TABLE OF CONTENT

Page
Introduction to the speaking test ........................................................................................ 1

Sample answer .................................................................................................................. 2

Speaking tips ..................................................................................................................... 3

Useful phrases for EPT speaking ....................................................................................... 5

Topic 1: Education and learning ........................................................................................ 6

Topic 2: Towns and cities .................................................................................................. 8

Topic 3: Daily routine and leisure time ............................................................................10

Topic 4: Holidays and traveling ....................................................................................... 12

Topic 5: Housing and accommodation .............................................................................14

Topic 6: Sports and exercise ............................................................................................16

Topic 7: Interests and hobbies .........................................................................................18

Topic 8: Photography .......................................................................................................20

Topic 9: Collecting ...........................................................................................................21

Topic 10: Mass media (TV, radio, newspapers) ...............................................................22

Topic 11: Weather ...........................................................................................................23

Topic 12: Transport .........................................................................................................24

Topic 13: Food and restaurants .................................................................................................. 25

Topic 14: Relationships (family, friends) ..........................................................................26

Topic 15: Science and technology (mobile phone, email)..................................................28

 INTRODUCTION TO THE SPEAKING TEST
I. TEST FORMAT AND TASKS
The Speaking test is 7 minutes long and is in two parts.

Ø Part 1: Introduction and interview (2-3 minutes)

In the first part, the examiner will ask you a number of general questions.
Be prepared to introduce yourself and talk about things which are personal to you, for
example, your country and home town, your family, your studies or work, what you like doing
in your free time …

Ø Part 2: Individual long turn (3-4 minutes, including 1 minute preparation time)
The examiner gives you a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic and which
includes points that you can cover in your talk.
You are given one minute to prepare to talk about the topic on the card. You can make some
notes to help you if you wish.
You talk for one to two minutes on the topic, during which the examiner will not speak.
The examiner then asks you one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the
test.

II. SAMPLE TEST 1

Part 1:
Let’s talk about reading.
1. What kind of books do you like to read?
2. How often do you use a library?
3. How many hours a week do you spend on reading?
4. What kind of books did you read as a child?
5. When do you think is the best time to read?
Part 2:
Candidate task card:
Describe a special gift/ present you received.
You should say:
- Who sent the gift
- What the gift was
- On what occasion you receive the gift
- Detail information about the gift
And explain why this gift was special.
You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.
You have 1 minute to think about what you are going to say.
You can make notes to help you if you wish.

Rounding-off questions:
1. Did you tell other people about the gift?
2. Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts?
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 SAMPLE ANSWER
Part 1

1. What kind of books do you like to read?

I mostly like to read biographies. I'm not sure why but it is interesting to read about people's real
lives, especially when they have had interesting lives and have had to deal with many problems.
I do read fiction as well, but I often find it difficult to get hold of a book that I really like. I also
like reading about books to do with current affairs.

2. How often do you use a library?

Well, I‟m a student so I‟m in the library almost every day. I don‟t always use it to find books,
though. I‟m more likely to use the computer facilities to look for information online.

3. How many hours a week do you spend reading?

These days I only spend one or two hours reading a book, to be honest. But when I was younger
I used to spend almost all my free time reading.

4. What kind of books did you read as a child?

When I was in primary school I used to really like adventure stories. Huckleberry Finn was
probably my favorite book. I think I read it more than five times.

5. When do you think is the best time to read?

I think any time is ok, but when I read I like to concentrate, so I can't read for a short time like
on a bus ride like some people do. I like to put time aside to enjoy it. So if I have some free time
at the weekend I might read for a few hours. And I nearly always read before I go to bed - this
really helps me to sleep.

Part 2

Last year, my parents celebrated my birthday at home. They gave me an electronic dictionary.
I like the electronic dictionary very much. It's blue and quite small. It fits into my pocket. I
remember at that time, my mother said to me, “We want you to study English well to find a
good job”. I was very happy because I wished to have it since I was a child. Since that day, I
have tried my best to study. With the help of the electronic dictionary, I have made rapid
progress.

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 SPEAKING TIPS
What is the best advice for the IELTS speaking exam?
There are many possible tips. The first and most important is to take it seriously and prepare
properly for it. Please note that easily the most important tip is number 1.
1. In the exam – listen to and answer the question
The best advice for speaking is very simply to listen to the question and answer it. The reason
for this is for this is the one time you are face to face with the examiner and nerves are a
significant problem. If you are trying to remember complex advice, you are likely to become
more nervous and not perform to your best. Keep it simple.
One example here is in part 1. If you here a question in the past tense:
Ex: “What sports did you play as a child?”
A good answer will use the past tense – the examiner will be listening for this.

2. Before the exam – practice

Following on from the previous advice, you need to practice before the exam to make sure that
the appropriate skills are automatic. This will only happen if you practice sufficiently.
However, you also need to practice the right skills – each part of the speaking paper tests a
different skill.

3. Immediately before the exam – speak English

The problem for many people is not speaking English, rather it is moving from their own
language into English. The advice here is plain: make certain that you are already speaking
English before you go into the exam.

4. Key advice – extend your answer appropriately

If there is one key piece of advice, it is to extend your answer appropriately. For example, this
is inappropriate:
Question:” How many languages do you speak?”
Answer: “Two. Chinese and English.”
Better would be:
Answer: “I speak two languages. My first language is Chinese and I speak English too. I’ve
been learning English since I was 10. I started learning it when I was in primary school.”
Be aware, however, that very long answers are not always a good idea. It is possible that you
will go off topic and lose coherence.

5. Make eye contact

A large part of communication is non-verbal. You are marked by the examiner in the room and
you should do everything you can to show that person that you are a good communicator. If
you do not make eye contact with the examiner, s/he is probably going to be less impressed
with your performance.

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6. If you don‟t understand the question – ask
This is a speaking test and not a listening test. If you don‟t understand the question, ask the
examiner to repeat or explain it – you should not be penalized for this. If you try to answer a
question you do not understand, you will almost certainly become incoherent.
Memorize some checking questions of your own in case you don‟t understand the examiner‟s
question.
Examples include: I didn’t catch that, sorry; Are you asking… ; I’m not sure what you mean
exactly.

7. Give yourself time to think – repeat/reformulate the question

In parts 1 you are not given any thinking time: you are supposed to start speaking immediately.
This does not mean, however, that you need to start answering the question straight away. What
you can do is start by repeating/reformulating or commenting on the question:
“What did I enjoy doing as a child? Let me see…”
“That’s not something I’ve thought about before. It’s an interesting question.’
This has several benefits. It is good communication. It allows you a little time to think. It
should also make you answer the question and not the general topic.
Avoid silence. Learn some expressions you can use when you struggle to come with ideas.
Examples include: That’s an interesting question; Let me think; What I want to say is…

8. Correct yourself – if you can do it immediately

If you make a mistake and you can correct it immediately, do so. This will show the examiner
that you have control over the language. If, however, you are unsure how to correct yourself,
move on: the examiner may not have noticed the mistake in the first place and if you try
unsuccessfully to correct it, a small mistake may become a much bigger one.

9. Do not relax too much – it‟s not a conversation

This is an exam and you need to show the best side of your spoken English. If you relax too
much and become too conversational, your English may suffer. You need to recognize that this
is not a true dialogue between two people: it is more of an interview with one person speaking
and the other listening.
In a conversation the speaking conventions are quite different: you expect the other person to
share 50% of the talk time and to react to your comments, typically one person will not speak
for any length of time.
10. Avoid „parroting‟ (repeating back) the words in the question.
Always attempt to rephrase in your answer or use a substitution such as „Yes, I do.‟

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 USEFUL PHRASES FOR EPT SPEAKING
Ø Asking what something on the task sheet means
“Excuse me. Can I ask what one word means?”
“Sorry. Could you explain this word here?”
Ø Starting the Speaking Part Two
“I‟m going to talk about…”
“I‟ve chosen to present…”
“I‟m really glad I got this topic because…”
Ø Thinking aloud/ Filling silence
“What‟s the next question?”
“Have I covered everything? Oh, no…”
“I can‟t remember the name in English, but…”
“What else can I say? Well, I suppose…”
Ø Talking about things you can‟t remember
“I can‟t remember… exactly, but…”
“I can‟t recall whether… or… not, but probably…”
“I‟ve forgotten…, but…”
“That‟s all I can think of to say.”
“That‟s it” “
“Umm, that‟s it.”
Ø Giving an opinion
“Well, I think/suppose/would say …”
“… for two/several reasons.”
“I think most people would agree that …”
Ø Self-correcting
“Or rather …”
“I mean …”
“Or, should I say …”
Ø Rephrasing
“What I mean is …”
“What I want to say is …”
“What I‟m trying to say is …”
Ø Giving an example
“Take ( ), for example.”
“Look at ( ), for instance.”
“A good example of this is ( ).”
Ø Introducing other ideas
“On the other hand, …”
“Or, to look at it another way, …”
“Then again, …”
Ø Concluding
“So, that‟s why I think …”
“Anyway, that‟s why…
So, to return to my original point, …”

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v Introductory questions:
1) Good morning/afternoon.
2) Can you tell me your full name, please?
3) Can you tell me where you're from?
4) Can I see your identification, please?

TOPIC 1: EDUCATION AND LEARNING

1) Do you work or are you a student?
Now I am a student. I have been studying at The University of Thu Dau Mot for three years; I
will graduate in 3 months.
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2) What are you studying at the moment?

I'm studying history at university. It's a four year course, and I started it three years ago, so I
have just one year left. I'm enjoying it a lot so it will be sad to finish.
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3) What do you like most about your studies?

We learn about many things from the past such as politics and wars, but I like learning about
how people lived in the past the most. It's amazing to see how our lives have changed so much
from the past up until now. In some ways our lives have got much easier now, but in other ways
the simplicity of life in the past made people much happier. Learning about all that is
fascinating.
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4) Do you like your university?

It's OK. I am not thrilled with it but I am getting the education that I wanted. I'm in university
and it's awesome! I've never had so much fun or learned so much about a topic, or most
importantly, learned so much about myself. I've met so many great and diverse people.
Everything is nice.
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5) Is there anything you don't like about your studies‟?
Basically studying, just joking. Some of my studies I just have to take for the credits and that gets
a little tedious sometimes.
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6) Which subject do you like the most?

I like Vietnamese history because my father was a history teacher. I have an absolutely amazing
Prof, and I love the class. I am learning so much.
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7) Which subject do you think will be most useful to you after you leave university?
I suppose my English class will be the most useful since I am planning on studying further in
Australia.
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8) Do you often get together with your classmates after classes?

I get together with my classmates as much as I can after class. Getting together with them really
helps to relieve the pressure for me.
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9) What do you hope to do in the future when you have finished?

I'm not sure at the moment, but I may go into teaching. I intend to do a Masters in a specific
area of history. I'll probably decide for sure what to do when I have completed that.
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 TOPIC 2: TOWNS AND CITIES
1) Where is your hometown?
My hometown's in Hanoi, which is the capital city of Vietnam. It's located in the north of the
country, not really that far from the southern Chinese border.
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2) Do you still live there?

No, I haven't lived there for many years. I went to school here in Binh Duong and have simply
settled here and made it my hometown. I still go back to Ha Noi once a year.
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3) What's the most famous place in your hometown?

Well, there are many historical places in Ha Noi. Many tourists come here every year. The most
famous place is Ho Chi Minh‟s Mausoleum.
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4) Is there much to do in your hometown?

Oh yes, there's certainly lots to do there as it's a fairly big city. If you like going out in the
evening there are a lot of good restaurants and bars. If you prefer cultural activities there are
museums and art galleries. But if you like nature there are lots of other things outside of the
city which are easy to reach.
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5) How has your hometown changed in recent years?

It has changed so much. It's quite amazing; the number of residents is rising rapidly every year.
My hometown has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Downtown does not look the
same. All the roads are under constructions.
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6) What part of this city do you like best?

There aren‟t any traffic problems. I also love the place where I am living because I have so
many friends here. I like the weather, and there are so many fun things to do.
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7) What are the people like in your hometown?
They are mostly quite friendly, but as with most big cities everyone is often busy so it may
seem as if they are not interested in speaking or having a chat. But if you live there you know
that most people are quite happy to have a chat if they have time and will help you if needed.
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8) Is there anything you don't like about this city?

There isn‟t anything I don‟t like about my hometown.
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9) Do you want to live in a big city or a small town?

I really love to live in the small town, because there is less traffic and it's not so crowded. The
small town looks so peaceful to me, but I love to visit big city also, to go shopping, have fun with
friends and stay for a couple of days, but not to live there.
I am tired of all the traffic problems ... all the rushing hours… all the crimes....
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 TOPIC 3: DAILY ROUTINE AND LEISURE TIME
1) What part of your day do you like best'?
My favorite part of the day is late afternoon, because when I finish studying, I can go home, and
I have the evening to look forward to. The weather is generally pleasant and cool at that time.
I also like the evening when I can then cook a good meal, work on my hobbies such as reading a
book, watching TV or just relaxing until I fall asleep.
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2) When do you have free time?

I have free time during the evenings and on the weekends. I can do many things I like in my free
time.
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3) What do you like to do in your free time?

I do quite a lot of sport actually. I play football mostly - on Wednesday nights and Sunday
afternoon with a local team. I also play tennis and squash when I can but I don't really get the
time to do them as well every week. I work quite hard at the moment, so I don't get a lot of
free time unfortunately.
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4) Do you do things in your leisure time with friends or family?

Mostly with my friends, I often go out or go shopping with my friends, and sometimes we stay
in and watch a movie or play games. Sometimes we just talk together.
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5) How do you usually spend the weekend?

I sleep late, and watch movies. Sometimes I go out or go shopping with my friends in the morning,
or I work on different projects.
If not, then I clean the house.
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6) Are weekends important to you?
Yes, because it‟s the time that I can use for my hobbies or spend with my family. On the weekends
I feel free to do what I want.
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7) Have your leisure activities changed since you were a child?

Not a great deal actually. I used to love playing football when I was young as well - I played a
lot at school. Though of course I did all the other things kids loved to do such as going out on
bike rides after school and things.
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8) Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people?
It depends on my mood really. I think most people need some time on their own. Sometimes
my work is quite stressful and I spend a lot of time there with others, so it's good to just get
home and relax and read a book or something. But I get bored if I am alone too much so I like
to go out and meet friends in the evening or play football.
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9) Should people be paid overtime for working at the weekend?

Definitely, working overtime is extra, and it takes away the relaxation time that many people need,
so people should be compensated for it.
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 TOPIC 4: HOLIDAYS AND TRAVELING
1 ) What do you do in your holidays?
For most holidays, I just stay home and rest and enjoy myself, but if it's a particularly long holiday
I like to travel. If I stay home I can read and play computer games and do what I like to do. I
can spend time with my friends; often my relatives want me to visit them as well.
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2) Do you think holidays are becoming more and more important?

Holidays have always been important to people. But of course the harder your work, the more
important your holiday becomes to you, because you need that relaxation more.
I enjoy having fun and spending time with the people I love on holidays. Many young people live
away from their parents, so it's a perfect time for them to get together and have fun.
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3) Do you like to travel in your holidays or free time?

If it's a long holiday, I love to travel, especially to places I have never been to before; it's an
adventure and you see so many great and beautiful and strange things. A change of environment
helps you to relax and is good for your health.
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4) What kind of places do you like to travel to?

I like to travel to different countries and places with beautiful natural scenery.
However I don't often have the opportunity to go to places like that. So instead I like to go to
places where I can enjoy myself with my friends and where there are fun things to do together.
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5) Have you ever been to the seaside?

Yes, I‟ve had several vacations at the seaside. There is a beach which is not too far from where
my family lives, so every time I go to visit my family, we spend a lot of time on the beach.
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6) Why do some people take their holidays at the seaside?
I guess they like to swim, lie on the sand and go sailing on the sea. Plus there are usually a lot of
nice restaurants near the seaside and it is a good opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood.
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7) Do you want to live near the sea?

No, I don't like the sea. It's so salty and deep and there are all kinds of fish and other creatures
swimming about in it. On the other hand, the air is often quite clean near the sea and the
weather very pleasant compared to farther inland. So if I was concerned about my health I would
probably choose to live near the sea.
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8) Describe the best holiday that you have had.

Last year, my family and I spent one whole week in Da Lat which was once known as “The
City of flowers”. It turned out to be the best holiday we had ever had. We visited many
beautiful places, such as Valley of Love, Flowers Park, Bao Dai Palace, Xuan Huong Lake...
At night, we went bicycling around Xuan Huong Lake and took part in the performance of
ethnic minority people.

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 TOPIC 5: HOUSING AND ACCOMMODATION

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

I live in an apartment building. My family owns two apartments right next to each other and I live
in the smaller apartment with my sister. My mother and father and my grandfather live in the
other.
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2) How do you like it?

Oh, I like it very much; I live quite high up and I have a wonderful view of the city; and it is very
convenient to live near my parents, as my mom often cooks for us when we are very busy.
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3) What kind of decorations does one of your rooms have?

The apartment is nicely furnished, though simple. We have a brand new living room, a couch
two armchairs, and a coffee table. My sister and I picked out the curtains and lamps. We
decorated our own rooms with all the things we saved from growing up,
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4) What kind of house or apartment do you want to live in?
I want to live in a little house in the country, with two floors and a big attic and basement, and wide
gardens and orchards around it.
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5) Which is your favorite room in your home?

My favorite room is my bedroom, because it has my desk and things in it and a little window
where you can sit in the sunshine and look outside. When I want to get away from everything for a
while, I can escape to my room.
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6) Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
My family spends most of their time in the living room. We often watch DVDs together or we
just talk about our day. And if we have friends or relatives over, we will all go into the living room
to sit and talk and cat some snacks.
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7) What would you say is the best thing about your home?
My favorite thing about my home is the big terrace we have; it's a very pleasant place to sit in the
warm weather. There is a "secret" door inside a closet that leads out onto the terrace and we have a
picnic table and chairs out there, so you can just go out there under the sky and read a book or
look up into the clear blue sky.
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8) Would you like to move to another place?

Not now, but eventually yes, because I think I would be bored to live in the same place for too
long. I would miss my parents so it would be hard to move away from home, but at the same time
I think that living in a big city is very impersonal and I would like to live in a different place.
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 TOPIC 6: SPORTS AND EXERCISE
1) What is your favorite sport?
My favorite sport is definitely soccer. I love the feeling of being out there on the field and just
running with the wind.
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2) Why do you like it so much?

In soccer the rules are not too complicated, but it's very competitive and takes a lot of skill and
talent to play well. I always have fun when I'm playing or watching it on TV.
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3) What is the most popular sport in your country?

Football has always been the most popular sport in my country. Many people love it.
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4) Do you like to exercise daily?

No, I don't. I'm very lazy. I know that I need to change this habit. I like to walk
Walking is very good and cheap.
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5) What are the advantages of regular exercise?

There's the obvious advantage that if you regularly exercise you will stay stronger, fit and
healthier.
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6) Where do people in you city usually exercise?

Young people go to the gym or go to a playground arid play basketball. Older people will just go
outside their apartments and do Tai Chi.
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7) What forms of exercise are most popular in China?

Badminton or ping pong are very popular here in China. Basketball and football are also very
popular,
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8) Do you think primary schoolchildren should have sports classes at school?

16
I certainly think so, because primary school children have a lot of energy and if they must remain
cooped up at a desk all day, they will not be able to concentrate because they will want to go
out and play.
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 TOPIC 7: INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
v Film

1) Do you like films?

Yes, I enjoy watching films. When I want to relax, or have some fun, I like to watch movie.
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2) What kinds of films do you like best?

My favorite kinds of films are comedies. I like movies that can make me laugh.
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3) How often do you watch films?

If there is an interesting movie playing at the cinema, I'll go to see it. It's nice to go out to see a
movie with my friends sometimes, and get to see it on a big screen,
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4) Do you like to watch films alone or with your friends?

I'd rather watch films with my friends. We always have a good time together, and afterwards
we talk about the movie, whether we enjoyed it or not.
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5) Do you prefer to watch films in the cinema or at home?

I prefer to watch movies at the cinema, because I can see the movie on a big screen, with a better
sound system. I think it makes the movie more impressive.
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6) Do you think people are going to the cinema more these days compared with 25 years ago?
Umm…No, I don‟t think so. I think that today TV and videos and DVDs actually have replaced often
what people used to go only going to the theatre.
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7) What films are popular with young people these days?

Korean films are said to be the most popular kind of films nowadays. All the students in my
class have already watched the films like City Hunters, Full House, Family is Number One
and so on.
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8) Do people‟s taste in films change as they get older?

I think so- I think movies also a little mirror of how we change in life, what interests us and
what we see in them.
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v Music

1) Do you like to listen to music?

Yes, I do. I'll often listen to music on my MP4 when I'm traveling from place to place, or when
I‟m at home, relaxing.
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2) What kinds of music do you like?

I love all kinds of music. I think it's important to be open enough to enjoy all types. I like R&B,
hip hop, jazz, rock, pop…
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3) What kinds of music are popular in your country?

Everybody has different tastes, but I think love songs and pop music are the most popular kinds of
music. Rap is also getting to be very popular as well.
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4) Who is your favorite singer/band?

My favorite singer is Avril Lavigne. She‟s not only beautiful but also very talented. I like all
the song that she sings.
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5) Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?

Yes, when I was in school, I learned to play the violin, but I don't play it anymore, and I think I‟ve
forgotten how.
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6) What benefits do children gain by studying music or learning to play a musical instrument?
There are benefits indeed. Playing an instrument makes you smarter, it teaches you discipline, it
helps to relieve stress, it can give you a sense of achievement and most of all, it's fun.
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 TOPIC 8: PHOTOGRAPHY
1) Do you like to take photographs?
Yes, I like to take photographs. It's great fun, and then afterwards I can always have the photos,
and remember the good times I've had.
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2) When do you usually take photos?

Well, usually I take photos when I go out somewhere, to a park or to the beach or to a party.
When it's somebody's birthday, at graduations, or any other important occasion, I take photos.
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3) What kind of photos do you like to take?

Mostly, I like to take pictures of nature or of beautiful scenery. Also I like to take silly pictures
with my friends. We always laugh a lot and have a good time.
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4) Is photography a popular hobby in your country?

I think so. When Vietnamese people go out together, they often take photos of each other, or
of the places they visit.
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5) Do you like to visit photographic exhibitions?

I don't visit photographic exhibitions because the content is really not so interesting.
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6) Do you like to hang photographs on the walls of your home?

Yes, but it's my mother who organizes them all. She loves to choose the photographs and
where exactly to hang them.
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 TOPIC 9: COLLECTING
1) Do you collect anything?
I have a collection of interesting bags, I have many different sizes, some are green or pink or
black, many colors and some have cool designs.
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2) Why do you collect those things?

I collect those things because they are interesting and rare.
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3) When did you start collecting them?

Since I was at high school; my close friend gave me a lovely bag on my birthday; and then I
started collecting bags.
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4) Do you have to spend a lot of money on this hobby?

Some bags are very expensive. Most of them are quite cheap but strange and beautiful.
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5) Is collecting a popular pastime in your country?

It used to be but not anymore. Actually it is a little hard to find things to collect.
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6) Why do people like collecting?

Well, people like to collect things mostly as a hobby and hobbies are good to have, because
they help people to relax and get their minds off their jobs or problems they may have.
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 TOPIC 10: MASS MEDIA (TV, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS)
1) What kind of media do you prefer, TV or radio?
I definitely prefer to watch TV because then you not only get to hear, but to see, and you
remember the story better when there's a picture to go with it.
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2) What programs do you like to watch/listen lo?

I like to watch animal shows because I find animals and their behaviors are very interesting.
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3) Do you prefer TV news or news on the radio?

I prefer news on the radio because of the fact that you can get it more often; on TV it is limited to
certain hours of the day.
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4) Do you read newspapers?

Yes, I like to read them very much. They are a source of information for me and I can keep up
with my favorite sports team through them.
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5) Which section of the newspaper do you like to read? Why?

My favorite sections of the newspaper arc the sports section and the entertainment section, I like to
keep up with personalities and what they are doing.
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6) Do you think the Internet will replace newspapers one day?

Yes, I definitely think so. I think that as more people have access to the Internet and computers,
paper will eventually become a thing of the past. It's quicker and easier to update web pages on the
Internet.
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 TOPIC 11: WEATHER
1) What is the climate like in your hometown?
The weather in my hometown is very wet in the winter and extremely hot in the summer.
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____________________________________________________________________________

2) Does it rain much here in Binh Duong?

No, it doesn't and that is getting to be a problem here. We really need the rain.
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3) Do you like rainy days or sunny days?

Well I suppose that it depends. If I have to work or have a lot to do that day, then I'd prefer sunny
days. If I don't have anything to do and I'm off work, then I don't mind the rain, When it rains
and I don't have anything to do and I can just curl up on the couch, watch movies, read a book.
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4) When (in what month/season) does it rain most in your hometown?

In my hometown it rains mostly in rainy season; from April.
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5) Do you think rain is good?

Of course, rain is good. Crops couldn't grow without it, and then we would all starve to death.
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6) Docs rain ever affect transportation in your hometown?

If it rains very heavily, then there are often traffic jams.
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 TOPIC 12: TRANSPORT
1) What means of transport do you usually use?
I don't have a car, so I usually use public transport, like buses, or taxis. It's quite convenient
for me.
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2) What's your favorite means of transport?

My favorite way to travel is by plane, because it's quick and convenient, although it is
expensive. I love to fly and forget about traffic jams.
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3) How do you like to travel for long trips?

By plane, because it doesn't take me so long to get to my destination, I don't want to waste my
valuable time just getting there. I have more important things to do.
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4) What's the traffic like here in Binh Duong?

It's not so bad; it usually doesn't take long to get from place to place. However, buses are not
always good because they are always crowded and some buses drivers are very careless.
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5) How do you think the public transport could be improved?

I think roads should be widened and there should be more buses available.
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6) Can you just image the transportation in the future and describe it for me?
In the future, the speed of car, train and plane will be faster. And, the transportation will be
easier and convenient.
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7) Just compare the transportation in the past and now? What transportation do you like
and why?

Nowadays, we have more choice on the transportation than the past. Such as tube, plane etc,
even though in the small city. I like tube, because tube is safety and tube ticket is cheap.
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 TOPIC 13: FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
1) What kinds of food do you particularly like'?
I really like spicy food. I could eat it every day.
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2) Is there any food you don‟t like?

I don't like sweet and sour food, because I don't like mixing the two.
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3) Do you like cooking?

I love cooking and it's good to try out new recipes or just improve some of the ones that you
already know and make.
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4) Who usually does the cooking in your home?

I do most of the cooking, but there are others, like my mother, who takes turns too. I learned most
of my cooking from my mom. She is a great cook.
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5) Do you prefer to eat at home or in restaurants?

I prefer to eat in a restaurant, because then there's no washing up. The atmosphere and setting
are usually more relaxing and pleasant.
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6) Do you often eat with your family?

I eat with my family almost every day. Eating together is a special time for us, especially in
the evenings, because then we spend time together and can talk about our day.
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7) Do you think it's important for people to eat with their family?
Yes, because I think it gives people time to spend with their family, when they can eat good food
and enjoy with each other. It is almost the only lime when you have all of the family together, so it
is a good thing to do.
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8) Do you often go to restaurants to eat?

Not often, but if I had more money, I would eat out every night. It would save time on cooking
and washing dishes and shopping.
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 TOPIC 14: RELATIONSHIPS (FAMILY, FRIENDS)
v FAMILY

1) Could you tell me about your family?

My father is a manager at a bank and my mother is a nurse in a hospital. I am the only child, but
I have many cousins who I've grown up with.
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2) How are you getting on with your parents?

I get on with my parents wonderfully; they're easy to talk lo, kind, and I trust them completely.
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3) Do you prefer to spend time with your family or with your friends?
In many ways, my family is my friends. I want to spend time with them. But at the same time, I
sometimes have more fun with my friends because they are closer to my age.
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4) What do you usually like to discuss with your family?

I usually talk to my parents about my study, my friends, my future, almost everything.
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5) Is your family very important to you?

My family is one of the most important things in the world to me. When everything goes wrong
and nothing is going right, my family is always right there for me.
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6) Are friends more important than family? (Why?)

Definitely not! Although friends are sometimes more fun to hang out with, they are no way as
important as family members. The main reason is because family members share your blood
and they are irreplaceable where as in contrast people often change friends.
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7) Who is your favorite person in the family?

My favorite person in my family is my brother. He is very important for the family because
he loves everyone and he also provides guidance to the family members.

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____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
v FRIENDS

1) What kind of people do you like to have as friends?

People that enjoy being around me and appreciate doing things with me, people who I can trust
and have fun with.
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2) Do you like to spend time with friends?

Yes, I love to spend time with friends. It's one of my favorite things to do, because we can
have fun together and we can understand each other more.
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3) Do you have a best friend?

Yes, I do have a best friend who‟s just like a sister to me. I'd do anything for her.
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4) What do you and your friends do together?

Often we sit around and chat, or we play games, or watch movies together.
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________________________________________________________________________
5) Can you describe your best friend?
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________________________________________________________________________
6) How long have you known each other?
Since we were at primary school; we went to the same school and had the same hobbies. We
grew up together.
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7) Is friendship important to you?

Friends are very important to me, because if I have a problem then I have someone to talk to and
ask for advice. Also, then I'm not lonely or bored. We can share our happiness and sadness with
each other.
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 TOPIC 15: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(MOBILE PHONE, EMAIL)
v Mobile Phone

1) Are cell phones popular in your country?

Yes, certainly. Everyone in my class has at least one.
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2) Do you have a mobile phone?

Yes, I have a mobile phone. I carry it with me everywhere I go.
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3) What do you use it for?

Mostly I use it for personal conversations or text messaging. With the phone that I have I can go
online or even download books and then rend them on my phone. Sometimes, I use it to take
photos.
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4) Who uses a mobile phone the most often in your family?

Well, it's me! I talk too much on the phone. I spend a lot of money every month on it.
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5) How long have you used your cell phone?

Four nearly 4 years; when I graduate from high school, my father gave it to me.
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____________________________________________________________________________
6) Is a mobile phone important in your life?
I guess so, for it makes life a lot easier and more convenient. Cell phones are good for
emergencies, like your car breaking down.
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7) What are some disadvantages of using mobile phone?
Firstly, mobile phones may cause some problems in certain public areas. When they ring in
public places like cinemas and schools they create a disturbance. Excessive use of mobile
phones can cause brain damage due to radiofrequency (RF) waves they emit. Talking or
texting on a mobile or cell phone while driving is very dangerous
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Email

1) Do you often write email?

Yes, sometimes I enjoy writing email more than talk ing to people.
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____________________________________________________________________________

2) Who do you usually write to and what do you write about?

I write to my family, and to my friends; we tell each other about our lives and work, and also
we talk about our opinions and feelings.
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____________________________________________________________________________

3) What do you think is the most difficult kind of email to write?

I usually have a hard time writing business or formal letters, because then I just don't know what to
say.
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4) Do you prefer to write letters or emails?

I definitely prefer writing emails because I can type quite quickly; when I write letters my hand gets
tired and besides, the letter takes much longer to reach the person.
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5) What are the differences between handwritten letters and emails?

Most people feel that handwritten letters are more personal, and they feel as if the writer has
taken more time and thought in writing it.
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6) Do you prefer, to make a phone call or write an email?

It depends. If I need to contact someone ASAP then I will call them. Waiting for someone to
return an email could take days. If I am not in a hurry then I will write an email since it is free
and saves money. Also I don't like to talk with people directly.
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7) What are some disadvantages of using email?

The first disadvantage is that emails may carry viruses. These are small programs that harm
your computer system. In addition, many people send unwanted emails to others. These are
called spam mails. It takes a lot of time to filter out the unwanted emails from those that are
really important.

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____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

8) What are some disadvantages of using email?

Firstly, emails are easy to use. You can organize your daily correspondence, send and receive
electronic messages and save them on computers. Secondly, emails are fast. They
are delivered at once around the world. Thirdly, emails do not use paper. They
are environment friendly and save a lot of trees from being cut down.

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The end

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