MEDIA

1) How do you usually get your news?

2) What type of news do you prefer to read?
3) Do most people in your country follow the news?
4) Do you pay much attention to headlines?
5) Do you think it is important to follow the news?

1) Yes, almost every day. I used to read printed newspapers, but things have changed a lot.
Now I update myself by reading online news on a daily basis.
2) Well, I have to say that I like magazines more. That's because they usually have
eyecatching visual content. Newspapers, on the other hand, contain too many words. And
I'm not the kind of person who likes to read.
3) Definitely. I guess the only way for us not to be left behind is to update ourselves on what
is happening around us. The world is constantly changing every day, you know.
4) I think, both. Each group has their own interest. Older people tend to pay attention to
serious topics like economy and politics, whereas entertainment news about celebrities or
education news would attract young people more.
5) I have to say no. I don’t find it necessary to read newspapers anymore when I can get all
the latest news right from the Internet. Besides, reading news online can be less
timeconsuming.

1) Do you prefer to read local news or international news?

2) Which is more popular where you live, newspapers or magazines?
3) Do you think the Internet is a good way to get news?
4) How old were you when you first started to read newspapers?
5) Why do you think people read newspapers?

1. I would choose local news. I find it imperative to keep myself updated with things
happening around me in my country. However, sometimes international news on serious
topics such as war or the petrol price increase also catches much of my attention.
2. I have to say both since each type has its own group of readers. Although newspapers
may be old-fashioned, they are still senior citizens' first choice. The magazines, on the other
hand, attract most young generation for their eye-catching visual content.
3. I'm the kind of person who loves environment-friendly activities, so reading news on the
Internet would be an ideal way. Also, it is quite convenient.
4. I remember that my first time was when I was a freshman at university, after moving to
Hochiminh city and staying with my uncle's family. He always read newspapers when having
breakfast and encouraged me to do it as well. That's how I got into the habit of reading
newspapers on a daily basis.
5. There are quite a lot of reasons for that. Some people read newspapers to get the latest
updates whereas others do it because they want to practice reading skills. Also, some people
I know read newspapers just to pass their time.

Tourism
Sample Answer
1) Well, there are several possible reasons here, but I guess mostly because of the
technological development which has made booking trips and traveling more and more
convenient. In addition, since tourism is a multibillion-dollar industry, the government
has created favorable conditions to attract more tourists, which, in turn, fosters
economic development.
2) I have never really thought about it, but I think young travelers would gain more
from traveling. Unlike old people who are already rich in experience, the youth tend to
get more excited and inspired through the exposure to new challenges and
opportunities on their trips.
3) There are several possible explanations here, but I believe the main reason for
choosing to travel overseas is the change in scenery and experience. I mean, each
country would have different natural beauty, for example, the beaches in Bali, the
highlands in Scotland, or the glaciers in Norway, which might be completely different
from what people usually see in their own country. Besides, there are also various
cultures, food, and lifestyles that tourists wish to experience when traveling to other
countries.
4) That’s exactly how I see it. Tourism plays a huge role in each country since it can
foster economic development by creating a source of income for local residents,
especially in peak seasons. Besides, it also pushes the government to improve local
infrastructures such as transportation facilities, buildings, and public spaces.
5) I would say, living in popular tourist destinations brings local residents certain
problems. First, tourism development is usually accompanied by crowd, noise, and
traffic, causing annoyance and disturbance to their daily lives. In addition, conflicts
between locals and tourists can arise due to differences in customs and cultures,
especially when it comes to religion.

CULTURE
1. What are some benefits of learning about other cultures?
2. What negative effects might come from a country losing its traditional
cultures?
3. What can be done to make people more interested in other cultures?
4. How will your country's culture be different 50 years from now?
1. Well, learning about other cultures can bring us several advantages. It not
only helps us avoid culture shocks but also adapt to the new living
environment. Besides that, it's also an excellent way to understand other
people's ways of thinking and needs, which can be beneficial for us in building
a good career path or starting up a new business.
2. The loss of traditional cultures can affect a country in many ways. If there
are businesses based on traditional skills, a cultural loss can affect the
economy of a country. Since traditional cultures represent a country, major
cultural changes can also impact tourism in that country.
3. In my opinion, the local government can organize some cultural festivals to
make people more interested in other cultures. Besides that, schools can offer
exchange programs to help students interact more with people from different
countries.
4. We are becoming increasingly multicultural, so I'm not sure that all of our
traditions will survive in their current form. For example, Tet holiday might
not be celebrated anymore. We might only celebrate New Year like in
Western countries. It may be better to develop new customs and celebrations
that reflect modern society more accurately.
1. Do you agree that one cannot fully understand a country's local way of life
if he or she only visits it as a tourist?
2. Do you think it is essential to know the culture and language before going
to another country?
3. Do you think people from different cultures will understand each other
better in the future?
1. Well, it depends on the nature of the experience. If tourists stay with locals
while traveling, they can truly experience the local way of life. Being able to
talk to those who live in the area in their language can give tourists access to
more information than just listening to the stories from the tour guides.
2. Absolutely yes. Without language, you cannot communicate with the locals.
Moreover, having a basic understanding of a particular culture can help you
avoid misunderstanding and culture shocks.
3. In the future, people from different cultures will understand each other
better because more people will have a chance to travel and make friends
with people around the world.
TECHNOLOGY

1. What sorts of things can robots do today?

2. What kind of robot would you like to have?
3. Are there any robotics competitions in Viet Nam?
4. Will robots replace human beings in the workplace completely?
As far as I know, robots can do several things, from simple activities like
house chores to more challenging tasks such as surgeries for patients.
Besides that, educational robots can give lessons from basic to advance
levels.
2. To be honest, I would love to own robots that can clean my house and
complete my office work like programming, designing, and so on. They are
truly lifesavers for what they can do.
3. As far as I know, there are certain robotics competitions in Viet Nam. They
are organized at schools and universities to encourage young people to
develop their creativity and keep up with the latest technology.
4. Well, I must admit that robots play an important part in modern life.
However, they will never completely replace the roles of humans at work as
they are incapable of feeling emotions and thinking deeply like humans. For
example, in a conference, people must discuss problems in detail before
giving solutions and making decisions, but robots can't respond to all
questions instantly and effectively.
1. Would you ever buy a robot?
2. Will robots change society significantly?
3. Do you think robots might be dangerous in the future?
1. Absolutely! If I have enough money, I would certainly buy a robot vacuum
cleaner and a kitchen robot because I'm always occupied with the housework.
With these robots, I would have more time to follow my hobbies.
2. Yes, of course, robots can bring great changes to our society because they
are smart and efficient, so they can help us complete complicated tasks in a
shorter amount of time. With the help of these machines, we can accomplish
so much in life.
3. Although I understand that robots can provide humans with many benefits,
I believe they can put humans in danger. I am afraid that someday they will
be too intelligent and stop obeying humans, then they can attack us to rule
the world.

TRAVEL
Describe a memorable trip. You should say: • Where you visited • When you visited it • Why
you went there • Why the trip was memorable

One of the most exciting places I have ever visited was Hoi An ancient town located in
Quang Nam, a central region of Vietnam. This place is jam-packed with tourists every year
because of the beautiful scenery and unique cuisine. I went to Hoi An on vacation about
three years ago when I graduated from high school. I never thought I could have a wonderful
experience here at that time. Hoi An is really a holiday destination for everyone who loves
the breathtaking view and the cozy atmosphere. Every house in Hoi An had great stories
about the past and reminded everyone of how prosperous the town used to be.
I visited Hoi An ancient town, because it had been on my bucket list for a long time. And the
local food there was another reason for my decision. The cuisine of the central region was so
different from other places. The weather was also a factor that made me love this place
much. I believed the cool weather of Hoi An would make everyone calmer and more relaxed.
Hoi An ancient town truly left me with great memories. It was a one-of-a-kind experience, and
if I have enough money, I will gladly have another trip back to this town.

Describe a trip that didn’t go as planned.

Here are some questions to help you answer: • Where you went • How you travelled there •
Who you went with • What problems you had • How you felt after the trip

Planning is essential for every trip, but sometimes it doesn’t work due to unexpected
situations. Here, I would like to discuss the trip which I planned well with my friends, but
everything went in vain. It was time for summer vacations, our exams were over, and we
wanted to spend the summer doing something exciting. So, we planned to visit Phu Yen, the
city in central Vietnam. We decided to go there by motorbike. Everything was smooth and
fine, but suddenly in the middle way, we saw the road was blocked due to some construction
work. There was no accommodation for us the stay the night or any roadside eatery, so we
had to choose another way to reach Phu Yen. The other route was long and tiring, and the
traffic was so congested that the journey of 6 hours took more than 10 hours. We were
exhausted and sleepy after such a long drive. After reaching Phu Yen, even Da Dia reef was
jam-packed with people. No one admired the beauty of Da Dia as people were busy clicking
photographs of it to post on social media. Due to these reasons, our excitement disappeared,
and our most waiting trip became a boring trip as nothing went according to plan.
Family
1Can you describe your family? (Bạn có thể miêu tả về gia đình bạn
được không?)
I live in a nuclear family, with my parents and a younger brother. My father
is an engineer and lives in TienGiang whereas my mother is a home maker.
My brother is student in primary school .
2 Do you have a large or small family? (Bạn có một gia đình lớn hay
nhỏ?)
I come from a large family. Now, I just have my mom, an older and three
younger brothers. Sadly, my father passed away 17 years ago. So, now I
am the only daughter in the family.
3 How much time do you spend with your family? (Bạn dành bao nhiêu
thời gian với gia đình mình?)
For now, I live alone in another city far from my family, so, I am only able to
spend about two weeks per year with them. I will go home mainly for big
holidays like New Year or Independence Day.
4 What is your personal contribution to your family? (Bạn đóng góp gì
cho gia đình?)
Towards my family, I make sure that I spend at least 2 days a month with
my parents and my brother. So most of the time we all make plans to make
sure that we do spend those two days together, no matter where we are.
Other than this, I give 5% of whatever my earnings are to my family.
5 What do you like to do together as a family? (Gia đình bạn thích làm gì
cùng nhau?)
My family enjoys cooking together and afterwards having special meals
when everyone is invited. We catch up on news and talk about our lives.
We enjoy music as well. So, when we get together, we play several musical
instruments and sing along.
6 What types of task do you do to assist your family members? (Bạn
thường làm công việc gì để hỗ trợ các thành viên trong gia đình?)
Well, most of the time I am doing the work that requires me to move out of
the house, like paying bills, buying grocery, or going to bank.
7 Do you get along well with your family? (Bạn có hòa hợp với gia đình
mình không?)
Sure. We are really close to each other. I am happy that I can tell them
literally anything. They are always there to listen when I have problems.
10 Who are you closest to in your family? (Bạn thân với ai nhất trong gia
đình?)
I am the closest to my mom. I think it is because we are the only women in
the family. So, we share the same ideas about many things and she always
supports me.
Learing language
1 Do you think learning languages is important?

Well, I believe learning a language can enrich your life. Not only can it help

you connect with people from different backgrounds, but it can also
enhance your job prospects and give you a competitive edge in a

globalized world. Learning a language also provides cognitive benefits

such as improving memory and critical thinking skills.

2 How did you learn the languages that you know?

I think the most effective way to learn a language is to practice more with a

native speaker. By doing this, you can improve both listening and oral

skills simultaneously, you will be fluent in this language. Besides, I also

do general readings in my spare time and keep a journal in English.

3 Do you think English is an easy or a difficult language to learn?

"I think English is relatively easy to learn because it’s everywhere—on TV,
in music, and on the internet. These resources make it accessible and
easier to practice regularly, which helps a lot."
4 Would you like to learn any other languages?
Yes, I’d love to learn other languages. I’m particularly interested in
Japanese because of its ties to a rich culture and different writing system.
It seems like a fascinating language to learn."
Education
What do you like about your major?
What I especially like about my major is that it covers a lot of economic
knowledge, so I can have a wide range of career options. I can work as a
banker or a purchaser at giant companies. That’s not to mention, I can
make friends with a lot of brainy people.
Would you prefer to study alone or with others?
I consider myself an easily distracted person, so I prefer to study alone. To
be honest, I can’t focus on studying at all when there is a noise around, be
it loud or small.
What kind of school did you go to when you were a kid?
I attended a public school for my education from preschool to sixth grade.
During my time, it was the best and most well-known primary school.
 What do you find most challenging in the major?
The most challenging aspect of my major is the huge workload which includes
extensive amounts of required reading. Keeping up with the theoretical linguistics
lessons and reading materials can be overwhelming sometimes. However, I view
it as an opportunity to enhance my critical thinking and time management skills.
o you enjoy studying? Why or why not?

Definitely, I do enjoy studying because I believe it's essential for personal and
academic growth. I find it satisfying to gain in-depth knowledge about various
subjects, and this helps me to pass exams with flying colors. What’s more, it allows
me to excel in my studies and be admitted to a top-tier school.

2. What subject did you find most interesting in school?

During my time in primary school, I found science to be the most intriguing subject
since learning about the natural world and conducting experiments fascinated me. I
used to burn the midnight oil and bury myself in tasks in order to complete my
favorite science project.

Hobby

Do you have a hobby?

My hobby is photography. I love capturing beautiful moments and scenes through my
camera lens. Whether it's photographing nature, portraits of friends and family, or
exploring the city for interesting shots, photography allows me to express my
creativity and preserve memories in a unique way.
What free-time activity is the most popular for Vietnamese young people?
I believe that youngsters in Vietnam have a thing for cafe-hopping. You can visit a
coffee shop to gather with friends or relax on your own. Besides, Facebook and
Instagram were also quite common among Vietnamese youth. That’s why a lot of
young people in Vietnam spend a large amount of time surfing the Internet.
Why is having a hobby important for us?
Having a hobby can be important for several reasons, as it offers numerous benefits
for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Hobbies are a way to enrich your life
and bring joy and fulfillment beyond your daily responsibilities.
In your opinion, what kinds of hobbies are harmful?
I have seen my friends participating in excessive gaming and gambling. Some of
them even lose all of their money due to the addition of these types of leisure. From
my point of view, games including money factor are unhealthy and risky.

What do you do in your spare time?

I have always been a music lover, so whenever I have free time, I just put on my
earphones and enjoy my favorite tunes. To me, music provides an escape from the
busy life as it is both relaxing and therapeutic.
How do you usually spend your weekends?

For the longest time, my weekends have been no different from my weekdays. I
mean, I'm always overwhelmed with tons of meetings and deadlines, so it leaves no
room for relaxation, you know. I suppose on weekends, besides dealing with some
unfinished business at work, my friends and I sometimes gather for a cozy get-
together in a nice restaurant.

What do you usually do after work or classes?

I'm a diehard fan of bubble milk tea, so whenever working hours are over, I just go
straight to a milk tea store, ordering my favorite drink and go home to enjoy it.
Sometimes, when I feel flush, I even splurge on Starbucks coffee. It's not a very
healthy eating habit, I know, but it's the only time of the day when I'm completely free
from my duties, so I don't deny myself anything.

Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people?

I think it has to depend on the situation as well. When it comes to some spare time
after work, I'd rather just stay at home and lounge about. But on other occasions, I
believe that hanging out with a group of friends can be a great fun. You know, the
more the merrier.

Do you prefer going out or staying at home?

I'm not really an outgoing person, so whenever I have spare time I just stay at home
and chill. Most of the time I just sit in front of the box, ordering some takeaways and
enjoying myself. I would say that I'm quite a bit of a couch potato, to be honest.

What will do if you go out?

If I have to go out, I would definitely call my best friend up and ask her to go
somewhere with me, like the movies for example. When we feel flush, we might treat
ourselves to a spa day to release all the stress from our enormous schoolwork.

When you go out for an evening, what do you like to do?

I think for most girls, dressing up is an essential part before a night out, and I'm no
exception. I take a keen interest in fashion, so it feels like my responsibility to choose
the most appropriate outfit. I also love makeup, that's why I can never go out without
putting on my lipstick.

Do you prefer going out on your own or with friends?

I can't even imagine what it feels like to go out alone, you know. Of course hanging
out in the company of your friends is way much better. Having your gang besides you
is like an enormous confidence boost. That's why they have the saying "The more
the merrier".