Topic 2: Hometown

Speaking – Part 1
Vocabulary
⚫ Places
Cinema /ˈsɪnəmə/ rạp chiếu phim
Art gallery /ˈɑːt ɡæləri/ khu triển lãm nghệ thuật
Shopping mall /ˈʃɒpɪŋ mɔːl/ trung tâm mua sắm
Harbour /ˈhɑːbə(r)/ bến cảng
Stadium /ˈsteɪdiəm/ sân vận động
Swimming pool /ˈswɪmɪŋ puːl/ bể bơi
Library /ˈlaɪbrəri/ thư viện
Town hall /ˌtaʊn ˈhɔːl/ tòa thị chính
Downtown /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/ trung tâm thành phố (nơi sầm uất nhất)
Residential area /ˌrezɪˈdenʃl/ khu dân cư
Industrial area /ɪnˈdʌstriəl/ khu công nghiệp
 Vocabulary
Adjectives:

1, Location 2, Opinion 3, Climate 4, Areas 5, Buildings

1, On the 1, Busy 1, Hot 1, Industrial 1, Tall
coast 2, Crowded 2, Humid 2, Business 2, Historic
2, In the 3, Dirty 3, Mild 3, Financial 3, Ordinary
north-east 4, Exciting 4, Cold 4, Tourist 4, Modern
3, In the 5, Lively 5, Old
center 6, Quiet 6, Ancient
4, Outdoor 7, Colourful 7, Narrow
5, Inland 8, Incredible 8, Enormous
6, Indoor 9, Magnificent 9, High-rise
10, Polluted 10, Huge
Vocabulary
⚫Verbs to describe changes:
Relocate /ˌriːləʊˈkeɪt/ di chuyển (địa điểm)
Increase (in size) /ɪnˈkriːs/ gia tăng
Move /muːv/ di chuyển
Build /bɪld/ xây dựng
Demolish /dɪˈmɒlɪʃ/ phá bỏ
Create /kriˈeɪt/ tạo ra
Develop /dɪˈveləp/ phát triển
Change /tʃeɪndʒ/ thay đổi
Expand (in size) /ɪkˈspænd/ mở rộng
Examples:
⚫ The firm may be forced to relocate from New York to
Stanford.
⚫ The population has increased from 1.2 million to 1.8 million.
⚫ We moved house last week.
⚫ They don't have the money to build roads.
⚫ The old slums are being demolished to make way for a new
housing project.
⚫ The new hotel in the heart of downtown is expected to create
200 jobs.
⚫ The place has rapidly developed into a thriving tourist resort.
⚫ Things have changed dramatically since then.
⚫ There are no plans to expand the local airport.
Vocabulary
⚫Idioms:
Hustle and bustle: sự ồn ào tấp nập
/ˈhʌs.əl/, /ˈbʌs.əl/
They love the hustle and bustle of the city. (= its energy and
excitement)

Out in the sticks: ở vùng ngoại ô

They live out in the sticks.

Run down: xuống cấp, suy yếu, giảm sút

The farm was a lot of work, but he did not want to let it run
down.
Questions
⚫ Can you describe the town where you grew up?
⚫ How has your town changed in the last 10 years?
⚫ Is it a good place for young people? Why?
⚫ What places of interest are there in your
hometown? Where are they?
⚫ Where do young people in your town meet their
friends?
⚫ Have any new buildings been built?
Questions
⚫Where were you born?
⚫Is there anything you used to do in your hometown
that you don’t do now?
⚫ What is the most famous place in your hometown?
⚫What part of the hometown do you like the best?
⚫Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?
⚫ A long time ago, where did people from your town used to
work?
Sample answers
⚫ Can you describe the town where you grew up?

- My parents raised me out in the sticks, in a small village which is

about 100 years old. It has a breathtaking view of picturesque
landscapes with rolling mountains and greenish lakes, and I think
this is a haven for people who are tired of the hectic pace in a city.

- I grew up in Ho Chi Minh City which is a typical metropolitan city.

The city is open 24-7, and is home to many cafes and restaurants
serving food from all around the world. The traffic is dizzying and life
happens at full-speed. It has all the entertainment services that young
people look for.
Sample answers
⚫ How has your town changed in the last 10 years?
- Actually it has changed a lots. Around 10 years ago you would barely
find high-rise buildings in my area, but now you’d easily be able to
catch sight of skyscrapers and tower blocks there.

- My hometown has evolved from a relatively quiet city to a hub of

shopping and entertainment. There have been major developments,
with shopping mall renovations and the addition of shop lined streets
leading all around the city. There are also more restaurants and bars
catering for all tastes.
Sample answers
⚫ Is it a good place for young people? Why?
- Yes, absolutely. Ha Noi is an ideal place for young people in terms of
amenities such as lively bars and shopping malls. Also, there are a
number of industrial zones or office blocks surrounding it, so young
graduates can easily get decent jobs.

- Of course, it is. HCM city is the most attractive place for young people
to study or get a decent job. Also, the dynamic lifestyle of urban areas
with sufficient facilities and services would suit them best.
Sample answers
⚫ What places of interest are there in your hometown? Where are they?
- In HCM, especially in the city’s downtown, people can easily choose
from a wide range of good places to party. There are rooftop bars
and swanky nightclubs which stay open until midnight or even later,
offering excellent service and panoramic views of the lively city and
beyond.

- Actually, it doesn’t have that much to offer tourists but since it is a

historic town, people often visit our seaside ancient temples located
right on the edge of the city, where locals worship the goddess of the
sea.
Sample answers
⚫ Is there anything you used to do in your hometown
that you don’t do now?
- Well, I think there is. When I was young, I usually
spent all my day in the library reading comics because it
was free to do so. I loved visiting the small one near my
home to the point that I skipped classes. But now, I no
longer stop by that place since everything has been
digitalized and is accessible via the internet. With just
one click, I can easily find my favourite manga without
going out of my home.
Sample answers
⚫ A long time ago, where did people from your town used to
work?
- My hometown used to be an agricultural area for many centuries,
not an industrialized zone like now. Most of the residents,
including my great-grand parents, were hard-working farmers.
They worked on the rice field throughout all those years.
⚫ Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?
- Oh, yes! There are two things that I can’t stand in my
hometown. The first one is the hot and humid type of weather in
summer there. It is so unpleasant that I find it hard to run some
outdoor errands even in the evening. And the second thing is the
traffic jam during rush hours. It often takes me up to 1 hour to get
home even though I live only 5 km away from my workplace.