THUONG MAI UNIVERSITY
DISCUSSION REPORT
TOPIC: LESSONS FOR LIFE
Teachers: Mrs. Bùi Việt Thu
Mrs. Nguyễn Bích Hồng
Group 7 - 241_ENTI3111_13
Members of the group:
1. Nguyễn Lâm Phương (Leader)
2. Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
3. Bùi Anh Sâm
4. Đỗ Phương Thảo
5. Trần Hữu Minh Quang
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HA NOI - 2024
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Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................3
II. CONTENT.......................................................................................................4
1. Lesson 1: Continuous Learning.................................................................................4
2. Lesson 2: Facing Failure.............................................................................................4
Perspective on Failure..............................................................................................................4
Lessons from Failures..............................................................................................................4
How to Face Failure.................................................................................................................5
3. Lesson 3: Building Relationships...............................................................................5
The Importance of Relationships in Life..................................................................................................5
Skills for Building and Maintaining Healthy Relationships...............................................................6
Benefits of Having a Strong Support Network.......................................................................................6
4. Lesson 4: Time and Money Management.................................................................7
Why time and money management is important?..................................................................................7
Effective time management techniques....................................................................................................7
How to prioritize and focus on what’s important?................................................................................7
How to do financial planning?.....................................................................................................................8
Savings and Investing.....................................................................................................................................8
5. Lesson 5: Gratitude and Positive............................................................................8
III. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................10
MEETING MINUTES...........................................................................................12
PEER ASSESSMENT…………………………………………………………...14
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THUONGMAI UNIVERSITY
ENGLISH FACULTY
GROUP DISCUSSION
Topic: LESSONS FOR LIFE
Group: 7
Group preparation assessment:
Presentation assessment: List of students (in the order of presenting)
Name (for students) Comments
No. Duties Mark
(for teacher only)
1 Nguyễn Lâm Phương - Introduction
23D185034 - Continuous Learning
- Power Point
2 Bùi Anh Sâm - Facing Failure
23D185036
3 Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh - Building Relationships
23D185038
4 Đỗ Phương Thảo - Time and Money Management
23D185037 - Word
5 Trần Hữu Minh Quang - Gratitude and Positive
23D185035 - Conclusion
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I. INTRODUCTION
Life is a remarkable journey filled with experiences that shape who we become.
Along this path, we encounter countless opportunities to learn and grow, gathering
wisdom that can profoundly impact our lives and the lives of others. These valuable
lessons - whether learned through personal experiences, passed down through
generations, or gained from observing the world around us - serve as guiding lights that
help us navigate life's challenges and celebrate its joys. In this topic, we will explore some
of the most significant life lessons that have stood the test of time and continue to hold
relevance in our modern world.
From understanding the importance of resilience and perseverance to recognizing
the value of meaningful relationships and personal growth, these lessons form the
foundation of a well-lived life. As we share our perspectives and experiences, we'll
discover how these universal truths transcend cultural boundaries and connect us all in our
shared human experience.
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II. CONTENT
1. Lesson 1: Continuous Learning
“The minute that you’re not learning I believe you’re dead.” – Jack Nicholson.
In our fast-paced world, one of the most crucial lessons life teaches us is the
importance of continuous learning. Learning doesn't end when we graduate from school
or university; it's a lifelong journey that enriches our understanding, broadens our
perspectives, and opens doors to new opportunities.
To embrace continuous learning, we must cultivate daily habits that promote
growth. This could be as simple as reading for 30 minutes each day, listening to
educational podcasts during your commute, or taking online courses in subjects that
interest you. The key is consistency – small, regular efforts compound over time to create
significant results.
Let's look at some inspiring examples. Warren Buffett, one of the world's most
successful investors, still spends 80% of his day reading and learning. Bill Gates is known
for reading 50 books a year, while Oprah Winfrey credits much of her success to her love
of learning and reading. These individuals, despite their tremendous achievements,
understand that in our rapidly evolving world, the only way to stay ahead is to keep
learning.
Consider how technology has transformed our lives in the past decade alone. Those
who committed to continuous learning adapted and thrived, while others struggled to keep
pace. This reality underscores a fundamental truth: in the 21st century, learning is not just
an advantage—it's a necessity for survival and success.
2. Lesson 2: Facing Failure
Failure is an inevitable part of everyone's life journey. How we face and overcome
failure shapes our character and future success. This lesson can provide many valuable
insights.
Perspective on Failure
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Many people tend to view failure as something negative and frightening. However,
failure is actually a great teacher, helping us grow and learn from our mistakes. Failure is
not the endpoint but rather a part of the learning and development process.
Lessons from Failures
Each failure brings valuable lessons:
First, failure helps us recognize our weaknesses and shortcomings. When we fail,
we have the opportunity to reflect on what we've done, identify the causes, and find ways
to improve.
Second, failure builds perseverance and resilience. Successful people are not those
who have never failed, but those who have overcome multiple failures to achieve their
goals.
Third, failure helps us develop positive thinking and adaptability. When facing
failure, we learn to adjust our plans, change our methods, and find new solutions.
How to Face Failure?
Accept failure as an inevitable part of life and the learning process.
Analyze the causes of failure objectively and extract lessons from them.
Develop new action plans based on the lessons learned.
Maintain faith and motivation to keep trying.
Share experiences with others for mutual growth.
In fact, there is a lot of evidence for this:
Thomas Edison: Before inventing the light bulb, Edison experienced thousands of
unsuccessful attempts. He famously said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways
that won't work.”
Steve Jobs: After being ousted from Apple, the company he co-founded, Jobs
experienced a period of failure. He went on to found NeXT and Pixar, eventually
returning to Apple and leading it to unprecedented success.
3. Lesson 3: Building Relationships
The Importance of Relationships in Life:
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Relationships are essential for emotional well-being. They help us feel connected,
valued, and loved. Whether with family, friends, or colleagues, strong relationships
provide emotional support that helps us navigate the ups and downs of life.
Research shows that people with strong social connections tend to experience less
stress, are happier, and even live longer. These connections foster a sense of belonging
and security, which are crucial for overall mental and physical health.
In challenging times, having close relationships can act as a support system,
helping us cope with difficult situations and make better decisions.
Skills for Building and Maintaining Healthy Relationships:
Active Listening: Truly hearing and understanding what the other person is saying
helps build trust. It involves giving full attention, avoiding interruptions, and showing
empathy.
Effective Communication: Open, honest, and clear communication is key to
building strong relationships. Expressing your thoughts and feelings in a respectful way
ensures both parties feel heard and understood.
Respect: Mutual respect is the foundation of any healthy relationship. This means
valuing each other’s opinions, emotions, and boundaries, even when you don’t agree.
Conflict Resolution: Disagreements are a natural part of any relationship. Knowing
how to address conflicts in a positive and constructive manner—such as discussing issues
calmly and finding compromises—strengthens bonds and prevents misunderstandings
from escalating.
Benefits of Having a Strong Support Network:
Reduced Stress: Having a solid network of friends, family, or colleagues to turn to
in times of need helps ease emotional and mental strain. Sharing your problems with
others often brings relief and new perspectives.
Improved Mental Health: Social support plays a major role in reducing feelings of
loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Being surrounded by positive relationships creates a
sense of belonging and promotes overall emotional well-being.
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Opportunities for Growth: A strong support network provides guidance, advice,
and encouragement, which helps individuals grow personally and professionally. Having
people who believe in you pushes you to reach your potential and achieve your goals.
In fact, there is a lot of evidence for this:
Indra Nooyi: The former CEO of PepsiCo is known for her focus on relationships
both within her company and in the broader business community. Nooyi built strong
connections with her team and stakeholders, which helped drive innovation and growth at
PepsiCo.
Sheryl Sandberg: As the former COO of Facebook, Sandberg emphasized
collaboration and mentorship. She built strong networks within the tech industry, fostering
relationships that contributed to her career advancement and the growth of the companies
she worked for.
4. Lesson 4: Time and Money Management
Why time and money management is important?
Time and money play an essential part in life, so knowing how to manage time and
money will create convenience and success in life.
Regarding time: ensure the quality of work, increase productivity completed in a
short period, avoid missing out on deadlines, and encourage discipline.
As for money: allocate wisely, spend effectively to return investment, support
long-term financial security, and promote responsibility in spending habits.
Effective time management techniques:
Pre-work: planning and distributing time.
Make a to-do list, arranged in order of priority and estimated time for each task,
and use support tools to monitor and manage.
While working: limit interference and create an environment; create an optimized
environment, turn off notifications, and set work mode on electronic devices.
After work: evaluate and adjust; self-assess work progress and adjust plans if
necessary, and learn and apply new skills that suit you.
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How to prioritize and focus on what’s important?
Determine Priorities: Use the Pareto principle or the ABC method to classify A
(urgent), B (normal), C (not important).
Concentration: apply techniques such as mindfulness, listen to music, breathe
deeply,...
Restructuring: break work into small steps and track progress from short-term
goals.
Constraints: set clear limits on time and result s, refuse unimportant tasks.
Balance: ensure rest and health.
How to do financial planning?
Identify Financial Goals: Determine what you want to achieve financially; it helps
in setting priorities and making informed decisions
Assess Current Financial Situation: Review your income, expenses, debts, and
assets; it helps in creating a realistic plan
Create a Budget and develop a savings strategy: Allocate income to cover
necessities. A common strategy is the 50/30/20, 50%: covers needs, 30% covers wants,
20% savings and debt repayment, and set monthly savings goals.
Savings and investing
Start with saving and automate savings: Build an emergency fund to cover 3-6
months of living expenses. Set up automatic transfers from checking account to savings
account.
Invest for the Long Term: Invest in a mix of stocks and bonds that align with risk
tolerance and time horizon, using index funds or ETFs for lower fees.
Seek Professional Advice: seek a professional consultant for financial planning and
investment advice.
Consider Your Risk Tolerance: Understand your comfort level with risk. Review
and Adjust Portfolio: Regularly review investment portfolio and rebalance as needed to
maintain desired asset allocation.
In fact, there is a lot of evidence for this:
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Indra Nooyi: The former CEO of PepsiCo is known for her strategic time
management and financial oversight. She emphasized the importance of aligning the
company’s long-term goals with effective resource allocation, leading to significant
growth during her tenure.
Tim Ferriss: In his book "The 4-Hour Workweek", Ferriss advocates for optimizing
time through delegation and focusing on high-impact tasks. His approach has inspired
many to rethink their productivity strategies and prioritize what truly matters.
5. Lesson 5: Gratitude and Positive
Gratitude and positivity are strong forces that work together to create a happier and
more fulfilling life. Gratitude means recognizing and appreciating the good things in our
lives. When we practice gratitude, and more, we learn to focus less on the negative
abundance and beauty around us, even in small moments. By regularly expressing
gratitude, we train our minds to see the positive side of things, which helps us feel happier
and more content.
Positivity is supported by gratitude. When we choose to be thankful for the people,
opportunities, and experiences we have, we build a sense of hope and strength. This
makes it easier to stay optimistic, even during tough times, because we learn to view
challenges as chances to grow instead of problems. Gratitude shifts our focus from what
we don’t have to what we do have, leading to a more positive outlook on life.
Together, gratitude and positivity create a cycle that benefits us. The more we
practice gratitude, the more positive thoughts and feelings we develop. This helps us find
joy and meaning in life, improving our overall well-being and strengthening our
connections with others. In the end, gratitude and positivity not only make us feel better
mentally and emotionally, but they also help us lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
In fact, there is a lot of evidence for this:
Oprah Winfrey: Oprah is a strong advocate for gratitude, often sharing how
maintaining a gratitude journal has transformed her perspective. She encourages others to
focus on the positive aspects of their lives, which she believes can lead to greater
happiness and fulfillment.
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Tony Robbins: The motivational speaker and life coach frequently discusses the
power of gratitude in his seminars. Robbins practices daily gratitude exercises and
encourages his audience to shift their focus from what they lack to appreciating what they
have.
III. CONCLUSION
Life is an incredible journey filled with valuable lessons that shape our character
and guide our path forward. Through our discussion of five essential life lessons, we've
explored fundamental truths that can transform our approach to living:
- Continuous Learning empowers us to grow and adapt in an ever-changing world.
- Facing Failure teaches us resilience and perseverance.
- Building Relationships remains the cornerstone of a fulfilling life.
- Time and Money Management skills are crucial for creating a stable and
prosperous future.
- Gratitude and Positivity, by cultivating these qualities, we develop resilience
against life's challenges and find joy in everyday moments.
These lessons interconnect to create a framework for a meaningful and successful
life. When we commit to continuous learning, embrace failure as a teacher, nurture our
relationships, manage our resources wisely, and maintain a grateful attitude, we position
ourselves to not only succeed but to find genuine fulfillment in our journey.
The true power of these lessons lies not just in understanding them, but in applying
them consistently in our daily lives. As we move forward, let us remember that every day
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presents new opportunities to put these lessons into practice, grow from our experiences,
and create positive impact in both our lives and the lives of others.
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MEETING MINUTES - GROUP 7
(No. 01)
1. Date: 01/10/2024
2. Time: from 9:30 PM to 10:10 PM
3. Place: Google Meeting
4. Participants:
- Nguyễn Lâm Phương
- Trần Hữu Minh Quang
- Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
- Bùi Anh Sâm
- Đỗ Phương Thảo
5. Leader: Nguyễn Lâm Phương
6. Minute-taker: Đỗ Phương Thảo
7. Attendees:
- Nguyễn Lâm Phương
- Trần Hữu Minh Quang
- Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
- Bùi Anh Sâm
- Đỗ Phương Thảo
8. Contents for discussion:
- The leader explains and analyzes the topic for team members to understand the
content of the topic to discuss.
- The leader proposed the plan to vote and accept the work, and all members
approved.
- The ideas are agreed upon, according to the self-voting results, and the tasks are
assigned as follows.
Leader Minute-Taker
(Signature and name) (Signature and name)
Nguyễn Lâm Phương Đỗ Phương Thảo
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MEETING MINUTES - GROUP 7
(No. 02)
1. Date: 15/10/2024
2. Time: from 9:40 PM to 10:30 PM
3. Place: Google Meeting
4. Participants:
- Nguyễn Lâm Phương
- Trần Hữu Minh Quang
- Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
- Bùi Anh Sâm
- Đỗ Phương Thảo
5. Leader: Nguyễn Lâm Phương
6. Minute-taker: Đỗ Phương Thảo
7. Attendees:
- Nguyễn Lâm Phương
- Trần Hữu Minh Quang
- Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
- Bùi Anh Sâm
- Đỗ Phương Thảo
8. Contents for discussing:
• After a week of research, the members gave the information which they found.
• Members of the group discuss, research, and comment on the work of each member.
• Members of the group proceed to edit, add content, and send it back after one day.
9. Conclusion:
The members prepare the presentation to present after 1 week.
· Members in charge of PowerPoint receive documents and start designing.
10. Duties for participants:
· The leader assigns all the members to prepare their presentation and the assigned
member must carefully read, understand, and write a summary into their writing.
Leader Minute-Taker
(Signature and name) (Signature and name)
Nguyễn Lâm Phương Đỗ Phương Thảo
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MEETING MINUTES - GROUP 7
(No. 03)
1. Date: 01/11/2024
2. Time: from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM
3. Place: Be Coffee
4. Participants:
- Nguyễn Lâm Phương
- Trần Hữu Minh Quang
- Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
- Bùi Anh Sâm
- Đỗ Phương Thảo
5. Leader: Nguyễn Lâm Phương
6. Minute-taker: Đỗ Phương Thảo
7. Attendees:
- Nguyễn Lâm Phương
- Trần Hữu Minh Quang
- Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
- Bùi Anh Sâm
- Đỗ Phương Thảo
8. Contents for discussing:
The members prepare their presentations in front of the group according to the
order in the essay.
When one member presents, the rest of the members contribute ideas and
complement the presentation to perfection.
9. Conclusion: The members improve their pronunciation.
10. Duties for participants: The members practice their presentation to be fluent.
Leader Minute-Taker
(Signature and name) (Signature and name)
Nguyễn Lâm Phương Đỗ Phương Thảo
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PEER ASSESSMENT
Name (for students)
No. Duties Assessment Mark
- Introduction
Nguyễn Lâm Phương
1 - Continuous Learning A
23D185034
- Power Point
Bùi Anh Sâm
2 - Facing Failure B
23D185036
Nguyễn Quốc Thịnh
3 - Building Relationships B
23D185038
Đỗ Phương Thảo - Time and Money Management
4 A-
23D185037 - Word
Trần Hữu Minh Quang - Gratitude and Positive
5 B+
23D185035 - Conclusion
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