TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPEAKING PART 1 ........................................................................................... 1

TOPIC 1: WORK AND STUDIES.................................................................... 1
TOPIC 2: HOMETOWN ................................................................................... 3
TOPIC 3: DRAWING AND ART GALLERIES ............................................. 6
TOPIC 4: MIRRORS ......................................................................................... 8
TOPIC 5: DREAMS ......................................................................................... 10
TOPIC 6: EMAILS/ LETTERS ...................................................................... 12
TOPIC 7: SPORTS ........................................................................................... 14
TOPIC 8: TAKING PHOTOS ......................................................................... 16
TOPIC 9: CINEMAS ........................................................................................ 18
TOPIC 10: STREET MARKETS ................................................................... 20
TOPIC 11: MOBILE PHONES....................................................................... 22
TOPIC 12: TIME MANAGEMENT............................................................... 24
TOPIC 13: WEBSITES .................................................................................... 26
TOPIC 14: LOSING AND FINDING THINGS ............................................ 28
TOPIC 15: DAILY ROUTINE ........................................................................ 30
TOPIC 16: CARS .............................................................................................. 32
TOPIC 18: ADVERTISEMENT ..................................................................... 34
TOPIC 19: BORING THINGS ........................................................................ 36
TOPIC 20: COLLECTING THINGS ............................................................. 38
TOPIC 21: COMPUTERS ............................................................................... 40
TOPIC 22: EVENING TIME .......................................................................... 41
TOPIC 23: MEETING PLACES .................................................................... 43
TOPIC 24: SITTING DOWN .......................................................................... 45
TOPIC 25: TALENTS ...................................................................................... 46
TOPIC 26: WATCH ......................................................................................... 47
TOPIC 27: OLD BUILDINGS ........................................................................ 49
TOPIC 28: COLORS ........................................................................................ 51
TOPIC 29: HANDWRITING .......................................................................... 52
TOPIC 30: RESTAURANTS ........................................................................... 54
SPEAKING PART 2 ......................................................................................... 57
TOPIC 1: DESCRIBE AN OBJECT .............................................................. 57
TOPIC 2: DESCRIBE A PERSON ................................................................. 64
TOPIC 3: DESCRIBE AN EVENT/ TIME .................................................... 73
TOPIC 4: DESCRIBE AN ACTIVITY .......................................................... 81
TOPIC 5: DESCRIBE A PLACE.................................................................... 84
TOPIC 6: OTHER TOPICS ............................................................................ 90
SPEAKING PART 3 ....................................................................................... 100
TOPIC 1: MAKING FRIENDS..................................................................... 100
TOPIC 2: CREATIVITY ............................................................................... 101
TOPIC 3: CHILDREN UPBRINGING ........................................................ 102
TOPIC 4: WORKING ENVIRONMENT .................................................... 103
TOPIC 5: ITEMS REPAIRMENT ............................................................... 105
TOPIC 6: COMPANY PUBLIC RELATION ............................................. 106
TOPIC 7: LANGUAGE LEARNING ........................................................... 107
TOPIC 8: PURCHASING HABIT ................................................................ 108
TOPIC 9: COUNTRYSIDE ........................................................................... 109
TOPIC 10: AMBITION ................................................................................. 110
TOPIC 11: ATHLETES ................................................................................. 111
 HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG TÀI LIỆU

Tài liệu này sẽ đưa ra các từ vựng/cách diễn đạt hay cho các chủ đề Speaking thường gặp ở 3
parts.

Trong mỗi chủ đề sẽ có các mục như sau:

Câu hỏi của chủ đề - Từ vựng/cụm từ vựng/cách diễn đạt được in đậm trong văn bản –Nghĩa
tiếng Việt của từ vựng/cụm từ vựng /cách diễn đạt

Cách sử dụng tài liệu:

• Bước 1: Tự brainstorm ý tưởng cho câu trả lời của mình.

• Bước 2: Đọc câu trả lời mẫu.
• Bước 3: Học thuộc từ vựng trên ứng dụng Cram.
• Bước 4: Trả lời lại các câu hỏi dựa trên các từ vựng đã học được.
 SPEAKING PART 1

TOPIC 1: WORK AND STUDIES

Do you work or are you a student?

Well, currently I’m working a part-time job as a teaching assistant in an English center in
Hanoi. I’ve been doing so for 3 years.

What work do you do? What subjects are you studying? Why did you choose that job?

Besides being a part-time teaching assistant, I’m also employed full-time as an academic
assistant.

My area of specialization is English linguistics, which means I have to master numerous

subjects related to the major including the basics of Phonology, Grammar, English for specific
purposes, etc.

There are several reasons I opted for that profession. Firstly, my major is English linguistics.
Secondly, I have been passionate about English since I was in high school. On top of that, my
job also helps me to get a well-paid salary so it is really an ideal job for me now.

Why did you choose to study that subject? Do you like your job?

I decided to study that subject as it helps me to fulfill my dream of promoting our national
image to the world. Plus, studying English is also a way for me to train myself into becoming
an active person.

Of course, I love my job now. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is that I have a
chance to meet people from all walks of life. And you know, they are all very different, which
brings a unique dynamic to the classroom.

What do you like about your studies?

One of the most fascinating aspects I find in my studies is that I can keep up with current
affairs. Plus, I can also improve my analytical and problem-solving skills.

What do you dislike about your studies?

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I just find it challenging the first time I studied my major as it was so theoretical and
perplexing. That’s why I had a hard time dealing with it when I was a freshman.

What was your dream job when you were young? Have you changed your mind on your dream
job?

I was always ambitious about being a doctor when I was a kid. Just imagining one day I would
wear a blouse and find a cure for patients, I feel like I am on cloud nine.

Absolutely. As you can see, my current job is academic assistant. However, my dream was to
become a doctor. That’s because I changed my major when enrolling in university, which
marked an important milestone and turned my life into a new leaf.

VOCABULARY:

• tobe passionate about sth: đam mê cái gì

• get a well-paid salary (collocation): nhận một mức lương cao
• area of specialization (n): lĩnh vực chuyên môn
• walks of life (n): các tầng lớp xã hội
• unique dynamics (n): sự sôi động đặc biệt
• keep up with (phrasal verb): bắt kịp với
• analytical and problem-solving skills (n): kỹ năng phân tích và xử lí tình huống
• perplexing (adj): phức tạp
• turn to a new leaf (idiom): bước sang trang mới
• on cloud nine (idiom): vui vẻ

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 TOPIC 2: HOMETOWN

Please describe your hometown a little. What is your town well-known for?

I was born and raised in Quang Ninh province, which is located in Northern Vietnam. This
province is also famous for its abundant seafood and a variety of tourist attractions.

Do you like your hometown?

I really love my hometown as I’ve grown up there since I was a kid. All of my life has been
associated with this place from my family, my school, and my friends to my house, my street,
etc.

Is that a big city or a small place? How long have you been living there?

As I mentioned before, I’ve lived there since I was a kid. Having said that, I lived there for
almost 18 years until I moved to Hanoi to enter a university. It’s a large city facilitated by a
top-notch infrastructure and numerous convenient services.

Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?

I don’t think so. I tend to live in Hanoi because this city provides me with a lot of job
opportunities and services, allowing me to enjoy a high living standard.

Would you like to live in the countryside in the future?

I haven’t thought about that but if I had to choose, I would rather live in my hometown. Because
you know, despite being a big city like Hanoi, the atmosphere in Quang Ninh is cleaner and
fresher than that in the capital, which is really beneficial for me to enjoy my retirement age.

What is the difference between living in the countryside and the city? What do you like to do in
the countryside?

From my perspective, the former differs from the latter in some aspects. Firstly, it’s apparently
the environment. Needless to say, the atmosphere in an urban area is far more polluted than
that in a rural one due to industrial production and systems of transportation. However, living

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in the city is way more convenient than in the countryside thanks to its cutting-edge facilities,
like hospitals, food and beverage delivery, etc.

I enjoy taking some walks as the clean atmosphere in the countryside makes me feel so
refreshed and relaxed. What’s more, I can also get away from it all after experiencing a hectic
daily routine in the city.

What do people living in the countryside like to do? How has your town changed over the last
20 years?

Well, most of the people in rural areas are farmers so I think they probably enjoy doing
farmwork, you know, like irrigating, gardening or plowing, etc.

To be honest, the last 20 years have seen significant development in my town. The frequent
parks and open spaces have been replaced by modern buildings and commercial
establishments, more industries have been established and people seem to have a fast pace of
life these days.

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VOCABULARY:

• born and raised (v): được sinh ra và lớn lên

• tourist attractions (n): những địa điểm thu hút khách du lịch
• top-notch (adj): hàng đầu
• tend to (v): có xu hướng làm gì
• provide sb with sth (v): cung cấp cho ai đó cái gì
• cutting-edge facilities (n): cơ sở vật chất hiện đại
• take a walk (collocation): đi bộ
• get away from it all (idiom): thoát khỏi sự náo nhiệt của thành phố
• hectic daily routine (collocation): lịch trình bận rộn hàng ngày
• irrigate (v): tưới tiêu
• industries (n): các ngành
• fast pace of life (n): nhịp điệu nhanh của cuộc sống

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 TOPIC 3: DRAWING AND ART GALLERIES

Do you like painting or drawing?

Absolutely yes. I’m a big fan of drawing and performance art.

What kinds of things do you like to draw? Is it easy to learn how to draw?

I like drawing portraits. I find it an effective way to capture people’s images in your mind,
especially your beloved ones. Besides, it is so relaxing to draw a portrait when I’m under a lot
of pressure.

What do you know about paintings? Have you learned drawing or painting?

When it comes to painting, I don’t know the first thing about it. However, as I remember
vividly, I used to learn to draw and paint when I was in elementary school.

Do you like visiting museums and art galleries? Do you often visit museums?

Definitely. It’s a great chance to spend quality time with family. On top of that, visiting
museums and art galleries are also a way to deepen my understanding of many fields as well
as broaden my horizon as those sites display a variety of artwork and ancient samples.

When was the last time you visited a museum?

If my memory serves me right, I last visited a museum 2 months ago. I came to that museum
with my friends after school to reward ourselves after a challenging exam at school.

Which do you prefer to visit, museums or art galleries?

I have a stronger preference for the former since I’m really interested in history and events
in the past. They are not only a valuable educational tool but also arouse people’s patriotism
as well.

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VOCABULARY:

• a big fan of sth (n): là người hâm mộ cái gì

• capture sb’s image (v): lưu giữ hình ảnh của ai đó
• don’t know the first thing about sth (idiom): không biết về cái gì
• broaden my horizon (v): mở rộng kiến thức
• artworks and ancient samples (v): tác phẩm nghệ thuật và mẫu vật cổ.
• if my memory serves me right (idiom): nếu trí nhớ của tôi chính xác
• historical events and figures (n): nhân vật và sự kiện lịch sử
• cultural identity (n): bản sắc văn hóa
• ethnic communities (n): các cộng đồng dân tộc
• broaden sb’s mind and outlook (v): mở rộng tầm mắt
• a valuable educational tool (n): công cụ giáo dục giá trị
• arouse sb’s patriotism (v): khơi dậy lòng yêu nước

7
 TOPIC 4: MIRRORS

Do you usually take a mirror with you?

I always take a mirror with me as it’s a must-have item in every girl’s purse. I prefer a small
and handy mirror to take a thorough look at my makeup and make an adjustment.

How often do you use a mirror?

I use my mirror on a daily basis, especially every morning. Therefore, I would say it’s like an
indispensable morning ritual.

Do you like looking at yourself in a mirror?

As I said earlier, looking at myself in a mirror is sort of my morning ritual, so yeah. Plus, I also
check my look in the mirror to make sure I am presentable. I can tell by looking if my hair is
tidied, my face is groomed and my clothes are not wrinkled.

Do you use a mirror before buying clothing? What functions does a mirror have?

Yes. I always use a mirror to examine if I suit the outfit or not.

Do you think a mirror is a good decoration? Have you ever bought a mirror?

Mirrors are useful decorative items. A mirror with a beautiful frame can complement a
bedroom or living room.

I’ve bought a compact mirror. I usually put it in my purse to check my look when I go out.

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VOCABULARY:

• handy (adj): tiện lợi

• take a thorough look (collocation): xem kỹ lại
• make an adjustment (collocation): chỉnh trang
• on a daily basis: hằng ngày
• indispensable morning ritual (n): nghi thức không thể thiếu vào buổi sáng
• presentable (adj): chỉnh tề
• tidied (adj): gọn gàng
• groomed (adj): chau chuốt
• wrinkled (adj): nhăn nhúm
• useful decorative items (n): những phụ kiện trang trí hữu ích
• complement (v): trang hoàng
• compact mirror (n): gương cầm tay

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 TOPIC 5: DREAMS

Do you remember your dreams when you wake up?

Not at all. My memory is like a sieve so all of my dreams vanish by the time I wake up.

Do you think dreams will affect life?

Dreams have a profound effect on behavior and mood for the following day, people’s day-to-
day actions, and the relationship between partners. For instance, a nightmare can put me in a
bad mood all day long.

Do you think dreams have special meanings?

Yes, of course. Dreams serve as a guide to people’s emotions that they sometimes can’t even
express. Also, dreams sometimes define issues and problems in people’s lives and help them
work out stress, fear, anger, self-doubt, and guilt. Moreover, it plays a significant role in
shaping interactions between people.

Do you like hearing other people’s dreams?

Yes. It’s really intriguing for me to ferret dreams out. Other people’s dreams give me a
deeper perspective on their personalities.

Do you share your dreams with others?

Yes, once in a while. However, I only share my dreams with people who are my acquaintances,
particularly my family and friends.

Do you want to learn more about dreams?

Yes. I would like to know what dreams are and why we have them, why dreams occur or if we
can control dreams, why our brains invent these nightly musings, and what purposes dreams
serve.

10
VOCABULARY:

• my memory is like a sieve (idiom): trí nhớ kém

• vanish (v): biến mất
• have a profound effect on (collocation): có tác động sâu sắc lên
• put sb in a bad mood all day long (collocation): khiến ai rơi vào tâm trạng tồi tệ suốt
cả ngày
• define issues and problems (collocation): xác định các vấn đề
• work out (phrasal verb): giải quyết
• ferret dreams out (phrasal verb): khám phá thông tin từ giấc mơ
• give sb a deeper perspective on (collocation): đem đến cho ai đó một góc nhìn sâu
sắc hơn về
• once in a while (idiom): hiếm khi
• nightly musings (n): những suy nghĩ vào ban đêm

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 TOPIC 6: EMAILS/ LETTERS

How often do you use email?

Well, I deliver electronic messages on a daily basis because it allows me to send information
at the push of a button.

What do most people in your country use email for?

Actually, in Vietnam, most individuals have their own email accounts. They mainly use them
for commercial correspondence.

What are the advantages of email?

The first one I should mention is that email is much speedier than snail mail. On the top of
that, it helps people to contact with each other regardless of their locations.

Are there any disadvantages?

I suppose that sometimes emails may get lost in the cyberspace, which sometimes make
entrepreneurs miss numerous important business deals.

Do you think that email will replace letter-writing?

Possibly in the near future written letters will be supplanted by email since it is extremely
time-consuming.

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VOCABULARY:

• electronic messages (n): thư điện tử

• at the push of a button (idiom): nhanh chóng chỉ bằng một nút nhấn
• commercial correspondence (n): trao đổi thương mại
• speedy (adj): tốc độ
• snail mail (idiom): thư gửi qua đường bưu điện
• get lost (v): thất lạc
• cyberspace (n): không gian mạng
• supplanted (v): thay thế
• time-consuming (adj): tốn thời gian

13
 TOPIC 7: SPORTS

Do you like watching sports programs on TV?

Yes, I do; however, I would rather watch live sports rather than stay at home watching the
box. You know, attending a live event always gives me a sense of togetherness. I can cheer
on my favorite football team with a large number of people. That’s immensely interesting.

Do you like to watch live sports games?

As I mentioned before, I prefer watching live sports, especially football matches. I often go to
the stadium with my friends whenever the national football team has a match to play.

What is the difference between watching sports events at home and at the stadium?

I think that it’s a big relief for sports fanatics as they can cheer loudly with other people when
watching live sports. In contrast, those who are afraid of the crowd can stay at home and watch
a match whenever they want.

Do most people in your country like sports?

I suppose that the majority of Vietnamese citizens are into sports. To be specific, men often
play football, and women do aerobics everyday after work to stay healthy and get into shape.

What was your favorite sport when you were young?

As I was born and raised in the countryside, I used to take up a lot of sports like volleyball and
judo, but the one I liked best was swimming. I remembered that during the summer time, my
mom would take me to a swimming pool near my house every afternoon.

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VOCABULARY:

• watching the box (v): xem TV

• immensely interesting (adj): vô cùng thú vị
• a sense of togetherness (collocation): cảm giác gần gũi với nhau
• relief (n): sự khuây khoả
• sports fanatics (collocation): người yêu thích thể thao
• tobe afraid of: sợ hãi
• tobe into: thích
• take up (phrasal verb): bắt đầu một sở thích, thói quen

15
 TOPIC 8: TAKING PHOTOS

Do you like to take photographs?

Not really. I rarely strike a pose in front of the camera. This is probably because I’m not
photogenic.

What do you like to photograph?

I usually take several landscape shots when I visit renowned tourist attractions. Although
photographs don’t do justice to the beauty of natural places, they are a means of showing and
sharing experiences.

How do you keep your photos?

For me, computers and laptops are great tools to store photos. On top of that, sometimes I use
a cloud storage system as it serves the same function as an external hard drive.

Do you ever delete or, if on paper, throw away any of your photos?

Yes, of course. A memory card’s capacity is limited, so whenever it’s full, I have to delete
old pictures and then replace them with new ones.

16
VOCABULARY:

• strike a pose (idiom): tạo dáng

• photogenic (adj): ăn ảnh
• landscape shots (n): ảnh chụp phong cảnh
• renowned (adj): nổi tiếng
• do justice to (idiom): thể hiện rõ, sắc nét
• cloud storage system (n): hệ thống lưu trữ đám mây
• external hard drive (n): ổ cứng ngoài
• memory card’s capacity (n): dung lượng thẻ nhớ

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 TOPIC 9: CINEMAS

How often do you go to a cinema to watch a movie?

Well, to be quite honest, I would have to say that it really depends. Like for instance, if I have
money, then it’s possible that I will watch a movie in the cinema twice or three times a month.
Whereas in contrast, if I’m broke, I will watch box-office smashes on DVD.

Did you usually go to the cinema when you were a kid?

Actually, once in a blue moon. At that time, my parents had to work day and night to make
ends meet. Therefore, only on special occasions did they let me go to the cinema.

Do you like to watch movies alone or with your friends?

I usually watch films with my soul mate. She is a film buff, so whenever a blockbuster is
released, she always asks me to go with her.

Do you like to go to the cinema with your friends?

I think that it’s kind of lonely to go to the cinema by yourself, so I usually go with my friend
as I mentioned before. Last weekend, we watched Em va Trinh, an extremely popular movie.

What kinds of movies do you like best?

I like all sorts of movies, but in particular I’m quite fond of comedy. One of my perennial
favorites is How I Met Your Mother. I have watched it three times but I’m still impressed with
the humor of all the characters, which makes me burst out laughing.

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VOCABULARY:

• box-office smashes (idiom): bộ phim hay

• once in a blue moon (idiom): hiếm khi
• make ends meet (collocation): trang trải cuộc sống
• soul mate (n): tri kỷ
• film buff (idiom): người thích xem phim
• blockbuster (n): phim bom tấn
• perennial (adj): lâu năm
• burst out laughing (phrasal verb): bật cười

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 TOPIC 10: STREET MARKETS

Are there many street markets in your country?

Definitely, flea markets have been deeply rooted in our culture for decades. As you can see,
there are hundreds of vendors strolling around every street in Ha Noi.

What do street markets sell?

Well, I would say that there is a wide variety of products, ranging from fresh fruits to local
delicacies. Moreover, sometimes you can buy footwear and clothes at dirt cheap prices.

What is the difference between street markets and supermarkets?

I suppose that shopping malls usually sell commercial products while traditional markets sell
mostly local items. On top of that, street markets are also ideal places to discover the
indigenous lifestyle.

Do you prefer shopping in a shopping mall or at a street market?

To be honest, I would rather go shopping in a supermarket as it is much more convenient. I can

even buy electronic devices, which are not sold in conventional markets.

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VOCABULARY:

• flea markets (n): chợ ngoài trời (chợ truyền thống)

• vendors (n): người bán hàng rong
• stroll around (phrasal verb): dạo quanh
• delicacies (n): đặc sản
• dirt cheap (collocation): rẻ bèo
• commercial products (n): sản phẩm thương mại
• indigenous (adj): bản địa
• conventional (adj): hiện nay

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 TOPIC 11: MOBILE PHONES

What was your first mobile phone?

I personally got my first mobile phone from Nokia when I was a high school student. That
phone was initially beyond my means, but then I was able to afford one with the help of a
scholarship I got. It was a small basic phone that cost $40.

How often do you use your mobile phone?

Well, I obviously use my mobile phone on a daily basis. I often use it to get in touch with my
family and friends. Besides, after a long day at work, I like to put my feet up and play online
games on my phone.

Do you use your mobile phone for texting or calls?

To be honest, I get a kick out of video-calling. As you know, now I can have access to a wi-fi
connection almost anywhere, as well as different applications that I installed, which I could use
for getting in touch with my family and friends.

Can you describe your mobile phone?

Currently I’m using an iPhone. Though it costs an arm and a leg, it comes with lots of exciting
features and apps. The camera works perfectly, and does not have a delay so I am able to
capture the stunning moment.

Will you buy a new mobile phone in the future?

Well, I should stop pouring money down the drain by buying a new phone anytime soon,
since my old one still works fine. I’m pretty satisfied with this phone of mine, and couldn’t be
happier.

How has your mobile phone changed your life?

My phone has revolutionized the way I live my life. I can do online banking at my fingertips,
as well as searching for directions with the help of Google Maps. Besides, I can get in touch

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with my best friend, Mai, who is living abroad via my phone. We go back a long way, so I can
interact with her by making a video call without geographical constraints.

VOCABULARY:

• beyond (one’s) means (idiom): Vượt ngoài khả năng chi trả
• get in touch (phrasal verb): Liên lạc
• put my feet up (idiom): Nghỉ ngơi
• get a kick out of (idiom): Tìm thấy niềm vui từ…
• costs an arm and a leg (idiom): Quá đắt đỏ
• pouring money down the drain (Idiom): Tiêu xài hoang phí
• couldn’t be happier (idiom): Rất hạnh phúc
• at (one’s) fingertips (idiom): Sẵn có, dễ tiếp cận.
• go back a long way: Quen biết ai đó từ lâu.

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 TOPIC 12: TIME MANAGEMENT

How do you usually organize and plan your time?

Well, I always make a to-do list for the next day before I hit the sack since I have a tendency
to miss doing some important things on the day, which is a habit I have picked up for years.
By writing those things on a notepad on my smartphone, this really gives me peace of mind
and a sense of control.

Is it easy to manage time for you?

Yes, I’m very good at time management since I was trained by my dad not to waste time. I can
manage my time without any pressure or stress, and do things that I need to do seamlessly. But
of course, time management skill was never an innate gift for me, I was once a heavy
procrastinator until my dad taught me how to improve it.

What is the hardest part about making plans?

I think the toughest part of every plan is time. Whenever I’m drowning in stress, it’s just
impossible to squeeze someone or something in with only a short amount of time. Of course,
I still have to do them, but the feelings of dissatisfaction might negatively affect the results.

What is the latest plan that you made?

Well, I’ve recently planned to travel to Hon Bay Canh this year to get away from it all. This
is one of the spawning grounds of the Con Dao sea turtles that is off the beaten track, and the
largest turtle sanctuary in Vietnam. It would be quite challenging for me to fulfill the plan, but
I will try my best.

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VOCABULARY:

• hit the sack (idiom): Đi ngủ (vì mệt mỏi)

• pick up (phrasal verb): Học hỏi qua kinh nghiệm
• peace of mind (idiom): Sự thanh thản tâm hồn
• seamlessly (adv): Liên tục, liền mạch
• innate (adj): Bẩm sinh
• procrastinator (n): Người hay trì trệ
• squeeze someone/something in (phrasal verb): Thu xếp để làm gì
• get away from it all (idiom): Rời xa nhịp sống thường nhật
• off the beaten track (idiom): Một nơi xa xôi hẻo lánh

25
 TOPIC 13: WEBSITES

What kinds of websites do you often visit?

Well, websites about food and cooking are one of my perennial favorites. Searching for great
recipes could help enhance my culinary skills, as well as make perfect meals for my family. I
also love to visit news websites such as BBC News and CNN to get updated with the latest
happenings in the world.

What kinds of websites are popular in your country?

Well, I’m not sure, but it varies depending on people’s preference on the internet, when they
tend to see contents that might help let their hair down. But taking the current Covid-19
pandemic into account, I guess the most frequently accessed one would be the Ministry of
Health Portal, where people could find preventative measures to ensure their safety.

What is your favorite website?

Without a doubt, my go-to website is YouTube. In my opinion, this video-sharing website is

the best, since I can be informed, entertained and educated. To be honest, I am a night owl and
getting used to watching YouTube videos till midnight.

Are there any changes to the websites you often visit?

Yeah, YouTube doesn’t get revamped much in terms of graphic design or layout, but visitors
to this website do see different suggested videos every time they visit the web, persuading them
to watch more.

26
VOCABULARY:

• culinary skills (n): Kĩ năng nấu nướng

• perennial favorite (n): Sở thích lâu năm
• get updated with (phrasal verb): Cập nhật
• let (one’s) hair down (Idiom): Thư giãn
• preventative measures (n): biện pháp phòng tránh
• ensure their safety (collocation): đảm bảo an toàn
• go-to (adj): Yêu thích
• a night owl (idiom): Cú đêm (người có thói quen thức đêm)
• get revamped (v): Được sửa chữa, sửa đổi.

27
 TOPIC 14: LOSING AND FINDING THINGS

What should people do if they find something?

Of course, lost things must be returned to the rightful owner at all costs. First, people should
check whether the contact number of the owner is provided or not, and then contact him and
hand over the object. If there is no contact available, hand it over to the nearest police station.

Is it ok to keep an item that you found?

It is absolutely not good to keep something that you found. I’ve already lost many pricy things
before and looked for them in vain, so I know the feeling of losing things. In certain cases, the
object may have a higher emotional value than its cost, which might lead to mental disturbance
caused by sadness and guilt. That’s why I really don’t want other people to experience them
like me.

What should people do to find what they lost?

I think people should try to keep calm, as it’s not the end of the world. Indeed, we can’t do
everything correctly and wisely in anxiety. Firstly, they should search at the possible places
where the item may get lost, and then report their missing items to the police station. Besides,
they can also publish their missing items on social media or leaflets. If someone reads that post
and finds your missing item, they might return it.

What things do people usually find?

Usually, there is a high chance of finding valuable things like a purse, jewelry, or keys. These
are objects with a higher possibility of losing. Meanwhile, other small objects like smart cards,
ID cards also get lost.

Have you ever lost something?

Yes, that was a nightmare for me as I lost my phone once. At that time, I immediately contacted
the bank to block all the internet banking services on my phone. After that, I googled “find my
phone” which provided me with its last-known location. Fortunately, I finally found it at a local
pub where I met my friends, and this really made my day.

28
VOCABULARY:

• (a) rightful owner (n): chủ sở hữu hợp pháp

• hand over (phrasal verb): bàn giao
• at all costs (idiom): bằng mọi giá
• in vain (idiom): vô ích
• the end of the world (idiom): điều tồi tệ nhất trên đời.
• (a) higher possibility (n): khả năng cao hơn
• google (v): Tìm kiếm (trên google)
• make (one’s) day (idiom): Làm cho ai đó hạnh phúc

29
 TOPIC 15: DAILY ROUTINE

How do you organize your study time? What is your daily study routine?

Well, I have a fixed routine for studying, which is a very crucial part of my academic life.
Without a daily routine, I usually do things spontaneously, which would be time-wasting and
reduce my work efficiency.

I’m an early bird so I often get up at about 5 o’clock. After having a light breakfast and doing
a workout, I go to school at 8 a.m and come back home at 5 p.m. I often end my day at 11 p.m
by putting my mind at ease.

Do you ever change your plans? Have you ever changed your routine?

Yes, I am trying to change my sleeping habit. Previously, I often pulled an all-nighter, and
then dozed off in class during the day. By sleeping earlier, I felt so refreshed in the morning.

What’s your favorite time of the day?

My favorite time of the day would be after 7 p.m, which is when I come back home from school
and get together with my family members. Seeing them after a long day of hard work can help
me feel recharged and be full of beans.

Do you like to plan what you will do each day?

Definitely yes, planning keeps the day in my control. However, while it is essential for me to
have a daily routine, it doesn’t mean that everyone should follow one everyday. It’s fun to have
changes once in a while.

Do you usually do the same things at the same time each day?

I used to have a fixed schedule when I was a student. Recently, I have started my first job, so
I’ve been trying to get my feet under the table by having a schedule. However, this approach
hasn’t worked yet, as my working time is quite flexible.

30
VOCABULARY:

• spontaneously (adv): Ngẫu hứng

• time-wasting (adj): Tốn thời gian
• an early bird (idiom): Người hay dậy sớm
• set/put (one’s) mind at rest/ease (idiom): Thư giãn
• pull an all-nighter (idiom): Học chăm cả đêm
• doze off (phrasal verb): Ngủ gật (ban ngày)
• get together (phrasal verb): Dành thời gian với…
• full of beans (idiom): Tràn trề năng lượng
• get (one’s) feet under the table (idiom): Làm quen với công việc

31
 TOPIC 16: CARS

What is the farthest place you have traveled to by car?

I once traveled from Paris to Frankfurt, Germany by car and the journey took 6 hours, which
was the longest amount of time I’ve ever been in a car. The journey itself was not particularly
comfortable since I had to sit at the back of the car with not much leg room for me to wriggle
around in.

Do you like to sit in front or back when traveling by car?

I prefer to sit at the front because I like to see the landscape as I’m driving by and get an idea
of where I am. By sitting at the front I can get a 180-degree view of where I am and where I’m
going.

When do you travel by car?

I don’t drive myself so I don’t have a schedule for using a car. I would instead hail a cab or sit
in my friend’s or family’s car whenever I would need to go somewhere in one. As for the timing
itself, it depends on what I need to do on the day.

VOCABULARY:

• at the back (prep): ở phía cuối

• leg room (collocation): chỗ để chân
• wriggle around (phrasal verb): lắc quanh
• landscape (n): phong cảnh
• get an idea of something (v): suy nghĩ về điều gì
• 180-degree view (n): góc nhìn 180 độ
• hail a cab (collocation): gọi taxi
• depend on (phrasal verb): phụ thuộc

32
 TOPIC 17: MEMORY

Are you good at memorizing things?

I’m usually good at memorizing things, though it doesn’t come to me naturally. Normally I
would make a concerted effort to memorize something because it’s the only way for me to
immediately remember something.

Why do people often forget small things?

People often forget small things because they treat them as rather inconsequential to their lives
in the grander scheme of things. They don’t think these things will affect them at all if they
forget to do them.

How can you make sure you don’t forget things?

One way I would remember things is to make a list of what I need to do or get. That way I can
always refer back to that list and check whether I did or got those things.

VOCABULARY:

• be good at something (collocation): giỏi việc gì

• it doesn’t come to me naturally (idiom): nó không đến với tôi một cách tự nhiên
• concerted effort (collocation): nỗ lực hết mình
• inconsequential (adj): không quan trọng
• grander scheme of things (n): vô vàn việc đã được sắp xếp sẵn
• refer back (v): xem lại

33
 TOPIC 18: ADVERTISEMENT

Are you interested in watching TV advertisements or internet advertisements?

I am not interested in advertisements on either platform because I find them a bit of a nuisance
so I would avoid them wherever they come up. If they’re on TV then I would get up and do
something else. If they’re online then I would just ignore them and move on to whatever I am
doing online.

What kinds of advertisements do you dislike?

I particularly dislike advertisements selling medication because they are typically not honest
about what they do to your body to make it healthier. They would often exaggerate the
capabilities and effects of the medication to convince consumers that they are the best thing
in the world.

Do you share advertisements with others?

I don’t share advertisements with other people because nobody ever really does that. They
would find it uncouth to do something like that because they are not interested in what
products these advertisements are marketing.

Do you want to work in advertising in the future?

I do not intend to work in advertising because it seems like it’s an industry that is based on
manipulating people to buy a certain product and I find it somewhat repugnant to mislead
people into doing that.

34
VOCABULARY:

• a bit of a nuisance (collocation): khá phiền toái

• come up (phrasal verb): xuất hiện
• move on to (phrasal verb): tiếp tục
• the best thing in the world (n): sản phẩm tốt nhất trên thế giới
• exaggerate (v): phóng đại
• find it uncouth (collocation): cảm thấy thô lỗ
• mislead (v): đánh lừa
• repugnant (adj): e ngại, không thích

35
 TOPIC 19: BORING THINGS

What kinds of things are boring to you?

There are many things that bore me out such as watching anime, reading comic books and
listening to discussions about mathematics and science. These things bore me because I have
no interest in them at all so I would avoid them whenever I run into them.

What will you do when you feel bored?

Whenever I’m bored, I would find something else to do that would be more interesting. For
example, I would go on Netflix to watch a TV series whenever I feel bored while stuck at
home. I would also go outside for a walk in the same situation.

What was the most boring thing you did when you were young?

The most boring thing I ever did when I was young was painting my bedroom wall. It was so
boring to me because I only had to paint one color and I was doing the same motion over and
over again to cover the wall which was to go up and down with the roller. It was so boring that
I almost fell asleep doing it.

Do you think school is boring?

Going to school can be boring at times because some of the lessons are never really interesting
and feel very routine. Also, that boredom stems from the fact that going to school is something
we are obliged to do rather than something we can do for enjoyment. However, that boredom
can be balanced with the fact that we get to see our friends everyday which is always fun.

36
VOCABULARY:

• bore somebody out (phrasal verb): gây phiền chán

• no interest (n): không quan tâm
• run into (phrasal verb): vô tình bắt gặp
• stuck at home (v): kẹt ở nhà
• over and over (adv): lặp đi lặp lại
• fall asleep (phrasal verb): buồn ngủ
• stem from the fact (v): bắt nguồn từ thực tế
• be obliged to do something (v): bắt buộc phải làm gì

37
 TOPIC 20: COLLECTING THINGS

Do you collect things?

I collect things from time to time. I actually have a collection of old postage stamps from Britain
that I gathered over the three years I was in university there. Some of them were dated as far
back as 1910.

Are there any things you keep from childhood?

I still have my old childhood photos; they are valuable in that they remind me of a simpler
time in my life. I also keep some of my old miniature cars because they also remind me of my
days as a kid.

Would you keep old things for a long time? Why?

I do tend to keep old things for a long time for a few reasons. First, they might come in handy
in the near future whenever I’m doing something. Second, I would develop an emotional
attachment to these things that is so strong, it prevents me from willingly disposing of them.

Where do you usually keep things you need?

I would usually keep my things in a storage closet since it’s spacious enough to fit a multitude
of items there. The things I would keep in that closet are my old files and childhood mementos.

38
VOCABULARY:

• dated as far back as (v): từ thời

• remind me of (v): gợi nhớ cho ai về một điều gì đó
• a simpler time (n): một thời thơ ngây
• come in handy (collocation): có ích
• emotional attachment (n): tình cảm gắn bó
• willingly dispose (v): sẵn sàng vứt bỏ
• a multitude of (n): rất nhiều
• childhood mementos (n): kỷ vật thời thơ ấu

39
 TOPIC 21: COMPUTERS

In what conditions would you use a computer?

I would use my computer for work as well as for entertainment. It can be used for anything
from finishing an assignment to watching a movie or TV show. However, I would never use it
whenever I’m going somewhere from point A to point B.

When was the first time you used a computer?

The first time I used a computer was when I was five years old. My dad taught me how to use
his computer to write a sentence and to play Solitaire. From then on, I became fascinated with
computers.

What would your life be like without computers?

I think that my life would be much more difficult without a computer because I do a lot of my
work on it. I also use it a lot to communicate with my friends and family and without it I would
struggle in reaching out to people.

In what conditions would it be difficult for you to use a computer?

It would be difficult for me to use a computer in a setting where there is a lot of noise. It would
be too much of a distraction for me to do anything on my computer. I prefer if there was little
to no noise so that I can focus on whatever I’m doing.

VOCABULARY:

• point a to point b (idiom): từ nơi này đến nơi khác

• from then on (adv): kể từ đó
• reach out (phrasal verb): liên hệ
• too much of a distraction (n): quá nhiều điều gây mất tập trung
• little to no… (n): rất ít, gần như không có
• focus on (phrasal verb): tập trung

40
 TOPIC 22: EVENING TIME

Do you like the morning or evening?

I have no preference for either time of day. I treat both the morning and evening the same
since they can both be invigorating and exhausting, depending on what happens in either
period.

What do you usually do in the evening?

I would usually stay at home, eat dinner and watch TV until 11:30 at night to decompress from
my busy schedule. On the weekends I would sometimes hang out with my friends in the
evening for dinner or a drink.

What did you do in the evening when you were little? Why?

I basically did the same things that I do now because they were a surefire way for me to let
my hair down. However, I also had to do my homework since I was at school when I was
young and I had to learn to grow up.

Are there any differences between what you do in the evening now and what you did in the
past?

I wouldn’t say there are stark differences between what I do in the evening now and what I
did in the past. The biggest difference I would say is that I’m going out more now because
there’s plenty of fun to be had by going outside to meet with friends.

41
VOCABULARY:

• have no preference (collocation): không có sở thích

• invigorating (adj): kích thích
• decompress (v): thư giãn
• hang out with (phrasal verb): đi chơi
• a surefire way (n): một cách chắc chắn
• let one’s hair down (idiom): thư giãn
• stark (adj): rõ ràng
• plenty of fun to be had (n): có được rất nhiều niềm vui

42
 TOPIC 23: MEETING PLACES

Where is your favorite place to meet with your friends?

I like to meet my friends at a coffee shop because it’s the kind of place where we can easily
gather and talk over a drink. Also, a coffee shop has a nice and quiet atmosphere that I like
when I want to talk with my friends.

Do you think there are some places more suitable for meeting with others?

I wouldn’t say there are more suitable places but rather there are those that are equally suitable
because it depends on what the person likes. Some of those other places include libraries,
restaurants, bars and pubs.

Are there any differences between your favorite meeting places in the present and in your
childhood?

During my childhood, I loved to meet with my friends in arcades and amusement parks.
Nowadays I like to meet my friends at coffee shops. The main difference between these places
is that coffee shops are quiet and mellow as opposed to arcades and amusement parks being
loud and buzzing.

Why are some meeting places better than others?

I wouldn’t say one meeting place is better than the other. If anything, it really boils down to
one’s personal preference. For example, some like to meet in restaurants while others don’t,
it’s that simple.

43
VOCABULARY:

• a nice and quiet atmosphere (n): một bầu không khí tốt đẹp và yên tĩnh
• equally suitable (collocation): đều phù hợp
• arcades and amusement parks (n): khu vui chơi giải trí
• mellow (adj): êm dịu
• buzzing (adj): sống động
• boil down (phrasal verb): phụ thuộc

44
 TOPIC 24: SITTING DOWN

Where is your favorite place to sit?

I like to sit on my office chair in my bedroom because it’s the one place I can retreat to after
coming home from work. Once I sit on it I can finally rest and chill out for the rest of the day.

Do you always sit down for a long time?

I do tend to sit down for a long time because my work necessitates me to do it. I have a job
where I have to sit down and answer calls from my company’s clients for many hours straight.

Do you feel sleepy when you are sitting down?

Not always, but when I sit in an air-conditioned room for a long time I do start to get sleepy
because the cold environment causes my body to get comfortable to the point where I will doze
off.

When you were a kid, did you usually sit on the floor?

I did sit on the floor quite often as a kid, especially during my time in kindergarten and
elementary school. It was a way for the teachers to assert their authority over the students
including myself.

VOCABULARY:

• chill out (phrasal verb): thư giãn

• necessitates (v): cần thiết, bắt buộc
• many hours straight (n): nhiều giờ liên tục
• doze off (phrasal verb): ngủ gật
• assert their authority (collocation): khẳng định quyền lực của họ

45
 TOPIC 25: TALENTS

Do you have a talent, or something you are good at?

I am particularly good at doing magic tricks. I know almost every trick and I would do them
to impress my friends or young children.

Was it mastered recently or when you were young?

I first started learning magic when I was 15 years old since I always found it so fascinating.
For the next 8 years I trained myself to do magic tricks and eventually I mastered them.

Do you think your talent can be useful for your future work? Why?

My talent for doing magic would never be useful for my future career because it’s only for
show. I would only do it for fun and I never intend to make a career out of it.

Do you think anyone in your family has the same talent?

No one in my family has the same talent as I do. None of them are particularly skilled nor
interested in doing magic tricks to show off to people.

VOCABULARY:

• magic tricks (n): mánh ảo thuật

• find something fascinating (v): cảm thấy thích thú với điều gì
• only for show (prep): chỉ để trưng bày
• for fun (prep): cho vui
• make a career (v): tạo dựng sự nghiệp
• show off (phrasal verb): khoe khoang

46
 TOPIC 26: WATCH

Do you wear a watch?

I do wear a watch for most of the day, especially when I’m at work or traveling somewhere.
However, when I’m at home I would just take it off and leave it on my bedroom desk.

Have you ever got a watch as a gift?

I have gotten a watch as a gift a couple of times. The first time I got one it had maroon-
coloured straps and a gleaming white watch face. The second time I got one it had grey plastic
straps and a digital display and it could also function as a stopwatch.

Why do some people wear expensive watches?

Some of those people like to wear extravagant watches to flaunt how wealthy they are. For
example, a businessman would typically wear an Omega watch to show that he makes a lot of
money on his job.

Do you think it is important to wear a watch? Why?

I find it to be important to wear a watch because it is a handy way to keep track of time. If
you can’t keep track of time then it wouldn’t be possible for you to do the things you want or
need to do.

47
VOCABULARY:

• take it off (phrasal verb): cởi nó ra

• maroon-coloured straps (v): dây đeo màu hạt dẻ
• gleaming white (adj): màu sáng trắng
• stopwatch (n): đồng hồ bấm giờ
• extravagant (adj): đắt đỏ, xa hoa
• to flaunt (v): khoe khoang
• handy (adj): tiện dụng
• keep track of (phrasal verb): theo dõi

48
 TOPIC 27: OLD BUILDINGS

Have you ever seen some old buildings in the city?

My city has many old buildings that are still intact for many decades. Most of them are
designed in the local style to the area with long roofs and a gray color scheme.

Do you think we should preserve old buildings in cities?

I think that old buildings found in cities should be preserved as they are vestiges of a bygone
era in a city’s history. Without them, no one would know how their city came to be.

Do you prefer living in an old building or a modern house?

I prefer to live in a modern house because the facilities will be typically nicer. For example,
the toilets in a modern house are usually cleaner and cozy than those in older buildings.

Are there any old buildings you want to see in the future? Why?

I would like to visit the Palace of Versailles in France in the near future because the
architectural style looks splendid and it is of historical importance since it is where the treaty
that ended World War 1 was signed.

49
VOCABULARY:

• still intact (adj): vẫn còn nguyên vẹn

• color scheme (n): bảng màu
• vestiges (n): di tích
• bygone era (collocation): thời đại đã qua
• come to be (v): trở thành
• facilities (n): trang thiết bị
• architectural style (n): phong cách kiến trúc
• historical importance (n): giá trị lịch sử

50
 TOPIC 28: COLORS

What is your favorite color?

Well, to be honest, I don’t really have an actual favorite color but I guess that if I were buying
clothes, then I’d usually go for something like blue or gray, you know, kind of dull colors,
nothing too bright.

What is the color that you dislike?

As I mentioned before, I’m not really into vibrant colors, especially green. This is probably
because I have never looked great in those colors. On top of that, it doesn’t compliment my
complexion as well.

What color do you want to paint your house with?

If I had my own house, I would have it painted with white as it may lighten my house.
Moreover, it’s definitely a wise choice as it will match with a wide range of furniture.

What color makes you feel uncomfortable in your room?

Although I generally prefer a darkish hue, I think a black house really annoys me. You know,
living alone in a black room really frightens me to death. Therefore, I will certainly never
paint my room this color.

VOCABULARY:

• go for (phrasal verb): lựa chọn

• dull colors (n): màu sắc buồn tẻ
• be into something (v): thích cái gì
• vibrant colors (n): màu sắc rực rỡ
• compliment my complexion (idiom): tôn da
• darkish hue (collocation): màu tối
• frightens me to death (idiom): làm tôi sợ chết khiếp

51
 TOPIC 29: HANDWRITING

Do you write by hand?

Not really anymore. In fact, I use my laptop a lot for both my study and work, so I don’t put
pen to paper very often. However, in case I don’t bring my laptop, I still have to scribble
down some notes.

Do you think writing will be replaced in the future?

Well certainly in some ways, advanced technology has marginalized handwriting, but I still
think that handwriting is useful on certain occasions. For instance, you should handwrite
greetings for the elderly to show respect for them.

Is it still necessary to teach children how to write by hand?

Sure, obviously. I think that learning how to write properly is extremely crucial for the
cognitive development of children. Like for instance, my nephew who has beautiful
handwriting is highly intelligent.

What sort of impression can a handwriting have on other people?

Actually, in Asian nations, people believe that handwriting can reflect an individual’s
personality. Like for instance, a kind-hearted person often has calligraphy. On the contrary,
those whose handwriting is sloppy or illegible are usually regarded as mischievous ones.

52
VOCABULARY:

• put pen to paper (idiom): đặt bút viết

• scribble down (phrasal verb): viết nghuệch ngoạc
• marginalized (v): bị cho ra rìa
• cognitive development (n): phát triển nhận thức
• calligraphy (n): chữ viết đẹp
• sloppy (adj): cẩu thả
• illegible(adj): không đọc được
• mischievous (adj): xấu tính

53
 TOPIC 30: RESTAURANTS

How often do you eat out in restaurants?

Well, once in a blue moon, I must say. Because dining out in some luxurious eateries is
kinda extravagant for me. You know, I’m just a graduate so it’s too much to pay for a meal
in a restaurant.

What types of restaurants do you like best?

For me, the most important factor when assessing a restaurant is its food quality so I would
go for which serves the good ones. I tend to prefer smaller, non-chain restaurants over the
swanky and nationwide advertised on TV.

What types of restaurants are common in your city?

Oh, there’re so many, both posh and run-of-the-mill eateries. However, I prefer the latter
because I think the former is not always as good as they’re cracked up to be due to several
tricky marketing strategies.

What are the advantages of eating out in restaurants?

I think the biggest merit of eating out is that there’s no washing up if it’s a special occasion
or something. Besides, the ambience and the setting are usually more relaxing and
pleasant, not to mention numerous premium and scrumptious dishes feasted on.

54
VOCABULARY:

• once in a blue moon (idiom): hiếm khi

• swanky and nationwide (n): sang trọng và nổi tiếng cả nước
• posh (adj): lịch sự, sang trọng
• run-of-the-mill (adj): bình dân
• cracked up to be (adj): tốt như lời đồn
• tricky marketing strategies (n): chiến lược marketing tinh vi
• ambience (n): bầu không khí
• relaxing and pleasant (adj): thư giãn và hài lòng
• premium and scrumptious (adj): chất lượng và ngon tuyệt
• feast on (phrasal verb): thết đãi

55
•

56
 SPEAKING PART 2

TOPIC 1: DESCRIBE AN OBJECT

1. Describe an item of clothing that someone gave you

You should say: Waterproof jacket: áo khoác chống

thấm nước
What the clothing was?
Puffy: thùng thình (quần áo)
Who gave it to you?
Zipper: khóa kéo
When you got it
A hood: mũ trùm đầu
And explain why this person gave you
the clothing Keeps one’s head from sth: giữ đầu ai
đó khỏi 1 thứ gì đó
In any situation, clothing is rather easy to
find and give to someone. Therefore, it is Wet climate: khí hậu ẩm ướt Nifty: tiện
normal for people to receive clothes from lợi
others. In my case, I was given a water-
proof by my aunt which is rather useful Aesthetic design: thiết kế có tính thẩm
as I live in a wet climate. mỹ

As I said before, I was given this water- Protect sb from st: bảo vệ ai khỏi cái gì
proof jacket by my aunt a couple of days
ago and it was rather puffy as it was Out of one’s kindness: bằng sự tốt bụng
designed to keep the wearer warm. It was
made from polyester and it was all black, Go out of one’s way: cố gắng hết sức để
as well as having two large pockets on
both sides with zippers to close them.
Finally, it had a hood on the top which
keeps my head from being wet and cold.
All in all, it was a particularly nifty jacket
that had a nice and simple aesthetic
design and I quite liked it.

As for why my aunt gave me that jacket,

she was concerned that I had to go to
school without anything to protect me
from the rain. Therefore, out of her
kindness, she went out of her way to get
me a nice water-proof jacket and best of
all, it was rather inexpensive so anyone
could easily buy it.

57
2. Describe something you received for free

You should say: Raffle: xổ số

What it was? An all-expenses trip: chuyến đi được

bao trọn gói
Who you received it from?
Sought after: mong chờ
Where you received it?
Elated: phấn khích
And how you felt about it?
Crystal clear image: hình ảnh sắc nét
A couple of months ago I was at a spring
festival organized by a local charity Robust sound system: hệ thống âm
called Operation Smile with my friends thanh sống động
and there was a raffle where people
could win various prizes which included Streaming services: các dịch vụ truyền
an all-expenses trip to Japan, a new 4K phát
TV and a dinner at a steakhouse, all of
which were for free. Wanting to win one Worn out: đã quá cũ
of those prizes, I put my name in the
raffle and I was given a number. In the Turn off: tắt
afternoon, the raffle had begun and some
of the prizes had been given to various Itching to: mong muốn
people attending the festival. When the
TV was about to be awarded, I waited Give one away: đem tặng
eagerly with anticipation as it was the
prize that I sought after the most because
I needed a new TV for my apartment.
Then my number was called and I won a
free TV, and at that moment I was elated.

As for the TV itself, it was a 4K TV like

I said before and it was made by
Samsung, who are known for making
good TVs. Not only does it produce a
crystal clear image but it also has a
robust sound system and it has some
streaming services that were pre
installed such as YouTube and Netflix. In
terms of why I needed a new TV, the one
I had at that time was becoming worn out
as it tended to either turn off at random
moments or there would be no sound
coming from the speakers. Hence, I was
itching to get a new TV and luckily
enough the spring festival I went to was
giving one away for free.

58
3. Describe a toy you liked in your childhood

You should say: Miniature versions: phiên bản thu nhỏ

What kind of toy it is Hold very dearly: giữ gìn trân trọng

When you received it A sleek design: thiết kế kiểu dáng đẹp

How you played it Masculine traits: các đặc điểm nam tính

And how you felt about it
I played with many kinds of toys when I
was a kid, from Legos to toy guns.
However, my favorite kind of toy from
my childhood was Hot Wheels, which
were basically miniature versions of
real-life cars. There was one specific Hot
Wheels model that I held very dearly
and that was the 1970 Dodge Challenger.
An action movie: phim hành động Chase
after: đuổi theo
Run away from: chạy trốn khỏi
Emulated: giả như, giả vờ
All in all: nhìn chung
Unlock one’s imagination: giải phóng
trí tưởng tượng

I played with that toy a lot back then

because firstly, it was such a cool model.
I first got it when I was 5 years old as a
birthday present and at that time I thought
it was the most awesome toy anyone
could get. It had a sleek design that
projected coolness and strength which
are traditionally masculine traits. It also
was painted completely black, which
added to the coolness of the car.
Secondly, I played with that specific Hot
Wheels model a lot because I liked to
imagine myself as if I was in an action
movie where I had to drive fast to chase
after or run away from the bad guys.
Many of the action movies I watched as
a kid had the hero drive this kind of car
so I basically emulated what the heroes in
driving this miniature Dodge Challenger.

All in all, I really enjoyed playing with

Hot Wheels as a kid because not only did
they look cool but they also unlocked my
imagination in more ways than one.

59
4. Describe an invention that has changed the world in a positive way

You should say: For the better: một cách tốt hơn Be
patented by sb: được cấp bằng sáng chế
What it is? bởi ai

What benefits it has brought? By a large margin: rất nhiều

How it influences people of different Suspension: bộ giảm xóc

ages? And explain how it changed
people’s lives Bumps on the road: gờ giảm tốc

One invention that has changed the world A horse carriage: xe ngựa
for the better is the car. It was first
invented and patented by Carl Benz in the Modes of transport: phương tiện giao
late 1800s. The benefits that the thông
invention of the car have brought are
numerous. One of them is travel time has Come along: xuất hiện
been reduced by a large margin. Since
cars go at a faster average speed than Glide smoothly: lướt đi êm ái Road-
something like a horse carriage, they take based transport: phương tiện giao thông
less time to travel to a particular place on đường bộ
the road. Another benefit is that the
journey is generally more comfortable. The reserve of power: lượng năng lượng
Cars are built with tough suspension that
can absorb bumps on the road, which Fuel capacity: dung tích nhiên liệu
will not be felt by the driver and
passengers, thus making the drive more
pleasurable.

I like to think that the car positively

influenced people of all ages (barring
children of course). Firstly, it has allowed
people to travel more pleasantly on the
road. In the past, people had to travel by
either foot or horse carriage, neither of
which are known for being cozy modes
of transport. But when the car came
along, drivers and passengers were
allowed to just sit and relax and let the car
glide smoothly on the road to their
intended destination. Secondly, the car
has changed people’s lives by allowing
them to travel greater distances without
stopping than they did in the past. Cars
can drive further than most other road-
based transport since they have more vast
reserves of power in the engines and
their fuel capacity is larger as well.

60
5. Describe a gift you would like to buy for your friend

You should say: Gift-giving: tục lệ tặng quà

When it happened? Human civilization: nền văn minh nhân

loại
What gift it was?
Delighted: vui và thỏa mãn
Who you gave it to?
Show affection or gratitude: thể hiện
And explain why you chose that gift? tình cảm và sự biết ơn

Gift-giving has been around for as long Scarf: khăn quàng cổ

as human civilization began developing.
When someone gives a gift, it is usually Come across: vô tình gặp/đi ngang qua
a sign that person is showing affection
or gratitude towards another person for Do st in secret: bí mật làm gì đó
whatever reason it may be. This is
especially true in my case, where I gave Bring out: mang ra
my mother a scarf for Christmas last
year. In need of st: cần gì đó

As I’ve said in the beginning, last Sense of style: gu thời trang

Christmas I went out shopping for gifts
and I came across a scarf made from A nifty clothing item: 1 phụ kiện quần
silk. It had a nice color and texture to it áo tiện lợi
so I went ahead and bought it. While it
wasn’t particularly cheap, it wasn’t super
expensive either. Afterwards I went
home and wrapped it in secret and by the
time the Christmas dinner was finished, I
immediately brought out the wrapped
scarf and gave it to my mother, who was
in need of a scarf to keep herself warm
for the winter. She unwrapped it and was
delighted about how thoughtful I was to
buy a scarf.

As for why I chose a scarf, it is because

it is a nifty item of clothing for the winter
and it can define a person’s sense of
style. Would I give a scarf to other
people as a gift? It depends on the person
as he/she may want something different
because their needs are different as well.
Therefore, I may sometimes give a scarf
to my other family members and friends
since it is a nifty clothing item after all.

61
6. Describe a thing you cannot live without except cell phone or computer

You should say: Apart from: ngoài (gì đó)

What it is? Functional design: thiết kế tiện lợi

Why you can’t manage without it?
How long you have had it for?
And explain how you felt when you were
without it?
Identification cards: chứng minh nhân
dân/ căn cước công dân
Pull them out: rút (cái gì đó) ra
Pockets/pouch: túi/bao/ngăn

Apart from my computer and cell Not show its age: vẫn chưa cũ
phone, I cannot live without my wallet.
It holds my cash, credit cards and Nifty item: đồ tốt
identification cards and whenever I
need them in a certain situation, I can Verify one’s age: xác minh độ tuổi
just get my wallet out and pull them out
to use. The wallet I have right now is Keep one’s receipts: giữ hóa đơn
black with two separate pockets for cash,
three slots for my credit and ID cards and Feel lost: cảm thấy thiếu thốn
a pouch for coins. I’ve had it for nearly
seven years and it’s not showing its age Bars and nightclubs: quầy rượu và câu
at all. In short, it is a nifty item with a lạc bộ đêm
simple look and functional design.

I cannot live without my wallet because

if I don’t have it with me, then I would
be stuck as to what I can do when I’m
out in the city. I can’t buy anything, I
can’t go into bars and nightclubs
without verifying my age and I can’t
keep my receipts. Therefore, whenever
I’m about to go out somewhere, I would
always remember to bring my wallet in
case I need my money or cards to do
something. I would feel lost if I didn’t
carry it with me.

62
7. Describe a special cake you received from others

You should say: A particular milestone in work or life:

1 cột mốc đặc biệt trong công việc hoặc
When it happened? cuộc sống

Where it happened? Vanilla-flavored: vị vanilla

Who you got the cake from? Covered in chocolate: được phủ sô cô la

And explain why it’s a special cake? Turn out: hóa ra/ trở thành

Whenever a person receives a cake, it is For a while: được 1 thời gian

usually for a rather special occasion. It
can be anything from a birthday or a Randomly tell sb: vô tình nói với ai đó
wedding anniversary to a celebration of a
particular milestone in work or life. In Care about: quan tâm về
my case, the cake I got was for my
birthday last year and it was offered to Have good taste: có khẩu vị tốt
me by my colleagues at work.
Manage to do st: thành công làm gì
On my birthday last year, I got a cake
from my colleagues in the high-rise
office I was working at. It was a vanilla-
flavored ice cream cake covered in
chocolate and on the top it said ‘Happy
Birthday’, which was nice. However, the
cake was rather small as it was only
enough for 8 people so not everyone was
able to have a piece. Nevertheless, my
colleagues and I were all there to
celebrate, especially since it was after
work. As for why it was a special cake,
it turned out that ever since I told them
when my birthday was, they’ve been
randomly planning it for a while and all
of them decided to get me an ice-cream
cake since I told them one time that it was
my favorite kind of cake. Thus, it not only
showed that my colleagues at work
cared about me but they also had good
taste in cakes as it was very delicious and
we all managed to finish it with no
pieces left.

63
 TOPIC 2: DESCRIBE A PERSON

1. Describe a person who contributes to the society

You should say: A fully licensed doctor: bác sĩ đầy đủ

chứng nhận
Who this person is ?
Specialize in respiratory and
How you knew him/her? cardiovascular issues: chuyên về các
vấn đề hô hấp và tim mạch
What type of work he/she does ?
Diagnose: chẩn đoán
And explain why you think he/she
contributes to the society ? Be tasked with: được giao nhiệm vụ
Living a long and fulfilling life: sống 1
In our current society, we tend to value cuộc đời dài lâu và trọn vẹn
certain jobs more than others because we
perceive them as more useful to our Under threat: bị đe dọa
society. Some of them include engineers,
bankers, police officers and lawyers. Likelihood of death: khả năng tử vong
Today I would like to talk about one of
my friends named Dave who is a heart Sanctity of human life: sự thánh thiện
doctor at the city hospital. To provide của cuộc sống
context, Dave became a fully licensed
doctor around ten years ago when he
finished medical school overseas in
America. He came back to my
hometown only recently to continue his
career in medicine. Dave specializes in
respiratory and cardiovascular issues,
meaning he is rather knowledgeable
about lung and heart diseases. Every day,
he diagnoses about 10 patients who have
various problems regarding their hearts
and lungs. About 95% of the time he is
able to discover the correct disease. One
time, Dave managed to diagnose a rare
lung disease that affects only 2% of the
world’s population. That goes to show
how skilled he is in his profession.

Obviously, my friend Dave has been

valuable to society because he is tasked
with safeguarding our health, which is
essential to living a long and fulfilling
life. If our health is under threat by a
rather dangerous disease, especially one
that affects our heart and lungs, our lives
could be easily cut short since the

64
likelihood of death will increase as a
result. Hence, doctors like Dave are well
aware of the sanctity of human life and
the value in staying healthy.

65
2. Describe a person who you follow on social media

You should say: Face one’s worst fears: đối mặt với nỗi
sợ hãi lớn nhất
Who he/she is?
Find it rather interesting: thấy nó thú
How you knew him/her ? vị

What he/she posts on social media ? Simply put: đơn giản mà nói

And explain why you follow him/her on
social media ?
Across all of my social media accounts,
which include Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and YouTube, I follow
thousands of different people. However,
I will only talk about one person and that
person is Joe Rogan.
Sense of humor: óc hài hước
Make the right joke: đùa đúng chỗ
Thought-provoking: gợi lên suy nghĩ
An honest and intellectual
conversation: các cuộc đối thoại chân
thật và trí thức

To begin with, Joe Rogan is a comedian, Softball questions: câu hỏi đơn giản
actor and sports commentator who hosts
a very popular podcast on YouTube. I
first knew about him through a TV show
he once hosted called Fear Factor where
people had to face their worst fears in
various ways. Though he started his
podcast a long time ago, I only started
listening to it fairly recently and I find it
rather interesting. On his YouTube
channel, he posts videos of his podcast
where he interviews various people
about their work and personal life.
Simply put, it’s a long form
conversation that is filmed for other
people to see. Sometimes Joe would
interview celebrities such as Robert
Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx and they
would talk about their work to him.

In terms of why I follow Joe Rogan on

his YouTube channel, the main reason is
that he is entertaining to watch as his
sense of humor and respect for the
interviewee makes his podcast so
captivating. He knows how to make the
right joke at the right moment and his
questions are thought-provoking to the
point where the person he is talking to

66
 can have an honest and intellectual
conversation with Joe, as opposed to the
softball questions that these people
often get from other interviewers

3. Describe someone you really like to spend time with

You should say: Take a liking to sb: bắt đầu có cảm tình
với ai
Who this person is ?
Be paired up with sb: được bắt cặp với
How you knew him/her ?
ai

What you usually do together?

Meet up together: gặp gỡ nhau On end:
liên tục
And explain why you like to spend time
with him/her ?
Be it: dù là

And explain why you like to spend time

Developments in our lives: các tiến
with him/her The one person I like to
triển trong cuộc sống
spend time with is my best friend Doug.
I first met him in 2nd grade when I was Grumble about: càu nhàu về
a new student and he was already in
Be saddled with: rơi vào (hoàn cảnh nào
school for a year. I was paired up with
đó)
him by my teacher for a class activity
and both of us took a liking to each
Hang out with: chơi cùng
other. That’s how we became friends
ever since. Whenever we would meet up Plights in life: các nốt trầm trong cuộc
together, we would go out for coffee or sống
a drink at a bar and then talk about the
things that are happening in our lives. We Supportive presence: nguồn động viên
would talk for hours on end and complain
about the problems we would be facing
at work and at home. Sometimes we
would also meet up for dinner with some
of our other friends, be it from our old
school or from our jobs. Over dinner, we

67
would do the same thing; we would just
talk about new developments in our
lives and grumble about whatever
issues we would be saddled with.

The main reason why I like to hang out

with Doug is because he is very
understanding towards my many plights
in life. Whenever I have problems
regarding work or socializing, he would
always be there to comfort and advise
me on what I should do, which is
something that all friends should do.
Thus, I would try to meet up with Doug
as much as I can since he is such a
supportive presence in my life.

68
4. Describe a person you only met once and want to know more about

You should say: A former veteran: cựu chiến binh

Who he/she is? An acquaintance: người quan

When you met him/he? Muscular: cơ bắp, đô con, vâm

Why you want to know more about Presumably: có lẽ

him/her And explain how you feel about
him/her? A bullet that grazed his face: 1 viên
đạn sượt qua mặt
Around two years ago, I met a former
veteran of the Iraq War named Chester. Curious about: tò mò về
It was at a party hosted by some of my
friends from work and Chester was an
Resulting carnage: hậu quả của cuộc
acquaintance of one of those friends.
tàn sát
When I first met him, he was somewhat
muscular with fair skin and short hair.
Alas: than ôi!
He also had a scar running across his
cheek, presumably from a bullet that
grazed his face during battle. I only had Curiosity will never be satiated: sự
a short conversation with him about life tò mò không bao giờ được thỏa mãn
in general and his experiences during the
war. After the party was over, I never Take the initiative to: chủ động làm
met him again. gì đó

I wanted to know more about Chester Outward appearance: vẻ bên ngoài

because it seemed like he had an
interesting backstory, especially when it Combat experience: kinh nghiệm
comes to his exploits during the war in chiến đấu
Iraq. I was curious about what he had
seen, how fierce the fighting was with
the enemy and how bad was the
resulting carnage. Alas, I fear that my
curiosity will never be satiated because
I don’t have his contact details and I
never took the initiative to ask for them
when I first met Chester. Nevertheless, I
felt that Chester was a good person in
general. He seemed polite, cool and easy
to talk to despite his outward
appearance suggesting otherwise.
Moreover, he was a relaxed guy and he
was eager to know about other people,
probably because he was so tired talking
about himself and his combat
experience.

69
5. Describe your favourite famous person

You should say: Be known for: được biết đến như

Who this person is? A wide range of: đa dạng

How do you know about this person? Take to sb: thích ai

What this person is famous for? Lead actor: diễn viên chính

Why are you interested in this person? Be radically different: hoàn toàn khác

A famous person I really enjoy watching Find out: tìm ra

is actor Daniel Craig. While he’s
primarily known for playing James All in all: nhìn chung
Bond, he can play a wide range of
characters and work in various genres Come off as: thành công với
other than action.
Commit the murder: thực hiện vụ ám
I first knew about him when he was sát
announced as the new lead actor for the
James Bond series and when I watched Go on: tiếp tục
his first movie for the franchise, I really
took to him because of his intensity.
Since then, I followed his career closely
and he had gone on to do many more
films outside of the Bond series.

One of my favorite performances of his is

from the movie Knives Out, where he
plays the main detective having to find
out who committed the murder of an
old author. The reason why it’s a favorite
of mine is because it is radically
different from his image as a handsome
leading man and he gets to use an accent
that is very much different from his
typical English accent.

All in all, I enjoy watching Daniel Craig

as an actor and as a person, since he
comes off as rather charming and
humorous like most other English actors.
I look forward to whatever he does next
since he is now done with the James
Bond series.

70
6. Describe a popular/well-known person in your country

You should say: A celebrated national icon: một hình

tượng nổi tiếp trong trước
Who this person is?
A striker: tiền đạo
What he/she has done?
Goalscoring: ghi bàn
Why he/she is popular?
Tenure: nhiệm kỳ
And explain why you like this person?
Physique and style of play: vóc dáng và
One of our most celebrated national lối chơi
icons is footballer Nguyen Cong
Phuong. He plays for the Vietnam Swiftly cut through: nhanh chóng băng
national football team as well as Hoang qua
Anh Gia Lai Club as a striker, meaning
that he is responsible for the majority of Score a goal: ghi bàn
goalscoring. However, Vietnamese
people mostly know him for his Elevate the prestige of sb/st: nâng cao
performances for the national team since uy tín của ai/cái gì
Vietnamese club football is not
particularly popular. During his tenure Paying attention to: chú ý tới Boost our
in the national team, he has helped them national pride: tăng lòng tự hào dân tộc
win the 2018 AFF Championship as well
as make it to the quarter-finals of the Off the field: ngoài sân cỏ
2019 Asian Cup, which were pretty
impressive considering how they are not Take time to do st: dành thời gian làm
the best national team in Asia. Cong gì
Phuong is often compared to the
legendary Lionel Messi due to their Financially disadvantaged: khó khăn
similar physique and style of play, về mặt tài chính
where they would swiftly cut through
the defense and score a goal.

Nguyen Cong Phuong is considered a

popular figure in Vietnam because not
only his footballing skills are superlative
but also because of how instrumental he
was in elevating the prestige of the
national team. His performances alone
have brought the team to a whole new
level on the international stage, so much
so that native non-football fans are now
paying attention to how the team is
performing in Asian and global
competitions. As for myself, I quite like
seeing Cong Phuong running on the
pitch to clinically score goals to boost

71
our national pride. I also like how he is a
nice guy off the field, as evidenced by
how he takes the time to greet the fans
as well as give money to various local
charities to help those who are
financially disadvantaged.

72
 TOPIC 3: DESCRIBE AN EVENT/ TIME

1. Describe a time when you were preparing for a happy event

You should say: Take place: diễn ra

What the event was? Be involved in st: tham gia vào/liên

quan
Where you had it?
Scramble to do st: nhanh chóng làm gì
Who helped you to organize it?
Be responsible for: chịu trách nhiệm
And how you feel about it? cho

Most events require some form of To prepare some board games: chuẩn
preparation, whatever they might be. bị vài trò chơi cờ bàn
Whether they might be birthdays,
anniversaries or fancy dinners, there A bunch of pizza: 1 đống pizza
must be some planning involved in
making it successful. The event I will The finale: phần kết thúc
talk about today is no exception.
Go swimmingly: diễn ra thuận lợi
Before my 13th birthday was about to
take place, my parents and I were
scrambling to prepare all of the
necessary things for the party. My mother
and father were responsible for the
decorations, food and presents whereas I
was responsible for the games and
activities. I had prepared some board
games to play with my friends such as
Monopoly and Candyland as well as
arranged for a movie to watch at my
local theater. My parents had ordered a
bunch of pizza as well as a chocolate
cake for the finale. When the party took
place, everyone had a good time from
myself and my friends to my family.
Everyone enjoyed playing the board
games I arranged as well as the movie I
had organized which was the first Iron
Man. Once everyone had their piece of
cake, I was given some nice presents
which were the FIFA game and the new
Superman comics.

In the end, it was a happy event since

everything went swimmingly with mine
and my parents’ planning.

73
2. Describe an important event you celebrated

You should say: High school graduation ceremony: lễ

tốt nghiệp trung học
What the event was?
Auditorium: thính phòng
When it happened?
In attendance: có mặt
Who attended the event?
Forge one’s own path: tạo ra con đường
And explain how you feel about the cho riêng mình
event?
Touch upon st: nhắc đến cái gì
Over 6 years ago, I had my high school
graduation ceremony. It was in the Valedictorian: thủ khoa
middle of May and only a couple of
weeks after my friends and I finished our Graduation diplomas: bằng tốt nghiệp
final exams. The ceremony was held in
the auditorium of our school and over Make short comments: đưa ra các nhận
300 people were attending it, including xét ngắn
our families, teachers and younger
students. My parents and sister were also Hard work and perseverance: sự chăm
in attendance, who were seated in the chỉ và kiên trì
middle of the auditorium.
Pay off: thành công, có kết quả tốt
The ceremony began with a speech by the
head of school with the theme being how One of the greatest moments of
important it is to forge your own path euphoria: một trong những khoảnh khắc
in life. It was followed by a speech from hạnh phúc nhất
our principal, which touched upon the
same theme and then followed by a Start a new chapter in our lives: bước
speech from the valedictorian of our sang chương mới của cuộc đời
class, who was a friend of mine named
Andrew. Next, our graduation Maintain close contact with sb: duy trì
diplomas were handed to us one by one mối liên hệ mật thiết với ai
by the head of school while our principal
simultaneously made short comments
on where each of us will go for
university. The ceremony then ended
with a short performance by a band led
by one of my friends. They sang ‘Don’t
You Forget About Me’ originally by
Simple Minds, which was fitting
considering how we were all going to go
our separate ways when we started
university.

Looking back at this moment, I felt glad

to be a part of it. To know that all of my

74
 hard work and perseverance in trying
to do well to get to university had paid
off was one of the greatest moments of
euphoria that I ever had in my life. Also,
the ceremony itself was rather nice. The
speeches that were given were very
affirming and encouraging for us who
will be starting a new chapter in our
lives; and the performance from the band
was also a sweet reminder to maintain
close contact with each other since it
will be the last time we will see each
other ever again.

3. Describe an occasion that you lost something

You should say: A booklet: cuốn sách nhỏ

What you lost? Valuable stamps: những con tem có giá

trị
When and where you lost it?
Avid collector of stamps: người đam mê
What you did to find it? sưu tập tem

And explain how you felt about it? Pass on to sb: truyền lại cho ai

I once lost a booklet containing valuable Gather dust: bám bụi

stamps from the past century issued by
the Royal Mail in the UK and this only Vanish: biến mất
happened a couple of months ago. It was
a Christmas gift from my uncle who is an Scour far and wide: tìm kiếm ở khắp
avid collector of stamps and wanted to mọi nơi
pass on that hobby to me since he liked
me so much. I kept that booklet on the Dig through: tìm qua
bookshelf in my room and have not
touched it since. However, when the time In every nook and cranny: khắp mọi
came to clean my bookshelf because it ngóc ngách
was gathering dust, the booklet of
stamps somehow vanished. Elusive: khó thấy

Naturally, I just had to find it and in doing Give up: từ bỏ

so I scoured far and wide in my
apartment. I went to every room, dug Be dated back: đã có/tồn tại từ
through every shelf and looked in every
nook and cranny where it would be
possible for my booklet of stamps to
hide; yet, that elusive booklet was
nowhere to be found. I asked my parents
if they had seen the booklet anywhere

75
 and they said no with the last place they
saw it being on my bookshelf. When I
told them that I lost my stamp collection,
they immediately started to help me find
it by looking everywhere like I did.
However, after 15 minutes of searching,
we decided to give up and deem the
booklet as lost forever. I felt sad at that
time to lose that collection because not
only was it a really interesting gift from
my uncle but also the stamps themselves
were really cool. Some of them were
dated as far back as the 1900s, which
goes to show how cool they were. When
I meet my uncle, I’ll actually feel afraid
to tell him that I lost those stamps because
they really meant a lot to him.

4. Describe a time you were very busy

You should say: In succession: liên tiếp

When it happened? An intern: thực tập sinh

Where you were? Be given the opportunity: được trao cơ

hội
What you did?
Edit the resumes: chỉnh sửa các bản sơ
And explain why you were busy ? yếu lý lịch

I remember a day when I was busy doing Write a report: viết bài báo cáo
multiple tasks in succession at work.
This happened 3 years ago when I was Submit to sb: nộp cho ai
an intern for an engineering company.
This was during the summer holidays Storage room: phòng lưu trữ
after I had finished my first year of
college and I was given the opportunity Comb over: xem qua
to intern for a local engineering
company by my college. On that day, I Press on doing st: tiếp tục làm gì
was given three tasks to do before the
end of it; one was to edit the resumes of Bear in mind: nhớ, xem xét
all the employees of the company,
another was to write a report to submit Manage to: hoàn thành/thành công
to a client and the final task was to carry
multiple boxes of old documents into the Needless to say: khỏi phải nói, rõ ràng
storage room.

The first task where I had to edit the CVs

of the company’s employees took me

76
 two hours to complete as there were 30
employees in the firm and I had to comb
over old documents to update their most
recent projects. Nevertheless, I pressed
on and finished it as fast as I could. The
second task where I had to write a report
took me an hour to finish since all I had
to write was what project the company
will do for the client and how it will
finish. The final task however took me
nearly four hours to do since I had to
carry nearly 70 boxes of documents to the
storage room which was three floors
below my office. Bear in mind that each
box weighs nearly 7 kilograms. Still, I
managed to carry all of the boxes down
to the storage room and I was tired by the
end of it. Needless to say, it was a busy
day that day.

5. Describe a time when you received something without having to pay for it

You should say: It goes without saying that: khỏi phải

nói, hiển nhiên
What the gift was?
An autobiographical book: sách tự
When you got this gift?
truyện

Where you had it?

A sequel of sorts to: phần tiếp theo của
(sách, phim)
How you felt about it?

A second-hand bookstore: hiệu sách cũ

I once got a gift for my birthday from a
co-worker over two years ago that was
Memoir: hồi ký
rather nice. It goes without saying that
I didn’t have to pay for it. The gift in A despondent account: sự miêu tả chán
question was an autobiographical book nản
written by Frank McCourt about his life
A mediocre book: quyển sách tầm
as an immigrant teacher in New York
thường
from the late 1950s to the early 1990s. It
is a sequel of sorts to his earlier memoir
Storyline: cốt truyện
titled Angela’s Ashes, which was a

77
rather despondent account of Frank Funny and intellectually stimulating
McCourt’s childhood in Ireland. My anecdotes: chuyện vặt hài hước kích
colleague told me that she got it at a thích trí tuệ
second-hand bookstore for rather cheap
Struggle to: cố gắng (trong tình cảnh
and that I might like it because of the
khó khăn)
topic. I now keep it on my bookshelf in
my living room.
Adapt to: thích ứng/thích nghi

When I got that gift, I felt rather happy

Education system: hệ thống giáo dục
because I’ve been wanting to read a good
book for a while after reading rather
mediocre books for many months. For
example, the last book I read was The
Electric Circus by Chris Farrell and it
was rather terrible because the storyline
was nothing new and the characters were
boring. Now that I’ve got one, I can
finally feel satisfied because Teacher
Man is full of funny and intellectually
stimulating anecdotes about how an
Irish immigrant is struggling to adapt to
the American education system.

78
7. Describe a time when you helped a child

You should say: Peruse through st: nhìn vào cái gì

When it was? Transformers action figure: mô hình

How you helped him/her? Came across sb: tình cờ gặp ai

Why you helped him/her?
And how you felt about it?
Last week I was at a farmer’s market in
the town square. I was just perusing
through the many stalls and what they
had to sell. Then I came across a kid
who was standing in the middle of the
square sulking and I went up to him and
asked what’s wrong? He said he lost his
Transformers action figure somewhere
in the square and he was upset that it
disappeared. Wanting to brighten his
day, I decided to help the kid find his
action figure.
Brighten one’s day: làm cho ngày của
ai bừng sáng, vui vẻ
Trash bins: thùng rác
Be accidentally thrown away: tình cờ
bị ném đi
Lo and behold: trông lạ chưa kìa, thật lạ
là
Happen to do st: tình cờ làm gì
Overcome with joy: rất vui mừng
In vain: trong vô vọng

The kid and I had scoured all over the Console sb: an ủi ai
market for the missing action figure for
over 10 minutes. We had checked every Feel despondent: cảm thấy chán nản
corner and stall in the market but the
action figure had eluded us. As the kid
was feeling more and more hopeless, I,
not wanting to give up, kept trying to
find it with him. I then decided to check
the trash bins to see if the action figure
was accidentally thrown away. Lo and
behold, I happened to find it in one of
the trash bins and then gave it back to
him. He was immediately overcome
with joy when reunited with the toy and
he then thanked me for finding it.

As for why I wanted to help the kid, he

seemed rather sad when I first came
across him and my instincts told me to
help him. Furthermore, I thought that it
would be a nice thing to do to assist the
kid in looking for his missing toy. When
I finally found the Transformers figure,
I felt glad that my efforts to help the child

79
 were not in vain and I was also proud to
take it upon myself to console him when
he was feeling despondent.

8. Describe a situation when something in your house was broken or stopped

working

You should say: Be financially prudent: sự khôn ngoan

về tài chính
What was it?
Break down: lăn ra hỏng, không hoạt
What happened? động

When it broke/stopped working? Sweat like pigs: đổ mồ hôi nhễ nhại

And explain how you felt about it? Beam: toả nắng

One time, during a hot summer’s day, the Gas-powered: chạy bằng khí đốt
generator for my house had suddenly
stopped working. It was a gas-powered A Portable: chiếc máy nhỏ gọn
generator that required fuel to work and
my family forgot to buy a fuel can the An Inverter: biến tần
other day so we had no electricity for the
next couple of hours. As for why we had Turn on: bật
a gas-powered generator, it was rather
cheap, especially compared to other types
of generators such as portable or inverter
which were usually 3 to 4 times more
expensive. Therefore, it was more
financially prudent for me and my
family to buy a gas-powered generator.

It was at noon when the generator broke

down and the sun was beaming that day;
so our air conditioners didn’t work and
my family and I were sweating like pigs.
We couldn’t turn on the lights when we
needed them and we couldn’t really cook
anything since the stove was electrically
powered by the generator, so we decided
to order sandwiches for lunch. I was
annoyed that day because I couldn’t do
many things without electricity such as
using my computer, watching TV or
going to the bathroom without turning on
the lights. Fortunately, that annoying
feeling didn’t last very long as my parents
went out to buy a fuel can and got the
generator working again.

80
 TOPIC 4: DESCRIBE AN ACTIVITY

1. Describe a long walk you had

You should say: Take a long morning walk: đi bộ đường

dài vào buổi sáng
When this happened?

Where you walked? Venture around the forest: thám hiểm

quanh khu rừng
Who you were with?

And explain how you felt about this long Lush: tươi tốt
walk?
Wild boars: lợn rừng
A couple of years ago, I was taking a
long morning walk with my brother in
a forest near our hometown. We were Flora: thảm thực vật
camping in that forest for a couple of
nights and one morning, my brother and
Be immersed in: đắm chìm vào
I decided to venture around the forest
for a while. The forest we walked in was
lush and colorful all over with a variety Going well: đang tốt đẹp
of beautiful flora on display such as
bamboo trees, mango trees and roses.
Feel/be invigorated: tràn trề sinh lực
We also spotted a couple of animals
living in the forest such as monkeys,
wild boars and birds.

The walk itself lasted until lunch time, as

we were so immersed in the landscape
for almost 4 hours. During the walk, my
brother and I were talking about how our
lives were and what were our plans for
the future. He told me that his life was
going well and he planned to move to a
new apartment in our hometown. As for
how I felt about it, I felt tired by the end
as it was such a long walk, but I also felt
invigorated because the air was so fresh
and clean that it felt rather soothing.

81
3. Describe a contest/competition you would like to participate in

You should say: Partake in: tham gia

What the contest/competition is about?

As the name implies: như cái tên ám chỉ
Where the contest/competition will take
place When it will be held? A global competition: một cuộc thi toàn
cầu
And explain why you would like to
participate in it?
Venue: địa điểm
For once in my life, I would like to
partake in the Global Chicken Wing
Take place: diễn ra
Eating Contest this year. It is a contest
where a competitor must eat as many
chicken wings as they can in one hour. As Deem: cho là, tưởng là
the name implies, it is a global
competition where the venue changes
A bunch of chicken wings: một ổ/đống
between cities around the world every
year. This year it will take place in cánh gà
Bangkok so I can easily get there by
plane and stay there for a week during the
A hilarious competition: một cuộc thi
competition. This contest usually takes
place in the summer, more specifically in thích thú
the middle of June as that is when the
summer holidays start and the organizers
Munch on st: ăn cái gì
deem that period to have the perfect
atmosphere for eating a bunch of
chicken wings. Abstain from: kiêng, nhịn

As for why I want to participate in it, it

seems like a somewhat hilarious Convince me to: thuyết phục ai làm gì
competition so thought it would be fun
to munch on buckets upon buckets of Admittedly silly: phải thừa nhận là ngớ
chicken wings until I can’t take them
anymore and abstain from them for ngẩn
months. I first heard about the Global
Chicken Wing Eating Contest from a
friend of mine named Jake who once
competed in it last year in Houston. He
said that it was a lot of fun because he
had free food and the vibe of it was
energetic and fun. That was enough to
convince me to try participating in this
admittedly silly but entertaining
competition.

82
5. Describe something you do that can help you concentrate on work/study

You should say: Give one a deadline: ra hạn cho ai

What it is?
Get distracted by: bị phân tâm bơi
How it helps you concentrate?
Compel/force sb to do st: bắt buộc ai
When you do it?
làm gì
And explain how you feel about it?
Time management: quản lý thời gian
One strategy I would usually employ to
concentrate on my work is to give
Engage in: tham gia vào
myself a deadline to finish it within a
certain timeframe. For example, if I had
an assignment where I had to write a To name a few: ví dụ như, có thể kể đến
report with 5 paragraphs within 7 days, I
1 vài cái
would dedicate one day to each
paragraph and then resolve to finish that
paragraph before the day is over. This Be applied to: áp dụng vào cái gì
strategy helps me a lot to concentrate on
my work because it forces me to not get
An effective strategy: chiến lược hiệu
distracted by other things and compels
me to finish my work on time, which is quả
valuable when it comes to time
management. Once I finish my work
Urge sb to do st: thôi thúc ai làm gì
within the timeframe that I have given
myself, I can be afforded enough time to
do other things such as engaging in my Loom: xuất hiện, đến
hobbies or going outside for exercise to
name a few.
Within the timeframe: trong khoảng
I use this strategy all the time whenever I thời gian
have work to do. It can be applied to any
kind of assignment whether it would be
something small like sending an email to
a colleague, or something more
substantial like writing a long report that
has to be submitted by the following
week. As for how I feel about it, like I
said before it is an effective strategy for
me to concentrate on my work since it
urges me to manage my time efficiently
as the deadline looms closer.

83
 TOPIC 5: DESCRIBE A PLACE

1. Describe a house or an apartment you would like to live in

You should say: Compact apartment: căn hộ nhỏ gọn

What it is like? Fully furnished: đầy đủ nội thất

Where it would be? Modern amenities: tiện nghi hiện đại

Why you would like to live in this Aesthetic value: giá trị thẩm mỹ
house/apartment? And how you feel
about this house/apartment? Be by myself: 1 mình

In the near future, I would like to live in Hang out: đi chơi

a relatively compact apartment that is
fully furnished and has modern
amenities such as Wi-Fi and a laundry
machine. It would be located on at least
the 10th floor of a tower building so that
I would have a nice view of the city and
it would have a wooden floor just for the
aesthetic value that it brings to the place.
In addition, I would like the kitchen to be
near the front door so that I can have easy
access to food and it would be nice for
my dream apartment to have a study
where I can be by myself and read a
book.
The outskirts of the city: ven rìa thành
phố
Less of a hassle transportation wise: di
chuyển ít phức tạp hơn
Financially independent: độc lập về tài
chính
Have good taste: có khẩu vị tốt, có
khiếu thẩm mỹ
Real estate: bất động sản

As for where it would be, I would like it

to be near the city centre because that is
where my office is as well as where all
the cool places are to hang out such as
bars, nightclubs and restaurants. In
comparison to having an apartment on
the outskirts of the city, it would be
much more convenient and less of a
hassle transportation

wise. In terms of why I would like to live

in an apartment like this, one reason is it
has everything I would want in an
apartment, like my own bedroom, my
own study and a nice view of the city.
Furthermore, it proves to my friends and
family that not only am I financially
independent but also that I have good
taste in real estate and housing

84
 aesthetics. When I move into this
apartment, I would feel cozy and warm
like any nice apartment or house should.

2. Describe a city that you think is very interesting

You should say: Be often labeled as: thường được biết

Where it is?
What it is famous for?
How you knew this city?
And explain why you think it is very
interesting?
đến như là
The epicentre of the british workers’
movement: tâm chấn của phong trào
công nhân anh quốc
Give rise to: phát sinh
Famous for: nổi tiếng vì

One city that I find interesting is the city Ideology of socialism: hệ tư tưởng xã
of Manchester in England. It is more hội chủ nghĩa
specifically located in the northwest of
England, next to the cities of Liverpool The birthplace of: nơi sinh
and Sheffield. Manchester is home to
over 500,000 people, and it is often Bachelor degree: bằng cử nhân
labeled as the industrial and financial
centre of northwestern England since it Shape England’s cultural identity:
is where all of the major companies are hình thành nên bản sắc văn hóa anh quốc
based for their operations in that area.
Long-standing sporting tradition: môn
Historically, Manchester has been known thể thao truyền thống lâu đời
as the epicentre of the British workers’
movement which helped give rise to the Make an impact on: tạo ảnh hưởng lên
ideology of socialism that has been
officially adopted by a number of
countries including China and Vietnam.
It also was the centre of major industries
in England such as the textile industry
since many factories were built there. In
more recent years, Manchester is famous
for its music, as the city was the
birthplace of many great bands such as
Oasis and The Smiths. It is also famous
for its football teams, those being
Manchester United and Manchester City,
which are two of the best football teams
in England.

I knew about Manchester from my time

studying there for my bachelor degree.
I stayed there for three years and I got to

85
 make many new friends at university,
most of whom are from the city itself and
are knowledgeable about the best places
to visit. I find the city to be interesting
because not only do I find its history
fascinating to learn about, but also it is
helping to shape England’s cultural
identity in numerous ways, whether it
would be its music or its long standing
sporting tradition. In some ways, it has
made an impact on English culture that
is equal to London.

3. Describe a quiet place you like to go

You should say: Every now and then: thi thoảng

Where it is? Once in a while: thi thoảng

How you knew it? By happenstance: tình cờ

How often you go there? Pristine: mới, trông như mới

What you do there? Neutral colors: màu trung tính

And explain how you feel about the Congregate: tụ tập

plac?e
Browse the internet: duyệt/ lướt
A quiet place I like to go to every now internet
and then is a cafe in the center of town
called Morning Brew. I go there at least Have a chat: có 1 cuộc nói chuyện
twice a week but once in a while I may
go there around four times if I’m feeling In general: nhìn chung
keen. I knew about this place when I was
one time traveling around the city on my Drinks and snacks: đồ uống và đồ ăn
bicycle and I came across it by vặt
happenstance. On the outside the
building looked rather modern and Tasty and refreshing: ngon và sảng
pristine and the interior looked inviting khoái
and cozy with its wooden floor and
neutral colors. From what I observed, it Tranquil: yên tĩnh
seemed like a place that was popular
among young people since there were so
many of them congregating on the
inside of the cafe.

When I’m at Morning Brew, what I

would usually do is order cold lemon tea
and a snack and sit down to do some

86
 work. I would work on whatever
assignment I have and when I’m done
with it I would browse the Internet
while having my tea and snack for a
while until the middle of the afternoon.
Sometimes I would invite a friend of
mine to have coffee with me at Morning
Brew to have a chat. As for how I feel
about the place, I quite like it in general
because the interior is pleasing to look at,
the drinks and snacks are tasty and
refreshing, and the atmosphere is very
tranquil as it isn’t very noisy with all of
the people who are talking.

4. Describe a place you visited on vacation

You should say: An opportune time: 1 cơ hội

Where it is? Satiate one’s curiosity: thỏa mãn sự tò

mò
When you went there?
Picturesque: đẹp như tranh vẽ
What you did there?
Be fascinated by: bị mê hoặc bởi
And explain why you went there?
Sentimental reasons: các lí do tình cảm
A vacation is an opportune time for
people to either explore new places to End up: kết thúc lại là
satiate their curiosity or to return to
familiar places for sentimental reasons. Boot: khởi động, bắt đầu
In my case, when I was on summer
holiday five years ago, I went to a new Breathtaking view: khung cảnh tráng lệ
place that I ended up liking quite a bit.
Landmarks: địa danh
As I’ve said earlier, when I was on
summer holiday five years ago, my Showed us around his hometown: dẫn
family and I went to Spain for the very chúng tôi đi thăm quan quê nhà anh ấy
first time. More specifically, we went to
the furthest southern region of Spain Be fascinated by: bị hấp dẫn bởi cái gì
called Andalusia which has a hot climate
and beautiful beaches to boot. We stayed Expand one’s horizons: mở rộng tầm
at a hotel in a mountainous village near hiểu biết
the beach and it had a breathtaking view
of both the landscape and the nearby
coast. As for what we did in Andalusia,
we visited the most famous landmarks
of the region such as the fortress in
Malaga, the Picasso Museum and the

87
 Alhambra. We also got to meet one of my
sister’s friends who is a native of
Andalusia and he showed us around his
hometown which was quite
picturesque.

As for why I went to Spain, my family

wanted to go there for a while to know
what it’s like as they have been
fascinated by the country’s culture and
history. They also wanted to avoid
visiting the same European countries
that we went to before, such as France
and Germany, so they sought to expand
their horizons a bit.

5. Describe a place in the countryside that you visited

You should say: Get away from the hustle and bustle
of urban life: tránh xa sự xô bồ ồn ào
Where it is? của cuộc sống đô thị

When you visited this place? Go out of my way: cố gắng để làm 1

chuyện gì đó
What you did there?
In one’s own way: theo cách riêng của
And explain how you feel about this ai
place?
Unwind: thư giãn
Whenever I want to get away from the
hustle and bustle of urban life, I go out To take a liking to: có sự yêu thích với
of my way to plan a trip to the
countryside to unwind. While many of Having heard nothing but good things
the rural areas I’ve been to have been about: được nghe toàn lời có cánh về cái
nice in their own way, there was one gì
area that I really took a liking to which
was Cat Cat Village near Sa Pa in Live and breathe: sống và sinh hoạt
northwestern Vietnam.
On the outskirts of: ở ven rìa
As I said before, Cat Cat Village is
located on the outskirts of Sa Pa in Homestay lodge: nhà nghỉ tại gia
northwestern Vietnam. I first learned
about it through an old friend of mine Upon reflection: nghĩ kĩ thì
who owns and operates a small
homestay lodge there. Having heard Be surrounded by: được bao bọc bởi
nothing but good things about it, I
made plans to go there and stay for 2 Terraced rice fields: ruộng lúa
nights and upon reflection, it was a very
good decision. What was special about

88
that village was the surrounding scenery; A mood of serenity: không khí
everywhere I looked the village was thanhbình
surrounded by lush green mountains
and terraced rice fields, creating a Hospitable: hiếu khách
mood of serenity around the area.
Furthermore, the villagers themselves Have sb visit st: mời ai tham quan cái gì
have been hospitable towards me when I
first visited. They were eager to show me
around and have me visit their humble
homes where they lived and breathed.
For those reasons I have mentioned, I
grew to like Cat Cat Village and one day
I intend to come back there to see how
much it has developed over the years.

89
 TOPIC 6: OTHER TOPICS

1. Describe a rule that you don’t like

You should say: Chew gum: nhai kẹo

What it is? Within the school boundaries: trong

khuôn viên trường
Why you don’t like it?
Rationale: lý tính
How others feel about the rule?
Blame sb for st: trách cứ ai vì cái gì
And explain whether you’ve followed the
rule ? Throw away: Vứt đi

In my old high school, there was a rule Nonsensical: vô nghĩa

where students weren’t allowed to chew
gum at any time or place within the Staged a small protest: dấy lên 1 cuộc
school boundaries. The faculty said that phản đối
this was intended to keep the school clean
as there were some cases where students Overturn: đảo ngược
were throwing away their gum in the
wrong places such as on the ground or Hold in place: giữ nguyên vị trí
under the desks instead of in the trash
bins. While I understood the rationale Break the rule: phá luật
behind the chewing gum ban, I still didn’t
like it because it seemed to me that the Keep it away from our teachers’
school was blaming all students for the prying eyes: né tránh khỏi các con mắt
actions of a few who didn’t throw away soi mói của giáo viên
their gum properly.
Get caught: bị bắt gặp
As for what my classmates and other
students thought of this rule, they Be sent to detention: phạt cấm túc
believed it was nonsensical for the same
reason I just mentioned. They didn’t like
it to the point where they once staged a
small protest against the ban, but
ultimately it was unsuccessful since it
didn’t help overturn that ban and it was
still held in place. Nevertheless, most
students, myself included, broke the
rule and ate chewing gum anyway
because we knew how to hide it well and
keep it away from our teachers’ prying
eyes. We hid it so well that none of us
got caught with gum in our hands and
sent to detention for it.

90
2. Describe an interesting song

You should say: A tribute to: 1 sự tri ân tới

What the song is? Mental illness: bệnh tinh thần

What story the song tells? Feel guilty for: cảm thấy tội lội vì

Whether the song is popular? Major creative force: nguồn cảm hứng
sáng tạo
And explain why you think it is
interesting? Contribute to: đóng góp cho cái gì

One of my favorite songs is Shine On A massive hit: 1 thành công lớn

You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd. It is
a nine-part song that altogether lasts 26 Lyrics: lời bài hát
minutes and it is a classic for the rock
genre. It is part of the album Wish You Supremely engaging: cực kì cuốn hút
Were Here, which was released in 1975
and is considered one of Pink Floyd’s Rhythm: nhịp điệu
best albums.
Incorporate different instruments and
The song was written as a tribute to melodies: kết hợp các nhạc cụ và nhịp
former band member Syd Barrett, who điệu khác nhau
had a history of mental illness and had
to leave the band because of it. Mood and tone of the song: cảm xúc và
Therefore, the song is about the rest of tông của ca khúc
Pink Floyd feeling guilty for having to
remove Syd yet also thankful for him Somber: ủ rũ
because he was a major creative force
in the band’s early days and he
contributed to its early success.

When the song was first released in 1975,

it was a massive hit among Pink Floyd
fans since it was in the style that they
always loved from the beginning. New
listeners also enjoyed it immensely since
rock was one of the most popular genres
of music during that decade.

As for myself, I found the song

interesting not only because the lyrics
are profound but also the style and
composition are supremely engaging.
The song often changes rhythm and
incorporates different instruments
and melodies to great effect. I also enjoy
the mood and tone of the song as it is

91
 rather relaxing yet also somber due to the
subject matter.

3. Describe an ambition that you haven’t achieved

You should say: Fictional narrative: câu chuyện hư cấu

What it is? Struggle to: vật lộn để làm gì

Why you haven’t achieved it? Meaningful progress: sự tiến bộ ý

nghĩa
What you did?
Autobiographical element: yếu tố tự
And how you felt about it? truyện

A couple of years ago, I had the idea of A quarter of the way: ¼ chặng đường
writing my own book because it was
something that I wanted to try doing. It Internal and external struggles: các sự
would be a fictional narrative about a đấu tranh bên trong và bên ngoài
man in his mid-20s who is struggling to
make meaningful progress in his Move on with: tiến lên
professional and personal life. As you
can tell, it has an autobiographical Work rate: tốc độ làm việc
element to it. I started writing it and for
about eight weeks I was a quarter of the At a snail’s pace: chậm như sên
way finished. I had written about 5
chapters which covered the main Pressing responsibilities: các trách
character’s internal and external nhiệm cấp thiết
struggles, especially with his family and
closest friends constantly encouraging Be disappointed in: thất vọng
him to move on with his life.
Come to fruition: đạt được thành tựu
However, for the next ten weeks my
work rate started to slow down as I only A lasting source of shame: sự xấu hổ
wrote one chapter every four weeks. I lâu dài
was writing at a snail’s pace and then by
the end of those ten weeks I stopped
writing. I left the book unfinished
because I was struggling to find the
motivation to keep writing and there
were more pressing responsibilities that
got in the way such as my job and the
rent for my apartment. Needless to say, I
felt disappointed in myself for not
pushing to finish the book because it was
my idea in the first place and having it not
come to fruition would be a lasting
source of shame on my part.

92
4. Describe a positive change that you made in your life

You should say: Move away from: từ bỏ, tránh xa

What it is? Stay healthy and in good shape: giữ sức

khỏe và vóc dáng
Why you did it ?
Be bulging at the stomach: bụng phình
Who you did it with ?
ra

And explain how you feel about the

Exert myself physically: cố vận động
change?
Exacerbate the situation: làm tình hình
Recently, I made a major change to my
trầm trọng thêm
lifestyle where I started to eat less junk
food. As good as it is, I slowly moved Make the decision: quyết định
away from eating it because I wanted to
Out of hubris: một cách kiêu căng
stay healthy and in good shape. I
looked at myself in the mirror one time
Deep down: trong thâm tâm
and I appeared to be bulging at the
stomach which was a bad sign for my Take one’s advice: nghe lời khuyên của
body shape. Also, I was experiencing ai
more tiredness than before whenever I
exert myself physically more than I Physical endurance: sức bền thể chất
should and I had some breathing
Abate: giảm bớt
problems to exacerbate the situation.
Thus, these issues led me to make the Savour the fresh air: tận hưởng không
decision to eat much less junk food than khí trong lành
before.
Respiratory system: hệ hô hấp
I made this change to my lifestyle by
myself with no one else doing the same.
However, I will say that I have been
encouraged a number of times by my
friends and family to eat less fattening

93
 food because they were worried about
how I looked and how I was physically
feeling. I ignored those warnings out of
hubris, where I thought that I would
know best about my health and not
anyone else; but deep down I knew they
were right and thus I took their advice
more seriously after I had looked at
myself in the mirror. It has been a couple
of weeks since I started eating less junk
food and now I feel a lot sprier in my
body. I feel less tired and my physical
endurance has improved quite a bit.
Also, my breathing problems have
largely abated and I can breathe more
deeply than before; now I can savour the
fresh air and not have to struggle when
it comes to my respiratory system.

5. Describe an interesting discussion that you had with friends

You should say: Inane: vô nghĩa

Who you spoke with? To spark passion: khơi dậy hứng thú

Where you were? To go on and on and on: cứ tiếp tục và

tiếp diễn
What the conversation was about?
Support one’s arguments: chứng minh
And explain why you think it was cho lập luận của ai
interesting ?
Devolved into nonsense: biến thành vô
I’ve had many interesting discussions nghĩa (theo nghĩa xấu)
with my friends about various topics,
ranging from movies and TV shows to Insulting each other for their
politics and romance. However, our most opinions: xúc phạm ý kiến của đối
recent conversation was not just phương
interesting but also hilarious because the
Take part in: tham gia

94
topic was so inane, yet for some reason To have strong feelings about: có cảm
it sparked passion among my friends. xúc mạnh mẽ về

While on the bus from school to our Distinctly remember: nhớ rõ ràng
homes, three of my closest friends and I
were discussing whether or not a hot dog Be thick as cream: ngớ ngẩn, ngu ngốc
could be considered a sandwich. One of
them argued that a hot dog wasn’t a Stand out: ấn tượng, nổi bật
sandwich because it wasn’t closed with
a top layer of bread and it didn’t have any
layers. The other two argue that it was a
sandwich because there are ingredients
held together on both sides by bread. It
went on and on and on as my friends
were struggling to find valid reasons to
support their arguments and by the end
of it the conversation had devolved into
nonsense as they were just basically
insulting each other for their opinions.

While I didn’t take part in it, the

conversation surrounding the topic of
whether a hot dog was a sandwich was
rather interesting because the topic was
so silly yet my friends had strong
feelings about it. A funny quote that I
distinctly remember from that
conversation was ‘you’re thick as cream
for thinking that hot dogs weren’t
sandwiches’, which was said by the
friend who believed otherwise. For some
reason that sentence stood out to me as
rather hilarious.

95
7. Describe a useful skill you learned from an older person

You should say: A car mechanic: thợ sửa xe ô tô

What it is? On my own: bằng chính mình

Why the skill can be learned from older Constantly depend on: liên tục phụ
people? thuộc vào

How you will learn the skill from older Train one in something: huấn luyện ai
people? làm gì

And explain how you will feel if you Check the carburetors: kiểm tra bộ chế
master the skill? hòa khí

I used to be neighbors with an older Gauge the oil temperature: đo nhiệt độ

gentleman named Mr. Williams who dầu
was a car mechanic by trade. When I
bought my own car, I wanted to learn Master a skill: thành thạo 1 kỹ năng
how to fix it on my own so that I
wouldn’t have to constantly depend on Get the chance to: có cơ hội để làm gì
a mechanic and pay for the expensive
repairs. I also thought that it would be End up: cuối cùng, kết thúc là
valuable to learn such a skill from an
older person such as Mr. Williams
because he had more wisdom and
experience in fixing a car than myself.

One morning, I went up to Mr. Williams’

house and asked him if he could train
me in fixing a car. He agreed to my
request and for the next 6 months he
taught me everything that I needed to
know about fixing a car such as
checking the carburetors, gauging the
oil temperature and lifting the car with
a jack to check the underside. Once I
mastered the skills needed to repair my
own car, I felt more independent and
liberated as a person since I won’t have
to depend on paying for someone else to
fix a car. Hopefully, one day I’ll get the
chance to teach my children how to fix
their own cars if they end up buying one.

96
8. Describe a story someone told you and you remember

You should say: An integral part: một phần không thể

thiếu
What the story was about?
Fictional characters and settings: nhân
Who told you this story? vật và bối cảnh viễn tưởng

Why you remember it? Plot line: cốt truyện

And how you feel about it? Lodge: nhà nghỉ

Stories are an integral part of human
development. We love hearing them as
well as telling them. These stories can be
real and based on a person’s actual
experiences, or made up with fictional
characters and settings. Also, they must
be memorable in some way, whether they
have interesting characters or an
interesting plot line. In my case, I have
been told this story that I remember
vividly by a friend of mine some years
ago.
Actual experiences: trải nghiệm thực tế
Human development: sự phát triển của
con người
A hiking trip: chuyến đi bộ việt dã
Walking on the trail: đi trên đường
mòn
By complete coincidence: hoàn toàn
ngẫu nhiên

As I said before, some years ago a few of Have a quick chat: có một cuộc trò
my friends and I went on a hiking trip in chuyện ngắn
the mountains. One night, we were
resting in a small lodge and during our Bona fide: thật, thật thà
down time, one of my friends told me a
story about how he met a famous actor Jealous of: ghen tị với
while hiking in the same area a few
years prior. He said to me that while he
was walking on the trail, he by
complete coincidence met Robert
Redford who was walking with his
family getting some fresh air. While my
friend didn’t want to bother Mr. Redford,
he was nice enough to say hello to my
friend and have a quick chat about
hiking in general.

I remember this story clearly because I

was amazed that my friend got to meet a
bona fide celebrity who has made many
popular movies. Furthermore, I felt
slightly jealous of my friend since he got
to meet Robert Redford who is one of my
favorite actors.

97
9. Describe something you did that helped you to learn another language

You should say: Interactive lessons: các bài học tương

tác
What it is?
Justification for st: sự biện hộ/lý do cho
What language you learned? việc gì đó

How it helped you learn the language?
And how you felt about it?
When I was in high school I had to learn
a foreign language in order to
successfully graduate. The choices at the
time were either French or Spanish. I
chose French because I admire the
language and culture in general. At the
beginning of the course, the class, which
included me and some of my friends, was
asked by our teacher to use Duolingo,
which is a website that features
interactive lessons that teach users
almost any language in the world. Our
teacher’s justification for telling us this
was it helps us grasp the basics of
French more easily.
Grasp the basics of: nắm bắt những điều
cơ bản của
Bite-sized lessons: những bài học nhỏ
Conjugation: cách chia động từ
Typical grammatical structure: những
cấu trúc ngữ pháp tiêu biểu
Process of elimination: quá trình loại trừ
Conjugate a particular verb: chia một
động từ
All in all: nói chung
Fundamental rules: những quy tắc cơ
bản

For the first few weeks, I was enjoying Boost one’s proficiency: tăng sự thành
using Duolingo. It helped me a lot in thạo
learning French by teaching bite-sized
lessons about useful vocabulary,
conjugation and the typical
grammatical structure of a sentence in
French. Duolingo also has games that
utilize repetition and process of
elimination in teaching me the right
word for something or the right way to
conjugate a particular verb. All in all, I
felt that Duolingo was extremely helpful
in teaching me the fundamental rules of
the French language and it has helped me
boost my proficiency in it in a massive
way.

98
99
 SPEAKING PART 3

TOPIC 1: MAKING FRIENDS

Q1. What kind of people are easy to get along with?

Actually, there is quite an array of types of people who are easy to please. Probably the most
common one is people who are mature enough to listen and understand. This is because they
can listen to the words properly without interfering and interpreting and try to show some
empathy to others. Another option is people who do not prejudge. Admittedly, they are not
judgemental. Certainly, someone who doesn't stereotype or categorise other people for their
features, mistakes or imperfections is comfortable and easy to have a harmonious or friendly
relationship.

Q2. How do leaders get along with their subordinates?

There are many options to choose from and it really depends on different leadership styles.
The first one to consider is to throw parties and team-building activities to bond the team. In
this way, managers can bridge the gap in ranks in the workplace. The second option is to
arrange a confidential talk between employers and employees. Due to that, they can make it
clear to their employees that as a boss, they want them to be happy and live their dreams, thus
instilling a strong sense of trust and safety amongst workers.

Q3. Do you think employees should establish relationships outside of work with their
bosses?

As I said it is of paramount importance to set up an out-of-the-work contact with bosses. This

is due to two reasons. The main factor is that it helps build trust and grow employee
engagement, getting rid of workplace inequality. Subordinates will understand that leaders
value them as members of your team. As well as this, from a societal standpoint, it is always
helpful to make more friends and less enemies. It can in turn make work tasks more streamlined
and reduce work stress.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

An array of Một nhóm
Show some empathy Thể hiện sự đồng cảm
Stereotype Đánh giá (một cách định kiến)
Leadership styles Phong cách lãnh đạo
Bridge the gap Thu hẹp khoảng cách
Confidential talk Cuộc trò chuyện thân mật
Instill a strong sense of trust and safety Làm thấm nhuần sự tin tưởng và cảm giác
an toàn
Set up an out-of-the-work contact with sb Thiết lập mối liên hệ ngoài giờ làm với…
Getting rid of workplace inequality Loại bỏ sự bất bình đẳng tại nơi làm việc
From a societal standpoint Từ quan điểm xã hội

100
 TOPIC 2: CREATIVITY

Q1. Is it good for children to learn arts?

I advocate the opinion that children should be encouraged to study arts. A fundamental reason
is that arts play a crucial role in promoting creativity through numerous activities such as
singing and drawing. These activities assist brain development and cognition because they
stimulate children’s imagination and motivate them to express their opinions. Moreover, art-
related subjects are essential to enhance patience and determination for children. In particular,
kids who are learning a new language or skill can understand how hard it will be and strive for
little progress.

Q2. What kinds of jobs require people to be creative?

In my opinion, all kinds of jobs require creativity in terms of the requirements for each career.
First, some jobs are obviously creative, such as artist or painter. They demand good
imagination and expression skills to illustrate the underlying message of their works. Second,
for designing or marketing-related jobs, people in these fields need to satisfy the customer's
requirements, which is much more challenging. However, for other jobs, creativity still assists
them in reducing the workload pressure and saving time and effort to achieve better
performance.

Q3. Do you think leaders need to have creative ability?

Undoubtedly, creativity is an essential characteristic of successful leaders. A key reason is that
they need to make crucial decisions in almost all situations. It is a daunting task when selecting
and checking the opinions of staff, and then choosing the optimum one which is the best for
the success of the team and the company as a whole. Another noticeable factor is about
developing a healthy working environment. Creative leaders will know how to engage their
team and reduce office boredness and demotivation.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Promote creativity
Assist brain development and cognition
Stimulate children’s imagination
Enhance patience and determination
Illustrate the underlying message of their
works
Satisfy the customer's requirements
Reduce the workload pressure
Develop a healthy working environment
Engage their team
Reduce office boredness and demotivation
Thúc đẩy sự sáng tạo
Hỗ trợ sự phát triển của não và nhận thức
Kích thích trí tưởng tượng của trẻ em
Nâng cao tính kiên nhẫn và sự quyết tâm
Thể hiện các thông điệp ẩn chứa trong các
tác phẩm
Thoả mã yêu cầu của khách hàng
Giảm áp lực công việc
Phát triển môi trường làm việc lành mạnh
Gắn kết nhóm
Làm giảm sự buồn chán và mất động lực
nơi làm việc

101
 TOPIC 3: CHILDREN UPBRINGING

Q1. Do you think children are born smart or they learn to become smart?
Opinions are divided about the topic nature versus nurture. Some may think that many young
ones have genetic advantagesthat are inherited from their parents. That’s what makes them
stand out from other kids. However, I am of the opinion that smartness is a long process of
training and learning. Thanks to right pedagogical methods, even the dumbest kids can become
smarter in some ways.

Q2. How do children become smarter at school?

I suppose that it depends on different periods of development. At a young age, rote learning,
which relies heavily on memorisation, is a good start. As they grow up, educators should teach
them to reason and think logically. For example, schools should let children play games that
stimulate their problem-solving skills like solving puzzles and role playing to solve
hypothetical problems. I really detest training children to solve difficult mathematical
equations or something similar.

Q3. Why are some people well-rounded and others only good at one thing?
As I said there are, there are two possible explanations for this. The key drive may be that some
people are born talented. They are lucky enough to receive all the outstanding genes from their
biological parents. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that holistic prowess can be attained by hard
work. For instance, people should obtain information about different aspects of life by reading
newspapers or watching news programs. In addition, many become more well-rounded by
venturing themselves out of their comfort zone.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Genetic advantages Lợi thế di truyền
Stand out Nổi bật
Pedagogical methods Phương pháp giáo dục
Rote learning Học vẹt
Stimulate problem-solving skills Kích thích kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề
Solve hypothetical problems Giải quyết các vấn đề mang tính giả thuyết
Mathematical equations Phương trình toán học
Outstanding genes Gen trội
Holistic prowess Kỹ năng toàn diện
Venturing oneself out of their comfort zone Mạo hiểm thoát ra khỏi vùng an toàn

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 TOPIC 4: WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Q1. What kinds of jobs are well-paid in Vietnam?

Just like other parts of the world, there are some occupations that can earn lucrative salaries in
Vietnam. Top of the list is surgeons. They can earn up to 50,000 dollars annually. Because
their job requires a number of years for training and in-hospital placements before they can
fully be qualified as an operator. Lawyers rank 2nd in the list. The reason for their profitable
salaries can be attributed to their high perceived value in the eyes of their clients. A successful
lawyer can save or earn their clients tons of money or can possibly spare them a criminal
sentence.

Q2. What are the differences between working conditions now and in the past?
Obviously, there are a number of differences between working conditions in today’s society
and in the past. Historically, I feel the most fundamental one is that with the rise of working
unions and government organisations, employees’ rights are fully protected and respected.
Bosses can no longer treat their employees as underdogs but it is now more like a win-win
situation. Moreover, a further distinction is that businesses are obliged to fairly pay their
employees for their overtime. In the past, many of them were unethically asked to work for
extended hours with low pay rates or even for no compensation. However, if companies fail to
pay workers properly for their extended working hours, they will stand up to sue the companies
for their rights.

Q3. What are the impacts of the recent pandemic on the working environment
now?

Obviously, there are some positive and negative effects of the pandemic on the working
environment. The most obvious advantage is that workplaces are more connected than ever
before. People can stay at home and work remotely at their own convenience thanks to the use
of online communication. On the other hand, many manufacturing industries face profit loss
because of lacking employees as they are unable to go to work. And also, many of the
conventional industries had to reorganise or close down because of the national lockdown.

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 ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT
Lucrative/profitable salary Mức lương hậu hĩnh
In-hospital placements Thực tập tại bệnh viện
High perceived value Giá trị cảm nhận cao
Spare them a criminal sentence Giúp thoát khỏi án tử hình
Treat employees as underdogs Đối xử với nhân viên như những kẻ kém cỏi
Win-win situation Đôi bên cùng có lợi
Stand up to sue the companies for their Đứng lên khởi kiện công ty để giành quyền
rights lợi cho mình
Profit loss Tổn thất lợi nhuận
Conventional industries Ngành công nghiệp truyền thống
National lockdown Phong toả/ đóng cửa quốc gia

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 TOPIC 5: ITEMS REPAIRMENT

Q1. Is the quality of products now worse than in the past?

Frankly speaking, I advocate this idea. Due to the improvement of the production line, people
can produce thousands of products with the same appearance and quality. However, because
of the competitiveness between companies, they focus only on the quantity to maximise their
profit margin, the total number of products without following the fixed standard quality of each
genre. Furthermore, the less capital they put into their process, the more profits they earn.
Therefore, current kinds of products can’t be compared with those in the past in terms of
product lifespan and quality.

Q2. What kinds of things do people like to repair by themselves?

There are quite a few things that people like to fix by themselves. The first one is their vehicles.
Thanks to the development of video streaming websites, people can learn to fix their rides by
watching them. Moreover, many individuals like to fix their household appliances such as
cooking utensils or washing machines. Nowadays, they do not have to undergo a long training
to be a professional technician. All they need to do is to go on Google for details.

Q3. Why do people like to get their mobile phones repaired in specialised
stores?

There are two major reasons for it. Even being familiar with mobile phones, not many people
understand the details of a smartphone and its function. Therefore, when facing technological
problems, they will choose professional phone retails for the security and safety factors. Their
phones will generally be fixed with well-qualifie staff. It may be more expensive, somehow,
they get the job done. Another explanation is that this practice is time-consuming which not
too many people in modern society have time for due to being exposed to hectic daily agenda.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Production line Dây chuyền sản xuất
Maximise their profit margin Đối đa hoá biên lợi nhuận
Fixed standard quality Chất lượng tiêu chuẩn cố định
Product lifespan Tuổi thọ sản phẩm
Video streaming websites Các trang web phát video trực tuyến
Household appliances Thiết bị gia dụng
Cooking utensils Dụng cụ nấu ăn
Professional phone retails Cửa hàng chuyên bán điện thoại
Hectic daily agenda Lịch trình hằng ngày bận rộn
Professional technician Kỹ thuật viên chuyên nghiệp

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 TOPIC 6: COMPANY PUBLIC RELATION

Q1. Is it important for companies to have a good relationship with their customers?
I suppose that developing a long and trustworthy relationship with customers is one of the top
criteria in business. The first reason is that it will reduce the risk of losing customers, thus,
retaining brand loyalty. It appears to be more expensive to attract new customers than to put
emphasis on customer care for old consumers. Another reason is that utilizing connections with
clients is considered a successful marketing strategy. I believe word of mouth is an important
aspect of marketing.

Q2. What kind of services do people expect to receive from a big company?
Well, there is a range of needs that the customers expect to be satisfied. One of the most popular
requirements is conscientious post-sales services. Immediate response to customers’ queries
and complaints is one way to gain customers’ trust because it will help companies gain a
growing number of positive reviews from them. Another particular factor might be the
personalization issue. I think it is because consumers will appreciate companies understanding
their unique needs and expectations.

Q3. What kinds of jobs involve coping with the public?

Frankly speaking, it is a tough question for me, but I suppose they will be service-related jobs
such as consulting, customer care, or sales. As can be seen in our daily life, people working
in these fields need to communicate and deal with several

requirements of clients. They must understand how to maintain a good relationship with
customers and how to address the complaints as soon as possible.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Top criteria Tiêu chí hàng đầu
Retain brand loyalty Duy trì sự trung thành với thương hiệu
Word of mouth Lời truyền miệng
Conscientious post-sales services Dịch vụ hậu mãi tận tâm
Customers’ queries and complaints Thắc mắc và phàn nàn của khách
Personalization issue Vấn đề cá nhân hoá
Service-related jobs Các công việc liên quan đến dịch vụ
Maintain a good relationship Duy trì mối quan hệ tốt
Address the complaints Giải quyết khiếu nại
Put emphasis on Đặt tầm quan trọng vào

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 TOPIC 7: LANGUAGE LEARNING

Q1. What difficulties do people face when learning a language?

I suppose that there are quite a few challenges for language learners. The first issue will be the
pronunciation of the new language. People can easily be interfered with tongue position when
speaking a word with the same spelling but different pronunciation. For example, the word
“better” has different pronunciations in America and in the UK. Another problem will be
lacking interest. With a great number of lexical resources and grammar structures of the new
language, learners tend to be bored in learning and practising.

Q2. Do you think language learning is important?

Yes, I believe that language is an integral part of contemporary society. Trade and integration
require cooperation between numerous countries in the world, which is mostly based on
communication. Thus, language learning facilitates a streamlined business process and
eliminates any communication barrier in the business world. Besides, learning a new language
can provide several career opportunities for the learners, improving their living conditions. An
example is that renowned companies may offer more profitable salaries to employees who can
speak a foreign language.

Q3. What is the best age to start learning a foreign language?

From my perspective, we can learn a new language at any age. If children can acquire
a second language at an early age, they tend to have native-like accents and smooth fluency
in speaking due to more advanced imitating skill. In contrast, adults will be better learners
when they can more quickly and accurately understand and apply new language in different
contexts. Therefore, learners should find an appropriate learning method that is suitable for
them to develop language proficiency.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Be interfered with Bị can thiệp, cản trở
Lexical resources Vốn từ vựng
Facilitate a streamlined business process Tạo điều kiện thuận lợi cho quá trình kinh
doanh
Eliminate any communication barrier Loại bỏ rào cản giao tiếp
Improve one’s living conditions Cải thiện điều kiện sống
Native-like accents Giọng như người bản xứ
Advanced imitating skill Kỹ năng bắt chước cao
Apply new language in different contexts Áp dụng ngôn ngữ mới vào các ngữ cảnh
khác nhau
Develop language proficiency Phát triển sự thông thạo ngôn ngữ
Contemporary society Xã hội hiện đại

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 TOPIC 8: PURCHASING HABIT

Q1. Why are children attracted to new things (such as electronics)?

Obviously, there are a number of reasons why adolescents are interested in new items
especially technological advances. The most fundamental factor is that they seek novelty. They
are curious about those things and try to satisfy the thirst for exploring. Another reason is that
these products are appealing to them through their appearance and purposes. In particular, with
colorful styles and updated entertaining extensions, those advances attract the attention of
children, promote them to imagine and experience.

Q2. Why do some adults hate to throw away old things?

I suppose there are some possible reasons for this topic. The most popular one is that they
want to keep those things as a keepsake for some special moments. Those can be gifts from
close friends, family members or a souvenir from a meaningful trip; therefore, people find it
challenging to throw them away. Another significant factor that I can think of is that grown-
up people hate cleaning up their free space. I suppose that adults are not willing to spend time
doing household chores after exhausted working hours.

Q3. How has the way people buy things changed?

Compared with the past two-decade period, shopping in the technological era is much more
convenient. One of the most significant changes is that online shopping plays a crucial role in
human life. That is because, with a smartphone, people can save time and money when buying
online instead of spending hours going to the stores. Another noticeable transformation is the
diversity of products and services systems. In particular, people nowadays can search and
compare the quality as well as the price of the same products from different companies through
the review and rating system.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Seek novelty Tìm kiếm sự mới lạ
Satisfy the thirst for exploring Thoả mãn khát khao được khám phá
Entertaining extensions Tiện ích giải trí mở rộng
Attract the attention of children Thu hút sự chú ý của trẻ em
A keepsake Vật lưu niệm
The diversity of products and services Sự đa dạng của hệ thống sản phẩm và dịch
systems vụ
Review and rating system Hệ thống phân tích và đánh giá
Household chores Việc vặt trong nhà
Technological era Thời đại công nghệ
Compare the quality as well as the price So sánh chất lượng và giá cả

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 TOPIC 9: COUNTRYSIDE

Q1. Is there anything special about the countryside in Vietnam?

Actually, there are a few notable features that still exist in the Vietnamese countryside. One
of the most popular things is that numerous traditions and customs are passed down from
generation to generation. They keep the belief in ancestors, religion, and even supernatural
factors. Another special feature of the countryside is people there always maintain strong
relationships among members in extended families and neighbourhoods, associated with the
hospitality to visitors.

Q2. Why do people want to go to the countryside?

I guess there are certain reasons why more and more people prefer visiting and living in the
countryside. The key factor would be the countryside areas providing tranquillity and a
peaceful atmosphere, which are hard to find in urban areas which are full of crowds and
congestion. Another reason would be people tend to pursue a more private and unworried life.
Avoiding the fast-paced life of the city, they can spend more time with family and themselves
with no pressure of workload.

Q3. What do people usually do when going to a village?

Well, there is a wide range of activities to do when visiting a beautiful village. People can take
photos of the stunning views, visit the fields and cattle farms of residents. In the afternoon,
visitors can organise a barbeque party and try the local cuisines which are fresh and nutritious.
At night, enjoying the night sky with shining stars will be a memorable experience because we
hardly see it in the city at night due to the artificial lights of skyscrapers and vehicles.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Passed down from generation to generation
Supernatural factors
Extended families
Full of crowds and congestion
Pursue a more private and unworried life
The fast-paced life of the city
Try the local cuisines
Enjoying the night sky
Artificial lights of skyscrapers and vehicles
Organize a barbecue party
Truyền từ thế hệ này sang thế hệ khác
Các yếu tố siêu nhiên
Đại gia đình
Đông đúc và tắc nghẽn
Theo đuổi một cuộc sống riêng tư và bớt âu
lo
Nhịp sống nhanh của thành phố
Thử các món đặc sản địa phương
Tận hưởng bầu trời đêm
Ánh sáng nhân tạo từ các toà nhà cao tầng
và các phương tiện giao thông
Tổ chức tiệc nướng ngoài trời

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 TOPIC 10: AMBITION

Q1. What ambitions do children usually have?

Children tend to have ambitions regarding what they want to become once they become adults.
They usually have ambitions to top in class or school, bring laurels in the field of arts or sports.
Some aspire to become doctors, engineers and so on and they begin working on it from
childhood.

Q2. Why are some people very ambitious in their work?

I can think of two main reasons behind the fact that some people are really ambitious about
their work. The first one is that people feel that archiving in their career is the only way to feel
like a worthy human being. These people only think that only archiments can fulfill their
meaningful life. Whilst others might care about the outcome of their work. For example a
person can get motivation and ambition when it comes to the results that they want such as
money and fame.

Q3. Why do some people not have any ambition?

There can be many reasons behind this case. The first thing I can think of is the fear of failure.
Some people are too afraid to take the risk to get what they want for their ambition since they
think they might lose time and money for their ambition without achieving anything. However,
there are certain people who just want a normal life since they don’t want to put themselves
in a hard position to get what they want. Moreover, they find their life good enough to live
and they’re happy with what they have.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Top in class or school Đứng đầu trong lớp/trường
Bring laurels in the field of arts or sports Mang về vòng nguyệt quế trong lĩnh vực
nghệ thuật hoặc thể thao
Archiving in their career Đạt được thành công trong công việc
Fulfill their meaningful life Làm cho cuộc sống có ý nghĩa
Fear of failure Nỗi sợ thất bại
Put themselves in a hard position Đặt họ vào tình thế khó khăn
Take the risk Mạo hiểm
Ambitious about Tham vọng
Set a good example for their children Làm gương cho con cái
Give up on something Từ bỏ cái gì

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 TOPIC 11: ATHLETES

Q1. What characteristics do you think an athlete should have?

I suppose discipline and perseverance are the most crucial attributes that every athlete should
have. Maintaining a sense of discipline in exercise and daily diets can assist sportspeople to
achieve regular stamina and endurance. Besides, becoming an athlete and following this career
is not easy; therefore, you must be perseverant and patient to address difficulties in training
and challenging, which is the toughest requirement in sports.

Q2. Why are there so few top athletes?

I guess there are certain reasons why there are not many high-quality athletes. One matter is
that this career path is full of obstacles and failures. If they can’t meet the requirements of
physical health associated with patience, they won’t have the motivation to pursue their
dreams. Another reason is that the athlete can be considerably influenced by facing
competitive and constant pressure from the training course and sports fans. In other words,
when failures happen, they confront the criticism of the coach, the fans, and even their
teammates.

Q3. What's the best way to become a top athlete?

I suppose there are a wide range of factors that aid people to become excellent athletes. To
maintain a consistent balance between physical and mental state, patience and strenuously
training are the most important factors while focusing on mentality and tactics in competition
can assist them to achieve victory. Talent and luck might not be mandatory but it sometimes
plays a vital role during the training period and throughout the tournaments.

ENGLISH TIẾNG VIỆT

Discipline and perseverance
Achieve regular stamina and
endurance
Full of obstacles and failures
Meet the requirements of physical health
Pursue their dreams
Facing competitive and constant pressure
Maintain a consistent balance between
physical and mental state
Tactics in competition
Kỹ luật và kiên nhẫn
Đạt được sự rắn rỏi và khả năng chịu đựng
Đầy rẫy trở ngại và thất bại
Đáp ứng các yêu cầu về sức khoẻ thể chất
Theo đuổi ước mơ
Đối mặt với áp lực cạnh tranh liên tục
Hứng chịu sự chỉ trích
Duy trì sự cân bằng nhất quán giữa trạng thái
thể chất và tinh thần
Chiến thuật trong trận đấu

Achieve victory Đạt được chiến thắng

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