IELTS SPEAKING PART 1

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PART 1: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Topic 1: Home/accommodation

What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?

I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms
and a lovely back garden.

Who do you live with?

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

How long have you lived there?

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

What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived
in the past?
There’re quite a few differences. My parents’ house is huge with separate rooms, each of
which has its own bathroom so it’s really convenient and private. However, my apartment
right now is much smaller and I have to share a bathroom with my roommate.

Do you plan to live there for a long time?

To be honest, I intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after I graduate from
university. I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities I want.

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 get together to eat tasty meals, and chat
to each other – it’s a really harmonious atmosphere.

Are the transport facilities to your home very good?

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

Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?

I prefer living in a house to a flat because I value my privacy and need my own space.
Owning an independent house, I can plan and design a house layout to suit myself.

Please describe the room you live in ?

My current room is actually more like a bedsit. It is a multi – purpose room, I use it to
sleep and study as well. It is painted in pink, that’s my favorite color with a bed. It’s not
really spacious but it’s just right for me.
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What part of your home do you like the most ?
Definitely my own bedroom. It’s the personal space where I can do whatever I want
without getting scolded by my mom. Besides, my bedroom is an ideal place for me to
avoid noise, so I tend to lock myself up in my bedroom whenever I need to concentrate
on my study.

Topic 2 Study

Describe your education ?

I started primary school when I was 7. 5 years later, I went to secondary school at 12.
Then at 16, I made it to a high school for gifted students in my hometown. In my country,
highschool education lasts 3 years

What is your area of specialization?

Well, I am currently studying Economics. I have mastered the basics of economics and
socio-economics and I am planning to learn a foreign language for more job opportunities

Why did you choose to study that major?

I think it would help to fulfill my dream of enhancing my country’s positions to the
prestigious rank of world richest countries. Vietnamese goods have a real potential for
investigation in various departments, but they still struggle to make a name for
themselves, you know.

Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?)

Yes, of course. Studying economics, especially external economics, is interesting and
practical. It helps me to keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and
problem-solving skills as well.

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

As a child, I attended a public elementary school. It’s quite a big school in my hometown
which provides both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I
was quite lucky.

What was your favorite subject as a child?

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

Do you think your country has an effective education system?

To be honest, I don’t think so. Our system has somehow become stressful, does not
promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares
way too much about grades

Are you looking forward to working?

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Yes, I really waiting for a day I could wear a formal uniform to complete the task of a
professional tax accountant in the most prestigious bank that fulfilling my dream of
promotion and contribute to the national progression of my own nations

Topic 3: Work
What do you do?
I’m currently working as a graphic designer for a fashion magazine for youngsters

What are your responsibilities?

Well I’m mainly responsible for designing the cover of the magazine. I normally work
with the concept team to make sure that the final product will both attract the potential
buyer’s attention and express the theme of the magazine.

Why did you choose to do that type of work (or that job)?
I guess it’s because of my artistic passion. The process of creating beautiful things is
somehow intriguing to me, so I chose to be a graphic designer.

Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?

Well, if possible, I’d like to be a freelance writer. Actually I’m a big fan of action movies,
and I also care about healthy living, so, I’d love to write about these topics and share my
stories with people of the same interest.

Describe the company or organization you work for ?

My company is not huge, it’s just a small art design office, but is definitely an
inspirational workplace with a young, creative, and extremely passionate team….

Do you enjoy your work?

Most of the time. It’s rewarding to co-work on projects with amazing people in an open
and supportive environment to bring out an art production that will ultimately give me a
sense of satisfaction and pride.

What do you like about your job?

Well, the perk of being a graphic designer is that you’ll surround yourself with inspiring
images everyday. My daily working life involves seeking out inspiration in all sorts of
places, researching incredible illustrations and graphics

What do you dislike about your job ?

What I don’t like about this job is that our personal taste in design varies, and normally
I’ll have to do a thousand edits to get the final product that meets the demand of my boss

Do you miss being a student?

My answer could be yes because when I’m burdened with heavy workloads or the
pressure of everyday life, I recall the memories of being a student.with carefree and
innocent back then
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Topic 4: Bags

Do you use bags often?

Yes. It is one of my must-have items. Wearing a bag when going out helps me carry my
necessities as well as giving me a fashionable look.

Do you usually carry a bag when you go out?

Yes. I always bring my personal stuff such as water bottles, whenever I get outdoors;
therefore, carrying a bag gives me a sense of comfort.

What types of bags do you like ?

Well, I use a backpack on a daily basis because I always put heavy stuff inside the bag
such as my laptop, books,… so I guess it is also my top priority thanks to its convenience.

Do you have different bags for different occasions?

Well, I’m not a bag enthusiast, so I just use my plain leather backpack all the time.

Topic 5: Living place

Do you live in a house or a flat?
Well I live in a terraced house with my family in Vietri city. It’s not a spacious house but
it’s just right for my family with a nice living room, a kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
and a lovely back garden.

What can you see from the windows of your home?

The first thing that I can see from my window is the lovely back garden we have where
my mom plants a lot of roses. If I look more widely, I can see many other houses in our
neighborhood and tall trees

Are you satisfied with the place where you focus on living?
Yes, I am. For me, my house is a wonderful place as this is the place I grew up in, went
to school, and made all my memories.

Topic 6: Wild animals

Do you like to watch TV programs about wild animals?

When I was a high school student, I loved watching wild animal TV programs. I
personally like cinematic documentaries like Planet Earth. They’re so incredibly well-
made that I could watch them all day.

Where can you see wild animals?

Well, I am able to observe wild animals in the zoo. But to tell the truth, I hate the zoo.
Not in tiny enclosures where they get sick or overweight due to lack of exercise. I agree,
some zoos are good, taking good care of the animals, but most zoos have tiny enclosures
where animals are cramped.
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In which country do you think you can see many wild animals?
I think every country has wild animals but it is not easy to see them as they live in the
forest. However, if you go to Kangaroo Island, South Australia, you will have the chance
to spot not only the Australia’s national icon: the kangaroo

Topic 7: Keeping healthy

In what ways do you try to stay healthy?

In my opinion, the best way to stay physically healthy is knowing the fundamentals of
nutrition. There are three macro nutritional values which are carbohydrates, protein and
fats.

What do you think is more important, eating healthy or doing exercise?

Well, the human body is designed to be physically active. If one is active enough, exercise
is not at all a specific requirement. Food on the other hand is a basic necessity of life and
one has to take care to choose the right and healthy food for a healthy life.

What part of your lifestyle would you most like to make healthier?
I think I should focus more on improving my sleep habits because getting enough quality
sleep is essential for my physical and mental health.

Topic 8: Concentration

What do you need to be focused on?

I would normally set aside a specific time and place and request to be left alone for a
period of time. Another alternative for me is to seek out a quiet location where I know I
will be able to work undisturbed.

What might distract you when you are trying to stay focused?
I sometimes abandon a task because I am disturbed by either a noise or sound, or other
thoughts creeping into my mind suddenly.

What do you do to help you concentrate?

Whenever my work requires complete concentration, I played the finger gyroscope for
about 5 minutes to be mentally well-prepared to undertake the task. What really amazes
me is that it keeps rotating for a long time and seems to go on non-stop. All my vision is
captivated by this little instrument.

Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?

For a very long period of time, I suffered great concentration issues and was not able to
focus on one thing for a long period of time. Until now, my focus capacity has become
sharper as I have been trying different ways to concentrate on my important work.
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Topic 9: Teachers

Do you like any teacher of yours?

Yess, of course, throughout my academic life, I was instructed by many lovely teachers
whom I love and respect a lot. Among them, the person who inspired me the most is my
English major teacher in my high school.

Do you still keep in touch with your teachers?

Well, after high school graduation, I still contact my Physics and English teachers from
time to time. Besides, on special occasions like the Tet holiday or Teacher’s day, I still
visit them with my friends to express our gratitude.

Do you think it’s important to like your teacher?

When you have a good relationship with your teachers, you may find their way of
teaching more understandable. Most importantly, you will feel more motivated in
studying and in the end perform academically better when you feel deeply attached to
your teachers.

Do you want to be a teacher?

I’m quite enthusiastic about conveying knowledge to others, especially those who are
willing to learn. As I’m capable of explaining things in a concise and appealing way, I’m
quite cut out for teaching.

What qualities should a good teacher have?

Well, one needs to have a lot of attributes to become a decent teacher, in my opinion.
Besides good knowledge, you also need to be patient, diligent and highly disciplined.
Unless you are passionately devoted to teaching, you cannot call yourself a good teacher.

Do you have a favorite teacher?

I had so many favorite teachers and it’s a bit difficult to pick one, but I would say the
English major teacher in high school was the one I love the most. She always delivered
engaging lessons, she showed the beauty in learning and encouraged us to pursue our own
interests.

Topic 10: Days Off

What do you do on your day off?

There are some activities that I enjoy on my days off: Relax and unwind: Take some time
to rest and recharge by reading a book. Spend time with loved ones: Hang out with friends
or family members, go on a day trip or weekend getaway.

Do you usually spend your days off with your parents or with your friends?
I like spending quality time with my parents on my day off: spending a relaxing afternoon
or evening watching a movie or TV show together. Take the time to have deep and
meaningful conversations with my parents, sharing my thoughts and feelings
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Topic 11: Friends

Do you have many close friends?

I have only one friend I would confide in. I’m quite picky and more importantly, I have
a somewhat irrational fear that none of my friends really like me and that I'm just a guy
they can barely tolerate and it is hard for me to live in harmony with them.

Do you think friendship is important?

There is no doubt that friendships play a vital role in our life. They make our lives
interesting and wonderful. They help us develop a sense of sharing whether they are
tangible things or just inspirational or motivational words of wisdom.

Which do you prefer to spend time with: a friend or spend time alone?
It depends. Normally, I'm more of a loner and generally spend more time in solitude than
with friends. But when I’m in a bad mood, loneliness makes me feel isolated from the
whole world.

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

Adults use self disclosure to develop trust and loyalty among friends while children
usually use common interests and goals as the basis of their friendships. More
importantly, kids have a whale of time with whoever, but adults have to use their time for
work and taking care of their family.

Do you like face-to-face conversations with people?

Actually I like to talk with cyber friends more than having real-world conversations. I
think others observe me a lot, they judge me and hence I become very self conscious and
shy away from speaking face to face.

Are most of your friends from school or from outside school?

Most of my friends are from high school. People who I met at work or from clubs have
less in common with me, whereas at Uni we all shared interests in the same things and
subjects.

How often do you meet with your friends?

When I was younger, I used to meet my friends almost everyday. Even friends outside of
school were a part of my daily social interactions.

What do you and your friends do together?

My closest friends and I have a mutual interest which is that we always have a thirst for
clothes shopping, so whenever we have time, we will go shopping together until we break
the bank.
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How do people in your country meet others and make friends?
I think that in every country, you can make friends just by sitting next to someone a few
times during class, then a friendship logically happens. Otherwise, you can make cyber
friends through social networks like Facebook or Twitter.

Do adults and children make friends in the same way?

Adults use self disclosure to develop trust and loyalty among friends while children
usually use common interests and goals as the basis of their friendships. More
importantly, kids have a whale of time with whoever, but adults have to use their time for
work and taking care of their family.

Do you think it is possible to become real friends with people you meet on the
internet?
Of course it is possible to establish real friendships with someone online. What you need
in a friendship is truthfulness, reliability, empathy, respect and loyalty.

Topic 12: Language learning

Will you learn other languages in the future?

I am really into traveling to France because this nation boasts a diverse range of culture
like literature, architecture, fashion, and cooking. Besides, I know a lot of engaging
French movies so that’s quite a compelling reason to learn their language.

Do you think it is difficult to learn a new language?

For the language itself, grammar may baffle many learners, while others can’t pick up
pronunciation and struggle to memorize vocabulary. Alphabets can be challenging,
especially the complicated ones like Kanji or Tibetan.

What language can you speak?

I try to expose myself to the language according to my hobbies and interests. Watching
movies with subtitles, reading books on my favorite topics or listening to music are of
great help to my linguistic command.

Why do you learn English ?

I learn English out of academic, diplomatic, commercial or other practical considerations
because it is the preferred language when communicating with most foreigners

Topic 13: Dreams

How long can you remember your dream when you wake up?
Well, it usually lasts for some minutes since I usually talk with my friends immediately
about what I dreamed the night before but I can’t recall any details after that.
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Do you like hearing others dream?
Yes. Sometimes you can gain insight into the person who tells the dream because
sometimes dreams reflect some kind of reality.

Do you think dreams will affect life?

I don’t think so. Dreams while sleeping just indicate poor sleeping quality, but I do think
that dreams have special meanings.

Do you often have dreams at night?

I don’t think I usually dream at night because I always sleep like a rock every night.

Have you had a bad dream before?

Yes. I dreamt about how I performed poorly when I was sitting the finals and it turned
out to be one of the worst nightmares I’ve ever had.

What was the strangest dream you have had?

Well, the strangest dream I’ve had was traveling from VN to the US by bicycle. It took
me just over 4 days to make it to the States and I was quite disappointed when I woke up.

What do you usually dream about?

I usually dream about what happened in the daytime. For example, during exam week, I
even take exams in my dreams. It’s like an endless nightmare.

Topic 14: Favorite Day

Which day is your favorite day ?

It must be my birthday event that marking a new and turning phase in my life, and it is a
time that I become the main character of my life when many people gathering with me
can give loads of complementation and wishes for blessings

How do you usually spend your time?

Well, If I don’t have to go to school, I spend my time mostly at home. I watch motivational
videos, read a good book which can make me more knowledgeable and for fun I watch
“How I Met Your Mother” shows.

Topic 15: Ambition

What are your career ambitions or goals?

Well, as a digital marketing student, I aspire to become a specialist in the field, developing
expertise in areas such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC)
advertising, social media marketing, or email marketing.
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Is it important to have ambitions?
I think we are actually happier when our mind is occupied with meaningful things, rather
than the time we are spending on leisure. Therefore, it is also important for us to choose
an ambition that is matched by our skills.

What were your ambitions when you were a child

Well, when I was a kid, around 7–8, I always wanted to be a flight attendant. “I can go
places”- I used to think. And they dress pretty too. I'll dress pretty and go see the world

Topic 16: Schools

Where do you go to school?

I attended a top 10 best university in Vietnam located in Hanoi, and I feel very proud and
fortunate to be a student of this university.

Do you think your school is good for every student?

Yes, I do. My university offers a variety of resources to their students, including libraries
and specific studying spaces. Also, there are a lot of choices of majors and specializations
for us to choose from and students here can have a chance to get access to a huge amount
of networking opportunities for internships and jobs.

What changes do you want to make in your school?

Well, I have complained a lot about the food in the cafeteria but nothing changed. So last
year, I finally moved off campus so that I could cook for myself.

Topic 17:Arts

What forms of visual art are popular in your country?

Because Vietnam has much cultural and natural diversity and a long history, we take pride
in various types of visual art ranging from painting, sculpture, crafts, and drawing.

Are there any differences between the art in your country and the art in Western
countries?
Since culture varies, there is a vast difference between art in Vietnam and western nations.
There are some unique Vietnamese art styles, such as stilt houses and martial arts, that
we do not see in the western world.

Do you want to be an artist?

Not really. Though I have a strong passion for drawing, I don’t expect to become an artist;
that’s why I opted for Business as my university major. The reason is that being a
successful artist is hard, especially for those from a middle-class family like me.
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Topic 18: Music

Do you like listening to music?

I am an audiophile and crazy about listening to music, especially US-UK. My favorite
artists are Miley Cyrus and Troye Sivan; their songs always sound awesome to me.

When do you listen to music?

Basically I listen to music whenever I feel like doing so, but maybe I most often do that
before going to sleep, when I’m on the bus, or when I don’t have any important tasks to
work on.

Did you learn instruments?

I didn’t take up any musical instruments, and still haven't. I have always wanted to learn
to play the piano ever since I was a kid, but never got the chance either. I’m planning on
getting some piano lessons this summer.

Did you have any music classes in school?

I used to have music classes back when I was in primary school and secondary school
only. I really loved my music class in secondary school - for our midterm and final tests,
we had to form a group of at least four and perform a certain song that we chose ourselves.
It was so much fun.

Do you think it is necessary for children to have music classes?

In my opinion, children should always have music classes. Music has been scientifically
proven to have positive influences on one’s way of thinking and feeling, so it will do
people good if they can experience music from an early age.

What do you think of Vietnamese traditional music?

It’s not really to my taste, to be honest. I literally cannot listen to traditional kinds of
music such as “ca tru”, “cai luong” or “cheo” but if this kind of music is mixed with
advanced genres such as electronic, rap might create a fantastic version.

How much time do you spend listening to music every day?

It depends. I often listen to music when I’m doing the housework or when I’m on the bus.
At that time, I feel like I can immerse myself in my own world. When I need to really
concentrate on school work, I don’t really listen to music

What is your favorite kind of music?

I don’t have a particular taste in music. I can pretty much listen to everything as long as
it sounds good to me. Still, I can hardly listen to Vietnamese traditional music, some
countries’ folk songs and several tracks belonging to the classical genre.

When did you start listening to this type of music?

The first time I heard a rock song was when my dad turned on the TV and there was a
performance of a very famous rock band in Vietnam called “Buc Tuong”. It was amazing.
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How do you feel when you listen to music?

Relaxed and free, I guess. Music, to me, is a way of hiding from all the hustle and bustle
of everyday life. I listen to music when I’m under a lot of pressure, and I just feel so fine.

Topic 19: Staying up

Do you go to sleep early or stay up late?

I’m definitely not a morning person. I like staying up past midnight. My brain seems to
hit a second wind around 9 PM. I’m wide awake and full of energy. I just can’t waste
something like that!

What do you do when you stay up late

Well from 9 PM onwards, I have a peaceful time in the house. That is good for me to look
for statistics, search on the internet, and go around using Google Maps. I enjoy those late
hours.

How do you feel when you have stayed up late the night before?
As I’ve said, I am not a morning person so I find it comfortable staying up late and
working at night.

Topic 20: Chocolate

Do you like eating chocolate?
Yes, I absolutely adore chocolate! Chocolate is basically my life. Chocolate milk, hot
chocolate, chocolate bars, chocolate cookies,...

Why do you think it’s so popular?

I think one of the reasons chocolate’s so popular is that it tastes amazing: sweet, creamy
and delicious. Also, chocolate is believed to have a calming effect with mood alteration,
an increased pulse and more energy.

Is chocolate good for our health?

Yes. Chocolate is especially rich in catechin, as well as phenolic acids. These compounds
help protect our cells from inflammation, improve our brain function, and boost our
immune and cardiovascular health

Topic 21: Jewelry

Do you often wear jewelry?

I wear jewelry pretty much every day or at the very least every other day. I believe that
jewelry allows me to make my outfits stand out and more unique to other people.

What type of jewelry do you like?

I always have my earrings and a watch on every day in addition to sometimes throwing
on a necklace every now and then.
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Why do you think some people wear a piece of jewelry for a long time?
I think each has their own reasons. In most cases, if people get attached to a certain piece
of jewelry, there might be a story behind it. It could be a symbol of something that they
cherish or a gift from someone they love.

Topic 22: Small business

Are there many small businesses in the place where you live?
Well, I know very little about small companies around my place. But I remember there
are some startup companies that I have come across on the way to school but I don’t know
what kind of products or services that they are offering

Do you prefer to buy things from a small business or large company?

It depends actually. I mean, I would go for a big brand company if I needed to buy some
important products like skin care or makeup products.

Topic 23: Outer space and stars

Have you ever learnt about outer space and stars?

Yes, I have. Though they are not included in our school curriculum, exploring the
universe always holds my attention. When I was a child , my dad bought me some books
about outer space, especially the Milky Way and its stars.

Are you interested in films concerning outer space and stars?

Absolutely. I’m really into sci-fi movies mixed with a bit of fantasy. A telling example is
Star Wars, a movie I have binge-watched many times because it always keeps me on the
edge of my seat.

Do you want to go into outer space in the future?

Yes, that’s the dream I’ve longed for. Traveling into space and beholding our planet from
an entirely different angle would be such a wonderful experience.

Topic 24: Weekends

What do you usually do on weekends?

Well literally anything. On Sunday, I usually schedule a meeting with my friends. We
mostly just eat out, drink craft beers and play board games

Would you say weekends are important to us?

Yes, I could say that weekends are really important. Weekends give us the chance to
improve ourselves as people rather than always improving our professional skills, to
spend time with friends and family, and to plan a weekend trip in a nearby place.
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Do you often go to the cinema on weekends ?
I probably only go once every two or three months because I have less time now than I
did when I was a student.

Topic 25: Keys

Do you always bring a lot of keys with you?

Well, I do bring keys with me every day, but just some important ones including a home
key and a locker key. They’re kind of like the daily necessities for me.

Have you ever lost your key ?

Yes, definitely. I am quite absent-minded, and there have been many times I left my
belongings including a key in public places.

Topic 26: T-shirt

Do you usually wear T-shirts?

Yes, I do. I love T-shirts because of their comfort and they can go with everything. It is
very easy to mix and match t-shirts with other clothes and accessories.

Do you like T-shirts with pictures or prints?

No T-shirts with pictures and prints are not my style. I would go for some basic and
classic tee that can easily mix and match with other clothes.

Do you think older people who wear T-shirts are fashionable?

Yeah, I think it is true because T-shirts can give a young vibe to people who wear them
compared to other types of clothes.

Topic 27: Happy

Is there anything that makes you feel happy lately?

Yes. There is. My mom visited me three days ago and will stay with me for one week. I
am truly happy to see her and have her by my side. The moment I get home after a long
hard working day and see her making dinner for me, this makes me really emotional,

What do you do to stay happy?

Well, I just stop caring about things that annoy me, disturb me or make me angry. I just
leave them alone if I can’t deal with them. This is mostly meant for people I dislike or
requests I can’t fulfill

Can you stay happy all the time?

Truthfully, I believe it's impossible to always remain happy. There will always be times
when you'll feel sad, depressed. The feeling of sadness is inevitable in life, but I always
try to be optimistic about the situation
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Is it important to be happy?
Yes. It is. In my opinion, happiness has been linked to better decision-making and
improved creativity. So, rather than success being the key to happiness, I believe that
happiness could in fact be the key to success.

Topic 28:Library

Do you often go to the library?

Yes, at least once a week, often more. The primary thing people think of with a library is:
They contain books. I like books, and I read through them quickly.

Did you go to the library when you were a kid?

Not at all. This was simply because there weren’t too many readily available in Hanoi in
the olden days. I can’t imagine any kid would spend 5 hours on a bus reading a book for
half an hour and then go home.

Do Vietnamese kids often go to the library?

Some do but some don’t. For the most part, book reading culture in Vietnam is poor but
I personally know quite a few parents who take their well-read children to a local library
every weekend. This habit testifies to the parents’ unequivocal commitment to their kids’
education.

Topic 29:Ice-cream

Do you love ice cream?

Yes, I do like ice cream, especially something that is peanut butter flavored or caramel
flavored. If it has chocolate, then it’s a bonus too.

Did you often eat ice cream when you were a child?
Yes. of course. Ice cream has been one of my favorite desserts since my childhood.
Especially when I was around 13 years old, I almost ate ice-cream every day. For me at
that time, a day without ice cream was like a day without sunshine.

Are there shops selling ice cream near the place where you live?
Well, actually there are no dedicated ice cream stores around my house. However, there
are some local supermarkets near there which offer a limited selection of ice cream brands
and flavors.

Topic 30: Noise

What natural sound(s) do you like (the most)? (Why?)

There is one sound that can lift my spirits, the sound of rain. You know, there are moments
I’m so stressed out and I immediately go online searching for rain sounds, which helps
me feel relaxed and calmed.
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What sounds do you dislike? (Why?)
I can’t bear the sound made by fingernails on the blackboard since it really drives me
crazy.

What sounds remind you of your childhood?

The airplane. I was studying at an elementary school which is located near an airport, and
we could hear the sound of plane engines every time they flew through my school.

What (kinds of) music do you like the most?

Pop songs are one of my top choices since they have catchy melodies and meaningful
lyrics.

Does your school have any quiet places for studying?

Yes. We have a study room where students are provided with tables, reading space,
computers, and of course, making noise there is not allowed.

What are some places where there is a lot of noise?

Well, noise can be frequently heard around places such as airports, construction sites, and
train stations.

Do you mind noise? (Do any noises bother you?)

Absolutely. Unwanted noises really get on my nerves especially when I’m concentrating
on studying.

What types of noise do you come across in your daily life?

To be honest, I have to put up with a rich variety of noise on a daily basis. The first one
is the noise of vehicles at peak hours, and then heavy machinery from construction sites,
which easily distract me from work.

Topic 31: Fix things

Do you like to fix things? (Why/Why not?)

Absolutely! I have always been quite handy when it comes to fixing things. I enjoy the
challenge of troubleshooting and finding solutions to repair various items.

Who taught you how to fix things when you were young?
I learned that from my father who it seemed was always fixing something broken or worn
out.

What do you think is broken and cannot be repaired?

When I have to replace something, it is because replacement parts are not available or
cost more than a completely new assembly.