Unit 16. Historical places

Ngoc Son Temple- Hanoi Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam-Hanoi The independence Palace-HCM city President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum-Hanoi... The picture 2 is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi?. Read

Unit: 16

Historical Places

A READING

Look at these pictures and answer the questions

Ngoc Son Temple- Hanoi Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam-Hanoi

The independence Palace-HCM city President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum-Hanoi

Look at these pictures and answer

the questions.

1 Can you name the pictures above?

2 Is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a

historical place?

3 What do you know about this place?

1 Can you name the pictures above?

 The picture 1 is Ngoc Son temple in Hanoi The

picture 2 is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi The picture 3 is the Independence Palace or the Reunification Palace in HCM City The picture 4 is President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi.

2 Is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a historical place?

 Yes, of course It is a famous historical and

cultural site in Hanoi.

3 What do you know about this place?

 Actually, I only hear about its name I don’t know anything about it So let’s study it

through the reading section in our textbook today

1 Historical /hɪˈstɒrɪkl/ (a): thuộc về lịch sử

2 Cultural /ˈkʌltʃərəl/(a): thuộc về văn hóa

3 Site /saɪt/ (n): di tích, địa danh

4 Originally /əˈrɪdʒənəli/ (adv): đầu tiên

5 Dynasty /ˈdɪnəsti/ (n): triều đại

6 Representative /ˌreprɪˈzentətɪv /(a): đại diện, tiêu biểu

7 Confucian /kənˈfjuːʃən/ (n): người theo đạo khổng

(a): thuộc về nho giáo

8 Behaviour /bɪˈheɪvjə(r)/ (n): hành vi, cách cư xử

9 Educate /ˈedʒukeɪt/ (v): giáo dục

10 Talent /ˈtælənt/ (n): nhân tài

(a): có tài

11 Memorialize /məˈmɔːriəlaɪz/ (v): tưởng nhớ

12 Brilliant /ˈbrɪliənt/ (a): xuất sắc

13 Scholar /ˈskɒlə(r)/ (n): học giả

14 Achievement /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ (n): thành tựu

15 Royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ (a): thuộc hoàng gia, triều đình

16 Engrave /ɪnˈɡreɪv/ (v): khắc, chạm

17 Stele (n, sing.): bia

 Stelae (n, plural): những tấm bia

18 Giant /ˈdʒaɪənt/ (a): khổng lồ

19 Tortoise /ˈtɔːtəs/ (n): rùa

20 Existence /ɪɡˈzɪstəns/ (n): sự tồn tại

21 well-preserved /wel-prɪˈzɜːv/ (a): bảo tồn, gìn giữ tốt

22 Architecture /ˈɑːkɪtektʃə(r)/ (n): kiến trúc

23 Banyan /ˈbænjən/ (n): cây cổ thụ

24 Witness /ˈwɪtnəs/ (n): nhân chứng

(v): chứng kiến

25 Feudal /ˈfjuːdl/ (a): thuộc phong kiến

26 Flourish /ˈflʌrɪʃ/ (v): sum sê, xanh tốt

27 Pride /praɪd/ (n): niềm tự hào

Read the text about Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam and then do the

tasks that follow.

1 Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is a famous

historical and culture site in Hanoi Originally built in 1070 in the Ly dynasty, Van Mieu was representative of Confucian ways of thought and behaviour Six years later, Quoc Tu Giam, the first university of Vietnam, was established

on the grounds of Van Mieu Between 1076

and 1779, Quoc Tu Giam educated thousands

of talented men for the country

2 In 1482, Van Mieu became a place to

memorialize the most brilliant scholars of the nation The names, places of birth and

achievements of top students in royal

examinations were engraved on stone stelae These stelae, carried on the backs of giant

tortoises, are still standing today and they

attract great interest from visitors

3 After more than 900 years of existence, Van Mieu is an example of well-preserved

traditional Vietnamese architecture The

banyan trees in Van Mieu, which witnessed festivals and examinations during feudal

times, continue to flourish Van Mieu – Quoc

Tu Giam is a site of national pride for

Vietnamese people

Task 1:Choses A, B, or C that best suits the

meaning of the italicised word.

1 Van Mieu was originally built in 1070 in the Ly dynasty.

A beautifully B initially C finally

2 It is representative of Confucian ways of thought and behaviour.

B typical B fond C traditional

3 Van Mieu was a place to memorialize the most brilliant scholars

of the nation.

C ignore B gather C honor

4 The stone stelae were engraved with the names of the top

students in royal examinations.

D printed B carved C washed

5 The banyan trees in Van Mieu continue to flourish even now.

A Slow down B fall of C grow well

Task 2: Decide whether the following

statements are true (T) or false (F)

T F

1 The construction of Van Mieu took place between 1076

and 1779

2 Quoc Tu Giam is considered to be the first university of

Vietnam.

3 Thousands of talented men were trained in Quoc Tu Giam

from the 11 th to the 19 th century. 

4 Van Mieu has now lost most of its traditional Vietnamese

architecture.

5 Festivals and examinations used to be held in Van Mieu -

Quoc Tu Giam

6 Visitors can still see some trees which have been in Van

Mieu for a long time.

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AFTER YOU READ

Work in groups

Talk about Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, using the suggestions below.

- Why is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a place of interest?

- When and where were they built?

- What were their function?

- What is special about the stelae there?

Sample discussion

S1: Hey, everyone, let’s talk about Van Mieu –

Quoc Tu Giam! Why is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu

Giam a place of interest?

S2: I know Because it is one of the famous

historical and cultural sites in Vietnam

S3: That’s it! When and where were they built? S1: It was originally in 1070; 6 years later, Quoc

Tu Giam was establishedon the grounds of Van Mieu

S2: that’s right! So what were their functions?

S3: Quoc Tu Giam educated thousands of talented men for the country Van Mieu is a place to honour the

most brilliant scholars of the nation.

S1: But what is special about the stelae there?

S2: well, the stelae, carried on the backs of giant

tortoises, were engraved with the names, places of birth and achievements of top students in royal

examinations.

S3: that sounds great!