3 must-know topics in Ielts Speaking Part 1 (by Son Vu)

1.Work:
Q1: Are you working or are you a student?

A: Well, at the moment, I am part-timing as a teacher of English at a local English centre and I have
been doing this for approximately 3 years now. To be honest with you, I really love my job because I
think that teaching and sharing are parts of my DNA and you know, teaching itself is an incredibly
interesting line of work.

Q2: What do you like about your job?

A: I think the most rewarding aspect about my job is the fact that it provides me with chances to meet
people from all different walks of life. They all bring very different, very dynamic vibe to my
classrooms. Also I probably should not forget to mention that even though I do not think that I am
making quite a lucrative income, I mean I do not really have lots of opportunities to splurge on my
favorite things on payday. But seeing my students make process every day is just totally worth it.

Q3: What do you dislike about your job?

A: Well, if there is something that I am not quite into about my job, I would say that it is the
overwhelming workload. I mean, I am always up to the ears in work and I also need to rack my brain
out trying to come up with new activities and games if I want to draw my students’ attention, you
know, it actually gives me with very little quality time for family and friends.

Q4: What do you often do after work?

A: Well, it kind of depends, you know. Sometimes after I get off work, I would hang out with my
friends and even my students to grab a couple of drinks or maybe a bite if we’re feeling really up to it,
you know, hanging out with friends and shooting the breeze with them are the most practical ways to
let your hair down and chill after such a nerve-racking day of working. At the same time, I also just go
home and binge-watch my favorite movies or shows if no one is going out with me.

1. Part-time (v): làm việc bán thời gian

2. Part of the DNA: 1 phần ở trong máu (ý nói 1 phần của tôi)
3. Line of work: công việc
4. Rewarding aspect: mặt/khía cạnh sướng nhất :v
5. Walk of life: nhiều nghề khác nhau
6. Make lucrative income: kiếm nhiều tiền
7. Splurge on sth: vung tiền vào cái gì
8. Overwhelming workload: khối lượng công việc quá tải
9. Up to the ears: rất bận
10. Rack one’s brain out: vò đầu bứt tai
11. Quality time: thời gian rảnh
12. Get off: kết thúc (finish)
13. Shoot the breeze: chém gió
14. Let one’s hair down: xoãaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
15. Nerve-racking: căng thẳng
16. Binge-watch: Ngồi xem 1 bộ phim (phim nhiều phần, nhiều tập)
2.Study:
Q1: Are you working or are you a student?

A: Well, currently I am a senior at Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, which is

quite a reputable university in Vietnam. You know, the admission of my university is quite competitive
so I am really proud of being a student here.

Q2: What do you study?

A: Well, I am majoring in Graphics Design so as you can probably guess, I have to deal with analyzing
pictures and pieces of artwork day in day out and there is quite a lot of interaction with computers. It
can get overwhelming at time but I would like to think that I have a knack for coming up with new
ideas for my assignments so it’s okay.

Q3: Is there anything you do not like about your study?

A: As a matter fact, yes, I mean the overwhelming workload is not something I am particularly
interested in, I mean, students are often under a huge amount of pressure from assignments and
deadlines. Having said that, the exams are not very challenging, in fact, they are quite predictable and
we just can breeze through them with a little bit of revision.

Q4: What do you like about your study?

A: Well, from my perspective, I would say that the most rewarding aspect of my study has gotta be
the environment. I mean, we get to study in air-conditioned rooms and they are all equipped with
state-of-the-art computers and projectors. Also, my teachers and my friends and constantly
supportive for me so I think it’s a good place to study.

1. Reputable (adj): nổi tiếng

2. Admission (N): đầu vào
3. Day in day out: everyday
4. Come up with: nghĩ ra
5. Overwhelming workload: khối lượng công việc quá tải
6. Breeze through (phrasal verb): dễ thở
7. Rewarding aspect: khía cạnh sướng
8. State-of-the-art: xịn/khủng
3. Hometown
Q1: Tell me about your hometown

A: Well, I could start off by saying that I am residing in Hanoi, which is the capital city of Vietnam,
located in the Red River Delta, and if there is one thing I can talk about Hanoi, I would like to say that
the locals are very friendly and sweet as they often show expats around and offer some help when
they have difficulties.

Q2: What do you like about your hometown?

A: Honestly, there is a boat loads of aspects that can make me fall in love with Hanoi but as a
foodaholic, I gotta say that I have been madly into Hanoi cuisine for its huge variety of dishes, you can
find an abundance of bustling food stalls across the streets of Hanoi and they are obviously my go-tos
for nice and cheerful meals. I know that gourmet restaurants are nice and all but street food is what
Hanoi all about.

Q3: Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?

A: I guess the only thing I am particularly not interested in about my hometown has gotta be the
traffic, I mean, the roads often get extremely congested especially during peak time and it just bugs
me a lot when I have to waste hours going home from work. Besides, traffic problems also have
exerted many negative impacts on the environment so it’s all about the traffic.

Q4: Is your hometown a place suitable for young people or old people?

A: Well, I personally would say both. You know, Hanoi is gradually becoming a developing city so
youngers can find thousands of opportunities to secure a job or to get promoted in their chosen
career. At the same time, the elderly can still enjoy thousand-year-old traditions and customs that can
bring peace and harmony to their mind.

1. (to) Reside in : live in

2. Expats(N) : Expatriate : người nước ngoài
3. A boat loads of: A lot of
4. An abundance of: A lot of
5. Bustling(Adj): busy and crowded
6. Food stalls: Quầy bán đồ ăn
7. Gourmet restaurants: Nhà hàng “chanh xả”
8. Congested(adj): very busy and crowded
9. Peak time: rush hours: giờ cao điểm
10. (to) bug sb: to make sb very uncomfortable/angry
11. (to) Exert (v): cause
12. (to) secure a job: đảm bảo 1 công việc
13. (to) Get promoted: thăng chức
14. Peace and harmony: yên bình và hài hoà
4. House/Accomodation
Q1: Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in?

A: Well, at the moment I am residing in a 15-story apartment with my family and actually we just
moved here a couple of months ago. It’s very spacious and I gotta admit that the facilities and services
here are top-notch. Before that, we also lived in an apartment but it is not as spacious and convenient
as the one we are living in right now.

Q2: How long have you lived there?

Q2: Well, as I was saying, we just moved here a couple of months ago and I do not think that we are
going to move house again, I mean, not till I get married..haha. However, I have to say that I am not
really into the convivial atmosphere there because I am sort of an introvert and I am not quite eager
to widen my circle.

Q3: What do you like about living there?

A: I have to say that the most rewarding aspect of living there is that there is an eclectic mix of shops
in the vicinity of my apartment which makes it much more convenient for my family to get our daily
supplies. Besides, I am a bit of a foodaholic and there are also many food stalls across the street so
they are obviously my go-tos for a cheap and cheerful meal.

Q4: What sort of accommodation would you like to live in in the future?

A: I don’t know about other people but personally, if I were loaded, I would definitely love to have a
smart house like the one of Tony Stark near the sea, I think it’s gonna be incredibly refreshing and
rejuvenating living there.

1. (to) reside in: live in

2. Story(n): tầng (khi nói về nhà cửa)
3. Top-notch: đỉnh!
4. Convivial (adj): vui vẻ, sôi nổi
5. (to) widen one’s circle: mở rộng mối quan hệ
6. An eclectic mix of: a lot of
7. In/within the vicinity of sth: near sth
8. Go-to: Nơi đến
9. Food stalls: hàng ăn, quầy ăn
10. Loaded(adj): very wealthy
11. Refreshing and rejuvenating (both are adj): tràn đầy sức sống