MIDTERM SPEAKING EXAM

Unit 6 - part C: Describe New Year’s Day - your country's national day. Try to
use the word get three times in your description.

Members:
Nguyễn Thị Trung Ngọc (2357060060): Ngoc
Võ Hà Linh (2357060046): Linh
Trần Thị Thanh Mai (2357060049): May - an American international student.

Situation:
After the Fundamentals of Vietnamese Culture class - the course provides a
comprehensive overview about the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Vietnam,
Trung Ngoc and Ha Linh are standing and discussing about what the teacher has
just taught. May (an American international student) also joined that class and
there are many things that she does not understand about the lesson, especially the
New Year's Day (or usually called Tet in Viet Nam), so she is going towards Ngoc
and Linh to ask them more about it.

Script:
May: Hi guys. How is it going?
Linh: Oh, good.
May: I have many things I can't understand about the last class. Would you two
mind answering me some questions?
Ngoc: No, of course not. It’s our pleasure. So what do you want to know?
May: I'm interested in learning more about Vietnamese New Year's Day. There are
numerous differences between New Year's Day in the United States, where I am

1
from, and the one in Vietnam. I believe that people in Vietnam celebrate both
Lunar New Year and New Year's Day.
Linh: That’s right. Lunar New Year in my country is also known as “Tết nguyên
đán“ or “Tết”. It is a significant holiday in Vietnam.

May: Wow, that sounds interesting! When is the date of your Tet holiday?

Ngoc: Well, Tet holiday takes place between mid-January to late February. It
changes every year depending on the Vietnamese lunar calendar and the first new
moon.

May: Oh, I see. What about preparations? Is there much preparation required?

Linh: Yes, we need to prepare a lot of things. My mother and I often go shopping
to buy necessary things for Tet such as food, fruits, betel, candies, roasted
watermelon seeds, dried candied fruit, flowers….

May: What kind of flower do you use for Tet?

Linh: My family usually buys apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums and kumquat

May: How about your family, Ngoc?

Ngoc: My family usually buys marigolds, orchids and peach blossoms. Not only
that, we also buy new clothes, lanterns, red envelopes. During that time, I find
myself relaxing, immersing myself in the joyful atmosphere of Tet and I feel so
excited too.

May: Red envelopes? What are they used for?

Ngoc: They are used to hold lucky money.

2
May: Yes, I am aware of this. Children will receive lucky money from adults on
Tet holiday, with the hope that it will bring them luck and good things at the start
of the year. That is a really fascinating Vietnamese custom.

Linh: Not only children can receive lucky money, grandparents can also receive
lucky money from their children and grandchildren with the meaning of wishing a
new year full of health and luck.

May: That's interesting. It is very dissimilar to my home country. Before the year
ends in the United States, people can watch the countdown to the final seconds of
the previous year while gathering indoors or in pubs. In the bright light of
fireworks, you can cram into Time Squares in New York and wait for the ball to
fall like the dot of the previous year to give way to the new one. In the meantime,
there are also some singing shows with famous singers.

Ngoc: You mean New Year's Eve?

May: Exactly! What about New Year's Eve in Vietnam? How do people spend
their time then?

Linh: Actually, New Year's Eve in Vietnam is quite similar to your country, but
instead of drinking, we eat. We will celebrate a small, cozy party among family
members called the Year End Party. In the party, we will look back, summarize
what we have done and what we have not done in the past year.

May: Oh, I want to tell you about something interesting. Few people are aware of
the fact that Americans eat cabbage in the hopes of attracting luck and wealth.

Linh: Really???

May: Yeah!!!

Linh: This is the first time I have heard about this. How fascinating it is!
3
Ngoc: And you know what? After finishing the party, we will gather in front of the
TV screen or go to the square to count down the last moments of the old year. The
moment fireworks bloom in the sky, we will exchange our best wishes for a happy
and prosperous new year. It's also like in your country, right?

May: Right on! In the US, going out on the streets and dancing all night to ring in
the new year is the most typical aspect of New Year's Eve. People were laughing in
the streets, sirens and flutes were ringing, and lights mixed with colorful confetti.

Linh: No matter where we are, the atmosphere to welcome the New Year is always
bustling and exciting, isn’t it ?

Ngoc: Yeah, you can say that again!

May: I know that Lunar New Year is the most significant public holiday observed
by Vietnamese people, with celebrations taking place over three days, but many
people celebrate for up to a week. Thus, I'm curious about what people typically do
on Tet's first days, which is the most significant day?

Linh: On Tet holiday, the first day is the most important. In that day, my family
will get up early to prepare breakfast together, because at that time all cheap food
stalls will close so we can not buy anything for breakfast. After finishing breakfast,
we will dress up beautifully and go to visit our grandparents and relatives. Then,
the whole family will start visiting our ancestors' graves.

May: What about you, Ngoc? Do you go see relatives?

Ngoc: Yes, that is exactly what I do. But my activities are a little different from
Linh's. My family will go to pagodas to pray for our family on the first day of Tet
and then we will invite relatives to coffee for a New Year's reunion. It will be an

4
unforgettable experience because I will be able to see my distant cousins, whom I
adore and get along with.

May: I see, I see. What about the customary Tet holiday foods?

Linh: Well, when talking about Tet dishes, Banh Chung is a must-have.

May: Oh, I know. According to my research, Banh Chung has a square shape and
is made from many ingredients such as sticky rice, mung beans, pork belly, salt
and pepper. I've never eaten Banh Chung before. I'd really like to make and enjoy
one on my own.

Ngoc: Every year my family cooks Banh Chung by ourselves. If you want, you can
join us.

May: Really? That's awesome!!! I really look forward to that day.

Oh, and there are some taboos around the Tet holiday, I've heard. Could you
elaborate on that for me?

Ngoc: There are some things that are considered taboo in Vietnamese Tet culture
in order to avoid misfortune in the new year. For example, we must not sweep the
house during the first three days of Tet, because doing so, according to ancient
Vietnamese beliefs, will sweep away the family's fortune in the coming year.

Linh: Another taboo is that do not break cups or glasses in your house on Tet
because people believe that if there is something break on the first day of the year,
it would ruin business and relationships. Any talk of the divorce is also a strictly
taboo.

May: Oh … that’s very useful for me, I will avoid those things. How about the
first caller?

5
Ngoc: According to Vietnamese culture, the first person to enter the house must be
of the appropriate age with homeowner because this will bring luck to him/her.

May: I know that many people take this time get back hometown, be with their
families and see friends. Tet is around the corner; have the two of you made any
plans yet?

Linh: Well, as soon as the school's Tet holiday is scheduled, I will immediately
book a train ticket and go home. I miss my parents so much. I wanna come back
home right now to reunite with my family. I wish Tet could come a little earlier.

Ngoc: Me too.

Linh: How about you, May? Do you have any plans?

May: This year, I plan to celebrate New Year's in Vietnam. I truly want to spend
Tet on my own, after all that you have already explained to me. It will be really
exciting.

Ngoc: Hey guys, why don't we meet up to spend Tet together?

Linh: That's a good idea.

May: Great! I anticipate that my first New Year's in Vietnam will be fascinating. I
really look forward to Tet holiday.

Ngoc: Oh the bus is coming, I have to go now. See you soon guys.

May: I appreciate for explaining the lesson to me. See you guys later.

Linh: Bye guys. See you tommorow….

6
7