Describe an event/activity/skill
GROUP 6 8/2024
Describe an activity you enjoyed doing when you were at primary school
What the activity
why it was your favourite activity
Intentions
Singing a song to people
Sit around the class in free time
Twice a week
People mimic the lyrics & give applauses
Environment: Connect people
Foster supportive spirits among classmates
Realize talents/strengths/weaknesses
Have a sympathy
Enhance unity
Well, during my primary school days, there was one activity that I cherished, ......
Teachers
Encourage Ss to sing
Explore vocal abilities
Sing from different genres of music
Be immerse in the environment
It was a delightful, unforgetable and memorable experience to me
Enrich my musical knowledge
A sense of accomplishment after finishing a song
This singing lesson provides self-confidence and individual talent exploration
Harmonize our voices
Unity in vocals is crucial
Describe something you do regularly to help you study or work
What to do
Have a short break (10-15')
How are you learn it
Regularly having a long and constraint studying hour
Easily to be stressed => having burn out/fatigue/exhaustion
When you do it
In high school
Due to the heavy workload
Adjust & change the learning method
Study more effectively
How you feel about it
An effective method to recharge the batteries
Help to
Stay focused
Improve productivity
Enhance Overall well-being (mental & physical)
Thanks to regular short breaks
Approach exercises with creativity
achieve heightened levels of success in my studying at school
After I applied
Describe an unusual holiday or vacation you went on
When and where
What you did
why it was unusual
Last summer
At first, went to the center of Hanoi
Our sense of direction failed us,
making us completely lost in Ba vi
Found a wooden homestay nestled amidst of valley
Rest for one night
Discovered nature - a serene & tranquil landscapes
As the nightfall, gather around the campfire
Exchange stories with newfound neighbors
Sang for each other and played board games
Vibrant ambiance in the campsite
observing mesmerizing nature heightened our sense of adventure
Broadened our horizons
I embarked on a one-in-a-life-time journey
Classmates
Initially, we were a little bit panicked
Then, we calmed down
we decided to embrace our unexpected misadventure
Cultures & Customs here
Absence from parents
Prove our maturity, independence
and also the responsibility for our decisions
Describe something you do regularly to help you study or work
What it is
How are you learn it
When you do it
how you feel
One activity
Regularly engage in
Mimicking the pronuncation of English speakers
To enhance my study performance
I have found that
watching videos on social platforms
like Youtube videos or FB
tremendously helpful in improving my English
pronunciation and lexico range
I observe
how English speakers articulate words
their pronunciation
I am able to grasp
their nuances
intonations
accents
This provides me
the tools to help me
communicate more naturally
sound like native people
This is an effective method
boost my ability to convey my thoughts
more confident when speaking English
Elevate my marks in English subject
Describe a time when you were very busy
When this time was
What you did to deal with the situation
how you felt about being so busy
I was sick before an important exam
So I would like to tell you the most significant challenge
Try to recover/overcome this
Do regular exercises
Have a healthy diet
Being sick is undoubtedly stressful
prioritize doing exercise
jogging
running
Help me regain overall well-being
boost my energy
Maintain a quality sleep
No caffein late day
reduce irregular daytime naps
Positive outcomes
By incorporating regular exercise
and maintaining a healthy diet
Recover quickly
Performed well in my exam
Thanks to this busy experience, which is a turning point to me
Taught me about
The importance of self-care
prioritizing my well-being
especially in demanding times
Describe a life goal that you have had for a long time
What is the goal
Become a guitarist
From a small child
Have a passion
When I was a kid
Was appealed & fascinated by my grandpa's musical talents
He has a depth and width reservoir of knowledge in guitar/ an extraordinary guitarist
He creates mesmerizing melodies
My ultimate goal is to becoming a professional guitarist
Motivation
renowned singer/producer American idol
Idol
His iconic performances captivated my heart and soul
His performances propel my desire to master the intricate art of playing guitar
Want to be popular
Motivate me
Recharge my batteries
Improve my confidence & shrink the anxiety in my soul
More friendships
How can you learn
From grandpa's lessons
First teacher
To achieve my dream
Gain experience from my peers
I have embarked on unwavering self-study journey
Spend countless hours immersing myself in watching lessons on Youtube
Learn various genres and styles
A successful bussinessman
To Achieve the success in the realm of bussiness
You need require and utilize a combination of
Determination
Money
Knowledge
Skill
I had a longstanding aspiration/dream of becoming a renowned
Stem from awareness of money value
The idea of owning a lot of money
Be wealthy to purchase a penhouse for my parents
starting and running a reputable enterprise
How?
Learn from online courses/parents' experiences
Aim for top-tier bussiness university in the next year
Immerse myself in bussiness areas
gain expertise
I envision myself networking with bussiness professionals
By consistently embark on a journey of getting into the top bussiness university
I hope to realize my goal
become a successful businessman
make positive impact to bussiness world
How long
When I was a little kid
I was sparked by a liveshow that I watched as a young kid
Strengths
The designer has the creativity, innovation & artistry
He has the passion for design
It inspired me to pursuit this dream of becoming a designer
I had a longstanding aspiration/dream of becoming a renowned/famous designer
How you will achieve it
Learn through teachers at school
technical skills
design principles
I study with online courses on the Internet
Immersing myself in workshops and design projects
Thanks to it, I can expand my knowledge & find job opportunities
Explain why you want to achieve this goal
Gain recognition
Everyone will look at me with respect eyes
Have achievements in this field
Describe something you did or you need to do quickly in a short time
What it was
Visit relatives/family during Tet holidays
In a short amount of time
It happened last year, when I was visiting my grandparents
Why it had to so quick
Tet holidays are one of the most important occasions for familiy gatherings
To manage the journey in such a tight timeline
Purchase a plane ticket
Expensive
Don't want to miss the chance
Quickly packed my bags
Hit the road
No heavy traffic or roadblocks
How you feel about it
A mix of happiness and touchy when coming back home
At the same time
I worried about my grandparents' health
When I saw them
I feel relief when I saw their smiling faces
We spent wonderful time together
Sharing stories, chatting, enjoy the New Year's Eve moments & fireworks
It was a memorable/unforgettable memory to me
It reinforced my family relationships
Describe your daily routine that you enjoy
QS
What it is
• When and why you started to follow this routine
• Whether it is easy to follow this routine
And explain why you enjoy having this routine in your daily life
PART 3
Should children have learning routines?
• What are the advantages of children having a routine at school?
• Does having a routine make kids feel more secure at school?
• How do people's routines differ on weekdays and weekends?
• What daily routines do people have at home?
• What are the differences between people's daily routines now and in the last 15 years?
Describe an event/experience
Opening
I’m going to/ I would like to talk about…
If my memory serves me right, it was the first time I…
As I recall,…
It was a rewarding experience because…
That was pretty much a milestone in my life
The experience/ event taught me that…
LANGUAGE FEATURES
ADJ
NOUNS
IDIOMS
●Setting (n) môi trường, hoàn cảnh, điều kiện
●White noise (n) tiếng tạp âm, tiếng ồn tự nhiên
●Buzzing atmosphere (adj-n) bầu không khí nhộn nhịp
●Pattern (n) ở đây có thể hiểu là lộ trình, kiểu mẫu thường làm theo
●Amenity: sự thoải mái, tiện nghi
●recollection (n) sự hồi tưởng, kí ức
●A delegate (n) = a representative (n): đại biểu
●A red-letter day (idiom): ngày trọng đại
●an eye-opening moment: khoảnh khắc khiến ta sáng tỏ, nhận ra điều gì đó
●eye-opening (adj) mang tính mở mang tầm mắt
●to be no exception (adj): không phải là ngoại lệ
●Fatal /ˈfeɪ.təl/ (adj) chết người
●Buzzing atmosphere (adj-n) bầu không khí nhộn nhịp
●Inner-saboteur /ˌsæb.əˈtɜːr/: kẻ đâm lén từ bên trong (ý là điều làm hại mình)
ADV
●Ironically: một cách trớ trêu
●Procrastination: sự chần chừ, lần lữa
●Coping mechanism: cơ chế đối phó (của mỗi người trước một vấn đề nào đó)
●Normality: sự bình thường
Wake-up call: sự thức tỉnh, cuộc gọi khiến bản thân giác ngộ điều gì đó
●Intriguing (adj): thú vị, lý thú
●Eye-opening (adj): mở mang tầm mắt
●Chief (adj): chính, chủ yếu
Delighted (adj): vui vẻ, phấn khích
VERBS
●Give st a try (v): thử làm gì đó
●A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (idiom): cơ hội chỉ một lần trong đời
●Stand a chance to V (collocation): có cơ hội làm gì
●to give an appreciation for: khiến ai trân trọng
●to go over one’s head: (cái gì) lướt qua trí não ai (không thể nhớ được)
●to give someone a hard time: khiến ai gặp khó khan
●To mimic: nhại lại, làm cho giống, sao chép lại
●To mirror: sao chép, bắt chước lại cái gì đó
●Long for: ngóng chờ, ao ước về
●To be easy on one’s self: dễ dãi với ai đó
EVENT
SETTING
PEOPLE
HAPPENED
The backdrop = background of the story
LANGUAGE
When I was working/living in......
I was living/working/traveling in....at that time..
I used to live/work in......
I would always/often......
SENTENCE STRESS
VERBS
NOUNS
ADJECTIVE
GRAMMAR
PAST PERFECT
The event happened in March of 2022
I had moved there a few years earlier
PERSONALITY
He was so talkative, ruded, thick-skinned, inconsiderate
She was quite quiet, polite, gentle, considerate, thoughful, sensitive,..
She was witty, smart, quick on her feet, full of beans,...
I was doing.... when .....happened
I was eating the soup, when I saw a hair
I did A, I did B, and then I did C
I wish I had known....., then I wouldn't have gone
Looking back, I wouldn't do that again
Describe a risk you took that you thought would lead to a terrible result but ended up with a positive result
PART 3
How should parents teach their children what a risk is?
What risks should parents tell their children to avoid?
Why do some people like to watch risk-taking movies?
What kinds of sports are dangerous but exciting?
Why do some people enjoy dangerous sports?
Who is more interested in taking risks, the young or the old?
QS
What risk you took
What bad thing you thought might happen
Why you decided to take this risk
And explain why the result of taking this risk was positive
SAMPLE
INTRODUCTION
SETTING
HAPPENED
LEARNING
CONCLUSION
Well, to begin with, I'd like to say that I'm generally someone who prefers to play it safe.
I've always been quite cautious in my decisions and haven't really had many opportunities to take risks.
However, there was one instance where I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take a small risk.
It was during my solo trip to Europe, where I took trains to travel alone from Spain to Switzerland, Germany, and Poland in one week.
I never thought this would happen in my life.
I just saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I grabbed my suitcase and went.
Initially, I hesitated and almost talked myself out of it because traveling alone was quite daunting for me.
But then, I thought to myself, why not give it a try?
Even if I faced challenges, it could be a valuable learning experience.
So, despite my reservations, I decided to take the plunge and embark on the journey.
The days leading up to the trip were nerve-wracking, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I might encounter problems.
However, as I started my travels and navigated my way through different countries, I realized that I was capable of more than I thought.
During the trip, I faced some disaster events, like missing trains and losing money due to my procrastination.
Yet, I also discovered many strengths within myself. I became stronger, quicker, smarter, and learned how to deal with situations when I was alone.
Taking that risk not only boosted my self-confidence but also taught me the importance of pushing past my comfort zone.
It showed me that sometimes, it's worth taking a leap of faith, even if the outcome is uncertain.
Overall, it was a positive experience that encouraged me to be more open to new challenges in the future.
DESCRIBE AN ACTIVITY
WHAT
HOW
CHALLENGES
It's hugely popular
It's all the rage
It's really trendy now
It tends to be popular with...(older people/young people)
It's not the most popular/interesting (games/skill/..) in the world, but...
You need patience/persistence/dedication
It's not for everyone
It takes a while to pick it up
It's a piece of cake/a doddle
There is nothing to it
The difficult/tricky thing about it...
The biggest challenge/obstacle/hurdle with this is....
X poses a few challenges
It's challenging, but it worths it
LANGUAGE FEATURES
PHRASES
Have one’s energy boosted (n)
/ˈen.ə.dʒi/ /buːsted/ Làm cho năng lượng tăng lên
Recharge one’s battery (v)
/ˌriːˈtʃɑːdʒ/ /ˈbæt.ər.i/ Nạp năng lượng
AJD
Hectic (adj)
/ˈhek.tɪk/ Vội vã, hối hả
Leisure pursuit (n)
/ˈleʒ.ər/ /pəˈsjuːt/ Hoạt động trong giờ giải lao
Daily routine (n)
/ˈdeɪ.li/ /ruːˈtiːn/ Thói quen hàng ngày
Be a drain on one’s enegery (v)
/dreɪn/ /ˈen.ə.dʒi/ Lấy hết năng lượng của ai
VERBS
Do wonders for (Sb/St) (v)
/ˈwʌn.dər/ Rất tốt/có ích cho ai/cái gì
Occupied with (adj)
/ˈɒk.jə.paɪd/ Bận rộn với việc gì
NOUNS
Agility (n)
/əˈdʒɪl.ə.ti/ Sự nhanh nhạy
Sedentary lifestyle (n)
/ˈsed.ən.tər.i/ /ˈlaɪf.staɪl/ Thói quen ngồi nhiều, ít vận động
Physical/Mental health (n)
/ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl/ /ˈmen.təl/ /helθ/ Sức khỏe thể trạng/tâm trí
The rat race (n)
/ræt/ /reɪs/ Guồng quay mệt mỏi của cuộc sống
Improve social relationships (v)
/ɪmˈpruːv/ /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ /rɪˈleɪ.ʃən.ʃɪp/ Cải thiện các mối quan hệ xã hội
Prevalent (adj)
/ˈprev.əl.ənt/ Phổ biến
Catch sight of (Sb/St) (v)
/kætʃ//saɪt/ /əv/ Bắt gặp hình ảnh
Team sport (n)
/tiːm/ /spɔːt/ Môn thể thao đồng đội
Spectacular and impressive (adj)
/spekˈtæk.jə.lər/ /ænd/ /ɪmˈpres.ɪv/ Ngoạn mục và đầy ấn tượng
Describe an activity you usually do that wastes your time
QS
What it is
When you usually do it
Why you do it
And explain why you think it wastes your time.
PART 3
How do you balance life and work?
allocate my time/ prioritize, assign
Will you continue doing something when you are aware that it’s a waste of time?
Procrastinate (v)/delay
What kinds of things make people feel pressured?
Describe a difficult task that you completed at work or study that you felt proud of
• what the task was
• how you completed it
• why the task was difficult
why you were proud of the completion of the task
Describe something you do to keep fit and healthy
WHAT
CYCLING
WHEN
go to school
have free time
have been cycling since i was small
WHAT BENEFITS
Mental health
physical health
IMPROVE overall well-being
WHEN I GROW UP, I REALIZE THAT IT'S useful/beneficial
The path going to school is too far
My parents COULDN'T take me to school => THAT'S WHY
=> I need to cycle to school independently
boost my energy
more positive
it's good for my muscles, my heart
< avoid diseases
WHO
Normally, i cycle alone
Sometimes, I have friends accompany with me
VOCABULARY
STAY IN SHAPE
While - gossipping with friends, talk about daily lives
explore new routes/discover new ways to school
Describe a contest/competition you would like to participate in
WHAT
ENGLISH CONTEST WHICH IS ORGANIZED
EVERY YEAR IN HD
WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN
MYSELF
To challenge myself
Test my limitation
acquire knowledge
make friends with talented students in HD
BENEFITS
improve/enhance language skills
Boost your confidence in speaking and writing
grammar, vocabulary, pronunication
help SS develop creativiy & their ideas for writing
VOCABULARY
competition, contest, event
Participate in = join in
for high school students
Prepare
Pass schools' round
prepare for test format
practice speaking, writing or mock interviews
I wish I could participate this contest in the future & win a prize for my efforts