23:59 28/7/24 Speaking part 1 0. Study (general)
- Do you work or study?
I’m currently a senior student at Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and I’m studying English language at the moment.
- Why did you choose this major?
Well, the reasons why I choose to study English as my major is that I have lots of passion in this
field. I’ve never got bored of studying English and my English scores always made me proud
when I was at high school. Another reason is that I suppose that being able to communicate in
English fluently is a huge advantage to my future career. TRUM 1. Work / study
- What subject do you study?
Well currently I’m studying English as my major at DAV. The first reason why I choose this
subject for my study is that I English has been my favorite subject since I was only a primary
student. Secondly, I believe that being able to communicate in an international language is a
huge advantage to my future career path.
- Do you find this subject easy?
Well, to be honest, I have a mixed feeling about this. It’s yes when I’m in some skill lessons
which includes listening skill, speaking skill or presentation skill because such lessons are so
interesting that they wipe out all the difficulties I may find. However, English can sometimes be
a problem for me when I have to do researches or write a 20-page essay which require an
enormous amount of time and efforts.
- What job do you hope to do after finish your studies?
With the skills and knowledge that I have obtained from this subject, I would like to become an
English teacher in the future. The reason for my choice is probably my passion for teaching
children since I was a child as my mom is a teacher too. So I was inspired a lot by this woman.
The second point is that learning English has become a trend nowadays as many people have
recognized the benefits of being bilingual. So teaching English is the job that can provide me with sustainable incomes. 2. Where you live now
- Do you like the place where you live now?
Of course I think I’d have to say that I’m keen on living in my hometown. I guess the major
reason for this could be sense of belonging. What I meant is that I have stayed there for
approximately more than 20 years, so I’m kind of attached to the atmosphere, the food and the
people who live nearby as well. Moreover, one more thing that I love in my hometown is that it
is located close to various entertainment facilities including cinema, park, supermarket, which is
so convenient for me to release stress whenever I need. about:blank 1/6 23:59 28/7/24 Speaking part 1
- Do you know many pp who live near you?
Well I have to say that it’s yes and no at the same time. There are some pp who have lived in my
neighborhood since I was young, so I know them pretty well and I really get on with them.
Moreover, I even used to stayed in their house for days and called them mom and dad when I
was a kid. However, there are still those that are not so friendly or hardly stay at home, so I
probably have never caught sight of their faces.
- Is your area a good place for families with children?
Well although I love where I live very much, I have to admit that it is not a suitable place for
young children. This is due to the fact that the traffic in my hometown is not in good condition.
To be more specific, there are a large number of cars and trucks traveling on road but the
residential area is located too close to the main road. As a result, there is a high risk of accident if
children play outside. Another problem which still comes from traffic is that the cars can create
annoying noises and vehicle emission which can affect children’s health negatively.
3. Different kinds of change
- Do you think you have a lot of changes since you were younger?
Well I regard myself now as a completely different version of me in the past. One of the most
noticeable changes is my clothing style. What I mean is that when I was younger, I often wear
whatever my mom chose for me and didn’t even care whether it was suitable for me or not. As I
have grown now, I have shaped my personality and now I tend to choose the clothes that can
demonstrate my personality. Another significant change is in the way I think. For example, I was
a childish girl who always insist on whatever I want. However, at present, when I want
something, I always consider the pros and cons before I decide whether to obtain it or not.
- Have there been a lot of changes in your town/city?
Actually my town has changed significantly compared to it was in the past. One of the most
noticeable changes is the addition of more entertainment facilities. For instance, I used to go
swimming in river and stream when I was a kid. But nowadays, children in my town have the
opportunity to swim in indoor pool with excellent service which I have never experienced back
then. Another change that I want to mention is the dramatic increase in the number of
accommodation blocks. I guess the reason for this could be that there are more people attracted
by my hometown and deciding to move there.
- What positive change my happen in your life in the next few years?
Well I can’t predict the future correctly but if I were to guess I would say that I the most positive
event that potentially take place in the near future is an opportunity to work as an English teacher
which is my career dream. The reason why I believe so is that now I’m working part-time for an
English centre and the manager there told me that I have the potential to become a teacher there.
She also promised to help me achieve my dream if I have the real passion for this job. Therefore,
there is nothing I expect more in the near future than to achieve my career goal. 4. Picnics
- When you were a child, did you ever go on picnics? about:blank 2/6 23:59 28/7/24 Speaking part 1
As far as I remember, I often spend my weekend going for a picnic with my family. We used to
climb to the top of the hill to take the best spot from which we could see the gorgeous scenery of
our town. My mom also prepared a variety of food all of which was my favourite. Then I and my
father usually played outdoor games together such as football or badmintons after meal. Such a beautiful piece of memory.
- How often do you go on picnic now?
Well to be honest, I have to say it depends on the weather. Like for instance, if it is a beautiful
sunny day which is suitable for outdoor activities, I must say I’m ready to hit the road to a picnic
ground, maybe I’ll even call my friends and family to enjoy the day with me. However, if the
weather is a little rainy or gloomy, I’m more likely to stay at home, wrap myself in my cozy
blanket and watch a favourite movie.
- Where would pp go for a picnic in your city?
Well I think the most popular place that my city dwellers often come for a picnic is the National
Park. I guess that most pp choose this place due to the fact that it is the largest park in my city
which contains an enormous number of trees producing fresh air and providing shade. The
second reason for their choice would probably be the location of the park. What I mean is that it
was built at the heart of the city, which means that it can be reached easily by a majority of residents.
5. Having to do things in a hurry
- What do you often have to do very quickly?
Well there are a plenty of things that requires quickness. However, I guess the most prevalent
thing that I have to do quickly is getting ready to work. The reason why I have to be fast when
preparing to work is that my workplace is 7 km far from my house, so it usually takes me
approximately 20 minutes to get to work, not to mention the traffic jam in rush hours which often
takes me 10 minutes longer. Another reason is that I have a lot of things to do when preparing to
go to work including washing up, having breakfast, getting dress which cannot be done properly if I don’t hurry up.
- Do you do things well when you hurry?
Well I have to admit that I do things pretty bad when I’m in a hurry. To be more specific, I’m
often do things wrongly when time is rushing me. For instance, in the last minutes of the exam, I
never think of the right answer which I can easily come up with in a normal situation. Moreover,
it is usual that I forget to bring essential things with me such as keys, watch or even my phone
before going out when I’m in a rush.
- Do you find it difficult to do things quickly?
Actually I think it’s yes and no at the same time. There are some things that I can still manage
when I’m in a hurry. For instance, I can still cook well and create delicious dishes even under the
pressure of time. However, I perform terribly when I’m rushed to finish an assignment, an essay
or anything that relates to my studying because I believe that such things requires further
research, real efforts and cannot be done properly in a nick of time.
6. Furniture in your home about:blank 3/6 23:59 28/7/24 Speaking part 1
- Do you have a lot of furniture in your home?
Well I have to say that my house contains a lot of furniture things. The initial reason for this
could be that my mom is really keen on decorating the house, so she always tries to find the most
unique decorations and modern facilities that can make the room look as beautiful as possible.
Not only does my mom like to decorate, my is also enthusiastic about doing this. And as he is a
wood crafter, some of the wooden furniture such as bed, closet, table in my house are made by himself.
- What’s your favorite piece of furniture in your home?
Well there is a mixed variety of furniture in my house. But I guess the best choice would be the
my own bed. The reason I love this thing so much is that I have so many memories with it as it
can be seen as a small playground for me when I was a kid. To be more specific, I and my sister
used to play pretending games like playing nurses, playing mom and kid, we even fought on that
bed. Therefore I’m quite attached to that thing. The second reason is that it was made by my
father himself and gave to me on my 6yo birthday, so it has certain meanings to me.
- Has anyone ever given you a piece of furniture?
Actually there is one time my friend gave me a cushion as a birthday gift. I really love it because
it has printed cats on it and accidentally, cat is my favorite animal. Additionally, I really like this
cushion because it’s blue and it suits the overall decoration of the living room, especial the sofa. NGOC BACH
1. Housing / Accommodation
- What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?
For the last 4 years, I’ve been living in a mini flat in the heart of the city. The best part of this
place is that it is so close to where I study and my workplace as well. Moreover, there is a wide
range of amenities available in my neighborhood including supermarket, restaurant, cinema.
Therefore, I can easily grab anything that I need in just a few minutes.
- Who do you live with?
Currently I’m living with two of my friends – one is my college classmate and one is her high
school friend. We are quite close although we haven’t known each other for long. I think the
reason for this must be that we share the same hometown so we have a lot of things in common.
- How long have you lived here?
I have been living here since I came to university, which means that it’s been 4 years and it’s also
the most remarkable 4 years of my life. To be more specific, since I lived here, I have learned
how to live independently, by which I mean I can cook and wash my clothes by myself for instance.
- What’s the difference between where you live now and where you lived in the past?
Well, I have to say that the area in which I stay now is a far cry from my hometown where I used
to live. There is a variety of differences but I guess the most noticeable feature is the atmosphere. about:blank 4/6 23:59 28/7/24 Speaking part 1
What I mean is that back to my hometown, the atmosphere is so quiet and peaceful, neighbors
are friendly and meet each other every day, and the air is much fresher.
- Do you plan to live here for a long time?
Well I have to say that I haven’t decided yet. It depends on whether I can find a stable job in this
city or not. I think settling down in my hometown is a good idea as I love the peaceful
atmosphere back there. But if I can find a suitable job here, I’ll consider spending the rest of my life in this place.
- Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
There is a plenty of room in my house. But the place my family spend most frequently must be
the living room. We usually sit in front of the TV screen and watch the TV show that we all love.
In addition, this is also the room in which we sit down and talk about our day, specifically my
parents often ask me and my siblings how school is, whether we are doing well at school for instance.
- Are the transport facilities to your home very good?
Well although I love this place so much, I have to admit that I don’t think transport facilities in
my neighborhood are in good condition. What I want to mention is that the size of the road is
quite narrow, which leads to terrible traffic jam in rush hours. Additionally, the surface of the
road is so rough that commuters can easily fall while not traveling carefully.
- Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?
I guess that most people would choose living in a house. However, I’d love to stay in a flat. The
first reason for my choice is that apartment blocks usually contain a wide range of amenities
including supermarket or playground on the first floor, which I can enjoy while living in a flat.
Secondly, buying houses in large cities like Hanoi costs me an arm and a leg while apartment
price is much more affordable so flat is definitely the best option for me.
- Please describe you room where you live in?
My room is what I call my comfort zone or hideaway because it is my private space. After a long
and stressful working day, I just want to be alone in my bedroom, wrap myself in my favourite
blanket and enjoy a movie of my interests. Moreover, although I mentioned that the room is quite
private, it still has a large window so that wind can breeze into my room and the morning sun can
shine into it to give me some fresh feelings every morning.
- What part of the house do you like the most?
To be honest, I love the entire house. But if I were to choose one to talk about, I would say the
best part is the garden. The reason for my choice is that my parents have planted a wide range of
vegetables and flowers there. As a result, it’s the most beautiful place in my house which is so
relaxing to look at as it’s all green. Furthermore, it is also the place where I used to play with my
sister when we were both kids, so this place is full of childhood memories. 2. Study
- What is your area of specialization? about:blank 5/6 23:59 28/7/24 Speaking part 1
I’m currently studying English language as my major at Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
- Why did you choose to study that major?
Well, the reasons why I choose to study English as my major is that I have lots of passion in this
field. I’ve never got bored of studying English and my English scores always made me proud
when I was at high school. Another reason is that I suppose that being able to communicate in
English fluently is a huge advantage to my future career.
- Do you like your major?
Well actually I have a mixed feeling about this. Sometimes I do love my major as there are so
many in-class activities such as making presentation or debating about controversial issues,
which can help me improve my skills and knowledge. However, when it comes to exams and
tests, I have to say that they are so difficult and stressful that I sometimes regret studying this major.
- What kind of school did you go to as a child?
When I was a kid, I studied at a public school in my hometown. Back then, my school didn’t
contain a wide range of facilities or modern equipment as school nowadays, but I think other
qualities such as delicate teachers, friendly classmates and adequate lectures are good enough for me.
- What was your favorite subject as a child?
There’s a variety of subject that I can think of, but if I were to choose one, I would say that art is
my cup of tea. The reason I love this subject is that I had a really good imagination when I was
younger. I mean I could draw anything I saw in a nick of time. It’s some kind of innate gift I
guess. I also love art because it brings me the feeling of joy and freedom as I felt like I was in my
own imaginary world when drawing.
- Do you think your country has an effective education system?
Well, to be honest, I think it’s yes and no at the same time. There are some aspects in which my
country has done so well. For instance, academic institutes are now open to more and more
students, which raises the quality of workforce in the future. However, there are some points that
are not quite effective in my nation’s education system. For example, the recent reformation of
new lectures for primary students meets with people’s opposition because of its ineffectiveness. about:blank 6/6