IELTS SPEAKING

I.PART 1

1.Home/Accomodation

1.1.Where do you live?

Currently, i am living in HN, which is the capital city of VN..It’s a metropolis with
millions citizens and well-developed facilities.

1.2.What kind of housing/accomodation do you live in?

I live in a quite small apartment on the 14th floor in 20-storey apartment building
in the center of HN. It is quite convenient for shopping and getting to school. It’s
good place to live.

1.3.Who do you live with?

I live with my parents and my siblings. We always get on well with each other and
have a lot of fun

1.4.How long have you lived there?

I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated from high school and moved
to another city to enroll at university, where i lived in a student dormitory during
the semester

1.5.What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have
lived in the past?

Living in a dorm with other roomates is totally different from living in my own
house. My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there
are a lot of people there and i don’t have my own space. Conversely, when i was
living at home, i had my own spacious room and it made me feel comfortable.

1.6.Do you plan to live there for a long time?

To be honest, i intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after i graduate from

university. I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities i want

1.7.Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
It’s definitely the kitchen. Not only lunch or dinner time but all our family reunions
take place in the kitchen where all family members get together to eat tasty meals,
and chat to each other-it’s a really harmonious atmosphere

1,8. Are the transport facilities to your home very good? /Is transportation
convenient in your hometown?

To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern. The
bus service from my university to home is irregular and usually overcrowded.

1.9. Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?

I prefer living in a house to a flat because i value my privacy and need my own
space. Owning an independent house, i can plan and design a house layout to suit
myself. Moreover, i can modify a house according to the size of the family.

1.10. Please describe the room you live in?

My current room is actually more like a bedshit. It is a multi-purpose room, i use it

to sleep and study as well. It is painted in pink, that’s my favorite color with a bed,
a cupboard and desk. It’s not really spacious but it’s just right for me.

1.11.What part of your home do you like the most?

I prefer my bedroom most due to its convenience and privacy. Because of my

stressful studying i want to be in a quiet place and concentrate on my studying. In
my own room, i’m never disturbed by anyone else. Moreover , in my own space i
can do whatever i want without bothering others.

1.12. Describe your apartment?

Well, i live in apartment. Our apartment is quite spacious with 2 bright bedrooms,
1 cosy living room with a dining area , a modern kitchen where my momy always
prepare tasty meals for family, 2 bathrooms and a small balcony. We don’t have a
garden because it’s too expensive to have a garden in the center of my town.

1.13. What’s the view from your window.

My room is quite tiny but it has a big window. We live on th 14 th floor, so from my
room i can overlook directly theWest lake. I can see the sunset in the evening and
in the morning i can always see people go jogging around the lake.

1.14. What’s your hometown famous for?

I live in HN, the capital of VN. It’s famous for friendly people and historical places
such as: The Temple Literature and Thang Long Citadel. It’s also very well for
wonderful food. Of course I’ve been living here since childhood. It’s a lovelyplace
not only for me but also for other people.

1.15.What do you like about your hometown?Do you like it?

I love living in HN. It’s got such a rich culture and there’s always something
interesting going on.

1.16. Do you want to live on the countryside?

To be honest, life in countryside is nice, but sometimes I find it a bit boring.

There’s not much nightlife and sometimes it feels a bit out off from the wider
world

1.17. How does your hometown change in recent years?/Are there any changes in
your hometown in recent years?

HN city has changed a lot in the last twenty years. It’s much more international
and much more expensive than it used to be. However, the soul of the city is still
there

1.19. Is it a good place for children?/Why do young people like to go to big cities?

Yes, of course. You know, HN has many modern amusement parks such as: movie
theatre, parks,zoo, shopping malls and it’s also a place where a vast array of
universities gather in. Therefore, it’s an ideal city for children to entertain and
study

1.20.Will you work in your hometown in the future?

Of course, you know, there are many foreign and domestic companies in HN,
especially they are often attractive for employees with high salary, so i think i will
have more opportunities to find a well-paid job

1.21.Will you find a boyfriend/ girlfriend in your hometown?

Yes, of course. I think it’s quite great if i will have a boyfriend in my hometown.
Because not only are people there beautiful but they are also faithful. Therefore i
feel more safe when i have a boyfriend living in the same hometown with me

1.22. What problems do big cities have besides bad traffic?

Nowadays, one of problems besides bad traffic that big cities have to cope with is
air pollution. The reason for this could be that trees have been cut down to make
way for roads,overpasses and buildings while vehicle emission contantly goes up.
Therefore, air pollution is a serious issue that requires government and individuals
handle immidiately to minimize its influences on human’s life

1.23. What do people take with them when they go out in big cities besides
umbrella?

Medical masks reason

1.24.What kind of customs do you have in your hometown

- lucky money for kids in Lunar Year

-wearing Ao Dai on first day of the year

- Make “ banh chung”

1.18. Tell me about your hometown?

So i come from HN which is the capital of VN. And, you know , it’s a beautiful
city. And peopla are really friendly. And the food is really good. (Band 7.0+)

Where’s your hometown?

Well i could start off by saying that i’m residing in HN which is the capital of VN,
located in the Red River Delta. If i have one thing to describe about HN, i would
like to say that the locals are very sweet as they often show expats and offer some
help when they have difficulty. ( Band 8.0+)

1.19. What would you like to change about your hometown? ( Use fillers)

As much as i like living here in HN , i have to say that it’s becoming really and
really polluted. Right now it’s actually the second most polluted city in the whole
world, just after Beijing I believe. So i would love to be able to improve the
environment in HN . And one off the effective ways to do that would be to improce
the use of public transportation. (Band 7.0+)

Well i have never actually thought about it, but if i have the authority to make a
change to my city, I may contemplate altering it a bit. One of the possible actions
that i would do is to plant more trees. The reason for this could be that trees have
been cut down to make way for roads,overpasses and buildings and i don’t think
that it does any good to the environment . Another solution would be to move
factories away from the residential area (Band 8.0+)

2.Study.

Senior (n): sinh viên năm cuối

Admission is… competitive: đầu vào rất khó/ cạnh tranh

I major in (v):tôi học ngành gì

Day in, day out (idiom): ngày qua ngày

Overwhelming: quá sức

Have a knack for (idiom):có năng khiếu

A piece of cake (n): dễ như ăn bánh

Breeze through sth (idiom): vượt qua cái gì dễ dàng

English- speaking classrooms (n): lớp học nói tiếng Anh

Top-notch (idiom): tuyệt vời, đỉnh

2.1.Describe your education?

I started school when i was 7. I finished my primary education 5 years later and i
went to secondary school at 12. Then at 16, i made it to a high school for gifted
pupils in my hometown. In my country, highschool education lasts 3 years, then i
went onto higher education at the University of Languages and International
Studies where i’m currently studying Japanese.

2.2. What is your area of specialization?

Well,i am majoring interpreter, specializing in Japanese.I find it difficult to study

this language, especially for Kanji, but it’s really interesting .

2.3. Why do you choose to study that major?

I believe interpreter is a big trend and that is an increasing number of people

devote themselves into this area .

2.4. Do you like your major?

I enjoy my major and my university. I’ve always been interested in becoming a

Japanese interpreter. It’s a lot of hard work to graduate successfully but it will
bring me a well-paid job in the future.

2.5. What kind of school did you go to as a child?

As a child , i attended a public elementary school. It’s quite a big school in my

hometown which provides both high quality education and a supportive
environment, so i think i was quite lucky.

2.6. What was your favourite subject as a child?

Well, i used to be very passionate about drawing when i was a little girl. It was
fun to work wit brushes and colors, you know, as it was the time when i could
indulge in my own creative world.

2.7.Do you think your country has an effective education system?

To be honest, i don’t think so. Our system has somehow become unduly stressful,
does not promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our
society still cares way too much about grades and schools consequently focuses on
an exam-driven curriculumn , which i find quite impractical.
2.8. Are you looking forward to working?

Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce,especially when i can do the job i love
. Not only will pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a
contribution. It’s hard to be happy and fulfilled without working , you know

2.9. What is the best thing about your studying?/What do you like most about your
study

Well, what i love most about my studying is that i have chance to work with
different interesting people, creat new ideals and show off my individuality.

2.10. What work are you planning to do after you finish your studies.

Uhm, apparently i am a sophomore and i haven’t decide exactly what i will do in

the future but i really want to follow in my father’s footstep and work as an
interpreter

2.11. Do you study better in the morning or in the evening?

I do love study in the mornings when i have the best attention to teacher’s lesson
and full of energy to acquire knowlegde.

2.12. Are you student or are you working?/ Do you work or study?

I’m currently a sophomore at ULIS, which is one of the top schools in the nation.
Admission is incredibly competitive so I’m very proud of being a student here

2.13. Is important to have breaks during study?

Cần có thời gian nghỉ ngơi để refresh lại tinh thần và sức khỏe để có thể làm vieẹc
hiệu quả nếu không thì nó sẽ để lại nhiều hậu quả xấu như: bị stress, giảm thị lực,
ảnh hưởng đến sức khỏe… do đó tôi nghĩ 15’ để relax là rất cần thiết

3. Work:

(Quay về nói study)

Are you working or are you a student?

So i’m currently working as a teacher, specifically an English teacher.And i
actually find it funny because it has nothing to do with my major in college which
is economics (Band 7.0+)

Well currently i’m parttiming as an English teacher at a local tutoring school. And
i’ve been doing so for about 5 years now (Band 8.0+)

What do you like about your job?

I’m actually really glad that i picked this job because i feel like i can really help
people . Eventhough there’s a lot of work to do, i just feel really happy to see my
students grow everyday (Band 7.0+)

So one of the most rewarding aspects about my job is that i’d get to meet people
from all walks of life . And you know they all bring very different , very unique
dynamic to the classroom. (Band 8.0+)

What do you do after work? (1. Fluency +2. Idioms + 3. Uncommon use +4.
Indirect)

So after work, i usually go home and have dinner with my family . And after that i
might just go grab a drink with my friends.Or just stay home and catch up on my
favorite shows on Netflix (Band 7.0+)

So after i get off, i usually hit the bar with a couple of my friends, or even my
students . We would , like, grab a couple of drinks or maybe a bite to eat if we’re
feeling up to it. And it’s always a blast whenever i hang out with them .And it’s a
great way to unwind and chill (Band 8.0+)

4. Advertisement

4.1. Are there many advertisements in your country?

Yes, as a matter of fact , there are . We can see all forms of advertisements
everywhere : from billboards at airports to frequent commercial breaks on TV.
Even in elevator , there are advertising screen which work 24/7.

4.2. Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?

I guess it’s due to their benefits. As far as i’m concerned , commercials can
increase the purchase of products. Everyone wants to sell their products , as many
as possible. Thanks to advertisements, the visibility of a company’s brand can be
raised and its products are sold well.

4.3. What are the various places where we see advertisement.

I’ve to say that advertisement billboards can be seen almost everywhere : at the
airport, in the cities, along the roads, on the walls. You can turn on your TV and
you see commercials . You can open a magazine and you can see ads.

4.4.How do you feel about advertisements?

Quite neutral, actually. I don’t mind seeing some ads now and then. But if a
movie is chopped into hundreds of short pieces with many commercials in
between , i’ll find it irritating.

4.5. What kinds of advetisement do you like the most?

Actually, i’m not a fan of advertisements so in general i don’t like any ads.

4.6. What do you think are the purpose of advertisement?

Lợi: update những sản phẩm mới hiện đại hơn đến người tiêu dùng

Hại: lôi kéo m.n, thuyết phục mua những sản phẩm khiến họ vui hơn nhưng thực
sự k cần thiết

5.Birthday

5.1. How do children celebrate birthdays in your country?

Some families like to celebrate their children’s birthday big. Some like to celebrate
small within family members . However, in any cases, the parents always buy a
nice birthday cake for their children . The children blow the candles on the cake
and everyone sings the happy birthday song.

Well, most people like to throw a birthday party at a posh restaurant, and
usually there’s a lot of eating and drinking. At the same time, there are also those
who prefer to celebrate their birthday at homw with their loved ones. I guess
there’s a real sense of intimacy in doing so.
5.2. How did you celebrate your last birthday?

My last birthday was celebrated very small, just among 4 friends of mine . We
had dinner in a restaurant . There was no birthday cake, but we stayed late to
have desserts and to chat with each other about our future. I really love it

Well, last year on my birthday I had a few friends over at my house andhave a
nice dinner. Then we decided to hit the club and dance all night long. We drank a
lot of booze and I remembered waking up to a splitting headache the next day. It
was a blast, though

5.3.What kind of birthday gifts do you like to receive?

I’m really interested in handmade gifts because they represent not only the
creativeness but also the passion of the senders. Therefore, I always appreciate
them and try to keep them as long as i can

5,4, Is there a difference between the way you celebrate your birthday in the past
and in the present,

Well, i guess there is a huge difference . When i was a litlle child , i never had
birthday cakes because they were still very luxurious. Nowdays,i can’t imagine a
birthday withour a cake. We used to celebrate my birthdays at home before. But
recently, we prefer to go out to celebrate in restaurants

5.5..Which is the most important birthday in your culture?

This is a tough question. Actually, I’ve never thought of it before. I suppose it’s
the 15th birthday, when you are considered to be a grown-up. Or it might be the
18th birthday, when you finish high school and your life will take an incredible
turn from a child to an adult . Or it might be the 50 th birthday because it marks
half a century of your life. I really don’t know . I guess there is no one correct
answer to this question.

Are people’s birthdays very important in your country?

I guess for the vast majority of Vnese, birthdays are kind of a big deal. They
usually throw lavish parties to celebrate and there’s usually a lot of anticipation
before big day. For example, people expect to get things that are on their wish list
and if they do not it’ll be a real letdown.

Are birthdays more important for children or for adults?

I think birthdays mean the world to small kids. They tend to expect a lot of
presents and at least some kind of celebration. By contrast, a lot of adults are
probably too busy with their work to even think about their birthday

The vast majority of something:đại đa số

A big deal: một chuyện lớn

Anticipation:sự háo hức, hóng

Big day: ngày quan trọng

Wish list: list nhwngx món quà mình hi vọng nhận được ( thường vào những
dịp như Christmas, sinh nhật, v.v)

Let down (n): sự thất vọng

Throw a party(v): tổ chức tiệc

A posh restaurant (n): nhà hàng sang chảnh

Loved ones (n): người thân

A sense of intimacy: một cảm giác ám cúng, thân mật

Have friends over: mời bạn qua nhà

Hit the club:đi quẩy

Booze : rượu bia

A splitting headache:đau đầu như búa bổ

It is a blast:rất là vui

Mean the world to somebody: có ý nghĩa lớn lao với ai đó

6. Family
6.1.How often do you meet with your family?

It’s normally once a month. At present I’m studying in another city, which is quite
far from my hometown, so I can only set aside time for my family at the end of the
month, because of the distance and heavy workload, you know

6.2. How do you spend time with your family?

We often spend quality time together on eating scrumptious meals prepared by

my mother, talking with each other while enjoying our favorite deliciuos foods .
It’s a precious time when wecan momentarily get away from the hectic whirlwind
of daily activities

6.3.Do you want to live with your family in the future?

I’d prefer we live in the same city, so that we could take good care of each oher,
while making sure our family’s bond is secure and will not suffer from potential
discrepancies in our individual lifestyles or the generation gap

6.4. What activities do your family like doing together?

My family often gather around the table enjoying a cozy meal together,
communication and sometimes busting into laughter because of my father’s
humorous stories. We’re also particularly into family game nights, when we
huddle together to play cards or other family favorites

6.5. Are you close to your family members?

Most of them. Actually i’m a little bit more distanct with my brother as compared
to other members. We have personality conflicts, and different viewpoints so we
often have arguments over even the smallest thing.

6.6. How has your family influenced you?

My family has definitely shaped who i am now. They have imprinted on me

proper principles like respect,moral values and good manners. I have also inherited
humbleness from my mother, and determination and patience from my father.

6.7.Do you want to be married or to be single in the future?

Yes, i do want to get married. We all ultimately find out true love in life, you
know, and marriage is the ultimate commitment that we can make to our soulmate.
Moreover, I want to build a loving and supporting home for my children like my
parents have done for us.

7. Newspapers and magazines

7.1. Do you often read newspapers?

Of course, reading newspapers is my cup of tea. I read the newspapers everyday to

keep up to date with the lastet news and see what the hottest topic of the day is.
I’ve been in the habit of doing this for a long time.

7.2. Do you prefer to read local news or international news?

Well, i suppose that i have an inclination towards international news, especially

news about relationships among countries around the world . This is probably
because i’m quite fond of diplomatic issues and want to keep track of what’s
happening outside my country.

7.3. Which is more popular where you live , newspapers or magazines?

Well, I think that people read newspapers more often than magazines, normally
because newspapers provide information that is relatively easy to understand for
almost everyone. On the other hand, magazines contain longer articles and
specifically focus on a particular topic which may be quite difficult or unfamiliar
to some readers.

7.4.Do many people today read newspaper?

I guess… yes maybe. Because every morning when i go to my university, i can see
many people reading the daily newspapers at pavement cafes. However, i think
nowadays people are tending to gradually change their habits and accessing the
latest news online.

7.5. In the future, do you think more people than today will read magazines, or
fewer people?

I’m not really sure about this, but i suppose that there will be fewer people reading
magazines in the future. It’s probably because nowadays there are various sources
of information , so people can search if they want to find knowledge of any field,
especially on the Internet… it’s easier and cheaper. Maybe in the future perhaps
specialist will be the only ones who read the magazines which relate to their own
particular fields.

7.6. Do you think newspaper will be very important to you in the future?

Well, honestly, i haven’t ever thought about that before, but i love my routine of
reading newspapers while drinking coffee every morning, it’s completely
relaxing .. so i’ll try to keep reading newspapers as a regular habit as long as
possible.

8.Transportation

1. Daily commute

2. Mass transit

3. Go country-hopping

4. Breath- taking sceneries

5. Go off the beaten path

So for daily commute, i’d ove to take mass transit. You know, because it is efficient
and cheap.However, when i go travelling , especially , if i go country-hopping,
busses are kind of unralistic. So instead, planes are my go-to for international
travel. I love travelling because i can see the breath-taking sceneries of many
different countries. When I’m in a city, I’d like to go off the beaten path to discover
the places and things that only the locals would know about.

10.1. What’s the most popular means of transportation in your hometown ?

The most common vehicle in my hometown is the motorbike. As I’ve read in a

current newspaper most Vnese adults have their own motorbikes . Moreover, I can
easily catch sight of motorbikes whenever I go outside.

10.2. How often do you take buses?

Yes, I uses the bus everyday. It’s very convenient to get around in HN by bus,
because the bus network has developed greatly in the last 5 years.
10.3. Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?

Obviously, airplanes and trains have their own particular benefits for passengers.
Regarding planes, they have been the fastest means of passenger transport invented
so far. They enable people to travel all around the world in the shortest possible
time.

The biggest advantage of train is their impressive safety record. Accidents are rare
, and so people can feel relaxed and just sit back and admire the views from their
comfortable seats.

10.4.Is driving to work popular in your country?

Yes, I’m pretty sure that private cars and motorbikes are the two most popular
vehicles in my country. Therefore, it is obvious that there are a large number of
people who tend to drive to work.

10.5. Do you think people will drive more in the future?

Yes, i think so. There will be more drivers on the roads in the future due to the
convinience of motoring and the affordable prices of cars.

10.6. Would you ride bikes to work in the future?

Yes, As i’m a young person, i like to do energetic activities to help me get lean, so
i will give priority to a job that is within cycling distance of my home.

10.7 What will become the most popular means of transportation in VN?

Personally, I think the prevalence of motorbike will continue to dominate in VN

due to the advantages, namely they are great for getting around quickly, they are
easy to park and economical to run.

10.8. Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?

Although owining private vehicle has various advantages, I prefer using public
transportation in order to economize as well as to help protect the environment.

10.9. How did you get here today?

I got here by motorbike. My house is not very far from here, just about 5 kms.
There was no traffic, so it took me just 15 minutes

10.10. Do you use public transportation? / What kinds of public transportation do

you ussually use?

Yes, I use the bus everyday. It’s very convenient to get around in HN by bus,
because the bus network has deverloped greatly in the last 5 years. Sometimes, I
travel by train to provinces far from HN , which is not only affordable, but also
very safe

10.11. What is the traffic conditon in your country?/ What do you think about
public transportation in your city?

Well, I think it has made great progress in the last 5 year. Our bus network has a
great coverage in the city now. It’s easier and more convenient to get from A to B
by bas than ever before

11.Shoes

11.1.Do you like shoes

To be honest, i’m really addicted to shoes, I started building up my huge

collection of shoes when i was 8 years old. Now, whenener i have spare time, i
often go shopping for shoes and spend a whole lot more money than i should on
them

To be honest, i’m not much of a shoe enthusiast. Some of my friends are crazy
about shoes, though. They love to read about footwear from books blogs, etc.

2. Which do you prefer, comfortable ones or fashionable ones?

My choice is always comfortable shoes, as they make me feel cozy. Thus, i can
totally focus on the things. I’m supposed to do fashionable ones are beautiful to
look at, but sometimes they hurt my feet and legs
I definitely value comfort over looks. I mean, I do a lot of walking, and wearing
shoes that are too snug, for example, would blister my feet. So I often wear reallu
comfy shoes like sneakers for example

3. Are people willing to buy expensive shoes?

Of course, some wealthy people can pay a lot of money to purchase shoes, which
cost them an arm and a leg. The reason behind this is that they want to look
trendy and show off their status

I think so, yeah. Some people are really loaded and willing to splurge on nice
shoes. But at the same time, there are those who are quite frugal like myself who
would typically ( i often) shy away from the big brands because of their
stratospheric prices

4.Do you have a lot of shoes?

As i last checked my shoe cabinet last week, i had 30 pairs of shoes . That’s a lot,
isn’t it? But i love shoes, from casual walking sandals to exotic flip-flops, to
elegant high-heeled shoes

5.What kind of shoes do you wear? / Do you have a favorite pair of shoes?

I guess it depends on the situations. If i go to school, i’d like to wear my walking

sandals. In the summer, when the weather’s hot, my choice is casual flip-flops.
For elegant events, like weddings, i would definitely use my high-heeled shoes.

6. Which pair of shose do you like the most? And why?

Among my 30 pairs of shoes, i still love my black and white flip-flops the most.
They are so quick and convenient to wear. If you want to go out , you don’t have to
waste more than 20 seconds to put on your casual flip-flops.

7.How often do you buy shoes?Where do you shop for shoes? Do you ever buy
shoes online?

I’m a shoe lover, so i usually go shoe-shopping , about once a month. My favorite

places are Made in VN shops, since they offer a big show selection with reasonable
price. I’m not fond of online shoppong , because many times what you get doesn’t
look like what you see in pictures.
From time to time, yes. But i always try to go to a brick-and-mortar store and
try on the shoes in person. I mean, my feet are pretty weird, so i might wear
different sizes for different brands

8.Do you think the type of shoes someone wears reflects their character?

Yes, i do.I believe that how you dress yourself shows who you are as a person.If a
person shows up with worn out shoes, you will get an impression that this person
might be a careless one who doesn’t bother how he looks. Alternatively, if a
person shows up wearing an elegant pair of shoes , which look like they cost a
fortune, you might think that he or she can spend a lot of money on their look. So
shoes and other accessories can tell a lot about some’s character.

9. Do people usually wear different types of shoes in difficult seasons in your

country?

Yes, they do. For northern people, boots and warm shoes are must-have for cold
winter and chilly spring, while flip-flops and walking sandals are common during
hot days of summer and stuffy days of autumn. For southern people,walking
sandals ,flip-flops, and jelly beans are common all year round. However, in the
rainy season, a popular choice is rubber boots, which keep their feet dry.

shoe enthusiast (n): người đam mê giày

loaded(adj) :lắm tiền

splurge on (v): vung tiền vào cái gì

frugal (adj): tiết kiệm, chắt bóp

shy away from (v): tránh cái gì đó

stratospheric prices (n) : giá trên trời

snug (adj): bó sát, chật

blister (v) :sưng/ làm bị sưng

comfy (adj) =comfortable

a brick-and mortar store: cửa hàng ngoài đời ( đối lập với cửa hàng online)
12.Sport

VOCABULARY

1.Spectator sport

Football is certainly one of the most popular spectator sports not only in VN but
all around the world

2.Root for (~cheer)

My favourite team is Manchester United. Whenever they play, I always go to watch

them and root for them

3. Get lean

4. Have a crack at = try

I don’t play sports but i’d love to have a crack at swimming

5. Physically demanding : môn thể thao nặng

I think boxing is a fantastic spectator sport. Everybody’s got a favourite fighter

that they root for . Personally, I root for Mayweather . I think boxing is a fantastic
way to get lean. In the future, I’d love to have a crack at it. Eventhough i know
activities like hitting the sandbag isincredibly physically demanding, it looks like a
lot of fun.

1. Do you like playing sports?

Well, I think i’m a big fan of sports although I’m not good at it. But my favourite
one is swimming. You know i can often meet new people and make friends when i
do sports. And as i think that, you know, practising a sport regularly does wonders
for my health. It keeps me in shape, it helps to relieve my back and neck pains, and
last but not least it refreshes my mind after a long day at work

Well, I’d consider myself a pretty athletic person, so naturally i have an affinity
for all sporting activities. My favourite is football. Not only is it fun to play, it’s
also loads of fun to watch
2. What sports are popular in your country?

Well I guess in VN right now, it’s football.I think football is considered the king of
sports. It’s very easy to play. All you need is just a ball, a few friends and two
goals which you can always make or create by marking on the ground with, you
know, pieces of clothing or bags, for example. And i think it’s a competitive sport,
it can be very enjoyable to watch and play.

I guess football is kind of a big deal in VN. I mean, it’s the most popular spectator
sport. When it is football season, like August, for example, when the Premier
League takes place, football fanatics usually go to watch the matches at a café and
root for their favourite team

3. Do you think it is important to play a sport?

Of course, it’s essential for everybody to take up a sport because, you know, as
i’ve mentioned before playing sports bring great benefits to your health. It helps to
lower the risks of modern diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart
attack.Anyway, at the end of the day, your body is the only place you’ve got to
live, right? So i think you’d better take a good care of it.

Absolutely. I think playing sports is a fantastic way to get lean, because it involves
a lot of physicak activities. Nowadays, most people lead a sedentary lifestyle and
tend to shy away from the gym. For these people, i believe sports would be an
energizing way to get some exercise

I believe that doing exercises is really important nowadays. Ans actually i’ve been
working out for a few years now. And ever since I moved back to VN I’ve been a
member of a local gym which is really near my house. And you know when i work
out, i feel good and i look good (Band 7.0+)

You know, actually, i think doing physical activites on a regular basis plays a
crucial role in our life, you know,and the benefits are manifold. One of them
would be to increase your metabolism (tăng quá trình trao đổi chất) by burning
calories. And another, would be to mitigate the risk of contracting diseases such
as obesity, diabetes and maybe cardiovascular diseases (Band 8.0+)
4. What sport would you like to try in the future?

Well, there’re so many sports that i would like to have a crack at but if i’ve got to
choose one,that would be climbing. You know i’ve always dreamt of climbing
Mout Fuji, which is the highest peak in Japan. I can’t imagine myself reaching the
summit and getting to admire the breath-taking view of the scenery below.That
would be absolutely amazing and I’ll be on top the world.

Hmm, i would love to have a crack at skydiving in the future. Freefalling from
enormous altitudes looks like a lot of fun, as much as i’m scared of heights. A
while back, I almost gave bungee jump a go, but in the end I kind of chickened out

5.What sports do you like? (why?)

Naturally i have an affinity for all sporting activities. My favourite is football. Not
only is it fun to play, it’s also loads of fun to watch.

6.Are boys and girls good at the same sports?

Well, in all fairness, i would probably say no. Generally, there’s no doubt that boys
tend to perform better at strenuous (đòi hỏi sự ráng sức, căng thẳng) and
activities sports which require greater strength and stamina (khả năng chịu đứng),
such as football, boxing or basketball. Whereas in contrast, girls seem to be past
masters (rất giỏi trong việc nào đấy) at more relaxing and gentle activities, like
yoga or ballet.

7. What sports do children prefer?

In my estimation, i guess that kids are particularly keen on engaging in group

activities like soccer or basketball. I suppose the expanation for this is that these
games can be played in a team of ten to twelve people, not only giving children an
opportunity to make friends but also bringing them great pleasure (mang lại
niềm vui cho ai đó).

8. Do you like to do daily exercise?

Well, to be quite honest, I’m pretty enthusiastic about working out. This is because
regular exercise not only prevents me from being obese like those sitting glued to
the screens (ngồi dán mắt vào màn hình) but also allows me to discipline (rèn
luyện, đi vào kỉ luật) myself as i have to follow a fitness plan, In addition, keeping
myself physically activities is probably the most way to get lean and help me lead a
healthy life.

9. What are the advantages of doing regular exercise?

Obviously there are a number of positive features. You know, doing regular
exercise not only prevents people from being obese like those sitting glued to the
screens but also allows them to discipline themself as they have to follow a fitness
plan, In addition, keeping themself physically activities is probably the most way
to get lean and help them lead a healthy life.

10. Where do people in VN usually exercise?

Well, I suppose I would have to say that it kind of depends really. It goes without
saying that Vnese young people are in favor of going to the gym and having their
personal trainers to motivate them to reach their fitness goals (có được thân hình
khỏe mạnh như mục tiêu đề ra). Whereas on the contrary ,the elderly are more
given to (có khuynh hướng làm gì, nghiêng về cái gì )going for a walk or joining a
dance club in the park

VOCAB

A big fan of

I’m a big fan of football

Do wonders for : có ích cho

Learning languages does wonders for your brain

Relieve…pain : giảm đau

Massage is a wonderful way to relieve muscle pain

Take up a sport/hobby : chơi một bộ môn mới

If i had a chance, i would love to take up photography

At the end of the day: sau tất cả

At the end of the day, family is what matters

Have a crack at: thử cái gì

In the future, i’d love to have a crack at learning a new language

Have an affinity for (v): thích cái gì đó

A big deal: cái quan trọng

Fanatic: fan cuồng

Lead a sendentay lifestyle: sống một lối sống thụ động

Shy away from(v) : tránh cái gì đó

Energizing(adj): tràn trề năng lượng

Have a crack: thử cái gì đó

Freefall: rơi tự do

Give something a go (v): thử cái gì đó

Chicken out (v): nhát quá không làm gì đó

13.Birds

1.Flying creature=birds

VD: I’m a science –nature geek so I’m very interested in flying creatures in
general

2. Habitat(n) / Inhabit (v)

VD: Birds’ habitat is forest

Birds inhabit jungles and forests.

3. Game birds ( pheasants ) : chim để săn bắn

VD: I consider “game birds” is true delicacy

4. Exotic: quý hiếm

VD: I have not seen a lot of birds especially the exotic kinds

5. Breed/ species

I have only seen the popular breeds of birds but i have never seen any exotic
species

 Take a keen interest in something (v): đam mê cái gì đó (thay cho be

interested in)
 Come in all shapes and sizes: loài (đv)
 Bird watching: ngắm chim
 A rare sight: một thứ ít thấy
 The great outdoors: nơi xa xôi cách xa thành phố
 Exotic: quý hiếm
 Game birds: chim để đi săn
 A delicacy: đặc sản

1. How do you feel about birds?

I have to say I’m a bird-lover.It’s primarily (chủ yếu) because birds are absolutely
beautiful creatures with sweet songs. Watching them fly can evoke a feeling of
(gợi lên cảm xúc) freedom for me

2. Do you like birds?

Well , I take a very keen interest in nature , so i love to learn about different
species of plan , animals and yes, birds. They are truly fascinating creatures and
they come in all shapes and sizes. Bird watching is one of my favorite things to
do

3. How do Vnese people feel about birds?

Well, for the most part, Vnese people are not that into birds. I mean, we like to eat
them, especially game birds like pheasanrs. People in remote areas often hunt for
birds in the wild and roast them over an open fire. They are considered a delicacy
where i come from

4. Have you seen many kinds of birds?

Wel, living in the city, birds are a rare sight. Most of the stuff about birds that I’ve
seen in on documentaries of the great outdoors . I mean, i’ve seen some common
breeds in real life like pigeon and such, but nothing too exotic

5. Are there may birds near your home?

No, Birds are now a rare sight in my heighborhood or elsewhere in HN center. I

guess because there’re too many skyscrapers (nhà chọc trời) and the environment
is heavily polluted. You’re more likely to find them in zoos, national parks,
unpolluted cities or in the countryside

14.ROBOTS

 Robotics engineering (n): công nghệ robots

 Subscribe to something (v): đăng ký một dịch vị nào đó
 Journal (n): báo chuyên ngành
 Perform a surgery (v): làm phẫu thuật
 A real hassle (idiom): một việc phiền phức
 A life-saver (idiom): một đồ vật rất hữu ích, làm cho cs đơn giản hơn
 Self-driving cars (n): xe tự lái
 Navigate(v):định vị
 Take the wheel (v):cầm lái
 Drive manually (v): tự lái
 Marginalize (v) :làm cho kém quan trọng hơn
 Labor-intensive tasks (n):công việc tốn sức
 The delicate touch of a human hand (n): sự cẩn thận cảu bàn tay con
người
 Hand-made >< machine-made (adj):làm bằng tay >< làm bằng máy
 Precision: sự chính xác
 Ease : sự nhàn dỗi

1. Are you interested in robots? Why?

No, I’m not keen on robots because I’m kind of a low-tech person. Also, a robot is
a luxury technological product that i have never been able to afford, so i don’t feel
like i want to know much about them

2. Would you like robots to work in your home

If i had a lot of money, i’d like to have a robot in my home. I’m quite lazy, so
household chores like cleaning or cooking are a real hassle. I would prefer to have
those a robot. Actually, we have a robotic vacuum cleaner at our house. It’s truly
a life-saver.

If i had a lot of money, i ‘d like to have a robot in my home in order to help me

clean the floors. We have a three-storey house, so cleaning is always a big chore

3. Would you want to take a car where a robot is the driver?

No i wouldn’t want a robot to drive my car. It would be too dangerous and risky
for me to take a drive with a robot. Because a robot is programmed by humans, i
don’t think it can handle road in incidents quickly and efficiently enough to ensure
safety.

4. Will robots replace human beings in the workplace completely?

Well, i have to admit that robots of humans at work as they are incapable of feeling
emotions and thinking deeply like humans. For example, in a conference, people
have to discuss problems in great detail before givng solutions and making
decisions but robots lacjk the capacity to respond to all questions instantly and
effectively

15.NAME

1.Does your name have any particular meaning?

Let me see…Well i think it doesn’t have any special meaning? However I have the
same name with a reputed singer – Do My Linh , so i guess my parents gave me
this name and wanted me to become an intelligent and successful girl like her.

2. What’s the original of your name?

 Honestly, i don’t really know. Maybe , my father was a fan of Do My Linh and
she was very famous at that time. So He decided to give me this name

3. Do you like your name?

At first no, because my friends often made fun of my name, like with some puns.
(chơi chữ) But then I gradually learnt to accept it , and now i can’t imagine having
a different name from this one.

4. What do your friends call you?

My friends back in secondary and high school tended to call me “Linh Truong”
because of 2 reasons. Firstly, I was a monitor . Secondly “ Linh Truong” was name
of an animal in Vnese . However, university friends don’t really give me any
nicknames, they just call me “Linh”

5. Did your family have a certain (nick) name that they called you when you
were a child?

Hmm.. well,no? They just called me “Linh”. I think in some other families, parents
would give their children some kind of nick nam but that’s not the case in my
family

6. What names are popular to give to babied in your country?

I think people tend to choose some names like Linh or Trang for girls- I don’t
know the actual meanings of those names though. For boys, the two most popular
names, i think, are Son, which means the moutain and Hieu, which mans to show
affection and respect towards one’s parents

II. Part 2 & Part 3:

1.Describe an advertisement you have seen?

 In the middle of finals

 Up to the ears with revision
 Nerve-racking time
 Let my hair down
 Stumbled upon the advert
 Hooked
 Immediately Drawn to the commercial
 Temped to purchase one