 The person who I really admired that I would like to talk about is Tuan, my friend from high

school. When Tuan started work, he was at the very bottom of the career ladder. He had
quite a dead-end job doing run-of-the mill tasks. He stayed there for a couple of years, but
then decided he had to get out of a rut. He pulled out all the stops and managed to
persuade his manager that he should be given more responsibility. The deputy
manager got the sack for incompetence and Tuan stepped into his shoes. For several
months he was rushed off his feet and he had his work cut out to keep on top of things.
But he was soon recognised as an up-and coming young businessman and he
was headhunted by a rival company for one of their top jobs. Tuan had climbed to the top
of the career ladder. His hard work makes me admire him a lot and I aspire to have a
career like him. 
AT BOTTOM OF THE CAREER LADDER 

• At bottom of the career ladder 

 Meaning: in a low position in a work organisation or hierarchy
 Today's science system puts Ph.D. candidates at the bottom of the academic career
ladder with no clear or unified legal and social status
A DEAD - END JOB 
• A dead - end job 
 Meaning: job without a good
 Example: Despite having a degree in journalism, he got stuck in a dead-end job at an
insurance company.. 
RUN-OF-THE-MILL 
• Run-of-the-mill 
 Meaning: boring, routine. 
 Example: The event is not just a run-of-the-mill conference.
GET OUT OF A RUT 
 Get out of a rut 
 Meaning: escape from a monotonous, boring situation
 Example: I was in a rut and couldn’t get out of it.
PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS 
• Pull out all the stops 
 Meaning: made a great effort to do something well.
 Example: They pulled out all the stops for their daughter's wedding.
GET THE SACK  
• Get the sack  
 Meaning: was dismissed from his job (also be given the sack)
 Example: I’ll get the sack if I arrive at the office late!
STEP IN TO SB’S SHOES
• Step in to sb’s shoes
 Meaning: to take someone's place, often by doing the job they have just left
 Example: Who do you think will step into Sarah's shoes when she goes?
RUSH/RUN SB OFF THEIR FEET
• Rush/run sb off their feet
 Meaning: to cause someone to be very busy.
 Example: I've been rushed off my feet all morning.
HAD HIS WORK CUT OUT 
• Had his work cut out 
 Meaning: had something very difficult to do
 Example: She'll really have her work cut out to finish all those reports by the end of the
week.
UP-AND-COMING 
• Up-and-coming 
 Meaning: becoming more and more successful
 Example: Tatiana is an up-and-coming young actress.
HEADHUNT
• Headhunt
 Meaning: invited to join a new workplace which had noticed his talents.
 Example: She was headhunted by a rival firm.
CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE CAREER LADDER 

• Climbed to the top of the career ladder 

 Meaning: got to a top position in a work organization or hierarchy.
 Example: If someone has a good work ethic, they should climb to the top of  the
career ladder..
PUT ON HOLD 
• Put on hold 
 Meaning: left until a later date (usually used in a passive) (
 Example: Plans for building the extension have been put on hold until our finances are
in a better state.
ON PAPER
• On paper
 Meaning: when you read about it, but might not turn out to be so. 
 Example: The plans look great on paper, but you never know quite how things will turn
out, of course..
BEHIND THE SCENES 
• Behind the scenes 
 Meaning: out of sight, hidden, or in a way  that people are not aware of, often when
something else is happening publicity.
 Example: A lot of preparation has gone on behind the scenes for the opening
ceremony for the Olympics.
 The person who I really admired that I would like to talk about is Tuan, my friend from
high school. When Tuan started work, he was at the very bottom of the career ladder.
He had quite a dead-end job doing run-of-the mill tasks. He stayed there for a couple
of years, but then decided he had to get out of a rut. He pulled out all the stops and
managed to persuade his manager that he should be given more responsibility. The
deputy manager got the sack for incompetence and Tuan stepped into his shoes. For
several months he was rushed off his feet and he had his work cut out to keep on top
of things. But he was soon recognised as an up-and coming young businessman and
he was headhunted by a rival company for one of their top jobs. Tuan had climbed to
the top of the career ladder. His hard work makes me admire him a lot and I aspire to
have a career like him. 
 Worth-living
 When it comes to a worth-living city in Vietnam, I must mention Danang. This city is the most well-known city for not only stunning
beaches but also tourism. 
 Pavement cafe
 Pavement cafe is a cultural uniqueness in Vietnam. Youngsters love sitting on vendor and quickly order a couple of cups of brown
coffee 
 Place of interest 
 Some historical sites in Hanoi are places of interest for foreign visitors who would love to understand the culture and history of the
capital.
 Be stuck in constant traffic jam
 One of the biggest drawbacks of living in a city is to be stuck in a constant traffic jam during peak hours.

 Vibrant nightlife 
 Hanoi has a vibrant nightlife with full of activities at the pedestrian zone near the Old Quarter. 

 Amenity /əˈmiːnəti/ :
 The new leisure center has all amenities for local residents (Oxford dictionary) 

 Hectic pace of life /ˈhektɪk/ /peɪs/ :

  I have an aversion to the hectic pace of city life, therefore, when I retire I will lead a simple life in my lovely countryside. 

 An ideal spot
 Hoi An Ancient Town is an ideal spot for those who love enjoying the nostalgic architecture.

 A residential area 
 I am living in a quiet residential area because a lot of the elderly live there, so I don’t have to turn on loud music at night. 
WHAT IS IT LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE?

 It is a residential area located near the heart of HCM city. This area has all
the amenities that I need for work and recreation, such as supermarkets, convenience
stores, fashion boutiques, sports centers, schools, English centers, and so forth…
DO YOU PREFER THE CITY OR
THE COUNTRYSIDE?
 Frankly, despite some undeniable drawbacks of living in a city such as air pollution or traffic jam, I still prefer
the urban life. Simply, it is because of a variety of job opportunities and vibrant nightlife. 
IS YOUR CITY A GOOD PLACE FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE TO GROW UP?
 I believe that HCM is a good spot for youngsters to grow up. HCM has plenty
of educational institutions to help young people learn foreign languages. Lots of
workshops related to studying abroad are frequently held with a view to providing up-
to-date information on scholarships for students. Moreover, entertainment
services are also diverse. In spite of the hectic pace of life, HCM, to me, is a worth-
living city.  
WHAT PROBLEMS CAN RAPIDLY
EXPANDING CITIES HAVE?
 Let me think… when a city expands rapidly, I would say it may develop without control.
Cities become big cities, then big cities turn into megacities with high population
density. Unfortunately, in this case, several problems can be caused, which may have
negative impacts on society. For example, megacities like Shanghai or Beijing are
facing up to severe air pollution. Plus, because a large number of young people flock
to big cities, there is also an increase in rental price and competitiveness in job
searching. As a result, a ton of pressure is put on youngsters’ shoulders. 
SOME CITIES RECEIVE MILLIONS OF
VISITORS. WHAT PROBLEMS CAN THIS
CAUSE?
 Well, in my point of view, when tourism is developed in some cities, it offers benefits.
More jobs are open for local inhabitants, the income of some households increases
considerably since breadwinners work in the hospitalization industry. Nevertheless,
mass tourism does cause some warning problems. When visitors gravitate towards
one city, this city is likely to lose its original character. Take Sapa as an example. In
the past, children receive candies from tourists happily as lovely gifts for their
hospitality. Today, children in Sapa seem to “force” visitors to give them candies, or
else some of them will cry out. The change in attitude has eroded the initial meaning
of friendliness and warmth of Sapa residents. 
A SNAG, A HITCH, A GLITCH
(SMALL DIFFICULTIES)
 A Snag: một trở ngại hoặc nhược điểm không mong đợi hoặc tiềm ẩn
 Eg: The vaccine is reported to be 99.87% effective for children; however, the only snag it is
facing now is long-distance transportation.
 A Hitch: một khó khăn hoặc vấn đề tạm thời:
 Due to a severe technical hitch of the fire, half of the audience at the Miss Universe Vietnam
2022 live show was displaced.
 Glitch:  thường đề cập đến một số loại vấn đề kỹ thuật 
 The screen failure was due to a glitch caused by the old RAM.
PREDICAMENT, DILEMMA, AND QUANDARY
(HARD DIFFICULT)
 Predicament
 tình huống đặc biệt khó chịu hoặc không may, tình cảnh khốn khổ của một người, một sự việc
 After the 2008 recession. many people were stuck in debt and tried to find a way out of their
financial predicamen
 Dilemma
 hay tiến thoái lưỡng nan
 Covid-19 patients in HCM city faced a horrendous dilemma last year: either surrender the virus or
the hunger
 Quandary
 Trạng thái của một người đang phân vân, đầy nghi ngờ, không chắc chắn khiến người ta không
thể hành động
 Dan and Joe would love to buy a new house but it’s likely to put them in a quandary: They want a
more comfortable place for the kids but it seems like they cannot afford it.
WEAR THE PANTS IN THE/( ONE’S) FAMILY

 I think it’s pretty apparent that my mom does wears the pants in my family
 RULE THE ROOST
 When I were a little girl, my older sister ruled the roost. She made all the decisions and
always told me what to do
 nắm quyền cao nhất trong một nhóm hoặc tổ chức
FIGHT LIKE CATS AND DOGS
  My younger brother and I used to fight like cats and dogs when we were little boys. 
 Hay cãi vả hoặc không cùng quan điểm
TWO PEAS IN A POD
 It is really difficult to tell the twins apart because they are like two peas in a pod
FOLLOW IN SOMEONE’S
FOOTSTEPS
 Mr. Huan hoped his son would follow in his footsteps and become a music teacher
BRING HOME THE BACON
 Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon
BLOOD IS THICKER THAN
WATER
 I believe that they will make up with each other soon because blood is thicker than
water.
 Flesh and blood: máu mủ ruột rà.
 Be in one’s blood: thừa hưởng, cùng chung dòng máu.
WHO ARE YOU CLOSEST TO IN
YOUR FAMILY?
 Well, I think my mother is the closest to me in my family when it comes to sharing my
stories and secrets because we are like two peas in a pod. For me, she is not only my
mom but also my best friend. 
DO YOU GET ALONG WELL
WITH YOUR FAMILY?
 Of course, we are really close to each other. Actually, when I was a child, my younger
brother and I often fought like cats and dogs but now we are more mature and always
ready to support each other in work and life. 
DESCRIBE THE PERSON IN YOUR
FAMILY WHO YOU MOST ADMIRE.
• what his/her relationship is to you
• what s/he has done in your life
• what s/he does now
 Well, the first person who sprang to me was my mother. She has had a significant
impact on my life. She is hardworking, patient, and empathetic; she also has an
excellent sense of humor and appears to get along with everyone. That is the reason
why my mom has always been an excellent role model for me to emulate.
 I will strive to follow in her footsteps to become a woman who is capable of national
affairs and duteous at housework. Besides, she also set a good example by working
hard and maintaining a positive view of life. I recall her leaving for work early and
returning home late to bring home the bacon, but mom always made time for me and
my brother. That is why I admire her ability to maintain a great work-life balance. I think
she brought up me and my siblings well; she was quite strict but always fair. Every time
my brother and I had conflicts, my mother did not scold us, but only mildly advised and
reminded us that blood is thicker than water.
 Now, I have been living in the city so I do not have much time with my mom but I still
regularly call home and go home whenever possible. For me, she is the most important
person in my whole life. 
IN WHAT WAYS HAVE FAMILIES IN YOUR
COUNTRY CHANGED IN RECENT?

 In my opinion, household tasks are no longer done by the wives anymore. Both
partners have been more willing to take on new responsibilities, such as taking
advantage of other career possibilities or becoming more active in the family. I mean
they both actually wear the pants in their family, they make a point of making every
major decision jointly. Another shift, I believe, is the tendency toward having fewer
children. Because of the high cost of living and employment opportunities, parents
often consider having smaller families.