Giải bộ đề dự đoán sớm speaking quý 2 2023

Contents HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG TÀI LIỆU PART Work and studies 2 Hometown 3 Home and accommodation 4 Watch 5 Neighbor 6 Weekend Noise Arts Outer space and stars 10 Chocolate 11 Music 12 Staying Up Late 13 Jewellery 10 14 Keys 10 15 Library 11 16 Small Business 11 17 Happy 12 18 T-shirt 12 19 Books and Reading habits 12 20 Doing sports 13 21 Evening time 13 22 Advertisement 14 23 Meeting places 15 24 Sitting down 15 25 Computers 16 26 Old buildings 17 27 Talents 17 28 Collecting things 18 29 Boring things 18 30 Hair salon 19 31 Science 19 32 Daily Routine 20 PART 2&3 22 CORE QUESTIONS BY SIMON 22 PART 2&3 PREDICTION QUESTIONS 24 TOPIC 1: DESCRIBE A PERSON 24 Describe a popular/well-known person in your country 24 Describe a friend from your childhood who you remember very well 26 Describe an interesting old person you know 28 Describe a person you met at a party who you enjoyed talking with 30 Describe a person you have met who you like to work or study 33 Describe a famous actor 35 TOPIC 2: DESCRIBE AN OBJECT 38 Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use 38 Describe a gift you received 40 Describe a traditional product in your country 42 Describe a photo you took that you are proud of 44 TOPIC 3: DESCRIBE AN EVENT/TIME 47 Describe a historical period you want to know more about 47 Describe a time when you received some positive feedback 49 Describe a time when you taught a friend or relative something 52 Describe a time you were late for a meeting 54 A time somebody gave you something you really wanted/ A reward you got 57 Describe a time when you moved to a new home/school 59 Describe a time you were very busy 60 Describe a time when you helped a child 62 Describe a special day out that cost you little money I didn't cost you much 64 10 Describe a time you used your cellphone/smartphone to something important 66 11 Describe a time when you had to spend a long time in a traffic jam 69 12 Describe a time when someone asked you for your opinion 70 TOPIC 4: DESCRIBE AN ACTIVITY 72 Describe an activity you enjoyed in your free time when you were young 72 Describe a contest/competition you would like to participate in 74 Describe an important event you celebrated 76 TOPIC 5: DESCRIBE A PLACE 79 Describe a city you would like to go to for a short time 79 Describe a place you visited that was affected by pollution 81 Describe a noisy place you have been to 83 Describe a favorite place in your house where you can relax 85 Describe a quiet place you like to go to 87 TOPIC 6: OTHER TOPICS 89 Describe something you did that made you feel proud 89 Describe a complaint that you made 91 Describe an unusual meal you had 93 Describe a website you often visit 96 Describe something you did with someone or a group of people 97 Describe a piece of good news that you heard about someone you know well 99 Describe a routine you have in your life that you enjoy 101 Describe a development in the area where you live 103 Describe an advertisement you not like 105 10 Describe something you would like to learn 107 HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG TÀI LIỆU Bộ tài liệu cung cấp cho bạn câu trả lời mẫu cho 32 chủ đề Speaking part 1, 40 chủ đề Speaking part part đề dự đoán sớm Quý 2/2023 Đây tài liệu vô chất lượng tâm huyết biên soạn đội ngũ Học thuật IELTS Xuân Phi Vì vậy, học viện mong sĩ tử tận dụng tối đa tài liệu đạt band điểm cao (8.0+) cho kỹ Nói, kỹ khó nhằn kỳ thi IELTS Trong chủ đề có mục sau: Câu hỏi chủ đề - Câu trả lời mẫu Cách sử dụng tài liệu: • Bước 1: Tự brainstorm ý tưởng cho câu trả lời • Bước 2: Đọc câu trả lời mẫu • Bước 3: Tham khảo ý tưởng ghi chép từ vựng mẫu phù hợp với ý tưởng thân vào sổ học thuộc từ vựng • Bước 4: Tự brainstorm lại ý tưởng dựa ý tưởng tham khảo từ vựng học (Chú ý: ghi từ 5-6 từ khóa, khơng ghi câu) PART 1 Work and studies • Do you work or are you a student? Well, currently I’m working a part-time job as a teaching assistant in an English center in Hanoi I’ve been doing so for years • What work you do? What subjects are you studying? Why did you choose that job? Besides being a part-time teaching assistant, I’m also employed full-time as an academic assistant My area of specialization is English linguistics, which means I have to master numerous subjects related to the major including the basics of Phonology, Grammar, English for specific purposes, etc There are several reasons I opted for that profession Firstly, my major is English linguistics Secondly, I have been passionate about English since I was in high school On top of that, my job also helps me to get a well-paid salary so it is really an ideal job for me now • Why did you choose to study that subject? Do you like your job? I decided to study that subject as it helps me to fulfill my dream of promoting our national image to the world Plus, studying English is also a way for me to train myself into becoming an active person Of course, I love my job now One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is that I have a chance to meet people from all walks of life And you know, they are all very different, which brings a unique dynamic to the classroom • What you like about your studies? One of the most fascinating aspects I find in my studies is that I can keep up with current affairs Plus, I can also improve my analytical and problem-solving skills • What you dislike about your studies? I just find it challenging the first time I studied my major as it was so theoretical and perplexing That’s why I had a hard time dealing with it when I was a freshman • What was your dream job when you were young? Have you changed your mind on your dream job? I was always ambitious about being a doctor when I was a kid Just imagining one day I would wear a blouse and find a cure for patients, I feel like I am on cloud nine Absolutely As you can see, my current job is academic assistant However, my dream was to become a doctor That’s because I changed my major when enrolling in university, which marked an important milestone and turned my life into a new leaf Hometown • Please describe your hometown a little What is your town well-known for? I was born and raised in Quang Ninh province, which is located in Northern Vietnam This province is also famous for its abundant seafood and a variety of tourist attractions • Do you like your hometown? I really love my hometown as I’ve grown up there since I was a kid All of my life has been associated with this place from my family, my school, and my friends to my house, my street, etc • Is that a big city or a small place? How long have you been living there? It’s a large city facilitated by a top-notch infrastructure and numerous convenient services As I mentioned before, I’ve lived there since I was a kid Having said that, I lived there for almost 18 years until I moved to Hanoi to enter a university • Do you think you will continue living there for a long time? I don’t think so I tend to live in Hanoi because this city provides me with a lot of job opportunities and services, allowing me to enjoy a high living standard Would you like to live in the countryside in the future? • What is the difference between living in the countryside and the city? What you like to in the countryside? From my perspective, the former differs from the latter in some aspects Firstly, it’s apparently the environment Needless to say, the atmosphere in an urban area is far more polluted than that in a rural one due to industrial production and systems of transportation However, living in the city is way more convenient than in the countryside thanks to its cutting-edge facilities, like hospitals, food and beverage delivery, etc I enjoy taking some walks as the clean atmosphere in the countryside makes me feel so refreshed and relaxed What’s more, I can also get away from it all after experiencing a hectic daily routine in the city • What people living in the countryside like to do? How has your town changed over the last 20 years? Well, most of the people in rural areas are farmers so I think they probably enjoy doing farmwork, you know, like irrigating, gardening or plowing, etc To be honest, the last 20 years have seen significant development in my town The frequent parks and open spaces have been replaced by modern buildings and commercial establishments, more industries have been established and people seem to have a fast pace of life these days Home and accommodation • Who you live with? I am currently living with my sister She is a good housemate who fully takes care of my cats or prepares the meals whenever I am occupied • What kinds of accommodation you live in? I am residing in a run-of-the-mill house in the outskirts of Hanoi It is a fully-furnished house with all the mod cons including air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine and even oven that my sister and I have accumulated for several months These household appliances play a vital role in reducing our amount of household tasks • Do you plan to live there for a long time? No, I would say, I have an intention of leaving my house in maybe years This is not because of the living costs or surrounding amenities It is about my future career plan I plan to move to another city; therefore, leaving this cozy neighborhood would be a must • What kind of house or flat you want to live in in the future? My dream house would be a spacious house in a big city I am a sucker for the glamour of metropolises; therefore, I would strive to work hard and buy one Although housing costs in cities are criminally expensive, I would consider it as a trade-off so I am willing to live there • What's your favorite room in your apartment/house? It’s the dining room where my family spends quality time together This is not only the place where every family reunion takes place but also the place where every family can enjoy a harmonious atmosphere during meals My family members always take precedence over family so despite ups and downs, we always try to eat together • Do you think it is important to live in a comfortable house? Yes, of course Although maybe we don’t spend most of our time staying at home, I still believe that a comfy house would help us to let off some steam after a day of backwrecking labor It would be a hassle if we are physically and emotionally drained and still endure irritating household things Watch • Do you wear a watch? I wear a watch for most of the day, especially when I’m at work or traveling somewhere However, when I’m at home I would just take it off and leave it on my bedroom desk • Have you ever got a watch as a gift? I have gotten a watch as a gift a couple of times The first time I got one it had marooncoloured straps and a gleaming white watch face The second time I got one it had grey plastic straps and a digital display and it could also function as a stopwatch • Why some people wear expensive watches? Some of those people like to wear extravagant watches to flaunt how wealthy they are For example, a businessman would typically wear an Omega watch to show that he makes a lot of money on his job • Do you think it is important to wear a watch? I find it to be important to wear a watch because it is a handy way to keep track of time If you can’t keep track of time then it wouldn’t be possible for you to the things you want or need to about movies, music, video games, food, international news, photography and cats I now go on Reddit almost everyday, although I don’t really make posts or comments on it I’m what is described as a ‘lurker’, where I basically skulk around various forums to see what people are talking about I like going on Reddit because it is a great hub where people can come together to talk about their favorite things It is also a place where two people of radically different backgrounds can become newfound friends over their shared love of a particular thing Describe something you did with someone or a group of people You should say: • What it was • Where you did it • Who you’re with And explain how you felt about it Answer: When talking about doing something in groups, it’s not exaggerating that I’m quite experienced So today I will tell you about an activity I worked on with Hoa, a university friend of mine To the best of my recollection, Hoa and I worked together as volunteer sellers at a fair organized at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Specifically, the fair started at about am and finished at pm Besides, there was also a 1-hour lunch break for all participants at 12 a.m Our duties included managing the store we were initially assigned and selling handicrafts made by the disabled for visitors, and we were thoroughly instructed by the store owner Despite that since I was completely out of my depth when it came to selling and persuading people to buy things, I felt so confused and clumsy at first Fortunately, thanks to the enthusiastic support of my fellow volunteer and the store owner, I could overcome my weakness and collaborate with them smoothly Standing from early morning till late afternoon, my feets were extremely painful and almost numb but I was so proud of myself and blissful that our hard work paid off Our products were sold out in the blink of an eye That day marked not only a record-high 97 revenue of our sales team, around 70 million Vietnam dongs but also the first time I worked in a group What’s more, I’ve learned valuable experiences and lessons, especially teamwork and communication skills I really hope I can have more opportunities to participate in such useful activities in the future Part 3: • What kinds of jobs need people to work in a team? I’d say more or less all jobs If I had to single one out… it’d be jobs to with IT, marketing, and human resources For all these jobs, it’s important to work closely with clients but also with your co-workers If you’re doing marketing, someone will have to come up with the content or designs, a manager will need to micromanage, there will be people working on the analytics and targeting audience segments - and all these people have to stay in touch and help each other out • How you get along with your neighbors? Personally, I my best to be as friendly and outgoing as possible I it through little actions like offering to help if I see them struggling with something like balancing a baby on their hip while rolling the garbage cans out Small gestures mean a lot - a lot more than over-the-top grand ones • What can parents with their children to make them happy? Hmm, what immediately comes to mind for me would be offering them unconditional love rather than positive or negative reinforcement By letting your kids express themselves freely, they will figure out on their own what makes them happy Parents are just there to serve as guides and helpers in this process And mold them in the long term into well-adjusted adolescents and later adults • How can children improve their social skills? I’d say the best way is to make sure they get plenty of time to socialize by going outdoors, doing sports, doing extracurricular activities like campings or going on picnics What’s more, parents should also restrict time spent on phones as excessive hours in front of screens can exert a detrimental effect on their interpersonal and teamwork skills A good example of this would be during COVID-19 pandemic, when 98 children had to use their devices for online learning every day, leading to their less interaction with people around and reduced communication skills That’s how it appeared to me at least - and I think I saw some articles online about that too Describe a piece of good news that you heard about someone you know well You should say: • What it was • When you heard it • How you knew it And explain how you felt about it Answer: Well, I received some good news from my soulmate Annie that she got a job offer from Apple, which is a multinational tech behemoth in the world You know, it is very competitive to land a job in this corporation as it requires potential candidates to not only have outstanding academic qualifications but also to attend in-depth interviews for hours, so I took a lot of pride in her At that time, we were seniors at the university, and it was exactly in the middle of finals To be honest, we were up to our ears in finals and thesis Needless to say, it was a nerveracking time because we felt vague about our future careers after graduation Therefore, when I heard the news, I knew that she could relieve her burden and stress Actually, she had applied for that position since the beginning of the semester, but she felt insecure after having face-to-face interviews I remembered that night, I suddenly got a call from her, and she was so eager to tell me about that news She said that she had been so anxious when checking the inbox via email, and she couldn’t believe it when she saw that she was hired She even took a screenshot of her computer and shared it with me to confirm that this piece of information was true We were over the moon and talked to each other for more than two hours regarding this news and our future plans 99 It was definitely the best news of the year Getting a job at Apple meant she would have a lucrative income and good prospects Hence, she was excited about the future without worrying about the money To this day, although she hasn’t worked for this company, she still keeps this lucky email in her inbox to remind her of that special occasion Part 3: • Is it good to share about yourself on social media? Well, I think it really depends on your objectives Like, for instance, if you’re selling some products and services, then part of your marketing strategy should include letting your potential customers know about them So posting fun and useful things like pictures or your experiences are effective tools - for instance if you sell clothes online and want to keep friends, family, followers updated If you’re just connecting with friends and family, then posting about your day-to-day life is a nice easy way to stay in touch However, it can be taken to an extreme and that can lead to addiction or in very rare cases make you vulnerable to online crimes - people can steal your private information and then engage in identity theft • What kind of good news people often share in the community? Well in Vietnam, citizens tend to report on key milestones in life For instance, people usually post information about big big events such as engagements, weddings, graduations, and birthdays Such posts often get a lot of attention from relatives and friends and they usually react or leave positive comments to wish the posters well On top of this, news about getting a promotion at work or landing a new job is also popular as people generally want to inform and celebrate with others Nothing to with showing off of course… • Do most people like to share good news with others? I’d say generally yes though I can’t speak for everyone Sharing good news means sharing happiness Sharing is part of the process This type of news fosters positive feelings of satisfaction that can boost your self-esteem and make you feel less alone in life For instance, telling your friends and family about a new job is likely to make them 100 feel excited for you - they can live through you vicariously for a minute And your own happiness will then grow and last longer as a result • How most people get their news in your country? I would say that in this age of technology and the Internet, people mostly get their news from various media outlets For example, on Facebook, many government pages have shared up-to-date information about both international and national affairs, which allows their citizens to keep informed of these events and adjust their own plans accordingly This has replaced the role of traditional newspapers in the vast majority of cases • How has social media changed the way we get and share the news? Well, obviously there are a number of clear differences about the way people obtain and spread information In the past, people did exchange information mainly through word of mouth or via printed newspapers Therefore, that information was potentially unreliable or readers needed a few days to keep track of current events around them But in modern society, we can easily stay abreast of current affairs both domestically and internationally within minutes through ipads and smartphones This helps the general public become more generally cognizant of the world and broadens their horizons • Do you think printed newspapers will disappear in the future? I’m not sure I think they will even though it seems obvious… because I think newspapers still play an indispensable role in our lives Due to their reliability Newspapers have a more stringent editorial process and tend to be more factually accurate - not nearly as much fake news as on the Internet nowadays For people that tech has left behind - older people like my grandparents, they find it really complicated to read online newspapers on their smartphones They’re still in favor of reading physical papers instead Describe a routine you have in your life that you enjoy You should say: • What it is 101 • How often you it • Is it easy to stick to that routine And explain how you feel about it Answer: Well, I am a health-conscious person Therefore, I definitely have a daily routine, which I find most beneficial for my health It’s doing yoga Yoga is an ancient practice that involves physical poses, concentration, and deep breathing After a long time worrying about my weight, I have decided to take up this sport to shed some pounds I intend to yoga on a daily basis in the morning so I try my best to wake up early and spend at least 15 to 30 minutes on this activity Needless to say, this practice requires people to be patient as there are many steps to First is wearing yoga clothes Next is doing some stretches to warm up I prioritize some exercises related to burning calories or promoting my spine and bones because they can help me to boost both physical and mental health On top of that, I feel really thankful for myself owing to my little but determined effort to turn yoga into my daily ritual It’s not a piece of cake to stay in this habit, but just thinking that a couple of minutes spent on a yoga mat will bring immediate and irrefutable benefits motivates me so much Now, I feel a lot sprier, and my energy levels are up My endurance has been enhanced significantly, I can exercise for longer and get lean more easily without interrupting any biological mechanism of my body like fasting or going on a diet More importantly, my mood has improved a lot I gradually feel calmer and less mentally ill Therefore, it is 100% that I still want to stick to this routine thanks to its advantages to my health in the future • What routines people have at home? Naturally it varies from person to person But most people, in the morning, have to go through the normal routine of getting up, showering, brushing their teeth, having breakfast, and getting dressed for work or school When they come back home in the evening, they might any number of things Lots of kids have homework to get out of the way and can then engage in recreational activities such as playing video games or 102 chilling with friends Many young people and adults, on the other hand, will take advantage of this quality me-time after a hard day at work by cooking for themselves and enjoying a quiet evening reading or watching a movie - those are just a couple possibilities though • What routines the elderly have? I’d say that older people might value routines more than other age groups, except young children They often have a more fixed daily schedule, one that’s more balanced and healthier In the morning, lots of them get up early to some simple exercise like yoga or taking a walk Then, they might prepare breakfast for their family and some tidying up around the house - doing the dishes or sweeping the floor A lot of old people are really into gardening or have some old-fashioned habits such as reading newspapers or playing chess during the day with friends In the evening, after having dinner, they’re more likely to turn in earlier compared to younger people • What are the benefits of having a routine for kids at school? I think it’s mainly about fostering good future work and study habits When kids have a set routine, they learn to organize their time and take responsibility If the routine is disturbed, then their whole day can end up out of watch As they get older, this can help them a lot when they embark on a professional career That’s the goal at least - it’s hit and miss how many kids actually keep these habits up as they get older • Do you think it is good to have a 9-to-5 job? It’s hard to generalize for everyone but I’d say that it’s a good option First, these jobs can offer excellent work-life balance Many employees find it more productive to spend a particular period of time (8 hours per day) devoting themselves to work and then they can compartmentalize and enjoy their personal life by spending quality time with family members and friends Having this set period of time for work forces individuals to get everything done before they head home for the day The time limit means that they really have to focus in on what they’re doing and that can boost their problem-solving abilities and efficiency Describe a development in the area where you live 103 You should say: • What the development is • When/where you noticed it • How long it took to complete it And explain how you feel about it Answer: My hometown used to be a quiet place but it has changed a lot over time There are many new facilities and amenities constructed in this area, making it more vibrant and energetic One of them is Aeon Mall shopping center I first saw this mall when I visited my friend’s house I was really impressed that the building was extremely spacious and cutting-edge This place serves for a multiple of purposes, where customers can purchase a wild range of items from luxurious to popular brands from both local and global merchandisers The food stalls here are also very diverse as people can enjoy the dishes of many countries around the world such as Japan or Korea Nevertheless, what interests me the most is the amusement areas for both adults and childrens, regarded as an ideal place for people to let off steam at the weekend However, not everyone knows that it must took about years to build this mall until it officially opened to the public in 2019 Not a long time for a big project like Aeon Mall but such a great effort All in all, I love this place for several reasons For one, I can browse all the shops and buy any items from clothes, cosmetics to foods For others, Aeon Mall is also a suitable place for me to spend quality time with my beloved ones, dropping by a coffee shop to chat with my friends or having a cozy dinner with family at any eatery here Part 3: • What transportation you use the most? I commute to work by bike just about every day I it mainly because it’s environmentally friendly and I’m trying to be more conscientious Obviously, bikes 104 don’t burn fossil fuels in the ways that private vehicles like cars It’s also quite a bit cheaper No gas, no fees for parking, no expensive repairs - so I can set aside some money every month this way • Is public transportation popular in Vietnam? Yes, to a degree and among certain segments of the population Buses are cheaper than using a private vehicle or booking a Grab Tickets cost next to nothing and there are a million routes that will take you all around the city You can save a lot by taking buses and you don’t have to stress about paying for repairs if the bus breaks down - something you will have to worry about if you own a car or a motorbike • What could be improved in public transport services? There are several ways to make public transport a more attractive option to my mind The first one is increasing their frequency and ease of access The time spent waiting for the bus is a major part of a person’s total transit time; more buses would save time and in turn encourage more people to use public transport But the buses themselves have to be more attractive options For example, in Vietnam, some buses are quite old and sometimes don’t have air conditioning - when they get crowded on a scorching hot day, it can be an awful experience - a memorable one Fix these issues and maybe more people would be convinced to give up driving cars • What leisure facilities can be used by people of all ages? The one that first comes to mind for me personally is parks There’s so much you can at parks! No matter your age The elderly can get in some light exercise by strolling around while younger people can play sports like badminton or have a picnic with friends or family I think cities would be much nicer places to live in if local administrators prioritized having lots of open green spaces - and kept them wellmaintained - then people would be able to get away from the hectic pace of life of cities without leaving the city itself Describe an advertisement you not like You should say: • What type of advertisement it is 105 • What product or service it advertises • Where and when you first saw it And explain why you don’t like it Answer: These days, we see ads everywhere we go Many are appealing and easily go viral among the public, but there are some advertisements that irritate people like the commercial of the Kangaroo corporation The first time I saw this ad was when the final match of Champions League between Barcelona and Manchester United occurred several years ago To be honest, I’m a diehard fan of football and a supporter of Manchester United football club, so when this team went to the final match, I was so eager to watch them Until now, the feeling of frustration still come back to me when reminishing about that day, when the match took place and this ad interrupted right after my father and I sat in front of the box To tell you more detailedly, this commercial is advertising the latest water purifier of the Kangaroo brand It is a vintage advert which is only seconds long with quite loud jingles and the slogan “Kangaroo - the best water purifier in Vietnam” The ad uses only two colours: yellow words and green background Indeed, this advertisement is quite tedious and ridiculous compared to recent ads which have attractive visuals and hilarious stories I can’t bear this ad as it appeared too many times before the match and during the 15-minute interval with a lengthy duration of up to 30 times At that time, listening to the deafening sound of the commercial became such a sheer torture for me Although after the match, this ad caused a barrage of criticism among the public, the brand is ironically still a common name in every Vietnamese household these days Part 3: • What kind of things are advertised most in your country? That would probably be consumer electronics On just about every site I visit, I see adverts for new smartphones, laptops, desktops, iPads, etc Maybe the reason is that in 106 our current technological society, everything involves the internet People can shop online, pay their bills through apps, order delivery for dinner, and get work done with the aid of a smartphone or computer - not to mention the uses of social media • Are newspaper or online ads more effective? I suppose that online advertising is a much better choice for marketers compared to print advertising Firstly, everyone is online these days all the time - searching for information and chatting with their friends, so it’s the most practical, viable method for business owners to get the message and their products out there They can easily reach millions of customers and target specific audience segments using more advanced tools Fewer people read newspapers and you can’t really determine who you are reaching with the same level of specificity • Why some people hate advertisements? I think that is more or less all people, to be honest Ads are ubiquitous and irritating they get under your skin Pop-ups on websites, auto-playing ads on YouTube - those are all annoying interruptions to the content you want to be engaging with Plus, they may not be the target customer of this advert, so they are truly useless distractions • Is music useful in advertising? Yeah, I suppose it is and that’s why so many companies use music in their ads A song can draw attention and increase the chances that it will be memorable and persuasive For instance, Shopee, a famous e-commerce platform, has remixed the popular song “Baby Shark” in their latest advert, and lots of people have shared it on social media ironically and unironically I think Even if you think the ad isn’t affecting you, it has wormed its way into your brain and might influence your buying decisions and habits later on 10 Describe something you would like to learn You should say: • What it is • How you would like to learn it • Why you would like to learn it 107 And explain whether it’s difficult to learn it Indeed, learning is a lifelong process, and as an innovative person, I love to pick up knowledge regarding any concept Here, I would like to talk about an important thing I have learnt, not in school or college That crucial thing is cooking Actually, I have been interested in cooking since my childhood However, being in the kitchen was not my cup of tea So, I generally watched cooking videos on youtube and helped my mother with kitchen chores to improve my cooking skills However, it was nearly impossible to follow the instructions from internet-based materials as professional chefs and content creators have many unfamiliar and nowhere-to-be-found utensils and ingredients Moreover, thinking that a male should not be in the kitchen, my mom taught me simply nothing about cooking But things changed on a summer vacation that I spent in my hometown The vacation lasted one month and I stayed with my grandmother Once, when my grandma was preparing our meal, I tried to sneak into the kitchen, meticulously looking at her way of cooking and even raising my voice to ask about her techniques Unlike my mother, she welcomingly responded to all of my requests She then promised to pass down all her abilities written in what she called “The cooking bible.” And in the next one month, I learnt a library of cooking tips from her, even in the cuisine of other nations This cooking ability now seems indispensable to me as I am about to become an exchange student for the next semester, which requires me to a lot of cooking myself to survive in such an unfamiliar situation Part 3: • What’s the most popular thing to learn nowadays? It's difficult to pinpoint the most popular thing to learn nowadays as it can vary depending on a person's interests, career goals, and cultural context However, there are main subjects that are crucial for people to become global citizens today The first one is learning a new language since it opens up opportunities for travel, work, and personal growth The second relates to Technology and coding It is the fact that with the increasing reliance on technology in all aspects of life, learning coding and other techrelated skills has become highly valuable 108 • At what age should children start making their own decisions? Why? I think that children should be able to make their own decisions when they reach or years of age because at that point they are mature enough to know right from wrong and that their choices have consequences If they start too young, then they won’t be careful with their decisions If they start too old, then their development into mature, wellrounded adults will be delayed substantially • Which influences young people more when choosing a course, income or interest? I think that their interest has more of an influence on people’s choice of course in college If one shows interest in a particular course, then they are more motivated to complete that course the best they can and then they can find a job they will enjoy doing since it is related to that course That job could very likely have a high income attached to it already so that person won’t regret the course they’ve chosen • Do young people take their parents’ advice when choosing a major? I would say it used to be case in the past since parents had more life experience and they were wiser as such so young people would look up to them as examples in choosing their major Nowadays, however, young people are following their own instincts when it comes to choosing a major as they want to forge their own path in life and not what their parents tell them to • Besides parents, who else would people take advice from? People are willing to take advice from anyone who served as an authority figure to them They can be teachers, managers or mentors and people tend to look to them because they have plenty of life experience and they know what exactly to in a given situation People also tend to take advice from their friends because they are keen to help them and those people need such help with their problems • Why some people prefer to study alone? Some like to study alone because they don’t want to be disturbed by other people and they want to focus as much as they can on their work If they are working with other people, then they are more likely to be distracted and thus struggle to complete their 109 assignments Therefore, it is suggested that those who like to work alone would find a quiet place like a café or library as they have areas where people can isolate themselves from everyone else 110