Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Copy of Từ cổ chí kim phiên bản speaking
Copy of Từ cổ chí kim phiên bản speaking
#1 - MORNING ROUTINE
What do you do in the morning?
● As soon as I open my eyes → I immediately hop out of bed and…
● My morning routine starts with …
● I start my day by …
● I … first thing in the morning
o Brush my teeth → for dental health / healthy teeth
o Wash my face → feel refreshed and awake
o Chug a glass of water → rehydrate myself
o Go for a jog/ go for a walk / do push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks → keep
body active
Is breakfast important?
● Breakfast fuels your day/ energizes your body → helps you work during the day
without feeling fatigued / exhausted → If you skip breakfast → don’t have enough
nutrition for the day
● An empty stomach can affect your concentration and mood (you get grouchy) → b/c
the brain is starving for energy → breakfast will improve your alertness and mood
Go
What is your morning routine during weekends?
● At the weekend, I don’t have work/ class → I often lie in/ sleep in → My day starts later
than usual → Then …
● I don’t have work/ class → I take my time more to … → There’s no need to rush
#8 – PHOTOGRAPHS
Do you like to take photographs?
● I’m into photography → I love taking photos, even though I’m just an amateur
photographer → I take photos of flowers, food, etc. and post them on my Instagram
● I enjoy taking photos → It allows me to save/ keep a visual record of things I find
interesting → Examples: ….
● Yes → I mostly take selfies or group selfies with my friends → share on Facebook
#9 – SLEEPING
How many hours do you sleep?
● I’m a night owl → I hit the sack quite late → I have only around 6 hours of sleep a night
● I go to bed early → make sure I have 8 hours of sleep → I am fully recharged for the
next day
● Occasionally, there is a deadline → I need to pull an all-nighter/ I stay up really late
to finish my tasks → I don’t have enough sleep at all
#10 – PLANTS
Do you have plants in your house?
● Yes. I love to grow ornamental flowers in my back garden → to decorate my house
→ Some of them also have a pleasant scent
● Yes. I grow a bonsai, which is a small tree in a clay pot → It is my hobby and it helps
me relieve stress OR → Bonsai trees can clean and purify the air → I can breathe the
fresh air
● Yes. Only during the Tet holiday. It is a tradition to have a pot of apricot blossom
inside the house. It represents luck and prosperity.
● No. Plants require a lot of care like watering, pruning, fertilizing → I don’t have the
time for it
Did you look after any plants when you were younger?
YES
● I grew … when I was young. Daily, I watered/ pruned the plant to help it grow stronger.
It is a hobby of mine.
NO
● I didn’t have time for it even though I really wanted to.
I don’t like gardening. It requires too much of my time and energy.
#11 – DREAM
Do you often dream when you sleep?
● All the time → I dream about very random things like …
● No → But once in a while, I have a nightmare, which is very frightening
● No → I rarely dream → I guess it’s because I sleep very deeply
#12 - BOREDOM
Do you often feel bored? Why?
● All the time → I’m a student → Besides studying, I have nothing else to do → So I
often listen to music / watch a movie out of boredom
● Yes → I have a low boredom threshold / I get bored easily → I always need to do
something to keep me engaged / to make me concentrate → Ex: listen to music,
watch a movie
● No → Whenever I have nothing to do, I can always play with my phone, surf the
Internet, have a little chit-chat with people around
● No → I am always buried in work → I always have something to do → Rarely do I feel
bored.
As you grow older, do you often feel more bored than when you were younger?
● Yes, definitely → When I was young, I was more curious → Everything was new to me
→ However → Now, there is nothing interesting anymore in my daily life → It’s all same
old, same old / the same
● Of course → Back in the day, I was free to do anything that I like → However → As I
grow older, I must do things that I may not like → Sometimes, it will bore me to death →
Ex: working, studying.
#13 – TOYS
What was your favorite toy in childhood?
● Action figures → are based on characters in my favorite comic books/ video games/
etc. → I created fights between them / I thought up imaginary situations where they
would fight with each other → It helped me become creative
● (Barbie) Dolls → I played dress-up with them, brushed their hair, etc. → I played
house and roleplayed with the dolls → It was loads of fun
● Plush toys / Stuffed animals → They are super soft → I used to cuddle with them
when I slept
#14 – MAPS
Do you ever use maps?
● Yes → google maps → to get to the location that I want → It shows me the way
● Yes → Because I have a bad sense of direction → I can easily get lost → Maps help
me navigate
● Yes → road maps → When I’m in another country → I’m not familiar with the area → A
map helps me find my way to different locations
● No → I have a good sense of direction → I never get lost → Even if I do, I can ask a
stranger on the street for direction
#16 - READING
Do you often read?
● I’m an avid reader → Every day I try to read a little → Books are the best source of
knowledge → I can learn a multitude of (= extremely many) things by reading books →
My favorite book is … → It is a page-turner, a must-read
● I read the newspaper on a daily basis → keep myself updated with what is happening
● I don’t read books → I find reading books boring and tedious → There are too many
details in a book → Movies adapted from books show only the important details →
More enjoyable
● I love to read but I can’t make time for it → I’m too busy with work and life → ...
What is your favorite kind of book to read?
● I have on my nightstand self-help books → They show me ways to solve problems in
life → Ex: … → They are very educative
● To me, I’m a big fan of (Movies topic)
● I love to read biographies or autobiographies of people I respect → I know more about
their life → Ex: their adversities (= problems) and how they overcome them and strive
for success (= try to be successful) → I can draw many value lessons from … (=
learn from)
Do you often read newspapers?
● I read newspaper and enjoy a cup of coffee every morning → to be updated with
current events that happen in the country
● Yes → But I only flip to (= read) my favorite column, which is the fashion/ sports/ music/
etc. column → It is my main area of interest → to get the latest news about that topic
● Only when I have to do research for school assignment/ for work → Example:
Do you have any e-books?
● No → I like the feeling of holding a physical book in my hand, flip through the pages,
and dog-ear the page (= leave a dog-ear) when I haven’t finished the book → With
e-books, you can’t do those things.
● Yes → E-books can’t be damaged → They are much more durable
Yes → I can store thousands of e-books on my kindle → But it’s hard to keep a collection of
physical books.
#17 - AGE
Are you happy to be the age you are now?
● Yes. I’m in the prime of my life → I’m in good health -- I’m doing what I love -- I’m
living a fulfilling life
● No → I have just turned an adult / I’m about to legally become an adult → I must take
on responsibilities → Life is much harder than when I was young → Etc: find a job, pay
the bills, etc. → I’m not happy.
● No → I’m in my early 20s → I’m at the early stage of my career → I need to work hard
to achieve my goals → It can be exhausting
● No → I’m a highschool student → I must study days and nights to prepare for the exit
exam/ college entrance exam → I can’t wait to become an adult → …
When you were a child, did you think a lot about your future?
● No → I was carefree → I didn’t have a care in the world → I was only interested in
having fun, playing games with my friends, playing with toys etc.
● Yes → Since I was a little kid → I’ve always dreamed of becoming a … → I knew I was
destined to become ...
#18 - TEACHERS
#19
SHOES
Do you like shopping for shoes?
● Yes → love to go on a hunt for the trendiest pair of sneaker → an addition to my
collection
● Yes → They’re like a reward when I achieve something → I like to treat myself
● No → You only need 1 pair of shoes → I don’t see the point of having too many
#20 WEATHER
What’s the weather like where you live?
● Vietnam is a tropical country → it’s always sweltering → people rarely go out at noon
→ Unlike foreigners, we think the sun is bad for us
● HCMC has two distinct seasons → dry season and rainy season → the weather is so
extreme → the worst part about HCMC
● Ha Noi has four distinct seasons → the season I enjoy the most is Spring → all the
flowers bloom so beautifully
#21
SUNGLASSES
Do you like to wear sunglasses?
● Yes → It helps protect my eyes from the sun → they prevent sunlight from
discomforting my eyes → My eyes are sensitive → They are a must-have item when
I go out
● Yes → They are like a fashion accessory → Teashades are in vogue right now → I
have a pair at home → wear them whenever I go to parties
● No → I have never worn a pair → The polarized lenses can really affect my vision → I
feel uncomfortable wearing them
● Not right now but love to try → They’re so trendy and stylish → especially at the beach
#22
PAINTINGS
What do you know about paintings?
● I don't know the first thing about paintings → I'm visually illiterate → I don’t know
how to appreciate art at all
● I know as much as most people → I know the masterpieces of the world, but nothing
more → I’m not an art person
● I know painting is not my forte → Unless you’re trained, you can’t paint a good painting
● I’m well-versed in art → I took up painting at a very young age → I can recite all the
classics, types of paintings, art movements or techniques easily
#23
PARK
Are public gardens important in your country?
● Yes → they add a touch of green to the city → Most cities are a concrete jungle →
Garden or parks with trees can be refreshing
● Yes → a place for people to go for a jog/ walk in the morning → the place for exercising
● Yes → they help purify/ clean the air → makes the air in the city fresher → if not, the air
will be heavily polluted
● Yes → national parks help preserve wildlife and biodiversity → example: Cuc
phuong national park is home to a wide range of flora and fauna
Do you think there are enough public gardens in your hometown?
● No → people use the space to build residential areas → Too populous → air is getting
more polluted
● No → Not enough place for people to hang out/ do exercise → They don’t know where
to go when they want to relax
What do you think are the benefits of having gardens in the city?
● Help purify the air → city is crowded → lots of vehicles → emit exhaust fumes → trees
filter those gases
● Provide shade → in the summer, it’s scorching hot → trees can cool down the air →
people feel less uncomfortable
● add a touch of green to the city → the city looks more refreshing and beautiful
● Provide green space for people to exercise → in the morning, people go for a brisk
walk/ go for a jog → to enjoy fresh air and improve their health
#24
CELEBRITY
● If you don’t understand the · The rhythm is the most important thing in music
words, you can’t get the → You can still appreciate the song if you don’t
meaning → You don’t know understand the language → Ex: k-pop songs,
what the musicians are trying Despacito
to tell
Do you think the Internet has affected in music industry? In what ways?
YES
PAST PRESENT
● Artists put out · Artists can release digital albums on music streaming
physical CDs → services like Spotify, Apple Music → It’s easier for listeners
Fans bought the → Easier to buy → Cheaper to buy
CDs and listen
● Music can be shared/ distributed illegally through
● People needed to the Internet → The artists can lose the money from
buy the CDs to selling music
enjoy music
Do you think there will be further changes in the music industry in the future?
YES
● There will be more self-made superstars → Independent artists can make it big and
become viral → Why? Everyone has access to the Internet → Music can be shared
easier → Singers don’t need to do much marketing or make big investments
● Music will become more global → We can discover foreign artists easily → We listen
to and love songs written in another language → Ex: Despacito → There will be more
collaborations between artists in different countries → Artists from different countries
collaborate with each other
Do you think the music young people listen to in your country is becoming more
globalized? Why?
YES
● With the Internet, the younger generation is more exposed to different types of music
from different countries → They like foreign artists and listen to them
The majority of young people know English, or Korean, or Chinese as a second language →
They can put on English, or Korean, or Chinese songs for relaxation→ It also helps them to
learn the language better → Examples: …
#2 – WEBSITES
What types of websites are popular among your generation?
● Social media platforms: young people stay connected through Facebook, instagram,
etc. → It’s like a communication tool for young adults to keep in touch with each
other
● How-to websites: Young people start to adopt different hobbies → They look for
instructions on how to do things online → Ex: cooking recipes, gardening tips, etc.
● News websites: It’s a way for young people to stay updated with current news →
news about fashion, lifestyles, politics, etc.
Now:
● People can just talk through messaging apps → Even the video chat feature allows
people to see others’ faces through the Internet while talking
● When people go out, their eyes are glued to the phones → They don’t talk to each
other much.
How has the Internet changed the way we work and study?
● Group work: Online discussions with peers/ colleagues are made possible → You
can collaborate with people living far away/ from another country
Research information: The Internet has helped us to finish our tasks sooner → we can find
information more effectively and efficiently thanks to the Internet → There are even
instructions, tutorials that we can learn from.
#3 – PARTIES
What types of party do people have?
● Birthday party → People celebrate the birthday of the person → Friends and family
gathers for dinner → The birthday boy/ birthday girl opens the gifts → They all enjoy
meals
● Housewarming party → New homeowners will invite friends and family over when
they move into a new house or apartment → The host shows people around the
house → People bring gifts
● Farewell party → People throw farewell parties to bid farewell to those who are
going to study abroad/ leave the company/ …
● Wedding reception → After the marriage ceremony, wedding reception is held/
organized → Guests congratulate the bride and groom and have a feast
● For informal and casual parties/ celebrations → people only need to prepare food →
guests come and everyone enjoys a meal together → the host doesn’t need to spend a
lot of money
For formal functions → the organizer needs to hire a venue, prepare decorations, and pay for
catering service → It costs a lot of money.
#4 - REPLACING THINGS
What kinds of things young people want to replace?
● Clothes → Clothes go out of fashion quickly → Young adults want to always look
trendy → They replace old clothes and buy new ones to keep up with the trend →
Example: ...
● Smartphones → Most young people are early adopters of new technology → They want
the latest (the most current) model in order to proudly flaunt it in front of their
friends → It makes them feel great / it gives them kicks
Who do you think will want new things, children or old people?
● Children want new things more, especially toys → They get bored with current things
fast → They see their friends have new things → They pester parents to buy those
things for them → In contrast → Old people are content with / are accustomed to the
things they already own → They don’t like to switch to new things → ex: mobile phones
#5 – BUILDINGS
How do Vietnamese people feel about old buildings?
● We think old buildings represent our history → They show how our country
developed over the years → They have great historical value → We all agree that we
should preserve them → Example: Hoi An Old Town
● We feel that through buildings, we can learn certain aspects of history → We can learn
about how people constructed the buildings, what led to their construction and so
on → We learn more about history → We think old structures are of great importance/
are important → Ex: Ben Thanh Market.
Do old and young people in Vietnam have the same attitudes towards old buildings?
● Young people couldn’t care less about old buildings → To them they are just like any
other buildings → If the government knocks them down, young people won’t have an
opinion.
HOWEVER
● The older generation are emotionally attached to old buildings → because they grew
up during the time the buildings were built → They will fight tooth and nail to preserve
them / insist on preserving them.
What would you do if you saw something valuable but didn’t belong to you on the street?
● I would just leave it → I don’t want to get in any trouble → It’s not mine anyway, so I
don’t care
● If I chanced upon a small amount of money, I would keep it / take possession of it → I
don’t see anything wrong with it → Finders, keepers → It’s my lucky day.
● If it was a wallet or a bag, I would rifle through it to see if there was any contact
information → Try my best to return it → If not, I would take the valuables to the
nearest police station
#7 – COMPETITION
Are there many competition programs on TV nowadays?
● Reality Competition Shows → Contestants join and compete with each other on
something → They are eliminated every week → Until the finale, there will be a winner
→ Ex: The Amazing Race, Vietnam’s Next Top Model, The Bachelor, Dancing with the
Stars , Vietnam’s Got Talent
● Talent search shows → usually singing shows → Aspiring singers audition for these
shows to perform on stage → They also compete with each other
● Game shows → Are usually filmed in a studio → Teams or players answer questions or
solve puzzles to win prizes or money → Ex: Deal or No Deal, Family Feud, Who wants
to be a millionaire
#8 – READING
Why do some children do not read books very often?
● Some children simply don’t like sitting in one place → They like to engage in more
physical activities → Ex: play sports, physical games, etc.
● With the development of technology → Children are glued to their phones all the
time→ They just play games on their phone in their spare time
Do you think reading novels is more interesting than reading factual books?
● They are equally interesting
● Yes → Novels can transport you to another world -- You are on an adventure to an
imaginative world -- experience life and emotions (vicariously) through the characters’
stories
No → Factual books are more educative → They help you enhance your knowledge about a
specific topic
#9 – MEETINGS
What are the different types of meetings that people often go to?
● Town meeting → Residents living in a town come together to decide on important
matters affecting the town → Ex: budgets for public events, etc.
● Work meetings → A team needs to make a business decision → The meeting leader
raises a question/ problem → People put forward their ideas → Work together to
decide how to take actions → The leader delegates tasks to people
● Group meetings at school → Teacher gives a group assignment → Team members
meet up to brainstorm for the assignment → informal meetings
· Children can’t tell right from wrong → rules · Children should learn from
help to make sure they don’t do the wrong their own mistakes → help
things → shape their behaviours them grow → be more
· Is a way to help parents control their mature
children
· Rules will maintain order and stability · Rules can be too strict or not
→ Make sure everything stays under practical → Everyone will feel
control (Ex: traffic rules, classroom frustrated with the rule → They
rules) won’t follow it (Ex: not bring
· Rules make people become more cellphones to class)
disciplined and responsible → They
need to follow the rules (Ex: rules in
the classroom, rules for teachers)
Think of an example:
Should students learn history from books or documentaries?
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
#13 - FOOD
Why do you think some people choose to be vegetarians?
Animal cruelty → Animals have rights and feelings → People don’t want to cause them pain
Health → Plant-based diet is better for health → Eating a lot of meat may causes diseases →
Ex: cancer, obesity, gout
Religious reason → Some religions forbids people to eat certain types of meat
Packaged food → they contain tons of preservatives → not good for your digestive system
Restaurant food → they are not hygienic and nutritious → have food poisoning easily
Fast food → contain sugar and fat → lead to diabetes and obesity
What are the reasons why people are becoming overweight nowadays?
Develop strong bonds → bring family members closer to each other → Parents can understand
their children better through talking to them
Teach kids manners → Children learn the manners on the dinner table → Ex: Saying please
and thank you, not talk while chewing, etc.
What advantages can you get if you live near the water?
Leisure activities
Scenery
Natural disasters
Trash
Transportation of goods
Leisure activities
Fishing
Factories
Household waste
Oil spill
#15 - FAME
Attract stalkers
Have talents
Create a scandal
Appearance
Talent
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
Options: limited → Ex: classic and simple toys vs many options → Ex: tech toys, imported toys
Price: Cheaper vs more expensive
Design → basic, simple design → Ex: rag dolls vs life-like and great attention to details → Ex:
barbie dolls
Past: there were limited options → Ex: dolls, action figures → children didn’t have much choice
Now: there is a wide range of toys now → Ex: remote control toys, lego → toys are more
advanced → children can have more fun
Past: the design was basic and simple → Ex: dolls → they didn’t look realistic
Now: dolls are more lifelike → they look very real → they can wear detailed, fashionable
clothing (ex: barbie dolls)
Length: longer → no extra classes, little homework vs shorter → because of extra classes,
students are under heavy study load
Type: simple games vs more organized extracurricular activities, field trips, etc.
Past: It was longer → children didn’t have to go to extra classes → After school, they can
participate in outdoor activities (Ex: …)
Now: Playtime is limited → they have to study a lot → They are swamped with homework
Past: children played simple and traditional games → Ex: Hide and Seek, Capture the flag,
Hopscotch, Double Dutch, Marbles, Musical Chairs, Tag → They can move around, run around
→ good for health
Now: children play with their smartphones → online games → They sit in one place → bad for
health
Is there any difference between the games played by city children and those played by
children in the countryside?
Infrastructure
City children: they have a lot of facilities to play sports (Ex: football course, stadium) → They
can go there and play with their friends
Country children: They play in wide open fields
Equipment
City children: they can afford specialized sports gears (Ex: tennis rackets, tennis shoes)
Country children: They can’t buy expensive sports gears → They play with what they have.
#18 - TRAVELING
What are the differences between traveling to other countries and living there?
Food
Language learning
Sightseeing
Means of transportation
Distance
What are the differences between traveling by car and traveling by bicycle in a city?
Carbon footprint
Fees/ Cost
Convenience
Comfort
How do you imagine public transport might change in the future?
Speed
Infrastructure (on the street vs underground)
Capacity
What are the differences between a well-planned trip and a trip that is not well-planned?
Time
Unexpected things
Money spent
#19 - TECHNOLOGY
How has technology changed in Vietnam over the last few years?
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
Compare the pace of technological progress in the past and in the present?
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
Think of an example:
● .
● .
● .
PART 2
#1
Describe an interesting person you would like to meet
● Who this person is
● What this person does
● Why you think this person is interesting
● And what you want to do with this person
Who:
Ariana Grande → Grammy award-winning artist with multiple chart-toppers all over the world
What:
A singer, composer, model, and actor → one of the most talented and versatile people on the
planet
A role model to children and teenagers
Why:
On the top of her career → people look up to her
BUT
She is also relatable and vulnerable → she is struggling with her personal life
What:
Have a conversation with her → get to know her as a person → learn how she can maintain
work-life balance
Understand her inspiration → what materials she use for her art → to be inspired in life too
#2
Describe a person who helps protect the environment
● Who this person is
● What he or she does to protect the environment
● How difficult it is to do that
● And explain how you feel about the things this person does
Who
Lan → environmental club president → I’m a member of the club
What
● She organized many events aimed at raising people’s awareness → Ex: she
launched a campaign → encourage people to use reusable containers instead of
disposable containers → effective
Easy/ difficult
● It requires a lot of drive and passion → not everyone cares enough to do
How I feel
● I feel inspired → We can join hands to tackle the environmental problems → need
to act together
● I look up to her → She sets an example for the club members to follow
#3
Describe a beautiful man or woman you know
● Who he/she is
● How you know him/her
● What you know about her/him
● And explain he/she is beautiful