How to speak english well

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PREFACE
The book "H o w To Speak English W e ll" is designed to provide you
English learners of pre-intermediate and intermediate levels with 50 hot
topics related to daily life. Each topic helps you enrich you r vocabulary
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as well as get more ideas about the topic you are involved in. In
addition, questions in each topic facilitate you to practice your speaking
skills.
Practicing speaking is not only speaking. Besides, the learners have to
improve their reading and listening skills, grammar and vocabulary.
One of the. most important factors that can help you get the good result
in speaking English is the self-enounce you r ideas and join class discussions actively. In English
speaking, shyness prevents you from mastering i t Also, when you do not
know ho w to pronounce or h o w to use an English word, you shoufd
check it up in a dictionary or ask your classmates or teachers about it
O ver all, don't be afraid o f making mistakes when practicing speaking
English.

Jb

i hope that this book can partly help you improve your English speaking
skill. Surely, limitations in this book could not be avoided, so your
contributions w ill be highly appreciated.
H A V E A B IG SUCCESS I N Y O U R S T U D Y !

45
Nguyen Hong Anh, M.A. in TESOL
(Canberra University, Australia)
r V

H<w> To S p e a k E nglish W eü


T O P IC Is M Y SE L F I M R 0 i n CT 1 0 \
I’m very happy to introduce myself. My name is Linh
but my friends usually call m e Katy.
I live in Bac U eu province, a province in the west of
Vietnam. My family consists of four people: m y parents,
m y younger brother and i. M y father is a farmer, and m y
mother is a house-wife who always takes a good care of
my family. My brother is an 11 th grade student. And l am
a junior of Van Lang University.
I like learning English very much. I have learnt it for years at high school
and university, but my speaking skill is not good enough. Therefore, I try
my best to leam it now, and I hope I can speak it well one day. When l
graduate from university, I will be a teacher of English because it is my
major.
In my free time, I like listening to music, watching movies, reading
newspapers, and going shopping. O n Sundays, i usually go to the coffee

shop to chat with m y friends in the morning, and I always join the English
Speaking Club to improve my speaking skill in the afternoon.
In short, I am very happy with m y life. O f course, ! am going to make it
happier and more meaningful.

VOCABULARY T IP
1.
Ex:

2.
Ex:
3.

to consist (of) [kan'sist] =
The committee consists often mmbers
Uy ban gdm co mifcn thanh wen
to take care of "
/always take care of my family
junior (n) fdOurnjs]:

to include

to look after
the third-year student

freshman
sophomore

junior
senior

2


N guyen H o ttg A n h , M.A. in TE SO L

QUESTIONS FO R P1SCPSSIOM
1. May ! know your name? W here are you from? What do you do?
2. How many people are there in your family? W hat is your position in
your family? W ho do you think loves you most in your family?
3. Which school are you studying at? W hat is your major? W h y do you
choose it?
4. Wnat do you like about your classroom? What do you dislike about
your classroom?
5. What do you think about your classmates? What do you think about
your instructors
6 . What are you going to do after graduating from your university? Do
you think you will be successful in your future job?
7. Do you like listening to music? If yes, what kind of m usic do you like
best?

'v v '

8 . W hat do you think about watching T V or films? What is your favorite
channel?
9. What do you often do at weekends? Which activity do you like best?
10. Do you want to change your daily life? If yes, how will be it changed?

TOPIC 2: TBOEFIKST BA Y I WENT TO SCHOOL
I will never forget the first day 1 went to school. O n

that day, my mother accompanied m e to school.
Soon a teacher came and led us to som e
classrooms. Th e re we were put into four separate
classes. Th is was when som e children began to
cry a s T h e parents were not allowed into the
classrooms. I did not cry because I had been to
kindergarten before.
it w as an enjoyable time for me as I got to know m y new classmates.
Th e teacher w as very busy writing down our particulars, so w e had
plenty of time to ourselves.
‘W hen the break came, m y new friends and I managed to make friend
with two girls. Soon w e were laughing and playing together. O nce in a
while the teacher had to tell us to keep quiet as w e were making too
much noise.

A


inally the bell rang for us to go home. Som e of us were very relieved to
e reunited with our parents. I too w as glad to see m y mother wafting for
le at the school gate. I had m ade m any friends. It had been a
"St day at school.

O C A B U U R i TIP

A

. to accompany [a ’kA m p s n i]:
to go with
Ex:

l s hould ask m y friend io accompany me to school
Tói phài nhò ban tói dr cùng töi den truòng
. separate ['se p rat] (a ) :
dii
Ex:
We were put into four separate classes
Chùng tói duoc phàn vào càc lop khàc nhau
. kindergarten ['kinds,go :tn ] (n ) :
a school for children
. to be busy + v-ing {»nth something)
Ex:
She 's busy with her homework
Có ày b$n cóng wee ò nhà
She's busy writing letters
Co ay dang ban viét this
. particular [petikjule(r)] (n):
detail, event
. to manage =
to by
sometimes
. Once in a while (exp.) =
Ex:
Once in a while we go to a restaurant
Thtnh thoàng chùng tói di än nhà häng
. be relieved [ri'iirv ):
be comfortable
to come together
0. to reunite [,r i:ju :'n a it]:
1. to see s.o do/doing s.tfr:

O tE ST lO M S FOK D ISCUSSIO X
W hen did you start your schooling? Did you go to a public high
school or a private one?
Did you have to w ear a uniform in high school? How about
elementary school?
Have you ever been absent from class? If yes, how m any times
were you absent from school?
Have you ever been late for class? If so, w hy? W hen w as the last
time? Did the teacher get angry?
Did your school have a band? If so, did you play in it? Do you play
on any of the school's sports teams?
Did you have any close friends at elementary school? Do you still
keep in touch with them?
What classes did you not like? W h y didn't you like them? W hat did
you like best about high school? 4

4


8.

W hat school did you graduate from? W hat high school? W hat junior
high school?
9. W hat were som e of the rules you had to follow at your high school?
Which rules did you think w ere unfair? Did you ever get caught
breaking any school rules? .Were you allowed to eat food in the ^
classroom?
'
'
10. W hat was your favourite subject? W h y do you like it? Which

subjects were you good at? W hich subjects w ere you poor at?

T O P IC 3s M V F A iu n v r
There are five m em bers in m y family: m y parents,
m y older bother, m y younger sister and l.
.

. . . . .
'
M y parents are living in one of the central provinces.
M y mother is 53 years old. She is a housewife. M y
father is 55 years old. H e is a fisherman. M y older
brother gets married, living separately near m y
parents 1 home. He has two children and works for
an industrial park with his wife. M y younger sister is
a schoolgirl. She is three years older than me. W e
are very united.

N ow i'm living in H C M C for m y higher education. However, I always miss
and think about m y family because it is the best place for m e in the
world. Th e re I can feel safe, warm, and free. My home is a place where 1
keep all things that I love and am with people who love me m o s t It is
also the place w here I spend the happiest moments in m y life, in
addition, l believe that m y hom e is a foundation for me to develop myself
and a school that forms m y personality.

v f

In short, I always keep the sentence “no place is like home* in m y mind.

VOCABULARY T IP

1. foundation [faun'dei/nj (n):
2. to form =*

H
base
to create


QUESTIO NS FOK PISCTJSSIOtt
ow m any people are there in your family? Do you live with your
imily? W ho is the most important one in your family?
/hy do people say, T a m ily is the foundation of society”? What do
)u think about Vietnam ese family's foundation?
it the sam e or different between the family structure in the past and
ie at present? W hat do you think of the traditional family? is it better
¡an the m odem one? W hy/why not?
Ihich one do you prefer between living in a large family with m any
snerations and living in a small one? W hat are advantages and
sadvantages of living in a large / small family?
s a saying goes “Th e re is no place like home*. D o you think so?
'hat should w e do to preserve the structure of Vietnamese family?
ow is a happy family? Do you want to live with your parents,
others or sisters in the same house? W h y (or why not)?
o you agree that the more m odem society is, the more easily the
mily is broken? W hat makes the value of family in Vietnam
jw ngrade?
<^=5

you have one choice between m oney and family, which one would
>u choose? W h y?
tiy are more and more people being interested in earning money?
Tiat do you think of people who change their wives or friends when
iing rich?
ave you ever left your family for a long time? If yes, how did you 6
6,7

c

T

6


T O P IC 4 ; M Y C H U J fflO O P
j§ It is said that childhood is the best period of one’s
g life. I also have a beautiful childhood.

I

Since I was bom, my mother has always taken a
I good care of me in everything. M y father usually
1 appeared at important events in my life. For
H example, he took me to the school on the first day .
V

his care, I always got good results.
My grandparents also loved me so. much. W henever they came back
home from their business trips or from the market, they always had

presents for- me. M y unforgettable memory is when I sat on the verandah
with my grandma listening to her fairy tales. M y favorite story was “ Ta m

and Cam ”.
\ also have a lot of memories during my schooling years. O nce I cut
class to go to the cinema with m y classmates. But my teacher and my
mother punished m e seriously for that. Th e teacher made me kneel for
one hour at the com er of the classroom, and m y mother gave me a
sound spanking.
■
V -/
In short, 1 never forget my childhood.

1. period fpieriad] (n):
stage
Ex:
Our country has many periods of history

Day nu&c ta c6 nhieu giai (Scan Ijch sir
2. event [Tvent] (n):
incident
Ex:
Graduating from university is a big event in my life.
3. to encourage [irikQridG]:
to stimulate
Ex:
My friends usually encourage me to lose weight
4. verandah [va'raenda] (n):
the open porch
5. fairy tale:

fairy story
6. serious psiarias] (a) strict
c i . . fwy
leacner nas
Ex:
My teacher
has a se.
serious look

Thay t6; co ve nghiem khac
Y W to kneel jni:Q:
a sound spanking:

|

H o w To S p e a k E nglish W ell

\)dng gop PDF bcri GV. Nguyen Thanh Tu

to go down on knees
the act of slapping

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QmESTIOUfS FO R PISCPSSIO M
low m any children are there In your family? W hat is your position in
te family?
/here were you bom ? W here did you grow up? W hen did you go to

chool? How did you feel?
/as your childhood happy or unhappy? W h y? Do you still keep any
eautiful memories? [f yes, could you tell us som e of yours?
/hat do you rem em ber most about your childhood? Do you think
lat childhood is the best period of your life?
o you think that we had best time when we were in our childhood?
ow did you spend your childhood? W hat did you like best w hen you
ere a child?
/ho was your best friend when you were a child? C an you describe
m/her? D o you still keep relation with him/her?
/hen you were a little child, who did you love m ost? W hich toy did
)U like best? What kinds of entertainment did you use to have?
'hat kinds of gam es did you usually play? W ho did you usually play
ith?
A r
Tiat did you hate eating? W h a fs your most vivid m em ory of the
)use or flat where you grew up?
d you think that ifs very hard for us to get what have gone? Do you
;ual?y talk to your friends about your childhood?
d you ever wish that you could live a childhood life again?

TO PIC 5;

By MY LIFE

3y usually begins at 6. I get up and do

exercise for about an hour. Th en I take
After that I get dressed and have
fast with my family. I usually have a

breakfast. At 7.30 I leave for school.
n take a bus to school. I catch the bus
my house, and it takes me about 30
es to get to school. My first class starts
)Q a m. and finishes at 1*1 a.m. Sometimes I stay there for the
oon class. However, I usually stay at home in the afternoons.
! evening, I go to evening classes. I’m teaming English at Youth
jn Language School. W hen I get home, I have dinner and watch

To S p e a k E nglish W ell


T V for an hour. Th e n I start m y homework. Sometimes I go out with m y
friends. I usuaiiy go to bed at 12.
O n Sundays, I usually go to coffee shops for chatting with m y friends.
Sometimes we go fishing or singing karaoke. You know, every Sunday
afternoon, I go to the English Speaking Club to improve my speaking
skill.

c ?
When I have free time, I usually listen to music. I like English songs very
much because they help me improve m y English. A day in my life is very '
interesting. '
JQ

QUESTIONS F O B PISC U SSIO X
1. What time do you usually get up? Do you take any exercise after
getting up? W hat form of exercise, if any, do you take?
2. Do you usually have breakfast at home or at work or on the way to
work? Do you often have coffee?

3. What do you have for lunch? Do you bring your lunch to work or have
lunch outside work or go home for it?
^
4. What time do you leave your work? Do you have to work overtime?
In night shifts? Do you like your job? ^
5. What time do you arrive home from work? W hen do you usually have
dinner? Do you stay home and watch T V , read books or magazines,
do the needle work, listen to music, or have a talk with your partner?
6. How often do you go out after dinner? Do you go to evening classes?
What courses of study are, you taking? What plans do you have for
such courses?
7. How do you spend your time on Sundays? What do you do in your
free time? W hat do you do at weekends?
8. Do you think that your daily life is O K , compared with others in your
family? Do you think your daily routine is boring? Have you ever
thought of doing something else for a change?
9. Are you still going to school? W hat time does your school begin?
What do you often do before school? How do you prepare your
lessons before school? How do you go to school? How long does it
take you to get there? When does your school finish? Do you go
straight home after school?
10. Are you pleased with a day in your life?

r V

B o te To S p e a k English W ell


TOPIC te THOE SUBJECT I LIKE
If I would have the opportunity to study a subject

I do not know yet, I would choose to study the
outer space.
'
I think it is very interesting to work on a space­
ship, gathering different kinds of information,
probes and specimens. Also I have chances to
know what is beyond our solar system as well as
t is beyond our universe.
ther reason for studying the space is that I might make new
overies. I think it is a great feeling to give people new knowledge,
srtunities and experience. Thanks to these discoveries, people know
s about our universe.
lort, I believe that in the future, people will be able to visit the space
as they go to a museum now.
PABULAR Y T IP
obe Iproub] (n):
yp
exploration
earner [spesiman] (n):
sample
yond [bfjDnd] (acfv-pre):
out of reach
E x:
Fuji and other mountains beyond are covered in snow.
NOi Phü S i vä cäc ngpn nOi phia xa kta dSu phü däy tuyet

OUUSTIOrcS FO B P ISC U SSIO fl
Vhat do you like about your classroom? W hat do you don’t like about
our classroom?
>o you think that smart students always sit down in front? Do you

jel comfortable about your seat? Do you like the location of your
esk in your classroom? W here is your seat the best for you?
>o you think the teacher should assign seats to students? What is
ie ideal seating plan or arrangement m a classroom?
tfhat are five things you would like to change in your classroom? Do
ou enjoy changing classrooms for different classes?
; there any air-conditioning in your classroom? Is your classroom a
ice place to study?

To S p e a k Engüsh W eü

10

A ,


N guyên H o n g A n h , M A . in T E SO L
5. How m any subjects do you have to study? W hich subjects are you
bad at? W hich subjects are you good at?
7. W hich subject do you like best? W h y do you like it? Are you good at
this subject?
8. Do you learn English as one subject in you r school? Do you like it?
Am ong four skills, which one do you like best?
9. Which subjects do you think are not practical? W h y do you think so?

T O PIC 7z W HAT I H ATE DOING
*

A s human beings, we all have four main feeling
as happiness, anger, likes and dislikes. O f

course, w e want to do what w e like; however,
s
ometimes, w e m ust do things that we do
not like. Ta k e m e for example.
I hate getting up early very m uch, tt is so
relaxing to wake up without the help of an
alarm d o c k and to lie fifteen minutes more
recalling your dream s. How ever, I have to get
up at 6 o’clock every morning. Th e n I put on m y T-sh irt and shorts and
go jogging. Som etim es I want to break m y alarm dock, but I can’t
because I have to go to school on time. J h
■ '
J v
Moreover, l hate shopping. It is m y opinion that shopping takes too much
time which t can spend doing other things I like. But every week, I have
to do som e shopping at a certain superm arket Otherwise, m y
refrigerator will be empty, and I cannot afford to have lunch and dinner at
the restaurant every day.
In short, in our life, w e cannot avoid doing things we do not w a n t

VOCABULARY IX P
1. to recall [riled:!] =
to reminisce
2. to break =
to destroy
3. to afford [a’fO.d]:
to have enough money
Ex:
/ cant afford to buy a new car

Hove T o S p e a k E nglish W ell

II

A
«5


QUESTIONS FO R DISCUSSION
I.

What annoys you most about living at home with your family? What
•annoys you about the place where you live now?
L What annoys you about taking buses to work or to school? What
annoys you about driving a motorbike?
What annoying habits does your best friend have? What is the most
annoying thing for you?
i. Do you get annoyed when other people display bad manners? Give
some examples.
>. Do you annoy people with some of your habits? W hat is something
that your parents like to do but you don’t?
5. What do you often like doing everyday? W h y do you like doing it? Do
you think your family m embers like what you like?
r. Do you like getting up early? W h y or why not? W hat do you think if
someone wakes you up early?
1. What do you hate doing during a day? W hy do you hate it? What will
happen if you don’t do what you hate?
i. W ho usually forces you to do what you don’t like? Do you often ask
someone to do what they don’t like?
10. What can you draw from today’s discussion?

t o p ic

fc m y v i t n f i

o f y o iik

u fe

I do not know what you think of your life. I myself
think that m y life is very beautiful and lucky. W hy
do I say so?
I find that at least two people in this world love
m e so much that they would devote themselves
'm* to me. Moreover, m any people around me love
me because I often make them happy with m y
help and smiles.
n addition, I ’am optimistic. W henever I make a mistake, 1 find that
omething good com es from it. W hen m any people say that the world
ias turned its back on them, I myself think that I have likely turned m y
iack on the world. And when' people think they have no chances of
letting what they want, 1 believe that sooner or later I will get It
live happily, I always rem em ber the compliments I’ve received and
orget about the rude remarks.

I
12

Briefly, we are in different situations, so we m ay have different
conceptions of life. W h y don’t we share them together to make our life
better and better?

VO CABULARY TCP
1. to devote [di’vout] =
to sacrifice
Ex:
I devote m y time to learn English
73/ danh het thdi gian de hoc tieng Anh
2. optimistic [.Upti'mistik] (a):
expecting the best
Ex:
Nam is not optimstic about the result
3. to turn back on s.o:
not pay attention to
4. compliment (n):
praise 0 ,
5. rude [ru:d] {a):
impolite
Ex:
It's rude to interrupt the teacher
Ngat icri th iy co la khiem nha
6. conception (n):
opinion, idea

Q U ESTIO NS FO R D ISC U SSIO N
1. W hat do you think of your life: lucky or unlucky? Do you think that
G od doesn't give us everything w e ask for?
2. Is it right to say that it's those small daily happenings that make life

so special? In which w a y do you think so?
3. It is said that under everyone's hard shell is som eone who w ants to
be appreciated and loved. Do you agree with it?
4. W hat do you think about an idea that 'to ignore the facts does not
change the facts??
5. W h o love you m ost in your life? W hat will happen to you If you lose
that one som e da ? ?/
6. Have you ever thought that the world turns its back on you ? A t that
time do you think that you turn your back on the w orld?
7. A re you in love now? A re you of the opinion that love, not time, heals
all wounds'?
8. I believe that the easiest w a y for m e to grow as a person is to
surround myself with people who are sm arter than I am. W hat do you
think?:
9. D o you agree with m e that life is tough, but w e are tougher, and no
one is perfect until we fall in love with them ?
10. I've learned that everyone wants to live on the top of the mountain,
but ail happiness occurs while I’m climbing it. Do you think so?

How To S p e a k E n g lish W ell

13


T o p ic 9s A N T1YFOBGETTABUB MEMORY
Graduat ion is a very important event in a
person’s life, and it is my pleasure to share with
you m y high school day graduation.
My mother helped me prepare for the day. A t
first, we went shopping to buy a dress and a pair

of shoes. However, we could not find a pair of
shoes that would fit to my dress. Therefore, two
days before the graduation day, t had hot 'got
any shoes. However, my mother assured me that she could m anage it
and promised me that she would show up when the grad day came.
Unfortunately, she could not do that because she had an important
business to do on that day.
Th e event took place from 8 am till 11 am. Looking at m y schoolmates, I
felt a little sad because they were with their relatives. However, it
happened for just a m om ent During the ceremony, l was very excited to
wait for m y turn to hold the degree.
Well! i forgot to tell you that m y mother appeared at the end of the
graduation. She hugged, kissed and congratulated me. She also gave
me a present that l have kep as m y most valuable thing in my life. After
that, she took me to a small restaurant and treated me a special lunch.
That day has gone, but I never forget it. It is the first step for me to enter
my life.
J f f

VOCABULARY T IP
1. to fit =
¿0
to match
2. to assure {a'/ua, a'/D:] =
to insure
Ex:
Hard work usually assures success
Cham chi thu-cmg bao dam sis thanh cong
3. T o show up =
to appear

Ex:
Will you show up at her wedding party?
4. grad
graduation
5. to take place to happen
Ex:
Our meeting will take place next Monday.
6. ceremony [serimani] (n)
a formal act
X jlx :
My friend wedding ceremony will take place in church.
7. to hug =
to embrace

H ow To S p e a k E nglish W ell

14


g u E sn o x s

fo b

m s c u s s io r c

1.

Do you have a good m em ory or a bad memory? Do you usually
remember or forget things? Are there some things or times that you
will never forget?

2. Would you like to have a perfect memory? W h y or w hy not? Are
there some things or times that you wish you could forget?
3. Have you ever forgotten something important like your keys or ypur
phone?
4. Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten w hy you went there?
Have you ever forgotten an important date, like a birthday or an
anniversary?
5. What’s your earliest m emory? W hen w as it? W h afs your most vivid
(clear or sharp) m em ory? W hen was it?
6. “Memories make the man’ . What do you think of this saying? G ive
examples.
7. Th ose who forget the past will repeat it W hat do you think this
means? G ive examples.
8. Many people find that visiting certain place brings back a childhood
memory very strongly (such as the scene of an old family holiday).
W h y do you think this is?
9. If you could edit your memories, which ones would you erase and
why? Which ones would you make dearer and more vivid?
10. W hat can you draw from today’s discussion?

TOPIC 10: MY H O BBIES
Everyone has his own hobbies'7such as reading,/
watching T V or film s / travelling/ listening to
music/etc. I also have m y own hobbies. In m y
free time/l have some things to enjoy.
Th e hobby i like best/is playing guitar.jkut i can
just play/a few simple tunes My uncle tells m e /
that 1 have to practice a lot/and then it will be
O K . Another hobby I alsp spend much time on/is/
keeping fish. I have a small beautiful aquarium/where I keep a variety of

little fish. I Jove watching them swimming about very. much. I collect
stamps, too. But I just take the stamps from envelopes/that m y relatives
and friends send to m e. Most of them are local stamps. One more hobby
I d like to mention here/is singing Karaoke. How exciting it is when I can
enjoy my own voice/klthough it is not very good.

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hefe are other hobbies that I’m also interested ir/such as going fishing
r chatting on the Internet ^ r with my friends in coffee shops Jar bars/at
eekends. Sometimes/l also go shopping for some things I need. How
re your hobbies?

VOCABULARY TIP
. tune ftu:nj (n):
melody
Ex:
My friend always sings in tune.
Ban toi tuon hat dung dieu
. aquarium [aTcwesriam] (n):
a place where fish is raised
. local (a) =
domestic

QUESTIONS FO B DISCUSSION
. Do you have a lot of free time? How do you spend it? What are your
hobbies? Which one do you like best?

. Do you like watching T V ? Do you watch T V a lot? How often do you
watch T V ? W hen do you usually watch ft? What kinds of programs do
you usually watch? W hat’s your "favorite program? What’s your
favorite channel?
. Do you like watching films? What kinds of films do you prefer? What
is your favorite film? Can you tell me which film stars are your idols?
Where do usually see films: at home or cinema?
. Do you listen to the radio a lot? How much time do you listen to it
every day? W hen do you,listen to it? What kinds of programs do you
often listen to? Do you ever listen to programs in English? What’s
your favorite radio station? Do you ever listen to the radio in bed?
. Do you like listening to music? What kinds of music do you listen to?
W ho are your favorite singers and groups? Do you like listening to
Music Programs on H C M Radio Station? Have you ever asked the
station for songs you like?
. Do you play any sports? What sports do you like most? W hen do you
usually play? How do you feel after playing?
. What do you usually dp at the weekends? W hat do you think of
singing karaoke? Do you like it? Do you often go to Karaoke Bars?
Which one do you like best? W hy? How often do you go singing
karaoke?
. 4 Singing karaoke is good or bad to you? Does singing karaoke help
you get rid of the burden or difficulty in your life? Do you think you are
more confident when singing karaoke? Is it the best way for you to
improve your confidence?

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16

9. There are many kinds of entertainment now, which one do you like
best? Can you explain it dearly, please?

TO PIC 11; M AKW G FKIFJVBS
W hen making new friends, there are usually
three parts to the conversation y o u will have
with your new friend.
T h e first is the greeting. In this part, you and
your new friend will greet each other and tell
each other your names.
T h e second part is the conversation. Sometimes the conversation is a
small talk, and some times the conversation is about important matters,
such as business. A "small talk" means that the conversation is about
matters that are not very important. W hen conversing with your new
friend, it is customary to give information about ypur family, your work, or
you will talk about any matter that is important to you and your new
friend.
T h e third part of the conversation is the leave-taking. In this part, you tell
your new friend that you are happy to meet him and that you must end
the conversation.
1 hope w e will have more and more friends thanks to our ways of
behaviour.
C F
VOCABULARY U P

. □

1. greeting fgri:tinJ ( n £ y
loi chao hoi ai

Ex:
Please send my greetings to your family
Xin vui Jdng gCri ten chao cua toi den gia dinh ban nhe.
2. customary [’kOstameri] (a):
usual
Ex:
Is it customary to tip waiters in your country?
O nuoc ban, ngudi ta co tbudng cho hau ban ti&n boa bay khong?

.0

QUESTIONS FO B DISCUSSION

m O b you enjoy meeting new people? W hat are some good things to
ask someone you just met? What are som e things you shouldn't ask
people you just met?
2. Is it O K to ask a person's age in your country?

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3. Are you nervous when you are introduced to someone new? What
are some ways to overcome being nervous about meeting new
people?
4. ’ About how m any new people do you meet a week? What kind of
people do you like to meet?
5. Where are some good places to meet people? How important are
first impressions to you?

6. What do you do rf you forget the name of someone you’ve just been
introduced to?
7. How do you “w in p e o p le 's he a rt”! Have you ever won anyone’s
heart?
8. What are the advantages of winning others’ affection? What happens
if people around you hate you?
9. W hy should we be a good listener and not talk much about
ourselves? W hat do you think about those who are talkative? Are you
tollrotniAO

¡Hlffi
B8L/

Camping is a very popular activity to all
Vietnamese pupils and students. On special
occasions such as the Teacher’s Day, the
Anniversary
of T h e
Ho
Chi
Minh
Communist
Youth
Union
or
the
Independence
Day,
they usually
go

nping is a great
w ay to spend time with classmates. However, sometimes at weekends
or on holidays, I go camping with m y family and close friends. In most
cases, I look for a campsite that has a lot of shade from the sun, is near
a river or on the hill, and has a good spot to pitch a tent
Th e most interesting time is when the camp-fire is built. After dinner, we
all sit around the fire and telLstones, sing songs or play games together.
Thanks to these activities, our relation is closer. Moreover, we can forget
ail tiredness of our daily life.
W hen you have enough free time, you should go camping to feel its real
merest.

ffotr T o S p o o k English W eil


V O C A B U L A R Y T IP
1.
2.
3.
4.

to encamp:
a campsite:
shade [I'eid] (n)
a spot (n) =
Ex:
My home is in a remote spot.
Quê toi à mot noi hèo lânh.
5. to pitch =

to set up camp
a place to encamp
an area of darkness
a place

to build, to set up

QUESTIONS FO R DISCUSSION
1. Do you like cam ping? If yes, how often do you do that? 0 ?
2. W hat camping opportunities are available in and around your
hometown?
3. W hat should w e prepare for a camping trip? How long does it usually
take you to prepare for it?
4. Do you have to make a campsite reservation? How do you make it?
5. Suppose your are preparing to go camping a couple of days in a
famous place like Mui Ne, how can you reserve a campsite at one of
these locations or one of your own choice?
6. W hen going camping, do you always avoid polluting the
environment? W hat are some commonsense rules for keeping safe
while camping?
7. Are there any restrictions on what you can do and bring into the park
in our city? W hich park in our city do you like best?
8. W hat activities are most popular in a camping trip in Vietnam? Which
activity do you like best? W h y do you like it?
9. W ho do you prefer to go camping with between your friends and your
family m em bers? W h ic h ca m p in g trip is unforgettable in y o u r
life?
V*10. W hat can you draw from today’s discussion?

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w w w .f a c e b o o k .c o m /b o i d u o n g h o a h o c q u y n h o n


TO PIC 13s SIJPKBW ABKETS
In .order to satisfy the need of shopping in a big
city, supermarkets have com e into existence
with their ever-increasing number, and shopping
supermarkets is no longer a “m o d e ’ to city
dwellers. It is a m ust in a m odem city like
H C M C . I also like shopping at a supermarket,
and I usually go to the supermarket once or
twice a w eek to buy things I need.
Since I do a lot of shopping, I usually need a shopping cart to cany
everything. 1 first stop by the ready-food counter to pick up som e food 1
like. Th e n , I look for som e fruits and vegetables in the produce section,
but I make sure they are fresh. M y roommates like milk, so 1 swing by
the dairy section and grab a few boxes of milk. Also, there are times
when l do not have much time to cook, so I usually pick up som e frozen
food. If the store is out of stock of any of the items I need, then I drop by
a different supermarket on m y w ay hom e. I generally pay with cash at
the checkout counter.
Supermarkets are really convenient for us now. O nce we come into any
supermarket, we can find almost everything we want there. It does not
take us much time to go to different stores. Moreover, goods of nearly all
kinds are displayed on open shelves, so we can choose whatever we
want and take them to the checkout counter.
Thanks to supermarkets, our lives seem to be easier. I hope more and
more supermarket are opened near our community so that w e do not
waste time on shopping.

V O C A B U L A R Y T IP
quay thipc àn làm s in
1. ready-food counter:
to move back and forth
2. to swing:
Ex
The car swung sharply round the comer
to take quickly
3. to grab
The cat grabs the mouse
^
Ex
4. frozen food:
thi>c an dong b=mh
5. checkout counter:
q u ly tinh tien

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OL ESTIOIVS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Which shops do you often visit? How often you go shopping? Who do
ft?
you often go with? W hy? D o you find it interesting to go shopping?
shopping your hobby?
2. How do you spend your money on shopping? Are you willing to
spend a lot of money on shopping? Do you have any budget for
shopping?

3. Have you ever gone shopping for fun? And what do you Iflce doing
there? If you buy faulty goods, what will you do with it?
4. W hat is the difference between “g o s h o p p in g ” and “g o to the
m a rk e t? W ho has a higher demand for shopping, man or wom an? Is
it true that only women are interested in shopping?
5. in your opinion, when does shopping activity become busiest? What
are reasons for supermarkets to boom?
. What do you think of the competition among manufacturers in our city
now? What do you think about prices of commodities displayed and
sold in supermarkets?
7. W hat are main commodities sold in the marts, domestic or imported
products? What do you think of the iifdrig of imported commodities?
8. W hat should the government do to help local manufacturers to
compete with foreigners?

6

9. What do comment on the supermarkets in our city? Between
traditional markets and supermarkets, which one do you prefer?
W h y?

TOPIC 14; THE

OH THE C O m T R Y SID F?
As we see, more and more people are
coming to big cities to live or earn their
living now. Although I am living and
working in H C M City, I prefer to live in
the countryside.

First of ail, most cities now are
polluted. Th e smoke from factories, industrial waste and noise spoil the
environment seriously. Moreover, many people drop litter everywhere.
Then, traffic jams happen all the time causing m e a lot of trouble.
Another problem is that the sanitary system does not work very well; as
a consequence, streets are flooded whenever it rains heaviiy. Also, city
people lose their touch with nature. Last but not least, human

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relationship is not good, and social life is sometimes complicated
because of crimes, social evils, or unemployment.
On the contrary, in the countryside, life is very peaceful, and people are
too. Moreover, country people treat one another quite well. T h e y are
always very hospitable and wiling to help others. Moreover, the
countryman can live with nature and enjoy its real beauty.
In short, although the standard of living in the countryside is not high and
it lacks schools, hospitals, or entertainment activities, I still prefer to live
in it.
Jfc"
V O C A B U L A R Y TIP
chatthal cong nghiep
1. industrial waste:
to leave rubbish
2. to drop litter
3. sanitary system:
he thong thoat niroc

4. as a consequence: ['lonsikwansj
^asa result
to overflow
5. to flood [fiDd]
Ex:
Mekong Delta is flooded every year.
Chinese motorcycles flood the Vietnamese market.
6. to lose s.o's touch with s.tft / s.o else:
7. standard of Irving:
8. hospitable fhuspitabf] (a):
mind

thfeu ti£p xuc, lien lac
material comfort
having an open

QUESTIONS FOR MSCIJSSIOM
3 i!
1. Where were you born? Have you ever lived in a rural area? What are
the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country?
2. Do you like countrymen? What are their characteristics? What do you
think about students coming from provinces?
3. Have you ever taken part in the ‘ Greer? Sum m er Volunteer
Campaign”” in remote country? What do think about it?
4. If you have a chance to work in the rural, are you wilting to take it? If
you want to get married, which one will you choose - a wife (a
husband) coming from the countryside or from a big city?
S. Do you think rural men are more honest than urban ones? What do
you think of Saigonese? What are their characteristics?
p i What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city?

Do you think jiving in the big city, mart becomes a robot? Why/why
A* not?

22


7. Nowadays, w h y do not m any students from provinces, after
graduating, w ant to com e back to their provinces to work? Do you
think this m atter makes the gap between the rural and the urban
areas bigger and bigger?
8 . T o you, what is the main gap between the rural and the urban in our
country? If you w ere President, what would you do to fill this gap?
9. C a n you guess how rural areas in our country will be in ten years’
tim e? W h a t should the governm ent do to speed up the process of
urbanization?

TO PIC 15; T H E IM PORTANCE O F B R E A K FA ST
T h e first meal of the day, breakfast, is actually
the most important one. However, this meal is
often ignored or neglected by m any people in the
mad rush to m ake it to the workplace. Since the
time gap between the last food w e eat like dinner
or supper and the next one like breakfast is
rather long, skipping breakfast can seriously
affect our health.
According to experts, breakfast boosts our brain-power, keeps us slim
and lifts our mood. It is not advisable to m anage on a cup of tea and a
couple of biscuits till lunchtime. Ensure that you and your family
m em bers have a proper breakfast, which will supply you the required
energy to start your day well. Th e re are different choices for breakfast

items. W hile som e swear by toast and egg variety, others go in for
porridge, milk and cornflakes, noodles, pasta, bacon or other options.
Because of being busy, m any people have breakfast out, but I usually
cook breakfast for myself.
Cooking breakfast can be fun if we enjoy it, and making food for
ourselves is even better. I usually cook eggs for m y breakfast. First, l
warm up the stove and then beat the eggs in a bowl, i prefer scrambled
eggs, but I can m ake just about any type. 1 warm up the oil, and I pour
the eggs in a frying pan. I use a spatula to mix and turn over the eggs
O n ce the eggs are done, 1 remove them from the pan and serve myself, I
usually enjoy it with a loaf and som e salad. B y this way, I can save a
little m oney because eating out is expensive now. In the future, I will
learn to cook m ore types of breakfast so that I can change it every day.

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