Home/accommodation

1. What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?

Currently I’m living in a terraced house in a rural area with a range of unique
features. It is equipped with cutting-edge appliances and state-of-the-art
amenities.

2. Who do you live with?

I live with my parents and my siblings. We always get on well with each other
and have a whale of time strengthening the bond.

3. How long have you lived there?

I’ve lived there since I graduated from university and moved to the countryside
to live with my parents.

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

Now I’m living in the countryside so I could have an escape from the hustle
and bustle of fast-paced lifestyle in modern city. My house also has a view
overlooking mountains and trees, which could be of some help in relieving
stress especially when I’m exhausted in work and study. By contrast, my
sight from the window was greatly restricted when I lived in the city center,
which was not my cup of tea.

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

To be honest with you, since I was a little child, I’ve always dreamt of living in
a house surrounded by picturesque scenery through the window of my
bedroom because it always has this therapeutic effect on my mind to release
pent-up frustration after a back-breaking period. Therefore, I don’t have
any plan to move to another accommodation in the near future.

6. 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 the family members gather to have
a chat with each other. Having a get-together with them allows me to share
ups and downs in life and catch up on recent rumors, which helps me
unwind and blow off some steam.

7. Are the transport facilities to your home very good?

To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern
and seem a bit outdated. The bus service from my workplace to home is
usually overcrowded.

8. 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 have a small garden to grow some
nice flowers, which is a real getaway from the outside world. Enjoying the
harmonization of various types of flowers with different gorgeous colors in
the garden could brighten up my days and lift my spirits.

9. Please describe the room you live in.

My current room is more of a bedsit. It is a multi-purpose room, I use it to

sleep and study as well. The room is painted white so it seems more spacious
and gives me a sense of comfort as well as eases my mind after a hard
working day.

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

Actually, the house consists of a small garden which is a real getaway from
the outside world. As an introvert, I feel most at peace while enjoying nice
flowers in my garden. I find myself feeling peaceful and relaxed spending
chunks of a good time on my own, in relative silence, contemplating the
beauty of flowers. Enjoying the harmonization of various types of flowers
with different gorgeous colors in the garden could brighten up my days and
lift my spirits.

Weekend

1. What do other people in your hometown usually do on weekends?

On weekends, local people here have a day off from work or study so they
often take up some activities to blow off some steam. Personally, I usually
take a stroll around the neighborhood through the bustling street vendors to
have a try at some specialties of local residents.

2. What will you do next weekend?

To be honest, I’ve not decided yet but as usual, I think I would either get some
exercise to keep myself physically and mentally healthy or have a whale of
time strengthening the bond with family members. Having a get-together
with them allows me to share ups and downs of my academic life and catch
up on recent rumors.

3. Did you do anything special last weekend?

No actually. Because I’m an avid reader, I immersed myself into a science

fiction book which I’m really fond of. The rest of the day was allocated to
gardening, playing with my pets and helping my parents with their cooking.

4. What do you usually do on weekends?

As I said before, I usually take a stroll around the neighborhood through the
bustling street vendors to have a try at some specialties of local residents. In
addition, I would either get some exercise to keep myself physically and
mentally healthy or have a whale of time strengthening the bond with
family members.

Mirrors

1. Do you like looking at yourself in the mirror? How often?

To be honest, I’d say that I’m really keen on looking at myself in the mirror
because I want to look good to have a positive impression on others. If I work
in a professional environment or attend a formal wedding, I will look at myself
in the mirror very often to make sure my hair is tidy and my clothes are not
wrinkled. On the other hand, If I stay at home or hang out with my friends, I
will not have to look in the mirror carefully.

2. Have you ever bought mirrors?

Yes, I've bought different kinds of mirrors. I’ve got a full-length mirror in the
living room just to check my clothing before I go out and I also have little
make-up mirrors in my different bags. It’s very convenient to look at my face
anytime I want.

3. Do you usually take a mirror with you?

I told you that I have a mirror in each of my bags, just in case. I think it’s very
necessary because I have to fix my hair or make sure what I’m putting on is
neat. I think I have this kind of habit of bringing a mirror with me.

4. Would you use mirrors to decorate your room?

Honestly speaking, I’d say that I’m not fond of decorating my room with
mirrors because there are so many other things better than mirrors as a
decoration such as framed paintings or pictures. But maybe it’s a good
ornament as a wall decoration.

Email

1. Do you think sending emails will be more or less popular in the future?

To be honest, I suppose that there will be fewer people using emails as a mode
of communication. In my opinion, it could be replaced by state-of-the-art
technologies in the future.

2. How often do you write an email or a letter?

Actually, I think it really depends on the situation. I have to write an email on

a daily basis to submit my working progress to the manager. On other
occasions, I write a letter to show my affection for my best friend once in a
blue moon.

3. What kinds of email (or letter) you received that make you feel happy?

To be honest, receiving emails such as informing me of a promotion at work

or just showing care and love for me would actually make my day. I feel that
I’m valued by the sender and really appreciate their effort that they put in
writing letters to me.

Drawing and Art galleries

1. Do you like drawing?

I would say yes because when I draw, I can let my hair down. I don’t draw
often because of my hectic schedule, but when I do, it helps me relax and blow
off some steam.

2. Do you like to go to the gallery?

To be honest, I’d say that I’m really into going to the gallery, especially an art
museum. It would be of great benefit for me because I could see how artists
make their works of art to convey their thoughts and views.

3. Do you want to learn artistic things?

Actually, I’m not good at arts so I want to learn something related to arts such
as drawing or painting to improve my skills. I think it would be of great help
in developing my imagination and creativity.

Taking photos

1. Do you like taking photos?

To be honest, I’d say that I’m a big fan of taking photographs. For me, photos
provoke a lot of memories of the good old days and special events. I’m
pretty keen on capturing special moments, beautiful scenery and my
beloved ones.

2. Do you take a mirror with you? (Câu này trong bộ đề bị sai nhé Thảo)

3. Do you want to improve your picture taking skills?

I would say yes because photography skills can be very useful whether you are
a professional photographer or simply like taking pictures for fun. If you
have a good grasp of this skill, you could take better photos. I think I would
join a photography class to improve my skills despite its exorbitant price.

Daily Routine

1. Do you have study routines?

Honestly speaking, because I want to study at higher levels to gain more

experience, I follow a very strict study routine. Having a fixed daily routine
for study plays an important role in academic life and even for our career
path in the future. We can know how much progress we’ve made and which
should be given priority to be done first. So in my opinion, it’s a quite good
way to scientifically manage our time on a daily basis.

2. What’s your routine like in your everyday study?

Currently I’m studying online so my everyday study schedule is quite hectic.

I’m an early riser so I wake up at around 6 o’clock, then I do some physical
exercise before having a light breakfast. At 8 o’clock I will log in to Zoom to
join the online course till midday. Then I have a 90-minute break to have
lunch and take a short nap. The schedule in the afternoon is similar to that in
the morning, starting from 1 p.m to 5 p.m. After having all of my homework
done, I will hit the gym for 30 minutes to keep myself physically and
mentally healthy. The rest of the day will be spent on some recreational
activities such as playing online games or reading books.

3. Do you want to change your daily routines in the future?

To be honest, recently I’ve pulled a lot of all-nighters to revise for the IELTS
exam because my burning ambition is to win a scholarship in the United
States to do my master’s degree in the field of education. To realize this
dream, I have to make sure that I have all of the required qualifications such as
bachelor’s degree and IELTS certificate. Because of burning the midnight oil,
I could not concentrate on the lesson in class during the day. So actually I
really want to adjust my study routine to go to bed early so that I can feel
refreshed in the morning.

Dreams

1. Do you often remember your dreams?

Honestly speaking, I only remember my dreams once in a blue moon. I often

have no recollection of what happened in my dreams. However, sometimes I
have vivid dreams which are really pleasant and meaningful which I could
remember well after getting out of bed.

2. Do you want to make your dreams come true?

As I said before, I don’t usually remember my dreams but if they are

nightmares, I don’t want them to come true. On the other hand, I hope
daydreams about winning a scholarship or getting a promotion at work could
become a reality.
3. Do you share your dreams with others? Or are you interested in others’
dreams?

To be honest, I’d say that I would keep the scary ones, like nightmares to
myself. Every now and then I share some of my dreams, especially weird ones
with my friends and family. Interestingly, sometimes we have similar dreams
which are always interesting to have a chat about.

4. Do you think dreams have special meanings?

I’m quite superstitious so I always believe that dreams can make predictions
about the future or could be an indicator of something. For example, I used
to have a dream about paying a visit to a beautiful landscape, and the next day
my parents took me to one of the most breathtaking scenery in the country,
which is my all-time favorite.

Websites

1. What kinds of websites do you usually use?

Well to be honest, there are several sites that I visit on a daily basis to keep
updated on the latest news. To be more specific, I use Google to search for
information and study materials. Also, Facebook helps me get updated
about daily life and keep in touch with my friends.

2. What changes compared to the past?

Honestly speaking, I’d say that our life has been revolutionized thanks to
technology. Back in the day, we needed to go to work to get things done and to
communicate with colleagues, but people now can work from home and solve
all problems online. Take the Covid-19 pandemic as a typical example, a lot of
companies implemented work-from-home policies and arranged meetings
via video calls.

3. Why do you like?

As I said before, it can be of great help in getting my everyday tasks done

more effectively. I could engage in online conversation with my relatives and
friends regardless of geographic barriers. In addition, there are tons of
entertainment websites which I can greatly benefit from to unwind and let my
hair down after a hard working day.
Cinemas

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

Back in the day when I was a kid, because I didn’t have a hectic schedule, I
had many chances to visit cinemas with my relatives and friends. But these
days I’m up to the ears in work and study so I rarely go to the movies.

2. Do you usually go to the cinema with your friends?

As I said, I don’t have so much spare time because I’m swamped with work
and study so I just hang out with my friends at the cinema once in a blue
moon.

3. Do you still like watching the movie which you liked when you were a
kid?

No I actually don’t. My interests now are completely different. Compared to my

old days when I was only fond of watching cartoons and animated films, I’m
more interested in documentaries and historical movies at the present.

Watching Sports

1. Do you like watching programs on TV?

Well, to be honest, I’d say that I’m not into watching TV programs because
in this day and age, we are bombarded with a wide range of advertisements
which can disrupt your experience. And with the development of
technology, we can watch almost everything on the Internet, including
programs on TV without catching sight of any annoying advert.

2. Do you watch live sports games?

Well I’m not a sporty person so I have never watched a live sports game.
However, if I had to choose, I would go for watching sports from the comfort
of my home with cutting-edge appliances and state-of-the-art amenities,
which I think is a great way to unwind and blow off some steam after a hard
working day.

3. How often do you watch live sports?

As I said before, watching sport is not really my cup of tea because I find it
rather boring so I have never watched a live sports game. As I’m also up to
the ears in work and study, I spare my leisure time to pursue other
interests like playing games or listening to music.

History

1. Do you like to learn about history?

Well honestly speaking, I’d say that I’m an avid reader of historical books
which expand my horizons about national history and also other countries. To
be more specific, it gives me an insightful understanding of a lot of dynasties
and historical wars.

2. What historical event do you find interesting?

I think that it would be Vietnamese Independence Day which happened on 2nd

September 1945. This event marked a milestone of our freedom, liberty and
happiness and began a new era in my country. In my opinion, there should be
a museum exhibition to raise people’s awareness about our national history,
especially foreign visitors.

3. Do you think history is important?

Definitely yes. With no doubt, it is an invaluable source of information

about our origins and the historical victories of our ancestors. Moreover, it
also reflects the cultural identity of a nation. For example, a chance to visit a
museum recently is of great benefit for me to deepen my knowledge about the
beginning of humans on earth. I have to say that I was totally impressed by the
superb collection of ancient artifacts of many animals like mammoths or
dinosaurs.

Sweets & Cakes

1. Do you like to eat sweets?

Well, to be honest with you, I have a sweet tooth so whenever I can, I treat
myself to some candies which could lift up my spirits. However, recently I try
to refrain from consuming sugary products too much because it can have
many negative health effects.
2. Do you like sweets more or less now compared to when you were a child?

I’ve found over the years that sweets are not my cup of tea anymore. Only on
several special occasions like New Year holiday, I prepare some traditional
food such as dried candied fruit as a treat to worship our ancestors.

3. Is there any sweet food in your country?

Of course there is! Sweet food can be found everywhere in my country,

ranging from candies, biscuits to cakes and sugary drinks. In particular, Chè is
one of my all-time favorites which could help me unwind and let my hair
down after a back-breaking period.

4. Do you eat cakes or sweets after a meal?

Well to be honest, after having a hearty meal, I’m too full to eat a slice of
cake or a bar of chocolate. So instead, I prefer having some fruits to help with
my digestive system.

Handwriting

1. Do you like handwriting?

Well to be honest, I’m not really into writing by hand. Because I’m usually
on the go, most of the time I type on my laptop and I rarely use paper and a
pen anymore. However, on some occasions when I want to show my affection
for the recipient, I would neatly write a letter.

2. Do you think handwriting is important?

Definitely yes. Honestly speaking, I’d say that it’s very crucial to have a legible
handwriting which could be of some help on certain occasions like I said
before. Also, according to research, handwriting really does wonders for
cognitive development.

3. Which do you prefer, handwriting or typing?

As I said before, these days I find myself typing a lot on my computer

because my work involves a lot of typing, it’s very convenient for me to check
mistakes and edit my writing. Having said that, on formal occasions such as
birthdays or weddings, I would opt for handwriting an invitation to show my
respect for the guests.
4. What’s the difference between handwriting and typing?

Handwriting is manual writing with the use of a pen so you should think
carefully about what you’re writing because it’s difficult to erase an error that
you made. By contrast, when you write on a computer with the help of a
processing software, you can correct any mistake without any trace of
erasures and typing speed is much faster than writing by hand.

Headphones and Microphones

1. Do you use headphones?

Well to be honest, I possess a range of headphones and I use them

interchangeably. I think headphones not only produce a high quality of
sound with different high and low levels but also are equipped with a lot of
features such as canceling unwanted noise from the surroundings to avoid
being disturbed by any distractions.

2. What type of headphones do you use?

Oh, I always prefer bringing along a pair of wireless earbuds. The

headphones could easily sync with smart technological gadgets while I can
freely move around without worrying about the wire entangling. In addition,
they are also compact and fit perfectly in my pocket.

3. When would you use headphones?

I usually use headphones after a hard working day to unwind and blow off
some steam. It always has this therapeutic effect on my mind to release pent-
up frustration when I’m exhausted in work and study. For example, I often
tune in some countryside melodies which could give me an escape from the
hustle and bustle of the fast-paced lifestyle in modern city.

4. In what conditions, you won’t use headphones?

Most of the time I would use my headphones but in some situations like when
I’m commuting on the street, I will never put them on because I can put
myself and other people’s lives at risk. Also during conversations with others,
the use of headphones could be considered rude so I won’t use them in this
situation either.
Shoes

1. Do you like buying shoes? How often?

Well to be honest, I’m not really into purchasing footwear because it is quite
expensive while I’m a student living on a tight budget, so I just buy a new pair
of shoes when my old pair wears out.

2. Have you ever bought shoes online?

Honestly speaking, I’d say that I prefer buying them in brick-and-mortar

stores because I could try them on. On the other hand, when making a
purchase online, the retailers may exaggerate the quality of actual products
so it could not live up to your expectation and may let you down. For
example, I bought a pair of sneakers on an e-commerce site but the shape and
color of the product that I received didn’t match what I saw on the web.

3. How much do you usually spend on shoes?

I only allocate a small amount of my monthly income for footwear. I usually

buy second-hand shoes from trusted local dealers or using discount vouchers,
which saved me a fortune.

4. Which do you prefer, fashionable shoes or comfortable shoes?

Actually I give priority to functionality over aesthetics. My favorite pair of

shoes is comfy enough to give me a sense of relaxation. However, on some
formal occasions where I have to attend a formal meeting, I would pay
attention to how my footwear looks.

Science

1. Do you like science?

Well honestly speaking, I have to say that I’m not really into science because
it’s quite difficult to get a grasp of those scientific ideas. However, it plays an
important role in our lives which could give us an in-depth understanding
of the world.

2. When did you start to learn about science?

To my dim recollection, I had to study science as a compulsory subject when
I was in secondary school, including maths, physics and biology. To be honest
with you, I was not really good at them back then when I found it hard to
solve a math problem.

3. Which science subject is interesting to you?

Well, I take great interest in biology. I’m always curious about nature,
especially flora and fauna. To be more specific, this subject is of great benefit
for me to deepen my knowledge about some wild animals that were put on the
verge of extinction as well as environmental degradation which is a pressing
issue all over the world. Therefore, people should raise their awareness about
protecting the environment.

4. What kinds of interesting things you have done with science?

If my memory serves me right, I’ve done some chemical experiments in the

laboratory at school. I vividly remember there was one occasion that I blended
some chemicals together and my classmates were really impressed by the
reaction which was enchanting and mesmerizing.

Concentration

1. Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?

Yes, I will be distracted easily if there is any noise disturbing me when I’m
concentrating on my study. I can stay focused on the tasks at hand in a very
silent and peaceful ambience which would be of great help for me to work
efficiently and easily come up with new ideas.

2. What do you do to help you concentrate?

To be honest with you, I have been practicing yoga and meditation to get back
to a normal state of mind, which could improve my concentration. In
addition, tuning in some instrumental melodies can enable me to stay
focused. Also, I remove some of the things that are distracting me such as
turning off the TV and putting my phone in silent mode.

3. What may distract you when you’re trying to stay focused?

Honestly speaking, actually there are so many distractors around us these days.
In our hectic modern life, we are constantly exposed to too much noise and
distraction from friends, family members, neighbors to TV, smartphones, and
social media. For example, last Monday when I was learning online via my
laptop, I found it really hard to stay focused on my study because my next-
door neighbor threw a party and played music too loud.

4. When do you need to be focused?

It is necessary to stay focused on everything we do, especially on some special

situations. For example, I vividly remember one occasion when I had to
complete a difficult and time-consuming task which required me to fully
concentrate on what I’m doing. This could be of great help in boosting my
productivity and efficiency. Additionally, total concentration is required
when I’m commuting on the road to avoid putting myself and other people’s
lives at risk.

Pets and Animals

1. Do you like to see animals in the zoo?

To be honest, I’d say that at first, I’m really into seeing exotic animals like
tigers or rhinos but later I think wild animals should not be kept in captivity
where they are caged and locked away from their natural habitat.

2. What’s your favorite animal? Why?

I have to admit that I’m an animal lover. I have a soft spot for animals,
especially cats. I’m really into raising cats because they’re independent and
listening to them purring or meowing would make my day, actually.

3. Have you ever had a pet before?

I remember raising a dappled dog when I was in elementary school. He was a

very faithful and playful dog. Every time I came back home from school, he
always jumped on me and licked my face. Unfortunately, shortly after that, I
had to move him to a new home because my father was allergic to dog fur,
which could lead to a serious flu.

4. What animals would you like to have as pets?

I’ve always considered myself as a dog person. If I had an opportunity to have
an animal as a pet, it would definitely be a dog. Raising a pet dog is my cup of
tea due to the fact that they are very loyal to the owner and I can keep them as
guards in my home. On the other hand, I can’t stand having a pet tiger. I’m
afraid of being bitten out of the blue. Just seeing them gives me goosebumps
all over the place.

5. Where do you prefer to keep your pet, indoors or outdoors?

I prefer having them inside because I’m too worried about my dogs getting
stolen or lost. Keeping a pet indoors, you could enjoy their company during
the day. It’s a great way to unwind and blow off some steam after a hard
working day.

Public gardens and Parks

1. Would you like to play in a public garden or park?

To be honest, I’d say that I’m quite keen on visiting public gardens. On a
monthly basis, I go there with my relatives and friends to blow off some steam
and recharge our batteries after a hard working period. I think there should be
more public gardens for people to pay a visit to and enjoy the beauty of
nature, as well as raise their awareness about environmental preservation.

2. What do you like to do when visiting a park?

Actually I enjoy watching colorful flowers in the park which is a getaway

from it all. I feel most at peace and relaxed contemplating the beauty of
flowers. Enjoying the harmonization of various types of flowers with
different gorgeous colors in the park could brighten up my days and lift my
spirits.

3. How have parks changed today compared to the time when you were a
kid?

Nowadays there are only a few parks due to the shortage of land, especially in
cities. Due to the population explosion, people tend to make use of land to
build houses and schools rather than giving priority to constructing public
areas such as parks or gardens.

4. Would you prefer to play in a personal garden or public garden?

Definitely personal gardens. As an introvert, I find myself feeling peaceful,
spending chunks of a good time on my own, in relative silence, watering
and fertilizing little plants in my garden. I have an idea of growing some roses
which is my all-time favorite flower, which are associated with hope and
new beginnings.

Getting Lost

1. Have you ever lost your way?

To my dim recollection, there was one occasion when I totally got lost. I have
to admit that I am not good at navigation so I tend to get lost easily. If my
memory serves me right, it was about 2 years when I paid a visit to the National
Park with my close friends. Fortunately, the guards found and led us to the
entrance. This experience made the trip a total nightmare and I would
definitely equip myself with essential knowledge to avoid such a dangerous
situation on my next trip.

2. How can you find your way when you are lost?

Using maps when getting lost would allow you to locate the exact destinations
you are heading to as well as access additional information about nearby
facilities, which is really useful. You can even find the quickest route to reach
the place you desire.

3. Can you read a map when you get lost?

As I said before, it’s very necessary to learn to read a map because it could be
of great help in case you lose your way. I was equipped with this skills when
I was in elementary school in an extracurricular activity. To be honest, this
could greatly benefit you in emergency situations when you cannot find your
way in a place off the grid.

4. Have you ever helped someone who got lost?

I vividly remember one time when I helped an elderly who got lost out of the
dilemma. At that time, I tried to keep my cool and immediately call the police
station. The police have a grasp of hands-on experience and take quick
actions. In addition, I also contacted his acquaintances to ask them to lend a
helping hand in finding the way out.
Colours

1. What’s your favourite colour?

To be honest, I’d say that it really depends on different purposes. For

example, my favorite color is green when it comes to choosing clothes because
it is associated with hope and new beginnings. For house decorations, I tend
to go for white as it creates a sense of peace and serenity for the room.

2. What’s the colour you dislike? Why?

Actually I’m not a fan of red, because it is an intense color while calm and
peaceful colors are my cup of tea. Unless you attend a party, it’s really hard to
put on a red item as it would be too strong and attract attention from others
but in a general sense, for everyday life I prefer not using it.

3. What colours do your friend like most?

My friends are very energetic so they would go with bright colours such as red
or yellow. Wearing clothes in these tones can lift up spirits and recharge their
batteries. But when it comes to decorating their rooms, they are not very picky
and feel comfortable with all kinds of colors.

4. What colour makes you uncomfortable in your room?

When it comes to choosing colors for my room, black or dark grey would
definitely not be my go-to choice because I think that would feel really dark
and creepy. By contrast, I would like a room that was painted white because it
can make a room seem more spacious and give me a sense of comfort as well
as ease my mind after a hard working day.

App

1. What app have you recently used?

I’ve recently used an adblocker on my mobile phone because you know these
days, we are bombarded with a wide range of advertisements which could
disrupt our experience. This app can get rid of almost all annoying adverts
that suddenly pop up when we’re browsing the website.

2. What kinds of apps are you usually interested in?

Well to be honest, like anyone else, I use social networking apps such as
Facebook or Zalo on a daily basis to keep in touch with my relatives and
friends. In addition, these platforms help me get updated about daily life and
communicate with like-minded people who share something in common
with me.

3. What was the first app used?

To my dim recollection, one of the first apps I installed on my phone was

Google maps. Using this app would allow you to locate the exact destinations
you’re heading to as well as access additional information about nearby
facilities, which is really useful. You can even find the quickest route to reach
the place you desire.

4. What kinds of apps would you like to use in the future?

Honestly speaking, I’ve not given it a thought but I suppose health-tracking

apps would gain in huge popularity in the future. Because nowadays we are
exposed to severe pollution from different sources, I want to monitor my
health to be physically and mentally healthy.

Weather

1. What kind of weather do you like most?

To be honest, I am a big fan of the mild climate in late autumn. It is featured

with pure blue sky and gentle breeze. There’s sometimes drizzle rain, not as
many torrential downpours as in the summer so we’re not likely to get caught
in the heavy rain.

2. What’s the weather like in your hometown?

Well it depends on the season. In winter and spring, due to the dry weather,
there is little or no rain at all. On the other hand, it is usually raining cats and
dogs in summer and fall. In summery months, it can get scorching hot, and by
contrast, temperatures can hit a record low in winter.

3. Do you like the weather in your hometown?

Actually, I’m really into the dry weather in spring. In my opinion, this is the
most ideal season for outdoor activities such as taking a leisurely walk, riding
the bicycle or going on a picnic with family which can boost mutual
understanding and strengthen family ties.

4. Do you prefer dry or wet weather?

As I said before, I take great interest in dry weather especially in spring. In

contrast, wet weather is not my cup of tea because there are many torrential
downpours, causing loads of troubles for people travelling on the road.

Spending time with others

1. Do you like talking with people?

To be honest, I’d say that I’m into having chit-chat with others, especially my
family and friends. Talking with them allows me to share ups and downs of
my life and catch up on recent rumors which could strengthen the bonds.

2. How do you like spending time with your friends?

Usually I will hang out with them at the local shopping mall to have a meal
together. On special occasions like Tet holiday, we often pay a visit to sacred
pagodas to pray for our family’s health and prosperity or make a short trip
to famous landscapes to unwind and blow off some steam after a long
working period.

3. Would you prefer to study alone or with others?

Because I’m more of an introvert, I love being alone so I generally stay at

home studying on my own. However, studying alone could make me fail to
stay motivated while learning with others, especially friends can be a great
source of encouragement. I can discuss with them solutions to the problem
that I’m faced with.

4. Do you remember a time when you need to cooperate with others?

If memory serves me right, I had to work with others in a team for a project
about the environment. We needed to gain an in-depth understanding of some
wild animals that were put on the verge of extinction as well as
environmental degradation which was a pressing issue all over the world.

TV Program
1. Do you talk with your friends about the program you watched?

Not at all! Well, to be honest, I’d say that my friends are not into watching
programs and they spend their leisure time pursuing other interests such as
playing games or listening to music. In addition, these days I’m up to the ears
in work and study so I rarely have chances to hang out with them to have a
chat about the program that I watched.

2. Do you like watching the same kind of program all the time?

No I actually don’t. My interests now are completely different. Compared to my

old days when I was only fond of comedies, I’m more interested in programs
on sports and business at the present.

3. Do you often watch programs on the TV or on your cell phone?

Honestly speaking, I have to admit that I’m not into watching TV programs
because in this day and age, we are bombarded with a wide range of
advertisements which can disrupt your experience. And with the
development of cutting-edge technologies like mobile phones nowadays, we
can watch almost everything on the Internet, including programs on TV without
catching sight of any annoying advert.

4. What kind of TV programs do you like?

To be frank with you, I am a big fan of talent shows and I suppose other
people also have a keen interest in this kind of program because they contain
entertainment value. A great number of talents are performed by individuals
from the four corners of the world, each performance is well prepared to lead
the audience from one surprise to another.

Maths

1. Do students learn maths in secondary schools in VietNam?

To my dim recollection, I had to study science as a compulsory subject when I

was in secondary school, including maths, physics and biology. To be honest
with you, I was not really good at maths back then when I found it hard to
solve a math problem.

2. Do you learn maths now? Why, Why not?

No, because I’m majoring in English language, maths is not included in my
curriculum so I don’t pay attention to this subject anymore. However, once in
a blue moon I read some books about maths to learn something that can be
applied in my life.

3. What can people do with maths in their daily life?

I think maths plays an important role in our lives which could give us an in-
depth understanding of how things work. Actually, it is widely applicable in
a lot of fields from making basic calculations to manage our money to some
tasks which require more complex and advanced maths like constructing
infrastructure.

4. Do you think maths is difficult?

I don’t think I have a knack for maths so I find it quite hard to get a grasp of
those math concepts, especially when it comes to something complicated like
solving an equation or doing a trigonometric calculation.

New places

1. Do you feel nervous when you travel to new places?

Not at all! To be honest with you, I’m pretty keen on paying a visit to exotic
destinations because I can explore something that I’ve never seen before. I
vividly remember one occasion my parents took me to Nha Trang where I freely
took a stroll around the bustling street vendors to have a try at some
specialties of local residents without being afraid of having a chat with
strangers here.

2. Can you read a map when you travel to new places?

Honestly speaking, I’d say that it’s very necessary to learn to read a map
because it could be of great help in case you lose your way, especially in a
place off the grid. I was equipped with this skills when I was in elementary
school in an extracurricular activity. Using maps when getting lost would allow
you to locate the exact destinations you are heading to as well as access
additional information about nearby facilities, which is really useful.

3. Have you ever helped someone who got lost?

If my memory serves me right, there was this particular time when I helped an
elderly who got lost out of the dilemma. At that time, I tried to keep my cool
and immediately call the police station. The police have a grasp of hands-on
experience and take quick actions. In addition, I also contacted his
acquaintances to ask them to lend a helping hand in finding the way out.

Mobile/ Cell phones

1. Do you have a mobile phone?

Well to be honest with you, I’m actually hooked on the latest versions of
smartphones although they can cost an arm and a leg. When a new Iphone is
launched to the market, I immediately make a purchase with no hesitation.
You know, I boast a superb collection of many different kinds of smart phones
at home.

2. What do you often use it for?

Besides basic functions of calling and sending messages, I allocate most of my

time for browsing the net, using social networking sites, and having a chat
with relatives and friends via applications like Messenger, Zalo,... Phones are
also a tool to take fancy pictures and make high-quality videos with cutting-
edge technological breakthroughs.

3. How often do you change a mobile phone?

Well I’d say annually. As I said before, when there is a new phone release on
the market, I can’t stand making a purchase to keep abreast of the latest
technologies available. Also, after a year, my device gradually slows down and
shows some signs of lagging so I tend to upgrade to a new phone every year.

Shopping at street markets

1. What do people usually buy on the street markets?

Well consumers tend to purchase some groceries like fruit or vegetables. In

addition, handicrafts, clothes and second-hand electronic devices are also
some items that they’re fond of buying.

2. Why do you think people go to street markets?

In my opinion, people prefer going to street markets because they can find all
kinds of groceries under the same roof. Besides, most of the items here are
usually sold at affordable prices and also of high quality so street markets
seem to become consumers’ go-to choice rather than department stores whose
products are often high-priced.

3. When you travel abroad, do you go to street markets?

Yes definitely because I think I can have a chat with local residents to gain a
more comprehensive understanding of the host country and its people.
Also, I could buy some souvenirs at a very affordable price without being
ripped off.