Part 11. Home AccommodationWhat kind of housingaccommodation do you live in?I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, twobathrooms and a lovely back garden. It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just rightfor me and my family.Who do you live with?I live with my parents and my siblings. We always get on well with each other and havea lot of fun.How long have you lived there?I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated from high school and moved to thecity to enroll at university, where I lived in a student dormitory during the semester.(If you answer you havent lived there long) What’s the difference between where youare living now and where you have lived in the past?Living in a dorm with other roommates is totally different from living in my own house.My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there are a lot ofpeople there and I don’t have my own space. Conversely, when I was living at home, Ihad my own spacious room and it made me feel comfortable.Do you plan to live there for a long time?To be honest, I intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after I graduate fromuniversity. I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities I want.Which room does your family spend most of the time in?It’s definitely the kitchen. Not only lunch or dinner time but all our family reunions takeplace in the kitchen where all the family members get together to eat tasty meals, andchat to each other – it’s a really harmonious atmosphere.Are the transport facilities to your home very good?To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern. The busservice from my work place to home is irregular and usually overcrowded.Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?I prefer living in a house to a flat because I value my privacy and need my own space.Owning an independent house, I can plan and design a house layout to suit myself.Moreover, I can modify a house according to the size of the family.
I Part Home/ Accommodation Study Work 10 Street market 12 Noise 13 Pollutions 14 Dream 16 Alone 17 Efficiency 18 Science 19 Patience 20 Sky 21 10 Music 24 11 Email 27 12 Season 28 13 Colors 30 14 Holiday 31 15 Sleep 32 16 Shoes 34 17 Sports/physical exercise 35 18 Morning Routines 37 19 Garden 38 20 Swimming 39 21 Friends 41 22 Sports 44 23 Cooking 48 24 Transport 49 25 Sunglasses 51 26 Photos 51 27 Neighbors 52 28.Paintings 54 29 Running 55 30 Sharing 56 31 Cinema 57 32 Animal (Pets) 57 33 Handwriting 60 34 Water 60 35 Crowded place 62 36 Dance 63 37 Drawing 65 38 Festivals 67 39 Film Star 69 40 Tea or Coffee 71 PART 2: 74 1.Describe a recent development in your city 74 Describe one time when someone said good words about what you have done 75 Describe something interesting that happened in your school 79 Describe a time when you helped others 81 Describe an important event to celebrate (personal important events) 83 Describe an intelligent person you know 87 Describe a radio program you find interesting 89 Describe a city that you would like to visit You should say: 91 Describe an interesting place in your country that not many tourists get there 92 10 Describe a website you have used 95 11 Describe an impressive work of art such as painting or sculpture you saw 97 12 Describe someone you have met recently and would like to know more about 100 13 Describe a photo that you remember well You should say: 102 14 Describe a time when you see an interesting animal You should say: 103 15 Describe a time when you arrived very early for an appointment You should say: 105 16 Describe someone you haven’t met before and you would like to know more 108 17 Describe a recent happy event that you had You should say: 111 18 Describe some encouragement given by other people other people You should say: 113 19.Describe a car/motorbike/bike trip that is interesting You should say: 114 20 Describe a photo that you remember well 116 21 Describe a time you arrived very early for an appointment 118 22 Describe a time of seeing interesting animals 121 23 Describe someone you met recently and would like to know more about 123 24 Describe a plant growth stage 125 25 Describe a time when you helped others You should say: 128 26 Describe one time when someone said good words about what you did 129 27 Describe a painting or work of art that you have seen 133 28 Describe a place in your city that you would like to visit 136 29 Describe a person who helps to protect the environment 138 30 Describe a book you have read recently 140 31 Describe a film or TV program that made you laugh 143 32 Describe a subject you didn’t like, but interested in now 147 33 Describe a good law in your country 150 34 Describe a skill you need a long time to learn You should say: 154 35 Describe a time you looked for information on the Internet 157 36 Describe a successful family business 160 37 Describe a talk or a speech 162 38 Describe a game that you played in your childhood 166 39 Describe a complaint you made and you were satisfied with the result 168 40 Describe a language you want to learn (not English) 170 41 Describe a time when you were scared 173 42 Describe a time when you took a medicine 177 43 Describe a time when you borrowed something from your family or a friend 180 44 Describe a time when you received money as a gift 182 45 Describe a historic era you are interested in 185 46 Describe an experience when you taught someone to something new 187 47 Describe something given to you that you really needed 192 48 Describe a time that you had to change your plan/ changed your mind 194 49 Describe a time when you first learned outdoor sports 197 50 Describe a time when a piece of equipment of yours was broken 199 51 Describe an occasion that you found something that someone else lost 201 52 Describe a handsome person you have met 202 53 Describe food that you eat on a special occasion 204 54 Describe a person you would like to work or study with 205 55.Describe an achievement of your friend that made you proud 207 56 Describe something you to keep you concentrated 218 57 Describe something you regularly that helps you work and study better 219 I Part 1 Home/ Accommodation What kind of housing/accommodation you live in? I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms and a lovely back garden It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just right for me and my family Who you live with? I live with my parents and my siblings We always get on well with each other and have a lot of fun How long have you lived there? I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated from high school and moved to the city to enroll at university, where I lived in a student dormitory during the semester (If you answer you haven't lived there long) What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in the past? Living in a dorm with other roommates is totally different from living in my own house My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there are a lot of people there and I don’t have my own space Conversely, when I was living at home, I had my own spacious room and it made me feel comfortable Do you plan to live there for a long time? To be honest, I intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after I graduate from university I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities I want Which room does your family spend most of the time in? It’s definitely the kitchen Not only lunch or dinner time but all our family reunions take place in the kitchen where all the family members get together to eat tasty meals, and chat to each other – it’s a really harmonious atmosphere Are the transport facilities to your home very good? To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern The bus service from my work place to home is irregular and usually overcrowded Do you prefer living in a house or a flat? I prefer living in a house to a flat because I value my privacy and need my own space Owning an independent house, I can plan and design a house layout to suit myself Moreover, I can modify a house according to the size of the family Please describe the room you live in My current room is actually more like a bedsit It is a multi – purpose room, I use it to sleep and study as well It is painted in pink, that’s my favorite color with a bed, a cupboard and desk It’s not really spacious but it’s just right for me What part of your home you like the most ? I prefer my bedroom most due to its convenience and privacy Because of my stressful work I want to be in a quiet place and concentrate on my work In my own room, I’m never disturbed by anyone else Moreover, in my own space I can whatever I want without bothering others VOCABULARY Terraced house (noun): (ngôi nhà dãy nhà kiểu) a house connected on both sides by other properties Ex: In England, most people seem to live in terraced houses with lovely back gardens Back garden (noun phrase): (vườn phía sau nhà) a garden at the rear of the house Ex: I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms and a lovely back garden Spacious (adjective): (rộng rãi) (of a room or building) large and with plenty of space for people to move around in Ex: The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable Sibling(s) (noun): (anh/ chị em) a brother or sister Ex: The younger children were badly treated by older siblings Get on well with sb (phrasal verb): (hịa hợp với đó) to have a friendly relationship with somebody Ex: She and her sister have never really got on well with each other Dormitory (noun): (kí túc xá) a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or other institution Ex: I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated high school and moved to the city to enroll in university where I lived in a dormitory Residential area (noun): (nơi ở) (of an area of a town) suitable for living in; consisting of houses rather than factories or offices Ex: It was not safe to locate the chemicals factory in a residential area Urban area (noun): (vùng thành thị) connected with a town or city Ex:Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas Reunion (noun): (tụ họp, xum họp) a social occasion or party attended by a group of people who have not seen each other for a long time Ex: The College has an annual reunion for former students Harmonious (adjective): (ấm cúng, yên bình) friendly, peaceful and without any disagreement Ex: It is important to have harmonious relations between the country's ethnic groups Irregular (adjective): not happening at the arranged time intervals Ex: His irregular attendance at school resulted in his failure in the final exams Overcrowded (adjective): with too many people or things in it Ex: The train was so overcrowded this evening that I was unable to find an empty seat Privacy (noun): being alone and not disturbed by other people Ex: I read the letter in the privacy of my own room Suit oneself (verb): to exactly what you like/want Ex: Everyone had a different opinion about what colour to paint my room, so in the end I decided to just suit myself Modify (verb): (sửa đổi, thay đổi) to change something slightly, especially in order to make it more suitable for a particular purpose Ex: We found it cheaper to modify the existing equipment rather than buy new Bedsit (noun): (phòng vừa để ngủ vừa để học, tiếp khách) a room that a person rents and uses for both living and sleeping in Ex: He lives in a tiny student bedsit used for both sleeping and studying Multi-purpose (adjective): (đa chức năng) having many different uses Ex: This room is multi-purpose – we use it for meetings, interviews and taking breaks Study Describe your education I started primary school when I was years later, I went to secondary school at 12 Then at 16, I made it to a high school for gifted students in my hometown In my country, highschool education lasts years, then I went onto higher education at the Foreign Trade University where I’m currently studying economics What is your area of specialization? Well, my major is External Economics I have mastered the basics of economics and socio-economics, combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export business Why did you choose to study that major? I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products to the world Vietnamese goods have a real potential, but they still struggle to make a name for themselves, you know Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?) Yes, of course Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and practical It helps me to keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and problem-solving skills as well What kind of school did you go to as a child? As a child, I attended a public elementary school It’s quite a big school in my hometown which provides both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I was quite lucky What was your favourite subject as a child? Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl It was fun to work with brushes and colors, you know, as it was the time when I could indulge in my own creative world Do you think your country has an effective education system? To be honest, I don’t think so Our system has somehow become unduly stressful, does not promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares way too much about grades and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven curriculum, which I find quite impractical (Possibly) Are you looking forward to working? Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can the job I love Not only will it pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution It’s hard to be happy and fulfilled without working, you know VOCABULARY Higher education (chương trình đại học) [n] post-18 learning that take places at universities Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in U.S higher education are studying either business or engineering, with business-related majors making up 38 percent of all enrollments in 2012/13 Master (tinh thông, nắm vững) [v] learn how to sowmthing well Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language Make a name for oneself ( trở nên tiếng) [idiom] become famous and respected by a lot of people Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful railway contractor Keep up with (cập nhật thông tin gì) [idiom] be aware of Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home Analytical (thuộc phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem solving occurs to keep productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly Elementary school (trường tiểu học) [n] primary school, school for children between 711 years old (in Vietnam) Example: It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend classes fully Unduly (q mức, khơng đáng ) [adj] excessively/ to a level that more than is necessary, acceptable, or reasonable Example: For every new parents, the decision about whether to vaccinate his or herchild has been u nduly stressful Exam-driven curriculum (chương trình học để phục vụ cho kỳ thi) [expression] the courses taught a school, college, which focus on teaching what will be on the exam Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s attitude towards school in profoundly negative ways Pay the bills (trang trải sống) [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s lifestyle Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills Work What you do? I’m currently working as a graphic designer for a fashion magazine for youngsters What are your responsibilities? Well I’m mainly responsible for designing the cover of the magazine I normally work with the concept team to make sure that the final product will both attract the potential buyer’s attention and express the theme of the magazine Why did you choose to that type of work (or, that job)? I guess it’s because of my artistic passion The process of creating beautiful things is somehow intriguing to me, so I chose to be a graphic designer, which combines both art and technology It’s quite interesting, you know Is there some other kind of work you would rather do? Well, if possible, I’d like to be a freelance writer Actually I’m a big fan of action movies, and I also care about healthy living, so, I’d love to write about these topics and share my stories with people of the same interest Describe the company or organization you work for My company is not huge, it’s just a small art designoffice, but is definitely an inspirational workplace with a young, creative, and extremely passionate team We work on the basis of mutual understanding and respect for each other, so it’s kind of an ideal environment for me Do you enjoy your work? Most of the time It’s rewarding to co-work on projects with amazing people in an open and supportive environment to bring out an art production that will ultimately give me a sense of satisfaction and pride What you like about your job? Well, the perk of being a graphic designer is that you’ll surround yourself with inspiring images everyday My daily working life involves seeking out inspiration in all sorts of places, researching incredible illustrations and graphics, and creating them too It’s great, I think What you dislike about your job What I don’t like about this job is that our personal taste in design varies, and normally I’ll have to a thousand edits to get the final product that meets the demand of my boss while still * relating / staying faithful to /remaining trueto the initial concept Push oneself to the limits (phrase): cố gắng hết sức, lượt giới hạn If you really want to know what you are capable of, push yourself to the limits Nếu bạn thực sự muốn biết làm gì, cố gắng vượt giới hạn Go to great lengths (phrase): cố gắng Some people go to great lengths to make their homes attractive Có số người cố gắng để làm nhà họ trông hút Put in effort (phrase): cố gắng You'll have to put more effort in if you want to improve Bạn phải cố gắng muốn cải thiện Play to someone’s strengths (phrase): sử dụng mạnh The globalization of services in international business has played to India's strengths Q trình tồn cầu hóa dịch vụ kinh doanh quốc tế biết sử dụng mạnh Ấn Độ Maiden (adj): lần đầu The first hydrogen-powered airplane will make its maiden flight this year Máy bay sử dụng hydro lần đầu cất cánh vào năm Cross someone’s mind (phrase): suy nghĩ It crossed my mind yesterday that you must be short of staff Hôm qua suy nghĩ bạn hẳn thiếu nhân viên 10 Deliver a speech (phrase): diễn thuyết The Governor of New York delivered a rousing speech to the national convention Người Thị trưởng New York diễn thuyết sôi hội nghị quốc gia 56 Describe a thing that you bought but you not use a lot You should say: - What it is - When you bought it - Why you bought it - and explain why you not use it often (What it is) Today, I would like to tell you about a thing that I regret buying because the number of times I’ve used it is yet to reach 20 That thing is a printer This is a laser printer which took me roughly 100 USD and received a lot of positive reviews from consumers back then (When you bought it) I made up my mind to purchase this printer years ago after mulling things over for more than a month because I was not sure whether it would be of great use afterwards When asking my parents if they could support me, they also warned me of this Yet, I finally decided to buy one, which was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made in my life (Why you bought it) I bought the printer when preparation for the IELTS test started to intensify when a great number of documents and materials was in need such as mock tests Prior to the purchase, I had other people print for me, which made them feel a bit imposed on and bothered It sprang to my mind that the printer could be used to print music sheets for my piano and organ practice after the test (And explain why you not use it often) The printer is supposed to be used for my studies as well as piano lessons However, hardly had I passed the test with flying colours when the preparation for the national examination came in, which meant that I had little time to practice the piano while the documents needed for the national examination were too much for my printer Therefore, the printer has been of little use until now, so the idea of selling it springs my mind Make up one’s mind (phrase): định I haven't made up my mind where to go yet Tôi chưa định đâu hết Mull things over (phrase): suy nghĩ kĩ I need a few days to mull things over before I decide if I'm taking the job Tôi cần vài ngày để suy nghĩ kĩ lại trước định chấp nhận công việc Intensify (verb): mạnh lên Fighting around the capital has intensified in the last few hours Trận đánh xung quanh thủ đô bắt đầu mạnh lên vòng số trước In need (phrase): cần You just hope that the money goes to those who are most in need Bạn cần hi vọng rằng số tiền đến người cần Impose (verb): ép buộc I hope I’m not imposing by staying another night Tôi hi vọng rằng không ép buộc bạn/làm bạn khó chịu thêm đêm With flying colours (idiom): điểm cao She passed the test with flying colours Cô qua môn với số điểm cao To spring to my mind (phrase): đập vào đầu Say the word "Australia" and a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to mind Nói chữ Australia hình tượng biển xanh biếc liền đập vào đầu 27 Describe your grandparents job You should say: - What the job is - How long they have done this - Why they chose the job - And say what you think about their job (What the job is) Farming has long been a traditional job of most Vietnamese families, and my grandparents are not an exception They used to be farmers before not being able to continue working any longer Farming, for the majority of Vietnamese people, comprises activities such as cultivating, seeding, growing and harvesting rice plants (How long they have done this) To the best of my knowledge, my grandparents started to join their parents, who were my great grandparents, as early as being 15 or 16 years old and kept working until they reached 60 years old Their farming career came to a close more than 20 years ago, when I was not even born They passed their farms onto some of my old aunts and uncles while their younger children, including my daddy, entered the industrial workforce (Why they chose the job) This question should be more of a historical question to be honest Since Vietnam is too far away from the Western World where the first and second industrial revolutions took place and was continuously fighting to protect our sovereignty, more than 90% of Vietnamese people were peasants by the early 20th century Being born into a family with little educational background, my grandparents were left with no choice but to work on farms (And say what you think about their job) I am more than proud of my grandparents’ job despite it being less respected because owing to such a great effort they put in, all of my aunts and uncles had the chance to enter education, despite dropping out sooner or later Yet, this made them have a high regard for the importance of education so that our generation could have the chance to pursue tertiary education Comprise (verb): bao gồm The course comprises a class book, a practice book, and a CD Khóa học bao gồm sách học, tập đĩa CD Come to a close (phrase): kết thúc The play's lengthy run on Broadway comes to a close tonight Bộ kịch dài sàn Broadway kết thúc tối Enter the workforce (phrase): bắt đầu làm Graduate employees are entering the workforce with too few business skills, according to research Những người tốt nghiệm thường bắt đầu làm với kĩ kinh doanh, theo báo cáo Sovereignty (n): chủ quyền Talks are being held about who should have sovereignty over the island Những đàm phán diễn để định có chủ quyền đảo Peasant (n): nông dân Most of the produce sold in the market is grown by peasant farmers Đa số sản phẩn bám chợ trồng nông dân To be left with no choice (phrase): khơng cịn sự chọn lựa As she did not review for her exam, she was left with no choice but withdrawing Vì khơng học cho kì thi, nên khơng cịn sự chọn lựa khác ngồi việc rút lui Sooner or later (idiom): sớm muộn Sooner or later she's going to realize what a mistake she's made Sớm muộn nhận lỗi 11 Describe your dream home You should say: - Where the house is - What the house includes - How it looks - And explain why you like to live in this house (Where the house is) I’ve dreamed of having a house in the resort city of Danang since it was crowned the most liveable city in Vietnam, and has won this title for years, leaving bar behind its rivals such as Vung Tau, which is my hometown, and Ho Chi Minh city, which is the wealthiest city in Vietnam Danang is such a stunning coastal city with magnificent scenery of the sea and the mountains It’s natural and modern at the same time, that’s why I would love to live there (What the house includes) As a person with a diminutive frame, I would also love to live in a small house without any floors Yet, it should comprise necessities as well as other kinds of other supplementary things like a pool or a garden 30% of my house should be covered by greenery because it will calm down the temperature significantly when heatwaves, along with high humidity, affect the region during the summer (How it looks) The walls will be painted in white, which makes my house look a lot brighter and reduces the absorption of heat Also, the doors will be all glassy because there is nothing more elegant than glass I follow the minimalism of the Japanese, and I am lazy, so there will be nothing much inside my house apart from a kitchen, creamy lights, and some very essential necessities There is no question of paintings or complicated furniture being in my house (And explain why you like to live in this house) From what I’ve said, there are two main reasons This house is located in the city of Danang, which is a coastal city with beautiful beaches and mountains The house is built in deference to Japanese minimalism and I’m a couch potato who does not want to spend time on tidying up the house too frequently To be crowned (v): trao vương miện/thắng Queen Elizabeth II was crowned (queen) (= made queen in a special ceremony) in 1953 Nữ hoàng Elizabeth II trao vương miện vào năm 1953 To leave someone far behind (n): bỏ xa Three years later, the company had left all its close rivals far behind Ba năm sau đó, cơng ty bỏ xa đối thủ Diminutive frame (phrase): tướng người nhỏ Despite Roy’s diminutive frame, he was able to defeat some of the top wrestlers who were twice his size at the world championship Mặc dù có tướng người nhỏ con, Roy chiến thắng số tay vật tiếng giới với thân hình to gấp anh Absorption (n): sự hút Some poisonous gases can enter the body by absorption through the skin Một số loại khí vào thể qua đường hút da In deference to something (phrase): theo She covered her head in deference to Muslim custom Cô che đầu lại theo luật Hồi giáo Couch potato (n): người lười biếng A couch potato is a person who watches a lot of television and does not have an active life Một “couch potato” người xem TV nhiều khơng có sống động - Describe a public place that has improved You should say: What it is When it started to improve How it has improved And explain how you feel about the improvement (What it is) Notre Dame Basilica of Saigon has long been in the bucket list of a lot of tourists around the world, regardless of religions It gives welcome to thousands of visitors per day, most of whom are from Asian countries such as China, Thailand, Japan in which finding a church like this is nearly infeasible (When it started to improve) The restoration of this world-class church has taken place for years and this main restoration project is forecast to last more than years, meaning that the church will continue undergoing restoration for another years A lot of efforts have been put in campaigns calling for funds and until now, their efforts have paid dividends as more than 80% of the amount of fund needed for the project has been raised, exceeding 70 billion VND, which is equivalent to 2.33 million USD, which is a massive number (How it has improved) From the outside, it can be seen that the project is on the right track, yet at a slow speed What we can see now is that all the marks and dirt on the walls of the cathedral have been removed, giving back the original beauty to the outer part of the cathedral Moreover, all the plants that grow on the roof of the church, which are the result of the accumulation of dirt and water, have also been eliminated (How you feel about the improvement) I would like to give credit to those in charge of the restoration project as it poses such a great challenge in terms of funding as well as finding the way to restore the church without changing its original architecture and design And what they are doing proves that the likelihood of their expectations coming true is positively high Bucket list (n): danh sách việc phải làm/đi I have so many things on my bucket list yet to Tơi có nhiều thứ danh sách phải làm mà chưa làm Give welcome to (phrase): chào đón They were given a warm (= very friendly) welcome Chúng chào đón nồng nhiệt Infeasible (Adj): khơng thể That you pass the exam without revision is infeasible Việc bạn điểm cao kì thi mà khơng phải ôn bàn điều Put in effort (phrase): cố gắng You'll have to put more effort in if you want to improve Bạn phải cố gắng muốn cải thiện Pay dividends = pay off (phrase): có kết The company found that the extra training really did pay dividends Công ti nhận thấy rằng việc đào tạo nhiều cho kết tốt Equivalent to something (phrase): bằng với Is $50 equivalent to about £30? 50 Mỹ có bằng 30 bảng Anh không? On the right track (phrase): hướng These results suggest that we are on the right track Những kết cho thấy rằng đa hướng Accumulation of something (phrase): sự tích tụ A thick layer of dust had accumulated in the room Một lớp bụi dày tích tụ phịng Give credit to someone (phrase): tán dương You have to give him credit for being so honest Bạn phải tán dương anh thật lịng Describe an interesting old person You should say: - Who that is - How old she/he is - What she does for a living - Explain why you think she/he is interesting (Who that is) Today, I would like to describe an old person who I really admire She is a source of joy and the star of the show, just like her name Sao, which is Vietnamese for star Mrs Sao is my relative with whom I spent most of my childhood Even now that I have taken up residence in Ho Chi Minh city for my studies, I still go home every weekend and never forget to pay her a visit (How old she/he is) Coming across Mrs Sao, no one would think she is already in her 60s as most of them would look at her for some seconds and jump to the conclusion that she is only in her late 40s Yet, being born in 1953, Mrs Sao went through a tough time filled with wars and division, and has enjoyed the peace and fast-paced development of Vietnam at the present (What she does for a living) Mrs Sao and her mom get by on very little money earned from selling rice noodles at a small market Despite her poor financial background, she managed to send of her children to school, two of which were able to enter the Vietnam National University (Explain why you think she/he is interesting) Mrs Sao is not an ordinary old person, she breaks down the stereotype that the elderly are annoying and outdated She proves that someone in their 60s can know everything happening in the showbiz and which singer has just released their products to the general public Apart from those entertainmentrelated topics, Mrs Sao, as someone who had the chance to go through different stages in the history of Vietnam, has more than just historical stories to tell While school was instrumental in helping me understand the surface knowledge of the events that took place, Mrs Sao was the one that gave me in-depth knowledge about each event and how ordinary citizens lived in the time of wars These are the reasons for which I think she is another mommy of mine A source of joy (phrase): nguồn vui A real source of joy can only felt by heart Nguồn vui đích thực chỉ cảm nhận bằng trái tim The star of the show (phrase): trung tâm sự ý Estella looked resplendent in her gold silk gown in the party, which made her become the star of the show Estella trông thực sự lộng lẫy với đầm hội buổi tiệc, khiến cho cô trở thành trung tâm sự ý Take up residence (phrase): bắt đầu sống nơi She took up residence in Canada Cô bắt đầu sống Canada Break down stereotype (phrase): phá vỡ định kiến One way to break down stereotypes is to build knowledge Một cách để phá vỡ định kiến mở mang kiến thức Jump to a/the conclusion (phrase): vội vã kết luận I didn't want her to jump to the conclusion that the divorce was in any way her fault Tôi không muốn cô vội vã kết luận rằng đổ vỡ cô hết Fast-paced (adj): nhanh chóng It is a myth that all older people struggle with the fastpaced evolution of information technology Thật hoang đường nói tất người lớn tuổi thấy khó khăn với sự tiến hóa nhanh chóng công nghệ thông tin Get by (phrasal verb): “sống nổi” How can he get by on so little money? Làm anh sống với số tiền thế? General public (noun): công chúng When will the product be available to the general public? Khi sản phẩm bày bán cho công chúng? Instrumental in something (phrase): quan trọng việc She was instrumental in bringing about the prison reform act Cơ đóng vai trị quan trọng việc diễn cải tạo nhà tù Describe a thing you made and gave to other people You should say: - What you made Who you gave it to When you gave it to that person And explain how you felt when you gave it to him/her (What you made) I’m going to tell you about the time that I spent one hour making a handcraft for a small girl in my class This was a part of an outreach programme with Temasek Junior College students in Ben Tre province A craft lesson consisted of making “friendship” handcrafts in which students were required to make a handcraft with provided materials prepared before hand (Who you gave it to) One of the girls in the class was relatively shy as she refused to join in conversations or volunteer to answer any question from us Yet, after I had given her a lot of incentives in different ways such as presenting her with candies or bonus marks to boost her confidence, she gradually got accustomed to answering questions and started to volunteer to give her answers even without candies or so As the programme came to a close, I participated in the craft lesson and exchanged the friendship handcraft with the girl in hopes of encouraging her not to let the lack of confidence get in the way to her success in the future (When you gave it to that person) I went on this trip, which lasted for 11 days, months ago These 11 days were amazing as I had the chance to push myself to the limits and realised that I was a lot more than just being a nerd as well as met a lot of new people and inspired others such as this cute girl (Explain how you felt when you gave it to her) That I gave her my handcraft came as a huge surprise for her because she did not expect this to happen She burst into tears, so emotional I was that I could feel that tears were about to roll onto my cheeks also Of course, this is one of the best achievements as well as most meaningful present I’ve ever given in my life To give someone an incentive (phrase): khuyến khích Indexation of pay rises to productivity will give people an incentive to work harder Việc tăng lương dựa suất giúp người ta làm việc chăm chỉ Boost confidence (phrase): tăng tính tự tin One aim of the appraisal meetings is to boost the confidence of your team members Một mục đích buổi họp đánh giá để tăng tính tự tin thành viên nhóm Come to a close (phrase): kết thúc The play's lengthy run on Broadway comes to a close tonight Bộ kịch dài sàn Broadway kết thúc tối In hopes of (phrase): với ước muốn They met in the hope of bringing about a peaceful settlement Họ gặp với ước muốn cho sự xếp hịa bình Get in the way (phrase): chắn ngang đường She had a job which never got in the way of her leisure interests Cơ có cơng việc mà khơng chắn ngang sở thích Come as a/no surprise (phrase): đến cách (không) bất ngờ The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues Tin tức không đến cách bất ngờ với người đồng nghiệp anh xíu Burst into tears (phrase): vỡ òa nước mắt Hardly had she heard about her father’s death when she burst into tears Ngay sau nghe ba cô qua đời, liền vỡ ịa nước mắt 56 Describe something you to keep you concentrated You should say: - What the activity is - Where and when you this activity - How this activity helps you concentrate (What the activity is) Today I would like to describe something I to keep myself always fixated For a very long period of time, I have suffered great concentration issues and was not able to focus on one thing for a long period of time Until one day, a friend of mine introduced me to the experience of playing a finger gyroscope to improve my attention span The finger gyroscope was made of high-grade material, which is durable and eco-friendly At first sight, I didn’t think this little thing would really work It might be just another childish tool that could only fool kids nowadays Well, when he pinched it and blew it hard, the wings of the gyroscope began running (Where and when you this activity) Whenever my work requires complete concentration, I play the finger gyroscope for about minutes to be well-prepared to undertake the task All you need to when playing with this toy is holding the spinner in one hand with the other hand spinning rapidly using small continuous strikes with indefinite practice What really amazed me was that it kept rotating for a long time and seemed to go non-stop Both of my eyebrows were captivated by this little instrument When playing this toy, I feel like performing feats that seem to defy gravity (How this activity helps you concentrate) Surprisingly, my capacity to focus became sharper each time I played it for a while So, it was this thing that really helped me out during my preparation for the term paper I felt quite interested in this precise and somehow bizarre instrument How could such a thing help us concentrate on our study? Maybe we are being too fickle in this society The longer time it keeps running, the more curiosity we have in our mind This little thing has managed to make us feel that being curious could be used to better focus on and finish a single task each time Vocabulary: 161 fixate [v]: to think about something too much and find it difficult to stop: suy nghĩ cố định Eg: High achievers sometimes fixate on their own flaws 162 concentration issues [expression]: problems related to one’s concentration: vấn đề tập trung Eg: Tiredness and emotional stress can cause concentration issues in most people 163 durable [adj]: able to last a long time without becoming damaged: bền chặt Eg: The machines have to be made of durable materials 164 indefinite [adj]: not exact, not clear, or without clear limits: vô định Eg: The project has been postponed for an indefinite period 165 rotate [v]: to turn or cause something to turn in a circle, especially around a fixed point: quay vòng Eg: The satellite slowly rotates as it circles the earth 166 captivate [v]: to hold the attention of someone by being extremely interesting, exciting, pleasant, or attractive: quyến rũ, thu hút Eg: With her beauty and charm, she captivated film audiences everywhere 167 defy [v]: to refuse to obey or to something in the usual or expected way: thách thức Eg: He defied the odds and won the race for mayor 168 bizarre [adj]: very strange and unusual: kì lạ Eg: What she was saying was rather bizarre 169 fickle [adj]: likely to change your opinion or your feelings suddenly and without a good reason: hay thay đổi Eg: She's so fickle - she's never been interested in the same man for more than a week! 170 curiosity [n]: an eager wish to know or learn about something: sự tò mò Eg: She decided to call her ex-boyfriend out of curiosity 57 Describe something you regularly that helps you work and study better You should say: - What the activity is - Where you this activity - Why you this (What the activity is) Today I would like to describe something I regularly to help me work more effectively, which is meditation Meditation is a simple practice available to all, which can reduce stress, increase calmness and clarity and promote happiness Despite my various attempts to discover a way to better concentrate on my delegated work both at home and at office, I was still lagging behind until I started meditating a year ago, as advice from my close friend Since I adopted this method, my work performance has been remarkably enhanced (Where and when you this activity) Actually, this activity does not take up a great amount of time, approximately 25-30 minutes are enough for me to maintain the consistency of practicing it daily It is very simple to and I just need to sit relaxed and focus my attention on my breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation With mindfulness meditation, I train myself in remaining aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental manner Consequently, distractions are less and less likely to sweep me away Most often, I it in my room in the morning and sometimes in the office The beauty of the meditation is that I can it anywhere, anytime (Why you this) I have tried several ways to help me complete important tasks, including listing to piano music, reading a newspaper, watching news channels for a while, doing exercise and so on However, meditation has proved to be an effective way to help me fully commit to my duties Meditation enhances the flow of constructive thoughts and positive emotions inside me, which benefits my productivity in work Other people also use this practice to develop other beneficial habits and feelings, such as a positive mood and outlook, self-discipline, healthy sleep patterns and even increased pain tolerance The popularity of meditation is increasing as more people discover its benefits Vocabulary: 171 clarity [n]: the quality of being clear and easy to understand: sự rõ ràng Eg: There has been a call for greater clarity in this area of the law 172 delegate [v]: to give a particular job, duty, right, etc to someone else so that they it for you: phân chia công việc Eg: Authority to make financial decisions has been delegated to a special committee 173 lag behind [expression]: if one thing or person lags behind another thing or person, their progress is slower than that of the other.: tụt lại phía sau Eg: Britain still lags behind most of Europe in its provisions for women who want time off to have babies 174 exhalation [n]: the act of exhaling: sự thở Eg: Inhalation and exhalation should be gradual and natural, not spasmodic 175 non-judgmental [adj]: if a person or thing is non-judgmental, they not judge or criticize: không phán xét Eg: The organization provides a 24 hour, non-judgmental listening service for people who are considering suicide 176 sweep sb away [v]: if you are swept away or swept along by something, you are so excited that you not think clearly or you forget about other things: khiến tập trung Eg: We couldn’t help being swept away by Bette’s enthusiasm 177 constructive [adj]: if advice, criticism, or actions are constructive, they are useful and intended to help or improve something: mang tính xây dựng Eg: She criticized my writing, but in a way that was very constructive 178 self-discipline [n]: the ability to make yourself things you know you should even when you not want to: kỉ luật tự giác Eg: You need a lot of self-discipline when you're doing research work on your own 179 pain tolerance [n]: pain tolerance is the maximum level of pain that a person is able to tolerate: ngưỡng chịu đau Eg: Age and pain tolerance are relevant, especially in the elderly 180 consistency [n]: the quality of always behaving or performing in a similar way, or of always happening in a similar way: sự đặn Eg: They've won a few games this season but they lack consistency ... others observe me a lot, they judge me and hence I become very self conscious and shy away from speaking face to face Are most of your friends from school or from outside school? Most of my friends