher through text or voice
chat O f course, I still have to do assignments, write papers, and take
tests, but everything is done online at my own convenience. If I can do
everything well enough, I will get a degree.
In short, it is easy for us to get some kinds of degree online now. I hope
more and more educational organizations have such programs online.
1. to offer = to give
2. set timetable (n) = schedule
3. to interact [, inter1aekt] = to communicate
4. assignm ent (n) = je'sainmant] homework
31
o i ;e s t id i \ s f o b d i s c i s s i o n
1. Do you think it is very easy for us to study or get more knowledge

' present? If yes, how can we do that?
2. What do you think about online learning? Is it interesting to ¡earn with
a computer? ■
3. Do you know any university in the world that has been offering
classes online? H ow is its tuition fee?
4. Which one do you prefer between learning online and leaning at
traditional classes?
5. What kinds of programs are there on the Internet as you know? Are
they diverse? What kinds of degrees can you get if you study online?
6. What do you think about communicative skills if we take this kind of
learning?
7. How can we get information about these programs? A nd how can we
believe them?
8. Accordingly, what should w e do before sending money to any school
that has this kind of learning?
9. Do you think traditional classes will disappear in the future because - \
they will be replaced by this new kind of learning?
10. What can you draw from today's discussion?
TOPIC 21: P R O M O T IO N
I have great news to report. I just got a

promotion and a raise!
£ /
1‘ve been working for my company for the past
six months, and everything has gone very well.
First, I helped m y department increase sales
quickly during that time. I am working for the
Marketing Department, so I have advertised and promoted my
company's products at trade shows, in the newspaper, and on T V . A s a
result, customers have really enjoyed our products. Now, more and more
customers are learning about my com pany by word of mouth.
In addition to increased sales, I've established a apod^working

relationship with my colleagues. W e recognize each pera jn ’iTstrengths
and respect other’s ^ im o r is . 1 think my co-workers fee! 1 can lead the
department in the right direction.
A iaav Iaaa
flote To S p e a k E nglish W ell 32

N guyen S o n g A n h , M~A. in TE SO L t -
$&) ■ ~ û »T—
. ¿Thanks to
vw in/
m y wuuTk/uuvn
contribution to
iw the development ui
of the
itic company, iI got the
uic
■ft^Vpromotion and raise, j also promise myself to do m y best for my
vv company and m y customers in the future.
1. to get promotion = to get higher/better position

2. to get a raise = to get higher salary
3. to promote a p ro du ct to advertise a product
4. by word o f m outh: rumor
5. colleague [kD*li:g] = co-worker
6. contribution f.kDntri’bjuiJn] (n): donation
1. How m any days a week do you work? W hat time do you start and
finish your work? Describe your first job. C a n you describe a typical
day at your current job?
2. Do you ever work overtime? If so, how often? Do you have to work
on Sundays? If so, do you get paid more for overtime work?
3. Do you like your job? W h y or w hy not? Do you like your boss? W hy
or w hy not?
4. Have you ever been promoted? H o w m any times have you been
promoted? W hen was the last time you were promoted? Did you get
a large pay raise at that time?
5. W hat factors and personal qualities do you think companies consider
when giving an employee a promotion?
6. How have working conditions changed in recent years? Do you think
that working conditions have improved? If so, in what w ays?
7. How long have you been working at your present job? How long do
you plan to continue working where you are?
8. At what age do people usually begin to work in your country? At what
age do people usually retire in your country?
9. A t what age would you like to retire? What do you think you will do
after you retire?
10. What do you think is the best job? W hat influenced your choice of
job? {W h y did you choose your job?)
Hove To S p e a k E nglish W ell 33

TOPIC 22s JO B DiTEBYEEW
If you are looking for a new job, here are sc

tips you should think about when sitting i
d inh interview
job interview.
First, you should be sure to dress appropriately

for the situation. If possible, you should leam
about the com pany’s rules of dressing. Next,
you should get as much information about the
com pany as possible. This will help you know if you have the needed
skills or experience to work for that company. Finding out something
about the company will also help you ask wise questions about their
business to show them you are interested in their company. Finally, you
should be prepared to tell them w h y you would be their best choice for
the position. You shouldn’t boast about your accomplishments, but you
can tell them in a confident and direct w av w h y you can help their
com pany more than other applicants.
Finding a job you like is not easy now, so you should be well-prepared.
VO CABULAR Y TIP
1. appropriately [a'proupriitii] (adv): suitable, reasonable

2. to boast [bousf] - to over-talk
3. accomplishment [a’kGmplilmant] (n): success
QUESTIONS FO R P ISC U SSIO *
1. Are you a student or are you working now ? Have you ever sat in a !
job interview? [
2. If you are going to sit in a job interview, what will you prepare for it?
Do you pay attention to your dress? If yes, how can you do that?
3. H o w can you get information about the com pany you want to work
for?
4. Tell me about yourself. W hat do people say about you? Do you
consider yourself successful?
5. C a n you explain how you would be an asset to an organization? W h y
should a company hire you?
6. W hat is your greatest strength? W hat is your weakest strength?
Can you tell me about your dream job? W h y do you think you would
do well at the job you want?
H ow To S p e a k English W eü 34
8. 'What kind of person would you like to work with? What kind of person
would you refuse to work with?
9. W hat kind of salary do you need? What is more important to you: the
m oney or the work?
1 0. W hat should you do to improve your knowledge when you go to
work?
4P
TOPIC 2 3 : COMMITTING TO WORK

M y friends usually go to school by motorbike, but I
like doing it by bus.
I choose to travel to school by bus because it is

economical, safe and unpolluted, ft only costs me
3,000 V N D to go to school. Moreover, l fee! very
safe on the bus because I c a n ; avoid traffic
accidents that usually happen o r the street. Also,
on the bus, I do not have to inhale polluted air from
m any kinds of vehicles.
I usually leave for work about 6:30 sum., and I walk to a bus stop not too
far from my house, i catch a bus that com es by around 6:45. Th e bus
isn’t very crowded when \ get on, but it fills up by the end of the One.
Then, I get off the bus and catch another one going into the downtown.
Th e second bus takes about 30 minutes, and it's usually standing-room
only. Th e re is a bus stop about two blocks from my office. Th e entire trip
takes me about an hour.
f buy a monthly bus pass, and 1 save a lot of money by using public
transportation instead of riding my own motorbike.
1. to inhale [in’heiQ = to breathe in

2. to fill up: to stuff
3. downtown = center of the city
4. stan ding -ro o m : standing place
r V
35
QUESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1 . * How do you get to school? H ow long does it take? How m uch is the
bus fare or the train fare? Do you often use public transportation?
2. W hat kind of transportation do you use most often? W hat’s the moist
readily available form of public transportation where you live?
3. W hat do you think is the most dangerous form of transportation?
W h y? W hat do you think is the safest fonn of transportation? W h y?
4. W hat do you usually do w hen riding a train or bus? Do you read? Do
you sleep?
5. Can you ride a motorcycle? Do you have a bicycle? If so, when did
you get it? H ow much did it cost? H o w often do you ride it? W hat
color is it?
6. D o you have a driver’s license? If so, w hen did you get it? W hat do
you have to do to get a driver’s license in your country? W hat do you
need to do in your country to get a driver’s license? A t what age does
the average person obtain a driver's license?
7. Have you ever been in a traffic accident? Have you ever been
stopped for speeding? H ave you ever gotten a parking ticket?
8. W hat are the most annoying bad driving habits of other drivers in
your country (/or this country /or com pared to this country)?
9. Have you ever missed your last train or bus hom e? If so, how did you
get hom e that night?
1 0 . !s parking a problem in your country (shopping malls, etc)? is there
any environmentally-friendly transportation in your area?
TO PIC 2 4 ; M ARRIAGE O R CAREER F IR ST ?
Traditionally, to a wom an, her own family is too

important that she can give up her career.
How ever, m any young ladies are afraid of
getting married soon because of their career
now.
A t present, women have the same opportunity

as m en, and they can decide their life
themselves. T o them, the family is not eveiything any more, but the
career is. T h a t is the reason w hy more and more wom en get married
late. N ow w om en want to get higher and higher education. Th e n , they
indulge in their job to earn a lot of money. W hen they have a little free
time, they spend it learning foreign languages or surfing the internet to
get information. A s a result, they have no time for love.
How ever, w hen they are successful in their career, have a lot of m oney
and position in society, they realize that choosing a life-partner is not
easy at all because they cannot accept those who are not equal to them.
Being different from those w ho get married early and are pleased with
their families, these wom en always set goals to go ahead and are willing
to be alone.
A s m odem w om en, which one should you get first between marriage
and career? ♦
t. to give up - to stop
E x: You should give up smoking. X V
2. to indulge [IridDldO] (in): to be very interested in
E x: D on ’t indulge in drinking.
3. to set goals: to have goals
4. to go ahead = to go on
M I I M F O K ON
1. W h at do you think of w om en now adays? W h y do m any w om en w ant

to get married late nowadays? 3
2. W hat do you think of successful w om en? Do you think that wom en
who are successful in their career find it hard to succeed in their own
families?
3. Do you agree that love is an ever-lasting topic? D o you think love is
everything? D o you think the young should have stable careers
before thinking of love?
4. W hat is an attractive man/ w om an, in your opinion? W hich one
attracts you m o s t politeness, friendliness, g o o d looks, strength,
tenderness, beauty, intelligence, sense of humor, o r good
personality?
5. C a n w e live without love? W ho can live without love? Is it worth dying
for love? Have you ever said to your partner, “/ ca n ’t live if living
without i/o if?
6. A t w hat a ge do men/women in our country usualfy start to love and
m arry? W hat do you think when m any young couples cohabit
now adays?
^ W hat factors can ensure your marriage (religion, characteristics.
faith, love, romanticism mutual respect, compatibility...)
Uovo T o S p e a k E nglish W eil 37

8. How can you foster your love? For instant, telling 7 love y o u *
everyday, giving attention, mental/finandal support, being
understood, satisfying y o u r partner’s needs, etc.
9. >What do you expect from your future partner? Do your desires
change when you grow older?
TOPIC 2 5 : LISTENING TO MUSIC

No one can deny the fact that music plays an
important role in our life. It comes to our soul
with ever-lasting songs and unforgettable
melodies. It also brings us better thoughts and
wonderful feelings, giving us both innocent and
profound emotion in a romantic and beautiful
world, encouraging us in, life, and enriching our
spiritual life.
I really enjoy listening to music because it helps me relax and takes, my

mind away from other cares of the day.
Personally, I really like ja zz m usic because of its soft rhythms and beat.
Other times, I enjoy listening to country and western music. Som e of the
lyrics to these songs are inspirational and moving. Occasionally, I listen
to slow rock or classical music, but I can t stand heavy metal or rap
music. W hen I’m on the road, .I listen tD music on m y M P3 player or on
my cell phone. I've also downloaded hundreds of songs to my computer,
so it's easy to search and play my favorite music. W henever I get home,
the first thing I do is turning on m y stereo system or computer and
enjoying the music. I hope all of you also like listening to music.
However, we have to admit that music nowadays is very chaotic. Singers

and songs are easily forgotten because it is very easy to become
singers, and songs are not as profound as ones in the past. How do you
feel when you listen to some sentences in some songs such as 7 don't
expect the love to come; I never regret the love to leave", "please don't
remember me when being with the other* or 7 only keep quiet listening
to you r cry." H ow silly they are!
fS v *
I <Jo not know when there is the second Trinh Cong Son who can
compose deeply meaningful songs for life.
r V
38
VOCABULARY TIP
1. to deny = [di'nai] to refuse

2. profound (a) = of deep meaning
3. lyric flinkj: word A
4. inspirational [.inspa’reijani] (a) influence on the mind anil
soui-
He usually has inspirational pieces of writing.
Óng éy thtròng có nhùng bài viét truyèn càm.
5. moving (a): touching
Ex: / usually cry when seeing a moving sight.
1. How much are you fond of music? What kind of music do you prefer?
What are your favorite songs and singers?
2. What do you comment on Vietnamese music in the past and at
present? Are there any prospective improvements and
developments?
3. Can you name some popular kinds of music now? What do you think
of the flow of music Coming from other countries?
4. What do you know about the recent music events in our country?
What do you think of these everts?
5. How do you appraise a piece of music? What criteria do you base on
to make your comment on it?
6. Do you usually learn something from a song you listen to? W hat do
you leam: thought, feeling, experience, or others?
7. Is it right to say that music nourishes our mind? If yes, how does it do
that?
8. What do you think if music disappears in our life one day? Can we
live without music? ...
9. It seems that m any young people don’t like our traditional music like
folk music, Cheo, Car Luong. .. What do you think of this opinion?
What should be done to make the young like it?
. 0
r V
39
TOPIC P L A T O 6 GAMES
A s far as we are concerned computer gam es
have been popular for years, and m any people
in our country, especially in big cities, seem to
be very interested in them. However, it can be
seen that playing these gam es causes several
kinds of communication, health, and personal
problems to both youngsters and society.
Firstly, playing gam es too m uch makes young people passive.

Youngsters who spend a great deal of time in front of a monitor are not
studying, doing exercise, playing sports, socializing o r learning about life.
In addition, they are not in contact with the world outside, so the skills
they need in order to interact with others and to succeed in the real world
are not being nurtured.
Moreover, m any studies have shown that m any young people now have
more diseases than previous generations did. Because of not doing
exercise, they become obese ^n d get heart diseases easily.
Furthermore, sitting in front of the monitor very often harms their eyes,
so m any have to wear short-sighted glasses. Following from this, they'
are more likely to be overweight, less healthy, and m ore prone to som e
diseases. ^
Last but not least; violent gam es cause social evils. Usually, gam es
show fighting scenes where the most brutal are most applauded. W hen
playing these games too m uch, gam e-players will becom e violent in their
real life. For example, they usually solve their life conflicts by exchanging
blows. Moreover, to have m oney to play gam es, some teenagers
become stealers, and even robbers. Also, som e girts accept “one-night
stand” to have m oney to play gam es, which is call “net-saving*.
In short, it is easy to imagine the effects of such gam es on young minds.

If we wish children to grow up to becom e good m em bers of society,
these gam es should be more tightly controlled.
VO CABULAR Y —TIP
---------------------
to interact = to communicate
2. to be nurtured = to be cared
3. obese [ou*bi:s] (a) =: very fat
4. prone (a) to = tendentious
H a w To S p e a k E nglish W ell 40
5. brutal (a) = savage and cruel
6. conflict [kanftikt] (n) = different ideas
Ex: Your report is in conflict with the public opinion
Ban bao cao cua anh trai nguyc vcri du- luan cong chung
40
1. How often do you play video or computer games? What computer
games have you played? Which are your favorites? Which do you
think are not so interesting?
2. What are the pros and cons of playing these types of games?
3. Do you know of anyone who has become addicted to playing them?
4. Do you have a computer? If yes, do you have a computer at work or
at home? Do you have a laptop or a desktop computer? Do you use
your computer when you do homework for school?'
5. W hy do many people, the young and the old alike, like playing
computer games?
6. What happens if youngsters spend a great deal of time in front of a
monitor? Is it possible for them to get their success in their life if they
are not in contact with the world outside?
7. Moreover, what kinds of diseases will we get if we do not do
exercise? What do you think if we sit in front of the monitor very
often? V
8. Do you think computer games are often quite violent and
dangerously sexist? What do you think about the language used in
computer games?
9. How can we control our interest in computer games? What do you
think about the effect of games online on the young?
Hove M'o S p e a k E nglish W ell 41

TO PIC 2 7 : SURFBVG THE XVTEBJWET
I really like surfing the Internet every day.

/S
W h enever I have free time, I go online. I usually
check m y emails first and then write a few
m essages to m y family and friends. I sometimes
scan the local news headlines at m y favorite
new s Website and read up on the latest local
and international news. T h e n I search some
information related to m y major or research.
Som etim es I also chat with m y friends or play som e mini gam es I like.
However, I realize that there are problems with using the Internet
including scam s and viruses, so I'm very careful not to give out my
personal information. Furthermore, I do not download or open files I do
not recognize.
Using the Internet can be fun and convenient w ay of finding out new
information and entertaining ourselves, but we just need to be careful.
VO CAB U LAR Y TIP
1. to surf the Internet = to be online

2. headline (n) = the title
3. scam (n) = bad purpose / intention
Q UESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. D o you often use the Internet? W hen did you first use the Internet?
About how m any hours a day do you use the Internet? W ho uses the
Internet the most In your family?
2. Do you think our lives have been improved by the Internet? Do men
and wom en use the Internet for different purposes?
3. Do you use the Internet for fun or education? W hat are some of the
ways the Internet can be used for education? W hat are some of the
ways the Internet can be used for entertainment?
4 j W hat are the sites you most com m only access? W hat is the best
¿ Q thing about the Internet? W hat problems does the Internet create?
W hat problems does it solve?
5. Do you have more many e-mail addresses? W h y do you need more
than one e-maif address? Have you ever chatted on the Internet?
42
Give me a reason w hy you think that the email is a good w ay for
people to communicate.
6. Is it dangerous to meet people on the Internet? Would you like to go
on a date with som eone you meet on the Internet?
7. Do you think that it is important for schools to have Internet access?
W h y? C a n you believe all the information that is published (available)
on the Internet?
8. Do you think that it is a good or bad habit for young people to play
computer gam es? M any people use the internet for fun and
entertainment at work. Do you think that this is right?
9. W ould you consider going out with someone that you met on the
Internet?
10. Many Universities are now offering online courses. G ive me some
reasons w hy this is a good thing. M any students use the Internet to
help them do their assignments and they just cut and paste
information from the Internet. How do we stop this?
TO PIC 2 8 : CHATTING OWLIWE

■’ j g P
Voice and text chats are quickly becoming popular
w ays of communicating with others online.
Nowadays, the Internet is no longer strange to

nearly all people. O n the Internet, we cannot only
get information but also entertain ourselves. It’s the
Internet that gives us the most efficient means to
communicate. Am ong them, chatting on the Internet
has been more and more popular. It has attracted a
large number of people, especially young ones.
A . -
In fact, chatting on the Internet is an easy w ay to relax, make friends and
entertain ourselves. T h is form of communication allows us to share ideas
about ourselves and the world in almost real time, and we can establish
friendships with people around the world. Therefore, it can be fun to chat
online,
However, care and consideration should be given when we find friends

on the Internet because we really don’t know who the person is at the
other end. T h u s , we should not give out our personal Information. Also,
w e should be careful about meeting online acquaintances in person. If
w e do so, w e will be sure it is in a pubiic place and go with a friend or
43
family member. Finally, we should contact local authorities if we feel we
are in danger
Again, chatting with others can be a fun and educational act

careful.
1. consideration [kan.sida'reiln] (n): careful thinkir

Ex: The proposals are still
stili under conside
consideration
x. x r . - - __
Càc de xuat äy vàn con dang dircrc xem xét.
-.
u
2. acquaintance [a'kweintens] a person you know
Ex: He has a wide circle of acquaintances.
Anh ta quen biet rgng rai.
3. local authorities: local government
qUESTIO K S FO B M gO JSS jO N
1. Do you have computers? Have they been subscribed to the Internet?

Do you know how to access the Internet? Do you spend much time
on it? J p
2. Have you ever sent a message to your friends or lover by e-mail?
3. Have you ever heard of love online? What do you think about it? Do
you think it is a kind of entertainment?
4. Can you fall in love with a person that you only know through the
Internet? W hat are reasons for choosing a particular partner on the
Internet?
5. W hat should you do to keep your love online alive? Do you think love
on the Internet is romantic? Will it lead to a happy life?
6. W hat difficulties are there for Vietnamese to use computer and
access the Internet?
7. Could you tell me the advantages and disadvantages of making
friends on the Internet?
8. W hat problems do people chatting online have met? What should we
do to prevent these problems?
9. What are the benefits of using voice or video chat for language
learners? W hat safety measures should you use when
communicating online this chat services?
10. W hat can you draw from today's discussion?
4P
Hoic To S p e a k E nglish W ell 44

TO PIC 2 9 ; LOVTTVG AMO P ATTING
W ays of dating vary from culture to culture b u ftj

before people get married^ they usually date/or go
out together/for a period of time/to see rf they are
compatible.
: : /
In the old days/ some people liked going out on
group d a te ^w ith a num ber of friends/so they feel .
less f rw l& w il and stress/kf trying to impress the
other person. H o w e v e / th e y enjoy doing it them selves now. EvefrT some
young people g o on that is, going out with a person that
you’ve never met/6r just m et online.
In m any cases jmost people try to date with those/' w ho have similar
interests and vSftfes. If th ey have things in com m on, they are more likely *
to enjoy each other's com pany. a
However, w e should be careful w hen dating/because people sometimes

don't show their truth/on the first or second date. Furthermore, although
finding dates online has becom e very popular, it’s difficult to get to know
someonefthrough emails or on line
f think/meeting people in person along with a few friends/for the first date/
is probably a safe w ay/o get to know others.
V O C A B U L A R Y T IP C jT
1. to vary = to differ
2„ compatible [kam’paetabl} (a): suitable
E x: They are never bosom friends because they are'never compatible.
Ho chang bao gib la ban than cua nhau, v! ho chang bao gib hop nhau.
3. pressure {tr)y/ V k" if the farce
Ex; I like to work under pressure
4. in com m on: a the same
5. com pany (n): <rn-o-> friendship
.0
t » lE S T H » S F O B M SC U SSIO N
D o you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? W here did you meet him/her?

W hat does he/she look like?
2. At what age do most people in your country get married? At what age
do you want to get m arried? A t what age did you get married?
Hoto To S p e a k E nglish W ell

3. Do women usually work after getting manned in your country?
4. Do you know what it means to Do you "go Dutch" when
dating? Is it usual for people in your country to 'go Dutch’ if you go
.out together?
5. Do older girls/boys have a problem dating younger girts/boys? Do
younger girts/boys have a problem dating older girls/boys?
8. Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you think some people know
that they will fall in love with someone the first time they meet?
7. Do you know anyone who has hacj an arranged marriage? o you
know someone who has gotten a Do you think arranged
marriages are a good idea? W hy or why not? What is ypyr opinion of
arranged marriages?
8. Do you know the difference between love and like? Can you still love
your partner and not like him/her? What characteristics do you look
for in a girlfriend or boyfriend?
9. How often would you like to go out on dates? How old were you
when you went on your first date? Where did you go? What did you
do? Who did you go with?
10. Do you think a boy should pay for everything on a date?
TOPIC 3<fc GE M ABRIRn

Getting married is one of the most important decisions
in a person’s life, so I will prepare for it carefully.
There is so much planning to do for the wedding. When

my partner and ! get engaged, we will go to a jewelry
shop to pick out rings, and wedding rings are
exchanged at the wedding ceremony. W e will also
choose where the ceremony and wedding reception
take.place. W e are not religious, so we will not hold it in
a church. Maybe I will organize it in the Youth’s Cultural
House.
c v
I do not like to hold my wedding big, so i just invite some dose friends
and colleagues of mine together with both-side families. W e will wear
traditional Vietnamese dresses and turbans. After the wedding, we will
have a reception where our families and friends talk, sing, dance, and
pat.
Of course, marriage customs might be different from person to person,
^ u n tr y to country, and I will follow our customs.
How To S p e a k English W eü 46
Dóng góp P D F b&i G V Nguyen Thanh Tú W W V V .FA C EBO O K.CO M /BO rD U O N G W O A U O r Q t ;Vl
VOCABULARY TIP
1. to get engaged: to promises to get married

2. colleague [kOlirg] (n): coworker
3. turban ftaiban] (nj: traditional hat
QUESTIONS FO B D K O t S S M
1. How many stages are there in our traditionaf wedding? W hat are the
customs and ways of the wedding? Do you want to follow these ways
if you get married? How will you celebrate your wedding party?
2. What are important decisions in one’s life? Is a marriage decision the
most important one? What does a marital life mean to you?
3. What do couples expect from their marriage life? What influences
you to decide on your marriage?
4. Should parents decide their children’s marriage? What are the
influences of the parents to your choice of your partner?
5. Are you for or against the idea that the young have to make their own
decision on their marriage? How a bout the parents? Should they
leave it for young couples to their own marriage?
6. What roles do love play in one’s marriage? Is it true that love after
marriage is not the same as it used to be? What are responsibilities
of a husband and a wife for protecting family happiness after
marrying? ^
7. W hy are there more and more couples getting divorced, especially
the young? What should you do to keep your love alike after getting
married?
8. What do you think about Vietnamese girls who get married to
foreigners? Do you knew the reason why they get married to each
other? What are the difficulties between such couples? W hat should
they do to bridge the gap between them?
9. Do you think that their marriages will last long and they are happy?
W h a t do you com m ent the situation that m a n y newspapers are
talking about marriages between Vietnamese girls and Taiwanese?
47
T O P IC 31s HONEYMOON
After wedding, people usually plan their honeymoon

trips. I will also do the same.
There are so m any options for a specific honeymoon

trip. First of all, my fiancee and ) may pay a visit to
Dalat, and it may be romantic to travel to different
places by horse-cart for a couple of days. I also think
going on a honeymoon cruise to H a Long Bay will be
a fun w ay to spend our vacation together. Personally,
I’d rather spend a few weeks backpacking through our country and
visiting famous landscapes by motorbike.
-v y
No matter what we do, we have to carefully budget our money to cover
travel and meal expenses because money is very important once we are
married.
VOCABULARY TIP
1. option (0) = choice

2. fiancée [ffurnseQ: husband or wife-to-be
3. horse-cart (n): xe ngua
4. cruise [kru:z] (n): a journey on a ship
5. to backpack to travel on a hike
6. budget fbDdDit]: money
7. to cover: to have enough money
Ex: This must be enough to cover your expenses
So Sin nay St la di) d§ tra cac khoan chi tieu cua anh
q iT S T IO ftS FOR p isc r ssio r c

v 7
1 . Are you married? What do you thing of getting married?
2. When you get married, where will you hold your wedding party?
3. How m any guests will you invite to your wedding party? W ho will you
invite?
4. Will you have honeymoon after wedding? W hy do people have
A.
honeymoon?
5. What is your image of the ideal honeymoon? Where would go and
what would you do there?
W hy do you choose that place? Could you tell me something about
r V that place?
Hoic To S p e a k E nglish W ell 48

7. D o you want to go on a honeymoon yourself or do you book a tour
through a travel agent?
8. Which form of accommodation do you want to have for your holiday?
W h y do you prefer it?
9. If you have $1,000 dollars to spend on your honeymoon, how will you
spend it?
T O P IC 33s K A ISEV C C H B U 9R M
Having children is one thing; raising them for .the

next eighteen years or more 3s something
completely different.
I have decided to have two children after getting

married, but I am worried about raising them
because there are m any things to do. W hen
children are very small, 1 need to take care of their
daily needs. F o r example, J need to feed them,
dress them, change their diapers, d e a n up their messes, and put them
to bed. A s children get a little oldei|r f still have to give them daily
attention by reading to them, telling them stories, playing games with
them, and consoling them when they get troubles. A s they become
teenagers, they will need m y interactions and advices.
J v
In addition, I will also teach them family values from a very young age.
Th is will help them develop patterns of behavior they will need for the
rest of their lives.
. •
[n fact, raising children is m uch harder than it looks, but with patience
and hope, 1think we can make our children mature.
1. to raise = to bring up
2. diaper [‘dalape} (n): cloth for babies
3. m ess (ri) chaos
The whole room was in a mess
Tat ca gian phong d irong mot tinh trsng bira bon b in thiu
4. to console fkan'soui] (for/on) to comfort,
E x: / shall come and console him for his being unsuccessful in the exam.
Toi se d in an ui ong ay v i viec ong i y thi rot.
10/ 5. interaction [,:nter'askln] (n)‘ communication
R o te To S p e a k English. WeU 49
6. patterns of behaviour ways of behaving
8. mature [ma'tjuaj (a): grown-up
OTOESTIONS FO B D ISC U SSIO N
1. What do think of children nowadays? Do you think that children from

poor families are often more studious than the ones from rich
families?
2. Should w e use corporal punishment in educating children? Do you
think this w ay is old-fashioned?
3. W hat are disadvantages of the corporal punishment? Have you ever
been spanked by your parents? If yes, what happened to yo u ? How
did you feel at that time?
4. W henever you make mistakes, what do you usually do? Do you
make an apology, or just find out any excuses for what you have
done?
5. W hat do you think of loving guidance in educating the children? Do
you think it is an effective method of training them?
6. W hat do you think about the saying, “S p a re the rod, s p o il the
c h ild ”? W hat problems would loving guidance cause?
7. Do you think that parents are too permissive with their children
nowadays?
8. W hat do you think the children need from their parents? Should
parents be intimate friends of their children when talking to the
children? Do you think rtfs easy for us to do this?
9. W hy are there many young criminals who com e from rich families
nowadays? W hat is the main reason? W h o has to be responsible for
this?
10. In short, which ways do you think is the best to train the children?
W hen you have children, how will you educate them? If your children
make you very angry, what will you do?
50
T O P IC 3 3 : W ITH O R W ITH OU T A COMPANION?
T o many people, travelling is one of the most • V

exciting things to do. Som e people like traveling
alone, but I do not want to spend this wonderful
time on my own because of some reasons as
follows. •' ■" "•
First, when Ravelling with a companion, I feel

safe and comfortable. W henever I want to buy a
strange thing, I can refer to m y companion’s advice or idea. Moreover, I
am not afraid of getting lost because my companion is always beside me
for help. Second, 1 will not be lonely and bored if I travel with a
companion. When the journey turns out to be a boring one, f can always
do something else with my companion. For example, I can play cards or
talk about many things with my partner. In addition, sharing a tour with
others is very economical. A tour for two or more people is always
cheaper than one for just a person. For example, I can share the same
motorbike or room with my companion.
In short, going traveling with a companion is very beneficial. So, invite

me to go with you if you want to go traveling somewhere, and you will
find out what I have mentioned above is completely true.
VOCABULARY TIP
1. companion = JQ r partner
Z to refer to consult
Ex: You should refer to a documemt
3. to turn out - to become
4. economical (a): reasonable
5. beneficial [JbenFfiJelj (a): helpful
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

4 0
1. Are you interested in traveling? Where have you been to in Vietnam?
Can you describe one of them?
2/;W hat is the importance of travelling? What can we learn from it? Do
you think that travel is a means of education?
% According to you, when is it the best time to go travelling? Which
season do people travel a lot? Do you know why?
51
4. Do you usually travel on your weekends? And where are Interesting
places for weekends? What do you comment on the saying, “T h o
m ore w e travel, the m o re w e learn”?
5 . ' When someone wants to travel, what should he prepare? What
should we know before w e start a trip to a new place?
6. Do you like going travelling a lone or with a companion? If you go
with a companion, who do you like to go with most? W hy?
7. W hat will you do if you get lost in the middle of som ewhere? If the
journey turns out to be a boring one, what should you do?
8. Have you ever shared a tour with others? Do you think a tour for two
or more people is always cheaper than one for individuals?
9. Do you like to go traveling with a tourist com pany or to organize a
tour yourself? Do you have any experience in organizing tours?
TOPIC 34: STUDENTS AND PA R T-TIM E JO BS

Many university students do part-time jobs nowadays
because it has some benefits for students.
Doing part-time jobs helps students earn money. It is

not very much, but it is useful for their daily expenses
/*H such as buying clothes and reference books, paying
for transportation or meals. Som e students even can
earn enough money to pay for their school fee.
Moreover, doing a part-time job provides students with

some experiences. It causes them to be familiar with the world outside
their classes, so they have chances to interact with others to improve
their communication skills and self-confidence.
Also, part-time jobs will create chances for them to live an independent
life instead of depending on their families. Th anks to par-time jobs, they
can be more responsible for their future.
In short, doing part-time job is very good for students in some aspects.
However, they should arrange their time property.
Jffcnr To Speak English W ell 52

VOCABULARY TIP
1. reference books = a book containing useful facts

2. to provide = to supply
3. familiar (with) [fe’milja] (a): common
Ex: /I am
am not
not very familiar with place-names in this region
76/ khong ranh cac dia danh d vung nay lam
4. to interact [,intsr*askt] - to communicate
5. to create = to form
6. aspect fasspekt] (n) = view, field
7. properly (adv) = suitably
1- Are you a student or are you working now? if you are a student, have
you finished your schooling for summer holiday?
2. Do you have to do part-time job to earn money? What kinds of job
have you done?
3. Could you tell me if it is easy to do part time jobs? What kinds of part
time jobs are popular now? Is it difficult to find one now?
4. Do you think tutoring is an ideal job for students? Have you ever
been a tutor? Is it easy or difficult to do this job?
5. in your opinion, what can we get from part time jobs? Do we lose
anything? If yes, could you tell me what w e lose?
6. If you have no problem with your finance, and you have a chance to
do a good part-time job. Will you take it? W hy or why not?
7. What do you think of promotion jobs? Are they useful for you? W hy
do many students choose this job as a part-time job?
8. Is it right to say that doing part-time job concerns students most now?
W hat should the concerned organizations do to help and guide
students who want to do them?
9. T o have a job now, what should a person prepare? Between
k n o w le d g e «^ life and knowledge at school, which one is more
important for your job?
H oir To S p e a k English W ed 53
TO PIC 35s PH Y SIC A L EXERCISE
Nobody likes to be ill, so it is important that we

should keep our body healthy.
Th e re are m any types of exercises that we m ay

choose. W e m ay play badminton, football,
netball or whatever gam es that we prefer. W e
m ay also jog, walk, swim or climb a mountain.
For the really-fit young people, there are rock-climbing, gymnastics and
other physically demanding activities.
■S
W e exercise to keep the body healthy. However, there are some who
overdo things and end up injuring themselves. It is fine to jog for a few
kilometres. It is m adness to jog until we are exhausted.
rJ?V
In short, exercise is important. No exercise m ay result in a weak body,
but too m uch exercise m ay result in injury.
VO CAB ULAR Y TIP
1. to jo g : to run slowly
2. gym nastics j,dGim’naestjks] {n) exercise
3. to overdo: to do s.th too much
Ex: He overdid his apology.
Anh ta qua cu-cmg tfteu lot bien giai hoa ra hong.
4. to injure: to damage
5. exhausted (a) fig*ZD-stfif7 very tired
6. to result (in) jri'zGlt}: to lead to the result
Ex: His carelessness resulted in failure.
0 \ S FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. Are you a sporty m an? W hat kind of sports do you play? How long
have you played it?
2. W hich are your favorite sports: outdoor/ indoor/ team/individual? Do
you spend a lot of m oney on your favorite sports? W hat are the
advantages and disadvantages that you can get from sports? W hen
do you often play your sports?
3i; W h a t do you «lin k about the saying, “H ealth m akes w e a lth *? How
^ often do you go for regular medical check-ups?
4 . Do you have a lot of stress? How can you overcome your situation?
Do you have any allergies?
54
5. Do you advise people to spend their time on sports rather than
drinking, gambling, or hanging out? In which w ay can you do this?
6 . Is it easy for you to get used to a habit of following a certain sports?
When is it the best time of the day for you to do exercise? H ow can
businessmen do exercise? W hat kinds of sports are suitable t o !
them?
7. W hat do you think of sleeping? H ow m any hours do you sleep a day?
W hat happen to you if you lack sleep?
8 . Is environment in our city good enough? H ow does it affect our
health? C a n you suggest som e ways to improve our city’s
environment?
9. Do you usually pay attention to your eating and drinking? Do you
prefer eating out to eating at home? H ave you ever been poisoned by
food?
10. Do you want to five to one hundred? Can you suggest som e more
ways to live as long as possible? W hat can you draw from today's
discussion?
TO PIC 3 6 ADVANTAGES OF C 1 U PH ONES
Nowadays, cel! phones are very popular. Nearly

each of us has it. W e like talking on cell phones,
sending S M S , playing gam es etc, which are very
good w ays to communicate.
to i
Th e m ost important advantage of cell phones is
that w e can use them almost everywhere without
cables or electricity. Th e next advantage of using
a cell phone is that w e can reach people easily. By using mobile phones,
we can communicate with everyone w henever w e want and wherever
we are.
Furthermore, w f v c a n access the Internet by using ^ cell phone.

Recently, the most com m on w ay of communication in the world has
been the S M S . Cell phones include this system; in this way, we can
communicate with som eone for cheaper than a normal call.
rffv '
Last but not least, w e can carry a cell phone easily. Furthermore, cell
phones are net only used for communication, but they can also be used
for taking pictures, listening to music, playing games, and so on.
So, cell phones are not dispensable.
55
rOCABULARY TIP
. cable fkeibij (n): wire

to. access Taekses]: to surf
common [’kDmon] (a) same
fx: You and I have a ocommon interest: We both collect stamps.
Ban ta va toi c6 cCmg scr thich: Ca hai deu suv tim tem.
1. dispensable [dis’pensabl]: not necessary
OOBSTIOKS FO B O ISC ISSH W

o
!. Do you have a cell phone? H ow m any people in your family have a
cell phone? W ho is the youngest person you know Who has a ceil
phone?
2. How long have you had a cell phone? W hich cell phone company do
you use? How long have you used that company?
3. Who do you call most often? About how m any text messages do you
send in a day? How much do you spend a month on your cell phone?
Who pays for your cell phone?
4. What do you think of mobile phones? W hat kind of features does
your cell phone have? W h y have you decided not to have a cell
phone?
5. Could you. live without your mobile phone? W hat are some of the
advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones?
6. At what age do kids now get cell phones? W hen did you first get a
cell phone? Have your parents ever been angry with you because of
your phone use?
7. Do you know how to use all the functions on your phone? Does it
ever bother you when people use their cell phones? Are you allowed
to have your mobile telephone switched on in class?
8. How many cell phones have you destroyed? W hat was the most
expensive phone call you ever m ade?
9. Is it illegal to speak on your cell phone while you are driving in your
country? Do you think it should be illegal to speak on your cell phone
while driving? Is it in bad taste to leave your cell phone on when you
are at a restaurant?
10. Has your cell phone ever broken down? W hat did you do when your
cell phone last malfunctioned? Have you ever lost your phone? Has
# i^yb u r Phone ever been stolen?
Hen* To S p e o k English Well 56

TO PIC 3 7 ; ïtM V m S IT Y LIFB ^
University life is one of the most interesting

and unforgettable periods in one student's
life. It is also the most important stage
because it prepares for ou r later careers.
First of all, studying at university is different

from studying at high school. Students have
study themselves, and also have to spend a
of time doing research. Th is helps them
improve their ability to reason.
Then, students can get som e working experiences for their future jobs or
get some m oney for their study. Th anks to doing part-time jobs, they
know how to behave themseives and know how to spend money
properly.
Moreover, the university environment trains students how to live

independently. M any university students com e from provinces, so they
usually live in dormitories or rent houses for accommodation. Living in
dormitories, they have to do everything themselves.
•
In short, university life is very interesting and unforgettable.
1. stage {n )= -.J r 7 period

2. to reason [YiiznJ: to explain
Ex: Our teacher reasoned that if we started at dawn, we would be there b y
noon.
3. dormitory fdD:mitri]: a place where students live
QUESTIO NS FO R D ISC ISSIO N
1. A re you a student or are you working now? D o you attend any private
courses to improve the knowledge of some subjects?
2. Do most high school students in our country go to college or
university?
3. Are there m any universities or colleges in your city? C an you tell us
som e universities you know?
B cnr To S p o o k E nglish W ell $7

4. Most of these universities are in good conditions, aren’t they? W hat
do you think of equipment and teaching aids in these schools?
5. W hat do you rem em ber most when you are/were a student?
6 .. Are/were you in love at university? W hat do you think of students’
love? . A ,
7. W h y do students study so m any subjects at their university? D o you
think these subjects are practical in real fife?
S. Do/did you do any part-time job to earn your living? What do/did you
do? Were/ A re you a tutor? W hat do you think of this job?
9. W hat do you think of living in dormitories or houses-for-rent? W hat
are its advantages and disadvantages? Have you ever lived there?
W hich dorm is considered the most m odem one in our city?
TO PIC 3 « ; TR AFFIC PROBLEM S
W hen our country develops, city people and traffic

authorities have to face many traffic problems.
Nearly all streets and roads in our city are narrow,

In bad condition, and continually dug. In addition,
the traffic system does not work well, and there are
not enough traffic police. Moreover, many people
do not strictly observe traffic laws when using the
roads. For example, they cross the street at wrong
places or ride their motors in the wrong direction. In
addition, m any street vendors illegally occupy the pavement to display
their goods for sale, so pedestrians have to use the road-bed. Another
cause of traffic problems is that the num ber of trucks in our city is very
big. A s a result, they usually interfere with traffic flow. Last, the
construction of houses and buildings is not properly planned, so they
occupy the surface of the roads.
T o solve the traffic problem in our city, we should do many things. At

first, the government should increase the number of the police force, and
they should be stricter to 'violators. Moreover, all streets should be
widened, and traffic fines should be more logical. Last, heavy penalties
should be imposed on violators, and people should be educated with
traffic regulations at the sam e time.
in short, I hope traffic problems in our city will be solved soon so that we
feel very comfortable when using the road.
flow To S p o o k E nglish W ell 58

D ông gôp P D F bâi GV. N guyen Thanh Til
1. authority [C:'BUritiJ (n): government

Ex: Who's in authority now?
A i la nguvi cam quyin bay gkr?
2. narrow fnaerou] (a): small A
Ex: The road was too narrow for cars to pass.
Con dirdng qua hep, hen xe hoi khong qua dupe.
3. continually [k©n*tinjualQ: repeatedly
4. to dig - dug - dug: to hollow out
Ex: Why don t you dig a hole hens ?
Sao khong dao mot cai lo a day?
5. to observe [a'bza;vj: to follow
Ex: .r . AH people have io observe the laws.
Moi ngudi phai tuan theo phap !u$t.
6. direction (n): way
7. illegal (a) against the law ->y
8. pedestrian (n) walker
9. force (n): human resource
10. strict (a): serious
Ex: Our teacher is very strict.
11. violator [vaialeite] (n): who violates the taw
12. logical (a): reasonable
13. penalty [pen iti] (n): punishment
14. to impose [im'pouzj: to force
15. regulation - rule, law
gU B ST lO K S FO B M S C I SSION
1. W hat do you think about the traffic situation in our city and other big
cities in our c o u n t r y f v . •
2. W hat is the relationship between urbanization and the traffic? What
are main causes of traffic jams and traffic problem in our city?
3. It is said that the traffic congestion is unavoidable in the process of
urbanization. A re you for or against this saying?
4. What are popular means of transportation in our country? Which one
is the most efficient?
5. Have you ever been a victim of a traffic jam ? If yes, how did you feel
at that time?
6. What are solutions to traffic problem? Is the extension of roads the
only w ay to solve the traffic congestion? W h y and why not?
7. D o you think that heavy fines on violations of traffic rules are good for
P re-establishing the traffic order and safety?
n o te To S p e a k E nglish Jfetii 59
Dông gop PD F bed GV. Nguyen Thanh Tii
8. W hat are solutions of the government to traffic problems? Can you
suggest some solutions? W hat do you think of “T h e m o nth o f safe ty k
a n d o rd e r traffic”? Do you think it is effective?
9. ■W hat conclusions have you drawn from today’s discussion?
TO PIC 3 9 ; TELEVISION
4&/
Television has m any advantages. With a T V , l
i f can learn m any things, I can go traveling around
the world, and I can contact the whole world.
First of all, television is very educational.

Stations such as T h e Learning Channel, Animal
Planet, Discovery and History all provide
educational programs. For example, if 1 watch
Anim al Planet, I can know m any kinds of animals around the world. This
program helps me a lot with my biology subject at m y school.
Second, the traveling program on television opens m y mind. Watching

the traveling program on T V helps m e improve m y knowledge. In
addition, I can visit people and places around the world. A s I see ail
these things, I learn that this world has a lot of things for us to explore.
Last but not least, the news program on T V is an endless source of news
and information. B y cable television, I can watch many international
news programs such as C N N , B B C or Star World. Thanks to these
programs, I am informed about the most important events in the world
very quickly.
I hope more and m ore people know how to explore the benefits of
television so that it could serve us as a wonderful tool.
V O C A B U L A R Y T iP
benefit
2. to contact ~ to communicate
1. biology [bai'DtedDi] (n) = natural science
A to aexplore
v n ln r a —
= to discover
A J S - event (n) = incident
ffoM To Specie E nglish W ell 60

1. Are you going to watch T V tonight? If so, what will you watch? W hat
did you watch on T V yesterday?
2. W hat is one of your favorite T V shows? W hy do you like it? W hen is it
on? Does you father like it, too?
3. Do you prefer listening to the radio or watching T V ? Do you think ft is
good for children to watch T V ? Do you think that there is too much
violence on T V ?
D o you think that T V is a good thing? Do you think T V is educational?
If you could design a new television show to boost ratings, what kind
of show would it be?
H ow often do you watch T V ? W hat are the advantages of watching
T V ? W hat are the disadvantages of watching T V ?
7. W hat do you usually watch on T V ? W hat kind of T V programs do you
usually watch? W hat kind of T V shows do you hot like? W hy?
8 . W hat T V commercials do you like? Which ones do you hate? W hat
T V commercials do you like? W h y? W hat's your favorite commercial?
yVhat is the purpose of advertising a product? D o you think there are
subliminal m essages?
9. W hen you drive or walk, do you get distracted by advertisements on
buses or billboards? W hen you go food shopping, do you buy foods
you've seen in T V commercials? D o you think it's right to see naked
wom en in T V commercials selling beauty products?
10. W hen do you usually watch T V ? Do you think that T V makes people
lazy? Do you think too much time is spent watching T V ?
TO PIC 40: READING
I really enjoy reading in m y free time, but m y mood

often determines what I read.
I enjoy comic books; it is usually light reading, and

the stories are not very Jong, but some comics
really reflect daily life in m y culture." t also like to
skim the newspaper every day to find out whafs
happening in the world. This keeps me up to date
on current local and international events. Because I do not have much
time to read, I generally skip over the editorial section of the newspaper
arid read the business and sports sections. Every once in a while, I take
the time to read a good novel if time permits.
Bote T o S p e a k E nglish W ell 61

Overall, reading helps me not only stay in touch with the world, but it
also gives me a chance to relax.
V O C A B U L A R Y TIP
1. mood fmu:d] (n): state A

Ex: She is always in a merry mood
C6 ay luon d tarn trang vui ve.
2. to determine [dPte:min}: to decide
Ex: Hard work determine good results.
Làm viéc tich arc quyet dinh ket qua tot dep.
3. comic book: picture book
4. to reflect [rfflektj to reproduce
Ex: Their actions reflect their thoughts or
S. to skim: to read quickly
6. editorial section: baixa Juan
7. once in a while = sometimes
O I E SH O X S F O B DISCUSSION
1. Do you like reading? How many books do you read per year? About
how many books do you have in your house?
2. What sort of books do you enjoy reading? Do you prefer fiction or
non-fiction? Did you read books when you were a child?
3. What is your favorite book? W ho is your favorite writer? Do you
prefer reading books or short stories?
4. Have you read a translation of any English books In your language?
Have you ever read a book and then seen a film of that book?
5. Do you like love stories? Do you like historical stories? Who are the
most famous writers in your country? W ho is your favorite character
from literature? y ?
6. Do you have a library card? Are you a member of any public library?
7. Do you give books to your friends as a present? If so, what was the
last book you gave? W hy did you choose that book?
8. Som e people say that "books are best friends". Is that true for you?
9. Do you like authors from other countries as well? if so, who?
10. Tell us a little about a book you have read recently? Did you enjoy
it? How long did it take to. read? Briefly, what w as the story about?
r V
B ote To Spook English W ell 62

TO PIC 41? g O T O SH O PPIN G
E v e r y w e e k e n d , I g o s h o p p in g w ith a f rie n d , a n d it
is t h e h o b b y I lo v e m o s t.
I u s u a lly t a k e a little c a s h , b e c a u s e I h a v e a n A T f a
c a r d . H o w e v e r , I d o n 't s p e n d in g t o o m u c h m o n e y
| on what I re a lly d o n 't need. I m a in ly v is it
s u p e r m a r k e t s a n d c lo th in g s to re s to c h e c k o u t th e
ia te s t fa s h io n s , if I fin d s o m e t h in g on s a le at a r e a s o n a b le p ric e , I
s o m e t im e s b u y it. T h e r e f o r e , I o fte n g o w in d o w -s h o p p in g .
i re a lly e n jo y w a lk in g a lo n g th e s to re a n d g a z i n g in to th e w in d o w s t o s e e
w h a t t h e s t o re is s e llin g . A t o th e r t im e s , I like lo o k in g a t t h e d is p la y s in
s to re s o r s tro llin g th r o u g h s h o p p in g c e n t e r s . S o m e t im e s , s o m e t h in g like
a s h irt o r je a n s c a t c h e s m y e y e , b u t I'm n o t a c o m p u ls iv e s h o p p e r , s o I
n e v e r b u y th e first th in g 1 s e e . M a n y tim e s , I c o m e h o m e w it h o u t b u y in g
a th in g .
G o in g s h o p p in g is re a lly a n in te re s tin g to d ò .
VOCABULARY TIP
t. to c h e c k o u t ^ to se e
2. re a s o n a b le (a ): logical
3. g o w in d o w -s h o p p in g : to se e g o o d s
4. to g aze = to stare
5. to s tro ll fstroulj: to go fo r a w alk
6. to c a tc h s . o ’s e y e s : to p a y attention to
7 . c o m p u ls iv e [k a m ’p C Isiv J (a ): to be forced
1. H o w ofte n y o u g o s h o p p in g ? W h o d o y o u o fte n g o w it h ? W h y ? D o
y o u fin d it in te re s tin g t o g o s h o p p in g ? Is s h o p p in g y o u r h o b b y ?
2. Which shops do you often visit? How do you spend your money on
shopping? Have you ever gone shopping for fun? And what do you
like doing there?
3. tf y o u b u y fa u lty g o o d s , w h a t w ill y o u d o w ith it? A r e y o u w illin g to
s p e n d a lo t o f m o n e y o n s h o p p in g ? D o y o u h a v e a n y b u d g e t f o r
s h o p p in g ?
S oir To Speak English. Well 63

Dong gop PDF bdi GV. Nguyen Thanh Tu WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOIDUONGHOAHOCQUYNHON
4. W ho has a higher demand for shopping, man or wom an? Is it true
that only wom en are interested in shopping?
5. In your opinion, when does shopping activity become busiest? W hat
•are reasons for marts to boom?
6. W hat do you think of the competition among manufacturers in our
City now ? W hat do you think about the prices of commodities
displayed and sold in supermarkets?
7. W hat are main commodities displayed and sold in the marts,
domestic or imported products? W hat do you think of the liking of
imported commodities?
8. W hat should the government do to help local manufacturers to
compete with foreigners? W hat policies should G overnm ent issue to
protect domestic goods or prevent false goods as well as the pirate?
9. W hat do comment on the supermarkets in our city? Between
traditional markets and supermarkets, which one do you prefer?
W hy?
TO PIC 42s P IE C E S I I M F TO V ISIT
I would like to visit as many places as ! can.
First of all, I would like to visit the moon. It

would be quite good an experience to walk on
the moon. It is said that there is no air or water
there, and our weight is six times less, so 1
would like to see how high I can jum p and how fast 1 can run on the
moon.
There are also mairiy wonders of the earth I like to visit all, if possible.
After hearing about the marvels of Th e Pyramids of Egypt, T h e Great
Wall of China, T h e T a j Mahal, Th e Leaning To w e r of Pisa, Th e
Colosseum of Rom e, and others, it would be great to be there.
. e
However, above all, i would like to visit the Disneyland, which all kids
would like to. Th ere are so many things to see and do. It would be a
greajt fiin.
(f%
Right now I cannot visit any of these places. T h e first reason is the lack
of money. T h e second is that I am too busy to go on a long trip, and I do
not know anyone rich enough to take me there.
H ow T o Speak E nglish W ell 64

S o they remain places I like to visit W ho knows, I might get to visit som e
or all of them in future, or not at all. O nly time will tell.
1. w ond e r (n): something miraculous

2. marvel rmDrvQ (n) astonishment
3. lack (of) (n): shortage (of)
4. w ho knows: ar biet dau
Q U ESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. W h y do people like going traveling? D o you like it? D o you think that
travel is a m eans erf education?
2. W h e re have you been to in Vietnam ? C a n you describe som e
interesting places? W hich one do you like best? W h y?
3. In which season do you prefer to go traveling? W hen is it the best
time to go traveling? C an you explain the reason?
4. Do you usually travel to som ewhere on y o u r weekends? in your
opinion, w here are interesting places for w eekends?
5. H o w do you spend your holidays? W h en som eone wants to travel,
what should he prepare? W hat should we know before w e start a trip
to a new place?
6. W hat do you com m ent on the saying, T h e m o re w e tra vel, the
m o re w e le a rni”?
7. Do you like going traveling with or without a tour guide? Do you think
Vietnam ese tour guides have good knowledge o f foreign languages?
8. W hat will happen to us if w e go traveling without a tour guide? Do
you think a guided tour is very informative to us?
9. W hich places on earth do you like to visit m ost? W h y do you like
them ? W hen can you do that?
H ou, T o Speak E nglish Well 65

T O P IC 4 3 ; W ITH O R W ITH O C H F B I M t t S ?
Spending time with friends is very important in our

life. . ^
4 >
Since I am a sociable and open person, J feel happy
and relaxed w hen I do things with m y close friends.
W e can take part in all kinds of after-school
activities such as playing volleyball, swimming or
hanging o u t S o m e good ideas often appear in m y
mind when I am with such friends.
When I come with friends, I can always exchange views with them about
study, society or love. W hen I confront serious problems and I am
unsure of which course of the action to pursue, m y friends show me
good ways at that time.
rJ?V
Being with friends can be fun and aid one in overcoming the trying
periods in life. Being happy in life m eans doing things we enjoy and
having someone to share the feeling with.
In short, being with friends most of time is an enjoyable aspect of life for
me as it is a source of inspiration, satisfaction and ongoing education.
1. sociable fsou/abO (a) easy to be with

Ex: Vm not in a sociable mood.
Tói dang khóng muon tiép xùc vói ai.
2. hanging out = going out
3. to exchange vie w s: to share opinions
4. to confront [kohtrbnt] = to face
Ex : An explorer often has to confront dangers.
Mót nhà thàm hiém thLPÒng phàì duvng dàu vói hiem nguy.
5. course of the action: actions
6. to aid = to help
7. inspiration [.inspa'reijn] (n ): up-lifting feeling
Ex: I sat down to write m y essay, but found I was completely without
inspiration.
75 / ngo/ xuóng dinh viét bài tièu luàn, nhung tói càm thày là khóng co
hung
— ti nào.
» ------- —
8. satisfaction [,saetìsfaekjn] (n): please
Ex: She looks back on her career with great satisfaction.
Bou> To S p e a k E nglish W ell 66
Bóng góp PD F bài GV. Nguyin Thanh Tii W W W .FA C EB00K .C O M /B0iD U 0N G H 0A H 0C Q U Y N H Q N
1. Do you have any close friends? H o w long have you known each
other? D o you always get along well with them ?
2. Can you tell me something about your close friend, her/his good
sides and bad sides? W hat can you leam from your friends?
3. H ow can you choose a real friend? W hat are main factors that help
you to keep your friendship ever lasting?
4. W h y do w e need friends? A s saying goes UA frie n d in n e e d is a
frie n d in d e e d ". How do you com m ent on this saying?
5. W hen you have problem, who do you often share with? Do you
usually confide your troubles to your friends?
6. Is a person nowadays willing.to sacrifice his benefits for his friends?
Ifs said that now people- friends usually take advantage of others
rather than help each other, especially in doing business. Is it right?
7. W hat do you think of the proverb, “E ve ry Ja ck has his J iir ? W hat
would you appreciate most in friendship?
8. W hat do you think about file friendship in the m odem A g e ? Does the
friendship like "LUU Binh, Difo'ng Le" or some others like that still exist
in our society?
9. W hat do you think about the in d iv id u a lism in the western society?
Does it influence the young in our country now ? Is it good or bad?
W hat are its advantages and disadvantages?
10. Can there be a sincere friendship between a man and a wom an
without any feelings of love? Can a man and a wom an be “sou/
m ates” without a desire to each other?
Bote T o S p e a k E nglish W e ll 67
TO PIC 4 4 : f io n i f i X ttA Y m B V g
I like going traveling so m uch. H o w enjoyable it is
when I am in a quiet or private place of beautiful
landscapes together with m y partner or family
members.
Travel improves m y mind and enriches m y

knowledge. W hen I go traveling, I can meet people
__ of different races and pass through areas of
different climates. A s I see all these .things, I learn that this world has a
lot of things for m e to explore.
Th anks to travel, I leam that people in the world do not follow the same
religions or do the sam e kind of work, yet their feelings, hopes and
desires are the sam e. All try to work for their living.
A t last, travel helps me see with m y own eyes and rem em ber things that
are not written about in any book. Such knowledge broadens m y mind as
well as makes m e better and more reasonable person.
Thus, the value of travel is not difficult to realize.
1. to enrich - to b ro a d e n
2. race(n): a group of com m on persons

3. to explore: . to d is c o v e r
4. religion (n): b e l ie f
5. desire [di’zaie] (n): wants
Ex: M y brother expressed a desire to go abroad.
6. to see s.th with s.o’s eyes: tan mat chting kien
7. reasonable (a): logical
QUESTIO NS F O B M SC T SSH W
1. W h y do people think of travelling? D o you know when people began

travelling? W hat is the importance of travelling? W hat can we leam
Q - from it? D o you think that travel is a m eans of education?
2. Are you interested in travelling? Is it your hobby? W here have you
been to in Vietnam ? Can you describe one of them?';
B o te T o S p e a k E nglish W ell 68
3. According to you, when is it the best time to go travelling? Can you
explain w hy? Which season do people travel a lot? Do you know
why?
4. Do you usually travel on your weekends? And where are interesting
places for weekends?
5. Do you think that watching T V is one of the cheapest w ays of
travelling? W hen someone wants to travel, what should he prepare?
W hat should we know before w e start a trip to a new place?
6. W hat do you think about tourist industry of Vietnam these days?
Could you please state some advantages and disadvantages of
Vietnamese tourism?
7. D o you like working in a tourist com pany? W hat conditions should a
tour-guide have to do his job well? How far do you understand the
idea: Tourism is a non-smoking industry?
8. If a foreigner asks you where they should pay a visit in H C M C , where
would you like to take them to? And what do you know about these
places? 4=^
9. Are you for or against the idea that “Th e m o re tourism d e ve lo ps,
the m o re s o c ia l p ro b le m s in cre a se ’ ?
tO. Is it easy for Vietnamese to travel abroad? Can you tell us some
requirements you need for travelling abroad? Do you think that the
poor never think of travelling? If you don’t have much money, how do
you manage to travel?
T O P IC 45s FA SH IO N M P L IT E
Fashion has its own importance. From time to time,

fashion has changed a lot, but it has shown its
existence in all ages.
Fashion is for every body, and every body do the

fashion, it m ay be different for ail age groups because
it is a w ay to express oneself. Usually, we can judge
a person's nature to some extent through the way
he/she dresses. Fashion, if done in a good manner,
also increases our beauty. In fact, these days beauty depends on
fashion, and it is one w ay to measure how beautiful someone is.
Fashion is done in m any ways. First there are fashionable clothes. It is

. vsiaid these days that fashion in clothes changes overnight, and it is also
V joke that if one has bought a clothing today, he/she must w ear it today
because it possibly go out of fashion tomorrow. Fashion is also seen in
Horn To S p e a k English W ell 69

hair. Som e people like long hair, and others ¡ike their head without hair.
Fashion also exists in cosmetics or shoes. Fashion is even seen in your
w ay of talking or loving.
Actually, fashion has become a part of our life. Nobody can remain
untouched without fashion. W e the poor or the rich must have some
kinds of fashion to show our existence in the society.
1. existence (n) = being, survival

2. to judge [ ii3Ad3j * to comment on
Ex: Do not judge people b y appearance
2. nature (n) = character
3. manner = behavior
4. to measure - to evaluate
5. cosmetic - make-up
Ex: Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics
QUESTIO NS F O R P ISC U SSIO >
1. W hat kind of clothes do you often w ear? D o you like your w a y of

dressing? W h y ? ^
2. Do you think that jeans now are popular everywhere? Do you know
the reason w h y jeans are popular?
3. A s a saying goes, “Y o u c a n ’t ju d g e a b o o k b y its c o ve rf". Please
discuss this statement, especially in relation to fashion and personal
good look.
4. Do you follow fashidn? C an you tel! the reasons? Do you think that
people need to follow fashion? W h y?
5. W hat is fashion in you r opinion? W hat do think about shopping for
clothes am ong the young in our city? W hat is the biggest problem
when buying clothes?
6. Do you think that new fashions are created solely for the commercial
exploitation of w om en?
7. M any people say that changing fashions are nothing more than the
waste of time and money. W hat do you think?
Does fashion contributed great deal to the development of society?
W hat are they?
Do you think that your being well-dressed can help you be m ore self-
confident?
Do you think your w a y of dressing shows your personality? In your
opinion, what is the most suitable fashion for students?
Hov> To S p e a k E n g lisk W eil 70

11. What do you think about people who always follow fashion? Do you
think it is a waste of time and money? W h y or w hy not?
T O P IC 4 6 s M O lffiY AITO IT S E F F E C T S
Nobody can deny the fact that money plays an

important part in our lives. W e need it to travel, to go
to school, or to pay for healthcare and other
services.
A s money is so.important, m any people run after it

T h e y can work hard and are willing to forget their
families because of money. Being busy earning
money, a lot of parents have no time to take care of
their children or their life-partners; as a result, their children become
corrupted or spouses get divorced.
In addition, people try to get money by any means, even they sell their
honor. For example, some high-ranking officers commit corruption or
bribery; m any girts become prostitutes or get married to foreigners
without (ove; and m any crimes such as burglaries, robberies, smuggling
or deceits happen everyday.
in short, money has really big effects on our life. However, w e should
remember that money can buy a house but not a home, a bed but not
sleep, medicine but not health, a watch but not time, sex but not love
and food but not appetite.
1. to play a part * : v to play a role

2. corrupted (a) = spoilt
3. by any means = by any cost
4. honor [ T ns] (n): honesty ."fairness
Ex: It's a great honour to be invited.'
5. high-ranking officer people of high positions
6. to commit corruption or bribery: dissolution
a woman m sex for money
8. burglary (n): stealing at night
3. smuggling: trading s.th illegally
10. deceit (n): dupery
11. appetite ['cepitait] (n): a desire for food or drink
71
1. What do you think of some marriages and dose relationships that are
based on m oney? What do you think about a saying, “Money makes
the m a re g o ?
2. Can we buy everything with m oney? According to you, how important
is money in your life?
3. Is it right to say, “M oney is a m eans to get promotion”? Can m oney
bring you happiness? W hy?
4. Do you sometimes borrow m oney from your friends? And do you pay
it bade?
5. What would be your behavior when a beggar asks you for money?
Do you think, “Money is the root of ail evils°?
6. It is said that, “M oney is power”, is it right? Do you think money
control nearly all fields in our life now?
7. What do you do to earn your living? Whatis your income? Is it
enough for you? Are you in debt? How deeply?
8. What are your fixed expenses {rent, telephone bills, school fee)? Do
you think you spend too much?
9. After paying all the expenses in your daily activities, how milch can
you save? W hat are you long - term goals to use your savings?
10. W hy do m any people now want to have a lot of money? Is success
measured in terms of the money you earn?
11. Do you think that the more m oney you get, the more respect you
have?
T O P IC 478 S i l l» V IN T. A BR O A D
aC )lTn thinking about attending a university in a
foreign country.
At first, I will enrol in an English program

Singapore to improve m y English. After learning
English for six months, I’m going to look for a
program that will prepare me to enter a university.
Furthermore, I'd like to join a program that
organizes activities for students, so I can get to
know people better from around the world.
want to choose Business Administration as m y major.; I prefer small

classes between twenty and twenty five students which gives me
opportunities to get more individualized attention from the teacher. Th e
Bfoic To S p e a k E nglish W e ll 72
cost of tuition is important, but m y first priority is getting a good
education.
in conclusion, while studying abroad offers m e great opportunities for a

better future, it also has challenges that i have to try m y best to
overcome to m ake m y dream com e true.
V O C A B U L A R Y T/P
1. to attend Jetend] to go to
Ex: They had a quiet wedding - only a few friends attended it
2. to enrol: fin'roui]: to register
Ex: / want to enrol in an in-service class.
3. Business Administration: business management
4. individual [Jndl'vidjusl] (a): person ‘
E x: _ Each individual person is responsible for his own study.
Moi cà nhân chiu tréch nhiem vè viêc hoc riêng cùa minh
5. urtion = school fee
6. priority [praPOrati] (n) precedence
Ex: Priority is given to developing heavy industry
Wu tien phât triên công nghiép nàng
7. challenge pjælindü] (n): difficulty
Ex: She likes her job to be a challenge
8. to overcome: to defeat, to conquer
Q U ESTIO NS F O B D ISC U SSIO N
1. W hat are purposes of education? Do you think that education is the

best investment in our children’s future?
2. W hat do you think of our educational system at present? D o you
think that children noto have to learn a lot? Learning a lot is good or
not?
3. W hat d o you, think of W estern educational system s? W hat are the
differences? W hich one do you think is better?
4. Do you tike studying abroad? If yes, w h y do you like it? Which
country do you want to study in?
5. Is it cheap or expensive to study overseas? How m uch does it cost
for a school year? W hat kinds of fee does a student have to pay
w hen studying abroad?
6. Is it easy for you to adapt to a new environment? !f the weather
changes, does it effect your health? W hat do you think about different
cultures and custom s?
H oic To S p e a k E n g lish WeU 73

7. W hat difficulties does an international student have to face every
day? Do you think all students can overcom e those difficulties?
8. W hat are advantages to study abroad? W hat opportunities do
•students have when they are in developed countries?
9. D o you think overseas studying offers students chances to discover
new cultures, w ays of thinking, history, customs and lifestyle? Do
these differences make them different when corning back to their
homeland?
TO PIC A JO B I TO PO
Since I was young, I have been interested in studying
international relations. M y interest in pursuing this field
stems from several factors which have affected me.
First, l have been exposed international affairs

throughout m y life. With m y father and m y brother in the
Foreign Service, I have grown up under the shadow of
international affairs. I am fascinated by the w ay they talk
about international relations.
Second, I am ^/ery interested in history, economies^ and diplomacy. I

believe that I can effectively satisfy my curiosity in these fields through
the study of international relations.
Th e last factor affected m y interest in international relations is patriotism.

Through the Foreign Service, I would not only have the opportunity to
serve m y country, but also have the chance to help bridge gaps between
my country and others. Besides, I could make the world know more
about Vietnam.
A z
in short, with m y situation and condition both in life and in study,
believe that I will be a successful diplomat in the future.
VOCABULARY T IP
.
/A. to pursue = to follow
to stem = to come from
A Ex: Discontent stemming from low pay and poor working conditions
Sir bat m an'bit nguon tu tiin cong thap va cac dieu kien iam vie
viêc toi té
Bou; To S p e a k E nglish W eü
3. be exposed to ~ to be dose to
4. affair (n) = business
5. be fascinated = be attracted
G. curiosity (n) [,kjuari'DSiti] (n ) desire to know about s.th
Ex: He gave in to curiosity and opened the letter addressed to his sister
No khong idem dupe tinh to mo va da m o buc this cua chi no
7. to bridge the gap to fill the gap
QUESTIONS FO R M SC IJSSIftK
1. W hich of the following jobs would interest you: secretary, engineer,

cook, hairdresser, computer assistant, nursery teacher, manager,
flight attendant, tour guide, receptionist, hotel keeper, bank manager,
interpreter, translator; taxi-drive, o r nurse? W h y do you choose it?
2. H ow do you prepare for your future job? Can w e get a job without
any preparation?
3. W hich job did you like when you were a kid? Which job do you like
but you cannot do?
4. W hat is career orientation? W hat occupations do young people prefer
nowadays?
5. Do you think social requirements affect one’s decision on his career
orientation? H ow do they affect?
6. In the process of modernization and industrialization in our country,
what jobs do you think are necessary? What jobs are dominant
nowadays?
7. W hat factors do you often take into consideration when making
decision to choose a job for yourselves?
8. W hat do you think about the situation of econom y in our country at
present? D o you think ft can affect social requirements and your
career orientation?
9. Otherwise, do you think our choices of career will influence on the
development of our country?
75
TO PIC 4 9 ; REASO NS TO l EAILV ENGLISH
Th ere is no doubt that more and more people

ieam English nowadays, and they lean it
because of different reasons. However, to me,
I Ieam it to prepare for m y job, to improve my
knowledge, and to entertain myself.
First of all, English is ve ry necessary for my

future job. As we know, m any jobs now require
applicants to prepare their personal files such
as the C V or the job application, in English. If
m y English is good enough, my file will make impression on the
employer. Moreover, in the job interview, 1 will have to speak English.
Therefore, it will be easier for me to pass it if I can speak English
fluently. In addition, with good English, I may have more chances to work
for a foreign com pany or I can be sent abroad for further training.
Then, I can improve my knowledge so.m uch if I am good at English. It

can’t be denied that English is the most international language in the
world. Therefore, m any professional or reference books of different
subjects such as science, technology, tourism, economy, geology,
politics and education have been written in English. H ow can i read and
understand them if 1 do not know English? Moreover, the Internet is
considered an information superhighway, and m any websites are written
in English. Therefore, I dan take advantage of these websites to get
information and improve m y English is good enough.
Jp )
Last but not least, English will be able to help me entertain myself a lot. If
I have a good command of English, I can completely enjoy an English-
spoken movie without the help of the subtitle which is sometimes
incorrect Moreover, I can listen to m any fam ous or ever-lasting English
songs sang by the most famous singers around the world. In addition, I
can go travelling to any country without difficulties in communication.
Besides, there are m any other w ays of entertainment that I can get if i
am good at English-
short, English is one of the best m eans that can help us approach
m odem science, advanced technology, and the development of the
4 C y/ world. In other words, a lot of good opportunities are available for us
H otc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 76

once we have acquired fairly good English. So, try to improve English to
integrate into the world.
1. doubt (n) = uncertainty

Ex; There is not a shadow of doubt
Khong mot chut may may nghi ngo
2. applicant (n) = candidate
3. to make impr
impression = tc get s.o’s attention
4. (n) =
geology fn) the study of the earth
5. superhighway
superhighway (n) - very fast route
6. to approach = to come up to
E x: A
Assyyou approach the city, the first building you see is the church
7. to acquirei=
= to
1. W hat do you expect from your English? Please tell me your main
purposes and motivations.
2. W hat do you think about teaching ar aming English in our country
now? W hat are advantages and disadvantages?
3. Have you got any difficulties when you are learning English? If yes,
how do you overcome your difficulties?
4. Am ong four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, which one
do you think is the most important and difficult?
5. Please share your own experience in learning English with me and
tell m e the best w ay to improve each skill?
6. How do you improve your speaking skills? D o you think joining
English Speaking Club is one the best ways to improve it?
7. W hat can you derive from your study? What is the importance of
English language when it is used as an international language?
8. In addition to your professional qualifications, is it necessary that a
certificate of English should be included?
9. How can the English ability help your work and your study?
tioui T o S p e a k English W ell 77

TO PIC 5 0 : TO EVTEK YO UR LIFE
W e have to accept that m odem life has brought

young people a lot of benefits and favorable
conditions. N ow adays, it is very easy for the
young to approach m odem science and
advanced technology as well as to get up-to-
date m any kinds of information to enrich their
knowledge. However, in order to have right
orientations and right decisions for their future,
they have to prepare them selves m any things.
First of all, they must equip them selves with sufficient knowledge which
plays a vital role in every success. Knowledge is0 6 key to open any
door of life. Owing to knowledge, a m an has ability to reason as well as
distinguish good things or bad things. F 6 r example, thanks to
knowledge, Japan has becom e one of the most powerful countries in the
world although it does not have m any natural resources.
Besides knowledge, they should have moral principles. A person of good

personality and moral gets success and respect easily. Morals of a
person can be seen owing to his w a y of living. He knows how to five for
everybody around him. F o r example, he is willing to help others when
they are in need. Also, he should not be very selfish-just to think of
himself - or he should not play tricks on others.
Last but not least, confidence and communication skills are also very
necessary for them to step into fife. T h e confidence helps them
overcome m any difficult circum stances o r have timely decisions. Th en
communication skills help them get along well with others easily. Th anks
to these skills, they m ay have wide relations that can support them to get
our success. „
In short, truly speaking, as young people, they have a lot of opportunities

to prepare for their future. M oreover, they play very important roles in the
development and prosperity of the nation. It is them who are future
masters of the country. Therefore, they should have a good preparation
for their career w hen they are still at college or university.
.
78
VOCABUUARY T IP
1. favorable (a) = good, convenient

2. to approach = come up to
3. orientation (n) = direction
4. sufficient (a) = enough A
5. to reason = to explain 4P
6. to distinguish = teU apart
Ex: The twins are so alike that no one can distinguish one from the other.
7. principle (n) - code, rule
8. to play tricks on s.o = to cheat s.o
9. circumstance (n) = situation
Ex: Circumstances forced us to change our plans
10 . prosperity (n) = wealth
v
1. Are you a student or are you working, now? If you are a student, what
is your preparation for your future?
2. What do you think of knowledge in modem time? Do you think
students get enough knowledge when studying at colleges or
universities?
3. Is it right to say that many people are just interested in money
nowadays? Do you agree that money is everything in our time now?
4. Between earning money and getting knowledge, which one is more
important to you? Do you think that m oney now is more required than
knowledge?
5. W hy do m any people think that investing in education is the best way
to get money later? Is it a good preparation for a person to step into
his life? W hy?
6. Is it good to have so much knowledge? W hat can you do if you have
wide knowledge?
7. What ambitions do students usually have nowadays? What are
differences between the young of today and those of yesterday?
8. W hat roles do the young play in the development of the nation? What
does our nation expect from the student?
9. W hat are the strong and weak points of the student? Are they wiling
to think, to act, and to have responsibilities?
10. What do you think of spoilt teenagers, juvenile addicts and
delinquents in our city at present? H ow can we help those people?
What can you learn from this topic?
79
TO PIC 5 1 : S P E X D W 6 OR SA VW G M O A ÏY ?
If I am asked whether I spend m oney or save it when I can

earn it myself, I will answer that I will keep it for som e time
in the future. I do that because I will have a lot of
expenses in m y future.
A s we know, learning nowadays is not cheap at ail.

Moreover, m y parents cannot always support me
during m y life. T o improve m y knowledge, 1 have to
learn m ore and more. S o , the m oney I save now
wilt be very important for me to spend on education in the
future.
In addition, in the future, ! want to have comfortable life such as a nice

house, fashionable clothes, and a luxurious car. W hen I get married, I
want to have nice things too. Th is takes m dney. T h e best time to save
money is now, before I have a family. Th e n , with m y savings, m y
children m ay have good living conditions and chances to study at high-
standard schools.
«4 PllOlf.
,.jc W4
Last, I cannot foresed what will happen to me and m y family in the
future. F o r example, I could have an unexpected illness; m y brothers or
sisters might need m y help, and I have to give them some money.
Therefore, I need to save m oney now for these sudden things.
Moreover, when I becom e old, I do not want to depend on m y children
economically.
y S *
In short, it is not easy to earn m oney now, so I do not want to spend m y
money carelessly. 1 have to be well-prepared for m y future. A re you of
my opinion? Let’s share our ideas in today’s discussion.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. expense (n) “ expenditure

Z f to foresee “ to predict, to forecast
3. unexpected (a) = sudden
Q UESTIO NS FO R P ISC IJSSIO *
1- Are you a student or are you working now? Do you earn a lot of
m oney yourself?
2. About how much do you usually spend each day? Are you good at
saving money? A ,y
3. Are you saving m oney to buy something? If so, what are you
planning to buy? H o w much will it cost? H ow much longer will you
need to save before you can buy it?
4. W here do you save your m oney: at home, in a pig-bank or in-a bank?
Do banks pay a higher percent of interest here or in your country?
5. Do you ever give m oney to charity? H o w often do you give to charity?
How much do you give?
S. Do you have a credit card? If so, do you have m ore than one? Do
you have more than one bank account? Do you often put m oney in
the bank?
7. Do you sometimes buy things that you don't need? If so, give some
examples.
8. Do you sometimes give m oney to charities? Have you ever given
m oney to a beggar? H ave you ever given money to a homeless
person?
9 . How important is m oney to you? If you had no m oney, do you think
you could be happy?
10. Do you think saving m oney for the future is a must? If yes, w h y do
you think so?
TO PIC 5 2 : A GUIDE TOUR
W h e n the standard of living is improved, people

pay more attention to entertainment. O n e of the
most popular w ays is going traveling. Som e
people like to hold a tour themselves. Others like
going traveling with a tour guide. T o m e, I prefer
a guided tour very much because of the following
reasons:
W hen w e are m em bers of a guided tour, we can understand ail things

we see during our tour. F o r example, if you travel to a foreign country for
your vacation, you m ay have trouble with the language that can prevent
you from enjoying your trip. However, if you go with a tour guide, he will
help you with his knowledge of fluent foreign language.
H oic To S p e a k E nglish W eti 81

N g u y è n B ô n g A n h , M A . in T E S O L
Th e n , a guided tour is very informative to us. During the tour, the guide
provides us with a lot of information about places w e visit, especially
when we go to m useum s or historical vestiges. Th e re , the guide will help
us be able to enjoy and understand the history of what being displayed
or seen. A .
In addition, w e will be able to cover all the sightseeing places if we are in

a guided tour. W hen w e do sightseeing independentiy, we m ay miss a
lot of chances to visit the most beautiful or interesting places. Without a
guide, we need to plan our time accordingly. T h is causes lots of tension
because w e are new to the place. A s a result, our trip might not be a
memorable one.
S o, I would say that while planning a vacation, one should definitely

consider taking a guided tour. Do you agree with ro&?
VO CABULARY T IP
1. to pay attention to = to care for

2. to hold = to organize
3. vestiges (n) = remains
Ex: Vestige of an ancient civilization
Di tich cua mot nen van minh c6
4. to display = to show
5. accordingly = reasonably
6. tension (n) = stress
7. memorable (a) = unforgettable,
8. definitely (adv) = certainly

;
1. W h y do people like going traveling? Do you like it? Do you think that
travel is a m eans of education?
2. W here have you been to in Vietnam ? C a n you describe som e
interesting places? Which one do you like best? W i y ?
3. In whibh season do you prefer to go traveling? W hen is it the best
time to go traveling? Can.you explain w hy?
you usually travel to som ewhere on your weekends? In your
opinion, where are interesting places for weekends?
How do you spend your holidays? W hen som eone wants to travel,
what should he prepare? W hat should w e know before we start a trip
to a new place?
6. What are the purposes of travel? W hat do you comment on the
saying, “T h e m ore w e travel, the m o re w e leam !”?
7. How do you think about tourism in Vietnam these days? Could you
please state some advantages and disadvantages of it?
8. Do you like going traveling with or without a tour guide? Do you think
Vietnamese tour guides have good knowledge of foreign languages?
9. W hat will happen to us if we go traveling without a tour guide? Do
you think a guided tour is very informative to us?
T O P IC 5 3 s WOW T O I K 4 P A H A P P
It is hard to say what makes a happy life, for

our definition of happiness is not acceptable
to ali. This man’s idea of a happy life will be
entirely different from another’s, and what the
v third regards as a happy life may be
j acceptable neither to the first nor to the
second.
Before trying to decide what makes a happy life, we have to be quite

definite about what kind of happiness we want to achieve. For example,
there is the kind of happiness aimed at by those who free themselves
from all the world’s complications. Such people believe that the desire
for wealth and material pleasures in life is the root of all troubles and
depressions. T h e y say that this desire always makes people unhappy.
In addition, to be happy, in my opinion, we should not be very ambitious

or greedy. Som e people always want to get everything in their life, so
they keep searching ways to do that. Because of changing all the time,
they get nothing at the end. Th u s, we are happy when we know how to.
appreciate and consciously to enjoy what we really possess. Also, we
always keep in our mind th a t" The grass ¡s always greener on the other
side of the hill” always makes us unhappy.
T o lead a happy life, we should always set goals in life to keep us on

track. I think alt of you agree with me that planning ahead is always good
to achieve our goals. Thanks to our plans, we know what to do first,
when and how to do it. Moreover, to reach our goals, we should also be
risky and never stop our effort to get them.
83
fn addition to our goals In life, to have a happy life, our health must be
good. Do you feel happy when you are usually tired or sick? Nobody
says yes. So we should do morning exercises regularly, be careful with
our eating and drinking habits, take holidays sometimes, not overwork:
worry a lot.
Last but not least, developing a good sense of humor is a very good way
to make us happy. A s we know, happy people usually overcome their
troubles easily. When something wrong happens to them, they do not
wait for too long to see its good side because it is said that, "A merry
heart helps you overcom e m an y difficult cases” .
And how is your conception of a happy life? Let's share your opinion in
today’s discussion
VOCABULARY TCP
1. definition [.detTnifn] (n)= explanation

2. entirely (adv)= completely
3. to regard as = to consider
4. definite (a)= clear
5. to achieve = to get, to gain...
6. complication (n)= intricateness
7. desire (a)= want, need
8. depression (n) = hopelessness
Ex: Don’t drive me4o desperation
Dung don toi vao canh tvyet vong/ the cung
9. greedy (a)= insatiable
10. to possess = to own
11. to keep s.o on trac| - to go on the right way
QUESTION'S FOR DISCUSSION
1. W hat is happiness? What does happiness mean to you? What

should we do to make ourselves happy?
2. Can money bring us happiness? Are rich people always happy? Do
you think money is everything?
3. In your opinion, does happiness come to us by accident? It is said
# that happiness is like a shy bird. Th e more we hunt it, the farther it
flies away. Do you think so?
4. Do you agree that a happy man is the only man who.knows how to
live with what he is possessing?
B oic To S p e a k English W ell 84

5. Is material comfort the only factor leading to happiness? If you have
a lot of money, do you feel happy?
6. W ho is happier between a rich man without knowledge and a poor
man with wide knowledge?
7. Which is more important, health or m oney? W hat should we do to
have good health? Do you think the young usually appreciate their
health? W h y (w h y not)?
8. How is a happy family? How would you do to build up a^happy
family? W hat is the role of the husband and the wife in £ happy
family?
9. W hat do you think of the saying, “Happiness is a struggle”? Do you
usually struggle in your life? W hat do you usually struggle against?
TO PIC 5 4 ; COHABITATION
W hen people have more personal freedoms, they

seem to forget traditional morals one of which is not
living together until they g çt married. Through press,
w e know that more and more young people cohabit
nowadays, especially am ong students and industrial
workers. W h y do they do that?
T h e first reason is free relationship. Usually, cohabitants

are those who come to this city from provinces, so they are free to make
their own choices. W hen asked, they say that they are not bound by their
parents’ constraints, and theÿ are mature enough to make their own
decisions.
Th e second reason is that they can share living expenses. Because they
come from provinces, they have to rent houses or rooms for their
accommodation, which is not cheap in this city. However, the expense
can be reduced if it is shared. Moreover, it is very convenient for a
cohabiting couple in m any ways. W hen the male goes to school or is on
his shift, tfre; female stays at home to cook their meals, to dean the
house or to wash their clothes, and vice-versa.
T h e last popular reason is called testing. Som e cohabitants think that

they should test their marital life before really getting married. Th e y say
they live with each other to see if they are compatible or not But
Statistically, most cohabiting couples usually say goodbye to each other
J Q when they graduate from universities. 1 myself do not think that
compatibility has to be learned by cohabitation.
y guyên Hong Anh, M A. in TESOL
Does anyone know what have happened to m any cohabitants? M any

girts have to get abortion or stop their schooling, and very few couples
get married after that. Th is is really ironic.
In short, before we give ourselves away, w e should.think twice and be

responsible for what we have done. Have a great day and stay out of
trouble! /§> °
V O f 4B U 1A R Y T IP
1. cohabitation = living like a husband & wife

2. bound (pp) = limited
3. constraint (n) = limitation, restriction
4. mature (a) = grown up
5. accommodation (n) = housing
Ex: He wanted accommodation fora young married cot
6. to be on shift = to work
7. vice-versa = oppositely
8. compatible (a) = well-matched
9. statistically (adv) = numerical
10. to get abortion (n) = to kill un-bom baby
11. ironic (a) = mocking
12. to think twice = to think carefully
A v rru N rw n r A m T n
t . W hat do you think about the ways of Irving nowadays? W hat are the
ways of living in the past? C an you make a comparison between the
w ay of living in the past and at present? Which one do you think
better? W h y?
2. W hat do you comment on the Western w a y of living? Do you think it’s
good to imitate?
3. W hat do you think of the young now ? Do you think they love too
early? W h y? W hat do you think about the w ay they love now?
4. W h y ;# ? m any young people cohabit now? W h o usually cohabit?
W hat are advantages of cohabitation? D o you think it is the best w a y
to test your partner before y o u decide to get married to him/her?
5. VVtry are there m any cases of getting abortion among the young
now ? W hat is your opinion on it? Does it result from cohabitation?
Should we focus on preventing unwanted pregnancies? W ould it be
better to educate people at the earty age to use their com m on sense
in love and seX?
86
7. W h y do w e, V ietnam ese people, feel em barrassed and uneasy
w h e ne ve r taking about this subject? Do you think this is the reason
leading to m ore and m ore abortions?
8. Is it right to terminate the p re gn ancy and to kill the b a b y? W h y is ft
right or w h y is it w ro n g ? Should every w o m a n have the right t<?
decide w hether she wants to stay pregnant or not?
9. W h o is to blam e if a w om an gets pregnant before m arriage? Is it her
fault and stupidity? Sh ould sh e carry all the consequences as well?
W hat do you think of the m an in this situation?
©
T O P IC 5 5 ; SIHWMTCB VACATIO N
W h e n flam e-flowers begin bloom ing, it is the time for

students to stop schooling and w elcom e “su m m er
vacation" which is very im portant to them . After 9
m onths of working hard, they need time to relax
before continuing their studies at a higher level. So,
how can they h ave a useful and m eaningful
su m m er vacation?
A s w e know, students have been taught a lot from

books, but in reality, m a n y of them have never seen a live cow o r buffalo
or th e y cannot im agine w hat a rice field is really like. T h e y also learn a
lot about the country and people, historicaf vestiges, ancient tem ples,
m ausoleum s or beautiful placés, but they have never seen these with
their ow n eyes. T h u s , trips on su m m e r days to the countryside, to a
m ountainous region, to the historical sites or fam ous places in the
country will be very useful to them.
Another thing is worth mentioning here. O n su m m er vacations in recent

years, thousands of high school and college students have participated
in “G re e n S u m m e r V olunteer C am paignA T h e y go to rural areas or
m ountainous regions to teach illiterate people how to read and write as
well as to hold m a n y su m m er activities for local students. A t the sam e
time, they also help local people repair houses, build lanes and bridges
in rernote hamlets or villages. T h o s e su m m e r activities are very useful
and meaningful to them . M oreover, they also accum ulate a lot of
know ledge for their lessons in school from real life.
Also, m a ny college students take advantage of su m m er vacations to do

part-time jobs. T h a n k s to these jobs, they can earn som e m oney for their
87
next school year. In addition, when doing part-time jobs, they can
accum ulate som e experiences in working environment, and can improve
their com m unication skills.
in short, depending on his situation, the student can choose suitable

w a ys to spend their su m m er holidays usefully and meaningfully.
V O C A BU LA R Y T IP
1. flam e-flower (n) = flamboyant

2. vestiges (n) = remains
Ex: Vestige of an ancient civilization
D i tich cue mot nen van minh co
3. ancient (a) = very old
4. rural (a) = countryside
5. illiterate (a) = uneducated
6. to accum ulate = to collect, to gather
7. to take advantage of = to make the best of s.th
Q U ESTIO N S F O B D ISC U SSIO N
1. H a ve you finished all exam s in your school? Have you m ade up your
m ind how to spend your su m m er vacation yet?
2. W here do you w ant to g o ? W h y do you choose that place? H a ve you
eve r been there?
3. Before going travelling, w hat should w e prepare? W h at should we
take along with u s?
4 . W h e re w e re you b o m ? C a n you describe som e beautiful or historical
places in your own hom etow n? Is it a good place for sum m er
vacation?
5 . Do you think that attending sum m er courses is a good w a y to spend
sum m er vacation? W hat do you think of the su m m er courses in our
city in these d a y s?
6. M any students take advantage of su m m er vacation to do som e part
time jobs so as to earn m ore m oney for their study. Do you think this
is a good ch ance for them ? W h at kinds of work are popular during
sum m er vacation?
7 . W hat is your opinion on “G re e n S u m m e r C a m p a ig n ”? H ave you
¿ © fe v e r taken part in this cam paign? If yes, can you tell m e your
experiences?
8. A re you going to participate in social activities in this sum m er? W hat
activities do you intend to do?
H oui T o S p e a k E n g iish W e ll 88
9. Does our city have enough entertainment activities for students on
sum m er vacation? W hat kinds of entertainment activities do you
suggest to be made more?
10. How can we have a useful and meaningful sum m er vacation? W h a t/
can you draw from your discussion?
TO PIC 5 6s DANGERS AX HOME

O u r home is always our favorite place to spend time
in. However, many accidents occur at home. Th e re
are dangerous things in the house, and w e should
be aware of them. Th u s , we can avoid unnecessary
pains or injuries.
First, electricity runs many of our home appliances.

It is a very useful thing, it is also a very dangerous thing if used
carelessly, for it can kill. Electrical sockets and power points are to be
handled with utmost care. Y ou ng children should never be allowed to go
near them. Unless we are very sure of what we are doing, repairs should
only be done by a competent electrician, it is only too easy to get
electrocuted. O ld or faulty appliances should be discarded. If used, they
are likely to start a fire somewhere or kill someone who touches it.
In addition, the kitchen has m any dangerous things. Sharp knives can
draw blood, mishandled gas-cylinders can explode, hot water can scald
and stoves can cause nasty bum s. Also, flies and rats can contaminate
food. Th u s, the kitchen is not a place to be careless in. If we are careful
and know how to handle things there, then the chance of an accident
occurring is lessened!
&
T h e biggest danger in a bathroom is when the floor is slippery with water
or soap. I have heard of m any incidents of people, especially old folks,
falling in the bathroom. Sometimes the fall is fatal. Often it leaves the
victim bedridden. Utmost care is needed here.
Finally the medicine cabinet should be inaccessible to young children.

Dangerous drugs and pills can look like sweets to these young ones, if
taken, the consequences can be disastrous.
Other dangers do exist. It is up to us to watch out for them.

4*
H o w To S p e a k E nglish W ell 89
Nsuyên H on g Anh, M^4. in TESOL
VIM 4 B I L 4 R Ï T IP
1. to occur = to happen
2. socket (n) = the plug
3. to handle = to solve
4. utmost (a) = greatest A
5. competent [knmpitant] (a) = capable *5
Ex: She is not competent to drive a car
Cô ta không thao viêc iâi xe hoi.
6. to get electrocuted " to get shock
7. discarded (a) = unused
8. cylinder (n) = xi-lanh
9. to scald = to injure
10. nasty (a) = horrible
11. to contaminate to pollute, to destroy
12. bedridden (a) = flat on your back
13. slippery (a) = very smooth
14. folk {n) = an old man
15. fatal (a) = deadly
16. inaccessible (a) = unreachable
17. disastrous (a) terrible
QUESTIO NS F O R PISCUSSIO M
1. W hat is the most dangerous thing in your hom e? H o w can if be made

less dangerous?
2. W hat is the most dangerous thing in your hom e for a child? H ow can
it be made less dangerous? W hat is the most dangerous thing in your
home for an elderly person? H o w can it be m ade iess dangerous? .
3. W hat dangers can be found in the kitchen that can cause accidents?
W hat can be done to prevent kitchen accidents? W hat can a parent
do to childproof a kitchen?
4. W hat dangers can be found in bathrooms that can cause accidents?
W hat can be done to prevent bathroom accidents? W hat can a
parent do to childproof a bathroom?
5. W hat dangers can be found outside the home in the yard that can
cause accidents? W hat can be done to prevent yard accidents? W hat
can a parent do to childproof the yard?
6. W hat other dangers can be found in a home in bedroom s, laundry
rooms, garages, and living areas? W hat can be done throughout the
house to prevent accidents?
m What can a parent do to childproof the different rooms of the-hom e?
90
8. W here are these items found in a house, w h y could th e y be
dangerous, to w h o m . could they be dangerous, and what could
som eone do to lessen the danger they present?
hot pah/pot hot curling iron knife w indow iron
m edicines gasoline pool , b a d dog
insecticides natural gas balcony
electronic equipment
toilets staircase
S'
T O PIC 5 7 : OLP-MAM CLUBS
With the developm ent of society, w e have stepped into an old-m an

world. M any countries and governm ents are much concerned
about this situation, especially how aid men can live
a happy life. U n d e r this circumstance, m any old-m an
clubs bam boo up with a view to providing old men
with a better place to settle down. In my opinion, I
think the old-m an club o r fhe rest-hom e is a good
practice to sofve old-m an problems.
Firstly, m any young people are quite busy now. T h e y wholly devote
them selves to their w ork and life, so they cannot spare enough time to
stay with their parents. Moreover, old-m an d u b s can offer bounteous
food and entertainment facilities to the old people and render them a
happy life there. In the old-man d u b s , the old can also m ake som e new
companions and establish good relation with them.
Secondly, with the acceleration of people's living tem po, m any young
people are fa dng h eavy pressures from the sodety, their work and
families.- If they live together with their parents, they will shoulder the
responsibility to care for them and their pressures will becom e heavier
and heavier. Therefore, the old-m an club relieves their burden and heips
them concentrate on their work fully.
Finally, the d u b ban also give careful medical to the old people. If old
men five with their family, they are not ensured to be sent to hospital
immediately when they get ill. Oppositely, in these d u b s , they can get
good medical care and recover soon. However, everything has double
folds. Som etim es, old people feel very lonely because they often think of
their daughters, sons and grandchildren. T h e y prefer family atmosphere.
X T
T o sum up, I think the appearance of old-m an clubs is a good thing for
old people, it provides the old with a better environment. But old-m an
M ow T o S p a a k E n glish WaU. 91
Dông gôp PD F bâi GV. Nguyen Thanh Til w w w .f a c e b o o k .c o m /b o i d u o n g h o a h o C q u y n h o n
clubs are not a paradise definitely, which is a com prom ise to family
intimation.
1. to bam boo up = to mushroom

2. practice (n) = way, habit
E x: Paying bills pi
promptly is good financial practice
Nhanh chong thanh toan hoa don la mot thoi quen tot v i tai chinh
3. bounteous (a) = plentiful
4. to render = to offer, to give
5. acceleration (n) = fast pace; speeding up
6. tem po (n) = pace, rhythm
7. to shoulder = to bear; to take on
8. burden (n ) = load; weight
Ex: The husband and the children are a burden to me
Chong con là gânh nàng cho tô!
9. com prom ise (n) =
10. intimation (n) =
Q U ESTIO N S F O R PISC Ü SSIO M
1. Do you think young people are generally m ore selfish than their
parents and grandparents? Does age m ake you m ore aware of and
caring for others?
2. Should people of between 55 and 60 be forced to retire from their
jobs in order to make w ay for you nger w orkers? If people are still
able to (and w ant to) work, should they have to retire w hen the reach
a certain age? Explain your opinion.
3. Are there m any things that the old can teach the young or are they
hopelessly out ¿of touch by the time they reach a certain age? W hat
things w ere you taught by your older family m em bers? H o w have
they been useful to you in your life?
4. Should the elderly be expected to pay for residential care out of their
own savings or should appropriate accom m odation and nursing be
provided by the tax payer? Explain your opinion.
5. M any countries are facing the problem of an "aging population”, i.e.
there will soon be m ore old people than young people. W hat
problem s will this cause? W h a t can be done to prepare for them ?
••••$. Are you afraid of getting old? W h a t is yo u r ideal old age to live to? Do
you prefer to live in the retirement hom e o r live with young people?
B o w T o S p e a k E nglish W ell 92
7. W h y are there more and more nursing houses or old-m an clubs in
our country these days? A re there enough old-m an d u b s to provide
old men a better place to settle down?
8. W hat can old-m an d u b s offer lonely old people? W hat can the old d g
there?
9. Do you think these clubs help young people not face heavy
pressures from the society, their work and families any m ore?
10. W hat do you think about the idea that old-m an clubs are nipt a
paradise definitely, which is a com prom ise to family intimation?
TO PIC 58s VO LUNTEERS
E ve ry year, thousands of young volunteers

take part in the volunteer sum m er
cam paign. Th e s e young people are not
afraid of the hard sunshine, strong
winds, and difficult living conditions in
remote rural* m ountainous o r offshore
areas fo reduce social problem s or
uneasy life of their fellows.
T h e sum m er cam paign is very useful and meaningful. Volunteers all

over the country are everyw here to care for needy children, ensure traffic
safety, or help students with college-entrance examinations. A s w e can
see, thousands of high school and college students go to rural areas or
mountainous regions to teach illiterate people and to hold m any sum m er
activities for local students. A t the sam e time, they also help local people
rebuild houses, lanes or bridges.
W he ne ve r the exam season com es, m any exam inees and their parents
pour into examination sites, resulting in a traffic overload. In an effort to
ease traffic congestion, volunteers are mobilized to help traffic police
ensure traffic order and safety during these phases of exam s. T h e y also
help candidates find their w a y to the nearest bus stations, or to track
down accomm odation. T h e y are successful in asking som e families to
offer examinees free accomm odation. In addition, they help examinees
complete administrative procedures and overcom e the difficulties they
face w hen coming into a new environment.
Moreover, year around in our city, volunteers spread out to m any

com ers of the city to direct vehicles into the right lanes so as to prevent
congestions or remind drivers to obey traffic laws. T h e y are also willing
Hou> To S p e a k E n g lish W e ü 93
to donate their blood to hospitals in need to rescue m any souls. How
great they are?
T h e movement of volunteers today is really contributing to the socio

economic development, reducing social problems, and encouraging poor
and difficult people to attempt more in order to overcome their fate.
Hopefully, there are more and more volunteers.
O '
VftT AB tHLARY T IP
1. remote (a) = very far

2. rural (a) = countryside
3. off-shore = in the middle of the sea
4. fellow (it) ~ man
5. illiterate (a ) - uneducated
6. to pour into = to rush to
7. traffic congestion = traffic jam
8. to mobilize = to activate
Ex: They are mobilizing their supporters to vote at the election
Ho dang v$n dong nh&ng ngutri ung ho dr bo phiiu trong cuoc bdu ds.
9. phase (n) = time
10. procedure (n) = . process
11. to donate = ^ t o give
12. to attempt = to try
QUESTIONS FO B DISCUSSIO N
1 . What do you comment on the youth of today and the young of

yesterday?
2. What are some qualities of the young that you particularly admire?
3. Can you tell us any young people who succeed in their professions?
Do you know w hy they are successful?
4. According to y6u, what is a perfect m an? Should he be a rich,
intelligent and handsome man?
5. What do you think about volunteers? Do you want to be a volunteer?
Have you ever jointed the so-called "the green sum m er volunteer
campaign
6 , What can the volunteers do for people and the nation? Do you think
their contribution is helpful?’
7,, What do you think of young people with depraved ways of living?
Have you ever seen or heard of any consequences of a depraved life
among young people?
j y
B ow To S p e a k E nglish W ell 94
8. W hat are bad w ays of living and thinking of the young now? H ow can
w e persuade young people with bad w ays
them selves?
9. C a n you suggest som e w ays that the young cs
up the development of our country in aff aspects, especially i r r v
econom y and culture?
10. D o you think the young are the masters of the country? W hat should
the young do to lead the country?
T O P IC 5 9 ; 6E V E R A T IO IV CAT
seem s that the children and their parents have some

conflicts in their life nowadays. Th e s e conflicts happen
| E i in m any families and in m any countries in the world.
1 1 » S o , what is the root of the matter?
First, parents usualiy im pose their ideas on their

children. T h e y just want their children to obey
them absolutely. T h e y m ay forget that the young
now want to live independently and have their own w ay of living. Parents
always require their children to study hard to get the best result, but they
rarely pay attention to the w a y their children study. Moreover, parents
scold them if they m ake mistakes, but never do parents tell them what to
do. It is a big mistake that parents rarely listen to their children's ideas.
S econd, parents do not take care of their children well. T h e y often leave
hom e for work early in the morning and com e back hom e late in the
evening when their children are going to bed. W h e n children have some
things to ask them for advice, they seem not to have time for their
children. I think parents m ake mistakes when they think that giving their
children a lot of m o n e y is to love and to take care of them
Finally, children do not understand that their parents have to spend most
of their time earning m oney to support them, especially in this
competitive society. T h is m akes the parents exhausted after a hard
working day, and of course, they do not have m uch time for their
children. M oreover, they are worried about society’s temptations, so they
alw ays pay attention to every aspect related to their children. Th is makes
the children uneasy or unhappy.
95
In short, we can say that conflicts happen because each m em ber in
family does not want to listen to others. T h e y just think of themselves,
want to satisfy their desire, and want to impose their ideas on others. T o / ’/ v '
avoid conflicts in family, I think that the old and the young need m ore .
time to be together.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. conflict = d if f e r e n c e
2. root (n) = cause
3. to impose = oblige
4. absolutely (adv) = completely .
5. to scold: to use abusive language
6. temptation: attraction
7. desire (n) = wish
1. H ave you ever asked for advice from Fam ily Advisory Centers? W hat
do you expect from them?
2. Do you have contradiction with you r parents? In what w ay? Do you
think your parents understand you?
3. Have you ever shared you r feeling and your private problems with
you r parents? W h o do you usually share with, your mother or your
father?
4. Are you really to discuss with your parents about sex? If you take
your notice of a different sex person, will you tell your parents or your
close friends, whyj?3f 7
5. Do you think that your parents do not understand you? Do you fee)
your parents forbiddances make you lose your freedom?
6. W hat are the main factors leading to parents and children’s conflicts?
7. Nowadays, in our society, especially in big cities, people have less
time for their families. Therefore, their families come into being
broken. W hat do you think about that?
8- W hat are typical conflicts between the parents and the children now?
How can w e keep on well with our parents?
9. Y ou are watching a pop concert program on television when your
parents ask you to turn it off just because they don’t like it at all. If
you are in this situation what will you do?
W hat should you* do with a child w h o has very bad behavior? Should
- V parents give medicine to their children to calm them dow n?
H o w To S p e a k E nglish W ell 96
11. What is the right behavior to use in a restaurant? A t school? At a
party? W ould you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody
hits them?
12. Can bad behavior lead to crimes? How should w e punish children
who commit crimes? Should parents be held responsible for their
children's behavior?
TO PIC 6 0 ; S TU B E M TS IVOWAPAYS
have to accept that m odem world has brought
jents a lot of benefits favorable
iditions. Nowadays, Vietnamese students
have a lot of chances to approach modern
science and advanced technology. Also, it is
easier for them to get up-to-date m any kinds
of information to enrich their knowledge and
integrate into the world.
/C^v/
A t first students nowadays have favorable conditions to study and
improve their knowledge. There is no doubt that technology plays an
important role in education. With the help of computers and the Internet,
students can get necessary information to support their lessons at
college or university easily. Moreover, they can exchange their ideas or
experiences with students around the world through e-mails or forums
online.
In addition, with the development of the country, students have many

opportunities to accumulate working experiences. Besides studying at
university, students now can find suitable part-time jobs first to earn
some m oney to expend on their student-life and then to apply what they
have learned into n e practice. Thanks to these part-time jobs, they can
get some life and professional experiences to prepare for their future
career. Moreover, they can get job-concerned skills due to joining
workshops held by m any companies and educational organizations.
Last but not least, students nowadays know how to live for community.
E ve ry year, thousands of students from m any colleges or universities
take part in social activities. T h e y are not afraid of the hard sunshine,
strong winds, and difficult living conditions in remote rural, mountainous
or offshore areas tc reduce social problems or uneasy life of their
.fellows. T h e y are everywhere to care for needy children, ensure traffic
safety, or donate their blood to needed patients. W henever our country
Horc To S p e a k E nglish W ell ^7

holds som e important events such as A P E C Meeting or S E A G A M E S ,
they are enthusiastic volunteers who make deep impressions on foreign
guests.
In short, it is not very exaggerated to say that students nowadays are

really future masters of the nation, especially at present when Vietnam is
on its w ay to development and integration and when Vietnam becom es
the 150th W T O member. Hopefully, students always realize their
importance.
o
VO CABULARY H P
to integrate: to meet; to join together

to accumulate: to gather; to collect
enthusiastic (a) eager, passionate
exaggerated (a) overstated; blown up
OEESTIOfrJS FO R DISCUSSIO N
1. W hat do you com m ent on students of today and the students of

yesterday? W hat are som e qualities of the students that you
particularly admire?
2. C a n you tell us any young people who succeed in their professions?
Do you know w h y they are successful?
3. According to you, what is a perfect man? Should he be a rich,
intelligent and handsom e m an?
4. W hat do you think about volunteers? Do you want to be a volunteer?
Have you ever jointed the so-called “the green sum m er volunteer
campaign"?
5. W hat can the volunteers do for people and the nation? Do you think
their contribution is helpful?
6. W hat do yqir think of young people with depraved ways of living?
Have you ever seen or heard of any consequences of a depraved life
am ong young people?
7. W hat are bad w ays of living and thinking of the young now? H ow can
we persuade young people with bad ways of living to improve
them
■
selves?
8- Ç s h you suggest som e ways that the young can pave for speeding
tip the development of our country in all aspects, especially in
econom y and culture?
98
9. Do you think the young are the masters of the country? What should
the young do to lead the country? What can Vietnamese students
get
10. W hen Vietnam joins the W T O , what should they do to integrate into
the worid?
TOPIC 6 1 : M A S T E R S OR W ORKERS?
Conceivably, choosing a career is very difficult for the
youth at the threshold of life. It is one of the most crucial
decisions, for it may influence their whole
future. However, in our country, almost people
prefer becoming masters to becoming
workers.
Normally, most of high school graduates want

to take higher education, so they plan to enter a
certain college. However, attending a college is not easy because only a
selective number can do that Actually, is going to college the only way
to prepare for the course of life? Le ts look inside this matter.
Getting higher education is always what people desperately wish for

after leaving high school. A t college, students are mainly offered
professional knowledge which plays an important role in the
development of a person and a nation. It really opens a new and wide
horizon to the young in this good learning environment. From what they
have been armed here, they will be able to improve their own lives and
dedicate to the good of the country.
However, there are not enough colleges or universities for all. Thus, a
great number of young people are not fortunate and qualified enough to
enter colieges. Is it the end? Definitely not. At that time, they can attend
any vocational training centers or any foreign language classes. Also,
they can take short-term courses of computer science, secretarial work,
commercial skills, and so on. Obviously, they can get advancement in
life if they are always thirsty for knowledge.
It is said that there are no degrading jobs, but degraded people. Any
honest occupation is considered good. T o choose a suitable career, one
ought to pay attention to not only his inclination but also his own ability
arid the need of society. O nce he has chosen it he should stick to it to
the end. Obviousfy, at this moment, our country is in great need of not
Houc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 99

oniy experts and scientists but skilled-workers as well. Th e y are the key
figures that contribute to the power and prosperity of the country.
Consequently, becoming masters is not always the only w a y to get

success.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. Conceivably (adv): believably

2. threshold (n) entrance; doorstep
E x : Stand on the threshold of m y life, I don't know what to to.
3. crucial (a) very important
4. desperately (adv) greatly; very much
5. horizon (n) perspective
6. to dedicate to offer, to donate
E x : Uncle Ho dedicated his life to the cause of national liberation
7. definitely (adv) absolutely
8. advancement (n ) development; progress
9. degrading (a) demeaning; corrupting
m m wm f o r discu ssio n
1. W hat is one of the hardest decisions young people must make after
finishing their high school? p
2. How do/did you choose your career? Are you satisfied with it? W h y
or w hy not? Is the transition from school to work or to college a
turning point of one s life?
3. W hen one fails in the entrance- college exam, should he just end up
in sorrows, sitting around doing nothing? W hat do you think about
this?
4. W hat are the important factors a person should know before making
up his mind to choose a career?
5. Is the first choice of one’s career necessarily the last one? W h y or
w hy not? W h at do you think about the saying, "Ja c k of all tra des
a nd m a ste r of none"?
6. Should a person, after so m any years of failure in the harsh race to
college, keep on sitting in. this competition? Have you ever been in
this situation? W hat do you think of it?
7. W hat is your idea of college education in Vietnam at present? Do you
have any suggestions to improve it?
8. Have you ever taken part in the college-entrance exam ? How did you
4* find it?
H o w To S p e a k E nglish W e ll 100
9. Going to college is not the only w ay to get success. Do you agree or
disagree? W hat can you draw from this discussion?
TO PIC 6 2s Y O n t B I6€E S T F E A IfcS E V IIF E

Th e re are m any things that can prevent hum ans from
- attaining what they need and want in their life. Probably,
; biggest obstacle that comes disguised in m any “costumes”
fear.
© .
At first people fear failing. Th is has traditionally

been one of ihe things people say they are most afraid of
w hen asked w hy they did not do something o r try
something Th en, it is the fear of success. A s with fearing
failure, many people are just as afraid of succeeding. T o
them, success could mean more responsibility, more
attenfon, perhaps more liability, and a continued
pressure to perform at a high level.
Second, people ha/e the fear of emotional pain. Life is full of lessons,
and within those lessons, people make mistakes or errors and
experience some Kind of let down.
Jb
In addition, most people are afraid of making mistakes in the puu.„
usually because they m ay feel ashamed, or they assume people view
them as fools. T h is feeling makes them fear and dare not communicate
with the public.
Moreover, the fear of being alone is also very popular. For many, the
fear of being alone keeps them in relationships (personal and business)
even though they are abused and miserable. Others fear speaking their
true feelings or fefff their friends, colleagues, or loved ones will turn
away from them or abandon them.
Last, m any people are afraid of insects and animals. Others fear their
family m em bers’ death or even their death. Unemployment is another
fear.
In short, we have reasons for our fears. D o you agree with me that our
life will be happier if we have fewer fears?
4*
lioic To S p e a k E nglish W ell 101

VOCABULARY T IP
1. to attain: to get; to gain; to achieve

2. ■ obstacle (n): difficulty
3. disguised (a) hidden; masked
4. customs (n): habits; behaviors A
5. liability (n) legal responsibility *5
6. to abuse :. to misuse
7. to abandon: to leave; to give up
8. colleague (n) co-worker
OUBSTIOIVS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. Are you afraid of the dark? Are you afraid of ghosts? W ere you
afraid of the dark as a child? Are there any parts of the city where
you are afraid to visit after dark? W here? W hy?
2. Are there certain weather conditions that scare people? W hat are
they? W h y do people become scared?
3. Are you afraid of flying? Are you afraid of heights? H o w do you
react when you see something frightening?
4. Are you afraid of giving a speech in public? Is there any person you
are afraid of? W hat is your biggest fear? H ave you overcom e any of
- ^ ’'youMears?
5. Are you afraid of scary m ovies? Do you like horror m ovies? Do you
think young children should be allowed to watch horror m ovies?
6. Are you afraid of being ijl? W hat disease are you most afraid of?
W h y? Are you afraid of getting old? W h y? A re you afraid to die?
W h y? .
1. W ere you afraid of your first day of school? H o w do you feel now?
W hen you were a child, what things were you afraid of? W hat w as
the most frightening experience you've had?
8. Do you fear certain insects/animals? W h y? W hat animal scares
you the most? W hat are som e things which m any people are afraid
of? W h y are they afraid of them?
9. W hat is your biggest fear in life? Are you afraid that it might come
true? What kinds of things make you nervous?
10. D o you ever have nightmares (bad dream s)? W hat are they about?
How often do you have nightmares?
If. H ave you ever seen any T V shows where people face their fears
for money? W ould you ever face one of your fears for m oney? Do
you find this kind of show interesting to watch?
Hotc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 102

TO PIC 6 3 ; O PTIM ISM
I do rot know what you think of yo u r life. I

myself think that m y life is ve ry beautiful, and ^
I am always optimistic. W h y do I have such a
fife? Let m e share som e experience with you.
find that at least two people in this world

love me so m uch that they would die for me, '
and the only reason anyone would ever hate m e is because they want to
be just like me. I have also learned that a smile from m e can bring
happiness to any one, even jf they do not I8ce me because a smile is an
inexpensive w ay to improve m y looks.
r y
W henever 1 make a mistake, 1 find that something good com es from it
because I believe that when bitterness com es, happiness will hide
elsewhere. W hen m any people say that the world has turned its back on
them, I myself think that 1 have likely turned m y back upon the world.
And when, people think they have no chance of getting what they want, I
believe and talk to myself that sooner or later I will get it because
opportunities are never lost; som eone wiB take the ones I miss.
T o live happily, I alw ays rem em ber the compliments I have received and
forget about the rude remarks. Do you agree with me that one should
keep his words both soft and tender because tom orrow he m ay have to
eat them ?
Briefly, w e are in different situations, so we m ay have different

conceptions of life. W h y don’t w e share them together to m ake our life
better and better?
VOCABULARY T IP
1. bitterness (n): u n p le a s a n t n e s s
2. compliment (n) p r a is e
3. conception ( n ) = id e a : n o tio n
QUESTIO NS FO R M S C L S SIO *
X T
1. W hat do you think of your life: iucky or unlucky? Do you think that
G od doesn't give you everything you ask for?
103
2. Is it right to say that it’s those small daily happenings that make life
so spectacular? In which w ay do you think so?
3. It is said that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to
■ be appreciated and loved. Do you agree with it?
4. W hat do you think about an idea that ‘to ignore the facts does not
change the facts’?
5. W ho love you most in your life? W hat will happen to you If you lose
that one som e day?
6. Have you ever thought that the world turns its back on you? A t that
time do you think that you turn your back on the world?:
7. Are you in love now? Are you of the opinion that love, not time,
heals all w ounds?
8. I believe that the easiest w ay for me to grow a person is to
surround myself with people who are smarter than I am. W hat do
you think?
9. Do you agree with me that life is tough, but we are tougher, and no
one is perfect until w e fall in love with them ?
10. I've learned that everyone wants to live on the top of the mountain,
but all happiness occurs while I’m climbing it. Do you think so?
TO PIC 6 4 ; B U SIN E SS O « FAM ILY?
said that the only thing people seem to be interested in

nowadays is earning more and more money. M any
people are willing to leave or even neglect their
family, relatives as well as friends because of
mdney. Are you one of them? T o me, if I have to
choose between doing business to earn m oney
and spending time with m y famiiy, ! would
choose m y famiiy.
Doing business can bring us a lot of money, but it cannot surely m ake us
happy. O u r home, on the other hand, can be the best place for us in the
world. There we can feel safe, warm , and free. O u r home is a place
where we keep all things that we love and are with people who love us
m ost It is also the place where we spend the happiest moments in our
lif & 0 ■ ■ ■
Another reason to choose my family is that it gives me security. O u r

business m ay fail and m oney might be run out, but the family will always
remain. W e know that no matter what happens, we will always have a
H o w To S p e a k English W ell m
place to live. A n d if w e cannot earn enough m oney for our living, our
family m em bers are always beside us.
Last but not least, I believe that hom e is a foundation for us to develop
ourselves, a school that form s o u r personalities and a hearth for the rest
of our life w hen w e becom e old.
All things considered show m e that choosing the family is m y best

choice. D o you think it is unpractical?
1. to neglect; to ignore; to abandon

2. foundation (n): base
3. hearth (n): hom e
Q U ESTIO N S FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. W h y do people say that, “Fam ily is th e foundation of s o c ie ty ? W hat

do you think about Vietnam ese family’s foundation?
2. Is it the sam e or different between the family structure in the past
and one at present? W hat do you think of the traditional fam ily? Is it
better than the m odem one? W hy/why not?
3. W hich one do you prefer between living in a large family with m any
generations and living in a small one ? W hat are advantages and
disadvantages of living in a large / small family?
4. A s a saying goes “T h e re is no place like hom e”. D o you think so?
W hat should w e do to preserve the structure of Vietnam ese fam ily?
5. H o w Is a h appy fam ily? D o you want to live with your parents,
brothers o r sisters in the sam e house? W h y (o r w h y not)?
6. D o you agree that the m ore m odem society is, the m ore easily the
fam ily is broken? W h at makes the value of family in Vietnam
dow ngrade?
7. If you have one choice between m oney and family, which one
would you choose? W h y?
8. W h y are m ore and more people being interested in earning m oney?
W hat do you think of people who change their wives or friends
4^ ,-w h e n being rich?
H ave you e ve r left you r family for a long tim e? If yes, how did you
feel?
B o te To S p e a k E nglish W ell 505

TOPIC fi5: CHULMOOD A g P IT S EFFECTS
It is undeniable that childhood has its conspicuous
effects on our life. During childhood years, we can learn
the basic things in our life such as forming personality,
getting knowledge, and learning about relationships.
First of all, childhood years play an important role

in shaping our personality. I am sure that the
environment in which we grow is crucial for us to
form our personality. For example, if a child grows
in a family in which his parents ate well educated
and behave towards others kindly, he will also do
the sam e as his parents do such as he is decent
and helpful to others. W hen he is grown-up, he may win people's hearts
and get his success easily.
’
Then, childhood is the period that we can gain basic knowledge with a
rapid pace, it is easy for us to store almost everything happening around
because everything to us is brand n e ^ Th e knowledge w e get at that
time is not very advanced, but it provides us with basic methods to solve
problems in our daily life in the future. If our methods are efficient, we
can get our success easily. For example, Bill Gates had learned the
method of computer programming from his father when he was a child.
W hen he is grow-up, he becomes a very successful programmer and
businessman.
Finally, the consciousness of relationships is formed when we are

children. At home, we can team about the relationship am ong our family
members; at school, w e can learn about the rest of the world. Basing on
the treatment w e get from others, we know how to behave towards them
in return. Thanks to the w ay people around behave towards us, we can
realize whether we are worthless or we deserve love and respect.
In short, we can develop ourselves throughout many stages of life;

however, childhood is the important foundation of our later life.
P
VOCABULARY T IP
undeniable [.GndrnaiabQ (a) unquestionable

conspicuous [ksn'spikjues] (a) (for): dear
- V Ex: She wasn’t exactly conspicuous for her beauty.

Vè sac ms nói, co ay thàt chàng déng chi,
3. to form: to shajx
4. to play a role to play a p
5. crucial (a) very importa»
6. decent fdi:snt] (a) polite
7. to w in s.o’s heart = to win s.o’s affectk A
8. rapid (a) quick
Ex: Our company had a rapid dedine in sates.
9. pace (n) speed
10. advanced (a) of high level
11 . to provide s.o with s.th
Ex: The company has provided me with a car.
12. consciousness (n) awareness
13. to deserve to be worthy of
hopscotch: n h à y iò cò
being pirates: choi cifcrp bién
the game o f blindm an's buff: bit m ài b a t dè.
the gam e of hide-and-seek: trón firn
a game o f m arble: b in bi
shoot at birds with a sling: ban na
leap-frog: cheti nhày cóc
keeping shop: cheti d ó hàng
p la y at catch: cheti duÓi b it
p la y dice: d ó x f n g iu
the gam e o f tug-of-war: kéo co
S F O B DISCUSSION
H ow m any children are there in your family? W hat is your position

in the family?
W here were you bom ? Where did you grow up? W hen did you go
to school? Did you study English at high school? W hen did you
graduate from high school? H o w did you feel when you were at the
graduation cerem ony?
Did you go to university? W hen were you there? What did you
major in? W h y did you choose that major?
W a s your childhood happy or unhappy? W h y? What do you
remember most about your childhood? Do you think that childhood
is the best period of your life?
S. H ow did you spend your childhood? What did you like best when
4P you were a child?
Bene To Speak English Well 107

6. W ho w as your best friend when you were a child? Can you
describe him/her? Do you still keep relation with him/her?
7. W hen you were a little child, who did you love most? Which toy did
you like best? W hat kinds of entertainment did you use to have?
What kinds of gam es did you usually play? W ho did you usually
play with?
8. What did you hate eating? W h a fs your most vivid m em ory of the
house or flat where you grew up?
9. Do you think that it’s very hard for us to get what have gone? Do
you usually talk to your friends about your childhood?
10. Do you ever wish that you could live a childhood life again?
TO PIC 6 fe VIETNAM ESE FA M ILIES NOWADAYS

'
society bases on the family. In any
societies, there are nuclear families- two-
generation families, and extended families
in which grandparents, parents, and
children live together. In the old days,
there are only extended families in which
wom en have no right to decide family
affairs, and children always obey their
arents. How ever, there are a lot of
tanges in Vietnam ese families nowadays
:irst of all, it is the change In the size of a family. In a typical Vietnamese

amily, there are three or four generations living together, but now young
>eople tend to nuclear families in which they do not want to be
:ontrolled. Even som e young couples do not want to see their parents
rery often because they think that their parents m ay interfere with their
narital affairs. Moreover, if they have fewer children, their children will
save a better life, and they will get more success in their career or have
ligher position in society. Therefore, every family often has one or two
children n o ^ ”
n addition, women have more rights in the family. Nowadays, they can
jo out to work, and they can delay having children. T h e y are no longer
ed by men and can decide everything in the family together with their
lusbands. In some families, wom en are even bread-winners who can
ulfil their duties both in the family and in society.
Hate To S p e a k English W ell

Moreover, children also have more freedom. T h e y seem not always to
obey their parents. T h e y can do what they like. For example, they can
decide their marriage and career, which rarely happened in the old days.
When their parents complain about their ways of Irving or thinking, they
usually say that their parents are old-fashioned.
A
In summary, Vietnamese families now are quite different from those in
the past. Do you think these changes are good? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of these changes? To have satisfactory .
answers you are warmly invited to the discussion today.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. affair (n) = business

Ex: It’s m y affair
Bay la viec (rieng) cDa tdi
2. to interfere = to get in the way
3. to delay = to postpone
4. bread-winner = wage (salary) earner
5. to fulfil = to compete
6. to obey = to follow
7. old-fashioned (a) = out-of-date, traditional
How m any people are there in your family? Are they living in the
same house?
What is a nuclear family? W hat is the difference between a nuclear
family and an extended one?
How is your fife different from your parent’s and your grandparents’
lives? What do your parents think of family?
Do you get along well with your family? Do you get along well with
your brothers and sisters? Do you get along well with your parents-
in-laws?
Do you live with your parents? D o you live with any of your
grandparents? Do you often argue with your mother or father?
What about?
As one Chinese saying goes “Settle your accommodation before
you establish your business ". What is ycur idea about it?
Is it true that “a rolling stone gathers no m oss' ? Do you think
changes are good? What do think of changes in Vietnamese
families? What are causes of fast family changes?
r V
H<nt To S p e a k English W ell m

8 . Do you think family is the foundation, motivation and
encouragement for you to get success in life? Do you have to cope
with difficulties in your own family?
0. Right now, do you live in the nuclear family or in an extended one? .
What do you think your family life will be like in the future?
10. W hat kind of family will your children and grandchildren live in?
How is a happy family? What should we do to build up a happy
family?
11. W ho is the b re a d -w in n e r in your family? Who is the problem
shooter? And who is usually the problem maker? Are you one of
the troublemakers?
TOPIC 67: GETITOG M ARRIED TO FOREIGNERS

Since Vietnam opened its door to welcome
foreigners, many inter-marriages have come into
being - in most cases between Vietnamese
women and foreign men: In your opinion, do you
think they can live happily with each other? Do
they have any problems in their marital life? And
how can they overcome their differences?
V
First of alt, different language leads to difficulties in
communication. Then, different customs and ways cause a lot of
conflicts in their daily life. For example, they have different eating habits,
ways of dressing, social behavior, and even way of educating their
children. In addition, different religions or beliefs generate differences in
spiritual life; different viewpoints on life lead to conflicting ideas and
aims; different tastes in art, music, movies etc. also cause different ways
of entertaining.
However, they can overcome those problems if they are really and
deeply in love. Th e ir true love helps them overcome their differences. T o
adapt themselves to a new community, one spouse should leam about
his/her partner’s languages and cultures. Th e y have to help each other
to be aware of their cultural and custom differences, then work mutually
in order to bridge the gap in. their cultures. Many intermarried couples
who have passed .this test can live happily with each other.
In fact, many Vietnamese ladies get married to foreigners not because of

love, but of a dream of a comfortable life in a foreign country. Thus,
how can they live-happily with each other? Moreover, Vietnamese ladies
are treated very badly, and sometimes are deceived by their foreign
Haze To S p e a k English W ell 110

husbands or husbands’ families. W hen they follow their husbands to
their *prom ising la n d ”, they are forced to work as servants, even
prostitutes. T h e y have to serve their disable or too old husbands. More
dangerously, som e Vietnam ese ladies were killed or killed themselves.
Th u s , 1think that these girts m ay suffer a miserable life instead of a good
life as they thought.
So, what do you think of this matter? Should Vietnam ese

married to foreigners?
V O C A B IX A B Y T IP
1. inter-m am age (n)* getting married to a foreigner

2. to come into being = existence
3. conflict (n) = different idea/opinion
4. to generate = to create
5. taste (n) = flavor
6. to adapt (to) = to get used to
7. spouse (n) = wife or husband
8. mutually (adv) = together
9. to deceive = to cheat to trick
10. prostitute (n)= a street-girl; a call-girl
V
Q U ESTIO NS F O E D ISC U SSIO N
1. Do you think that foreigners are arrogant? If yes, why are they
arrogant? W hat is Vietnam ese’s attitude towards foreign
professionals and tourists?
2. A re foreigners w elcom ed to Vietnam ? W hat do you think is the
biggest difference between Western and Vietnam ese thinking?
3. Should parents decide their children’s marriages? W hat are the
influences of the parents on your choice of your partner?
4. W hat do you think about Vietnam ese girls w ho marry foreigners? D o
you know w h y they do that?
5. W hat are difficulties such couples m eet? W h at should they do to
bridge the gap between them ?
6. D o y o u think that their marriages will last long? W hat do you
com m ent on what m any newspapers are talking about
intermarriages?
7. W hat should they do when Vietnam ese wom en want to come back to
their Fatherland? D o you know what usually happen to them ?
4*
Soto To S p e a k E nglish W ell

5. W h a t difficulties m ay m ixed-m arried people face in the beginning of
their m arriage? W h at are the most crucial differences in foreigners’
thinking of marital life com pared to Vietnam ese's?
J ..W h a t is the difference between Vietnam ese w om en and western
w o m e n ? W h at are differences between Vietnam ese m en and
W estern m e n ? '
10. W h o do you think m ore faithfui/loyal, Vietnam ese m en/women or
W estern m en/wom en? D o you think that we should be m ore open -
m inded to w estern thinking?
11. Should Vietnam ese people follow the others’ cultures? W h y o r w h y
not? W hat can you learn from today's discussion?
T O PIC 6 8 s PE R SIST E N C E A N D SUCCESS
E ve ryone wants to get success in his life, and

there are m any w ays for him to do that. T o me,
one of the keys to success is persistence.
O n c e w e have determ ined what w e want to

accomplish exactly, w e must take quick action
persistently and think of it like building a
m uscle. For exam ple, if w e have never done
weightlifting before, the first time w e m ay not
ye able to lift up 25 kg. H o w ever, if w e consistently go back to the gym ,
ve will find ourselves gettina stronger and closer to our goal with each
/isit.
Dne m ore thing w e should notice on the w a y towards our goal is the
oadblock. T h a t is, w e will encounter obstacles that prevent our
rrogress. A t that time, w e should not be worried because no one could
rave success without obstacles. W hat w e should do is to work through
hem step by step, if w e find few or no obstacles on our w ay, w e are not
eally challenging ourselves. A n d when w e reach our goal, w e will not
jxperience the feeling o f ’sw eet su ccess’.
.ast but not least, w e should not be afraid of failures. If w e study any
iuccessful person, w e m ay learn that majority of them have had m ore
ailures than successes. T o them , the m ore they fail, the m ore
ixperiences they get F o r exam ple, Th o m a s Edison had been turned
town m a ny times before he got success in creating the filarnent. T o d a y ,
l o w T o S p e a k English. W e ll 112.
In short, we should keep in our m ind that w e constantly have to adjust
and re-evaluate our situations as well as the w a y w e are using to reach
our goals. W e are persistent, but w e should rem em ber that there is no
sense in being persistent at som ething that w e are doing incorrectly.
^$7
W h e ne ve r w e have done som ething, w e should get experience from it to
find a better w a y for the next time.
A
N ow , it is the time for us to begin ou r journe y, but rem em ber that w e
have to be persistent.
1. persistence (n ) = patience
2. to determ ine = to decide
3. to accom plish = to do, to complete
4. consistently (adv) = constantly
5. roadblock (n ) = obstacle
6. to encounter = to face
7. to w ork through = to overcome
8. to challenge = to dare, to face
9. failure (n ) = breakdown
10. filament (n ) = a fiber (day toe)
11. to adjust - to alter, to change
V
O U E ST IO A S F O R D ISC U SSIO N
A re you successful in y o u r W e? D o you w ant to get success in your

life? W h a t are w a ys for you to do that?
W h a t do you think about persistence? Is it one of the keys to being
successful in anything w e do?
A re you a patient person? D o you want to do things quickly or
slow ly? W h a t do you think of the proverb, “m o re haste , le s s
speed*?
O n the jo u rn e y towards your goal, do you usually encounter
roadblocks? W hat do you do at that tim e? W hat do you think about
life without obstacles?
H a v e you e ve r had the feeling of ’sw eet s u c c e s s 7 T o get it, what
should w e do?
H a ve you got m ore 'failures' than 'successes' o r vice-versa? W h y
have successful people usually had m ore failures than successes?
D o you think people that don't get back up and try again never
reach su cce ss? W h a t do you think of E dison?
4 7
Hou> T o S p e a k E n g lish W ell H3

8. Is it necessary for us to adjust and reevaluate our situations and the
w ay we are taking to reach our goal?
9. It is believed that if we are too persistent, we will lose our chances?
• W hat do you think? H ave you ever been in that situation?
TO PIC 6 9z THE BEST MEANS OF

TRANSPO RTATIO N
The world always m oves and
develops, and m eans of transportation
also have changed by time. So far,
there have been m any transportation
vehicles such as motorbikes,
automobiles, of airplanes. Since these
transportation vehicles were invented,
they have all made people’s lives change a lot. In this writing, I would
like to talk about the way airplanes have changed people’s lives.
Firstly, airplanes change the w ay people move. Before airplanes were

invented, people could go by land o r by sea and dreamed to fly like birds
in the sky. T h e dream cam e true when the first airplane was produced.
Since then, people have been abie to fly in the sky and see everything
from height No one can deny the fact that airplanes are the fastest
means of communication nowadays. For example, a businessman can
work in Hanoi and come back to H C M C every day.
Secondly, the airplane makes people more comfortable in their lives. O n

a plane, the passenger is served very well. T h e y can sit in comfortable
armchairs like ones in their home. Moreover, there are always
newspapers, magazines or T V programs for them to get information or
entertain themselves. "Even, they can access the internet for their
business.
Finally, with the help of airplanes, the relationship between people is

closer and closer. It is easier to meet relatives o r friends because
traveling by airplane is very fast and convenient. O n special days like
Christmas or N e w Year, it is very easy for every m em ber in a family to
unite together thanks to the supersonic speed of the airplane. Truly, the
world seems to be smaller because the airplane can reach every com er
of the world. T h e distance is no longer a big problem.
114
In conclusion, airplanes really change people’s lives and w ays of doing
business. How ever, it is still expensive to m any people to go by plane. :^ j v
Hopefully, its fare would be reduced so that more and more people can
use it as the most popular means of transportation.
VO CABULARY TCP
1. to access = to contact
2. supersonic (a) = very fast
3. fare (a) = fee
OLLSTIQ3VS F O B P IS C L S S IO *
1. How old were you when you went on your first flight? W here did
you go? W hat w as the longest flight you have ever taken?
2. Do you like to tra ve l by airplane? W hat seat do you prefer window,
center or aisle?
3. W hat are three things you're supposed to do before the flight takes
off? W hat are som e movies you rem em ber seeing on the plane?
Can you sleep during the flight?
4. W hat do you like to do during the flight? Does the plane provide
anything to do to pass the time? H ave you ever met anyone or
established any relationships during a flight?
5. W hat do you do when you experience turbulence?
6. H ave you ever seen a female pilot? W h y do you think that most
pilots are m en?
7. W ould you like to be a flight attendant? W hat are the benefits and
/or downfalls? Are most flight attendants female?
8. Is being a flight attendant considered a good job in your country?
W hat do you think are the qualifications?
9. Are planes really safer than cars? D o you know which plane
accident w a s the most terrible? W hen and where did happened?
I ¡5
TOPIC 7<h STREET C im i>B K \
Th e fact shows that the living standard of Vietnamese
people is very much improved now, but we still see several
children in the form of beggars, iottery-ticket seHers,
shoe-polishers or newsboys. Th ey are called "Street
children.
^ Most of these children have the same situation.

^ T h e y come from very poor or broken families:
their parents do not have enough m oney for them
3 go to school; their parents left them when they were bom, so they
ave to earn their own living. 4 P
hese children are really pitiful because they are sent into the streets at
le school age. Nobody takes care of them, and it may be quite easy for
tern to become criminals, drug-addicts and alcohol addicts when they
¡row up. A s a result, they will become a burden for the society instead of
ecoming useful citizens.
o solve this problem, we have to do everything possible to help these

frrtdren lead a better life. For example, we should establish more
hildren’s villages with the financial support from charity organizations,
rom good-hearted people iqvjbr out of the country. Government
>rganizations should persuade parents who are stiil in fairly good
naterial condition to be responsible for their children.
he problem is certainly quite complicated, but it is not whafs beyond

>ur reach once we try to solve it. It may cost us a lot, but, anyway, 'rfs
still much cheaper than the price we have to pay for the burden caused
>y these street children once they grow up.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. pitiful (a): sorry

> criminal (n): a person guilty
Ì. addict (n): devotee
M charity (n) aid
to persuade to convince
beyond (adv) further than
C f
V
116
I
I
O lJtS ttO lV S FO B PISCUSSIO M
I
1. W hat kinds of children are called “Street children”? W h y do we cal/
them “Street children"?
2. In your opinion, w hy are there a lot of "Street children"? Do you
know w here they com e from?
3. Wften you are in the streets, how do you feel when a child com es
and asks you for some m oney or asks you to bu y a newspaper, a
bar of chewing gum or something like that?
4. W hat’s your attitude when you see some of children disturbing
foreigners in order to ask for m oney or to sell so m e th ip g ^?
5. Do you know the main reasons that cause this problem ? W h o are
I
in charge of this problem?
a. F a m ily b. S c h o o l c. S o c ie ty d. O th e rs
6. W hat are troubles and social evils that the "Street children" cause
to our society? W h at should we do to prevent this?
7. D o you think that “Street c h ild re n ” is the primary concern of our
government and society? Supposing that in your family there were
a child who left your home to becom e a street child, what should
you do?
8. O n the international Children’s D ay, what should we do to relieve
pains and miseries that street children have to suffer?
9. W hat do you think of parents who treat their children badly? Do you
think that in Vietnam the children have their rights? W hat should
people who violate Children’s rights be punished?
10. W hat conclusion have you drawn from today’s discussion?
Horn To S p o o k E nglish W ell 117 .

TO PIC T U STUDY C B O L Y S
Th e re are m any w ays of studying am ong students now.

Som e prefer to study alone. Others like studying with a
group of students. W hatever the w a y of studying is,
each has its own advantages, in m y opinion, [ prefer, jto
study with a group of students because it provides
m e with m any benefits: I can understand the lecture
more deeply and expand m y knowledge, I can
have more motivation in m y study, and I can
improve m y communication skills.
First of all, study group will help me understand the lecture and expand
my knowledge more easily. If I do not understand something in the
lecture, m y group can make it clear. Moreover, group work helps me
expand my knowledge because it provides me with invaluable
opportunities to exchange m y ideas and opinions on various subjects
discussed. From such discussions, I will be able to understand the
m atterm ore deeply. Also, when I have a project to research, the group is
very useful and effective thanks to the specific information I can get from
my group. W hen I am put to be in charge of a particular part of the
project, 1 can focus more on the information I have to g e t
In addition, studying in a group will bring me more motivation in my

study. W hen I am with m y group m em bers who are studying and
focusing on their task, I can be kept focused, too. In the group, we can
decide where and when to study together. Th is m eans we can help
together keep on our study. If I study alone, I m ay be lazy. At that time, 1
might stop studying to watch T V , to listen to music or to go out with m y
friends.
A
A t last, the study group can help me improve m y communication skills.
Thanks to discussions in m y group, 1 know how to express m y opinions,
how to give information, and how to persuade others to agree with me.
In addition, I can develop m y public speaking skills when J present m y
part or m y topic in m y class as well as answer questions from the
teacher or classmates.
In conclusion, study group is an effective method of studying. It not only

helps us improve our knowledge and communication skills, but also
motivates us to study harder. However, all the m em bers of the group
H otc T o S p a a k E nglish W e ü 118

must be serious about their work so that each m em ber can get t
benefits from the study group.
1. to expand to broaden
2. motivation (n) inspiration
3. to be in charge oh to be responsible for
Q U ESTIO N S F O R D ISC U SSIO N o
1. W hat is study group? W hat are the advantages of study groupsv

Z D o you think study groups help students to pool their resources
together? .
3. D oes study group provide student with com m unication skills? In
which w a ys does it help?
4. Is it right to sa y that sharing ideas and opinions in a study group
m akes individuality lost.
5. 'What happens if study groups are abused? Is it fair if there were
some lazy m em bers in the group?
6. Do you think som e lazy students will resort to copying from their
friends?
7. In which situations m ay study groups not work? Is it a good chance
for people to gossip and waste their time?
8. How does study group work effectively? D o you think all the
m em bers of the group m ust be serious about their work?
S. Are study groups popular in o u r country? W h at should educational
organizations do to encourage students to have study groups?
T O PIC 7 2 s A \ V V K O K O K riA K II G IF T
>
In our life, w e have m any chances to receive gifts
from ou r families, our friends or others. A m o n g gifts
w e have received, I am sure that there are som e
unforgettable ones. I also have m y own gift that I
never forget.
W hen I w as a second-grade pupil, m y fam ily was

poor. M y father was a governm ent em ployee; my
mother raised three sons, did farming job, and kepi
hom e. T h u s , m y parents did not earn m uch m oney.
W h e n l e t w as com ing, our class w as going to hold the farewell party. I
119
vas very excited. However, when our teacher began talking about the
jift exchange, I knew I could not participate in because m y famity did not
lave m oney for me.
had struggled against myself so m uch, and at last I went to the party
anyway. After everyone else had received their gifts, our teacher called
Tie to her desk. A wrapped present lay in front of her. She said it w a s for
Tie . Being surprised, ! opened the m ost beautiful box I had ever seen,
and inside w as a brand new blue shirt!
/Vhile i w as rejoicing -over m y gift, m y teacher gave me the warm est hug
'd ever received. O n that day, I knew that I had experienced the love of
Sod through m y wonderful teacher.
Bo far 1 have still kept that shirt as one of the most precious things in m y
ife.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. farewell (n): goodbye

1 to participate (in): to take part in
i. to struggle: to fight back/against j
to rejoice to be glad
5. hug (n) embrace
OUES FO R D ISC U SSIO N
W hen do you give a gift? T o whom do you give a gift? For what
reasons do you give a gift?
Is gift-giving aimed at satisfying one’s hobby or expressing one’s
feelings towards others?
According to you, what roles do gifts play in human
communication? Is it easy to give gifts to all people gathering
together in an occasion?
Is there any misunderstanding in giving and receiving gifts? C a n
you tell your experiences? In expressing one’s feeling towards
others, does it always work w hen he wants to give gifts?
5- W hat does the way of giving a gift m ean? Is it true that the gift
giving is an art? C an you give som e examples?
6. It is said that, T h e w a y of giving a gift is m ore important than the
value of the gift itself* W hat are your points of view? $

7. Do you agree that giving gifts is an art? W hen you want to attend at
a party, what do you usually bring as a gift?
8. Have you ever given flowers to som eone? In which situations? D o
you know the meaning of flowers? Please share your experience
with us.
9. Do you have any unforgettable gift in your life? If yes, what is it? In
which occasion did you receive it? W ho gave it to you?
TO PIC 73; DATTOG WHILE SCHOOITVG
Love is one of the most interesting and popular

topics in human life regardless of races, religions or
ages. However, when we are still young, at the
school age, should we be in love?
Vietnamese parents tend to be conservative to allow

their children to date while they are still schooling.
However, w e cannot deny the fact that the
communication booming era has changed the w a y
ue*.a i of thinking and w ay of living among the teenagers.
Obviously, the youth these days become grown up
m ore quickly and love sooner than the young in the past.
Generally speaking, love at the school age is very beautiful because it is

gentle and pure, usually built up from friendship, it’s very romantic,
unforgettable but easy to be broken.
In m y point of view, dating contributes to the maturing process of

youngsters because it educates them about human relationships. T h e y
learn that the males and females are different in the way they think, feel
and behave. Also, dating gives one a start to discover what one is
looking for from his/her future life-partner. Moreover, healthy dating can
motivate the couple to do better in their study.
However, dating at very young age also causes a lot of trouble. If they
are unconscious, they will destroy themselves. W h y do I say so? ft is
because people are usually blind in love, especially when they are not
mature enough to think about love sufficiently. A t that time, they do not
pay rinuch attention to their study but to their love. Moreover, dating while
they are immature usually leads to wrong actions in love. Th e re have
been m any cases in which m any teenagers left their homes, renting
R out To S p e a k E nglish WeU 121

gtiyên H o n g A jih . M A . ùt T E SO L
Duses or room s to live with each other. A s a result, they had to get
portion or stopped their study.
ating at school is desirable am ong schoolboys and girls now, so it

¡quires both parents’ and teachers’ guidance. T h e y all have duties te l
?lp the young think about it carefully. Moreover, sexual education
lould be taught more in public so that young people know how to
e vent unwanted consequences.
j^ A B l X A R Y J T g
regardless of in spite of
conservative [ken'seivativ] (a) old-fashioned
Ex: Old people are usually more conservative than young people
Nguwi già üiüông bào thu hon nguvi trs
era [’¡are] (n) age
mature (a) grown-up
to motivate to stimulate; to encourage
to get abortion to destroy the unborn baby
sufficient (a) enough
I. W h a t do you know about teenagers in the past and teenagers at

present? is love a manifest of youngster to prove them selves as
adults? H o w old are the young now beginning dating?
!. W hat is the attitude of Asian parents about their schooling
children’s dating? D o you think parents should decide their
children’s love?
k D o you think that dating while schooling is just uplifting feeling?
H a ve you ever been in love when you were at high school?
k W hat are the advantages of dating when still in school? Do you
think love can help us study better? Do you think that if you are in
love w hen you are at school o r university, you and you r partner can
support each other in study?
i. W hat do you think of the misunderstanding or mistaking between
friendship and love am ong teenagers? How can they distinguish
such a thing?
k W h e n students love each other, do you think that they will get
married after graduating from their school? W hat should you
suggest to maintain students’ love?
122
7. W hat are the disadvantages of loving while schooling? Do you think
that falling in Jove, teenagers seem to pay no attention to their study
or neglect their duties towards their families?
8 . W h y is sex relation before getting married so popular now? Do you
think w e have the right to do that? W h o receives the consequence
after that - the boy or the girl? W hat usually happens to them then? •
9. D o you think teenagers have good knowledge, conception and
viewpoint on sex? W hat do you com m ent on abortions am ong the
young now?
10 . Should juvenile love be banned? W hat suggestion do you have to
make the situation better? Should we speed up and spread sex
education in schools to prevent the immature thoughts and
dangerous actions of teenagers?
1 1 . W h o have responsibility for helping the young to understand love
dearly?
Fam ily? schools? Society?
TO PIC 7 4 : COTO6 TO CLASS O B ST1IBYHV6

HOM E? ;
In m any countries, attending classes at universities
has been optional for students for several
years. However, its results have not been like
w hat to be expected yet. In m y opinion, to
learn academ ic subjects, it is very necessary
tQ com e to class because of the following
reasons.
First of all, w hen attending classes, a student is guided how to read his
materials or textbooks effectively. Also, he is given additional information
or he can ask tjjs teacher any of his doubts. Th a t m ay help him
understand his lessons more deeply. During a lecture, he is told m any
new ideas related to the topic that is not in any textbooks, and even he
can get som e experiences from his teachers, which can be applied in his
life la t e r / v ^
Moreover, attending classes often helps him develop his communication

drills. He has m any chances to participate in group-discussions, to raise
his own ideas in a group, to listen and analyze his classmates* ideas. He
can also learn how to behave in a group, which will help him to face
A * m any real life situations in the future. In class, he is able to realize how
important the team work is to finish his assignments.
123
addition, the class trains him to be a responsible and disciplined
rson. A s a university student, he is responsible for preparing
^wledge as well as irfe experience for his future. Com ing and leaving
sses as well as finishing his assignments on time make him punctual. 7 ^
is is one of the prerequisites any em ployee must have, especially in
time of information technology.
it but not least, class attendance might help him avoid wasting time or
nmrtting social evils. Th e proverb, " T h e d e v il m akes w o rk fo r idle
id s ", teaches us how to spend time properly. A student required to
rnd classes regularly does not have m uch time to waste in coffee
>ps, pubs, bars, or gambling. A s a matter of fact, m any students have
led their future in these places and activities.
4O • '
short, I believe that attending classes at college or university is very
essa ry for students to get m ore than just knowledge from teachers
I their classmates. Students can also leam how to leam , how to
imunicate, h ow to use time, and how to be responsible as well as
;iplined. S o class attendance must be compulsory.
C A B U L A B Y T IP
optional (a) elective

doubt (n) hesitation; uncertainty
assignm ent (n) task
disciplined (a) regular; ordered
punctual (a) on time
prerequisite (n) the first condition
to ruin to destroy
com pulsory (a) obligatory
T V
Q U ESTIO NS FO R M SC U SSIO N
Are you a student or working now? Which university do/did you go

to? W h a t do you think of your university? Does it require students
to attend class everyday?
in m any countries, attendance to classes at universities is optional.
W hat do you think about it? W hat do you com m ent on the teacher's
role in classes?
W hat can a student get when going to class? W h y do many
students cut class? Do you have any solutions for it?
c To S p e a k E nglish W ell 124

4. W hat do you think about young people’s communication skills
nowadays? Do you agree that attending classes often helps us
develop our communication skills? H ow can we do that?
5. is teamwork important at present? H o w important is it? A re you for
or against the idea that we can develop our teamwork in class?
6 . Do you agree with me that the young of today do not have
responsibilities for their family and even themselves in comparison
with the young of yesterday? Don’t you think going to class trains
us to be responsible and disciplined people?
7. W hat happen if students are not forced to go to school? W hat do
you think about the proverb, T h e devil makes work for idle hands"?
8 . W h y do som e students like sitting in coffee shops better than going
to school?
9. W hat should the school do to motivate students in their study?
TO PIC 7 5 : VAIJ?VHT\E»S P A Y
Happy Let me introduce myself. My name is

Valentine. I lived in Rome during the
Valentine's third century. A t that time, Rom e was
DAY ruled by an em peror named Claudius.
Claudius wanted to have a big army, so

expected men to volunteer to join.
M any men just did not want to fight in wars, and they did not want to
leave their wives and families. Th a t not m any men signed up made
Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. H e thought
that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So,
Claudius decided not|tO allow any more marriages. Young people
thought his new law Was cruel. Certainly, 1 wasn't going to support that
law)
v
Did ! mention that I was a priest? One of my favorite activities was to
marry couples. Even after Em pe ror Claudius passed his law, I kept on
performing marriage ceremonies - secretly, of course. It w as realty quite
exciting. G an you imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride,
groom and myself? W e would whisper the words of the ceremony,
listening ail the while for the steps of soldiers.
J§ j
O ne night, w e did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness, the
couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught, thrown in jail, and
told that m y punishment was death.
H ote To S p e a k E nglish W ell J25

tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? W onderful things
appened. M any young peopie came to the jail to visit m e. T h e y threw
owers and notes up to m y window. Th e y wanted me to know that they,
x>, believed in love.
>ne of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. H e r
sther allowed her to visit m e in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and
ilk for hours. She helped m e to keep m y spirits up. S h e agreed that i
id the right thing by ignoring the Em peror and going ahead with the
ecret marriages. O n the day i was to die, I left m y friend a little note
ranking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from you r
’alentine." '
believe that note started the custom of exchanging love m essages on

alentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A .D .
iow, every year on this day, people rem em ber it. But m ost importantly,
tey think about love and friendship. And when they think of E m pe ror
¡laudius, they rem em ber how he tried to stand in the w a y of love, and
iey laugh - because they know that love cain't be beaten!
O C A B L L 4B Y H P
emperor (n) the king

cruel (a) unkind
scary (a) frightening
spirit(n) will; courage
to ignore: to pay no attention to
loyalty (n) faithfulness
to stand in the w ay: to stop; to ban
S £ £ STIO K S FO B B ISC I'SSIO X
1. What do you know about Valentine's D ay? Do peopie celebrate

Valentine’s Day in your country? if so, how? If not, does your
country have a holiday similar to Valentine's Day?
2 . Is Valentine’s D ay primarily a day for children or for adults, for the
single or the married? W h y? H ow would a child's Valentine’s D a y
differ from an adult's?
3. List ways that you couid show your love for a n . individual on
Valentine’s Day. In your opinion, what is Jove?
4. W ho might you give gifts to on Valentine’s Day? W hat kinds of gifts
would you give?
low To S p e a k E nglish W ell

5. W ho might you receive gifts from on Valentine's D ay? W hat kinds
of gifts might you receive?
6. Describe the best Valentine's Day you've eve r had. Describe the
worst Valentine's Day you’ve ever had.
7. Imagine a perfect Valentine's Day. W ho would you be with? W here
would you go? W h et you do? How would vou feel? Describe
It
8. A t what age do most people in your country m arry? A t what ? .g c d . J
you/do you want to get married?
9. If you are not married, what kind of person .will you like to m arry?
10. H ow do people in your country meet future m ates? Are marriages
arranged by parents in your country? Are introductions arranged by
friends or by a matchmaker? Do young people date casually to find
someone they would like to marry?
11. Are there any special customs surrounding courtship and marriage
in your country? If so, what are they? Describe a typical wedding
ceremony in your country.
12. W hat are som e of the advantages of dating? W hat are som e of its
disadvantages? Do you think arranged marriages are a good idea?
W h y or w hy not?
13. W hat changes does marriage require of a m an? W hat changes
does marriage require of a w om an? Do you think it is better to be
single or married? W h y?
T O P IC 7 fc B E IN G TH E FA M O U S
Being a famous person is a dream of many

people. However, this has its advantages as
^ well as disadvantages.
> \
Let’s consider its advantages. It is widely
agreed that it is easy for famous people to get
attention wherever they go. A s a result, they
m ay find it easier to get better services. Moreover, they have a lot of
good chances to do things. Also, they can use transportation with the
first-class seats when they go som ewhere or com m on people often
support them if they do business. Besides, the fame will also help us
earn a lot of m oney. As. r«r "«s we are concerned, a famous singer or film
star gets a lot of m oney from his or films; a famous sportsman
,l a f n s a fortune from his successes and sponsorships from m any
organizations. O n the whose, fame brings us many benefits.
Bozc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 127

What are the disadvantages? Do famous people have everything in their
lives? No. Th e y do have to pay a great cost for it.
Since they are famous, they often become targets of newspapers,

nagazines, gossips and sometimes madmen. Therefore, a famous
jerson does not have much of a private life. His private life is usually
JUbficized by the mass media, and everything he does is recorded,
:dited, or exaggerated to suit the media. He often has to hide himself
irhen being out. It is really difficult for him to have a peaceful life.
Moreover, famous people sometimes become victims of assassinations,
idnappings, blackmail or robberies.
>bviousiy, its disadvantages far outweigh its advantages. So, is it better

3 leave fame alone? Would we rather be ordinary persons who can go
)r a peaceful walk on the street instead of being surrounded by
odyguards? Share your opinions on today’s discussion. .
O C A BIX A BY T IP
fortune (n) big sum of money

sponsorship (n) support
to exaggerate to over talk
assassination (n) murder
blackmail (n) letter to get money
to outweigh more important than
1. Do you wan to be famous? W h y do you want to be fam ous? Is it

easy to be famous?
2. People say all famous people are arrogant. Do you agree? W hat do
you think of our singers, fashion models and movie stars?
3. Do you think famous people are very cautious about their prestige?
Do you think they always keep their promise?
4. W hich famous people do you admire most? W hy? In your opinion,
are all famous people really deserved their fame?
5. Do you blame on people who once have bad reputation? D o you
like famous people? Do you think they are arrogant?
6. In order to be famous, do we need to be rich/hard-working? What
do you do for people when you are famous?
Is it easy for you to have a happy iife when you get married to
famous people? D o you think getting married to famous people
makes you famous too?
oic To S p e a k English W ell 128

8. W hat are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous? Do
you charge famous people double price?
9. Do you feel happy or nervous when serving a famous person?
Have you ever served or talked to any famous characters?
10. Do you think famous people never have a peaceful life? In
opinion, what are they worried most in their life?
TOPIC 77s CRITICIZE!» WAYS O F IIY W I

Modern society with many cultures coming form
western countries has changed Vietnamese young
people’s ways of thinking and living many of which
must be criticized. It is not difficult for us to find out
clear evidences.
First of all, to many young people, the value of a

vperson is evaluated according to his belongings, so
| m
they indulge in shopping from clothes, shoes, cell
phones to motorbikes or even cars. Th e y waste a lot
of time on them, and they always talk about them
whenever they meet together.
At nights, trains of hundreds of motorbikes raise uproar wherever they

are. Th e y worm their ways, shout, and even race their motorbikes on the
street. Consequently, they have caused a lot of accidents, and many
people died of injustices. Th e y are called evil genies on the street. This
can show us that these young people indulge in enjoying their life
regardless of the consequence.
Things mentioned above are not enough for them to enjoy. Th e y want to
have stronger feelings, and heroin or ecstasy medicines help them.
Although they know the dangers of these drugs, they ignore them as
long as they can prove themselves experienced play-ones. Th e y are
really pitiful because they will die before they can enjoy all of their young
age. Maybe bars and dancing halls are places where w e can witness
these young people. There, many girls and boys are releasing
themselves with smoke; heads are shaking crazrly according to heavy
rock music.
It is a mistake if we do not ’mention inter-marriages among young girls

now. It is painful when hundreds of girls are eager to get married to
foreigners. There is nothing to say if they get married because of true
H ow T o S p ea k E nglish W ell 129

ve, but because of m oney and a comfcrtabfe life. T h e y are not in love
- they do not even know their husbands-to-be. I do not know what will
appen to the rest of their life.
fho have m ade them like that? A n d who have created good conditions ' S
r them to do that? Parents are first ones who have responsibilities for
em. It is parents who have pam pered their children: giving them a lot
oney but not taking a good care of or educating them well. T o prevent
is fast w ay of liv in g s from increasing, families, schools and society
touid have a tight combination.
OCABIHLABY TCP
to criticize to condemn
to indulge (in) to be very interested in
to raise uproar to make loud noise
an evil genie a terrible spirit
to ignore to pay no attention
to witness to see
inter-marriage (n) getting married to a foreigner
to pamper to spoil
W hat do you think about the w ays of living now adays? W hat are the
w ays of living in the past? Which one do you think better? W h y?
W hat do you comment on the "W e ste rn w a y o f liv in g "? Do you think
it’s good to imitate? W hat do you think about cohabitation?
W hat is your personality? W hat do you do to make your life
meaningful? W hat is your w ays of living?
If som e one complains about your w ay of living, will you change it at
once? D o you think that Vietnam ese styles of living are influenced by
Western countries nowadays?
W hat do you think about this saying, “A n a im le s s fife is like a b o a t
w ith o u t a r u d d e r T W hat are your purposes in life?
W h y do m any young people now have ridiculous w ays of living? Do
you think they want to make themselves individuals?
D o you think that w e have To change o u r w a y of living in order to
adapt with any circumstances In our life? W hat are good ways of
living in your opinion?
, W hat do you think of motor racing in our city? D o you think it is a new
w a y of indulging in pleasure of rich young people?
9ir T o S p e a k English W ell 130

9. Have you ever struggled yourself against strange ways of living? T o
you, which is more difficult between struggle against yourself
against others? W h y?
10. Do you think we need to struggle in life or should let everything go
w ay naturally?
TO PIC 78: EATOVG CV OR O UT?

t m odem time, people seem to be busier and
1th their life and career, and they tend to go out for
restaurants or food shops. However, I still prefer
e home, preparing and enjoying m y food.
always enjoy having meals with m y family

members. After a hard working day at the office,
m any people are afraid of the kitchen, but to me,
it is fun to prepare meals with m y family. W hen
doing it, we can talk together about everything in
ir lives. Especially, I pan lean how to cook some
cial dishes form m y mother.
fn addition, enjoying dinners with family at the end of the day has been a
valuable tradition in Vietnam, the tradition that m ore and more people
seem to forget these days. Now, we are so busy with our own lives that
w e are no longer interested in our pear and beloved ones. So, I think the
best w a y to get along with the rest of the family is to have a nice and
cozy dinner together.
Another reason why I like eating at home is that cooking can be done
without any problem nowadays. With the help of ready-m ade food at
supermarkets and m odem kitchen devices, it takes us short time to
prepare for a meal. Moreover, it is very cheap when we eat at home.
W hat I have just mentioned above does not mean that eating at a
restaurant or a food shop is not good. However, when eating at one of
those, we have to dress property, and then just sit around a small table.
Moreover, it is always noisy while we want a quiet and peaceful place.
Sometimes there is a question of hygiene. H ow well is the food cooked
at the restaurant? Have they been washed property before cooking? If
food is eaten at home, we are sure that it will be cleaned and washed
properly.
B o te To S p e a k English W ell 131

short, basing on ail the above-m entioned points, I think it is better to
t at hom e.
O B E S nO M S F O B W SC U SSIO N
H o w m a n y meals do you have a day? W hat are th ey? D o you often

eat som ething between m ain m eals?
W hat kinds of food do you eat m ost often? W h y ? W hat is you r
opinion about an ideal meat?
D oes this kind of food express your personality? W hat do you think
are bad habits to avoid in eating?
W hat influences you r appetite in eating? H o w m uch does food
influence you r health? Do you eat before the bedtim e?
W h e re w ould you like to eat (at hom e, in a restaurant, in a canteen,
in a cafeteria, at a party)? W hat are reasons for people to eat out?
W hich is cheaper, eating in or out? In which w a ys is eating at home
better for us?
W hat are advantages and disadvantages of eating in and out? For
cooking yourself, how do you cook y o u r m eals well?
H o w is a good m eal? Do you think the atm osphere affect a lot to
our appetite? D o you eat to live or live to eat?
W h e n com ing to a party with strange dishes you don't like to eat,
would you ask the host to c h a rg e the food for you or w ould you try?
W hat do you know about the art of eating and drinking? W h at do
T O PIC 7 9 : WHO IS THE B E T T E R P A B W T ?
t is widely believed that w om en m ake better parents

than m en, and this view has shown itself to be true
throughout history. T h is is w h y they have the
greater role in raising children In m ost societies,
iwever, this does not m ean that m en are not of
m portance in child rearing, indeed, it is perfect if
oth of them -cooperate to bring their children up.
have proven them selves superior parents as a
yf their conditioning, their less aggressive natures,
reir generally better com m unication s k ills ..
far as w e know, from the time they are little giris, fem ales learn about
w T o S p e a k E nglish W ell
nurturing. First with dolts and later perhaps with younger brothers or
sisters, girls are given the role of that job. T h e y see their mothers in the
sam e roles, so it is natural that they identify this as a fem ale activity.
Boys, in contrast, learn competitive roles far rem oved from nurturing.
While boys m ay dream of adventures, girls tend to see the future in
terms of raising families.
In addition, girls a ppear to be less aggressive than boys. In adulthood, it

is men w h o prove to be the aggressors in crim es and wars. O bviously, in
raising children, a m ore patient, gentle m anner is preferable to a m ore
aggressive one. Although there are gentlem en and aggressive w om en,
females are less likely to resort to violence in attempting to solve
problem s or to educate their children.
• #
Finally, w om en tend to be better com m unicators than m en. Th is is
shown in doing business. T h e fact shows that nearly all receptionists,
operators, or nursery teachers are fem ales because they are better at
verbal comm unication than m ales. O f course, com m unication is of
utmost importance in rearing children, a s children tend to learn from and
adopt the com m unication styles of their parents.
In sum m ary, bringing up children is w o m en's noble and traditional rale.

Th a t is w h y there is a saying “T h e m other’s heart is as im m ense as the
Pacific O ce a n ” in our country. Hopefully, Vietnam ese w om en always
preserve and develop their important role in training good citizens for
society.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to be of to have
2. child rearing: bringing up children
3. superior [su :'pisria3 (a): higher
4. aggressive (a) violent
5. to nurture : to care for
6. to identify to recognize
Ex: She identified the man as her attacker
7. to resort to way out
8. utm ost (a) greatest
9. to adopt to take up
Hotc To Speak English Weü 133

OUESTIOMS FO R P1SC U SSIO K
1. H ow m any children are there in your family? H o w m any do you like

to have in the future? Do you enjoy being around children?
2. Do you think boys are more expensive than girls or vice versa?
W h y? Do you think boys are easier to take care of than girls or vice
versa? W h y?
3. W hen you have children, will you help your children with their
hom ework? H o w much help do you think is appropriate?
4. W ould you allow your son or daughter to pierce body parts? If so,
what parts of the body would you allow to be piercpd? W ould you
allow you child to get a tattoo?
5. W hat are som e things that you would not allow your children to do?
W hat are some things that you would allow you r children to do that
you think other parents m ay not allow their children, to do? W h y do
you think it is okay to allow this?
6. Are there any sports that you consider too dangerous to allow your
child to try? If so, what sports?
7. Do you think that m any parents spoil #ieir children? In what ways
do they do that? W hat are some w ays that you have seen? Do you
think that you will be a good parent? W h y? D o you think your
parents were good parents?
8. W ho is the better parent in your opinion, male or female? W h y are
women better than men at bringing up children?
9. W hat are some things that your parents did that you would never
do? W hat are some things that you have seen other parents do that
you would never d o ? C /
10. Should a good mother give up her job to stay at home with her
children? Do you think it is O K for a father to stay at home with the
children and have the mother work instead? Do you think a mother
is a better “stay at home parent" than a father? W h y or why not?
11. H ow will you punish your children? W hat will you do if you find out
your child is stealing something?
12. W hat wili you do if your children lie to you? W hat will you do if you
find out your child jig school for a day?
13. H o w will you deal with your children when they fight with each
other? D o you think spanking is an appropriate form of
punishment? W h y or w hy not?

TO PIC SO: A T HOME OH TO TH E C M H A ?
A .
1 like watching films very m uch, so H B O ,
Movies Stars, and Cinem ax are my favorite
T V channels. Th is can show you that I
prefer watching films on T V to going to the
theatre. 1 do not like going there because of
problems in getting to the theatre,
unpleasantness in the theatre itself, and the
behaviour of some movie-goers.
First of all, getting to the theatre causes me som e difficuroes. It is

inconvenient to go out in a hot, cold, or rainy night whereas I can watch
films in a sofa in a warm atmosphere with m y family. E ve n if the weather
is fine, it still takes me at least thirty-minutes to ride to the theatre,
followed by the hassle of looking for a parking space. And then I have to
wait for the film to start.
Th e n , I might confront problems of the theatre itself. If I am in one of the

oid theatres, I have to suffer the musty smell of seldom-cleaned carpets
or chairs. Sometimes, I even see som e mice running around. Moreover,
air-conditioning system sometimes does not work well. Moreover, the
service is not good in some theatres. For example, the ticket-collector
looks unfriendly, and food is unhygienic or expensive.
Last, some of the patrons are even more of a problem than the theatre
itself. Som e people try to impress their com panies by. talking back to the
screen, whistling, and making hilarious noises. Others act as if they were
at home in their own living rooms and com m ent loudly on hie ages of the
stars or w hy m ovies are not as good anymore. Moreover, they crinkle
candy wrappers, stick gum on their seats, and drop popcorn tubs on the
fioor. T h e y also cough and burp, squirm endlessly in their seats, or file
out for repeated trips to the rest rooms.
In short, because of what J have just mentioned, I think that I am not

going to be a m oviegoer anymore. I am tired of the problems involved in
getting to the movies, confronting with the theatre itself, and dealing with
som e of the patrons. T o watch movies comfortably, I have had cable T V
service installed in m y home, i m ay now see movies a bit later than other
people, but HI be m ore relaxed watching box office! hits in the comfort of
my own living room.

1. to hassle to annoy
2. to con front to face
3. m u sty (a ): stuffy
4. patron (n ) fan - >
5. hilarious [h i’learias] v e r y fu n n y
6. to com m e nt to remark
7. to crinkle to crumple
8. tub {n ) container
9. to burp to make brief sharp sounds
10. to squirm to turn
Q U E ST IO N S F O R P IS C U S S IO N
1. W h a t is y o u r favourite m o vie ? A re there a iiy kinds of m o vie s you

dislike? If so, w h at kinds? W h y do you dislike th em ?
2. W h a t is the best m ovie y o u h ave e v e r s e e n ? W h o w a s in it? W h y
did you like it? W h o w a s the director?
3 . W h a t are the scariest m ovie s y o u h a v e e v e r s e e n ? W h a t’s the
funniest? W h at's the m ost rom antic?
4 . W h a t is the w orst m o vie y o u ’v e e v e r se e n ? W h a t w a s the last
m ovie you s a w ? W a s it g o o d ? W h o did you se e it w ith?
5. D o you like to w atch horror m o vie s? D o y o u prefer fiction or no n
fiction boo ks? ^
6. Do you usually w atch m ovies at hom e or at a m ovie theatre? H o w
often do you go to m o vie s? H o w often do you rent vid e o s?
7 . W h a t are advan tages and disa d va n ta ge s of w atching at hom e and
going to the theatre? H o w m u ch doe s it cost to se e a m ovie in y o u r
cou n try? W h a t do you think of people w h o talk during m ovies at a
m o vie th eater?
8. If a book has been m a d e into a m ovie, w h ich do you prefer to do
first, see the m ovie or read the b o o k ? W h y ?
9 . W h a t m ovie star w ould you m ost like to m e e t? W h o is y o u r favorite
actor or a ctress?
10. D o you think that films can be educational? Is there a m ovie you
could w atch over and o v e r ag ain?
.< 0
- V
H o w T o S p e a k E n g lish W e ll ¿36
TOPIC 81: SOLVING TRAFFIC PROBLEM S
T h e number of motorbikes, cars and trucks hitting
the street in our country is dramatically rising every
year. As a result, cases of traffic jams, accidents,
and environmental pollution are doing, too. All
these factors have a detrimental effect on our
quality of life. So as to solve this problem, in-m y
opinion, the government should spend money
building subway lines, railroads, more bus
routes.
First, if subway lines are built and reached every comer of the city,
people would not need to use their motorbikes to commute any more.
Lessening motorbikes on the road means less carbon monoxide
expelled into the air, therefore, the air we breathe would be more pure.
Fewer motorbikes also lessen traffic jams that have caused a lot of
troubles to people and authorities concerned.
Second, the railroad system in our country is not enough and in bad
condition. Consequently, people have to rely on trucks and buses for
ground transportation of passengers and freight. Therefore, expanding
and upgrading railroad systems will result in fewer trucks and long
distance buses on the highways. T h is can help reduce traffic accidents
on the road because most of the traffic accidents are caused by trucks
and long-distance buses.
Last but not least, with the increase of bus users at present, it has been
proven that people are getting used to public transportation. However,
still m any people cannot use buses because there are not enough buses
and bus routes in our city. If more buses are present and routes are built,
we can solve the traffic problems in our country, especially in big cities
like H C M C because many people do not use their own cars or
motorbikes.
In short, improving public means of transportation will help reduce traffic

jams, accidents and air pollution in our country. T o make our country and
cities better places to live in, the government has to carry out this
strategy right now.
Hoto To S p e a k English W ell 137

»O C A B IM K Y W P
to hit to strike; to knock

dramatically (adv) very much
detrimental c.detn'mentJ] (a) harmful
to commute to travel
to expel to push out
torely to depend
freight (n) goods
to get used to to be used to
a ra sn o x s f o r d is c u s s io n
4 4
How do appraise the traffic situation in our city and other big cities
in our country?
W hat are relationships between urbanization and its traffic
problems? W h a t are objective and subjective causes of traffic
congestion and traffic problems?
Do you think that ignorance of traffic rules can lead to traffic jam s
and accidents? How can it be improved?
W hat are popular means of transportation in our country? W hich
one is the m ost efficient?
W hat do you think of the city people’s consciousness of traffic
safety? H a ve you ever been the victim of traffic jam s? H o w did you
feel at that time?
W hich m eans of transportation causes the most serious accidents?
Can you tell m e the reason?
W hat are solutions to traffic problems in our country? Is road
extension the best way to solve traffic congestion? W h y and w hy
not?
it is said that traffic congestion is unavoidable in the process of
urbanization. Are you for or against this saying?
D o you think that heavy fines on violations of traffic rules are good
for re-establishing the traffic order and safety?
W hat are solutions of the government to traffic problem s? Can you
suggest som e solutions?
4 4
>tc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 13S

D ong gôp P D F bôi G V N guyên Thanh Tü WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOIDUONGHOAHOCQUYNHON
TO PIC 8 2 ; M O D E M H O M E \
Vietnam ese wom en's lives haye h lot/since the

20th century. T h e y have with men/in
m any fields. Now, they have the decide their life,
Moreover, they have higher positior han they did. T h e y
are now good mothers, wives, employees, and evert
leaders/who contribute, a lot io the developm ent of
Vietnam . t
T h e first role of Vietnam ese women/is to be good

wives and mothers. T h e y have to take care of their
families. Everyday, not onfy do they serve meals for
their husbands and childreryfcut also s h a r^ a ll their^,
u p l a n d downs. T h e y are peopie/who encourage
their husbands to work well/ô contribute to our society. In family, the
mother is very close to her childrei/and teaches them good t h i n g s ^
that they will becom e good citizens in the future. Therefore, l th in yfh a t/ „
the first contribution of w om en to our country/is to help it have m o d e l Qcnc M p
citizens/w h o are willing to devote their ta le »/ J a make our country '
develop. "Cole 4v.vf;
V
Th a t is the w om en's role in their families. So what else can they do to
our society? T h e female teachers, doctors, polHjctans/or m anagers yean
m a k f , people around the world know, about Vietnam / by their
aScomplishment. T h e y are also teachers/Who widen the knowledge of
their beloved students. In addition, m any skilful w om an doctors have
saved m any lives/kr given the happiness to their patients. F o r example,
m any patients will be very grateful to w -----------------------------------------
om an doctors in T u Du hospital/ lay
because they have helped the interfile couples have children. Moreover;
Vietnam ese w om en are very talented politicians/who represent the
w hole country/to attend conferenceyW ith m any male leaders of world's
powers. In addition, they can run the businesâs well as men do.
T o sum up, wom en play an important role in the (tevelopment of

Vietnam . T h e y can take good care of their familtes/and f t M m e i r duties
to society at the sam e time. Therefore, they deserve to be respected.
KiaK r*f-;
i r ■r\fp •} ■
t V Loo.
Hove To S p e a k English. W ell 139

guyén H o n g A n h , M A . in TE SQ L
OCABLXAKY TEP
to devote: to give over

accomplishment (n): achievement
grateful (a): thankful
infertile (a): childless
to fulfil: to complete
to deserve: to be worthy of
QUESTIONS FO B PISCIISSIQSf
Q
. W hat are the husband and wife’s traditional roles? Can you make a
comparison between women in the past and women at present?
. This question is for men: There are two kinds of women. O n e is
successful and fampqs .in society but she doesn’t succeed in her
family. Another is vice-versa. W hat kind of women do you prefer?
. How is an ideal wom an? Do you think women in m odem society
should keep the characteristics of traditional wom en? W hat do think
of the conception: *Th re e fo llo w s a n d fo u r virtues"?
. W hat do you comment on the saying, “M en lead, w o m e n fo llo w ”?
Do you know why men consider women second-dass citizens?
. This question is for women, if your partner or husband wants you to
stay at home, do you agree? W hy or w hy not?
. For a m an, do you agree to let your wife or girlfriend go to work?
. W h y is it said that if women sit in the conference, it is more possible
to succeed than m en? VVhich work do you think that wom en cannot
do? W h y? A nd which work do you think that men cannot do?
. W h y are there more and more women going to work? How can a
working woman be devoted to her career and her family life? W hat
should a husband do to help his wife? How about the other
m embers?
. What do you think about a woman who is better than you in every
field? W hat will happen if she is your wife or girlfriend? Being a
wom an, do you want to marry one who is worse than you?
c To S p e a k English W ell MO
TOPIC 83s WORKING OR R E T IH I^ e?
Som e people are rather strong, motivated and clever

at the age of 60. A t that time, they still like w o rk in g ^ /
running families, and even leading countries.
However, despite being fit and highly talented, they
are forced to retire because of national regulations. Jn
this writing, I will discuss whether people should be
allowed to continue working as long as they can or
whether they should be encouraged to retire at a
particular stage.
Th e re are several arguments for allowing older people to continue

working as long as they are able. First of all, older employees have a
large amount of knowledge and experience which can be lost to a
businesses or organization if they are made to retire. Th e second point is
that older employees are often extremely loyal employees, and are more
willing to implement company policies than the younger staff. However, a
more important point is regarding the attitudes in society to old people.
T o force someone to resign or retire at 60 or 65 indicates that the society
does not value the input of these people and that their useful life is over.
S?
Allowing older people to work indefinitely, however, is not always a good
policy. Age alone is no guarantee of ability. M any younger employees
have more experience or skills than older staff who may have been stuck
in one area or unit for most of their working lives. Having compulsory
retirement allows new ideas in an organization. In addition, without age
limits, m any people would continue to work purely because they did not
have any other plans or roles. A third point of view is that older people
should be rewarded by society for their life’s labor by being given
generous pensions and freedom to enjoy their leisure.
In short, with m any young people unemployed or frustrated in low-level

positions, older workers are often called to retire. However, this can
affect the older individual’s freedom and right to work and can deprive of
society's valuable experience and insights. I feel that giving workers
more flexibility and choice over their retirement age will benefit society
and the individual.
B ote To S p e a k English W ell 141

VOCABULARY TCP
J- motivated (a): encouraged

î. loyal (a): faithful
î. to im plem ent to apply
I. com pulsory (a): forced
>. purely (a): only,
W simply
ill J j W IC ip iJ
>. reward (n): prize

r. pension (n): retirement fund
i. flexibility (n):
1. H ow old are you? How old are your father and m other? W h a f s your
job? W hat are their jobs?
2. W hen did youJ they start to work? H o w long have you/ they
worked? A re you retired? W hen do you think you/ they will be
retired?
3. Do you believe you w on’t be able to g o on with your job untii you
are 60? W h y or w h y not?
4. W hat makes you/ them keep on working at 60? W h y ? W hat do you
think of “old age”? Have you got any old people in your family?
5. C an you name som e strong and weak points of the old? Are the old
a burden to the family and society?
6. W hat are the typical differences between the old and the young?
Do you think that the old know best?
7. Are the old so conservative? D o you think the young still respect
the old now?
S. Can you explain why there are changes in the w ays of living and
thinking am ong the young now ?
9. W hat behaviors and attitudes should we have when we deal with
the old?
10.lt is said that the old are usually very lonely. W h at should we do to
make them happy? W hat do you think of an old person who lives
alone? € j
1 1 .C a n you tel! me what you will do w hen you becom e old? D o you
w ant' to live until 10D years old? H o w do the Vietnam ese usually
wish togeiher on T e t holidays?
otc To S p e a k E nglish W eü 142

TOPIC 8 4 ; MAKING YOUH DREAM S BECOME
T R IE
I am sure that everyone has his dreams and

love to see himself getting better and better
each day. However, making our dreams
become true is not easy at all, and we have
our own resolutions to do that. Som e people
pessimistically say that it is impossible to
achieve their dreams. But, to me, I think that
is actually not true because our dreams are in our hands, and we are
those Who can control them and make them real.
" • ¿v
For me, I always look up to m any things during m y life such as learning
English and trying to be good at it, completing m y studies, and improving
myself at any field. Moreover, I never stop dreaming and finding ways to
reach them. Thanks to those ways, I always make my dream s become
true. T o do that without m any difficulties, I have to set m y goals in
advance and work as hard as I can to reach my points.
c4 y
However, there is no doubt that there are times when I feel like giving
up. In such cases, I do not give up myself but just stand up and try even
if I have had to try for m any times. Moreover, whenever I feel lost and
confused, f just dream again of the person I would be when m y dreams
become true. In addition, I believe that it is better to have plans for
myself to follow. First, I have to write down what m y resolutions are and
then find out what I need to reach them. After that, I try step by step to
improve myself and to reach my ambitions. Finally, I must not lose my
passion to m y dreams.
In conclusion, to make our dreams become true, we should set our

dreams right in front of our eyes and always work for them. Moreover,
we are always optimistic that we will reach them someday.
VOCABULARY T IP
-
1. pessimistic (a) negative

2. doubt (n) distrust
Z, confused (a) bewilder
Ex: The flood of questions confused me.
yt passion (n): enthusiasm
A*
5. optimistic {a) positive
Eou> To S p e a k E nglish W ell 143

Dông gàp P D F bôi GV. Nguyen Thanh Til
QUESTIONS FO H D ISC U SSIO N
1. Do you usually remember your dream s? Why/ W hy not? Describe

some of them. What was your nicest dream that you c a ^ '
remember?
2. H ow do you interpret a dream ? Do you use your
intuition/imagination to understand it? Do you usually read books
on dream interpretation? W hat is your opinion on it?
3. Have you ever had nightmares? W hat were they like? W h a fs the
worst nightmare you've ever had?
4. Have you ever had or heard of a dream that foretold the future?
Have you ever dreamed about dead people? Is it a good signal?
W hy/W hy not? Have you ever dreamt about dead friends or
relatives? How was it? H o w did you feel?
5. Are dream messages sent from our unconscious, predictions of the
future, or the brain’s w ay of cleaning out information?
6. Som e people say that dreaming about losing m oney m eans that
you will receive it. Have you ever heard this? W hat other sayings
about dreams do you know?
7. 'When you were a child, what was your dream for the future? H as it
changed? What is your dream for the future? Have your dream s for
your future changed?
8. Do you tell people about ypur dream s? Do you think you can
achieve your dreams? Do you think that having dreams and
aspirations is a waste of time?
9. W hat would you like to be in the future? W hy do you want to
choose that? Do you plan your future yourself or your parents do
that? Do you like it arranged?
10. Are you a high-flier? W hat are your ambitions? W hat have you

T O P IC 8 5 ; G IV IN G A IW jE C H T O g C U T S
Nowadays, com m unication is quite important in

hum an life. Th a n k s to different forms o j ^
com m unication, m an is able to express all bis
feelings, opinions, desires, etc. verbally or non
verbally. Gift-giving - a non-verbal form of
communication - is so efficient and popular that
| it is widely welcom ed and appreciated as an art
in hum an com m unication. How ever, giving and
receiving gifts are not always the sam e as th ey are m eant to
be
O n e of the prim ary benefits of gift giving is the good feeling you get
w hen you do something good for som eone special. Th e re is a magical
m om ent w hen you watch the recipient of the gift unwrap the package
and discover the treasure that you have wisely chosen for them . W h e n
their eyes w iden as they realize what you have done to dem onstrate
their importance in your life, your spirit responds with a w arm glow that
builds from the inside out, and you have confirmation that you have
created a little m ore prosperity in the world.
H ow ever, som e people find that they do not experience this w arm glow
from their inner spirit In fact, som e people experience a feeling of loss or
im po verishm ent Th o s e people Will find that their mental focus is on the
cost of the gift but not on the blessings that it has created for the other
person. T h e attitude in which a gift is given is actually m uch m ore
important than the gift itself. W hen a gift is given with the proper attitude,
the giver shows his/her respect or gratefulness to the receiver.
O n e of the big mistakes that I see most people m ake is that they give a
gift that they them selves would like to receive rather than selecting a gift
from the perspective of the recipient. T h u s , we should spend time doing
som e research into the background of the gift recipient and determine
what they w ould like to receive. If we can do this, w e not only show ou r
respect or gratitude but also make our gift m ore useful to the receiver.
In short, giving and receiving gifts seem to be very easy, but they
have m any arts them selves. Th u s , w e should learn w hen, to w hom , and
what reasons we give gifts. It is very com plicated, isn’t it?
V
Bozo T o S p e a k E n g lish W e ü 145

V O C A B llA B Y T IP
1. desire {n>: need; want

2. verbal (a) spoken
3. prim ary (a) main
4. m agical (a) supernatural A
5. recipient (n) receiver «5
6. treasure (n ) property
7. to demonstrate to show
3. g lo w (n) enthusiasm
3. prosperity (n) w e a lth ^ r
IQ. im poverishm ent (n) uselessness
11. blessing (n ) lu ck.
12. attitude (n) manner
13. perspective
Q IIB ST IO X S F O R P I S C T S S lfig
I. W hen do you give a gift? T o w h om dp you give a gift? F o r what

reasons d o you give a gift? Is gift-giving aim ed at satisfying on e ’s
h obby or expressing one’s feelings tow ards others?
According to you, what roles do gifts piay in hum an
com m unication? Is it e a s y to give gifts to all people gathering
together in an occasion?
î. Is there a n y m isunderstanding in giving and receiving gifts? C a n
you tel! yo u r experiences? In expressing o n e ’s feeling towards
others, does it always w ork w h en h e w ants to give gifts?
1. W hat does the w a y of giving a gift m e a n ? Is it true that the gift
giving is an art? C an you give som e e xam p les?
u It is said that, " T h e w a y o f g iv in g a g ift is m o re im p o r ta n t than
the v a lu e o f th e g ift its e lf.’1W h a t are your points of vie w ?
>. D o you agre e that giving gifts is an art? W h e n you want to attend at
a party, w h a t do you usually bring as a gift? H ave y o u e v e r given
flowers to so m eon e? In which situations? Do you know the
m eaning of flowers? Piease share y o u r experience with us.
Y o u have studied English with a tutor for about two m onths. Y o u r
tutor can not continue because of a busy schedule. Y o u will be
meeting with y o u r tutor fqr the last time. W ou ld you give a gift? If
yes. what w ould you give?
¡¿ g t f o u r supervisor at w ork ju st g a ve you six-m onth perform ance
review. H e g a ve you an excellent review and an increase in salary.
W o u ld you give a gift? if yes, what w ould you give?
lo w T o S p e a k E n g lish n e ii 146
9. It is one of your co-workers' birthday. Y o u don’t know this person
very well, but you like him and you know that other people will be
getting presents for him. W ould you give a gift? if yes, what would
you give?
10. Y ou have a small problem with your motorbike and your neighbor, a
mechanic, looks at the motorbike. He finds the problem in a couple
of minutes and fixes it right away. W ould you give a gift? If yes,
what would you give?
11. Y o u have been sick for a few days. O n e of your neighbors has
been bringing food for your family every day. W ould you give a gift?
If yes, what would you give?
TO PIC 8 te ST C PB N TS A M I INTEGRATION
Globalization is a vital issue for every country.

T h e econom y of each country closely relates to
the integration into the region and the world.
Education is also affected by globalization, and
rt is necessary for us to consider the impacts
and implications of globalization in the planning
of our future w ays of teaching and learning,
especially in higher education.
X 5
in order to make our education system more effective, it is necessary to
have the students becom e masters of technologies and practices at the
fore of the global industries, especially for those who work in these
areas. Moreover, graduates have to be prepared for working in an
increasingly globalized world. F o r example, a communication engineer
must be familiar with digital communication system s as this technology
will be used in any m odem system throughout the world.
'
In addition, to prepare graduates for integration, universities in our
country have to send m ore students, teachers and researchers to
countries with education system s of high quality so that they can
approach advanced m ethods of learning, teaching, and researching
which they can apply into the developm ent of the country. It is them who
can lead the country to the w ay of integration.
Last but not least, our universities should advance more high quality
training program s and program s for talented students. T h e s e programs
should be organized in training cadres for high-tech and key socio
econom ic branches. T h e aims of these programs are finding and training
H<nc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 147

capable students by providing them with good learning conditions to
achieve standard quality of advanced universities in the region and in the
world. Thanks to these program s, we can prepare enough human
resources who can explore resources effectively and provide society
with high quality products.
; 'A / ■
In short, students are future masters of the country who can decide
success on the w ay of integration and development. With the present
achievements along with the great enthusiasm of the nation as well as
effective international assistance, our higher education will develop and
have a new face in the near future.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. vital (a) very important

2. integration (n) mixing
3. impact (n) effect
4. implication (n) suggestion
5. fore front
6. to advance to go forward
7. cadre (n) group
8. enthusiasm (n> passion; glow

,
1 . Are you student or a re you working now? Do most high school
students in our country go to colleges or universities?
2. Are there m any universities or colleges in your city? Can you tell us
some universities you know? Most of these universities are in good
conditions, aren’t they? W hat do you think of equipment and
teaching aids in these schools?
3. W h y do students study so m any subjects in their universities? Do
you think these subjects are practical in real life?
4. W hat do you think about the globalization? H o w is a country’s
econom y affected by the integration into the region arid the world?
5. D o you think education is also affected by globalization? What
should the government do to globalize our education?
6. W hat should students do in order to becom e masters of
technologies and practices at the fore of the global industries?
W hat should they prepare?
7. W hat do you think about the policy that universities (in our country
have to send more students, teachers and researchers to countries
B o ix To S p e a k E nglish W ell 148

with education systems of high quality? Do you think these people
can lead the country to the way of integration?
8. W hat do you think of university syllabuses? A re they main causes
of backwardness in education? W hat should the government do to
improve them ?
9. Do we have high quality training programs and programs for
talented students? If yes, how do they work? W hat are the aims of
these program s?
10. W hat can y o u draw from today’s discussion?
TO PIC 8 7 ; O m W K E H HOLIDAY
K T if you have one week to go traveling,

where would you like to go? T o me, I
V will choose Hanoi. H a Noi is the capital
of Vietnam, and ft has nice weather,
valuable cultural and historical
vestiges, and m any beautiful
landscapes.
T h e climate of H a Noi is quite typical for the one of the North. In

summer, it is hot with a lot of rain., In winter, it is cold with little rain. From
M ay to September, it is the hot and rainy season. From Novem ber to
March of the next year, it is the winter with the dry weather. Between
those two seasons, there are two transmitting periods (in April and
October). Therefore, Ha Noi has enough four seasons: Spring, Sum m er,
Autum n and Winter. T h e best season for traveling to Ha Noi is Autumn
which is very suitable for tourists to come.
U p to now, Ha Noi has over 300 vestiges recognized as historical and

cultural ones. H a Noi has 600 pagodas, President Ho C h i Minh’s
Mausoleum, Friendship Cultural Palace... and the rich and diversified
system of m useum s such as President Ho Chi Mtnh’s Museum, Ha Noi's
M useum, the M useum of History, the M useum of the Revolution...
Ha Noi also has a lot of places to visit T h e W est Lake (Ho T a y ), Th e

Lake of the Restored Sword (H o Hoan Kiem ), Th u ye n Q uang Lake, Tru e
Bach Lake are the typical and beautiful lakes in Ha Noi. Moreover,
around Ha Noi within 100km. there are a lot of landscapes such as Cue
A ^ h u o n g forest, Huong Tich grotto, T a m Dao Mountain, Hung temple,
Hoa Lu grotto... Th e se places combined with Ha Noi become a tourist
attraction, and Ha Noi plays as the connecting point of the whole zone.
H ow T o S p e a k E nglish WeU 149

At last, thirty-six streets of Hanoi attract m e most.
V O C A K IL4K Y T IP
1. vestiges remains
2. typicaJ (a) representative
3. mausoleum (n) burial place
A. grotto (n) cave
5. attraction tourist place -Q )
G. zone (n) area; region
on
1. How often do you go on holidays? Who do usually go with?

2. If you have a week’s holiday, where will you choose to go? W hy?
What is special about it?
3. What do you know about that place? Have you ever been there?
Can you describe it?
4. According to you, when is it the best time to go travelling? Can you
explain why? Which season do people travel a lot? Do you know
why? *V
5. Do you usually travel on your weekends? And where are interesting
places for weekends?
6. Do you think that watching T V is one of the cheapest ways of
travelling? When someone wants to travel, what should he
prepare? What should we know before we start a trip to a new
place?
7. W h y do people think of travelling? Do you know when people
began travelling? What is the importance of travelling? W hat can
we leam from it? Do you think that travel is a means of education?
8. What do you comment on the saying, “T h e m ore w e travel, the
m ore w e learn!”? How do you think about tourist industry of
Vietnam these days? Could you please state some advantages and
disadvantages of Vietnamese tourism?
9. Is it easy for Vietnamese to travel abroad? Can you tell us some
requirements you need for travelling abroad? Do you think that the
poor never think of travelling? If you don't have much money, how
do you manage to travel?
TO PIC « 8 î THE M OST IM PO R TA NT SK ILL
am sure that each of us wants to be successful in life, so we

always try to find out ways to achieve our goals. T o do that,
w e need to have m any skills, and m any heads have v
m any minds. In m y opinion, the most important skill
that can help me succeed in the world today is the
communication skill, i choose it because this skill helps
me g e t information quickly, persuade others to do things
easily, and express m y ideas without difficulties.
Firstly, the communication skill helps m e get useful

information that I want quickly. It enables me to make friends with
various kinds of people, so i can have wide relations. Thanks to these
relations, 1 can get information easily. For example, I want to study
abroad, but I do not have any information about the country I should
choose. A t that time, I can receive much useful information from those
w ho used to study abroad more quickly than I try to find it myself. If I do
not hâve the interpersonal skill, 1 cannot make friends with them and get
information I need. T h e more friends I have, the better knowledge I can
ge,.
Also, people with the interpersonal skill can persuade others to do

something as well as gain assistance from them easily. For instance, a
m anager who has interpersonal skill would have more close relationship
with their staff. Therefore, when he asks his staff to do something, his
staff would try their best to help him. O n the other hand, a m anager who
does not have d o s e relationship with their staff would be assisted, but
their staff would work on their duty only, not help their boss with all their
heart; so, the result of both of work is totally different.
" A
Last but not least, if I have good interpersonal skill, I can express m y
ideas systematically, so others can understand me easily. Moreover,
w hen understanding me, they can find it easier to deal with me. Th a t is, I
can have larger relation with others. Besides, i will gain a diversity of
thoughts w information from m any various kinds of people if I can
express what I need concisely. Th is advantage will help me broaden m y
knowledge.
In conclusion, the communication skill is very important in our modern

time. Getting it is the best short cut to becom e a successful person
because that person would receive useful information easily, have som e

necessary assistance, and improve his attitude when he contacts m any
people. - Jv
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to achieve io gei, xo gain

2. to express to show
3. to persuade to convince
4. to deal with to contact
5. diversity (n) variety
6. concisely (adv) meaningfully
7. to broaden to improve
Jp
QUESTIONS FO B D ISC U SSIO N
1. Are you a skilful person? W hich skills do you have? How do those
skills help you with your life?
2. T o you, which skill is the most important one? W h y do you think so?
H ow has that skilled affect your life?
3. Do you think it is easy for you to contact people? In your opinion,
what should w e do to fall in line with others?
4. H ow did you feel when you went to work or attended some class on
the first day? How did you make friends with your colleagues or
classmates?
5. Are you a good listener? W hen we meet someone the first time,
should we talk much about ourselves?
6. W hat do you think about communication skill? H o w does it enable us
to make friends with others?
7. Is it easy for you to persuade others to do some thing for you? W hat
do you think about a m anager who has interpersonal skill?
8. Do you often speak in public? C an you express your ideas
systematically? Do you have any unforgettable memory of public
speaking?
9. W hat kinds of people need communication skill most? W hat should
we do to improve our communication skill? Do you think this skill is
the most important one for us to get success in our life now?
Bou> To S p e a k E nglish W ell ; 152

TO PIC 8 9 ; S H O P iP C M B [ M i L E A M E > f«H S H ?
With the tendency of globalization, people ,/^v

around the world speak a common
language - it is English. However, learning
a foreign language is not very easy at afi,
so more parents and schools are
recognizing the value of preparing very
young children for life in a broad international community.
Accordingly, human beings are best equipped to leam a language - any

language including their native tongue - when they are very young. Many
experts estimate that, by age 8-12, humans already lose the ability to
hear and reproduce new sounds, resulting in a, permanent foreign-
sounding accent in any language. Young children who are exposed to a
foreign language gain the natural ability to string words together and
pronounce them authentically from simply absorbing the spoken
language. In addition, compared to an older student, a child’s language
learning advantage is greatest in the area of pronunciation, somewhat
weaker in the area of grammar usage, and slight when considering the
size of their vocabulary.
Second, early exposure to a foreign language has proven to have some

very beneficial side effects. I t : said that second language has
stimulated children to improve their English verbal skills as well as their
general analytical skills, including math. When children realize that there
exists more than one way to express the same concept, it causes them
to question more actively why and how we say it in English, stimulating
precision and vocabulary growth in English. At the very young age, they
develop greater problem-solving skills, perform better in their native
language, and become more open to other cultures. Children also gain
the life-long ability to leam additional languages significantly more
quickly later in life, even unrelated languages.
At last, children are at an ideal age to gain proficiency in a foreign

language because if it is taught in a fun and stimulating manner, they
actually enjoy it. This is a complete contrast to most adults' visions of
memorizing complicated vocabulary lists and conjugating verbs! With
effective funny teaching, children naturally pick up - through fun and
games - what adults would have to memorize tediously. Through playing
mes, singing songs, creating art & cooking projects and participating
How To Speak English W ell 153

in story-telling, children naturally absorb and begin to use their .new
language effortlessly.
In short, preparing very young children for life in a broad international

community is a good thing to do, and it is easier for children to teaming a % : '
foreign language. However, we should not force the children to learn too
hard. Let’s them enjoy thèir learning.
V O C A BU LA K Y TCP
1. expert (n): specialist

2. to estimate to evaluate; to guess
3. permanent (a) stable
4. to be exposed: to be shown
5. authentically (adv)
5. to absorb to take up
7. to stimulate to encourage
8. precision (n ) accuracy; exactness
9. vision (n) mental picture
10. to conjugate fkGndC ugit] to inflect (a verb).
11. tediously boringly
12. effortlessly (adv) easiiy
Q U ESTIO N S F O R P I S C I SSIQM
1. How many children are there in your family? Are they good at their
learning? Which subjects are they best at?
2. Are they learning English? If yes, when did they start learning it?
Do they like it?
3. W hy do more parents force their very young children to learn
English? Do you agree with thé idea m at human beings are best
equipped to learn a language when they are very young?
4. How does a child usually learn languages, including his mother
tongue? W hat are his advantages and disadvantages in learning a
language?
5. Can you state some very beneficial side effects that early exposure
to a foreign language has proven? H ow far do you agree with the
idea that children are at an ideal age to gain proficiency in a foreign
language?
How do schools usually teach children languages? What can they
get through playing games or singing songs?
7. Will you let your children learn foreign languages at the very young
age? If your children do not like learning foreign languages, wh3t
note To Speak English t+eii

Dóng góp PDF bòi GV Nguyên Thanh Til W W W .FA CEBO O K.C O M /BO ID fO N G H O A H O CQ U Y N H O N
will you do? Do you think children will learn better if they are
forced?
8. W hat do you think about schools teaching children English in our
city? D o you think English should be the second language in our
country?
9. In you opinion, how can we learn English well? H o w long can a .
child speak and use English proficiently?
TO PIC 9 0 : T E L L m C LIES
It seems that people are telling lies more and more. O n m ass
media almost every day, there are stories about som e
important persons being accused of telling lies, and
at the sam e time, our parents and teachers are
telling us that it is not ok to tell lies.
W hen we were little kids, w hat w e wanted to do

most was pleasing our parents. A t that time, w e
sometimes thought that it woufd make our parents
mad if we told the truth about doing something
wrong, and then w e found that our parents got even m adder w hen w e
told a lie. W hen w e get older and w e know that telling the truth is
im portant we can still get lots of confusing m essages.
JV
D o you know w hy people tell lies? Here are som e of the reasons. S o m e
people tell lies to get out of trouble, to avoid getting into trouble or to
avoid embarrassment, to keep themselves safe like avoiding a stranger
asking something, to protect their privacy. T o others, they tell lies to
keep a friend out of trouble or to make themselves look m ore interesting
to others by exaggerating, bragging or boasting. T o children or
teenagers, they do that to get their own w ay with a parent or teacher to
avoid punishment.. For example, they say to their parents: “T h e teacher
says 1 don’t have to do the homework". Th e rest tell lies to keep secrets
or avoid hurting people's feelings.
However, m any people think that there are two kinds of lies, ’black’ lies
and ’white’ lies. T h e y think that ’back' lies are always bad, but ‘white’ lies
might be O K . Th u s, when is it never O K to tell lies? Sn m y opinion, it is
not good to upset or tease som eone like telling lies about som eone or
spreading rumors. Another case is to pretend that you have got
permission to do something when you haven't. In addition, nobody
accepts those who hide things belonging to others and pretend that they
B o te To S p e a k E nglish W ell 155

do not know where they are because this is not just teasing; it is unkind.
Moreover, we should not tell lies about people such as saying som eone
has told you something and it’s not true, blaming som eone else for X Sy
something you have done to get them into trouble and get you out of i j ^ | r
and cheating som eone or cheating in a test.
So, when is it O K to tell lies? I think it is ok when w e want to keep

ourselves safe, to use good manners as "Th a n k you. B u t I couldn't eat
another piece" in a meal so that your host can have the last piece of
cake or food, not to hurt people’s feelings as “Th ank y o u for a love ly
present." even it's not what you really want or its w hat you hate, and to
keep 'g o o d secrets like not telling your age or y o u r phone num ber.
In short, w e should know when w e tell lies. If there w ere no bad lies in
our life, no one would get hurt and the world w ould be a place w here
people could trust and respect each other.
1. confusing (a) doubtful

2. em barrassment [im’baerasmant] (n) confusion
3. to exaggerate to overstate
4. to brag to boast
5. to upset to sadden
6. rum or (n) word of mouth
7. to pretend to make up
8. to cheat to deceive; to trick
© V S F O R D ISC U SSIO N
1. W h y do people tell lies? In your opinion, is it necessary to tel! lies in

our life?
2. H ave you ever told lies? W hen do you often do that? H o w do you feel
when you deceive som eone?
3. W hen is it never O K to tell lies ?W h en is it som etim es O K to tell lies
(white lies)? Is saying nothing the sam e as telling lies?
4. W h o tell lies more often between men and w o m e n ? W hat do they
usually lie about? W here do they often do that?
5. D o you think that telling lies is good for love? W hat will you do if you
find out that you r partner tells you lies? H a ve you ever been in that
situation?
H ow To S p e a k E n g lish WeU. 156

6. W hat do you think when someone realizes that you are a liar? If you
realize that your dose friend tells you quite harmful lies to separate
your relation with someone (your partner, boss...), what will you do?
7. Do you think we should always tell the truth? W h y or why not? W hat
do you think about the saying: “Honesty is the best policy”? is it
always good for a person to be honest?
8 . W ho is the most skilful liar you know? H ow often do you meet them in
your life’
9. Do you have a sense of humor? Do you often play a joke on
someone? Do you like those who are always joking?
10. What can a liar get when telling lies? H o w can we recognize whether
a person tell the truth or lies?
TOPIC 9 1 ; HOW TO LEAfflV ENGLISH?
4 Sitting at a desk looking at your notebook is not the

best w ay to study English. Most of the time, your mind
is not actively using the information that you are
studying, and practical learning does not take place.
Here are some techniques that will help you learn
English more effectively outside the dassroom .
!V
If you start writing, you should remember all of the
interesting things that you can write about. Writing every day lets you
see your gram m ar clearly in front of you, express your ideas, and use a
non-oral method to communicate in English. After that, you can ask your
teacher to correct your writing. Then you should read the corrected
version out loud. It is a good idea to re-copy the corrected journal too, so
that you1will have th# experience in writing your ideas down in proper
English. Moreover, re-writing your dass notes every day is also very
useful because writing your notes a second time will allow you to
remember more strongly what you have studied. It will also make your
notebook neater and easier to study.
About reading, you should find a book or a paper that is not too difficult
to understand. I myself do not think it is embarrassing to start with
children’s picture books, in addition, you should not stop your reading
whenever you find a new word. A t that time, you try to guess what the
word probably means, continue reading, and check it up in your
dictionary at the end.
r V
H fnc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 157

Now, let’s take grammar into a ccou nt S o m any students "know”
grammar, but they cannot use it. Th is is because they rarely practice
linking the grammar they have studied to the speech center of the brain.
If your mouth is not comfortable using the gram m ar patterns, it will be
difficult to use them in everyday conversations. T o improve it, you should
repeat the example sentences or sentences you have corrected in class
in a dear, loud voice, and you are sure to practice while looking away
from the paper.
Learning vocabulary is what students most pay attention to. T o enrich

your vocabulary, you should have a vocabulary notebook, and try to take
an active approach to learning new vocabulary. Th is means you should
search for words that you want to know because it will be easier to
remember them. If the vocabulary book is not convenient, you should
have a note card with new words available in your pocket so that you
can learn them wherever you go.
T o improve your speaking skills, you should practice whenever you have
a chance. For example, you can speak lots of English with your friends
in different situations. Besides that, you can join any English Speaking
Clubs you know.
%
Last but not least, watching T V and movies, and listening to the radio or
music are also very useful w ays to improve your English. Even if you
don't understand everything, you will still be learning. It is possible to
understand the content even if you know only 3 0 % of the words that you
hear. Y o u r listening ability will improve day by day.
R e m e m b e r the more n you have with English, the easier it will be to

leam. E N J O Y English!
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to take place: to occur, to happen

2. version (n) paragraph, part
3. to take (s.o/s.th) into accou nt to consider s.th / s.o
4. to approach to come up to
QUESTIO NS FO R B1SCUSSIO N
1 W hat do you expect from your English? Please tell me your main
purposes and motivations to ieam English.
158
2. What do you think about teaching and learning English in our
country? W hat advantages and disadvantages do you have when
you leam English?
3. Have you got any difficulties when you are talking to someone in
English? If so, how do you overcom e them?
4. Am ong four skills: Listening, speaking, reading and writing, which
one is the most important and difficult in your opinion?
5. Could you please share your own experience in learning English with
me and tell me good w ays to improve each skill?
6. W hat can you derive from your study? W hat should you do to be a
good learner? Is it easy?
7. Do you think that the shyness and passiveness are reasons that
prevent you from improving your English? W hat should you do to
overcome these obstacles?
8. W hat is the importance of English language when it is used as an
international language?
9. In addition to your professional qualifications, is it necessary for you
to have a certain certificate of English?
TO PIC 9 2 ; m C m U Z E D ACTIONS
recent years, “U rb a n C iviliza tio n " in our city has been
mentioned by m ass media, schools, colleges or
residential areas because it shows progressive life of
city people, a iife-style in its high stage of
development. Throughout daily activities of city
people, w e can say that we have been building a
civilized life in the city. However, there are still so many
things and actions that cannot be accepted by any man in a
civilized society. Th u s, what are they?
Firstly, on several streets, even in the center of the city, we still see a lot
of rubbish. People still throw rubbish indiscriminately on streets. Th is
shows that their consciousness of keeping the city clean and tidy is stilf
low. Th is action m ay be considered “uncivilized” or “uncultured” one.
Secondly, it must be widely agreed that most of the city streets and
sidewalks have been widened or upgraded in recent years.
Unfortunately, in almost every street the sidewalk is still “encroached
upon* by vendors, food shops, news stands ... T h e y spoil the beauty of
the city.
H o w T o Speck E nglish Well 159

Then, people s consciousness of obeying traffic regulations is also what
should be mentioned. O n the street, m a n y people intentionally break
traffic regulations by riding their bikes at high speed on crowded streets,
crossing the street against traffic lights, and parking in the wrong place.
Th e se scenes should be prevented in a civilized city.
W h a f s m ore? T h e image of a group of children following foreign tourists

to persuade them to buy cigarettes, candy, books o r other small articles
should not be present in a civilized city. T h e w orse thing is that m any of
these children take advantages of the tourists' negligence tQ steal their
things or to m ug their watches, cam eras... Tourists will never have good
impressions on our city if they are victims of this.
In addition, sometimes we still see som e uncultured people urinating or

spitting on the street. .
* * *
T o build up a cultured, civilized and m odern city, w e m ust prevent the
above actions. However, how can we do that? Let's share our
suggestions in today’s discussion.
m eans of communication
developing
cultural
uncontrolledly
awareness
occupied
street seller
to make use of
ignorance
to attack
to make water
to cough up
Q UESTIO NS FO R P lS C t SSIO tt
1. W hat is the Urban Civilization? W hat does it mean to you?

2. W h y does the Urban Civilization becom e a problem to us? C a n you
give som e examples to show that m any people in the city still have
peculiar ways of living which can’t be considered "civilization”?
W h a t do you think about the w ays of living of the: city-dwellers?
W hich ones should be praised? Which ones should be criticized?
IT . 160
4 . Do you agree that the level of civilization of the city is judged through .
the w ay of living of its people, for example, their consciousness of
traffic rules while travelling on the road; their behaviors; their attitudes
while dealing with others...?
5. W hat do you think of people who hawk and spit on the streets w h ilC y
riding their motorbikes?
6. O n the w ay to school, work, home or somewhere, sometimes you
see some people unconsciously urinating in the public places. H o w
do you feel? Do you think they are uncultured ones? W hat’s your
solution?
7. According to you, which factor is the most important to carry out the
Urban Civilization? W hat actions should w e take account to
educate people to have good consciousness and responsibilities for
building a civilized life? j P
8. W e have talked m uch about the Urban Civilization, how about the
Rural Civilization? Do you know how the countrymen live, work and
entertain?
9. W hat should we do to improve the country people’s life? H o w ca we
build up a civilized life in those places?
T O P IC 9 3 ; TH E I!\ L K A JR M ^ «
In the last few years the num ber of teachers and

students using computers to teach and learn has
increased markedly, and this plays an important
role in education in the 21st century. O ne of the
w ays to use computers in education is using the
Internet. Although the potential of the Internet
for educational use has not been fully exploited
yet in our country, it is obvious that we have
entered a new information age in which the link between
technology and education has already been established.
T h e development of the Internet brought with it a revolution in teachers’
and learners’ perspectives, and it becom es more and more reliable
because of the following benefits:
A t first, the Internet is an experiential learning tool. T h e World W ide W eb

makes it possible for students to tackle a huge amount of human
experience. In such a way, they can learn by doing things themselves.
4^ ftie y become the creators, not just the receivers of knowledge like going
r^ C t o traditional classes. Moreover, information is presented in a non-linear
Ho*r To S p e a k E nglish W ell 161

way, and users develop m ore flexible thinking skills or choose what to
explore more easily.
Th e n, it motivates students to study more. A s far as we know, computers

are most popular am ong students as they are often associated with fun
and games. Students’ motivation is therefore increased, especially
w henever a variety of activities are offered. Th is in turn makes students
feel more independent.
Next, the internet enhances students’ achievement. Do you agree with

me that network-based instruction can help us strengthen our linguistic
skills? I myself think so because this kind of instruction m ay positively
affect our attitude towards learning and help us build self-instruction
strategies as well as promote our self-confidence. Moreover, it supports
students with authentic materials for study. AJI students can use various
resources of authentic reading materials either at school or at home.
Th ose materials can be accessed 24 hours a day at a relatively low cost.
Th e Internet also creates greater interaction am ong students. By

sending e-mails and joining forums, students can communicate with
people they have never met. Furthermore, som e Internet activities give
students positive and negative feedbacks by automatically correcting
their on-line exercises. It is more important that shy or inhibited students
can be greatly benefited by student-centered collaborative learning.
In short, the Internet is very useful education in the new period of the
development and integration. It becom es a strongly effective tool for
teachers’ and students’ work. 1 hope that in the near future, many
schools in Vietnam will use the Internet in their instruction.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. markedly (adv) remarkable
2. to exploit to use; to develop
3. revolution (n) new way
4. perspective (n) idea
5. reliable (a) believable
6. to tackle to try; to attempt
7. non-linear variable
JL flexible (a) changeable
9 . to associate to combine
10. to enhance to increase
a % 11. attitude (n) reaction
I Q r 12. authentic (a) real; native
13. to access to enter
14. collaborative (a) cooperative
362
QUESTIO NS FO R D IS C U S S !« »
1. Do you often use the Internet? H o w m any hours a day do you use
the Internet? D o you think our lives have been improved by the
internet? ’ \
2. D o you use the Internet for fun or education? W hat are som e of the
w ays the Internet can be used for education? W hat are some of the
ways the internet can be used for entertainment?
3. Which sites do you most com m only access? W hat is the best thing
about the Internet? W h at problems does the Internet create? W hat
problems does it solve?
4. D o you have more m any e-mail addresses? W h y do you need more
than one e-mail address? Do you think that email is a good w a y for
people to com m unicate?
5. W hat do you think about chatting on the internet? H ave you ever
chatted on the internet? W h y do m any people 8ke it now?
6. W h y is there too m uch sex on the Internet now? Is it dangerous to
meet people on the Internet? W ould you like to go on a date with
someone you meet on the Internet?
7. Do you think that it is important for schools to have Internet access?
W h y? C a n you believe all the information that is published on the
Internet?
computer gam es? W hich games are young people most interested
in?
9. Do you think that meeting people is easier than meeting people face
to face? W ould you consider going out with som eone that you met on
the Internet? yJf7
10. W hat do you think about online courses? M any students use the
Internet to help therm do their assignments and they just cut and
paste information from the Internet. W hat do you think about this?
11. Do you think that search engines always give you the best sites? is
this good or bad for both the employer and employee to know each
other on the Internet? If you em ploy som eone via the Internet, how
do you check if the person is giving you truthful information?
12. D o you know any school or university in our country has been using
the Internet in its instruction? W hich one do you prefer between
learning with a com puter and leaning at traditional classes? W hat do
you think about communicative skills if we take this kind of learning?
13. Do you think traditional classes will disappear in the future
because they will be replaced by this new kind of learning?
163
IS'guyên B ô n g A n h , M A . in T E S O t
T O P IC 9 4 ; M O B IL E P 1IO Y E S
No one can deny the fact that the mobile

phone has a lot of good effects on our life. It
makes us communicate m ore conveniently
and m akes us keep in touch with others
everywhere. But every coin has tw o sides.
After owing a mobile phone, I find I have less
privacy, lose m y good habits, and spend
more money.
I am often woken by the ring of m y mobile phone, just m y friends

wanting to tell m e a joke, and m y happy weekend time is often broken by
m y boss, just because he needs m e to work overtime. In addition, I
haven’t been able to enjoy a whole quiet day since the day i owned the
mobile phone. However, it is an interesting thing that I will be upset if I
have m y mobile phone power off. I don’t know if I have begun to rely on
it, so m y mobile phone is on 24 hours a day.
I find the em ergence of mobile phones m ake us lose good habits, such
as punctuality. Previously, when we had a date with som eone, w e tried
our best to arrive on time. But now, because of the mobile phone, w e are
not afraid of being late any more. If we are likely to be late, w e will call
him and say “I am sorry I will be late.”
V
T h e third thing is that the mobile phone m akes me spend more money.
With the developm ent of science, the mobile phone has changed it
models more and m ore quickly, and } can’t keep pace with its changes. I
have experienced quick changes from big mobile phones to advanced
mobile phones that can download films or take and send pictures. T h e
fact is that i have changed m y mobile phone for three times, so I spend
too m uch m one y on it.
In short, óf course, we can’t com e back to the time of no phones, and I

can’t im age the time that w e had no p h o n e s . T h e mobile phone gives us
a lot of good things, but w e should not neglect the bad aspects.
> 0
n o w l o S p e a k E nglish WeU
VOCABULARY T IP
1. privacy (n) being private

2. to rely on to depend on
3. punctuality (n) being on time
4. to keep pace with to catch up witt
5. aspect (n) field
1. Do you have a cell phone? How many people in your family have a
cell phone? W ho is the youngest person you know who has a cell
phone?
2. How long have you had a cell phone? Which cell phone company
do you use? How long have you used that company?
3. Who do you call most often? About how many text messages do
you send in a day? How much do you spend a month on your cell
phone? W ho pays for your cell phone?
4. What do you think of mobile phones? What kind of features does
your cell phone have? W h y have you decided not to have a cell
5. Could you live without your mobile phone? What are some of the
advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones?
6. At what age do kids now get cell phones? When did you first get a
cell phone? Have your parents ever been angry with you because
of your phone use?
7. Do you know how to use all-the functions on your phone? Does it
ever bother you when people use their cell phones? Are you
allowed to have your mobile telephone switched on in class?
8. How many cell phones have you destroyed? What was the most
expensive phone cali you ever made?
9. Is it illegal to speak on your cell phone while you are driving in your
country? Do you think it should be illegal to speak on your cell
phone while driving? Is it in bad taste to leave your cel! phone on
when you are at a restaurant?
Has your cell phone ever broken down? What did you do when
your cell phone last malfunctioned? Have you ever lost your
phone? Has your phone ever been stolen?
B o w To Speak English W ell 165

TOPIC 95: HOW TO WI1\ PEO PLE’S H EARTS
In our modern time, if we know how to win others’

heart, we will be more successful. O nce w e have w oh
a person’s affection, we have a new friend who will be
helpful for us in our life. Surely, we are different, so the
ways to win people’s heart are different, tcy® in this
topic, I would like to share with you some w a y s to win
people’s heart.
Firstly, we should becom e sincerely interested in other

people. If we want to make friends with others, we
.»«.____ must first be interested in them. If we merely try to
make impression on them, and get them to be interested in us, w e will
meet a lot of difficulties in our relation later.
Then, when we first meet someone, we should make him/her happy by

smiling or by creating an atmosphere of cheerfulness because we look
friendly at that time. Rem em ber that most people dislike making friends
with those w ho easily get aggressive or are always serious.
Thirdly, we should show ourselves good listeners Th is is, we can

encourage others to talk about themselves or to share their opinions in
the conversation. It is said that being a good conversationalist is being a
good listener.
Another w ay I myself think it is effective is talking about what others are

interested in. People often like us to talk about what they have good
knowledge of. Th u s, they have chances to take part in our conversation.
In fact, people usualfy feel uncomfortable if we talk too much about
ourselves.
Last but not least, it is giving people compliments sometimes, but we
should not give cheap flattery. W hen we do that, others feel happy and
think that they are useful for us.
Th ose mentioned m ay not be enough to talk about communication skills.

T o make our topic more diversified, display your experience please.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to win s.o’s heart to win s.o’s affection
4 ^ 2 . sincere (n) true
3. aggressive (a) hot-tempered
4. flattery (n) excessive, insincere praise
366
O IT S liO fV S F O B D ISC ISSIO N
1. W hat does “winning people's heart” mean? Have you ever won
anyone’s heart?
2. W hat are the advantages of winning others’ affection? W hat
happens if people around you hate you?
3. W h y should we becom e interested in other people? W h a t do you
think of those who are not interested in you?
4. W h y should w e be a good listener and not talk m uch about
ourselves? W hat do you think about those who are talkative? Are
you talkative?
5. it’s said that, “A merry heart helps you overcome m any difficult
cases” W hat do you think of it? Do you think hum or is the key to
happiness?
6. W hat do you com m ent on the saying, “ Honesty is the best policy
“ ? D o you apply it in your life? If you like som e one, how can you
let him/her know your feeiing?
7. W hat are effective w ays to conquer a girl’s heart? W hat should a
man do to make impression on a girl at the first meet?
8. (fs said that, “ M en often teH a lie when they make friend with
g i r i ^ . is it true?
9. W hat will you, as a m an, do if a girl refuses all y o u r efforts to win
her heart? D o you still keep running after her w hen you know that
she has already had a boyfriend?
10. If a man invites you, as a girl, to go for a drink m any times, do you
think he really pays attention to you? W hat have you drawn from
today’s discussion?
TO PIC !H>= DORM O R A PA BT M EN T ?
Students are often able to choose whether

they want to live in a dormitory in a
university cam pus or to live in a separate
apartment in the community. E ach of these
environments has its advantages. T o me, I
prefer living in a dormitory because a dorm
offers me a lot of chances to learn how to
live with others and to improve m y
communication skills.
vvnen i live with m y roommates, l must adjust m y eating and sleeping

habits according to each other’s needs, Also, ! must arrange my free
B o w To S p e a k English. W ell 167

time in such a w ay that I do hoi bother others white they .are studying.
Moreover, the structure of the dorm has som e aspects that are similar to
those in an office, a workplace or an organization. Th is means 1 have to
follow rules m ade by the community. T h u s , by adapting to conditions o|i
living in the dormitory, 1 can learn how to live with others, which is very
useful for m y future life.
Moreover, the environment in the dorm is friendly and understanding.

From it, I can improve m y communication skills. Because of com ing from
different places in the country, we can share m any new things together,
-o r example, w e can understand cultures, customs and habits, or
behaviors of people living in other localities. Th en, if we have problems,
>adness, or happiness in life, we can confide them to others. Likewise, if
fail to understand the lecture presented in class, l can ask m y
oommates for an explanation. Similarly, it is much easier for us to
:hoose a com m on topic to chat about or an interesting activity to
rractice in our free time because all of us are of the same situations and
»nditions. Th a nks to these activities, I can improve m y communication
kills to a great extent
n conclusion, living in the dormitory brings m e many benefits to improve

rtyself- However, it depends on each student’s interests and characters
3 choose a suitable place for his accommodation.
OCABCLARY T IP
. to adjust to alter, to change
. to bother to disturb
. to adapt to get used to
. to confide to open your heart to
Q U ESTIO NS F O B DISCUSSIO N
Are you a student or are you working now? If you are a student,
which university do you go to ? W here do you live?
Do you prefer to live in a dorm or in an apartment? W h at are
advantages of living in a dorm ? Do you think you must change your
habits if living with others?
Should w e arrange our free time living in a dorm? If yes, w hy do we
have to d o that? W hat do- you think of the social structure of the
dorm com m unity?
Should w e have any rules in the dorm ? What rules do you think we
should set up? W h at should w e do to get along with others in the
dorm ? /.'■
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5. What do you think about the environment in the dorm? D o you think
living here, we can improve our communication skills? How can we
do that?
6. What do comment on life in a separate apartment in the.
community? Do you think, living in a separate apartment, we have
more privacy and experiences in the real life?
7. Is it important to have privacy? If yes, why is ft important? H ow do
you feel if someone disturbs you when you are studying?
8. W hat do you think about rooms-for-rent in our city? W h y are they
so popular now? Are they cheap or expensive? W hat do you think
about living condition in these rooms?
9. What do you think about cohabitation among students now? Do you
think a room-for-rent is a good place for student to cohabit?
TO PIC 97s W ITH OH W ITHOUT THE TEACHER?
With the development of the m odem

technology, students can approach m any
sources of information and materials on the
Internet to study themselves. However, I do
not think that students can be successful in
their study without the teachers assistance
or guidance. Th e following are several
beneficial reasons why I think that teachers
are necessary.
Primarily, teachers are necessary for us to get guidance and assistance

in a particular field or subject. Th ey give us a systematic and better w ay
to approach our subjects. A s far as we are concerned, a teacher
normally teaches subjects on which he or she has expertise. Hence,
he/she can help us understand our subjects deeply. Th is guidance m ay
be in the form of giving us notes or names of reference books. Without
the teacher, if would be extremely cumbersome for us to go through
large libraries for a certain topic.
Besides this, the teacher could provide us with solutions to any sort of
problem that we come across while we are studying. Without the
teacher, it will take us a lot of valuable time to soive it or it m ay remain
unsolved. Th e teacher can also point out our mistakes and suggest ways
for us to correct them.
H aw To S p e a k E nglish W ell 169

In short, success or failure mostly depends on the individual, but the
learning process can be made much simpler with the proper and
continuous guidance of our teachers. So, it is better to leam with
help of a teacher rather than learning by ourselves. I hope you will agree
with me. Jk?
c r
VOCABULARY T IP Jp "
1. to approach t o c o m e u p to
2. primarily (adv) m a in ly
3. expertise (n) e x p e r t s k ill o r k n o w le d g e
4. extremely (adv) vely very
5. cumbersome (n) p ro b le m
6. to come across to o v e r c o rp s
7. to point out to s h o w
.
1. Are you working or are you still going to school? Are / were you a
good student? Which subjects are/were you good at?
2. Do you think it is very easy for us to study now with the development
of the modem technology? Can we get success in study without the
teacher’s help? W hy / why not?
3. How necessary is the teacher in our study? W hen you have problems
with your lessons at school, who do you often share them with - your
teachers or your classmates?
4. What do you think of your teachers during your university education?
How much do they help you?
5. Do your teachers give you a lot of homework? How do you of ten do
your homework? Do you do them alone or with a group of students?
6. What do you think about ways of teaching in high education in our
country? Do you think all students understand what the teachers
teach them?
7. Do you often cut class? If yes, why do you do that? Have you ever
felt bored by your class environment?
8. In which situation should we teach ourselves? What are advantages
of teaching ourselves? If-you teach yourself, how can you solve your
problems if they arise?
Do you think computers and the Internet and replace teachers in the
future? What do you think about study online? Have you ever taken
it?
170
TO PIC 9 8 : BO DY LANGUAGE
W hen we communicate with other people, it is not only our

words but also our body language that contains the
meaning, and ft is called ’non-verbal communication.
Th is kind of communication includes facial
expressions, gestures with hands, arms, or legs, the
w a y w e sit or stand, the w ay w e touch other people,
the distance we keep between ourselves and the
people we are talking to, and our appearance. All these
say something to other people.
First of all, facia! expressions and gestures are often used

spontaneously or unconsciously. Smiling, for example, is found in most
cultures as a sign of happiness or pleasure. Gestures such as pointing,
waving, shaking or nodding the head are also widely used although the
gestures themselves do not always mean the sam e in every culture.
However, if we abuse our smiles, we m ay be misunderstood. For
example, if w e smile too much at work, people think we m ay not seem to
be serious about our work.
In addition, because m any non-verbal m essages are 'specific cultures',

they can cause a lot of misunderstanding among people from different
backgrounds. Northern Europeans and Am ericans, for example, like to
keep a certain 'personal space’ between them selves and others and feel
uncomfortable if people come too close to them. In these sam e cultures,
it is considered impolite to stare, but it is said G reeks feel ignored if
people do not stare at them in pubfic. Europeans usually change their
facia! expressions to Show happiness, anger, boredom, or sadness. For
this reason, they call oriental people the 'inscrutable' because they
change facial expressions much less.
. .
In styles of dress, we also make important statements about ourselves.
Dress codes are greatly various from one culture to another, and it is
easy to make mistakes about people’s status if w e don not know the
cultural norm. In some cultures, officials and employees usually w ear
short-sleeved, open-neck shirts without jackets. Th is casual dress would
not be acceptable in others, where suits and ties are a sign of
seriousness. W om en in western cultures wear classic clothes in sober
colors to indicate their dedication to career.
4 7
171
O n e of the main differences between verbal and non-verbal
communication is that w e are often not conscious of the expressions and
gestures w e use, so w e are in danger of giving m ore information than we
really want to, or even of giving a conflicting m essage with our body
language to the one expressed in our words.
In short, I am sure that body language plays a key role in

communication. It can help us understand others better thanks to their
features of body language such as eye contact, facial expressions,
proximity, postures, or gestures. So, try to express yourself by your body
language. J r
1. verba! (a) Spoken

2. facial expression (n) look
3. gesture (n) sign; motion
4. spontaneously (a) unexpectedly
5. boredom (n) monotony; sadness
6. oriental (a) Eastern
7. inscrutable (a) hard to make out
8. code (n) rule
9. norm (n standard
10. sleeve (n) cloth to cover the arm
11. casual (a) informal
12. sober (a) plain
13. to indicate to point out
14. dedication (n ) devotion
1$. proxim ity (n) nearness
O U U SnO A S F O B M SC U SSIO M
1. Do you often touch som e one when you m eet him/her? W h en talking
to som e one, how close do you sit?
2 . D o you usually make eye contact w hen dealing with som e one? Do
you openly express your em otions?
3. W h e n you m eet som eone for the first time, how do you greet him or
her? Do you use the sam e greeting for m en as for w o m e n ?
4. H ow do you greet your friends? H o w do you greet a friend of the
opposite sex? H o w do you greet m em bers of you r 'family m em bers
like children, adults, old people? %
5. W hich gestures are impolite in your cuiture? C a n you describe three
gestures you Use frequently and say w hat they m ean?
H oic T o S p e a k E n g lish W ell 172
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5. How would you expect the following people to dress: a dentist / a ;
bank /a m anager / a teacher / a shop assistant / a secondary school /
a student?
7. Th is question for gentlemen. If a girl walks up to you, looks into your i p
eyes for a few seconds, then asks, "Could you tell me the time?”, do
you think she really wants to know what time it is?
8. T h is question for ladies. A guy walks up to you slowly, keeps his eyes
on you, then says, "Excuse me. Do you know where 1 can mail a
letter around here?", do you think he's desperate to find a post
office?
9. W hen you’re chatting with som eone, do you smile, nod, notice his/her
expressions; lean against a wall or put your bags down?
10. W hen you sit down with someone, do you: sit up straight with your
legs crossed; lean in towards him/her; sit close with your hands at
your side?
TOPIC 99z K EEPING ACHDEVIIW O UB GOALS
Truly, everyone has his goals in life. These

goals, however, sometimes seem to be so far
off, and our progress often appears to be so
painfully slow that we have a tendency to lose
heart. Well, there are ways to beat this. Th e
purpose of m y writing is to share with you
som e ways to achieve our goals one after
another in the years ahead.
First of all, you should get your goals step by step. Needless to say, a
lifetime is comprised of days strung together into weeks, months and
years, so let’s reducd- rt to a single day, then to each task of that day
because a successful life is nothing more than a lot of successful days
put together. It is going to take so m any days to reach our goals. W e try
to do that as a stonemason puts one stone to build up a big building. If
each stone is successfully placed, the building will be finished. If, on the
other hand, the stones are put down in a hit-or-miss fashion, the whole
building is in danger. Similarly, it's a good and logical way to get our
success in life.
)n addition, we should have plans for our days and put them into
practice. Then, let's take them one day at a time, from the time we wake
in the morning until we drop-off to sleep at night, keeping our goal in
mind as often as possible. Each day consists of a series of tasks, and

the success of a day depends upon the successful completion of most of
these tasks. If everything we do during the day is in the best fashion of
which we are capable, w e can have a sound sleep that night because
we' have done our best. A t that time, our day has been a success
because one more stone has been successfully put into its place.
fn Vietnam, we have a very good saying that “never leave what we can
do today until tomorrow”. Th u s, do each day ail what we can. However,
we do not need to overwork or to rush blindly into our work; we should
try to do the greatest possible number of things in the shortest possible
amount of time. Gradually, we will find ourselves increasing the number
of tasks and performing them all much more efficiently.
However, we are different, so we might have different points of view

about getting our success. W h y don’t we share them with each other?
V O C A B U LA R Y T IP
to lose heart become discouraged

to comprise " , to include or contain
Ex: The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics
to string - strung - strung %. to extend or stretch
stonemason (n) ^ a person who buSds houses
hit-or-miss careless; inattentive
sound sleep (n) good sleep
O U C S T IO r c S F O R P IS C C S S IO V
1. W hat is success? W hat does it mean to you?

2 . Do you think success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal?
W hat should you do to achieve your success?
3. Do you think the more m oney we g e t the more successful we are?
C a n m oney bring us happiness? Are the rich always happy?
4. D o you think success can come to us by accident? Is it right to say
that a successful man has to pay a high cost for it?
5. W h o is happier between a rich m an without knowledge and a poor
m an with wide knowledge? W ho will be successful?
6 . W h y should we build blocks of a successful life? Is a lifetime
comprised of days strung together into weeks, months and years?
H ow .can we put our idea into practice? Do you agree that from the
time we wake up in the morning until we drop-off to sleep at night,
keeping our goal in mind as often as possible?
174
8 . W hat does the success of a day depend upon? H o w do you feel
when everything w e do during the day is a success?
9. W hat do you think about the saying, “Never leave what w e can do
today until tomorrow”? Is it necessary to overwork or to rush blindly
into our work?
TO PIC HHh ma»M6 f> V IETNAM
W edding is a custom, a w ay of living, and a trait of

culture of the people, ancL the society for a long
. time. During the different periods, there are different
"details, but the m eaning and the spirit.of a wedding
remain unchanged.
In the old days, there were many,.sophisticated

customs, but nowadays three main IW p s are still
remained. T h e first one is the p re -e n g a g e m e n t in
which the man and his family with betrothal
presents such as bet£i ancf areca com e to the wom an's family to ask for
,a promise of marriage. T h e n .jt is the e n g a g e m e n t lt-is an important
cerem ony singe^fcfjs considered the formal ^ n g a ^ m e ia t Th e
parents, close relatives and the groom, along with betrothal presents
such as betel and areca, tea, cake and jam, fruits etc. go to the bride’s
family for an ancestral cerem ony. T h e last one is the w e d d in g .
T h e wedding ceremonies are usually held at good hours. O n that day,

the bridegroom ’s family will ask a n elderly man whose wife is still alive
and has a happy family to represent them to meet and bring the bride
home. Th e n , the -bridle and b rid ^ro p m .w i.ll “p in k th re a d ”
c e re m o n y to e g r e s s their gratitude to the match-making G od and
Goddess who have brought them to each other. After that, com es the
new ly-w ed’s c o n ju g a l rites in which they will w ear rings and share a
glass of wine with each other.
KG,
In the past, only intimate relatives jand^friends. were invited to wedding
parties held mostly at home, and congratuiafocy gifts are simple likewall
hangings, tea of wine, trays of ^sticky rice or boxes of cakes. However,
nowadays, the rich and the poor usually celebrate their wedding,.parties
at hotels or restaurants. G uests come to the party with their envelopes of
m oney. Th e n, the bride and groom go to every table for presentation,
accompanied by their parents or relatives. Th ere is a table put right at
3cnc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 175

hguyên H o n g A n h , M J L in T E S O L
C Cw.
tiie doorway where guests can present their m oney or presents. Th en
they sign their signatures for memory. -
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Gifts no longer carry the sentimental,or spiritual m essages as they used
to be. Now, they are more pracrtic^f:' m oney, gold, jewels or household
appliances. In som e cases, some parents even a tte m ^ y p make profits
from their children's weddings. W hen the wedding is overhand the doors
are closed, they calculate; m oney to see whether they get profits or
losses. * * »* «* »' tit* W *c •
V O C A B IL 4K Y T IP
1. spirit (n) strength of mind

2. trait (n) feature
3. sophisticated (a) complicaitî
4. betrothal (n) a mutual promise to many
5. betel and areca träucau
6. ancestral (a) family
7. gratitude (n) .îkikfulness
8. intimate (a) very dose
9. sticky rice (n) A xb i
10. sentimental (a) emotional
11. to attempt to try
12. to calculate to count
QUESTIONS FO R M SCUSSIOM
1- How many stages are there in our traditional wedding? What are the
customs and ways of the wedding? Do you want to follow these ways
if you get married?
2. What do you comment on the custom of ‘'bargain fo r the w e d d in g
p re s e n ts ’? If you can not meet their demand, what should you do?
How will you celebrate your wedding party?
3. What are important decisions in one’s life? Is a marriage decision the
most important one? W hat does a marital life mean to you? What
importance is attached to a marriage decision?
4. W hat do couples expect from their marriage life? W hat influences
you to decide on youF m arriage? Should parents decide their
children’s marriages? W hat are the influences of the parents to your
choice of your partner?
A s saying goes, “Y o u ’ll o n ly b e lo s e rs in a n y w a y if y o u d o n ’t
fo llo w y o u r p a re n ts ’ a d v ic e .” W hat do you thin$c of the idea,
“C h ild re n s h o u ld d o w h a t the ir p a re n ts want"?
Hotc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 176

6 . Are you for or against the young have to make their decision on their
own marriage? How a bout the parents? Should they leave ft for
young couples to their own marriage?
7. W hat roles do love play in one’s marriage? Is it true that love after
marriage is not the same as it used to be? W hat are responsibilities
of a husband and a wife in protecting family happiness after
marrying?
8 . W h y are there more and more couples getting divorced, especially
the young? W hat should you do to keep your love alike after getting
married?
9. W hat do you think about Vietnamese girts m arry foreigners? Do you
know the reason why they get married to each other? W hat are the
difficulties between such couples? W hat should they do to bridge the
gap between them ?
10. Do you think that their marriages will last long and they are happy?
W hat do you comment the situation that m any newspapers are
talking about marriages between Vietnamese girls and Taiw anese?
And about Vietnam ese wives want to com e back their Father Land?
Do you know what happen to them?
TO PIC 10 1 : FACE-TO-FACE C O M M im C A T IO fl
In our m odem time, we possess various means

of communication that help people contact
together easily. T h e y include letters, e-mails,
mobile phones, or telephones. However, in my
opinion, I think that no means is more effective
titan face-to-face communication in which \ can
get detailed information, immediate feedback, and
correct meaning.
Firstly, face to face dialogue affords me the opportunity to convey my

message in a more detailed and complete way. Moreover, unlike written
words or those spoken on the telephone, I can show m y emotions,
moods and expressions in a face-to-face interaction. By using tone,
facial gestures and body language, I can make the listener understand
my ideas clearty. F o r example, by leaning forward on m y chair and
opening my arms, I can convey m y interest in the conversation.
Another benefit that face to face communication provides me is the

immediate feedback. I can clarify any confusion right away. Due to the
E oic To S p e a k E nglish W ell 177

presence of audiences, and the dem and to keep the conversation going,
i not only concentrate on the topic, but also try to get audiences’
attention. Moreover, 1 can repeat what I am saying or I can speed up or
slow down m y speech. 1 do that because I can get feedback immediately
from listeners.
Next, it m ay not be denied that the need for accuracy is the m ost
important in communication. In face-to-face communication, if the
listener does not understand what I say, I can repeat it m any times.
Moreover, I can say the sam e things in m any ways. Moreover, if I make
mistakes and use half-finished sentences, I can correct it at once to
m ake m y speech dear.
In short, l can say that writing is more tim e-consum ing as well as
requires m ore formal skills than speaking, and telephones m ay make us
misunderstand our partners. So, I prefer face-to-face communication.
1. to possess
2. to afford
3. to convey % to express
4. mood (n) state; temper
5. tone (n) manner, pitch
6. to lean to bend over
7. to clarify to make dear
8. accuracy (n) exactness; correctness
QUESTIO NS FO R P lS C ü S S IO fl
1. Do you enjoy meeting people? W hat kinds of people do you often

meet or contact? About how m any new people do you meet a week?
2. W hat are ]Bome good things to ask som eone you have just met?
W hat are som e things you shouldn't ask people you have just m et?
3. W hat do you think about personal questions? is it O K to ask a
person's age, marital status, or salary in your country?
4. Are you nervous w hen you are introduced to someone new? W hat
/ /:a're som e w ays to overcom e being nervous about meeting new
people?
5. W here are som e good places to meet people? W h y do people
choose those places? W hat do you think about first impression? How
important are first impressions to you ? Do you often trust the first
impression?
Bote To S p e a k E nglish W ell

6. How m any m eans of communication do you often use? T o you,
which m eans is the most effective one?
7. W hat do you think of communicating by letters, e-mails, mobile
phones, or telephones? W hat do you think about face-to-face
communication? ' A
8. Do you often show m y emotions, moods or expressions when talking
to som eone? D o you think our body language is important in bbr
conversations? If yes, how important is it?
9. If your partner does not understand what you have said, what do you
often do to make yourself understood? Have you ever been
misunderstood that it caused the big trouble to you? If yes, what
happened? H o w did you solve your problem?
TO PIC 102: EATÏÏNG AIM» BREVTÜ\G VS

VIETNAM 3 ?
Vietnamese food is varied, distinctive and

generally healthy. Traditionally, cooking is
done over a fire, so preparation is by boiling,
steaming, barbequing and frying.
V
A meal in our country is a complete entity
with marry dishes; there is no concept of
‘courses’ apart from ‘soup’ that follows the
meal. Meals are taken communally, used with bowls, chopsticks and
spoons, and are accompanied by an arrangement of sauces, salads and
so on. Correct etiquette is to part-fill your bowl with rice using a spoon,
then use the chopsticks to transfer pieces of meat, fish or whatever, first
to the sauce or dip of your choice, then to your bowl, and finally to your
mouth.
A. ^ 7
Piling food on top of the rice, pouring sauces into your bowl or
transferring food direct from the communal bowl to your mouth are all
mildly frowned upon. It’s perfectly acceptable to bring the bowl almost to
your lips and use the chopsticks to scoop it into your mouth. However,
using the spoon to eat solid food wiii be looked upon with pity by
Vietnamese people.
Vietnamese people also like eating out. Typically, Vietnamese food is

cheap, nutritious and mostly delicious. It can be obtained from vendors,
food shops and restaurants everywhere. It seems to be a culture that
Vietnamese peopie like enjoying food in the open-place like side-waiks.
R out To S p e a k English W eil 179

In addition, eating out in Vietnam is far more common than in Western
countries. Usually, the main meals are cooked at home. Breakfast is a
ligfjt meal, and is usually eaten out. Dinner is the main and important
meal because it is the time for the family reunion.
About drinking, Vietnamese usually like having tea, coffee and beer or
wine. Drinking tea is an essential accompaniment to a discussion at
work, a visit from a friend, or just about any other conversations that
involve sitting down. In addition, coffee drinking has becom e fashionable
among young people, especially after work or at weekends. Finally,
drinking alcohol or beer is so popular in Vietnam. However, people
usually do not stop until they are drunk.
In short, Vietnam ese customs and habits of eating and drinking are very
respectful, various and diversified. W herever they are, they still keep
those cultures. ■
VOCABULARY T IP
I. distinctive (a) individual; typicai

Z entity (n) unit; being; creature
3. communally (adv) commonly
4. etiquette (n) manner, custom
5. to part-fill to fill a part
6. mildly (adv) gently; kindly
7. frowned upon displeasure
8. to scoop to dig; to measure
9. pity (n) shame
10. essential (a) important
II. accompaniment (n) addition
1. H ow m any m eals do you have a day? W hat are they? Do you often
eat something between main meals?
2. W hat kinds of food do you eat most often? W h y? What is your
opinion about an ideal meal?
3. Does this kind of food express your personality? W hat do you think
are bad habits to avoid in eating?
4. W hat influences your appetite in eating? H o w much does food
influence your health? Do you eat before the bedtime?
5. W here would you like to eat (at home, in a restaurant, in a canteen,
in a cafeteria, at a party)? W hat are reasons for people to eat out?
H air T o S p e a k E nglish W ell 180

6. W hat do you think about Vietnamese food? Do you often enjoy
foreign food? C an you make a comparison between our food and
the foreign one?
7. W hat are typical kinds of Vietnamese food? Can you tell differences
among food in the North, the Central, and the South?
8. D o you think the atmosphere affect a lot to our appetite? Do you
eat to live or live to eat? W hat do you know about Vietnamese
customs and habits in eating and drinking?
9. W hen coming to a party with strange dishes you don’t like to eat,
would you ask the host to change the food for you o r would you try?
10. W hat do you know about the art of eating and drinking? What do
you think about the w ay Vietnamese enjoy buffets?
TO PIC 1 0 3 i OCR FM EM PS
“M y friend goes to the lecture-room without breakfast.

M y friend covers a 20 km -distance b y bicycle. One is
a tutor; one Is a marketer; one works for a food-
shop. A t night, w e have instant noodle for dinner.
A t night, we confide together about sadness or
fun when we are aw ay from home. Although we
com e from the North, Central and the South, we
share the sam e cigarette as well as sadness
and fUn*. (M y Friend- V o Thien Th a n h )
~ V
l am sure that nearly ail of us know this song,
which praises beautiful friendship among
students. N o one can deny the fact that friendship is very important in
our life, and nobody can say that they have no friends. However, how
important is the friendship?
Firstly, friendship helps overcom e ou r sufferings. Do you rem em ber a

saying, “Happiness is shared, it doubles; sorrow is shared, it’s reduced a
h a lf ? Therefore, our sufferings are really released when we have true
friends w h o can s h a re them w ith us.
Secondly, friendship encourages us in ou r life. Sometimes, we fall in a

state of depression, and we don’t have enough courage to overcome it
tfs at that moment that we need our good friend’s encouragement. He
will give us advice, and makes us more optimistic.

Thirdly, friendship helps us correct ou r mistakes. W e ourselves rarely
recognize our mistakes unless we are told by others. A sincere friend
does not hesitate to warn us our faults, and tells us the w a y to correct
them.
Last but not ¡east, friendship is a source o f happiness. It is said that

“W ithout a com p an y o f the friend, this w orld will he d u lf. T h e m ore
friends w e have, the happier w e are! D o you agree with m e?
C
However, affected by “the western w a y of Ihrincf, m any Vietnam ese
young people have changed their w ays of living and thinking, and their
opinion of friendship is also different. S o, how we can have a true friend
is what w e should also discuss in our today’s topic.
VO CABULARY T IP
1. to confide = to speak irr confidence

2. to praise = to honor
3. to deny = to refuse
4. suffering (n) = pain
5. to be released = to be out
6. to encourage ~ to cheer (up)
7. depression (n) = hopelessness
8. courage (n) = bravery
9. optimistic (a)= positive
10. to hesitate = to be reluctant
11. sincere (a) = truthful, honest
12. com pany (n) - friendship
13. dull (a) = boring
O tE S T lO N S FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. Do you have any close friends? H o w long have you known each
other? Do you always get along well with them ?
2. Can you tell me something about your d o s e friend, her/his good
sides and bad sides? W h at can you ieam from you r friends?
3. H o w pan you choose a real friend? W hat are main factors that help
you to keep your friendship e ver lasting?
4. W h y do we need friends? A s saying goes, :,A frie n d in n e e d is a
frie n d in d e e d 1. How do you com m ent on this saying?
W hen you have problem , w ho do you often share with? Do you
5-
usually confide your troubles to your friends?
Hozr To Speak English ÏVeil

6. Is a person nowadays willing to sacrifice his benefits for his friends?
It's said that now people- friends usually take advantage of others
rather than help each other, especially in doing business. Is it right?
7. W hat do you think of the proverb, “E v e ry Ja c k has his JU T? W hat
would you appreciate most in friendship?
8. W hat do you think about the friendship in the m odem A g e ? D o e s
the friendship like "ItiU Btnh, Duong L i" or som e others like that still
exist in our society?
9. W hat do you think about the in d iv id u a lis m in the western society?
Does it influence the young in our country now ? Is it good or bad?
W hat are its advantages and disadvantages?
10. C a n there be a sincere friendship between a man and a wom an
without any feelings of love? C a n a man and a w om an be “ s o u l
m ates” without a desire to each other?
TO PIC 104? GOEVG TO U N IV E R SITY
At one point or another in their high school lives,

m any students wonder whether they should go
to university. Som e say no to the question
because they might think that higher education is
not necessary for them. Others say yes and
spend the next four years in classrooms. In m y
opinion, people choose to go to university
because of three main reasons such as pursuing
their academ ic interest, preparing for their future
career, and enjoying social life.
First of all, m any people attend university to study a particular subject or

field in which they f re interested deeply. University curriculums allow
students to focus on the fields they are interested in and explore them in
depth. Moreover, universities offer a variety of specialized courses
instructed by. knowledgeable professors. Such a wide selection of
courses and professors with expertise enable students to pursue their
academ ic goals in the fields of their choice.
A
Another common reason for people to go to university is that college
education often leads to a better career in the future. A s a matter of fact,
in m any countries, people with university degrees tend to find better-paid
jobs than those without them . Com panies usually offer higher salaries
and more attractive positions to university graduates. In addition, som e
universities provide their students with opportunities to acquire practical

skills that can be useful in the real world. For example, they offer
courses in computing, foreign languages as well as apprentice program s
in which students can get working experience in a company.
Finally, for some students, enjoying social life can be the sufficient
reason for staying in school for another four years. Universities often
attract students from different parts of the country and even from the
world, so they have chances to meet diverse groups of people and learn
about their life-styles. Moreover, universities usually have numerous
clubs and student organizations, such as sports teams, hobby groups,
and social activity groups. Joining these groups, lifelong friendships are
often formed. Th u s , universities can be places to meet people of
different backgrounds and foster relationships.
In conclusion, going to university is a significant decision in life, and

people m ay have different reasons for making that decision. T h e y might
decide to attend university to pursue their academic goals, to achieve a
better career, or to develop friendships. W hatever the reason is, it is
important for students to make the best of the opportunities the school
provides them. If they do, the time they spend as university students will
surely be one of the most meaningful periods of their life.
VOCABULARY T IP s 3
3 -
1. to pursue = to follow
2. academic (a) = educational, university
3. common (a) = popular
4. to acquire = to obtain, to get
5. apprentice (a) y i training
6. sufficient ( a ) . enough
7. diverse (a) = various
8. considerable (a) = great, a lot
9. campus (n) = university grounds
10. to form - to build up, to set up
11. backgrounds - foundation
12. to fb s te r= to promote
13. significant (a) = important
< 0
OLESTIO YS F O B P1SC C SSIO X
1. Are you a student or are you working now? Do you attend any
private courses to improve the knowledge of some subjects?
B o w To S p e a k E nglish W ell 384

2. D c most high school students in our country go to colleges or
universities? Is it possible for all of them to enter a certain
university?
3. Are there many universities or colleges in your city? Can you tell us
some universities you know? Most of these universities are in good
conditions, aren’t they? W hat do you think of equipment and
teaching aids in these schools?
4. What do you remember most when you are/were a student? Did
/do you often join social activities? Do you have any memories with
them? Are/were you in love at your universities? What do you think
of students’ love?
5. W hy do students study so m any subjects in their universities? Do
you think these subjects are practical in real life? Which subjects do
you Wee best?
6. Do/did you do any part-time jobs to earn your living? What do/did
you do? Were/ Are you a tutor? What do you think of this job?
7. What do you think of living in dormitories or houses-for-rent? What
are its advantages and disadvantages? Have you ever lived there?
Which dorm is considered tire most modem one in our city?
8. W hy do many people in our country want to go to university? Do
you think people around the work do the same?
9. If people in our country cannot enter a certain university, what
TOPIC 105s WORKING AMU B F l A X W f.

Nearly all people want to have jobs to do when they
grow up to support themselves and their families.
However, I have also heard some people say that if
they were rich, they would not work anymore. I do
not think they are right because working brings us
m any benefits.
is widely agreed that work makes us independent,

en working, we can earn our living to support
ourseives and sometimes supports others. Then, work is also
good for our self-esteem because we are not “mistletoes’’. Moreover,
work helps us develop ourselves. When we have something to do, we
feet that our lives are meaningful. Many wealthy people who do not have
to work for a living still work for this reason. In addition many of us enjoy
^du rw ork because it gives us opportunities to get to know and meet other
Hose To S p e a k English W ell 185

people. Thanks to people w e have contacted, we can improve our
personalities, behaviors, and communication skills.
However, w e should not always indulge in our work. A s we know

work and no play makes Ja c k a dull boy", so I think it is necessary for us
to balance working and leisure in our lives.
Leisure time is very important for us because it helps us refresh

ourselves after working hard. H o w e ve r, w e are different, so the w ay we
enjoy our leisure is also different W e have our own rights to choose
what to do during our leisure hours. Som e people pursue their hobbies
such as holding camping trips or picnics with their family m em bers or
dose friends. Others can choose to pursue lively activities such as
playing sports, joining adventure tours or taking part in T V game shows.
Th e nest choose to stay at home reading books or listening to music.
Generally, leisure breaks the m onotony Df the working hours.
rJ?V
In short, I think we need both working and relaxing. Working helps us
create what we can enjoy, and relaxing helps us enjoy what we have
created.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. self-esteem (n) seif-respect

2. mistletoe (n) a dependent person
3. wealthy (a) rich
4. to indulge to be very interested in
5. to refresh to make new
6. to pursue to follow
7. monotony (n) boredom
Q UESTIO NS F O B D ISC U SSIO N
1. Are you working now or are you still going to school? After working
or schooling, do you have to do anything to help your family?
2. Do you think you have a lot of free time or not? H ow do you spend
your free time? Do you think you use your time properly?
3 / Is it reasonable to study at two or more colleges at the same time?
W hat do you think about the result of this choice?
4. If you want to do something successfully, which one is the most
important: talent or the w ay of doing it? W hat do you think of this
idea, “If a m an Is famous or called talented man, his talent is
occupied one percent but ninety-nine percent is his working"
186
5. What are the benefits of the working for a living? Can man live
without working?
6. W hat are harms of an idle life? W hat do you think of the saying,
“Idleness is the root all evils '?
7. If you have a lot of money, do you want to stop doing everything to '%
enjoy your life? What do you think of people who sit on idleness?
8. Have you ever dreamed of winning the first prize in a lottery? What
do you think of people who want to get rich quickly but don’t have to
work hard?
9. W hat do you comment on beggars in our city? Do you think all of
them are disabled? How about prostitutes?
10. W hat should w e do to make all people realize the importance of
working? W hat can you leam from this topic?
. <C T
TOPIC 106: FAM II.Y » K I 4 T IIH S
Nowadays, together with the development of
society, families in our country have changed a lot
Family members are not as close as they used to
be. W e can survey causes in some aspects such
as changing the life-style, increasing freedom, and
working to earn money.
X 5-
First of all, I believe that new styles of living are
the most important factor that affects the new generation. With the
development of technology, we have had big changes in nearly all
aspects of life, especially in the life-style. People are different; so are
their life-styles. For example, one m ember of the family wants to play
games on computer, another wants to watch T V , and the third one is
interested in listening to music. So, these different styles make them
farther and farther.
in addition, members of the family do not get close because they prefer
to have their own world at home. T h e y do not like losing their privacy
and want to have more private life. Affected by the western way of living,
young members do not like their parents to make decision for them as
the parents used to do in the past. Th e se people think that they would
rather make decision on their own.
Another reason w hy family members are keeping distance is our society

and financial problems. In the old days, just one person had to work as a
bread-winner, but nowadays all members have to work to earn their
Bore To S p e a k E nglish W ell 187

living. T h a t is no wonder w hy the m em bers of the family do not have
enough time to talk to others. Som etim es, they have to leave home to
work in a far place.
In conclusion, ways of living, individualism, and finance make the family

members farther and farther. If we do not prevent this phenom enon now,
w e will lose our valuable traditions. T o do that, all m em bers of the family
should consult with each other when they confront with a problem.
Moreover, parents should teach their children how to get along well with
each other from their childhood. However, we should act how to respect
others' interest and independence maturely.
V O C A B U LA R Y T IP ■
:
1. to survey to study
2. aspect (n) feature; part
3. a bread-winner (n) wage-earner
4. individualism (n) egoism; independence
5. phenomenon (n) fact; event
6. to consult § to seek advice from
7. to confront to face
8. to get along to live in harmony
9. mature (a) % grown-up
Q U E S T IO N S F O R D IS C U S S IO N
W h y do people say, “F a m ily is the fo u n d a tio n o f s o c ie t y ? W hat

do you think about Vietnam ese family’s foundation?
W hat do you think about the family structure in the past and at
present? W hat do you think about the traditional family? Is it better
than the m odem one? W h y ?
Do you prefer to live in a large family with m any generations or live
in a small one? W hat are advantages and disadvantages of living in
a large family and in a small one?
C a n you tell me som e possible reasons that cause family conflicts or
break? D o you know w h y there are more and more broken families
in our country in recent years?
Do you agree that there are more divorces in Western countries
than in Vietnam ? C ould you suggest some solutions that can help
to keep the family life aiive?
6. As a saymg goes “Th e re is n o p ie ce like h o m e '. D o:‘ you think so?
W hat should we do to preserve the structure of Vietnamese family?
B o v To S p e a k E nglish W ell 188

7. If you get married, do you want to live with your parents and your
brothers or sisters in the sam e house? W h y (or w hy not)? W hat
should w e do to build up a happy family?
8. There are som e reasons leading to misunderstanding between
parents and children. W hat are they? H ow can we cease them?
TO PIC 1 0 7 ; W AYS TO U V B TO 100
I am sure that everyone wants to live as long

as possible, but to do that is not easy at all.
Th u s , what should we do to be alive to one
hundred? (f v
Firstly, we should pay attention to our w ays of

eating and drinking. Nowadays, it seems that
people get fatter and fatter because of eating
and drinking too much. T h e y have a lot of chances to eat or drink now:
birthdays, w eddings, graduations, holidays, and even weekends.
Moreover, m any people are poisoned because of eating carelessly, and
quite a few people bear big bellies or suffer from heart diseases because
of drinking alcohol or beer too much.
Secondly, we should keep our living environment plenty of fresh air.

Living in d ose and stuffy room s, breathing foul air, and not being enough
out of doors will soon dam age our health. Therefore, we should often
dea n our rooms, wash our pillow-cases and bedspreads, and open the
windows.
Th e n , we should have regular physical exercise. If we do not get much

exercise in our daily work, w e should get it in outdoor activities such as
playing sports, walking, jogging or swimming. It is proved that more and
more people suffer from heart attacks because of not exercising
sufficiently.
in addition, w e should sleep enough. Staying up too late will spoil our
nerves and ruin our health. M any people now stay up too late to watch
films or play games. Rem em ber, "E a r ly to b e d a n d e a rly to rise m ake
m a n h e a lth y a n d w/se”
^ S ^ i n a l l y , we should avoid bad habits such as smoking, taking drugs,

committing ourselves to a life of debauchery.
B o ic To Speafc E nglish W ell 189

I do not think what I have mentioned above is enough for us to live to
one hundred. Can you work out more w ays?
VOCABULARY T IP A
«5
1. to pay attention to to care fo r, to be aware ol
2. to be poisoned to suffer toxication
3. belly (n) stomach
4. stuffy (a) unventilated, airless
5. foul air polluted air, unclean air
6. to damage to spoil, to ruin
7. sufficient (a) enough
8. nerve (n) courage; bravery; spirit
9. debauchery (n) corruption
10. to w ork out to plan in details
Q UESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. Are you a sporty m an? W hat kind of sports do you play? H o w Jong
have you played it?
2. W hich are your favorite sports, outdoor/ indoor/ team/individual? Do
you spend a lot of m oney on you r favorite sports? W hat are the
advantages and disadvantages that you can get from sports? W hen
do you often play your sports?
3. W hat do you think about the saying, "H ealth m a k e s w ealth"? ts it
true or not? H o w often cjo you go for regular medical check-ups?
4. D o you have a lot of stress? H o w can you overcom e your situation?
Do you have an y allergies?
5. Do you know anyone who suffers from backaches? Do you know
anyone with false teeth?
6. Do you advise people to spend their time on sports rather than
drinking, gambling, or hanging out? In which w ay can you do this?
7. Is it easy for you to get used to a habit of following a certain sports?
W hen is it the best time of the day for you to do exercise? H o w can
businessmen do exercise? W hat kinds of sports are suitable to
them ?
W hat do you think of sleeping? H o w m any hours do you sleep a day?
W hat happen to you if you lack sleep?
Is environment in our city good enough? How does it affect our
health? C a n you suggest som e w ays to improve our city's
environment?
190
10. Do you usually pay attention to your eating and drinking? Do vou
prefer eating out to eating at hom e? H ave you ever been poi;
food?
11. Do you want to Jive to one hundred? Can you suggest soi
ways to live as long as possible? W hat can you draw fron
discussion?
TO PIC 108= SPECIAL MOMENTS
In our m odem time, it is very necessary for us to

get special moments when we can remove
ourseives from the hectic and frenetic pace of our
daily life, even when we have a lot of m odem
devices that help us finish our work soon.
However, many of us seem to be very busy
studying or working. So, how can w e make a day in
our life special?
Surely, you may believe mat our life is less hectic

and stressful with' the appearance of m odem
appliances such as refrigerators, washing
machines, dryers, dishwashers, or microwave ovens, but I do not think
so. Although the advent of m odem conveniences may have made us
more productive and thereby able to free up valuable time, it also
increases our workload. For example, to have enough m oney to buy
them, we have to work very hard, even we have to do two or three jobs
at the sam e time. Therefore, how can we enjoy our life?
In addition, m odem technology has invaded our liv.es. Accessing the

Internet may keep us better informed; mobile phones help us contact
others quickly, but they also takes away the precious time w e used to
spend reading books or visiting our friends. Previously, we could enjoy
our morning so m uch because there were no telephones or hand
phones to wake us up.
You also believe that m odem communication technology is very

convenient for you, but I do not. It seem s that som e of us feel buried
under unanswerable m essages we receive everyday. I have witnessed
some friends of mine, who have to work in the evenings or at weekends
at hom e because they do not have enough time to answer all m essages
they have received in their offices or companies.
E<m T o S p ea k E n glish W ell 191

If our life goes by like this, is it meaningful? W hat should we do to have
som e special m om ents in our life? H o w can we leave all of the m odem
technological and communication devices behind and walk out freely?
H o w can w e exchange daily news and talk about anything else with our
family m em bers? Let’s find out the answer in our today’s discussion.
Y O C A BLXAK Y T IP
1. hectic (a) chaotic

2. frenetic (a) busy; hurry
3. pace (n) speed; tempo
4. device (n) appliance
5. a d ve n t(n ) arrival; appearance
6. thereby (adv) thus£sS© •"
7. workload (n) the amount of work
8. to invade to attack; to occupy
9 to witness to see V
Q UESTIO NS F O R W S C iS S IO Y
1. W hat are the most popular gam e shows in your country? W hat did
you watch on T V yesterday? W hat is one of yo u r favorite T V
show s? W h y do you like it? W hen is it on? Does you father like it,
too? ^
2. Have you ever been to a play? If so, when w as the last time? Have
you ever been to the theater? H ave you ever tried water skiing?
3. W hat's the most popular holiday in your country? W hen is it? How
is it celebrated? W hen was the last time? W hat is your favorite
holiday? W h y ? H o w far in advance do you begin planning a
vacation?
4. W hat are som e good books that you have read? W hat is the best
book you have ever read? Should books be censored? H o w often
do you read com ic books? W hat kind of things do you tike to read?
W hat w as the last book you read? W h o is your favorite author?
5. W hat are som e of the good m ovies you have seen? Should movies
be rated? Explain.
6. is gambling legal where you live? W hat are som e forms of
gam bling people do in your country? W h y do som e people gam ble?
;7 .; W h a t are som e of the most popular amusement;, parks in your
country?
8. W hat gam es are popular in your country? W h y are they popular?
W hat com puter gam es have you played? W hich are.your favorites?
S a ve To S p e a k E n g ih k W eil
Which do you think are not so interesting? W hat are som e games
that you don't like to play? W h y?
9. W hat do you do in your spare time? W hat do you like to do on a
night out? W hat do you think of soccer? (baseball, hang glidin g,...)
10. W ho is your favorite musician? W h o is your favorite female singer?
W ho is your favorite male singer? W ho is your favorite guitarist?
W hat kind of m usic do you like? W hat singer would you most like to
meet? W hen do you usually listen to the radio?
11. W ho are som e of the famous actors and musicians in your country?
Who are some of your favorite actors and actresses? W h o do you
think is the funniest com edian?
12. W ho is the most popular entertainer in your country? D o you often
go drinking? W here? W ho with? H ow often? Would you rather go to
a bar or a nightclub? W hat do you do for fun?
T O P IC 1 0 3 : C H R IST M A S
In m any parts of the world, Christm as is the day

when people celebrate the birth of Je sus Christ
in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and his

coming into this world. T o them, he is
recognized as the Son of G od and the Savior of
the world. According to the Bible, Jesus was
bom in a m anger because there w as no room for him and his parents,
M ary and Joseph, in an inn.
People often attend church, organize family gatherings, and decorate

their homes o r businesses. T h e y also send greeting cards to their friends
and families, and these cards will be hung on the walls of their homes.
Usually, Christm as cards show religious pictures, winter pictures, Father
Christmas, o r romantic scenes of life in past times.
Christm as is also a chance for children to get presents from Santa Claus
- the old man in a red coat with long white beard and a bag of presents.
He lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a sledge
pulled by reindeer. H e com es into houses down the chimney at midnight
and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or
under the family Christm as tree.
4*
Hoto To S p e a k E nglish W ell 193

Overall, Christmas is the time for the family reunion and w
express their honor to Jesus Christ.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. to celebrate fselibreit] = to hold: to chi>c

2. Savior fseivia] (n): Chuaa>u the
3. manger fmeindna] (n): mang co
4. bibte fbaibl] (n): kinhthanh
5. inn (n): quan tro
6. religious {rfliduasj (a): ton giao
7. North Pole: cpcbac
8. sledge = s n o w - c a r t xe tnrqt tuy§t
9. reindeer freindia] con tu£n !pc
J
QUESTIONS FO B P IS ttS S IO N
1. Do you attend any special religious ceremonies during the Christmas

season? Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you celebrate Christmas in
a special or traditional way?
2. Do you decorate the outside of your house for Christmas? Do you eat
a turkey dinner for your Christmas dinner? Do you enjoy singing
Christmas songs?
3. Do you exchange presents with your friends at school? Do you go to
church on Christmas day? Do you hang up a stocking? Do you have
a Christmas party at school?
4. Do you have a Christmas Tree? If so, how do you decorate it? When
do you put it up? When do you take it down? Is it reai or artificial?
5. Do you have any plans to go to a Christmas party? Do you know why
Christmas is celebrated around the world?
6. Does you school have a Christmas play? Does your town get
decorated at Christmas? What kind of decorations? Have you
already finished your Christmas shopping? Have you ever celebrated
Christmas in a foreign country?
7. Have you ever made your own Christmas cards? if so, how did you
make them? How long do you keep your Christmas tree up after
Christmas? How tong is your Christmas vacation?
8. How many Christmas cards did you receive last year? How many
Christmas cards do you send? How many presents do you usually
0ive?
If you are not a Christian, does the intense focus on Christmas? If
you could go anywhere during Christmas vacation, where would you
go?
10.1s there a holiday similar to Christmas? What are some popular foods
for the Christmas season? What are you going to buy your
boyfriend/girtfriend for their Christmas present?
11. W hat is your favorite Christmas song? Are there any special songs in
your country that you don't hear here?
12. W hat kind of interesting things do you do for Christmas? W hat time
does your family open the presents? W hat is the best Christmas
present you have ever gotten?
13. W ho is Santa C lau s? Do you know the history of Santa C laus? W hat
do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas? At what age did you
begin not believing in Santa Claus? Did you believe in Santa Claus
when you were a child?
TO PIC l i f t SOLAK NEW YEAH

Solar New Y ear is the day when people
celebrate the beginning of a new year.
On N ew Year's Eve, family or friends often

get together for dinner or have a party to
welcome the N ew Year. People often count
down the hours, minutes, and seconds before
the New Y ear arrives, and they sometimes go
out to see fireworks.
JV
N ew Y ear’s D ay is a time of new beginnings, so people often make
resolutions for the N ew Year. Th ese resolutions are usually promises or
goals they hope to finish during the coming year. Other resolutions m ay
deal with improving one’s relationship with family members or friends.
O n this occasion, children also receive lucky money form the older, and
far-away people have time to re-unite with their families. In addition, they
have chances to entertain themselves after a year of working hard.
) myself also love this day because I do not go to work or to school. At

that time, I can come back with m y family or meet my friends somewhere
to enjoy good time with them.
Sotc To Speak English Well 195

N g u y in H o n g A n h , M A . in T E S O L
VOCABULARY T IP
1. New Year’s Eve: dem giao thOa

2. fireworks [farawaiksl: phao hoa
3. resolution [.reza'lui/nj: quy§t tarn
Ex: What h ave become of your good resolutions ?
NhCmg y dinh sisa tboi xau cua anh da di den dau roi?
4. lucky money: tiln li xi
5. to re-unite [,ri:ju:'naitj: hop la b
QUESTIONS FO B D ISC U SSIO N

Xr*
1. H o w was this year? W as this year better or worse than fast year?
H o w com e?
W hat was the happiest thing for you this year*? W h a t w as the saddest
thing for you this year? W hat was the toughest thing for you this
year?
3. W hat w as the best movie for you this year? W hat w as the best m usic
for you this year? What was the best T V show for . you this year?
W hat was the best place you visited this year?
4. W hat was the best food you had this year? W hat w as the best
restaurant you went to this year? W hat was the most useful thing you
bought this year? ^
5. W hat w as the most expensive thing you bought this year? W hat w as
the best item of clothing you bought this year?
6. W hat was the biggest waste of m oney this year? W hat w as
something you lost this year?
7. Do you have any regrets about this year? Did you m ake a N e w
Y ear’s Resolution this year? Do people in your country usually m ake
N ew Year's Resolutions?
8 . Do you think |he New Y ear is the best occasion for us to relax? W h at
activities would you like to have during the New Year? C ould you
suggest som e suitable activities for people?
9. W hat popular activities are there at the end of a year? Which ones do
you prefer? Are you saving now? D o you intend to spend all you r
savings on Th e New Year?
10. H o w do you feel when an old year ends and a New Y e a r stars?
Hou> t o S p e a k English. VFeU

t o p ic m s P A ir a o r s p u r c o iiv t r y
in our country, dating is considered an

adolescent issue, and it is so sensitive .
that people usually keep it in secret.
Traditionally, Vietnamese males and
females are not allowed to date. T h e y
simply grow up in their family until 18 to
20 years old sometimes earlier, get
married according to their parents’
arrangements, and build up their own families. However, everything
changes in this century.
Dating is forbidden in the old days because it is, believed to against

traditions, to encourage sons and daughters to oppose their parents'
orders, and to bring shame to their family. In previous societies, youths
who have affections for one another may carry their relationship in
secret, but eventually and dutifully, they cannot get married to each other
because of their parents’ arrangements. Th is means they must marry a
complete stranger or someone they do not love. However, they have no
choice because pleasing their parents,is a social priority, and doing
otherwise would be a major dishonor.
Traditionally, Vietnamese females are often shy and usually do not make
the first move in starting a relationship. If a young man finds someone he
likes, he must formally introduce himself to her family and seek their
approval before he can date her. This usually requires him to meet with
her parents and family members in their house several times. After
several regular visits, when he has gotten to know her famify, he may
finally ask her parents for permission to date her.
Today, however, parents in Vietnam are more opened-minded, and

allow their sons or daughters to date and get to know each other before
getting married. However, traditions still have a strong clasp, and public
displays of affection by couples, including holding hands, touching or
kissing are still considered impolite and must be done privately.
In short, the w ay of dating nowadays is quite different from one in the old
days. However, I think that we should not imitate the western way to
against our customs and traditions.
Hotc To S pook English WeB 197

VOCABULAHY I I P
1 .. adolescent (n) teenager

2. to oppose to resist
3. dutifully (adv) obediently
4. approval (n) support; agreement
5. clasp (n) embracement; hold
QUESTIONS F O B PISC PSSIO X
1. Do you have a boyfriend/girtfriend? W here did you meet him/her?

What does he/she look like?
2. Do you know what it means to 'go Dutch’? Do you "go Dutch” when
dating? Is it usual for people in your country to ’go Dutch’ if you go
out together?
3. Do older girls/boys have a problem dating younger giils/boys? Do
younger girls/boys have a problem dating older girls/boys?
4. Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you think some people
know that they will fall in love witfi someone the first time they
meet? Q p
5. How often would you like to go out on dates? How old were you
do? W ho did you go with? D o you think a boy should pay for
everything on a date? ^
6. Do you think it is okay for a couple to live together before getting
married? W h y or W h y not? Do you think it’s O K for a man to have
two wives? Do you think it’s O K for a wife to have two husbands?
7. How long do you think couples should know each other before they
get m anied? How old were you when you had your first boyfriend
or girlfriend? How old were your parents when they got married?
8. If your parents did not approve of a person you loved and wanted to
marry, would that be a difficult situation for you? Why/Why not?
9* if you had to marry either a poor man whom you really loved, or a.
rich man whom you did not love, which would you choose?
10. How would your parents feel if you married someone from a
different country? Do you think that it is good for children to have
parents from two different countries? W h y? W h y not?
ien should you introduce your boyfriend/girtfriend to your
^ parents?— when you begin dating, after you have been together for
a while, only when the relationship is serious? W hy?
198
TO PIC 1 1 2 : THE .T O YEAR’S RESO LUTIONS •K
W hen the New Y e a r comes, ft is the time to make

promises to ourselves to improve our lives. I have
m ade m any N ew Y ear’s resolutions since I w as a
college student.
Every year, 1 promise myself to do exercise

regularly. Also, this year I will do that! M y body
must have a sensor that tells me. to m ake New
Y ear's resolutions. I think this is an easy thing to
plan; however, it is v e ry difficult to follow up on it. Also, for m y health, I
will eat fewer sweet things such as chocolates and candy, and i will drink
less coffee or beer.
Especially, in this year, ! am going to study harder to improve m y English

skills. For example, I will never miss any Sunday to join English
Speaking Club. I really want to improve m y English, so I will keep writing
m y diary in English everyday and read more books in English. I realize
that reading is good for not only improving m y English, but also filling the
emptiness I feel these days. I think keeping away from books has made
me feel this way.
J V
Moreover, I will try to be a more organized person. I usually do
something on impulse, and make a quick decision. T o decide important
things, I should be more cautious and think over them. I will also listen to
or consult others before doing som e important things.
T o m y family, I will be a better person. I have been too selfish for a long
time. I cannot rem em ber when I last did something good for m y family. I
feel ve ry sorry about that, so this year I plan to care more for m y family
than for myself. T o m y friends, I will be friendlier, and I will keep in touch
with them more frequently. M y friends m ay be disappointed because of
m y negligence.
In short, I am going to be diligent and try to ca n y out all my New Y e a r’s

resolutions. I will do m y best! O n this occasion, I would like to wish you
and your family a happy and successful new year.
4 7
199
V O C A B IIA B Y T I P
1. resolution (n): solution

2. sensor (n) feeler
3. impulse (n) desire; urge
4. cautious (a) careful
5. negligence (n) ignorance
6. diligent (a) h a rd -w o rk in g ; industrious
1. How was this year? W a s this year better or w orse than last year?
How com e?
2. W hat w as the happiest thing for you this year? W h a t was the
saddest thing for you this year?
3. Do you have any regrets about this year? If yes, what are they?
4. Have you m ade a N e w Y ear’s Resolution this year? Do people in
your country usually m ake N ew Y ear's Resolutions?
5. Do you think the N e w Y e a r is the best occasion for us to relax?
6. W hat activities would you like to have during the N ew Y e a r? Could
you suggest som e suitable activities for people?
7. W hat popular activities are there at the end of a year? W hich ones
do you prefer? %
8. Are you saving now? Do you intend to spend all your savings on
T h e N e w Ye a r?
9. How do you feel when an old year ends and a N e w Y e a r stars?
Av «ÇJ j-j r-u n .

H s u TVi __ »-• *- «rr7c.r »»
u 200
TO PIC 113: STUPÏTO G ABRO AD
W hen people’s standard of Irving

t r increases, they think about improving
J b their knowledge for a better life. T o do
“ j that, they choose to study in developed
countries where they can get
progressive education. However,
everything has its advantages and
disadvantages, and overseas studying
is not an exception.
In the first place, overseas studying is often expensive. A student has to

pay not only for his school fees but also for his accommodation, food,
transport, clothes, books, etc. Therefore, finance m ay become the
biggest problem. Consequently, it distracts his mind from studying to
earning money. Th is m ay affect their study.
Secondly, adapting to a new environment is a real challenge for every

foreign student. While changing weather can affect student’s health,
different cultures and customs m ay influence his mind and make him
become less confident or even a victim of discrimination. Everyday m ay
turn into a struggle for survival in a strange country. If one does not have
enough physical and mental strength, he will fail to adjust himself in the
new environment. A s a consequence, he could neither study nor gain
necessary experiences as he has expected.
However, there are obvious advantages to study abroad. Students have

opportunities to approach new technologies, and the latest science
achievements. Furthermore, they are equipped with valuable and
updated knowledge which m ay help them find good jobs after
graduating. In addition, overseas studying offers students chances to
discover new cultures, ways of thinking, history, customs and life-styles.
A s a result, the awareness of these differences makes them more
tolerant and o p e n -m in d e d .
In conclusion, while studying abroad offers great opportunities for a

better future, it also has challenges that one must try his best to
overcome to make his dream become true. O n the other hand, overseas
studying is not the only w ay to create a good career. O ne can surely
succeed in life if he is gifted and dedicated to his study and work.
H ate To S p e a k E nglish WeU 201

VOCABULARY T IP
1. progressive (a) developing

2. to distract to divert; to absorb
3. discrimination (n) prejudice
4. survival (n) existence
5. to adjust to change
6. achievement (n) success
7. tolerant (a) open-minded
8. gifted (a) talented
QUESTIONS F O B D ISCUSSIO N
1. W hat are purposes of education? Do you think that education is the

best investment in our children’s future?
2. W hat do you think of our educational system at present? Do you
think that children now have to leam a lot? Learning a lot is good or
not? ..
3. W hat do you think of Western educational system s? W hat are the
differences? Which one do you think is better?
4. Do you like studying abroad? If yes, why do you like it? Which
country do you want to study i n ? V
5. Is it cheap or expensive to study overseas? H ow much does it cost
for a school year? W hat kinds of fee does a student have to pay
when studying abroad?
6. Is it easy for you to adapt to a new environment? If the weather
changes, does it effect your health? W hat do you think about
different cultures and customs?
7. W hat difficulties does an international student have to face every
day? Do you think all students can overcome those difficulties?
8. W hat are advantages to study abroad? W hat opportunities do
students have when they are in developed countries?
9. D o you think overseas studying offers students chances to discover
new cultures, ways of thinking, history, customs and lifestyle? Do
these differences make them different when coming back to their
homeland?
202
TOPIC 114: DIVORCE iv
■ ».
When people get married, they do not often
realize and understand the challenges they
will face in the future, but is divorce court the
only solution when marital problems occur?
■ ■ ■ ■ Such challenges can include medical,

t i l
m M V « financial, or psychological problems that
surface at some point in a marriage. T h e
question is not whether or not we will face stress in a relationship; rather,
it's ho w we will deal with stress and problems when they knock at our
doorstep. Seeking a divorce at the first signs of stress is not the only
solution, especially if we have realistic expectations at the beginning of a
relationship.
First of all, when problems arise, the first thing to do is to communicate

openly with our partner in a very concerned, non-judgementa! way. More
problems in a marriage occur because of selfishness than any other
factor. Don't blame one another, but carefully analyze the situation and
work together to resolve concerns.
°^«J .
Second, because some marital problems arise due to financial problems,
create a budget on how we will save and spend your money. D o n t
overextend ourselves with credit. O nly spend what we have rather than
using credit cards.
Third, consult with a marriage counsellor or therapist to help us resolve

problems. If people really love each other, they will do whatever it takes
to preserve their marriage instead of seeking a quick divorce.
I hope there are fewer and fewer divorces.
VOCABBLABY T IP
1. challenge (n) difficulty
2. to surface to rise
3. to arise to happen
4. non-judgemental not judged or judging
Ex? They tried to adopt a nonjudgmental attitude that didnl reflect their own
biases. My guidance counselor in high school was sympathetic and
nonjudgmental.
5. to blame to find fault with
A * 6. to overextend to go too far
7 . therapist (n) d o cto r
B ote To S p e a k E nglish W ell 203
D onggop PDFbffi-GV. Nguyen Thanh Til

p U E ST IO ftS FO R B lS C liS S IO ^
W hat do you think are som e of the main causes of marital problems
and discord?
W hat can couples do to prevent, minimize, and resolve such issues?
U nder what conditions, if any, should divorce be considered an
option?
W hat impact can divorce have on children?
Is divorce legal in your country and under what conditions is it
permitted?
Do you think that getting divorced is a bad thing irt human being’s
life? W ho will suffer after a divorce? Is it easy for a husband and a
wife to get remarried?
Is getting married soon the main reason leading to the divorce later?
W hat do you think of the third person in marital life?
In the future, if you discover that your partner is adulterous, what will
you do? W hat do you think of thefove after getting married?
Do you want to get married soon? Before getting married, what
should we prepare? Do you think that the true love will lead to a
happy marital life?
). After talking about this topic, do you want not to get married?
TO PIC lia r O Y H t P O P IM T IO X
T h e world’s population is reaching a level

w here there will not be enough resources to
sustain life as we know it. It also causes
m any environmental, social, and economic
problems not only in developing areas, but
also in the industrialized areas.
A t first, overpopulation causes a world-wide

ain shortage which raises prices, which in turn puts food out of reach
even more people. A s far as we are concerned the earth does not
•ntain enough resources to indefinitely sustain the current enorm ous
»pulation growth, in m any areas, there is even not enough food to feed
e growing populations. Each' day thousands of children die from
alnutrition and its related diseases, or suffer from poor health due to
od shortages. . ••
^ /»other resource, which cannot keep up with an increasing population,

water. T h e supply of fresh water is limited, and creating fresh water
Trt ^no/i wrr f ic -ia TT/>lf 204

can be expensive. According to environmentalist, underground water
seem s to be gradually exhausted, so a sweffinn nnnuistinn m av haup tn
turn to desalinization for their clean water.
in addition to depleting resources,

environmental problems. Pollution is an environmental problem w hose
magnitude is increased by overpopulation. A s more people drive more
cars, use more electricity, throw away more domestic waste, aridTcut
down more trees, the environmental problems we experience are greatly
increased, especially in developing nations which often promote
industries. o
Besides causing the environmental strains on the earth, overpopulation

causes a large num ber of the social problems in today’s society. It has
been proved that children w hose family sizes ape larger do worse in
sch o o l Som e researches have found that as family size increases,
parents talk less to each child about school, have lower education
expectations, save less for college and have fewer educational materials
available.
T o solve the above-m entioned problems, we have to restrain the

population from growing. T h e y are family planning services,
international awareness, population education, improving wom en's
status, and econom ic incentives. M any of these solutions have been
implemented in various countries with success. Th ese are easy solutions
with few adverse side-effects.
Birth control and family planning is one excellent w ay of slowing the

population growth. Som e countries such as Japan, China, Russia, and
Singapore are very successful. Moreover, the government can control
population by creating econom ic incentives for families with less than
tw o children. For instance, a couple with only one child can receive a
one-time reward of m oney and rice. If that child does not live to maturity,
the couple is allowed another. In addition, we can use education,
government propaganda, and community pressures.
Another w a y is increasing w om en’s rights. Th is is evident in developed

nations where fewer births occur as the wom an's role in society
changes. Elevating wom en out of their lower-class status In many
nations will greatly aid progress. A s women gain economic, political, and
reproductive power in today’s industrialized nations, birth rates drop
^ /dramatically, and now most of Western Europe is at or below
replacement level.
B o te T o S p e a k E nglish W ell 205

In short, overpopulation causes many global problems. However, if the
above-mentioned solutions will be followed, it is not very difficult for us
control the population growth. When people are educated to the benefits
of limiting family size, they respond with lower birth rates. Education, ^
coupled with economic pressure, will end the overpopulation problem
and ease many of the other problems faced by today's society.
VOCABULARY T IP
1. sustain life material life

z shortage (n) lack
3. malnutrition (n) not enough nourishing food
4. exhausted tired
5. swelling becoming bigger
6. desalintzation (n) salt removal
7. magnitude (n) size
8. strain (n) tension
9. to restrain to control
10. to implement to carry out
11. /adverse (a) harmful; against
12. incentives (n) encouragement
13. maturity ^ “b ein g grown-up
14. propaganda (n) spreading particular ideas
T FOB DISCUSSION
1. How many people are there in your family? Do you think your family
is a big one? How many people are often there in a Vietnamese
family?
2. How many people are there in our country at present? Do you think
our country is overpopulated? Which country has the biggest
population? ¿ y '
What is the first problem does overpopulation cause? What do you
think about the grain resources? Which countries in the world do
not have enough food to feed their populations?
What do you think about children in those countries? What are
consequences of food shortages?
What is another resource which cannot keep up with an increasing
population? What will happen to the earth if the supply of fresh
water is limited?
r V
lo w To S p ea k English )VeIl 206
Dông gôp P D F b&i GV. Nguyen Thanh Tii W W W .FA C E B O O K .C O M / B O ID U O N G H O A H O C Q U Y N H O N

6. Besides underground water and rain water, what are other
resources of clean water? What do you think about towing icebergs
from the polar caps and desalinization for their dean water?
7. How can overpopulation increase environmental problems? Which
countries may suffer the environmental pollution most when
overpopulation happens? What do you think about industries 'm
developing nations?
8. Do you think many people are still poor because they have a lot of
children? What may happen to children from big families? °
9. T o solve the population problems, what should we have io do?
What have developed countries done to solve their population
problems?
10. What do you think about birth control and family planning? Which
countries are very successful in implementing this way? How could
they do that?
TOPIC 116; GLOBAL WABMIMG
Th e Earth as an ecosystem is changing. More

carbon dioxide is now in the atmosphere than it
has been before. This carbon stays in the
atmosphere, acts like a warm blanket, and holds in
the heat, hence it causes global warming. The
reason we exist on this planet is because the earth
naturally traps just enough heat in the atmosphere
to create the conditions that give us breathable air,
dean water, and the weather we depend on to
survive. However, we have overloaded the
atmosphere with heat-trapping gasses from our
vehicles, factories and power plants. A s a result, we will experience
extreme temperatures, rises in sea levels, and storms of unimaginable
destructive fury'
The main reason that causes global warming is the "greenhouse effect"
that happens when certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat. These
gases let in light but keep heat from escaping, like the glass walls of a
greenhouse. First, sunlight shines onto the Earth’s surface, where it is
absorbed and then radiates back into the atmosphere as heat. In the
atmosphere, “greenhouse” gases trap some of this heat, and the rest
escapes into space. The more greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere,
more heat gets trapped.
R ow To S p e a k English We U 207
Dông gôp PDF b&i GV. Nguyên Thanh Tii WVVVV.FACEBOOK.COM/BOIDUONGHOAHOCQUYNHON

T h e rapid rise in greenhouse gases is a problem because it is changing
the climate faster than some living things m ay be able to adapt. Also, a
new and more unpredictable climate poses, unique challenges to all life.
N ow , with concentrations of greenhouse gases rising, Earth’s remaining
ice sheets such as Greenland and Antarctica are starting to mefi too.
T h e extra water could potentially raise sea levels significantly. In addition
to sea levels rising, weather can becom e more extreme. T h is m eans
more intense major storms, m ore rain followed by longer and drier
droughts, changes in the ranges in which plants and animate can live,
and loss of w ater supplies that have historically come from glaciers.
If w e do not act to curb global warming, we will suffer.a lot of health

risks. A s temperatures rise, disease-carrying mosquitoes and rodents
spread fever, malaria, and other diseases. Moreover, w hen sea levels
rise, Vietnam is one of the countries suffering the most serious
consequences. Let’s protect our environment together.
V O CABULARY T IP
1. ecosystem ecology
2. to trap / J o catch
3. fury (n ) anger
4. to absorb V to take in
5. to radiate to spread out to give out
6. unpredictable (a) random
7. pose (n) cause
8. intense (a) strong, powerful
9. drought (n) G being dry
10. glacier (n) A huge m ass of ice
11. to curb to control; to limit
12. rodent (n) rat, squirrel, o r beaver
: v
OUFSTTOAS FO R PISC U SSIO A
1. W h at is causing global warm ing? W hat does the greenhouse effect

have to do with global warm ing?
2. Is global warming already happening? Are humans contributing to
global w anning? W hat is'the best source of scientific information on
global warm ing? •
H o w much warm er is the Earth likely to become?. H ow many
degrees is giobal warming expected to raise temperatures?
H o w long does carbon dioxide remain in the atmosphere? W here
4-
are we heading with atmospheric carbon dioxide? \
ffo ir T o S p e a k E nglish W eil 208

5. Would a temperature rise of a couple degrees really change the
global climate? Is global warming connected to the hole in the
ozone layer?
6. W hat is the cause of sea level rise? H ow m any inches has the sea
level risen so far?
7. D o extreme events such as heat waves and floods have anything t6
do with global warm ing?
8. W hat is the Kyoto Protocol? Is there anything we can do about
global w arm ing?
9. Are El Niños related to Global W arm ing? Will responding to global
warming be harmful to our econom y?
10 . W hat will Vietnam suffer when the sea level is higher? ^
TO PIC 117: WAYS OF ENTERTAINING
Th ere are many ways of entertainment among

young people nowadays. Depending on the
individual situations and way of living, people
choose their own w ays of entertainment. Som e like
reading papers, magazines, and books while others
like watching T V S r films, travelling, listening to
music or playing computer gam es or chatting on the
Internet.
In m y free time, I really like surfing the Internet W hen I get home from
work, I turn on m y computer, and then I go online. I usually check m y
emails and write a few m essages to family and friends. I sometimes
scan the local news headlines at m y favorite news Website and read up
on the latest local and international news. I can also watch films or play
gam es on it. Using the internet is really fun and convenient.
V
Besides surfing the Internet I really enjoy listening to music because it
helps me relax and takes m y mind aw ay from other cares of the day.
Personally, i really like listening to country and western music. Som e of
the lyrics to these songs are inspirational and moving. Occasionally, I
listen to classic rock or classical music, but I cannot stand heavy metal
or rap music. W henever I get home, ! turn on m y stereo system, crank
up the volume, and enjoy the music.
In addition, I am fond of reading, but m y mood often determines what i

read. I enjoy comic books; it is usually light reading, and the stories are
not very long, but some comics really reflect daily life in m y culture. I also

ke to skim the newspaper every day to find out what is happening in the
uorfd. Th is keeps me up to date on current focal and international
events. Overall, reading helps me not only stay in touch with the world
>ut it also gives me a chance to relax.
A
Whenever I have much free time, I go oh several fishing trips to lakes
jnd streams a few hours from my house. T o go fishing, I have to prepare
ny fishing gear such as a fishing rod and reel, a box, and the fishing net
f l am fishing at a lake, I usually fish from the bank. Fishing is very good
or me to relax, to review what I have done, and to think about things to
:ome.
_ast but not least, I sometimes go shopping downtown with m y younger

sister. I mainly visit departments and clothing stores to check out the
atest fashions. If I find something on sale at a reasonable price, I
sometimes buy it, but m y sister usually buys a lot of things. It seems that
she spends all money she earns on shopping. However, I am not
surprised because she is a girl.
VOCABULARY T IP
to scan to iook; to check

inspirational (a) moving; motivating
to crank up to turn on
mood (n) frame of mind; state
to reflect to reproduce; to mirror
gear (n) device
OITESTIOAS FO B M SC U SSIO N
Do you have a lot of free time? H ow do you spend it? W hat are your
hobbies? Which one do you like best?
Do you like watching T V ? Do you watch T V a lot? How often do you
watch T V ? W hen do you usually watch it? W hat kinds of programs do
you usually watch? W hat’s your favorite program? W hat’s your
favorite channei?
D o you . like watching films? W hat kinds of films do you prefer? W hat
/ Q 0 your favorite film? C an you tell me which film stars are your idols?
W here do usually see films; at home or cinema?
Do you listen to the radio a lot? How much time do you listen to it
every day? W hen do you listen to it? W hat kinds of programs dc you
often listen to? Do you ever listen to programs in English? What's
your favorite radio station? Do you ever listen to the radio in bed?
B o te To S p e a k English W ell 210

D ong gop P D F bffi G V N guyen Thiuih Tu
5. Do you like listening to music? What kinds of music do you listen to?
W ho are your favorite singers and groups?
5. Do you play any sports? What sports do you like most? When do you
usually play? How do you feel after playing?
7. What do you usually do at the weekends? What do you think of
singing karaoke? Do you like it? Do you often go to Karaoke Bars?
Which one do you like best? W hy? How often do you go singing
karaoke?
8. 'Singing karaoke is good o r trad "to you? Does singing karaoke help
you get rid of the burden or difficulty in your life? Do you think you are
more confident when singing karaoke? Is it the best way for you to
improve your confidence?
9. There are m any kinds of entertainment now, which one do you like
best? Can you explain it dearly, please?
TOPIC 118s VIETNAMESE TET

Any foreigners who_: happen ter be in
- Vietnam during 2 end part of
January will be fascinated by the
Vietnamese New Year celebration. ■
V
Th e first pre-Tet ceremony is Le Ta o Quan. It js_heid to send the Spirit of
the Home (Ta o Q u a n) off to report to the Emperor of Jade (Ngoc Hoang)
in a positive frame of mind. H e goes by a carp {ca chep). Then, a New
Y e a rs Tre e (C a y Neu) is constructed to ward off evil spirits. Later, a
sacrifice (cursg ong ba) is offered, to deceased family members '
: __-
At the end of the year, at midnight the Vietnamese celebrate their New
Y e a ts Eve. At that time, everybody staysât hom eland takes part in
stfent ceremonies. Th e wholeJaj]njlyjgathers''around the ancestral altar.
, ^Wrth spring flowers around and incense smoke overhead, they remain
n ‘ Seep in ftT p u g R t^ ^ e ta re ffiey thinking.abût? T h e y are thinking of their
' ancestors who fought to cre a te and preleive their family happiness and
homeland. Th e y are thinking of their dear friends who are far away.
At the same time, the whole family is to welcome the returriof the Spirit
of the Home. Now it is the time for people to explode firecrackers to
welcome his return at the beginning of the New Year. However,
firecrackers have been forbidden now.
S o ts To S p e a k English W ell 211

the “Head D a y ” of the year as Vietnam ese usually call it, they pay
ts to their relatives, wishing each other a H ap py N e w Year. A great
nber of people go to pagodas to pray to the B uddh a that peace "may
¡rt am ong their families and over their co.untry. T h e y n e ver fail to bring
ne branches of fresh plants as a “sym bol of happiness”. O n the
ond day, people start am usem ents and gam es which last for nearly a
^ ••wN '.U . ;
•re are also m any other am usem ents such as cock-fights, bird-fights,
-fights, cards and chess, as well as regional folk dances: unicorn
ce, dragon dance or lion dance.
lough som e traditions of T e t are not any more, the m eaning of the T e t
tains the sam e: to recall the Past and prepare for the Future.
C A B C L A R Y TCP
fascinated (a) attracted

to ward off to protect against
deceased (a) deaoV
attar (n) a place where you worship
incense (n) nhang
to reign to cover
O lE S IT O N S F O R P IS € lS S IO \
Last year, w here did you do? W h a t did you g o ? W h a t do you

com m ent on the w a y city people enjoy Te t?
Do you think T e t is the best occasion for us to relax? W h a t activities
would you like to . h ave during T e t? C ould you suggest som e
suitable activities for people?
W hat popular activities are there at the end of a year? W hich ones
do you prefer? A re you saving now? D o you intend to spend all
you r savings on T e t?
H o w do you fee! w hen an oid year ends and a N e w Y e a r stars?
Is T e t a good time for us to look back over the old year, and look
forward to the N e w Y e a r? W h y should w e look back over the old
and look forward to the new*?
W hich countries in the world also have the Lun ar N e w Y e a r like
ours? Do they celebrate it in the sam e w ay?
W hat are forms of entertainment people prefer to have during this
occasion? W hich ones are healthy and which ones are bad?
■£■T o S p e a k English. W all 212

8. Do you think this is an occasion for you to celebrate big with your
friends, to get out with your sweetheart, and to be do se to your
relatives?
9. What would you do on this occasion if you don’t have much
money? W hat are your resolutions in the Y ear of the Buffalo?
TO PIC 119: CHANCING OR NOT?

«ft»
It seem s that the world is becoming
Ç h a x c f n g f a c e ¥S smaller and smaller every day. W hen I
of tteon O ivux
jix j Si w it if! 2 &0 was a little boy, I could not think about
meeting people from other parts of the
world. However, now I have som e friends
from Australia, Am erica and some other
countries. Also, I can meet m any
foreigners at wortf ¿f on streets, have
dinner at an Italian restaurant, or enjoy a
cup of coffee at a French coffee shop. So , I prefer m o v in g a n u m b e r of
tim es, looking fo r ch a n g e s becau se of so m e rea sons as follow s.
T h e first and m o s t o b v io u s rea son to m o ve from one place to

a no the r is to see the w o rld - W hen doing that, I can improve m y mind
and enrich m y knowledge. I can meet people of m any races whose
customs and habits are not the same as mine. I also pass through areas
of different dimates where even plants and animals are different A s I
see all these things, I begin to learn that this world has a lot of things for
me to explore to enrich m y knowledge.
T h e se co nd rea son fd r m o v in g is the o p p o rtu n ity to g et better jo b s

and living con dition s. Take m y situation for an example. W hen l
graduated from high school, I must leave for H C M C to get higher
education because there is no college or university in m y hometown.
After graduating from university, ] also had to stay in this city to work, for
I could not fir|d a suitable job in m y hometown. In addition, the fact
shows that people around the world are very interested in moving to
developed countries or cities to settle because of better living conditions.
La st but not least, so m e people m o ve to n e w places because th e y

w a n t to help others o r contribu te so m eth ing to the d e v e lo p m e n t of
the place th e y com e. Th e y are usually volunteers who are willing to
work in difficult parts of their country to help poor people there,
r r Moreover, they come to those places to change waste lands into

titivated areas or to establish their business in order create jobs for
ocaf residents to develop their economy. I think these changes should
>e encouraged and respected.
n conclusion, I think that almost people want to look for something

letter than what they already have. Therefore, if people spend their
intire lives in one place, they may miss many chances to develop
hemselves. °
VOCABULARY T IP
I. to explore to discover.
>. to settle to stay
I. cultivated (a) produced
Where are you from? Where were you bom ? W here are you grown
up? ^
Do you often change your school? If yes, how many schools have
you gone to? Which school do you like bets?
How m any friends do you have? Do you often change your friends?
If yes, what are reasons? yp
What do you think about fashion? How often do you change your
fashion? What do you think about a person who has the same hair
style forever?
Do you think you can improve yourself when moving to a new
place? W hat can you get and what m ay you lose?
In your opinion, why do people immigrate to other places or
countries? What is the reason they moved out of their place? Is
changing a place to live or work a problem? In what ways do you
see it as a problem?
Do you think there is a relation between immigration and the
development? Should any government limit or encourage the
num ber of immigrants entering the country?
Should immigrants have the same rights as native citizens? Should
immigrants have the right to vote? In which elections?
W h y would you think of emigrating? What would be some of the
issues that would concern you about emigrating?
10. Are there a lot of immigrants in your community? Do immigrants in
your community isolate themselves into a certain area?
Bote To S p e a k English W ell 214

Dong gop P D F boi GV. Nguyen Thanh Tu
T O P IC 12Ch JEA JLO Ü SY AMP IT S C O M S E O IM O E S
Jealousy is a fear that you are not as

good as others or an envy of what they
have such as fear of changes, losses,
abandonment, or powerfessness. It
reflection of our own insecurity about our
worthiness, or anxiety about ■being
inadequate. People who are usually
jealous of others not only damage
themselves but also break with others.
Jealousy happens when one of the partners starts a new relationship. I

do not know w hy w e are jealous of this while it can bring great joy and
excitement to our lives. W hen our partner has a new relationship, s/he is
adding a new person to his/her life. Som e people say that a new
relationship will change their schedule, their lifestyle, and take a lot of
their energy as well as adding stress to their fife. I think they say so
because they are afraid of losses and abandonment.
j s P
Jealousy has been the cause of marital breakups, destroyed friendships
or strained relationships among neighbors, even siblings. Do you agree
with me that the greater the perceived threat is, the greater the jealousy
becomes. Being jealous of your neighbors1 belongings can lead you to
be deep in debt as you try to keep up appearances and have the same
or better things than your neighbor does. Severe jealousy has even led
to crimes such as theft, arson and murder.
What do you do when you're jealous? Of course at that time, we are

angry, feel violated even want to revenge someone. However, I myself
think what comes up as jealousy can be stopped by simple
communication. For example, if w e have jealousy in love, we can say, "l
need you to have more time with me." ‘W i e n we go to a party, I don't
want you to be with anybody else." If we leave these needs unspoken,
they will remain until a situation exposes them. It is essential to express
your needs and expectations clearly to your partner.
However* it is not always a bad thing. Being jealous of someone car

spur you into action whether it is to study harder in school or to get a
better job. In this way, being jealous can be good although it is usually
perceived as a bad quality.
you? W hat do you think of jealousy in love and in our daily life?
£fojc To S p ea k E n glish W ell

VOCABULARY TIP
!. envy (n): jealousy

>. abandonment (n) being left
i. anxiety (n) worry
i. inadequate (a) not enough
>. siblings (n) blood bothers/si'
5. arson (n) the crime of sett
\ to revenge to do s.th in retu
i. to expose to uncover
). to p e r c e i v e to recognize
OIW IO IV S FOR P im S S I O A
/V,v '
I. What is jealousy? What are often people jealous of? W hy do they
have such feeling?
1. What has often jealousy caused and destroyed? Do you agree with
me that the greater the perceived threat is, the greater the jealousy
becomes? What has revere jealousy even led to?
$. Is jealousy just a single emotion? What can jealousy be manifested
as? What is the primary emotion you have when you are jealous?
1. Is jealousy a reflection of our own insecurity about our worthiness,
anxiety about being adequate as a lover, and doubts about our
desirability?
>. When does jealousy usually happen? W hy are people often jealous
when their partners have a new relationship? Are they afraid of loss
and abandonment?
5. What is the best treatment for jealousy? Do you think trust is an
essential element for a good relationship that can help you relieve
your jealousy?
T. Do you think jealousy is always a bad thing? When is it good? Does
jealousy help you study harder in school or get a better job?
What do you do when you're jealous? Do you usually tell your partner
what you expect from him/her?
L Have you ever said to your partner, "I need you to have more time
with me.”, "When we go to a party, i don't want you to be with
anybody else.“?
10. What ban you drav^ from today’s discussion?
'low To Speak English Well 2)6

1. W hat annoys you most about living at hom e with your family?
W hat annoys you about the place where you live now?
2. W hat annoys you about taking buses to work? W hat annoys you
about driving a motorbike?
3. Does smoking bother you? Do you think you have habits that annoy
other people?
4. Does it annoy you when people kiss in public? Do you get annoyed
when som eone cuts in front of you w hen you are waiting in line?
5. W hat does pet peeve m ean? W h at is your pet peeve? W hat are
some new pet peeves you have as a result of recent technology
(i.e. cell phone use)?
6. W hat annoying habits does your best friend have? W hat is the most
annoying thing for you?
7. Do you get annoyed when other people display bad m anners? Give
some examples.
8. D o you annoy people with som e of your habits? W hat is something
that your parents do that annoys you?
9. C a n annoying som eone be a good thing? if something is annoying
you, what do you usually do? ^
10. W hat are som e things that annoy you that don’t annoy your best
friend? H ow do you inform som eone they are being annoying?
11. H ow do you change annoying habits? W hat are some things that
car drivers do that annoy you?
12. Can you think of som e things children do that annoy adults around
them?
13. W hat kinds of people annoy you? Does it annoy you when people
don’t use tiie right punctuation? W h o is the m ost annoying person
you know? W h y?
H otv To S p e a k E nglish W ell 217
B o n g gop iviiiono nr
W h y is honesty important? W h y is honesty so difficult at times?
W hen is honesty difficult?
W hat is the opposite of honesty? W h y is it good to be honest? W h y
is dishonesty not good?
is there a difference between honesty and truthfulness? Is there a
different between dishonesty and lying? W hen h ave you been
honest? W hen have you been dishonest?
A t what times do you appreciate people being honest with you?
W hen have you had times when people have been dishonest with
you? H o w do feel when you have been dishonest with som eone?
How do you feel w hen som eone has been dishonest with you ?
W h o have you been honest with? H o w can you be honest and not
hurt som eone? is it ever all right to give only a partial truth? W hen
might it be all right to give only a partial truth?
W hen might it be kind more to be completely honest with
someone? Are there people that you d o not trust? H ow can you tell
when people are being dishonest with you?
H ow can people tell if you have been dishonest with them ? W hat
kind of problems does dishonesty cause? W hat are some com m on
situations w hen people are sometimes dishonest? Is dishonesty
every justifiable?
W hat is truthfulness? W hy is it important to be truthful? Are you
always truthful?
W hat problems do you encounter w hen you are not truthful? H o w
can you tell w hen people are being truthful with yo u ? H o w do
people act when they are untruthful?'
How do you feel w hen people have been untruthful with you ? How
do you feel w hen you have been untruthful to others?
W hat is a misleading truth? W hen have you heard a misleading
truth? H o w can you tell when som eone is not telling you the whole
truth?
What are som e situations w hen telling 2 partial truth might be O K ?
W hen are times w hen it might be kinder to tell a partial truth to
som eone? W h a t is the different between telling a partial truth and
lying? H ow do you know when to bust som eone?
m r r 7 : ii \ t k r i \ i ■
1. Do you often use the Internet? W hen did you first use the Internet?
About how m any hours a day do you use the Internet? W ho uses
the Internet the most in your family?
2. Do you think our lives have been improved by the Internet? Do you
think the Internet favors men or w om en? D o men and wom en use
the internet for different purposes?
3. Do you use the Internet for fun or education? W hat are som e of the
ways the Internet can be used for education? W hat are some of the
ways the Internet can be used for entertainment?
4. W hat are the sites you most com m only access? W hat i s the best
thing about the Internet? W hat problems does the Internet create?
What problems does it solve?
5. Do you have more m any e-mail addresses? W h y do you need more
than one e-mail address? H ave you ever chatted on the Internet?
Give m e a reason w h y you think that email is a good w ay for people
to communicate.
6. Is it dangerous to meet people on the Internet? W ould you like to
go on a date with som eone you meet on the Internet?
7. Do you think that the Internet safe for children? W h y? Is there too
much sex on the Internet?
8. Do you think that it is important for schools to have Internet
access? W h y? C an you believe all the information that is published
(available) on the Internet?
computer gam es? M any people use the Internet for fun and
entertainment at work. Do you think that this is right?
10. Would you consider going out with som eone that you met on the
Internet? u *
11. Do you think that meeting people is easier than meeting people
face to face? H o w does the internet help people from different
countries to communicate with each other? Do you think that som e
people spend too much time on the Internet and does this stop
them from seeing their friends? W h y?
12. Many Universities are now offering online courses. Give me som e
reasons w h y this is a good thing. M any students use the Internet to
help them do their assignments and they just cut and paste
information from the Internet. How do we stop this?
13. Search engines are used to find information. Do you think that they
S r always give you the best sites or do they give you sites that pay
m oney in order to be on the top of the list?
iio i£ T o S p o o k E nglish W ell 223

Do you have a boyfriend/girifriend? Where did you meet him/her?
What does he/she look like?
At what age do most people in your country get married? At what
age do you want to get married? At what age did you get married?
Do women usually work after getting married in your country?
Do you know what it means to 'go Dutch'? Do you "go Dutch" when
dating? is it usual for people in your country to ’go Dutch’ if you go
out together?
Do older girls/boys have a problem dating younger giris/boys? Do
younger giris/boys have a problem dating older girls/boys?
Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you think some people
know that they will fall in love with someone the first time they
meet?
Do you know anyone who has had an arranged marriage? o you
know someone who has gotten a divorce? Do you think arranged
marriages are a good idea? W hy or why not? W hat is your opinion
of arranged marriages?
Do you know the difference between love and like? Can you still
love your partner and not like him/her? What characteristics do you
look for in a girlfriend or boyfriend?
How often would you like to go out on dates? H ow old were you
do? W ho did you go with? Do you think a boy should pay for
everything on a date?
0. Do you think getting married means giving up freedom? Do you
think it is better to be single or to be married? Do you think people
change after getting married?
1. Do you think it is okay for a couple to live together before getting
married? W h y or W h y not? Do you think it’s O K for a man to have
two wives? Do you think it's O K for a wife to have two husbands?
2. How long do you think couples should know each other before they
get married? How old were you when you had your first boyfriend
or girlfriend? How old were your parents when they got married?
3. if your parents did not approve of a person you loved and wanted to
marry, would that be a difficult situation for you? Why/Wfry not?
you had to marry either a poor man whom you reallyf loved, or a
rich man whom you did not love, which would you choose?
What advice would you give to someone whose partnef hates their
best friend?.
»;
lo w To S p e a k English W ell 224

Nguyén B ó n g A n h » M~4. in TESOL
16. Would you marry someone of another nationality? What are some
advantages of an international marriage? What are some
disadvantages?
17. Do you want to have an international mam'age? Do you know
anyone who married someone from a different country? If yes, what
is their experience like?
18. How would your parents fee! if you married someone from a
different country? Do you think that it is good for children to have
parents from two different countries? W hy? W hy not?
19. Do you think that gay people should be allowed to m arry?'W hy do
you think the bride's maids wear white?
20 . When should you introduce your boyfriend/girtfriend to your
parents?-when you begin dating, after you have been together for
a while, only when the relationship is serious? W hy? •;
I M I 9 : M EM O RY
1. Do you have a good memory or a bad memory? Do you usually

remember things or forget things? Are there some things or times
that you will never forget? Tell your group about them.
2. Would you like to have a perfect memory? W hy or why not? How
would it change your life? Are there some things or times that you
wish you could forget?
3. Who do you know who has the best memory? Who do you know
who has the worst memory?
4. W hafs your earliest memory? When was it? What's your most vivid
(clear or sharp) memory? When was it? Memories make the man.
What do you think this means? Give examples.
5. Have you ever forgotten something important, like your keys or
your phone? Has someone you know ever forgotten something
important, like their keys or their phone?
6. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you went
there? Have you ever forgotten an important date, like a birthday or
an anniversary? Tell your group what happened.
7. Has someone you known ever forgotten an important date, like a
birthday or an anniversary?
8. As people grow older, sometimes the distant past is easier to
remember than the near past. W hy do you think this is? Have you
ever seen examples of this? Teli your group about them.
9. Those who forget the past will repeat it. What do you think this
means? Give examples.
flow? To Speak English WeR 225

Many people find that visiting certain place brings back a childhood
memory very strongly (such as the scene of an old family holiday).
W hy do you think this is? W here has this effect on you? Give
examples.
If you could edit your memories, which ones would you erase and
why? Which ones would you make clearer and more vivid?
Do you have a photographic m em ory? Do you know anyone who
h
Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe that dead people come

back to life as ghosts? Would you talk to a ghost? Do you believe in
life after death?
!. Do .you know anyone who has said that they have seen a ghost?
Have you ever come in contact with a ghost? (Have you ever seen
a ghost?)
i. If one of your friends told you they had seen a ghost, would you
believe him/her? Why/Why not? W hat is the scariest ghost story
you know?
k is there an area where you live (parte, house, etc.) that is known to
be haunted? If so, what is the story or legend that makes people
believe this area is haunted? Have you ever visited this place? If
you were a ghost who and where would you haunt?
>. Do you believe that houses can be haunted? Have you ever been
to one? Do you believe that houses have ghosts in them
sometimes?
t. Were you ever touched or physically harmed by a ghost or "spirit”?
If so, how? Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?
7. How do you know if a ghost is near you? If you don’t believe in
ghosts, then what have you heard other people say?
î. If you donl believe in ghost, tell w hy? If you don't believe in ghost,
and you actually have seen one, what were your reactions?
5. Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions? W hat are
some superstitions in your country? W hat are some things that are
considered unlucky? W hat are some things that are considered
4 lucky?
10. What numbers are considered to be lucky and unlucky in your
country? Do you have a lucky number?
11. Have you ever gone to a psychic? If so, what were you told? Did
you believe it? W h y do some people consult psychics bef' 'toing
out To S p e a k E nglish W ell 226

important things? Do you know anyone that has ever been to *
psychic?
12. W hy do some people need fortunetellers? H ow do people predi
the future in your country?
13. Do you believe in horoscopes? Do you read your horoscope? If s
do you believe it?
14. Do you think that dreams come true? Do you think that dreams can.
help us solve our problems? Have you ever had a dream Come
true? / Have you ever had a dream that later cam e true?
15. Has anything ever happened to you that you cannot explain? Do
you believe that there are m any things in our universe that cannot
be explained? Give examples.
16. Do you believe that you are from another planet? Do you believe
you have supernatural powers there? Have ydu ever tried to
contact another planet? Did you succeed?
17. Do you believe in reincarnation? Have you ever felt that you knew
someone the first time you met them?
18. Have you ever looked in the mirror and ’seen’ a different face?.Do
you think heaven exist? Do you think hell exist?
19.1s the belief in U F O s , aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because
the belief in religion is dying?
20. Do you believe in witches? W h y or why not? Do you believe in
coincidences? W h y or w hy not? Do you believe in G o d ? W h y or
why not?
21. W hat is the most frightening things that has ever happened to you?
Do you believe that people who were bad alive pay their bad
behavior by staying here?

JL uLLU
ff you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?

tf you could be an animal, any animal, what animal would you be
and w hy?
If you could be another m an or w om an for a day, who would you
choose?
If you could change one tiling about yourself, what would it be?
if you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
If you could choose how you were going to die, what' would you
choose your death to be?
If you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would
you choose?
If you could meet any famous person, dead or alive, who would it
be and w hy?
If you could speak any other language (besides English) which
language would you like to speak?
. If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world for any length of
time, where would you g o ? If you could go anywhere in the world
for a holiday, w here would you go?
.If you could travel back in time, w here would you go?
. If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do?
. If you had 25-hour days (while everyone else continued to have 24 -
hour days), what would you do with the extra time?
. If you had to choose between love and no m oney or m oney and no
love for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
. If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?
.. If you were going to a deserted island and could only take three
things with you. w hat would you take? W h y?
If you w ere the President, what problem or concern would you work
on first?
If you woke dp suddenly because your house was on fire, which
three things would you save as you ran outside?
i. If you could live perfectly well without sleeping, if you had no need
to sleep at all, how would you spend all your nights?
U f you could be marned with a foreign (m an/wom an), who do you
think you would choose?
. T\» C _ , . __ L T T '„ M 228

M T 1 2 : CLO TH ES & FASHION
1. Do you tike shopping for new clothes? Do you prefer to go
shopping or just browse? W h y? H o w much m oney do you spend on
clothes a year? W h at piece of clothing do you spend your money
on the most? W h y? W here do you usually buy clothes?
2. W hat kind of clothes do you usually wear? Do you think it is
important to w ear fashionable clothes? Do you wear jewelry? If so,
what kind of jewelry do you wear? H ow often do you w ear jewelry?
3. W hat do you think of body piercing? Do you have pierced ears? Do
you know anyone with a pierced nose? W ould.you ever pierce your
tongue? W hat do you think of people with body piercing?
4. W hat colors do you think look good on you? W hat colors do you
think look good on your girlfriend or boyfriend? J p r
5. W hat kind of clothes are in fashion now? W ould you like to be a
fashion m odel? W h a fs the most expensive piece of clothing you
have ever bought? W hat are some of the strangest fashions you
have seen?
6. W hat would you think of a wom an who cut off all her hair and went
around bald as a fashion statement? What do you think of women
who w ear short mini-skirts? Do you think that the clothes we wear
reflect what Is inside us?
7. W hat do you think of people with tattoos? Do you have a tattoo? Do
you know som eone with a tattoo?
8. What type of clothing do you w ear when you are angry and you
want to express yourself? W hat colors do you choose to w ear when
you are happy?
9. In what w ays does your Grandmother dress differently than you?
W hen you get old do you think you will dress like your grandmother
or grandfather?
10. W ould you ever w ear contacts to change your eye color? W hat is
the difference in the people who choose to w ear contacts and the
people w ho choose to were glasses?
11. W hat do you think about wom en who don’t w ear earrings? W hat do
you think ab out m e n w h o w e a r earrin gs?
12.1s it possible for wom en to wear too m uch m ake-up? W hen is a
person wearing to m uch m ake-up? W hat do you think of men who
wear m ake-up? Is it possible to be beautiful without wearing any
make-up, earrings or other accessories?
13. Do you think people feel different when they w ear different clothes?
Do fashionable clothes really change the w ay a person looks?
What do you think of people who dye their hair?
Bow To Speak EngUsk Well 229

.W h a t do you think about secondhand clpthes? W h y .d o you think
people buy secondhand clothes? H ave you ever been to a store
that sells secondhand clothes? Have you ever bought secondhand
clothes? W ould you buy secondhand dothes?
U M T 1 3 : D IS A S T E R S
H o w can you help after a natural disaster? If you could volunteer to

help after a natural disaster, what could you do? H ave you ever
volunteered to help in a disaster? W hat did you do? Did you enjoy
»t? > 2 ?
Have you ever given m oney to a charity? How do you decide what
charity to give to? Are you willing to donate m oney fo help victims
of a natural disaster in other countries? H ow m uch?
How much m oney should your government give to help victims of
natural disasters in your country and how m uch to help people
living in other countries?
W hat is a disaster? W hat is the Japanese word for disaster? Have
you ever been in a disaster?
W hat are som e different kinds of disasters? W hat kinds of disasters
are com m on in your country?
W hat is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane? W h at is
the difference between a tornado and a hurricane?
Are there w ays w e can prepare ourselves in advance to cope with
disasters?
H o w are businesses affected by disasters? H o w are families
affected by disasters? H o w are the problems solved after a
disaster?
Do som e natural disasters occur repeatedly in the sam e area? Do
m any people live in these areas? If you had the power to stop a
natural disaster that has happened in the past, which would you
choose? W h y ?
W hat is the difference between natural disasters and m an-m ade
disasters? C a n you nam e a few of each type? W here do these
usually often occur?
Are you prepared for a disaster? W hat can you do to prepare for a
disaster? H o w do you think you would react in a disaster? Does
your family have a plan for what to do in the event of an
earthquake?
you ever been injured ? H ave you ever had a broken leg?
W hat would you do rf you knew there would soon be a serious
natural disaster and this could be your last day on earth?
? To Speak English VP'oU. 230

L A IT 1 4: IM M IGRATION
1. W hy do people immigrate to other countries? Is immigration from
one country to another a problem? In what ways do you see it as a
problem? Do you think that immigrants are treated well in most
countries? vO '
2. Do you think there is a relation between immigration and crime?
Should any government limit the number of immigrants entering the
country? W hat would be a good number?
3. Is local culture threatened by immigration? H o w should
immigrants retain their culture? Should immigrants have the same
rights as native citizens?
4. Is there a difference between political and economic immigration?
Should immigrants have the right to vote? In which elections?
5. What should be done with the illegal immigrants entering a
country? Should the country of origin of illegal immigrants be held
responsible? Do immigrants have a good or bad reputation in your
part of the country?
6. Should students be allowed to wear clothes with cultural or religious
symbolism at school?
7. Are there a lot of immigrants in your community? Would you ever
think of emigrating? W h y would you think of emigrating?
8 Should immigrants be required to learn the local language? How
would you help an immigrant learn the local language? T o what
extent has the culture; of. your community become richer by
immigrants?
UNIT 1 5 : L IK E S AAD D IS L IK E S
1. What kind of music do you like? W ho are your favorite performers
or bands? Do you like music or musicians from other countries as
well? If so, who or what kind?
2. What kinds of music don't you like? Nam e some singers or
groups that you dislike.
3. Do you like to watch T V ? Do you like movies? Do you like to
watch T V ? W hat are your favorite kinds of programs or shows?
What are your all-time favorite T V programs?
4. Do you like programs or shows from other countries as well? If so,
what kind? Do you like actors from other countries as well? If so,
Tf4 v who? W hat kinds of programs or which actors don't you like?
^ 5. Do you like movies? What are your favorite kinds of movies?
What are your all-time favorite movies? Who are your favorite
B o w To S p e a k English W ell 231

actors? D o you like m ovies from other countries as well? ff so, what ,
kind?
D o you like sports? W hat are your favorite kinds of sports? W ho
are your favorite athletes?
D o you like sports from other countries as w ell? If so, what kind?
D o you like athletes from other countries as well? If so, w ho? W hich
athletes don't you like?
Do you like books? W hat are your favorite kinds of books? W hat
are your favorite titles? W h o are your favorite authors?
l
Most presentations are divided into 3 main parts (+ questions):
introduction, body, conclusion, and questions
IN T R O D U C T IO N
G o o d morning, ladies and gentlemen.

G o o d afternoon, everybody. ^
Hi, everybody.
Introduce y o u r subject
I am going to talk today about...

T h e purpose of m y presentation is to introduce our new range of...
Outline the structure
In m y presentation, I have two points to tell you. Fist, I would

like to talk a b o u t.... Th e n , I will m ove on to...
Give instructions about questions
D o feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions.

If you have any questions, please wait u n til! finish my speech.
P R E S E N T A T IO N V E R B S
p To S p e a k E n glish W eil 232

- to take a took at - to report on - to discuss
- to give an overview of - to tell about
- to show - to outline - to talk
Ex:
G o o d m orning ladies an d gentlem en! Today, ! am going to talk

about ch an ge s in Vietnam ese families in m o de m society. First o f
ailI, I'll talk about the size of the family. T h e n Til m ention the
w om an's role in the m o d e m family. A fte r that HI give y o u an
ove rview o f children's freedom If y o u have a n y questions, don't
hesitate to interrupt me.
III. S IG N -P O S T IN G
1. Introducing the first subject
I'd like to start by...

Let's begin by...
First of all, I'll...
Starting with...
I'll begin b y...
2. Finishing one subject... ^ ‘y>
• W ell, I've told you about...

• Th a t’s all I have to sa y about...
• S o m uch for...
3. ...and starting another
• N ow we'll m ove on to...

• Let m e turn now to...
• Next...
• T u rn in g to...
• 4 ^ 1 'd like now to discuss...
• Let's look now at...
4. G iving an example
For e x a m p le ....
A good exam ple of this is...
H otc To S p e a k E n g lish W ell 233

T o give you an example,...
T o illustrate this point...
Note: Ordering
Firstly... secondly.. .thirdly... lastly...

First of alL.then...next..after that...finaily...
T o start w ith.Jater...to finish up...
/. C O N C L U S IO N
Use the conclusion to: • Sum up; - Give recommendations if

appropriate; - Thank your audience; Invite questions.
■vV
Sum m ing up .
T o conclude,...
In conclusion,...
in summary,
Now, to sum up...
S o let me summarize/recap what I've said.
Finally, m ay I remind you of ¿om e of the main points we've
considered. 7
J v
Thanking your audience
Many thanks for your attention.

M ay l thank you all for being such an attentive audience,
k Inviting questions
> N ow I’ll try to answer any questions you m ay have.

* Are there any questions?
►Do you have any questions?
234 -
ok To S p e a k E nglish W ell
B ó n g g ì^ P D F b ò i GV. Nguyên Thanh Tü
Nguyen Hong Anh. M A . in TESOL
IN D E X '____________ PA CE
1. M y s e lf I n tr o d u c tio n 2
2. T h e F ir s t D a y 1 W en t T o S c h o o l 3
3. M y F a m ily 5
4. M y C h ild h o o d
5. A D a y I n M y L ife 8 «
6. T h e S u b je c t I L ik e dt* « ;
7. W h at 1 H a te D o in g
8. T h in k in g O f Y o u r L ife ? 12
9. A n U n fo r g e tta b le M e m o ry K«t ntw»? 14
10. M y H o b b ie s c7o 15
11. M a k in g F r ie n d s 17
12. G o in g C a m p in g 18
13. S u p e r m a r k e ts 20
14. A B ig C ity O r T h e C o u n tr y sid e ? 21
15- T h e Im p o r ta n c e O f B r e a k fa s t 23
16. F a st F o o d 25
17. E n v ir o n m e n ta l P o llu tio n Q fj 26
* 1 « . V a c a tio n P la n s i i<sf 28
1 9 . L e a r n in g E n g lish 30
20. L e a r n in g O n lin e j 31
2 1 . J o b P r o m o tio n £?M )<Uji ¥ \ VA 32
22. J o b I n t e r v ie w f ^ 34
2 3 . C o m m u tin g to w o r k $[\ ^ 35
2 4 . M a r r ia g e F ir s t o r Ca r e e r F ir s t? ^ 36
2 5 . L is te n in g to M u sic 38
2 6 . P la y in g G a m es 40
2 7 . S u r fin g t h e I n te r n e t 42
2 8 . C h a ttin g O n lin e 43
Vj^b f. o^
¿ £ 2 9 . L o v in g a n d D a tin g \\c> m 45
3 0 . G e ttin g m a r r ie d 46
31. H o n e y m o o n 1'vCo.- V 48
32. R a is in g C h ild r e n c^'- 49
3 3 . W ith O r W ith o u t A C o m p a n io n ? 51
H o e To Speak English Well '235
Bong gopPDF boi GV. Nguyen Thanh Tu

Students And Part-Tim e dobs 52
Physical Exercise 54
Advantages of Ceil phones l(r*j H i ®"tf'XA*-’ C? ^ 55
University life 57
Traffic Problems 58
Television 60
Reading 61
Going Shopping 63
Places I Like to Visit X 64
With o r Without Friends? 66
Going Travelling 68
Fashion and Life 69
%Money and Its Effects Vv 0 * 71
. Studying Abroad 72
s A Job I Want To Do 74
1» Reasons To Learn English 76
). What To Entc^r Your Life? 78
. Spending o r Saving Money? S~> , ffsy'i' V . ; 80
¿N.
L With Dr Without a Tour Guide? 81
n. How to le a d a Happy Life? 83
Cohabitation V <-
S jo -'
l
85
i. Summer .Vacation 87
n Dangers At Home 89
r• Old-man Clubs 91
L Volunteers t' 93
If , ■ v
L Generation Gaps 95
K Students Nowadays 97
L Masters o r Worfcers?- 99
K ’-¿T' s
**» Your Biggest F e u s Xu life 101
>
1. O p tim is m /W <k « u -a 103

L Business o r Family? 104
Jo Childhood and Its Effects 106
I. Vietnamese Families nowadays 108
Getting Married To Foreigners 110
JP 5- Persistence and Success 112
JJ' i> i '/
*>To S p e a k E nglish W ell 236

69« The Best Means Of Transportation 114
70. Street Children 116
71. Study Groups 118
72. An Unforgettable Gift In My life 119
73. Bating While Schooling 1 2 1 -V
74. Attending Class or Studying H one? 123
75. Valentine’s Bay 125
^ 76. Being a Famous Person 127
77. Family Relations Nowadays 129
7». Eating In Or Out? 131
79. Who is the B etter Parent? 132
8 0 . At H one or To The Cinema? 135
8 1 . SolvingTraflie Problems 137
82. Modern Women 139
83. Working o r Retiring? 141
8 4 . Making Your Breams Become T ra 143
VW'^VV
8 5 . Giving and Receiving Gilts 145
o.
86. Students and Integration 147
87. One-week Holiday 149
88. The Most Important Skill 151
89. Should Children JLearn English? 153
90. Telling lie s ^ 155
91. How to Learn English? ^ / 157
92* Uncivilised Actions X\ « K." Va-.'-. 159
9 3 . The Internet In learning 161
94. Mobile Phones ÔT 164
95. How To Win People’s Hearts 166
96. Bonn or Apartment? 167
97. With Or Without the Teacher? 169
98. Body Language 171
9 9 . Keeping Achieving Our Goals ^ 4 1 173 •
100. Wedding In Vietnam 175
101. Faee-To-F aee Communication 177
102. Eating & Drinking Habits 179
j p 103. Our Friends 181
Hozc To S p o o k English. W ell 23?

iguyên Häng Anh, Af-A. in TESOL
104- G o in g T o U n iv e rs ity 183

105. W o rk in g & R e la x in g 185
108. F a m ily R e la t io n 187
107. H ow T o l i v e T o lOO . c 189
108. S p e c ia l M o m e n ts
109. C h ristm a s iCc- -
110. S o la ir N ew T e a r 195
1 1 1 . w ''•'°R a tin g lu O u r C o u n try
112. N ew Y e a r ’s R e s o lu tio n s
113. S tu d y in g A b ro a d
114. D iv o r c e h
1 Ï5 . O v e rp o p u la tio n t:
U S . A - G l o b a l W arm in g
117. W ay s o f E n t e r t a in in g
118. V ie tn a m e s e T e t
119. C h an gin g O r Mot
•‘J& M V-
120 . J e a lo u s y & I t s
T O P IC S F O R M W il-T A IJL S 217
T I P S F O R P I B O C SFA R IN O 234
email: anhnguyenhongmaster@gmail.com
Blog: nguyenhonganhtesol.bipgspot.com
Bote To Speak English Well 238

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WWW.DAYKEMQUYNHON.UCOZ.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/DAYKEM.

The book "H o w To Speak English W e ll" is designed to provide you

Practicing speaking is not only speaking. Besides, the learners have to

Nguyen Hong Anh, M.A. in TESOL

I’m very happy to introduce myself. My name is Linh

I live in Bac U eu province, a province in the west of

In my free time, I like listening to music, watching movies, reading

In short, I am very happy with m y life. O f course, ! am going to make it

1. to consist (of) [kan'sist] = to include

TOPIC 2: TBOEFIKST BA Y I WENT TO SCHOOL

Soon a teacher came and led us to som e

it w as an enjoyable time for me as I got to know m y new classmates.

. to accompany [a ’kA m p s n i]: to go with

There are five m em bers in m y family: m y parents,

N ow i'm living in H C M C for m y higher education. However, I always miss

1. foundation [faun'dei/nj (n): base

H<nc To S p e a k E nglish W ell

j§ It is said that childhood is the best period of one’s

I Since I was bom, my mother has always taken a

his care, I always got good results.

My grandparents also loved me so. much. W henever they came back

\ also have a lot of memories during my schooling years. O nce I cut

1. period fpieriad] (n): stage

\)dng gop PDF bcri GV. Nguyen Thanh Tu WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOIDUONGHOAHOCQUYNHON

3y usually begins at 6. I get up and do

n take a bus to school. I catch the bus

! evening, I go to evening classes. I’m teaming English at Youth

O n Sundays, I usually go to coffee shops for chatting with m y friends.

QUESTIONS F O B PISC U SSIO X

I think it is very interesting to work on a space­

obe Iproub] (n): yp exploration

OUUSTIOrcS FO B P ISC U SSIO fl

T O PIC 7z W HAT I H ATE DOING

I hate getting up early very m uch, tt is so

In short, in our life, w e cannot avoid doing things we do not w a n t

1. to recall [riled:!] = to reminisce

Hove T o S p e a k E nglish W ell II

I find that at least two people in this world love

n addition, I ’am optimistic. W henever I make a mistake, 1 find that

I<ytc To S p e a k English W ell 12

1. to devote [di’vout] = to sacrifice

Q U ESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N

How To S p e a k E n g lish W ell 13

My mother helped me prepare for the day. A t

Th e event took place from 8 am till 11 am. Looking at m y schoolmates, I

1. Do you have a good m em ory or a bad memory? Do you usually

TOPIC 10: MY H O BBIES

Th e hobby i like best/is playing guitar.jkut i can

. tune ftu:nj (n): melody

Hou; To S p e a k English WeR 16

TO PIC 11; M AKW G FKIFJVBS

W hen making new friends, there are usually

T h e first is the greeting. In this part, you and

T h e second part is the conversation. Sometimes the conversation is a

Hcnc To S p e a k E nglish W ell 17

Camping is a very popular activity to all

Th e most interesting time is when the camp-fire is built. After dinner, we

ffotr T o S p o o k English W eil

1. to encamp: to set up camp

1. Do you like cam ping? If yes, how often do you do that? 0 ?

In .order to satisfy the need of shopping in a big

Since I do a lot of shopping, I usually need a shopping cart to cany

Thanks to supermarkets, our lives seem to be easier. I hope more and

I think it is very interesting to work on a space