GIẢI các đề SPEAKING RA NHIỀU QUÝ 3 UPDATE 300922 BY NGOCBACH

Các đề speaking kèm lời giải chi tiết năm 2022 cho dân học IELTS muốn tăng band speaking lên .Lời giải chi tiết, dễ hiểu, dễ nắm bắt từ anh Ngọc Bách. Mình đang dùng tài liệu này thấy hiệu quả nên share cho mọi người cùng xem ...:)). Mong mọi người thích , hài lòng về tài liệu này và nhớ ủng hộ mình nữa nha. Đây là tài liệu đầu tiên mình upload nên có sai xót gì mong mọi người bỏ qua ạ. Cảm ơn mọi người nhìu nhìu .Love you:>>

GIẢI CÁC ĐỀ IELTS SPEAKING RA NHIỀU QUÝ

3/2022_UPDATE 300922_BY NGOCBACH

PART 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 It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just right for me and my family

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

(If you answer you haven't lived there long)

What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in the past?

Living in a dorm with other roommates is totally different from living in my own house

My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there are a lot of people there and I don’t have my own space Conversely, when I was living at home, I had

my own spacious room and it made me feel comfortable

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 work place 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 Moreover, I can modify a house according to the size of the family

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, a cupboard and desk It’s not really spacious but it’s just right for me

What part of your home do you like the most ?

I prefer my bedroom most due to its convenience and privacy Because of my stressful work I want to be in a quiet place and concentrate on my work In my own room, I’m never disturbed by anyone else

Moreover, in my own space I can do whatever I want without bothering others

Ex: The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable

Sibling(s) (noun): (anh/ chị em) a brother or sister

Ex: The younger children were badly treated by older siblings

Get on well with sb (phrasal verb): (hòa hợp với ai đó) to have a friendly relationship with somebody

Ex: She and her sister have never really got on well with each other

Dormitory (noun): (kí túc xá) a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school

Ex: It was not safe to locate the chemicals factory in a residential area

Urban area (noun): (vùng thành thị) connected with a town or city

Ex:Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas

Reunion (noun): (tụ họp, xum họp) a social occasion or party attended by a group of people who have not seen each other for a long time

Ex: The College has an annual reunion for former students

Harmonious (adjective): (ấm cúng, yên bình) friendly, peaceful and without any disagreement

Ex: It is important to have harmonious relations between the country's ethnic groups Irregular (adjective): not happening at the arranged time intervals

Ex: His irregular attendance at school resulted in his failure in the final exams

Overcrowded (adjective): with too many people or things in it

Ex: The train was so overcrowded this evening that I was unable to find an empty seat Privacy (noun): being alone and not disturbed by other people

Ex: I read the letter in the privacy of my own room

Suit oneself (verb): to do exactly what you like/want

Ex: Everyone had a different opinion about what colour to paint my room, so in the end

I decided to just suit myself

Modify (verb): (sửa đổi, thay đổi) to change something slightly, especially in order to make

it more suitable for a particular purpose

Ex: We found it cheaper to modify the existing equipment rather than buy new

Bedsit (noun): (phòng vừa để ngủ vừa để học, tiếp khách) a room that a person rents and uses for both living and sleeping in

Ex: He lives in a tiny student bedsit used for both sleeping and studying

Multi-purpose (adjective): (đa chức năng) having many different uses

Ex: This room is multi-purpose – we use it for meetings, interviews and taking breaks

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, then I went onto higher education at the Foreign Trade

University where I’m currently studying economics

What is your area of specialization?

Well, my major is External Economics I have mastered the basics of economics and

socio-economics, combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export business

Why did you choose to study that major?

I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products

to the world Vietnamese goods have a real potential, 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 favourite subject as a child?

Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl 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 unduly 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 and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven

curriculum, which I find quite impractical

(Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?

Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can do the job I love Not only will it pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution It’s hard

to be happy and fulfilled without working, you know

VOCABULARY

Higher education (chương trình đại học) [n] post-18 learning that take places at universities Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in U.S higher

education are studying either business or engineering, with business-related majors

making up 38 percent of all enrollments in 2012/13

Master (tinh thông, nắm vững) [v] learn how to do sowmthing well

Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language

Make a name for oneself ( trở nên nổi tiếng) [idiom] become famous and respected by a lot of people

Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful

railway contractor

Keep up with (cập nhật thông tin về cái gì) [idiom] be aware of

Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home

Analytical (thuộc về phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning

Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem

solving occurs to keep productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly Elementary school (trường tiểu học) [n] primary school, school for children between 7-11 years old (in Vietnam)

Example: It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend

Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s

attitude towards school in profoundly negative ways

Pay the bills (trang trải cuộc sống) [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s lifestyle

Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills

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, which combines both art

and technology It’s quite interesting, you know

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 designoffice, but is definitely an inspirational

workplace with a young, creative, and extremely passionate team We work on the basis

of mutual understanding and respect for each other, so it’s kind of an ideal environment

for me

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, and creating them too It’s great,

I think

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 while still * relating / staying faithful to /remaining trueto the initial concept

* conform means ‘to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected

by a group or society’ – this does not relate to things like ‘concepts’

(Possibly)Do you miss being a student?

Sometimes, when I’m burdened with heavy workloads or the pressure of everyday life, I recall the memories of being a student We were all carefree and innocent back then It’s a

precious time that I cherish

VOCABULARY

theme (đề tài,chủ đề) [n] the main subject of a talk, book, film, etc

Example: The father-daughter relationship is a recurring theme in her novels

Intriguing ( hấp dẫn, gợi thích thú) [adj] very interesting because of being unusual or mysterious

Example: The Huns are intriguing not only because of their notoriously hawkish

history, but also because of their place as middlemen between Mongol and Turkic ethnicity

On the basis of (trên cơ sở) [idiom] base on

Example: Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age or disability is not allowed

Rewarding (bổ ích, đáng làm) [adj] giving pleasure, satisfation

Example: The most rewarding aspect of living forever is you have unlimited time to

perfect your abilities and accumulate wealth

Ultimately (cuối cùng thì, rút cục) [adv] at the end of a process, period of time, etc

Example: Everything will ultimately depend on what is said at the meeting with

the directors next week

Perk ( đặc quyền, thù lao thêm) [n] an advantage or something extra that you are given because of your job

Example: A company car and a mobile phone are some of the perks that come with the

job

Conform (to sth) (tuân theo) [v] obey the rule or reach the necessary stated standard

Example: Before buying the baby's car seat, make sure that it conforms to

the official safetystandards

Cherish (yêu mến, coi trọng) [v] keep hopes, memories in your mind because they are important to you and bring you pleasure

Example: I cherish the memories of the time we spent together

Meeting places

1 Where do you usually meet with your friends?

Well, I’d say I meet my friends mostly where we spend the most time: my university and extracurriculars

2 Do you think there are some places more suitable for meeting with others?

Absolutely For me, settings with casual seating, a low level of noise, and a nice atmosphere are best for meeting up with people

3 Have the meeting places changed now from when you were young?

When I was young, places like public parks and big noisy venues were favorite places to hang out for many people, but now quieter and more comfortable settings are preferred Those small coffee shops specializing in serving coffee and desserts with a small dining room are my current favourites

Puzzle

1 Did you do puzzles in your childhood?

Yes, of course In fact, my dad bought me lots of puzzles when I was young as he believed

that these intellectual challenges could be beneficial to my cognitive development And

thanks to this, my memory, the ability for logical thinking and patience have been trained

since I was at a tender age But now that I’ve grown up, I rarely do puzzles due to the lack

of free time

2 Do you like doing word puzzles or number puzzles? Which is more difficult for you?

Since I’m not into working with numbers I would lean towards word puzzles I most enjoy

playing the general knowledge games requiring players to answer all questions to solve it

…because by answering these questions, I can broaden my knowledge in many fields including culture, geography and history Interestingly, novel facts and knowledge

acquired from these games stick in my mind longer than those gained from boring lessons

at school

3 When do you do puzzles, during your trip or when you feel bored?

I only do puzzles to kill time, but not while commuting It is because I have carsickness so

if I read books, surf the internet or do puzzles in cars, I will feel dizzy and vomit And as I mentioned before, the older I get, the less time I spend on these mentally challenging

games because of a heavy workload and schoolwork

4 Do you think it is good for old people to do puzzles?

Yes, I think it’s such an effective way to help old people spend time in their twilight years When people reach an old age, after retirement, they often face loneliness and boredom which could give rise to some mental diseases later on Therefore, taking up a new hobby

such as doing puzzles could help them become busier and bring them new joy in life Besides, since it’s quite challenging for the elderly to learn to use the latest smartphones

or tablets, doing crosswords or solving sudoku is simpler and easier

Books and Reading habits

How often do you read?

As soon as I wake up and before going to sleep at night, so about two hours every day During the day I'll read online news or magazines, and occasionally some more from a book

Do you have many books at home?

Yes I do I have a pile of books by the bed and often swap from one to another, non-fiction

as well as fiction I think reading is truly essential in keeping the brain informed as well as entertained

Do Vietnamese people do enough reading?

My opinion as a 20-year-old Vietnamese student, is in short a yes There are plenty of Vietnamese who have very good book reading habits, but, the majority of the Vietnamese

do not Some people who are provided with a good study environment very often read

books, and I do myself However, many teenagers nowadays are more connected with their devices and therefore are reluctant to pick up a book to read it

What kind of people like reading and what kind of people don't?

From my personal experience I’d say that with so many other aspects in life, reading is a

preference you become acquainted with in early childhood or you don’t My grandmother practically almost always gave me books as presents My grandparents were highly

educated, literature was very important to them, so they passed on their passion for books

This was the reason why I started reading

Vocabulary

Aspect (n) a particular part or feature of a situation, an idea, a problem, etc.; a way in

which it may be considered

• We have worked very hard on certain aspects of our game

Literature (n) pieces of writing that are valued as works of art, especially novels, plays

and poems (in contrast to technical books and newspapers, magazines, etc.)

• For most people, the desire to study literature begins with a love of reading

Talents

1 Do you have a talent, or a something you are good at?

Yes I’m quite good at drawing and most things related to art, such as designing I think

it’s a useful talent because it helped me get my very first income when I was a student as

at that time I worked as a graphic design freelancer

2.Was it mastered recently or when you were young?

I don’t think I ever tried to master it, I just loved drawing very much when I was young I’ve always achieved good drawing grades at school and it just became natural to me

3 Do you think anyone in your family has the same talent?

Well, yes My dad and my brother share the same talent with me So, I think it is something

that runs in the blood

Geography

Have you ever studied geography at school?

Yes, actually geography is among the core subjects in my school curriculum Unlike History with its dry subject areas, learning Geography is more fascinating because you

can discover some interesting facts, traditions and customs of countries and continents or

find out the causes of some natural phenomena

1 dry (adj): khô khốc, buồn tẻ, không thú vị

The book is packed with information but it is a little dry (cuốn sách có khá nhiều thông tin nhưng nó hơi khô khan)

2 fascinating (adj): thú vị, lý thú

There are fascinating destinations (Có những điểm đến đầy hấp dẫn)

3 core subjects (n): các môn học chính

Maths and science are core subjects at school (Toán và khoa học là những môn học cơ

bản ở trường.)

4 Natural phenomena (n): những hiện tượng tự nhiên

They are researching about the hail and other natural phenomena (Họ đang nghiên cứu

về mưa đá và các hiện tượng thiên nhiên khác.)

Do you like geography?

Absolutely, I’m into discovering and explaining the formation and evolution of our planet,

human beings and other species Geography lessons at school always keep me on the edge

of my seat and I always stay focused on the lesson, listening to all the geographical facts

or dealing with the charts and data, which is really like an eye-opener

1 an eye-opener (idiom): điều làm mở mang tầm mắt

Living in another country can be a real eye - opener.(Bạn sẽ thấy ngạc nhiên khi sống ở

một đất nước khác.)

2 keep sb on the edge of his seat (idiom): khiến ai cảm thấy thú vị, thích thú, phấn khích The film was so exciting it had me on the edge of seat right until the last moment (Bộ

phim lý thú đến nỗi nó khiến tôi phấn khích cả buổi chiều)

3 stay focused on (collo): tập trung, chú tâm vào

The space shuttle's crew must stay completely focused on the task at hand.(Thủy thủ đoàn

trên tàu con thoi phải ở lại để tập trung hoàn toàn vào nhiệm vụ sắp tới.)

Are you good at reading a map?

Since I’m a person whose sense of direction is not very good, I’ve soon got used to using Google maps to search for a route while commuting Having said that, I’m only able to

locate myself and find out the way if the map is electronic and written in Vietnamese

Otherwise, I would seek help from local people which is sometimes more reliable and

accurate

1 sense of direction (collo): khả năng tìm phương hướng, ý thức phương hướng

I lose my sense of direction.(I lose my sense of direction.)

2 commute (v): đi lại

We commute by train.(Chúng tôi đi làm bằng tàu lửa.)

3 seek help (collo): tìm sự giúp đỡ

Somebody can seek help if they're disabled.(Ai đó có thể tìm kiếm sự giúp đỡ nếu họ bị

tàn tật.)

Would you visit a country because of its geographical location?

Yes, since I’m a curious person, I always want to explore new places located far from my

country rather than our national tourist attractions It is because I’m familiar with Vietnam’s rich culture and traditions as I really love and admire them, so I want to set foot

in stranger places, somewhere in the opposite hemisphere or on another continent

1 be familiar with: quen thuộc với

You should be familiar with the surroundings.(Bạn nên quen với môi trường xung quanh.)

2 rich (adj): giàu có (về vật chất + giá trị tinh thần)

He has written a book about the island's rich history (anh ta đã viết 1 cuốn sách về lịch sử lâu đời và phong phú của hòn đảo)

3 set foot in (idiom): đặt chân tới đâu

He refuses to set foot in an art gallery (anh ta từ chối đến triển lãm)

4 in the opposite hemisphere: ở bên kia bán cầu

Neighbor

1 Do you know your neighbors?

Yes, of course I do People in my neighborhood know each other quite well, and all of them are very friendly and lovable The family living next to my house is always willing

to offer assistance when we need, and sois my family

2 Do you like your neighbors?

Well yes, I love them, because they are good neighbors The family next door has a grandmother whom I really respect, as she always gives me useful advice I think that we live in harmony with one another

3 What do you think of your neighbors?

As I have said, they are warm-hearted people They receive a lot of affection and admiration for their kindness and generosity I think it is quite good fortune for my family

to live next to them

4 How often do you see (or talk to) your neighbors?

I think very often Each morning, we frequently greet when we meet each other Whenever

I am not occupied with schoolwork, I will visit the grandmother to talk to her Her life experience and advice have helped me to overcome many difficulties and challenges

5 When do you meet your neighbors?

We meet everyday, since we live next to each other Particularly, at the weekends, the neighbors will gather in the biggest house to hold a party or BBQ, which is very appealing

to the children

VOCABULARY:

CÁC TỪ THUỘC CHỦ ĐỀ: A THE ARTS (sách collocations)

1 to live in harmony with one another

Meaning: to live with others in a way which avoids conflict or disagreement

Example: The students who share the house are all good friends and they are able to live

in harmony with one another

Dịch đại ý

To live in harmony with one another: sống hòa hợp với người khác

Nghĩa: sống với những người khác một cách hòa hợp, tránh gây mâu thuẫn với nhau

Ví dụ: Sinh viên sống cùng một nhà là những người bạn thân và họ có thể sống hòa hợp với nhau

CÁC TỪ KHÁC:

1 lovable [adj]: having qualities that people find attractive and easy to love : đáng yêu Eg: Minh is a really lovable child

2 (be) willing to do sth[expression]: ready or pleased to help : sẵn lòng làm gì

Eg: They keep a list of people who are willing to work at night

3 assistance [n]: help or support: sự giúp đỡ

Eg: We do offer financial assistance for people on low incomes

4 affection [n]: the feeling of liking or loving sb/sth very much : tình cảm

Eg: Children need a lot of affection and sympathy

5 generosity [n]: the fact of being generous : sự rộng lượng

Eg: He treated them with generosity and thoughtfulness

6 fortune [n]: chance or luck : sự may mắn

Eg: I did have the good fortune to work with some brilliant directors

7 (be) occupied with sth [adj]: be busy with sth : bận rộn với cái gì đó

Eg: Lan is always occupied with the housework

8 (to) overcome: to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem: vượt qua cái gì

đó

Eg: She overcame injury to win the Olympic gold medal

9 (to) gather [v]: to come together, or bring people together : tụ họp

Eg: His supporters gathered in the main square

10 appealing [adj]: attractive or interesting : cuốn hút, thú vị

Eg: Spending the holiday in Britain is extremely appealing

Technology

1 What technology do you often use, computers or mobile phones?

Well, my answer is both because I use both the computer and mobile phone every day My cellphone is obviously like a daily necessity for me, and I use it for phone calls, messaging, browsing the Internet, reading e-mail, and other small jobs However, the mobile phone is not convenient when it comes to word processing, so when I’m at work where I have more complicated projects or work, the computer is really helpful

2 What electronic devices have you bought lately?

Well, I bought an Ipad last week and I just love it I used to take my laptop to class to take notes, but it was too heavy and sometimes really inconvenient to carry all the time Therefore, for me, the Ipad is a perfect alternative as it’s much lighter and more portable

3 What’s the benefit of technology?

Well, I think technology has brought tremendous benefit to our lives At the medical level, technology can help treat more sick people and consequently save many lives and combat harmful viruses and bacteria For companies, progress in implementing strategic technology trends is helping them save time and therefore, money Similarly, global

tourism has grown

Evening time

Do you prefer studying in the morning or in the afternoon?

I think It depends If I have to learn something by heart such as new vocabulary or a poem,

I will wake up early at 4 pm to learn because I will be able to commit all the knowledge

to my memory more quickly However, I will study subjects requiring calculations or

logical thinking in the afternoon or at night because my brain works more effectively during this period

What do you usually do in the evening?

I often devote all of my valuable time at night to work and finishing all my deadlines Though evening should be the time when you focus on your personal life and relationships

such as by having dinner with mom and dad, hanging out with friends or recharging your batteries for another new day, I haven’t been able to achieve a work-life balance My

work always takes up my leisure time and thus, I have less time to take care of my health,

my appearance and my family

recharge your batteries (idiom): nạp năng lượng

achieve work-life balance (collo): đạt sự cân bằng giữa công việc và cuộc sống

What did you do in the evening when you were little? Why?

When I was a kid, the evening was the time for entertainment and relaxing After coming home from school, my family and I gathered around the table and had dinner, then I watched my favourite cartoon on TV or went out to meet my childhood friends And when

I was little, I used to go to bed early, before 11 pm but now, all the heavy tasks I have

prevent me from having enough sleep despite the fact that it’s such a bad habit

a bad habit (collo): thói quen xấu

Curiosity is a bad habit (Tò mò là tính xấu)

Are there any differences between what you do in the evening now and what you did

in the past?

Yes, compared to the last year, my evenings recently are more relaxing and I have more time to pursue my interests It is because last year, I was still a senior in high school and I had to exert myself to pass the university entrance exam I remembered that after arriving home from extra classes, I only had 15 minutes to eat dinner before sitting back at my table

and burning the midnight oil But now, I’ve already passed the exam and become a

freshman so I have more free time in the evening…I can take care of my skin, and spend time with my parents more

burn the midnight oil (idiom): thức đêm học bài

If you burn the midnight oil night after night, you'll probably become ill.(Nếu bạn thức

khuya làm việc đêm này qua đêm khác liên tục, có thể bạn sẽ ngã bệnh.)

Boring things

1 What will you do when you feel bored?

Gardening I love doing gardening when I am bored I stay in an apartment where I don’t even have a terrace garden but I have planted trees in the window I love to do this as this activity really makes me happy and reduces my stress

2 What kind of things are boring to you?

For me, I feel bored when I am in the same routine everyday: the same 9–6 job, the same people at home and the same household chores That’s why I always hang out or go for a picnic at the weekends so that I can refresh my mind

3 Whom do you think get bored easily, the young or the old?

I think young people get bored more quickly than the old because they want to do something or have something to do every minute of the day I have a brother and he always wants someone to entertain him every day A lot of young people can’t sit down for very long, and they have to be moving all the time That’s why they get bored so quickly

4 Do you think school is boring?

I think school is very boring, no matter past or now But when I recall things which are most interesting and most memorable, I find the only things I can clearly remember happened in school We feel school is boring, but at the same time we get entertainment from school

Social Media

Do you like to use social media?

Yes, I do I am active on many different platforms like Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok I use these sites to keep in touch with others, stay updated on what is going on in the world, and also for entertainment too

Do you think you or your friends use too much social media?

Well, I have to say yes It is like an everyday occurrence for us We spend plenty of time

on social media each day

Do you want to work in social media? Why?

Well, I would say yes I’ve been running my own social media accounts for years on Facebook and Instagram, and I’ve got some experience in this field Among all types of jobs in social media, I’m particularly interested in content creation and community management

What’s the most popular social media in VietNam? Why?

Some years ago, I would say it’s Facebook But this year, I guess Tiktok ranks the top in terms of popularity and the number of active users

Names

1 Does your name have any particular meaning?

Let me see… Well I think it means “bright pearl” or “shining pearl”? I guess my parents wanted me to become an intelligent and successful girl so they gave me this name

2 What’s the origin of your name? (or, your surname)

It’s pretty lame really… Dad wanted to call me “Ngoc” or “Chi” back then but he couldn’t decide which one, then one cousin of mine asked him whether I had a name and he just blurted out “Minh Chau” My cousin then spread the news about my name to everyone, which was something Dad didn’t expect at all, and well, I am stuck with this name now

3 Do you like your name?

At first no, because my friends often made fun of my name, like with some puns But then

I gradually learnt to accept it, and now I can’t imagine having a different name from this one

4 What do your friends call you?

My friends back in secondary and high school tended to call me “Cat” or “Fat Cat” because

of my nickname on social networks - well I love cats after all University friends don’t really give me any nicknames; they just call me “Chau”

5 Did your family have a certain (nick) name that they called you when you were a child?

Hmm… well, no? They just called me “Chau” I think in some other families, parents would give their children some kind of nick name but that’s not the case in my family

6 What names are popular to give to babies in your country?

I think people tend to choose some names like Linh or Trang for girls – I don’t know the actual meanings of those names though For boys, the two most popular names, I think, are Son, which means the mountain and Hieu, which means to show affection and respect towards one’s parents

Vocabulary:

✓ Lame [adjective] (vớ vẩn) unsurprising and dull

e.g I found the programme pretty lame and not every informative

✓ Blurt [verb] (thốt ra/buột miệng nói ra) say something suddenly and without careful consideration

e.g He blurts things out without even meaning it, yet, he doesn't apologize!

✓ Be stuck with sb/sth [expression] (mắc kẹt với cái gì) to have to deal with someone

or something unpleasant because you have no choice or because no one else wants to e.g We were stuck with him for the entire journey!

✓ Pun [noun] (chơi chữ) a humorous use of a word or phrase that has several meanings

or that sounds like another word

e.g This is a well-known joke based on a pun: “What’s black and white and read (= read) all over?” – “A newspaper.”

Singing

Do you often sing?

I love to sing, but I don’t sing in public I sing almost every day when I’m alone in my room I'm not too good at singing, I can't reach high or too low notes, and sometimes I

forget words to songs, but I do heavily lip-sync By heavy, I mean intense expressions,

movements as if I'm in the song I always imagine myself doing some intense singing at a

talent show, but I know I can't do that

When do you like to sing?

Honestly, I mostly feel like singing when I’m feeling emotional and need a way to release

my emotions I also sing when I hear a catchy song or just a song I love!

Is it difficult to sing well?

Yes It is Even those with a natural talent for singing have to learn the correct technique, which can only really be taught/coached

Do you want to be a singer?

I’d love to, but I am not talented enough to pursue it Sometimes you have to recognise

what you are good at to be able to make your career decisions

What kinds of music do you like to sing?

I sing for myself, and not in front of people I don't know, so I can sing whatever I like Mostly I sing ballads, R&B, country, and other genres

Vocabulary

Intense (adj) very great; very strong

• We were all suffering in the intense heat

Technique (n) a particular way of doing something, especially one in which you have to

learn special skills

• We have developed a new technique that corrects the problem

Technology

1 What technology do you often use, computers or mobile phones?

Well, my answer is both because I use both the computer and mobile phone every day My cellphone is obviously like a daily necessity for me, and I use it for phone calls, messaging,

browsing the Internet, reading e-mail, and other small jobs However, the mobile phone is not convenient when it comes to word processing, so when I’m at work where I have more complicated projects or work, the computer is really helpful

2 What electronic devices have you bought lately?

Well, I bought an Ipad last week and I just love it I used to take my laptop to class to take notes, but it was too heavy and sometimes really inconvenient to carry all the time Therefore, for me, the Ipad is a perfect alternative as it’s much lighter and more portable

3 What’s the benefit of technology?

Well, I think technology has brought tremendous benefit to our lives At the medical level, technology can help treat more sick people and consequently save many lives and combat harmful viruses and bacteria For companies, progress in implementing strategic technology trends is helping them save time and therefore, money Similarly, global tourism has grown

PART 2 & 3

Describe a situation when you had to spend a long time in traffic jam

You should say:

When it was

Where you went to

How long you had to wait

And explain how you felt about this

(When it was) I would like to talk about one of the worst car journeys of mine I went on

this car journey a while ago, three years to be precise, during my trip to Bali, Indonesia, one of the most heavily congested regions in Southeast Asia

(Where you went to) Due to the long distance between tourist attractions in Bali, we had

to rely on car rental services offered there One service lasted 8 hours, any extra hour

would cost an additional 20 dollars

(How long you had to wait) When working on the itinerary, I did factor traffic jams in,

for which Bali is famous Yet, my trip from Denpasar, the centre of Bali, to Ubud, a popular tourist destination in Bali with lots of hills and jaw-dropping terraced rice fields, lasted up

to 10 hours because of traffic jams, although I had decided to skip some sites

(How you felt about the journey) I nearly died in the car because my bladder was full but

the car seemed not to be moving Luckily, I was travelling with 6 of my cousins, which

eased the burden placed on me They were also relatively surprised that the traffic in Bali

was that horrible In general, I still dread to think of commuting around Bali by car

1 Rental (n): sự thuê mướn

Property rental is quite expensive here

2 Work on (phrase): làm/luyện tập cái gì đó

His dancing technique is good, but he needs to work on his stamina

3 Factor something in (phrase): tính cái gì (vào cái gì đó)

People are earning more, but when inflation is factored in, they are no better off

4 Dread (v): sợ

I dread to think what would happen if he was left to cope on his own

Describe a story or novel you have read that you found interesting

You should say:

When you read it

What the story or novel was about

Who wrote it

And explain why you read it

To me, the most interesting story that I have read was the story about the origin of milk

fruit The story was part of the primary school literature curriculum and if I remember it

correctly, I read it in my second grade On the issue of the author, I am unsure who wrote

it because the story is a Vietnamese folktale, so I guess someone from the very distant past

created this tale and later, everyone learns about it However, the reason that I remember

this story so fondly is because of its magical element, especially the transfiguration of the

story’s character In short, the story follows a very naughty boy who frequently upsets his mom One day, he was scolded very badly by his mom, and the boy decides to run away

Only after getting bullied by other older runaways, does the boy realize that he cannot live

without the support and care of his mom and find a way to return And when he returns, he

can not find his mom’s whereabouts; the only thing that he finds new is a tree standing in the middle of the field Hungry and tired, the boy hugs the tree, which magically shivers and gives him the foodstuff and the embrace that he longs for The basic idea of this

folktale is to explain why when you cut it in half, the juice of the milk fruit will be white and sweet like milk, and why the milk fruit tree’s leaves are one side green while the other side is very red It also teaches everyone to be obedient and nice to their parents

The act or process of transfiguring someone or something (changing their appearance very much, especially in a spiritual way)

1 How does technology help people tell stories?

I do think technology helps people tell stories in many ways One way that technology

helps with storytelling is that it gives the story a more visual and aural basis Instead of

relying on words only, or some still figures, animation or short clips allow people to not only imagine the faces and the shapes of the characters more easily but also the sound and

ambience where the plot takes place This, I believe, allows people to focus on other more

important parts of the story, such as the actions of the story’s characters

2 Do you prefer to read e-books or paper books?

If I had to choose, I would be more biased toward paper books As someone who reads a

lot, there is something very nice about holding a physical book and flipping the pages with your own fingers Not to mention if you read old books where the pages have turned a bit yellow, their unique smell is something that excites me

I think the reason that people tend to read more mystery books nowadays stems exactly from their mysterious characters

3 Why are mystery novels so popular nowadays?

Mystery books, to my knowledge, often depict unfamiliar landscapes and include phenomena that are not explainable or possible in real life As a result, this literary genre

forces people to imagine more intensely and think more creatively In other words, mystery books help people develop the two skills that I think people in our modern-day lack a lot, precisely because a lot of things can be easily searched online or easily explained by science

4 What kinds of novels are suitable for a film adaptation?

On which genre can be made into films, I personally don’t have any preference or objection, as long as the adaptation follows the plot of the written publication closely, chooses the actors that reflect the characters well, and includes visually pleasing effects However, the genre that I am most wary about in terms of the film adaptation of novels is

autobiography This is because when it becomes a cinematic production, a lot of meaningful reflection on the autobiography’s main character is lost at the expense of

visual effects Also, for a more historical figure, new actors cannot always reflect and

capture their spirit and stamina accurately

Relating to the cinema

Example:

The cinematic effects in her films are clearly borrowed from the great filmmakers of the

past

At the expense of sth (phrase): miêu tả một hành động mà nếu thực hiện đối một vật, đối

tượng A sẽ gây hại cho một vật, đối tượng B khác

The triathlon is a great test of stamina

Describe a person who likes to dress fashionably

You should say:

Who he/she is

What job he/she does

What kind of dresses he/she wears

And explain why he/she likes fashion

(Who he/she is) I’d like to describe my sister who can be considered a fashion icon in my

eyes

Talking a little bit about her, she’s a 25-year-old lady working in the marketing field From

a tender age, she has already had a good sense of style My sister doesn’t attach herself to

any particular style, I mean…she looks gorgeous and stunning in any outfit she puts on Sometimes she’s elegant in her long dress but sometimes she looks so cool in a black jacket

(What job he/she does) Having said that, my sister is not a shopaholic , in fact, she rarely

buys new clothes, she just tries to reuse her old ones and finds a new way to mix and match

them to create new outfits She told me that she really hates fast fashion due to its negative impacts on the environment and her definition of fashion is making use of your creativity

and imagination to turn common clothes into fashionable outfits

(What kind of dresses he/she wears) But in the past, my sister was just a timid girl with lots of insecurities My mom told me that when my sister was in secondary school, she was full of acne and always wore a mask to avoid being seen by her schoolmates My sister

used to hate her ugly appearance so much but somehow, she has managed to shine after entering high school I think it is because she learned to accept her imperfections and was eagerly determined for a change

(And explain why he/she likes fashion) Now, my sister has entirely come out of her shell and become a better version of herself, which really inspires me! My sister’s love for

fashion encourages me to face my insecurities and try to better myself day by day

1 A fashion icon: biểu tượng thời trang

Micheal Jackson is one of the most famous fashion icons (Micheal Jackson là một trong những biểu tượng thời trang nổi tiếng nhất)

2 A good sense of style: có gu thẩm mỹ tốt

Do you have a good sense of style?(Cậu có sành điệu về thời trang không?)

3 Fast fashion (n): thời trang nhanh

There are many stores that now offer cheap ‘fast fashion’ – low-price items that imitate the styles of more expensive designer brands

(Có rất nhiều cửa hàng quần áo ngày nay thường bán "thời trang nhanh" - những trang phục bán với giá rẻ và bắt chước phong cách của các thương hiệu đắt tiền.)

4 Make use of something (idiom): tận dụng cái gì

I made use of my friends garage to keep some of my tools (Tôi tận dụng gara của bạn để cất vài món đồ)

5 Insecurities (n): những điểm chưa hoàn hảo, sự tự ti, sự bất an

All the insecurities of my youth come rushing back when I'm alone.(Tất cả những nỗi lo lắng trẻ thơ của tôi ùa về khi tôi ở một mình.)

6 Come out of shell (idiom): thoái khỏi vỏ bọc

Derek has really come out of his shell since he started working here (Derek đã thật sự thay đổi/thoát khỏi vỏ bọc từ khi bắt đầu làm ở đây)

7 Become a better version: trở thành phiên bản tốt hơn

Example: A new year is a new start, and with it often comes a fresh determination to find

a “better” version of ourselves (Năm mới là một khởi đầu mới, và thường có một quyết tâm mới để xây dựng bản thân tốt đẹp hơn.)

Part 3

1 Do you think online shopping will replace in-store shopping in the future? Why?

I believe that online shopping could never supersede shopping malls or centres entirely

for many reasons First, shoppers going to shopping malls or supermarkets don’t always

want to buy stuff, sometimes they just drop by to window-shop, watch people and mix in the excitement or meet acquaintances and it’s like a traditional and effective way to blow off steam after a nerve-racking day at work, which online shopping could never enable us

to Secondly, most shopping centres nowadays are associated with some other amenities such as cinemas, leisure centres or food courts, so when people visit a shopping complex,

it often serves two purposes, shopping and entertaining Finally, shopping on some commerce sites isn’t always convenient and reliable, especially when buying

e-technological devices such as smartphones or television, buyers need to visit the offline

store to get first-hand experience before making up their minds

1 Supersede (V): thay thế

Example: In some cases, it isn’t clear how or whether newer regulations supersede older ones.(Một số trường hợp còn chưa rõ ràng về việc quy định mới có thay thế cho cái cũ hay không hoặc như thế nào.)