Understanding Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking offers words and phrases on 16 common topics in the latest IELTS exams: Study, Work, Accommodation, The Internet, Technology, Tourism, Culture and Travel, Food, Places, Personality, Relationships, Decisions, Feelings, Shopping, Money.Using academic words in the IELTS test is essential, but for achieving higher band scores and avoiding wordiness, testtakers need to use vocabulary in the appropriate contexts. Context Exploring method helps testtakers understand and apply vocabulary in different situations.Understanding Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking is a collection of selected IELTS Writing and Speaking exam questions in Vietnam from 2017 to date. IELTS exams in recent years have been digging deeper into different aspects of problems and make it more or less difficult for candidates to find ideas to express. HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG SÁCH UNDERSTANDING VOCABULARY – IELTS SPEAKING Mỗi bài học sẽ tập trung vào 1 chủ đề nhất định và được chia thành các phần chính theo sơ đồ dưới đây Phần Từ vựng là phần c.
HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG SÁCH UNDERSTANDING VOCABULARY – IELTS SPEAKING Mỗi học tập trung vào chủ đề định chia thành phần theo sơ đồ đây: Words in context Đoạn hội thoại/bài nói Đánh giá phù hợp từ văn cảnh Bài học Explore word knowledge Điền từ vào câu Hồn thiện câu dựa vào từ có sẵn Understanding and applying Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn Trả lời chủ đề part Phần Từ vựng phần cung cấp văn cảnh cách dùng khác từ vựng theo chủ đề học Sau đọc kĩ đọc đầu tiên, người đọc cần suy nghĩ đoán nghĩa từ / cụm từ in đậm đọc Người đọc vận dụng ý hiểu cụm từ đưa đọc để trả lời Yes No cho câu hỏi phần Ví dụ: A self – centered person usually cares about other people’s feelings Một người self – centered thường quan tâm đến cảm xúc người khác → Trong trường hợp này, câu trả lời No “self – centered” mang nghĩa tự cho trung tâm, kiêu căng không nghĩ đến cảm xúc người khác Nếu không hiểu rõ ngữ nghĩa cách sử dụng từ in đậm đưa câu trả lời khơng xác → Đây phần giúp người đọc mở rộng thêm văn cảnh sử dụng từ hiểu rõ ngữ nghĩa từ Sau đó, phần điền từ tiếp tục lặp lại từ theo chủ đề xuất bối cảnh sử dụng khác để người đọc tiếp xúc liên tục với từ vựng mục tiêu Construction of tourism facilities can lead to the depletion of Việc xây dựng sở vật chất du lịch dẫn đến suy giảm _ A construction materials B natural resources C landscapes Người đọc thực phần luyện tập theo bước sau để đạt kết cao nhất: Bước 1: Đọc đề viết đầy đủ câu trả lời tập (cố gắng sử dụng từ vựng mục tiêu) Bước 2: Đọc mẫu để tự điều chỉnh lại câu trả lời Bước 3: Tập đọc câu trả lời sau tập nói mà khơng nhìn vào câu trả lời viết trước Bước 4: Viết chủ đề/câu hỏi mẩu giấy nhỏ bốc để luyện tập trả lời khơng biết trước chủ đề/câu hỏi Mục lục Hướng dẫn sử dụng sách Power Vocab – IELTS Speaking Unit 1: Study Unit 2: Work 18 Unit 3: Accommodation 27 Unit 4: Hobbies 37 Unit 5: The Internet 47 Unit 6: Technology 56 Unit 7: Tourism 65 Unit 8: Culture and Travel 74 Unit 9: Food 83 Unit 10: Places 92 Unit 11: Personality 101 Unit 12: Relationships 110 Unit 13: Decisions 119 Unit 14: Feelings 127 Unit 15: Shopping 137 Unit 16: Money 147 Words in context Study Audio file 1.1 I’m going to tell you the story of when I studied at university It was way back(1) in 2011 I had taken a gap year(2) after high school and it turned out to be one of Way back ≈ A long time ago: Rất lâu trước To take a gap year ≈ To take a year off before college: Dành năm nghỉ học làm du lịch To find my true passion in something ≈ To enjoy very much: Tìm thấy niềm đam mê thực thụ To attend university ≈ To study at university: Học trường đại học Competitive admission ≈ To be very difficult to get into university: Tỉ lệ chọi đầu vào cạnh tranh To major in something: Học chuyên ngành To fulfill my dream of something ≈ To make my dream come true: Hiện thực hoá giấc mơ làm To meet deadlines: Hồn thành hạn nộp bài/công việc Top - notch ≈ Excellent: Hàng đầu, đại the best decisions I’d ever made I found my true passion in(3) banking and financing Then I attended RMIT university(4), which is one of the top schools in Vietnam with competitive admission(5) I majored in(6) Finance because I wanted to fulfil my dream of(7) working in a bank You know, being a finance major meant that I had to work with numbers and meet deadlines(8) on a regular basis The environment was what I liked most in my university – I mean, the facilities were top-notch(9) with air conditioners and Apple iMac computers On top of that, teachers were very supportive and friendly, and I always turned to them for advice(10) before sitting for an exam(11) In a nutshell, I really enjoyed my time at RMIT and I wish I could somehow relive my time there once more 10 To turn to for advice ≈ To ask for advice: Tìm lời khun từ 11 To sit for an exam ≈ To take an examination: Tham gia kì thi Explore word knowledge Đánh giá mức độ phù hợp từ cụm từ in đậm câu sau Students who take a gap year will study at university earlier than those who not Sinh viên mà take a gap year vào học đại học sớm người không học After working part-time as an assistant at an English center, I have found my true passion in teaching Sau làm việc trợ giảng bán thời gian trung tâm tiếng anh, have found my true passion in nghiệp giảng dạy A person does not need to attend university to become a doctor or lawyer Một người không cần attend university để trở thành bác sĩ luật sư Students who major in education will be taught to develop the skills to teach others Sinh viên người mà major in ngành giáo dục dạy để phát triển kĩ để dạy người khác My dad has had a lot of life experiences and therefore is someone I can turn to for advice when I have to make an important decision Bố tơi có nhiều trải nghiệm sống ơng người mà tơi luôn turn to for advice phải đưa định quan trọng 10 Chọn từ phù hợp để hoàn thành câu sau A meet deadlines B sit for an exam C turn to for advice D top-notch E attend university G take a gap year H majoring in I admission More high school leavers before going to university to work and save money Nhiều học sinh tốt nghiệp cấp trước học đại học để làm việc tiết kiệm tiền In Vietnam, students who want to have to pass a university entrance exam Ở Việt Nam, học sinh muốn phải vượt qua kiểm tra đầu vào đại học International schools in Vietnam are often famous for facilities Trường quốc tế Việt Nam thường tiếng sở vật chất I’m education, so I have to learn how to deliver a good lesson and deal with different students Tôi giáo dục, tơi phải học cách để truyền đạt giảng tốt xử lý vấn đề cho nhiều đối tượng học sinh khác Students should revise what they have learnt before they to get a high score Học sinh nên ôn lại học học trước họ để đạt điểm số cao Many university students struggle to because of their poor time management Nhiều sinh viên đại học gặp khó khăn việc kĩ quản lý thời gian họ khơng tốt 11 Understanding and Applying Practice Trả lời câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ – câu Do you work or are you a student? (Gợi ý: major in) Well, I am currently studying in … Why did you choose that school? (Gợi ý: top-notch) I didn’t actually choose it What you like most about your school? (Gợi ý: turn to for advice) There’s a lot to like about my school … What you dislike about your school? (Gợi ý: meet deadlines) I would say it is … Is there anything you want to improve in your school? (Gợi ý: top-notch) Despite its …… ., my school really needs to … Trả lời câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ – câu What is your major? → Why did you choose this major? → Do you enjoy what you study? → 12 What is your favorite subject at school? → What you plan to after graduation? → Sử dụng từ học để mở rộng chủ đề sau Topic Describe a period from your studies that you find difficult You should say: • When it was • What you did at the time • How you felt at that time And explain why you think it’s difficult Topic Describe a time you helped someone You should say: • Who you helped and why • How you helped this person • What the result was And explain how you felt about helping this person Topic Describe a subject that you used to dislike but now have interest in You should say: • What the subject is • When you studied the subject • Why you disliked the subject And explain why you become interested in it 13 Key Câu hỏi 1 – No, – Yes , – No, – Yes, – Yes Câu hỏi – G, – E, – D, – H, – B, – A Bài Audio file 1.2 Do you work or are you a student? I am currently studying at the University of Finance and Marketing, which is one of the most famous universities in Vietnam and majoring in International Business administration Why did you choose that school? I didn’t actually choose it You know, this school was actually one of the top-notch universities that my parents believed would suit me the most That’s why they told me to apply for it, and so I did What you like most about your school? There’s a lot to like about my school It’s hard to pick the one thing that stands out Maybe it’s the supportive teachers here I mean they are someone that I will always turn to for advice when I have to make an important decision What you dislike about your school? I would say it is the workload I mean there are so many assignments that students have to study very hard for, in order to meet deadlines Is there anything you want to improve in your school? Despite its top-notch facilities and beautifully designed buildings, my school really needs to provide more green space for students on campus as well as in classrooms You know, more trees will provide more shade and cool air for us to study more efficiently 14 Have you ever bought shoes online? → Do you like shopping? → Sử dụng từ học để mở rộng chủ đề sau Topic Describe a good experience of online shopping You should say: � When it happened � What you bought � Why you bought it And explain why you think it was a good experience Topic Describe a time you that you spent a lot of money on something You should say: � When you spent money � What you bought � Where you bought it And explain why you spent a lot of money on it Topic Describe a piece of clothing you like to wear You should say: � Where you bought it � How often you wear it � What it is like And explain why you enjoy wearing it 142 Key Câu hỏi 1 – Yes, – No, – Yes, – No, –Yes, – Yes, – No, – No Câu hỏi – f, – h, – d, – a, –g, – b, – c, – e Bài Audio file 15.2 Do you like shopping? Yes definitely Whenever I feel stressed, I go shopping for the whole day However, for the most part I only go window shopping and hardly buy anything How often you buy something in a shop? Apart from grocery shopping which I every day, I usually buy clothes from a high-end store nearby once or twice a week Are there many shops near your home? I live in the central district of Hanoi so there are tons and tons of shopping malls and small stores around which are very suitable for me – a slave to fashion Do you like to wear casual or fashionable shoes? Well, I like casual shoes a lot since they are comfortable Fashionable shoes are not my must-have items, as I only wear them on special occasions like weddings or conferences How often you buy shoes? To be honest, I just avoid shopping as much as I can because I am not a slave to fashion I guess I shop for new shoes only when my previous ones are torn, and every time I go shopping I have to take my best friend with me She is a shopaholic and an expert in fashion 143 Bài Audio file 15.3 Why people like shopping for clothes online? There are several reasons First, buying things from the Internet is a time saving way of shopping because you not have to go to physical stores to purchase clothes Second, there are many deals and discount offers if one buys clothes from an online shop Is shopping a popular activity in your country? Yes definitely In fact, shopping is a popular activity in most countries, especially among young people People shop because shopping is a relaxing activity and they can have time for themselves Young people in my country usually go shopping in groups, which is a perfect way to spend time with friends In your opinion, what is moreimportant when buying something, price or quality? Both price and quality is imporant when considering buying something from shops I mean, the majority of people care about the quality of the product they want to purchase However, if they are on a tight budget, they also need to carefully consider the price as well Have you ever bought shoes online? No I haven’t ever done that simply because I have a very negative view of online shopping I hate receiving a product that isn’t as good as advertised on their websites I prefer going to the store to check the quality before making a purchase Do you like shopping? Well, I am not fashion-conscious, but I also don’t it just for fun like some people I usually only go shopping when I need to buy something, like new clothes or shoes or a new phone or laptop 144 Bài Topic Audio file 15.4 Today, I’m going to tell you about a time when I bought clothes online and had a good experience You know, I’ve always considered myself a fashion-conscious person as I splurge on clothing from high-end stores to keep up with the latest fashion trend That’s why I hit the mall on a very regular basis One day, while shopping around the Gucci store in Ho Chi Minh City, I came across a pair of sneakers that looked absolutely chic Unfortunately, my size was out of stock, so the shop assistant advised me to order online through Gucci’s website You know, the price of those shoes is exobitantly high, but I really wanted to purchase them as a reward to myself after a long year of hard work Therefore, I decided to order them online Firstly, I sent the e-mail to ask for the item’s availability in other chain stores Then, the customer care officer replied to my e-mail immediately and sent me the very detailed guidance on how to purchase their out-of-stock items She also helped me through all of the ordering steps and informed me when I would receive the sneakers Last but not least, I was pleased with fast delivery since it only took days to ship the package to my home When I opened the box, there was a bunch of vouchers and she explained that those vouchers were their gift because I had spent so much time waiting for them The things that made me satisfied is not only their way of customer service but also the high quality of the product regardless of online or offline shopping All in all, that was a time when I did online shopping and had a good experience Now I always prefer to shopping through the Gucci website Topic Audio file 15.5 When it comes to talking about something that I had to spend a lot of money on, I’m going to share with you about a Macbook Pro which I’ve purchased a couple of months ago As I remember, at that time, I had just graduated from my high school and became a freshman majoring in graphic design That’s why I really needed to buy a laptop which could serve my educational purpose Honestly, I’ve been always dreaming of having a 145 Macbook Pro which is a cutting-edge technological device equipped with state-of-theart features, but its price cost a fortune for a student like me Having said that, I think it was worth my saving money as I had been through a long year of hard work, so I can treat myself well by purchasing my favorite item If my memory serves me correctly, I bought the laptop at Mac Center, which is located in District and the store is well known among Apple fans With regards to how I feel about this experience, I have to say that I feel exhilarated that I could buy such an expensive item for myself The first time I unboxed my Macbook, I was completely over the moon and couldn’t be more satisfied with every single thing about it By now, it has become a must-have item whenever I have assignments and projects at school I know it’s kinda weird but I’ve never got bored of looking at it up to now That’s all I want to share! Topic Audio file 15.6 So, today I’m going to talk about my absolute favorite clothing accessory, which is my scarf A couple of years ago, while I was doing some window shopping, I saw a scarf with an extremely reasonable price of 60,000 VND The place I bought it from was a small handicraft shop at a really famous temple in Saigon In that shop they made lots of different types of clothing by hand and with old fashioned sewing machines The shop assistant there was really nice and friendly She didn’t try to give me the hard sell at all That’s why I bought it without a second thought As for how often I wear it, I wear this scarf almost everywhere In winter, it can help keep my neck warm, while in summer it can help protect my neck from the scorching rays of the sun when I’m driving on my motorbike to work The scarf is red and black with a checkered pattern and is made of 80% cotton and 20% polyester It’s durable too because I’ve had it for two years now and it still feels soft and comfortable to wear as well One more thing is that the red and black matches with some of my clothes, so it suits me well There are obviously a few reasons it becomes my must-have item But I guess the main two reasons are; it’s durable and has lasted a long time, and the second reason is that it’s versatile and can be worn in different seasons 146 Words in context 16 Money Audio file 16.1 Nowadays it’s becoming more and more difficult for people living on a tight budget (1) To be on a tight/meagre budget ≈ to not have much money to spend: Tiền bạc có hạn To get by ≈ to have enough money to live: Đủ tiền trang trải sống To be financially savvy ≈ to be very careful with money; to use money wisely: Hểu biết tài To set aside money ≈ to save money for later use: Để dành tiền A portion of your earnings: Một khoảng tiền lương To save for a rainy day ≈ to save money for later use: Để dành tiền cho lúc cần thiết tương lai To build/have a nest egg ≈ to have some savings for the future: Tiền để dành cho sau To take the plunge: Quyết định làm việc sau đắn đo, cân nhắc To shop till they drop ≈ to a lot of shopping: Mua sắm nhiều Payday: Ngày nhận lương to get by while (2) living in big cities due to the fact that the cost of living is continually increasing Those who are financially savvy(3) would probably advise you to set aside a portion of your earnings(4) each month and to save it for a rainy(5) day, because you never know what unexpected situation you may be faced with in the future But with the cost of everything increasing these days, people’s living expenses are therefore also increasing, making it particularly difficult to build a nest egg(6) Also, because people are exposed to so much marketing and advertising these days, they need to take the plunge(7) before purchasing things In fact, there are some people who always shop till they drop(8) on their payday(9)and therefore they have to tighten their belt(10) for the rest of the month So, whether you are broke(11) or loaded(12), or choose to buy products that cost an arm and a leg(13) or things that cost next to nothing(14), you should be careful with your money(15) and manage it wisely Remember that money doesn’t grow on trees(16) 10 To tighten your belt ≈ To spend less money: Tiêu tiền lại 11 To be broke ≈ to run out of money: Hết tiền 12 To be loaded ≈ To have a lot of money: Có nhiều tiền 13 To cost an arm and a leg ≈ to be very expensive: Rất đắt đỏ 14 To cost next to nothing ≈ to be very cheap: Rất rẻ 147 15 To be careful with money ≈ to use money wisely: Tiêu tiền cẩn thận Explore word knowledge Money doesn’t grow on trees: 16 Tiền không từ trời rơi xuống Đánh giá mức độ phù hợp từ cụm từ in đậm câu sau Since I’m living on my own now, I really need to tighten my belt I can’t afford to spend as much money as I used to Bởi tơi sống nên tơi cần phải tighten my belt Tôi tiêu xài tiền nhiều trước I’ve been saving a small amount of money each month from my salary I’m building a nest egg for my retirement Tôi để dành tiền từ tiền lương tháng Tôi building a nest egg cho lúc hưu When I have an eye for a shirt that is a bit expensive, I will take the plunge and buy it immediately Khi để ý áo đắt tiền, take the plunge mua The most effective way to save money is not to set aside money every day Cách hiệu để tiết kiệm tiền không set aside money ngày Jenny must be loaded She has just bought a new $4000 Gucci handbag Jenny chắn chắn loaded Cô vừa mua túi xách Gucci giá $4000 My friend has got a fully funded scholarship, so it may cost an arm and a leg for him to study there Bạn nhận học bổng tồn phần nên cost an arm and a leg với cậu ta để học Being a student is the reason why I’m on a tight budget Therefore, I can buy a lot of luxurious things Vì học sinh nên I’m on a tight budget Vì tơi mua nhiều thứ sang chảnh 148 We have to be careful with our money because we have to pay a lot of bills every month Chúng ta phải be careful with our money chúng tơi phải trả nhiều hoá đơn tháng Chọn từ phù hợp để hoàn thành câu sau A set aside B careful C meagre D get by E rainy day F tighten G next to H grow on I expenses K had L plunge M earn As a student, I don’t have much money so I am really on a budget Vì cịn học sinh, tơi khơng có nhiều tiền nên tơi thực Due to the fact that living are rising, many people are having to work harder to make ends meet Vì thực tế tăng lên, nhiều người phải làm việc vất vả để kiếm đủ sống If only I a nest egg, I could quit my job and move to the countryside Giá , tơi bỏ việc q sinh sống I’ve had to my belt since I stopped working full-time Tôi phải tơi dừng làm việc toàn thời gian My parents always taught me to be with my money Bố mẹ dạy phải với tiền bạc He also decided to take the and set up his own business Anh định mở cơng ty riêng Every month I like to some money to save for a Hàng tháng, tơi thích _ tiền để My secondhand shoes really cost me nothing Đôi giày second hand 149 Money doesn’t trees, so you have to money to pay your bills Tiền không _, nên bạn cần phải tiền để trang trải sống 10 It can be really difficult for people to on a low salary while living in the city Sẽ khó cho nhiều người để mức lương thấp sống thành phố 150 Understanding and Applying Practice Trả lời câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ – câu Do young people in your country like to save money? (Gợi ý: build a nest egg) To have a comfortable life in the future, probably even after retirement, a lot of young people in my country like … Do you consider yourself to be good at managing your money? (Gợi ý: set aside) I guess I would say that I am ok at managing my money … Are street markets common in Vietnam? (Gợi ý: on a tight budget) Yes Street markets and supermarkets coexist in Vietnam … How often you buy shoes? (Gợi ý: broke) To be honest, I am … What is the latest plan you make? (Gợi ý: living expenses) A specific plan, you mean? Trả lời câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ – câu Is money important to you? → Is it important for parents to teach children how to save money? → Do you think parents should give pocket money to their kids? → 151 What people in your country save money for? → Why people care too much about money? → Sử dụng từ học để mở rộng chủ đề sau Topic Describe something special that you saved money to buy You should say: � What was this thing � Why was it special to you � How much did it cost you How you felt after you bought it Topic Describe an effective way to save money You should say: � When it was � Why you saved money � How did you save How you felt about it Topic Describe your ideal house You should say: � Where this place is � What it is like � Who you visited the house with And explain why it is ideal to you 152 Key Câu hỏi 1 – Yes, – Yes, – No, – No, –Yes, – No, – No, – Yes Câu hỏi – C, – I, – K, – F, – B, – L, – A&E, – G, – H&M, 10 – D Bài Audio file 16.2 Do young people in your country like to save money? To have a comfortable life in the future, probably even after retirement, a lot of young people in my country like to build a nest egg However, the problem is that most of them not really know how to save money partly because the education they receive at home or school does not help them with their money management Do you consider yourself to be good at managing your money? I guess I would say that I am ok at managing my money I usually try to set aside some money from my salary each month, and I definitely try to avoid squandering it, or buying things that are a waste of money I’m usually pretty careful with my money Are street markets common in Vietnam? Yes Street markets and supermarkets coexist in Vietnam because people prefer to have more than one option for grocery shopping Street markets offer a variety of products from food to clothing Most of the goods here are dirt-cheap, which are suitable for people who are on a tight budget How often you buy shoes? To be honest, I am broke now so I avoid shopping as much as I can I guess I shop for new shoes only when my previous ones are torn What is the latest plan you’re making? A specific plan, you mean? I am making a travel plan for my trip to Thailand I must calculate living expenses, note down metro numbers and pack food and clothes in advance 153 Bài Audio file 16.3 Is money important to you? Yes I mean money is absolutely important not just to me but to anyone Without money, we can’t buy things that we want, be it for work or personal purposes Is it important for parents to teach children how to save money? Yes absolutely! In Vietnam particularly, children not receive any financial education at school so they usually lack finance management skills after they leave school However, such skills are of paramount importance in their future life; so parents should pay more attention to this subject and spend time teaching their kids how to save money Do you think parents should give pocket money to their kids? Yes and No I mean it depends on both the parents and the kids If the parents are too busy to take their kids out for lunch during school breaks, then they should give their kids some money However, for young kids, parents should only give them a fairly small amount of pocketmoney What people in your country save money for? Some people save money to buy stuff that they want and that helps them with their study or work, for example a laptop or a smart phone And some other people save money to buy houses or to have a financially comfortable retirement Why people care too much about money? I suppose because many people think that money equals power The more money you have, the more influence you have over people 154 Bài Topic Audio file 16.4 I am going to talk about a clock necklace that I gave my best friend, Julie It was at the end of grade 10 that she left me to continue her study abroad For fear that I would be forgotten someday, I tried to think of a farewell gift that could make her think of me every time she saw it It was not an easy task to find the right present; maybe it was because I was being too picky She was more than a friend to me, she’s more like my sister, or my soul mate I didn’t want to waste my money on something meaningful but useless, or something useful but emotionally empty I wanted something that was special, something that would make her say “wow” when she received it I wandered from shop to shop to look for something, but I didn't know what One day, I came across something reminding me of her right away - a vintage necklace with a clock pendant It perfectly suited her style, so she could wear it with any of her clothes What I liked about the clock was that it was custom-made, I could design the number and write a message on it too The thing is, when giving her the necklace, I set the clock to the local time in Vietnam, so whenever she needed to tell the time she would feel annoyed because of the difference in time zones, and I hoped that she would think of me right at that moment The only thing was that it cost an arm and a leg for a student like me to buy I had to skip breakfast for an entire month to purchase it, but it was totally worth it She had no clue about how I bought it but she liked it anyway I felt exhilarated when I could buy my bestie something beautiful that she deserved, and I hoped that this chain would tie us together forever Topic Audio file 16.5 When talking about a way to saving money effectively, I have to admit that I have very limited skills in personal money management I find that saving money is difficult for me as I always tend to buy things without considering carefully, especially on payday I usually overspend and am out of money at the end of every month However, being a freshman and majoring in graphic designer, I have to buy a laptop to serve my educational purpose Honestly, I’ve always dreamed of having a Macbook Pro which is useful for my future career To achieve this goal, recently I have adopted a method 155 that helps me save money much more effectively, which is setting aside a portion of my earnings and putting the money in my piggy bank Besides, I have to be extremely careful before taking the plunge when it comes to shopping for stuff Sometimes I ask my mother to keep money for me as she is good at controlling expenses You know, she is the most financially savvy person in my family Well, this works wonders with me as my savings goes up significantly every month Now I always ask myself whether it’s necessary to buy things or if I can save it for a rainy day After a short time trying to save money like that, I find that I have an amount of money which is enough for me to afford a new Macbook Pro And I think that I will maintain those saving habits to build a nest egg for the future That’s all I want to share Topic Audio file 16.6 Alright I am going to share with you my dream house Two years ago, during the winter break of my college sophomore year, I spent three weeks with my uncle’s family in Philadelphia On New Year’s Eve, my uncle took me to a party hosted by Mr Thompson, one of his friends who, according to my uncle, is ridiculously rich And he was not joking Anyway, not until halfway through the trip did I realize I was far away from urban area and when I questioned my uncle, he replied: “yeah we’re going to Atlantic City, it’s a beach house” But it was not a house It was a mansion! The enormous construction, which had a stunning view over the Atlantic Ocean, looked like a palace on the outside Inside the house was just an architectural masterpiece You see, all the decorations had a beach theme ranging from the blue shell-shaped toothbrush holder to the white sand carpet Although there were four guest bedrooms on the ground floor, I chose to spend that night on the carpet On the second floor lay a massive balcony looking towards the beautiful sea where we welcomed the New Year together with a glass of champagne At that moment of luxury, I made a promise to myself: “this will be my house in the future.” To achieve this goal, recently I have adopted a method that helps me save money much more effectively, which is setting aside a portion of my earnings and putting the money in my piggy bank Besides, I have to be extremely careful before taking the plunge when it comes to shopping for stuff Well, this works wonders with me as my savings go up significantly every month Sooner or later, I am going to have my dream house 156 ...HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG SÁCH UNDERSTANDING VOCABULARY – IELTS SPEAKING Mỗi học tập trung vào chủ đề định chia thành phần theo sơ đồ đây: Words... them for advice(10) before sitting for an exam(11) In a nutshell, I really enjoyed my time at RMIT and I wish I could somehow relive my time there once more 10 To turn to for advice ≈ To ask for. .. choose that school? (Gợi ý: top-notch) I didn’t actually choose it What you like most about your school? (Gợi ý: turn to for advice) There’s a lot to like about my school …