Từ vựng chất và ý tưởng hay theo chủ đề cho bài thi ielts speaking

Giải thích từ vựng: - amiable adj: thân thiện ENG: pleasant; friendly and easy to like - outgoing adj: hòa đồng ENG: liking to meet other people, enjoying their company and being friendl

NEIGHBOURS 70

3 What you dislike/ recommendations for improvement 73

LANGUAGES 122

6 Advantages and disadvantages of travelling alone and in a group 158

3 Benefits 172

4 Advantages and disadvantages of online shopping 174

2 Frequency of eating desserts 234

4 Negative impacts of eating too much sweet food 238

3 Positive and negative impacts of advertisements 264

2 Actions to be taken to protect the environment 275

4 Responsibilities of governments and businesses for environment protection 280

2 Frequency of celebrating your birthday 309

4 Kinds of people who are likely to become famous 342

LỜI MỞ ĐẦU

Để phục vụ cho việc luyện thi kỹ năng Nói trong kỳ thi IELTS của các học viên tại IELTS Thanh Loan và các sĩ tử khác, đội ngũ IELTS Thanh Loan đã cho ra đời cuốn sách “Từ vựng chất và ý tưởng hay theo chủ đề cho bài thi IELTS Speaking” Đúng như tên gọi của nó, cuốn sách là tổng hợp các ý tưởng kèm theo các từ vựng thuộc 36 chủ

đề có độ phủ sóng cao nhất trong các đề thi IELTS của những năm gần đây

Cuốn sách này đưa ra nhiều cách tiếp cận khác nhau cho cùng một vấn đề để từ đó bạn đọc có thể linh hoạt hơn trong các câu trả lời của mình Ví dụ, với một câu hỏi về tần suất của một hoạt động, cuốn sách đưa ra đa dạng các sự lựa chọn như là “thường xuyên”, “thỉnh thoảng”, “hiếm khi” và “không bao giờ” với các lối diễn đạt tự nhiên

Từ đó người đọc có thể tự do lựa chọn cách tiếp cận phù hợp với bản thân mình và áp

dụng trong bài thi của mình Điểm hay của cuốn sách này là: Dựa trên những gợi ý từ cuốn sách, bạn học cách truyền tải ý tưởng của riêng mình với những từ vựng hay, chứ không phải ‘học thuộc lòng’ ý tưởng của người khác

Để có thể tận dụng tối ưu cuốn sách này, các bạn hãy làm theo các bước như sau:

- Bước 1: Đi theo từng chủ đề, đọc bài mẫu, chọn lọc ý tưởng phù hợp với bản thân và áp dụng những từ vựng “ăn điểm” trong bài mẫu để tạo ra một câu trả lời của riêng mình

- Bước 2: Chuyển xuống phần câu hỏi thực hành, dựa trên những gợi ý ở trên, bạn xây dựng câu trả lời riêng cho mình

- Bước 3: Thực hành (cá nhân hoặc theo nhóm)

Giám khảo có thể phát hiện thí sinh học thuộc bài mẫu và trừ điểm rất nặng; vì vậy, Thanh Loan không khuyến khích các bạn luyện tập theo cách đó Hãy cứ bám sát vào ý tưởng và từ vựng để có được câu trả lời tự nhiên nhất Cuốn sách này chắc chắn sẽ là

bộ tài liệu hữu ích cho các bạn sĩ tử chuẩn bị thi IELTS, giúp các bạn rút ngắn thời gian

ôn thi kỹ năng Nói của mình

Cám ơn tất cả các bạn đã mua sách và ủng hộ IELTS Thanh Loan Chúc các bạn sớm chinh phục được IELTS với số điểm mong muốn

Mọi ý kiến đóng góp để hoàn thiện hơn cuốn sách, các bạn có thể gửi về email hi@ieltsthanhloan.com

Thanh Loan

HOMETOWN

1 Location

I’m from a small village on the outskirts of Hanoi It’s quite far from the university I

go to That’s why I rent a mini flat in the city centre to facilitate my study

My hometown is located in the suburbs of Saigon Actually, it’s just a small town with around 500 residents

I was born and bred in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, so I would say it’s my hometown although my grandparents are actually from Nam Định province They joined the mass

rural exodus last century to the capital and have settled here since then

Well, actually I am not really a city dweller My hometown is situated in Central Vietnam where small towns run along the coastline and my town is one of them I’ve just moved here recently to attend college

Giải thích từ vựng:

- on the outskirts of something (prepositional phrase): ở ngoại ô

ENG: in the parts of a town or city that are furthest from the centre

- facilitate something (verb): tạo điều kiện thuận lợi

ENG: to make an action or a process possible or easier

- located + adv./prep (adj): tọa lạc, ở

ENG: if something is located in a particular place, it exists there or has been put there

- born and bred (idiom): sinh ra và lớn lên

ENG: born and having grown up in a particular place with a particular

background and education

- rural exodus (noun phrase): di cư từ vùng nông thôn lên thành thị

ENG: the migratory pattern of peoples from rural areas into urban areas

- settle + adv./prep (verb): định cư

ENG: to make a place your permanent home

- city dweller (noun phrase): cư dân thành phố

ENG: a person that lives in the city

- situated + adv./prep (adj): tọa lạc, ở

ENG: if something is located in a particular place, it exists there or has been put there

Câu hỏi luyện tập: Where are you from?

2 People

The residents in my hometown are generally amiable and outgoing We live so close together and are willing to lend each other a helping hand when needed When I get back to my hometown, I really feel a sense of community

Actually I don’t know jack about the people in my hometown in general The hustle

and bustle of the city makes it hard for us to socialize with one another I don’t even

communicate with my neighbours We act like we’re strangers

The people in my hometown are really supportive Even though we are constantly up

to our ears in work and study, we are willing to give each other a hand when needed

Giải thích từ vựng:

- amiable (adj): thân thiện

ENG: pleasant; friendly and easy to like

- outgoing (adj): hòa đồng

ENG: liking to meet other people, enjoying their company and being friendly towards them

- lend somebody a helping hand (idiom): giúp đỡ

ENG: to help somebody

- feel a sense of community (verb phrase): cảm thấy thuộc về một cộng đồng ENG: to feel that you belong to a community

- not know jack about somebody/ something (idiom): chẳng biết gì

ENG: not to understand somebody/ something

- the hustle and bustle of the city (noun phrase): sự xô bồ, hối hả ở thành phố ENG: busy and noisy activities

- socialize with somebody (verb): giao du, kết bạn

ENG: to meet and spend time with people in a friendly way, in order to enjoy yourself

- supportive (adj): có ích, hay giúp đỡ

ENG: helpful

- constantly up to one’s ears in something (idiom): suốt ngày bận rộn

ENG: busy at all times

Câu hỏi luyện tập: What are the people in your hometown like?

3 Landscape

Well, there is nothing special about the landscapes in my hometown It’s just a typical village in the countryside with vast paddy fields, long winding rivers and majestic mountains

I’m living in the centre of Hanoi where there are tons of town-house complexes and high-rises These housing units are built to accommodate a tidal wave of people gravitating towards the city in search of work

Well, my hometown, Danang, is a coastal city Coming there, you can feel a burst of

energy between its fast modernization and the charm of the old towns Mỹ Khê beach has a long stretch of white sand and the water is crystal clear

Giải thích từ vựng:

- vast paddy fields (noun phrase): đồng lúa mênh mông bát ngát

ENG: extremely large paddy fields

- long winding rivers (noun phrase): những con sông dài uốn lượn

ENG: long, curving and twisting rivers

- majestic mountains (noun phrase): những ngọn núi hùng vĩ

ENG: impressive mountains because of their size or beauty

- tons of somebody/ something (noun phrase): rất nhiều

ENG: a lot of somebody/ something

- town-house complex (noun phrase): khu phức hợp nhà phố

ENG: rows of houses that are joined together as a complex

- high-rise (noun): tòa nhà cao tầng

ENG: a building that is very tall and has a lot of floors

- accommodate somebody (verb): cung cấp chỗ ở

ENG: to provide somebody with a room or place to sleep, live or sit

- a tidal wave of somebody/ something (noun phrase): số lượng lớn đột ngột ENG: a sudden large amount/ number of somebody/ something

- gravitate towards something (phrasal verb): đổ về, hướng về

ENG: to move towards somebody/something that you are attracted to

- in search of somebody/ something (prepositional phrase): tìm kiếm

ENG: to search for somebody/ something

- coastal city (noun phrase): thành phố ven biển

ENG: city near a coast

- stretch of white sand (noun phrase): dải cát trắng

ENG: an area of white sand, especially a long one

- crystal clear (adj): trong vắt

ENG: (of glass, water, etc.) completely clear and bright

Câu hỏi luyện tập: How does your hometown look?

I find that more and more people in my city can afford to buy a car Now, we can easily notice the ubiquity of cars in every nook and cranny of the city It proves that city dwellers are getting richer and richer

The people in my hometown are really environmentally aware We rely largely on bicycles and public transport to get around That’s why air pollution and traffic congestion have never been considered big problems there

My hometown is highly accessible by any means of transport from motorcycles to cars Moreover, the public transport system really comes in handy, so it’s convenient for the residents to get around there

Well, my hometown is located in remote areas so getting there from here is really

problematic There are no direct flight routes so motorcycles are the only means that

can take us there The roads are seriously degraded, which has caused a lot of accidents

Giải thích từ vựng:

- prevalent (adj): thịnh hành, phổ biến

ENG: that exists or is very common at a particular time or in a particular place

- economically underprivileged (adjective phrase): gặp khó khăn về kinh tế ENG: having less money than most people in society

- commute (verb): đi lại (để đi làm)

ENG: to travel regularly by bus, train, car, etc between your place of work and your home

- ubiquity (noun): sự hiện hữu ở mọi nơi

ENG: the fact that something seems to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; the fact that something is very common

- in every nook and cranny of something (idiom): ở mọi ngóc ngách

ENG: in every part or aspect of something

- city dweller (noun): cư dân thành phố

ENG: a person that lives in the city

- environmentally aware (adjective phrase): quan tâm đến môi trường

ENG: interested in and knowing about the environment, and thinking it is important

- largely (adv): phần lớn

ENG: mainly

- get around (phrasal verb): đi lại

ENG: (informal) to go to a lot of different places

- traffic congestion (noun phrase): tắc nghẽn giao thông

ENG: the state of being crowded and full of traffic

- highly accessible (adjective phrase): dễ dàng đến, tiếp cận

ENG: that can be easily reached, entered, used, seen, etc

- come in handy (idiom): thuận tiện

ENG: to be useful

- problematic (adj): khó khăn, nan giải

ENG: difficult to deal with or to understand; full of problems; not certain to be successful

Câu hỏi luyện tập:

- What is the most popular means of transport in your hometown?

- Is it easy to get to your hometown?

5 Tourist Attraction

Definitely yes, not only a busy and vibrant city, Hanoi has a lot of tourist attractions that are really worth coming to The city has its own uniqueness and is synonymous

with many museums and other historical sites

I would consider the whole city as a tourist attraction Coming to Danang, tourists can experience vibrant coastal city life as well as the relaxing countryside at the same time They can enjoy both local foods at food stalls overrunning the streets and international foods in gourmet restaurants

Well, my village is just ordinary as compared to others There are no tourist attractions

or whatever I actually don’t like the idea of my hometown being overrun by a tidal wave of tourists They would definitely ruin tranquility there

Giải thích từ vựng:

- vibrant (adj): sôi động

ENG: full of life and energy

- tourist attraction (noun): điểm hút khách du lịch

ENG: an interesting or lively place for tourists to go

- uniqueness (noun): sự độc đáo

ENG: the quality of being very special or unusual

- synonymous with something (adj): nổi tiếng với, đi liền với

ENG: so closely connected with something that the two things appear to be the same

- overrun something (verb): tràn ngập, chạy ầm ầm

ENG: (especially of something bad or not wanted) to fill or spread over an area quickly, especially in large numbers

- gourmet restaurant (noun phrase): nhà hàng sang chảnh

ENG: a restaurant of high quality and often expensive

- ordinary (adj): bình thường, không có gì đặc biệt

ENG: not unusual or different in any way

- or whatever (idiom): hay bất kỳ thứ nào tương tự

ENG: (informal) or something of a similar type

- a tidal wave of somebody/ something (noun phrase): nhiều đột ngột

ENG: a sudden large amount/ number of somebody/ something

- tranquility (noun): sự yên bình

ENG: a peaceful, calm state, without noise, violence, worry, etc

Câu hỏi luyện tập:

- Are there any tourist attractions in your hometown?

- Does your hometown have a lot of tourists?

6 Changes in recent years

Well, in former days, people in my hometown relied largely on agriculture, I mean crops, to earn a living But recently we’ve been gravitating towards manufacturing as many industrial parks have sprung up in the area

Well, in the past, my hometown just had long winding alleys and narrow streets But it’s the gateway to the capital Traffic congestion used to be really problematic

That’s why many new large roads have been constructed in recent years to tackle the

problem

The most significant betterment in my hometown recently is public transport Most of the residents in my place can’t afford private vehicles like motorcycles or cars So, for the most part, we got around on foot But with the advent of the bus system, it’s much easier for us to move from place to place

Giải thích từ vựng:

- in former days (prepositional phrase): ngày trước

ENG: in the past

- earn a living (idiom): kiếm sống

ENG: to be paid enough money to live on

- gravitate towards somebody/ something (phrasal verb): thiên về, hướng về, đổ

về

ENG: to move towards somebody/ something that you are attracted to

- industrial park (noun phrase): khu công nghiệp

ENG: an area especially for factories, on the edge of a town

- spring up (phrasal verb): mọc lên

ENG: to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly

- gateway to the capital (noun phrase): cửa ngõ thủ đô

ENG: a place through which you can go to the capital

- traffic congestion (noun phrase): tắc nghẽn giao thông

ENG: the state of being crowded and full of traffic

- problematic (adj): nan giải, khó giải quyết

ENG: difficult to deal with or to understand; full of problems; not certain to be

successful

- construct something (verb): xây dựng

ENG: to build something

- tackle a problem (verb phrase): giải quyết vấn đề

ENG: to solve a problem

- betterment (noun): sự cải thiện

ENG: the process of becoming or making something/somebody better

- get around on foot (phrasal verb): đi bộ

ENG: to go from place to place on foot

- with the advent of something (prepositional phrase): với sự ra đời, xuất hiện

của …

ENG: with the coming of an important event, person, invention, etc

Câu hỏi luyện tập: How has your hometown changed in recent years?

WORK/ JOBS

1 What you do

I’m currently working as a content writer at a small private English centre, which is a

prevalent job in Vietnam My main job is to compile academic materials for the English learners at the centre

I’m freelancing for different design firms in Hanoi In other words, I’m a freelance designer I work with my clients to create illustrations and images for them By using

computer applications and software, I can develop layouts and sketches that bring their ideas to life

I’ve been doing translation work since I graduated from college 3 years back I can work for translation agencies, multinational companies or even occasional private individuals So I would call myself a freelance/ freelancer

I’m a financial analyst working for LTP Group, a multinational corporation based

in Ho Chi Minh city My job is to examine financial data and use my findings to help

the firm make business decisions in general and investing decisions in particular

Giải thích từ vựng:

- work as a/ an + tên công việc (verb phrase): làm việc gì

ENG: to do the job of a/ an

- prevalent (adj): phổ biến, thịnh hành

ENG: that exists or is very common at a particular time or in a particular place

- compile something (verb): biên soạn

ENG: to produce a book, list, report, etc by bringing together different items, articles, songs, etc.; to collect information in order to produce a book, list, etc

- freelance (verb): làm việc tự do

ENG: to earn money by selling your work to several different organizations

- freelance designer (noun phrase): nhà thiết kế làm việc tự do

ENG: a designer earning money by selling his work to several different

organizations rather than being employed by one particular organization

- freelance ~ freelancer (noun): người làm việc tự do

ENG: a freelance worker

- sketch (noun): bản phác họa

ENG: a simple picture that is drawn quickly and does not have many details

- financial analyst (noun phrase): nhà phân tích tài chính

ENG: a person whose job involves examining facts or materials about finance

in order to give an opinion on them

- multinational corporation (noun phrase): tập đoàn đa quốc gia

ENG: a corporation existing in or involving many countries

- based in… (adj): có trụ sở ở

ENG: if a person or business is based in a particular place, that is where they live or work, or where the work of the business is done

Câu hỏi luyện tập: Do you work or are you a student?

2 What you like & dislike

Well, for the most part, I would say the most enjoyable about my job is the environment My boss is really understanding He always encourages us to work

harder and play harder and is willing to forgive us when we do something wrong As for my colleagues, it is comforting to know that they support me, cheer for me, and

we can work together as a solid team

I instantly fell in love with the company right on the first day I went there The office

is on the 26th floor and it enjoys a panoramic view of the city from a great height I think it’s one of the major perks of working there

Well, the most important perk of freelancing is flexibility With such freedom over clients and workload, I have the flexibility that most people dream of For instance, if I want to work full-time most of the year and only part-time during the summer, I have the control to make that decision

There are not many things I actively dislike about my job But to answer this question,

I would say it’s the workload There are always a lot of assignments and we are constantly under pressure But to finish all of them is not really challenging I mean although my job is quite straightforward to do, it takes time and energy

Giải thích từ vựng:

- for the most part (prepositional phrase): thường thì

ENG: in most cases; usually

- enjoyable (adj): thú vị

ENG: giving pleasure

- understanding (adj): thấu hiểu

ENG: showing sympathy for other people’s problems and being willing to forgive them when they do something wrong

- comforting (adj): khiến mình cảm thấy an tâm

ENG: making you feel calmer and less worried or unhappy

- cheer for somebody (verb): khích lệ, cổ vũ

ENG: to show support or praise for somebody, or to encourage them

- solid team (noun phrase): team mạnh, team đoàn kết

ENG: a strong team

- instantly fall in love with somebody/ something (verb phrase): yêu ngay lập tức ENG: to love somebody/ something immediately

- panoramic view of something (noun phrase): view toàn cảnh

ENG: a view of a wide area of something

- from a great height (prepositional phrase): từ vị trí cực kỳ cao

ENG: from a long distance above the ground

- perk (noun): đãi ngộ, lợi ích

ENG: something you receive as well as your wages for doing a particular job

- flexibility (noun): tính linh hoạt

ENG: the ability to change to suit new conditions or situations

- actively dislike somebody/ something (verb phrase): rất ghét

ENG: to dislike somebody/ something greatly

- under pressure (idiom): chịu áp lực

ENG: to feel anxious about something you have to do

- challenging (adj): khó, đầy thử thách

ENG: difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability

- straightforward (adj): dễ dàng

ENG: easy to do or to understand; not complicated

Câu hỏi luyện tập:

- What do you like about your job?

- What do you dislike about your job?

3 Reasons for choosing the job

Although it’s not a really well-paid job, it gives me the satisfaction of making a contribution to society I have a liking for education and this work is one kind of

education and training careers The progress of the students is my motivation for trying harder

I would say wages are among the most important considerations when I choose a job and this job really lives up to my expectations It’s an easy well-paid job In addition, there are many bonuses when we finish a project

To be honest, never in my wildest dreams did I think of becoming a financial analyst

As a high schooler, I couldn’t envision what job I would do in the future I applied for

a place at the Academy of Finance just to satisfy my parents’ desire

- have a liking for somebody/ something (verb phrase): thích, quan tâm

ENG: to have the feeling that you like somebody/something; the pleasure in something

- consideration (noun): điều cân nhắc

ENG: something that must be thought about when you are planning or deciding something

- live up to one’s expectations (phrasal verb): đạt đến mong đợi

ENG: to do as well as or be as good as other people expect you to

- never in one’s wildest dreams + đảo ngữ (idiom): có mơ cũng không nghĩ đến ENG: used to say that you did not expect or imagine that something would happen

- envision something (verb): mường tượng

ENG: to imagine what a situation will be like in the future, especially a

situation you intend to work towards

- satisfy one’s desire (verb phrase): thỏa mãn mong muốn

ENG: to meet one’s wishes

Câu hỏi luyện tập: Why did you choose the job?

4 Other favourite jobs

If I were not a content writer, I would become an interpreter Actually, I am a die-hard

fan of my lecturer at university, who works as an interpreter and teaches interpreting at

my university at the same time I was always immersed in his stories about the occupation It’s both challenging and fascinating

Well, as a little boy, I always dreamt of becoming a police officer So, if I didn’t study the English language, I definitely would apply for admission to The People’s Police Academy I sometimes feel that it’s my duty to serve society and the job can give me the satisfaction of making a contribution to society

My childhood dream job was to become a professional football player But the job

entails not only great perseverance, but great talents as well I don’t have a knack for

playing football That’s why I can’t work as a footballer, but consider football as a means of entertainment

Giải thích từ vựng:

- die-hard fan (noun phrase): fan cứng

ENG: somebody who is completely 100% obsessed with their favorite game, band, movie, etc

- immerse somebody in something (verb): khiến ai đắm chìm

ENG: to make somebody completely involved in something

- occupation (noun): nghề nghiệp

ENG: a job or profession

- police officer (noun phrase): sĩ quan cảnh sát

ENG: a member of the police

- entail something (verb): yêu cầu, đòi hỏi

ENG: to involve something that cannot be avoided

- perseverance (noun): kiên trì

ENG: the quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim despite

difficulties

- have a knack for something (verb phrase): có khiếu

ENG: to have a special skill or ability that you have naturally or can learn

Câu hỏi luyện tập: Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?

5 Activities after work

I like the idea of having a shower and then cooking myself a meal after work Then, I usually crash out on the sofa in front of the TV I also read or listen to music but mostly the TV gets the most attention Later on, before turning in, I check my email and social media, but I like a few computer-free hours immediately after work

I’m a photo freak After work, I often wander and take snapshots of vivid life on the streets Then, when I get home, I post the photos on social networking sites to share with my friends I’m the admin of a photography Facebook fanpage which is followed

by tens of thousands of Facebook users

Well, for the most part, I would hang out with my friends We often enjoy some drinks

at a coffee shop and have idle chit-chat about what’s going on in our lives Otherwise,

I would just go home and spend quality time with my family

Giải thích từ vựng:

- crash (out) (verb): ngủ (ở nơi mình không thường ngủ, ví dụ như sofa)

ENG: (informal) to go to sleep, especially suddenly or in a place where you do not usually sleep

- turn in (phrasal verb): đi ngủ

ENG: to go to bed

- computer-free hour (noun phrase): thời gian không dùng máy tính

ENG: a hour when you don’t use computers

- freak (noun): người cuồng …

ENG: (informal) a person with a very strong interest in a particular subject

- snapshot (noun): ảnh chụp nhanh

ENG: (also snap) a photograph, especially one taken quickly

- hang out (phrasal verb): đi chơi

ENG: to spend a lot of time in a place

- have idle chit-chat about something (verb phrase): chém gió linh tinh

ENG: to have a conversation about things that are not important

- quality time (noun phrase): thời gian rảnh bên gia đình, bạn bè

ENG: time spent giving your full attention to somebody, especially to your children or partner after work

Câu hỏi luyện tập: What do you often do after work?

STUDY

1 School & Major

I’m majoring in the English language at Hanoi University, one of the top schools in the nation Admission was really competitive, so I feel so proud to be a student there

As you can guess, I have to deal a lot with something like phonetics and phonology, lexicology or grammar They are sometimes overwhelming to me but I would say I

have a knack for linguistics, so it’s OK

I’m an IT major at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, one of the most

prestigious universities in Vietnam To me, gaining admission to the school was like

achieving an amazing feat as admission was really competitive In fact, my family

threw a big party to celebrate this achievement

Well, I go to the National Economics University, one of the leading universities in

Economics, Public Administration and Business Administration in Vietnam However,

my major is Tourism and Hospitality, which is an emerging discipline in recent times

Giải thích từ vựng:

- major in + tên ngành (phrasal verb): học chuyên ngành gì

ENG: to study something as your main subject at a university or college

- overwhelming (adj): gây quá tải, gây ngợp

ENG: very great or very strong; so powerful that you cannot resist it or decide how to react

- have a knack for something (verb phrase): có khiếu

ENG: to have a special skill or ability that you have naturally or can learn

- tên ngành + major (noun): người học chuyên ngành gì

ENG: a student studying a particular subject as the main part of their course

- prestigious (adj): uy tín

ENG: respected and admired as very important or of very high quality

- gain admission to something (verb phrase): đỗ, được nhận vào

ENG: to be accepted into an institution, organization

- feat (noun): thành tựu, kỳ công

ENG: an action or a piece of work that needs skill, strength or courage

- throw a party (verb phrase): mở tiệc

ENG: to hold a party

- go to + tên trường (verb phrase): học trường gì

ENG: to study at a school

- major ~ discipline (noun): chuyên ngành

ENG: the main subject or course of a student at college or university

- emerging (adj): mới nổi

ENG: starting to exist, grow or become known

Câu hỏi luyện tập:

- Do you work or are you a student?

- What is your major?

2 What you like & dislike

Well, for the most part, I would say the most enjoyable about my school is the environment We study in English-speaking classes, which really facilitates our process

of learning English Besides, the facilities are top-notch All of the classrooms are well equipped with overhead projectors and air conditioners My teachers and friends are

amiable as well All in all, it’s a great place to study

I instantly fell in love with the school right on the first day I went there It’s like a botanical garden with tons of trees and flowers which create a fresh and relaxing

atmosphere At first glance, I could recognize it’s a college On top of that, I have a

liking for the library It really helps me with my self-learning before exams

There are not many things I actively dislike about my school But to answer this

question, I would say it’s the workload There are always a lot of assignments and we are constantly under pressure But exams are quite predictable We generally can ace

them with a bit of revision

Giải thích từ vựng:

- for the most part (prepositional phrase): thường thì

ENG: in most cases; usually

- enjoyable (adj): thú vị

ENG: giving pleasure

- facilitate something (verb): tạo điều kiện thuận lợi

ENG: to make an action or a process possible or easier

- top-notch (adj): chất lượng cao, xịn nhất

ENG: excellent; of the highest quality

- amiable (adj): thân thiện, dễ mến

ENG: pleasant; friendly and easy to like

- instantly fall in love with somebody/ something (verb phrase): ngay lập tức yêu ENG: to love somebody/ something immediately

- botanical garden (verb phrase): vườn bách thảo

ENG: an establishment where plants are grown for display to the public

- tons of somebody/ something (noun phrase): rất nhiều

ENG: a lot of somebody/ something

- at first glance (prepositional phrase): thoạt nhìn, mới đầu

ENG: when seen or considered briefly and for the first time

- on top of something (prepositional phrase): ngoài ra

ENG: in addition to something

- have a liking for somebody/ something (verb phrase): thích ai/ cái gì

ENG: to like somebody/ something

- actively dislike somebody/ something (verb phrase): cực kỳ không thích

ENG: to dislike somebody/ something greatly

- under pressure (idiom): khiến ai thấy áp lực

ENG: made to feel anxious about something you have to do

- predictable (adj): dễ đoán

ENG: if something is predictable, you know in advance that it will happen or what it will be like

- ace an exam (verb phrase): xử lý gọn bài thi, thi rất tốt

ENG: to be successful in an exam

Câu hỏi luyện tập:

- What do you like about your study?

- What do you dislike about your study?

3 Reasons for choosing the school/ major

Well, with the advent of globalization, there was a tidal wave of international

companies coming to Vietnam and I thought that English would be the requisite tool for me to land a job in such companies That’s why I decided to go for the English

language major at Hanoi University

The job market in computing and information technology has been growing As technology progresses, the need for information technology professionals will only be

on the increase That’s why I believe majoring in information technology will expose

me to a lot of opportunities and jobs

Well, it’s undeniable that tourism has been witnessing huge global growth over the past decades and it is forecast to grow far into the future It is definitely an industry of the future It means that increasing numbers of skilled workers are needed all over the world That’s why I enrolled in the course

Giải thích từ vựng:

- with the advent of something (prepositional phrase): với sự xuất hiện, ra đời của

ENG: with the coming of an important event, person, invention, etc

- a tidal wave of somebody/ something (noun phrase): rất nhiều

ENG: a great amount/ number of somebody/ something

- requisite (adj): cần thiết, là điều kiện cần

ENG: [only before noun] (formal) necessary for a particular purpose

- land a job (verb phrase): tìm được việc làm

ENG: to get a job

- go for something (phrasal verb): chọn

ENG: to choose something

- on the increase (prepositional phrase): đang tăng

ENG: becoming greater, more common, or more frequent

- expose somebody to something (verb): mang lại, giúp ai trải nghiệm thứ gì ENG: to let somebody find out about something by giving them experience of

it or showing them what it is like

- undeniable (adj): không thể phủ nhận

ENG: true or certain; that cannot be denied

- skilled worker (noun phrase): thợ lành nghề

ENG: workers having enough ability, experience and knowledge to be able to

do something well

- enroll in + tên khóa học (phrasal verb): đăng ký học, theo học

ENG: to arrange for yourself or for somebody else to officially join a course, school, etc

Câu hỏi luyện tập: Why did you choose your major?

4 Extracurricular activities

I’m quite an introvert, so after school, I don’t participate in any extracurricular

activities For the most part, I would go home, indulge myself on the couch and watch

TV I would like to consider it as an activity but my mom says it’s passivity

I’m a die-hard fan of football and the only club I join at school is the football club of the department Being part of the team, I make the acquaintance of many other

students, especially my seniors by one or two years in the same department I often

turn to them for advice when I am faced with a problem in my study

I consider myself really extroverted I’m part of many clubs at college Most of them

aim at helping enhance academic skills as well as social skills I particularly take a keen interest in the club ‘Future Debaters’ because experiences at the club really help

me perform better in the debate class

Giải thích từ vựng:

- introvert (noun): người hướng nội

ENG: a quiet person who is more interested in their own thoughts and feelings than in spending time with other people

- indulge yourself (with something): thả mình, đắm chìm, chiều chuộng bản thân ENG: to allow yourself to have or do something that you like, especially

something that is considered bad for you

- passivity (noun): sự thụ động

ENG: the state of accepting what happens without reacting or trying to fight against it

- die-hard fan (noun phrase): fan cứng

ENG: somebody who is completely 100% obsessed with their favorite game, band, movie, etc

- make the acquaintance of somebody (idiom): làm quen

ENG: to meet somebody for the first time

- senior by two years (noun phrase): người hơn mình 2 tuổi

ENG: a person who is two years older than somebody else

- turn to somebody for advice (verb phrase): tìm đến ai xin lời khuyên

ENG: to meet somebody to ask for advice

- be faced with something: gặp phải, đối mặt với

ENG: if you are faced with a particular situation, you have to deal with it

- extroverted (adj): hướng ngoại

ENG: lively and confident, and enjoying being with other people

- aim at doing something (verb): mục đích là, hướng đến việc

ENG: to try or plan to achieve something

- take a keen interest in something (verb phrase): đặc biệt quan tâm, đặc biệt thích

ENG: to get the feeling that you want to know or learn more about something

Câu hỏi luyện tập: What do you often do after school?/ Do you participate in any clubs

at college?

5 Opinions of the Vietnamese education system

Honestly, I think that the education system in our nation still focuses on impractical

exam-oriented curriculums, which put a lot of pressure on students The reason is

that it is the parents that care way too much about grades In fact, many high schoolers considered as good at English can’t say a single word in English I think it needs changing

In my opinion, there’s a lot of problems with the education system, when it comes to teaching method and approach There’s still a fear of teachers, in general, especially in public schools It makes students scared of asking questions, thereby reducing the chances of them learning Being wrong or asking a stupid question is often looked down

on

Well, education in Vietnam has widely been criticized as impractical or ineffective and

I agree with this viewpoint But recently I’ve seen some signs of betterment as the

government is making every effort to make school free of charge Standards for

teachers have also been raised I believe the Vietnamese education system will have a completely new face in the not-too-distant future

Giải thích từ vựng:

- exam-oriented curriculum (noun phrase): chương trình học để phục vụ thi cử ENG: a curriculum in which exam results determine how good a student is

- put pressure on somebody (verb phrase): gây áp lực

ENG: to make demands on or expect something from someone

- when it comes to something (clause): khi nhắc đến

ENG: used to identify the specific topic that is being talked about

- look down on somebody (phrasal verb): coi thường

ENG: to think that you are better than somebody

- criticize somebody/ something + adj (verb): chỉ trích

ENG: to say that you think somebody/something is bad; to say what you do not

like or think is wrong about somebody/something

- betterment (noun): sự cải thiện

ENG: the process of becoming or making something/somebody better

- make every effort to do something (verb phrase): cố mọi cách

ENG: to try one’s best to do something

- make school free of charge (verb phrase): miễn học phí

ENG: to make tuition free

- in the not-too-distant future (prepositional phrase): trong tương lai không xa

ENG: in the near future

Câu hỏi luyện tập: Do you think that education in Vietnam is effective and practical?

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

1 Your family

My immediate family is not very big but I have a close-knit large extended family

including many uncles, aunts, and cousins We keep in touch with one another, so

celebrations are always crowded and noisy

Well, we are a nuclear family consisting of my parents and me Yes, I’m the only child

in my family So, I’m so close to my parents and can have free and frank discussions about my problems with them which helps for the better development of my personality We’ve been living in an extended family with different generations under the same roof We really get on well with each other and generational conflicts rarely occur

Giải thích từ vựng:

- immediate family (noun phrase): gia đình trực hệ

ENG: people who are very closely related to you, such as your parents,

children, brothers, and sisters

- close-knit (adj): khăng khít

ENG: having strong relationships with each other and taking a close, friendly interest in each other’s activities and problems

- keep in touch (idiom): giữ liên lạc

ENG: to communicate with somebody, especially by writing to them or

phoning them

- nuclear family (noun phrase): gia đình hạt nhân

ENG: a family group consisting of two parents and their children (one or more)