Sách siêu hay dành cho IELTS Speaking dành riêng cho người Việt _ Understanding Vocab for IELTS Speaking

HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG
SÁCH UNDERSTANDING VOCABULARY – IELTS SPEAKING
Mỗi bài học sẽ tập trung vào 1 chủ đề nhất định và được chia thành các phần chính theo
sơ đồ dưới đây:
Words in context

Đoạn hội thoại/bài nói
Đánh giá sự phù hợp của từ
trong văn cảnh

Bài học

Explore word
knowledge

Điền từ vào câu
Hoàn thiện câu
dựa vào từ có sẵn

Understanding and
applying

Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn
Trả lời các chủ đề part 2

Phần Từ vựng là phần cung cấp các văn cảnh và các cách dùng khác nhau của từ vựng
theo chủ đề của bài học. Sau khi đọc kĩ bài đọc đầu tiên, người đọc cần suy nghĩ và đoán
nghĩa của những từ / cụm từ được in đậm ở bài đọc. Người đọc vận dụng những ý hiểu
của mình về những cụm từ được đưa ra ở bài đọc để trả lời Yes hoặc No cho các câu hỏi
ở phần tiếp theo.

Ví dụ: 
A self – centered person usually cares about other people’s feelings
Một người self – centered thường sẽ quan tâm đến cảm xúc của người khác.
→ Trong trường hợp này, câu trả lời sẽ là No vì “self – centered” mang nghĩa là tự cho mình
là trung tâm, kiêu căng và khơng nghĩ đến cảm xúc của người khác. Nếu không hiểu rõ ngữ
nghĩa và cách sử dụng từ được in đậm thì sẽ đưa ra câu trả lời khơng chính xác.
→ Đây là phần giúp người đọc mở rộng thêm về văn cảnh sử dụng từ cũng như hiểu rõ
hơn về ngữ nghĩa của từ.
Sau đó, phần điền từ tiếp tục lặp lại những từ theo chủ đề xuất hiện ở những bối cảnh sử
dụng khác nhau để người đọc tiếp xúc liên tục với từ vựng mục tiêu.
5


Construction of tourism facilities can lead to the depletion of____________.
Việc xây dựng cơ sở vật chất du lịch có thể dẫn đến sự suy giảm___________.
A. construction materials

B. natural resources

C. landscapes

Người đọc thực hiện phần luyện tập theo các bước sau để đạt kết quả cao nhất:
Bước 1: Đọc đề bài và viết đầy đủ câu trả lời của mình ra vở bài tập (cố gắng sử dụng từ vựng
mục tiêu)
Bước 2: Đọc bài mẫu để tự điều chỉnh lại câu trả lời của mình
Bước 3: Tập đọc câu trả lời sau đó tập nói mà khơng nhìn vào câu trả lời mình viết trước đó
Bước 4: Viết các chủ đề/câu hỏi ra các mẩu giấy nhỏ và bốc bất kì để luyện tập trả lời khi
không được biết trước chủ đề/câu hỏi

6

Mục lục
Hướng dẫn sử dụng sách Power Vocab – IELTS Speaking.....................

5

Unit 1: Study ....................................................................................................

9

Unit 2: Work ....................................................................................................

18

Unit 3: Accommodation ................................................................................

27

Unit 4: Hobbies ...............................................................................................

37

Unit 5: The Internet ........................................................................................

47

Unit 6: Technology ..........................................................................................

56

Unit 7: Tourism ................................................................................................

65

Unit 8: Culture and Travel .............................................................................

74

Unit 9: Food

..................................................................................................

83

Unit 10: Places .................................................................................................

92

Unit 11: Personality ........................................................................................

101

Unit 12: Relationships ....................................................................................

110

Unit 13: Decisions ..........................................................................................

119

Unit 14: Feelings .............................................................................................

127

Unit 15: Shopping ...........................................................................................

137

Unit 16: Money ...............................................................................................

147

8


Words in context

1

Study

Audio file 1.1
I’m going to tell you the story of when I studied at
university.
It was way back(1) in 2011. I had taken a gap year(2)
after high school and it turned out to be one of

1

Way back ≈ A long time ago:
Rất lâu về trước

2

To take a gap year ≈ To take a
year off before college: Dành
1 năm nghỉ đi học hoặc làm
hoặc đi du lịch

3

To find my true passion in
something ≈ To enjoy very
much: Tìm thấy niềm đam mê
thực thụ

4

To attend university ≈ To
study at university: Học tại
trường đại học nào đó

5

Competitive admission ≈ To
be very difficult to get into
university: Tỉ lệ chọi đầu vào
cạnh tranh

6

To major in something: Học
chuyên ngành nào đó

7

To fulfill my dream of
something ≈ To make my
dream come true: Hiện thực
hoá giấc mơ làm gì đó

8

To meet deadlines: Hồn
thành hạn nộp bài/cơng việc

9

Top - notch ≈ Excellent: Hàng
đầu, hiện đại

the best decisions I’d ever made. I found my true
passion in(3) banking and financing. Then I attended
RMIT university(4), which is one of the top schools
in Vietnam with competitive admission(5). I majored
in(6) Finance because I wanted to fulfil my dream
of(7) working in a bank. You know, being a finance
major meant that I had to work with numbers and
meet deadlines(8) on a regular basis.

The environment was what I liked most in my
university – I mean, the facilities were top-notch(9)
with air conditioners and Apple iMac computers.
On top of that, teachers were very supportive and
friendly, and I always turned to them for advice(10)
before sitting for an exam(11).
In a nutshell, I really enjoyed my time at RMIT and
I wish I could somehow relive my time there once
more.

10 To turn to for advice ≈ To ask
for advice: Tìm lời khuyên từ
ai đó
11 To sit for an exam ≈ To take
an examination: Tham gia kì
thi

9


Explore word knowledge

1

Đánh giá mức độ phù hợp của những từ hoặc cụm từ in đậm trong các câu sau.

1

Students who take a gap year will study at university earlier than those who do
not.

Sinh viên mà take a gap year sẽ vào học đại học sớm hơn những người không học.

2

After working part-time as an assistant at an English center, I have found my true
passion in teaching.
Sau khi làm việc trợ giảng bán thời gian ở trung tâm tiếng anh, tôi have found my true
passion in sự nghiệp giảng dạy.

3

A person does not need to attend university to become a doctor or lawyer.
Một người không cần attend university để trở thành bác sĩ hoặc luật sư.

4

Students who major in education will be taught to develop the skills to teach
others.
Sinh viên người mà major in ngành giáo dục sẽ được dạy để phát triển kĩ năng để dạy
người khác.

5

My dad has had a lot of life experiences and therefore is someone I can turn to for
advice when I have to make an important decision.
Bố tơi đã có rất nhiều trải nghiệm trong cuộc sống và vì vậy ơng là người mà tôi luôn
luôn turn to for advice khi tôi phải đưa ra một quyết định quan trọng.

10

2

1

Chọn từ phù hợp để hoàn thành các câu sau.

A. meet deadlines

B. sit for an exam

C. turn to for advice

D. top-notch

E. attend university

G. take a gap year

H. majoring in

I. admission

More high school leavers________ before going to university to work and save
money.
Nhiều học sinh tốt nghiệp cấp 3________ trước khi học đại học để làm việc và tiết kiệm
tiền.

2

In Vietnam, students who want to ________ have to pass a university entrance
exam.
Ở Việt Nam, học sinh muốn________ phải vượt qua bài kiểm tra đầu vào đại học.

3

International schools in Vietnam are often famous for ________facilities.
Trường quốc tế tại Việt Nam thường nổi tiếng về________ cơ sở vật chất.

4

I’m ________ education, so I have to learn how to deliver a good lesson and deal
with different students.
Tơi________ giáo dục, do đó tơi phải học cách để truyền đạt bài giảng tốt cũng như xử
lý vấn đề cho nhiều đối tượng học sinh khác nhau.

5

Students should revise what they have learnt before they ________ to get a high
score.
Học sinh nên ơn lại những gì học đã học trước khi họ ________ để đạt điểm số cao.

6

Many university students struggle to ________ because of their poor time
management.
Nhiều sinh viên đại học gặp khó khăn trong việc________ bởi vì kĩ năng quản lý thời
gian của họ khơng tốt.

11

Understanding and Applying

Practice
1. Trả lời những câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ 2 – 3 câu.

1

Do you work or are you a student?
(Gợi ý: major in)
Well, I am currently studying in …........................................................................................

2

Why did you choose that school?
(Gợi ý: top-notch)
I didn’t actually choose it ......................................................................................................

3

What do you like most about your school?
(Gợi ý: turn to for advice)
There’s a lot to like about my school …................................................................................

4

What do you dislike about your school?
(Gợi ý: meet deadlines)
I would say it is ….....................................................................................................................

5

Is there anything you want to improve in your school?
(Gợi ý: top-notch)
Despite its ……..............................., my school really needs to …......................................

2. Trả lời những câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ 2 – 3 câu.

1

What is your major?
→ ...............................................................................................................................................

2

Why did you choose this major?
→ ...............................................................................................................................................

3

Do you enjoy what you study?
→ ...............................................................................................................................................

12


4

What is your favorite subject at school?

→ ................................................................................................................................................

5

What do you plan to do after graduation?
→ ................................................................................................................................................

3. Sử dụng những từ đã học để mở rộng chủ đề sau.
Topic 1
Describe a period from your studies that you find difficult.
You should say:
• When it was
• What you did at the time
• How you felt at that time
And explain why you think it’s difficult.

Topic 2
Describe a time you helped someone.
You should say:
• Who you helped and why
• How you helped this person
• What the result was
And explain how you felt about helping this person.

Topic 3
Describe a subject that you used to dislike but now have interest in.
You should say:
• What the subject is
• When you studied the subject
• Why you disliked the subject

And explain why you become interested in it.

13


Key
Câu hỏi 1
1 – No, 2 – Yes , 3 – No, 4 – Yes, 5 – Yes

Câu hỏi 2
1 – G, 2 – E, 3 – D, 4 – H, 5 – B, 6 – A

Bài 1

Audio file 1.2

1. Do you work or are you a student?
I am currently studying at the University of Finance and Marketing, which is one of the
most famous universities in Vietnam and majoring in International Business administration.
2. Why did you choose that school?
I didn’t actually choose it. You know, this school was actually one of the top-notch
universities that my parents believed would suit me the most. That’s why they told me to
apply for it, and so I did.
3. What do you like most about your school?
There’s a lot to like about my school. It’s hard to pick the one thing that stands out. Maybe
it’s the supportive teachers here. I mean they are someone that I will always turn to for
advice when I have to make an important decision.
4. What do you dislike about your school?
I would say it is the workload. I mean there are so many assignments that students have
to study very hard for, in order to meet deadlines.

5. Is there anything you want to improve in your school?
Despite its top-notch facilities and beautifully designed buildings, my school really needs
to provide more green space for students on campus as well as in classrooms. You know,
more trees will provide more shade and cool air for us to study more efficiently.

14


Bài 2

Audio file 1.3

1. What is your major?
I major in International economics and businesses, which has the most competitive
admission requirements in my school. Every year, there are many thousands of people
who want to study this major but only 150 are accepted.
2. Why did you choose this major?
I am currently studying in the University of Finance and Marketing and majoring in
International Business administration. Well, I am a sophomore.
3. Do you enjoy what you study?
I major in International economics and businesses. Actually I chose this major because my
brother talked me into it. He said majoring in economics was going to help me a lot in my
future career.
4. What is your favorite subject at school?
Not really. I don’t think what I am learning is practical and students have to meet a lot of
deadlines on a regular basis. But my friends at school are really nice. They are the main
reason for me to go to class.
5. What do you plan to do after graduation?
Well I haven’t thought about it yet. My aim is to run a business of my own but I haven’t
figured out what the business model would be. So I think after graduation, I will get a job

in a small startup to get more experience first.
Bài 3
Topic 1

Audio file 1.4

Ok, so a hard time that I had during my studies was when I was in my final year of high
school. At that time my academic performance was not as good as I had hoped and I
was trying extra hard to prepare for the university entrance examination. The university
that I was hoping to apply for was one of the top-ranking universities in my country and
had a very competitive admission. This particular university specializes in engineering
and science studies and provides students with top notch facilities that help to enrich
their learning experience through a lot of hands-on experience, helping to better prepare
15


students for their future careers.
So, as I was saying, I was having quite a difficult time trying to prepare for my end of year
high school exams and the university entrance examination, and I was beginning to feel
a lot of pressure to perform well, in order to secure my place at university, and follow the
path to a rewarding and satisfying career. I guess the main reason that I found this time so
difficult was because I had to study for so many different exams in such a short period of
time. You know, I wasn’t naturally talented in any subject at school so I really had to study
extra hard in order to attain my desired academic results.
But, after about three months of a really hectic study schedule I managed to exceed my
expectations and I just about aced all of my exams. I got the results that I wanted and was
admitted into my chosen university. So, although it was an extremely stressful time that I
would prefer to forget about, my hard work all paid off in the end.

Topic 2

Audio file 1.5

Alright let me tell you about the time that I helped my girlfriend learn IELTS. So it was
way back in 2018 when she was about to retake her IELTS test after an unsuccessful
attempt earlier. She failed at speaking (only 6.5), so she asked me to communicate in
English for a week to practice before she sat for the exam. I thought it was silly at first, but
went along anyway. I struggled a lot during our first conversations as talking in another
language makes me feel distant, even though I was majoring in English at that time. How
ironic! Finally, I came to my senses and decided to treat her as one of my students. Things
started to get better and I was able to detect her biggest issue in speaking: her fluency.
Similar to other Vietnamese English teachers, she focuses too much on perfecting her
speech: adding “big” words and avoiding grammatical mistakes, which eventually leads to
a loss of fluency. I gave her few tips, one of which was to stop worrying about speaking
the first thing that comes off the top of her head because speaking is a test of your
communication skills, not your vocabulary bank. Fortunately, she began to speak more
fluently and achieved 8.5 in her next speaking test. I feel pretty proud of myself as a
teacher and also pretty happy for my girlfriend as she was able to speak her mind and got
the score she deserved!

16


Topic 3

Audio file 1.6

Let me tell you about chemistry, which is a subject I used to hate but have now found
my true passion for. It was way back during my 8th grade when we were first introduced
to the subject, most of the students, including me, were really excited at the chance to

make stuff explode or at least change color. However, our hopes and dreams were quickly
crushed since during our first chemistry class, our teacher gave each of us the periodic
table and laid down a thick stack of paper full of theoretical exercises. Looking at the
table, my mind automatically shut down at the giant amount of knowledge we must learn,
including 118 elements and their molar masses, densities and boiling points. The first
semester was miserable as chemistry required a lot of memorization. Even though it took
us ages to learn all the materials by heart, I finally managed to memorize most of the
periodic table after a while. Interestingly enough, I soon realized that there was not much
logical thinking involved in chemistry like in math or physics. Chemistry exercises started
to become much easier. Plus, our teacher finally allowed us to do the flashy experiments
we’ve always wanted. That’s how chemistry was transformed from one of the most boring
subjects to one of my favorites for the rest of my high school years. I am now attending
the Science and Technology University to fulfil my dream of becoming a chemist.

17


Words in context

2

Work

Audio file 2.1

1

To be responsible for something ≈ To have a duty to do
something: Có trách nhiệm
làm gì đó.

2

To a financially rewarding career ≈ A well-paid job: Sự nghiệp tăng tiến về mặt tài chính.

3

To cover my bills ≈ To pay for
bills: Trả các khoản hoá đơn.

4

To save extra money: Tiết
kiệm được khoản tiền thêm

5

To give someone a hand ≈ To
help someone: Giúp đỡ ai đó

6

A challenging line of work ≈
A challenging job: Công việc
rất thử thách

7

A hectic schedule ≈ A busy
workload: Một lịch làm việc

bận rộn

8

All day long ≈ During the
entire day: Cả ngày

9

To meet deadlines: Hoàn
thành hạn nộp

I’ve been working as an English teacher at ABC
University, which is one of the top schools in
Vietnam.
I’m mainly responsible for(1) preparing English
lectures and dealing with different types of students
on a daily basis. I consider it to be a financially
rewarding career(2) as I can make much more money
than an average worker, which helps me to not only
cover my bills(3) but also save extra money(4) each
month. And you know what, I love the working
environment as well - I mean, my coworkers and
manager are so friendly and nice as they are always
willing to give me a hand(5) dealing with my work
problems.
However, honestly speaking, it is a challenging
line of work(6). I mean, I have a hectic schedule(7)
as I have to sit in front of a computer screen all
day long(8) to correct my student essays and meet

deadlines(9). That’s why my colleagues and I often
take part in recreational activities(10) when we get
off from work(11) to relax and forget about life for
a while.

18

10 Recreational activities ≈
Leisure activities: Các hoạt
động giải trí, thư giãn
11 To get off ≈ To leave work:
Tan làm (với nhân viên đi làm
công ty)


Explore word knowledge

1

Đánh giá mức độ phù hợp của những từ hoặc cụm từ in đậm trong các câu sau.

1

Medical doctors are mainly responsible for examining, diagnosing and treating
patients.
Các bác sĩ are mainly responsible for kiểm tra, chuẩn đoán căn bệnh và điều trị cho
bệnh nhân.

2

Cleaning is considered a financially rewarding career because a cleaner can make
a lot of money.
Dọn dẹp được đánh giá là a financially rewarding career bởi vì người dọn dẹp có thể
kiếm rất nhiều tiền.

3

Many poor people are struggling to cover their bills on a daily basis.
Rất nhiều người nghèo đang gặp khó khăn trong việc cover their bills hàng ngày.

4

As parents are very busy with work, children should give their parents a hand by
doing housework like sweeping the floor or washing dishes.
Vì bố mẹ rất bận rộn với công việc, con cái nên give them a hand bằng cách xử lý việc
nhà như quét dọn hoặc rửa bát.

5

My dad has a very hectic schedule, so he has a lot of free time.
Bố tơi có a very hectic schedule, do đó ơng ấy có rất nhiều thời gian rảnh.

6

In many companies, employees can get off early if they finish all their assigned
tasks.
Ở nhiều công ty, nhân viên có thể get off sớm nếu họ hồn thành mọi công việc được
giao.

19

2

Chọn từ phù hợp để hoàn thành các câu sau.

A. meet deadlines

B. save money

C. get off

D. a hectic schedule

E. cover their bills

G. financially rewarding careers

H. give their parents a hand

1

I. responsible for

Opening a bank deposit account is one of the good ways to ________ for many
people.
Mở một tài khoản tiếp kiệm ngân hàng là một trong những cách rất tốt để________
cho nhiều người.

2

In Vietnam, children are always taught to ________ by doing household chores.
Ở Việt Nam, trẻ em luôn dược dạy phải________ bằng việc làm những công việc nhà.

3

Becoming a famous singer or footballer can be one of the most ________.
Trở thành một người ca sĩ hoặc cầu thủ bóng đá nổi tiếng có thể là một trong ________.

4

University students who always live on a tight budget usually find it difficult to
________.
Sinh viên đại học mà luôn luôn sống với ngân quỹ hạn hẹp thì thường gặp khó khăn
trong việc ________.

5

An architect is a person who is ________ planning, designing and reviewing the
construction of buildings.
Kiến trúc sư là người mà________ lên kế hoạch, thiết kế bản vẽ và giám sát việc thi
cơng của tồ nhà.

6

Many employees struggle to ________ because they are bad at managing their
time and have many assigned tasks to do.
Nhiều nhân viên gặp khó khăn trong việc________ bởi vì họ khơng giỏi quản lý thời gian
cũng như có rất nhiều cơng việc cần phải làm.

20


Understanding and Applying

Practice
1. Trả lời những câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ 2 – 3 câu.

1

Do you work or are you a student?
(Gợi ý: responsible for)
I’m working as …......................................................................................................................

2

What do you like about your job?
(Gợi ý: a financially rewarding career)
There’s a lot to like about my job ….....................................................................................

3

What do you dislike about your job?
(Gợi ý: hectic schedule)
Probably the pressure …........................................................................................................

4

What do you do after work?
(Gợi ý: get off)

Usually I ……..............................................................................................................................

5

Do you have a lot of friends where you are working?
(Gợi ý: give me a hand)
Yes I do …..................................................................................................................................

2. Trả lời những câu hỏi sau với độ dài từ 2 – 3 câu.

1

Where are you working now?
→ ...............................................................................................................................................

2

Why did you choose that job?
→ ...............................................................................................................................................

3

Is there anything you would like change in your workplace?
→ ...............................................................................................................................................

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4

Where do you often visit on weekends?
→ ................................................................................................................................................

5

Do you make plans every day?
→ ................................................................................................................................................

3. Sử dụng những từ đã học để mở rộng chủ đề sau.
Topic 1
Describe a time when you changed your job.
You should say:
• When it was
• Why you changed
• What happened
What you felt after changing your job

Topic 2
Describe your ideal job.
You should say:
• What job it is
• What qualifications you need to do this job
• Are there many of these types of jobs available
And explain why this is your ideal job.

Topic 3
Describe a person who has interesting ideas or opinions.
You should say:
• Who this person is
• What this person does

• How you know him/her
And explain why you think his/her ideas and opinions are interesting.

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Key
Câu hỏi 1
1 – Yes, 2 – No, 3 – Yes, 4 – Yes, 5 – No, 6 – Yes

Câu hỏi 2
1 – B, 2 – H, 3 – G, 4 – E, 5 – I, 6 – A

Bài 1

Audio file 2.2

1. Do you work or are you a student?
I am working as a copywriter for a small tech company in Hanoi. I’m mainly responsible
for content advertising.
2. What do you like about your job?
There’s a lot to like about my job. Firstly, I do not have to work in the office all day long.
I can work at a coffee shop if I want. Secondly, I consider it a financially rewarding career
because the salary is very satisfying.
3. What do you dislike about your job?
Probably the pressure. I have a hectic schedule every week. But I mean it’s not like this
is the only job that has pressure. The important thing is that I am able to deal with stress
and maintain a work – life balance.
4. What do you do after work?
Usually I go grocery shopping after getting off and go home to cook dinner myself. At

weekends, I sometimes go out for a walk around Ho Guom and sometimes have a beer
with my friends at some bars.
5. Do you have a lot of friends where you are working?
Yes I do. I kinda get along well with everyone in my workplace. I was impressed by
their enthusiasm and profession in the first place. After that, I’ve realized that they all
understand me and willingly give me a hand when I am in need.

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Bài 2

Audio file 2.3

1. Where are you working now?
My current job is the manager of the customer service department in a logistics company
in HCM city. Although it is quite a challenging line of work, I have been doing this job for
more than 2 years now.
2. Why did you choose that job?
I was majoring in International Business Management when I was in university. After
my graduation, I sent my CV with passionate cover letters to a number of organizations.
Luckily, I got hired by KMTC, one of the leading firms in this industry. This job helps me to
not only cover my bills but also save extra money each month
3. Is there anything you would like change in your workplace?
Well let me see. I think I love my company so much that I am satisfied with nearly
everything about it. Maybe it would be better if there were more plants inside the office
so that there was more green space as well as decoration, like indoor tree pots put near
the window or on our desks, you know.
4. Where do you often visit on weekends?
Any coastal area for sure. I’ve been so tired with heavy workloads and hectic schedules

that I just want to spend a few hours chilling out at the beach.
5. Do you make plans every day?
Yes. I like to have a fixed daily plan and rarely do anything spontaneous. Unfortunately, my
schedule now is really hectic, so I have little time for any leisure activities.

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Bài 3
Topic 1

Audio file 2.4

Ok, so I’d like to describe a time when I quit my job and started a new career, this was
about 10 years ago. So at the time I was working as an engineer for a large construction
company but I had started to become a little bit sick and tired of the way I was treated
by my superiors. You know, although I got along great with most of my colleagues, I felt
that my boss didn’t value all of my hard work and dedication to the company, and in
addition to this, because it was a construction company, I had to spend a lot of time in
various workplaces where the conditions were sometimes quite harsh. Another factor
that contributed to my decision to quit was because I knew that there was very little
chance to get promoted in this company.
So after quite some time deciding whether to quit my job or not, I decided to throw
chance to the wind and have faith that I would find another, better job. Something
that I had thought about every now and then was having a go at teaching English. So I
immediately enrolled in an English teaching course so that I could familiarize myself with
the knowledge necessary to be a good teacher. I then emailed an English Language center
in Vietnam that I knew about through a contact of mine and we discussed the details
of a teaching position that I would go on to start a couple of months later. You know,
initially I was really nervous about quitting my job and pursuing a new career in teaching,

but after the first few months of living in a foreign country and gaining some valuable
teaching experience, I never looked back. This was a great opportunity for me to broaden
my horizons and I feel that this was a life changing experience.

Topic 2

Audio file 2.5

Ok, so when I was young, I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to be when I got older, but
every now and then I did think about having a go at working in business, or becoming
a businessman. And, eventually, when I left school and went to university to broaden
my horizons, I realised that being a businessman was actually my dream job. Actually,
there aren’t any qualifications that are necessary to become a successful businessman,
take a look at Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates for example, but I think it is a good idea
to get a degree and an MBA from a reputable university to give you a solid foundation
for your career. I think that there are quite a few jobs available in business, though many
businessmen prefer to start their own companies instead of working for someone else,
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however, starting your own business requires a lot of dedication and faith in such a harsh
and competitive business environment like in most countries today. But if you want some
experience working for someone else before starting your own business, then there are
always many jobs available for people with business qualifications, though the job market
can be quite competitive so a contact in a company where you want to apply for a job is
always of great value.
So there are a couple of reasons why this is my ideal job, but the first reason is because
I’ve always loved the idea of working in a professional workplace, and the idea of being
able to get promoted and climb the ladder within a company. And the second reason is
because, eventually I really want to start my own business so that I can be my own boss,

and have a more flexible work-life balance. Also, I have a few really great business ideas
that I think could be a real goldmine in the future!

Topic 3

Audio file 2.6

When it comes to describing a person with interesting opinions, I really want to talk about
my best friend – Quynh Anh. She has been my friend since secondary school so we have
a lot in common, including our interests and mindset.
She is now an undergraduate, studying computer engineering in America. Her major mainly
involves writing codes and designing new programs or software, which is a financially
rewarding career now. Alhough dealing with codes and computer technology all day long
can be a challenging line of work, she really has a knack for science subjects and enjoys
what she is doing right now.
Back in our days in school, she excelled in math and physics since she usually came up
with solutions to problems in just minutes. Quynh Anh is not only smart and also very
sensible in social issues. She has the ability to think things through and always gives
others a hand when they need, so I always turn to her for advice whenever I’m in trouble.
That is the reason why I think she has very interesting opinions.

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Words in context

3

Accommodation

Audio file 3.1
I’m currently living in a flat in a 35-storey apartment
building, under the same roof with(1) my other 3
family members including my parents and my little
sister. Actually, I used to live in a private house in
the middle of nowhere(2). I actually prefer my old
home, as there was much more space and a garden
where I can grow vegetables and flowers. But about
3 years ago, our family made a major decision to
move to an apartment building in close proximity
to(3) the city center because my father got a new job
there.
The flat I’m living in is located in an up-and-coming
neighborhood(4), which is why there are lots of
construction sites surrounding the area. This is
also one of the reasons why I’m not very keen
on(5) living here, since the air is often filled with
dust, unlike back in my old neighborhood where I
can fill my lungs with(6) fresh air every single day.
But it wouldn’t be fair to say that(7) there’s nothing
great about this area. Living here, I get to stay close
to lots of amenities(8) such as swimming pools or
shopping centers, which actually make life a little bit
easier. I can go to my favorite clothing store located
within walking distance , or take a 5-minute bike
(9)

ride(10) to the nearest supermarket to get groceries.

1 (live) under the same roof

with somebody ≈ Share the
same roof with/ live together
with somebody: Sống cùng
mái nhà với ai
2 in the middle of nowhere ≈ A
far away place: ở một nơi hẻo
lánh, xa xôi
3 in close proximity to ≈ Close
to: ở gần
4 an
up-and-coming
neighborhood ≈ Developing
neighborhood: Khu vực sắp
sầm uất, đang đi lên
5 (be) keen on something ≈
(be) fond of something: Thích
thú điều gì
6 fill my lungs with ≈ Breath in/
inhale: Hít thở đầy lồng ngực
7 (not) be fair to say that ≈ (be)
Unfair to say that: (khơng)
cơng bằng khi nói rằng
8 amenities
≈
Facilities/
services: Tiện nghi
9 within walking distance ≈
Very close: Trong khoảng cách
đi bộ được
10 5-minute bike ride ≈ Take 5

minute to go by bike: Mất 5
phút đi xe đạp

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Anyway, I do actually enjoy the living space(11)
inside my home, as there is so much natural light(12).
Besides, my bedroom is spacious(13) and cozy, where
I can spend some peaceful time everyday to read a
book or do homework. If there’s one thing I could

12 natural light: Ánh sáng tự
nhiên

change about this apartment, I would build a little

13 spacious ≈ Large: Rộng rãi

back garden to bring some nature into our home(14)

14 bring some green into one’s
home ≈ Bring nature into
one’s home : Mang cây cối/
màu xanh vào trong gia đình

and to grow some colorful flowers.

Explore word knowledge

11 the living space: Không gian
sống

1

Đánh giá mức độ phù hợp của những từ hoặc cụm từ in đậm trong các câu sau.

1

In Vietnam, nuclear families, where only 2 generations live under the same roof,
are becoming more and more popular.
Ở Việt Nam, mơ hình gia đình hạt nhân, tức là chỉ có 2 thế hệ live under the same roof,
đang trở nên ngày càng phổ biến.

2

I had to drive to the airport to pick up my family since it's within walking distance.
Tôi phải lái xe đến sân bay để đón gia đình bởi nó within walking distance.

3

Residents sometimes feel suffocated in this building because it’s living space is
limited.
Cư dân đơi khi cảm thấy khó thở và chật chội khi sống trong tòa nhà này bởi living
space của nó bị hạn chế.

4

In urban areas, families should bring some green in to their home by planting
rooftop gardens.

Ở các khu vực thành thị, các gia đình nên bring some green into their home bằng cách
trồng các khu vườn trên mái nhà.

5

Most of the space inside big shopping malls nowadays is filled with natural light
as they are often equipped with a high-quality lighting system.
Hầu hết không gian trong các trung tâm thương mại lớn ngày nay đều tràn ngập
natural light bởi chúng thường được lắp đặt các hệ thống chiếu sáng hiện đại.

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2

Chọn từ phù hợp để hoàn thành các câu sau.

A. keen on

B. spacious

E. fill their lungs with

C. amenities

D. the middle of nowhere

G. an up-and-coming neighborhood

H. natural light

I. within walking distance

1

The ______________ at the hotel include an outdoor swimming pool, a public hot
tub and in-room microwaves and refrigerators.
___________ ở khách sạn bao gồm bể bơi ngồi trời, một bể tắm nóng chung và lò vi
song cũng như tủ lạnh trong phòng.

2

In the summer, the park is often packed with people, who came to this open space
to ___________ fresh air.
Vào mùa hè, công viên thường đông nghịt những người đến khu vực thống đãng này
để ___________ khơng khí trong lành.

3

Many people living in rural areas have to depend completely on ______________
for their daily activities, as electricity is still a luxury to them.
Nhiều người sống ở khu vực nông thôn phải phụ thuộc hoàn toàn vào _______________
cho những hoạt động hàng ngày, bởi điện vẫn là một điều xa xỉ với họ.

4

Sometimes, living in __________________ has its perks, such as not having to put up
with noises from traffic everyday.
Đôi khi, việc sống ở __________________ có cái lợi của nó, ví dụ như khơng phải chịu
đựng những tiếng ồn từ giao thông mỗi ngày.

5

Many parents often prefer sending their children to schools that are
_______________________ because they won’t have to worry about transportation.
Nhiều bậc cha mẹ thường thích gửi con họ đến những ngơi trường mà
_______________________ bởi họ không phải lo về việc đi chuyển.

6

Despite being quite _________________ and located near city center, this apartment
building is not crowed since there has been rumors about some illegal activities
being run from here.
Mặc dù khá ________________ và ở vị trí gần trung tâm thành phố, khu căn hộ này
khơng hề đơng đúc bởi có tin đồn về những hành vi bất hợp pháp ở đây.
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