Part 1: History

1. Have you ever visited a museum?

- Answer: (adv => V => S => Bare ..)
+ (dùng adv): Actually, rarely would I visit a museum, but it’s not like
I’ve never been to a museum before.
+ (introduce yourself): I’ve always been drawn to museums and the
collection of stuff inside these places.
- Discussion:
+ (context): I went on a field trip at school when I was in secondary
high school/ junior high, led by the headteacher. We paid a visit to
[the Local Museum]. It was a real blast/ eye-opening experience, I
learned a ton about history, and since then I started to see history in
a new light.
+ (imagine): Although I’ve never been to a museum before, I still can
picture what a museum should house. For example, it should be a
collection of historical artefacts, probably an arsenal of weapons
and ammunition (ammo). I hope that sometime/ someday I could
have an occasion on which I could visit a museum.
2. Do you like learning about history?
- Answer: I’ve always/ long been a history buff.
=> (negative): I’ve never been such a history enthusiast/ geek.
=> (superlative): I’m not the most knowledgeable (in the world) when it
comes to history.
- Discussion:
+ (liking): Learning about historical facts and events is a way to arm
myself with an understanding of our national history, specifically how
our forefathers had to fight bravely for the peace and order that
we’re enjoying today. So, with this, I’ll learn to appreciate those efforts,
and try to better myself to become an exemplary citizen, and I’ll be
able to contribute to the development of our country.
=> Learning about history and being able to elaborate on/
articulate on historical tidbits makes you look more cultured/
cultivated/ well-rounded.
+ (disliking): The teaching methods at school on history lessons are
conservative/ primitive, which makes the content dry. For example,
us students are supposed to learn all the historical dates and events
by heart/ by rote, and since I’m not good at memorizing things, I
flunked history exams at school so many times.
=> Students are scientifically proven to learn better from
visualization and involved experiences, so history lessons
with vivid portrayals (slides) or some role-playing/
enactment would be stamped forever in our memory,
instead of learning by heart.
3. Do you think learning about history is important?
- Answer: Definitely!
- Discussion:
 + Learning about history would instill in the learners a sense of
gratitude and gratefulness towards the efforts of our forebears in
regaining sovereignty/ the liberation (~ liberty/ freedom) from
foreign invaders, powerhouses such as the Americans and the
French.
+ For younger generations, if we’re equipped with insights into history,
we’ll be instilled with patriotism. So, we’d learn to appreciate and try
our best to put Vietnam on the map. We’re also armed with
knowledge of the developmental eras/ periods in history, so we can
contribute more to the thriving of our country.
+ By learning about history, we’ll have chances to reflect upon our
forefathers’ mistakes in the past, so we’ll not be stuck in the same
rut. Also on the other hand, we can learn a ton from our past victories.
Part 2: History & Museum
1. Describe a museum?
[Intro]: Actually, I wasn’t expecting this question, since talking about museums is not one of
my strong points/ strong suits/ fortes. To be more honest, I’d never jump at an
opportunity for a visit to a museum. Having said that, among the very few times that I’d
been to a museum, this one really stands out.
=> The first is always the most memorable, so yeah …
[Context]: It was 7-odd years ago, I was at the time a junior-high, and there’s a field trip
coming up, and we’re supposed to hit the Local Museum in Quang Ninh province.
=> At first, I thought to myself: man/ alas, it’s gonna be boring as hell/ bore me to
death, so I wasn’t really that expectant.
[Content]: But to my utmost surprise, [...].
- The layout is smartly designed, to showcase the most attractive and intriguing stuff
to the museum-goers. Not to mention the fact that it’s generous in space, which
makes the visitors, at least myself, feel like I’m immersed in a historic concept/
-
- vibe.
- The collection of historical artefacts and relics is wide-ranging, from heavy
warfare such as rifles and ammunition, as well as aircrafts and tanks, to soldiers'
disguise used during wartime.
- The in-house tour guides are charming/ eloquent and full of knowledge about
history. They’re able to regale the visitors with historical tidbits not known to many
people => Actually, one of the staff there is a war veteran, and as he reminisced
about the years when he was a Vietcong, it’s like we’re literally living his past.
- Bronze statues: The highlight is a statue of HCM president in life-size, which is why
it’s so lifelike. I’m told by one of the staff that inside there’s a heart of gold, which
figuratively symbolizes the fact that he’s full of warmth and kindness.
[Ending]: It was really a fruitful experience, ever since then history started to grow on me.
2. Describe a historical event? => The Independence Day
● [Intro 1]: Since Vietnam is a country with a long-enduring/ long-lasting history,
everything in our country is steeped in historical value. So, this one is somewhat of a
brain-racker, because it’s hard to single out a particular historical event that’s
worth-telling.
 ● [Intro 2]: This one is tricky, since I would never consider myself as a history buff.
Actually, I used to flunk history exams in high school a lot. Having said that, it’s not
like I don’t know anything about history, so I’m gonna tell you about TID.
[Context]: When I was still in school, like I’ve just mentioned, that I flunked history a lot. So,
at one point, I decided that I’m not gonna ever be the laughing stock for the whole class
during history lessons. In preparation for the upcoming test, I’d put all my heart and soul
into revising the lessons (burned the midnight oil). And the test is about TID, that’s all I
can remember.
[TID]: For the most part, it fell on the Second September 1945.
- To paint you a picture, on this day, HCM president read out loud the Declaration of
Freedom at Ba Dinh Square. Everybody gathered around the venue, holding their
breath and listening attentively to every word from him.
- To sum up, it marked the day when Vietnam officially became a sovereign country,
with its own government.
- It ends the era of the French colonization, meaning that Vietnamese people finally
escaped the shackles/ chain/ yoke of slavery.
- Although we’re just past the Vietnam war, and our country was still crippled, Wwe
finally embarked on a new era of economic development, and everyone was in high
labor spirit/ positivity was filled to the brim.
[Ending]: So, TID is really a historical milestone in the history of Vietnam.