ENGLISH CLUB FOR LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023

SPEAKING TOPICS

Topic 1: What are major problems facing teenagers nowadays? Talk about them.
Topic 2: Should we preserve customs and traditions? Why or why not?
Topic 3: Should we preserve festivals in Việt Nam? Why or why not?
Topic 4: Should children be required to help with the housework? Why or why not?
Topic 5: Talk about what makes a healthy lifestyle.
Topic 6: Describe a tourist attraction in your hometown.
Topic 7: Talk about an unforgettable experience in your life.
Topic 8: What are positive and negative aspects of living in the city? Talk about them.
Topic 9: What are the benefits of doing volunteer work? Talk about them.
Topic 10:What benefits can tourism bring to people? Talk about them.
Topic 11:Talk about effects of technology advancements on our life.
Topic 12:Do you love playing sports? Talk about your favourite one.
Topic 13:Children play video games more than do outdoor sports. What do you think
about this?

You have five minutes to brainstorm what you are going to say. You should prepare notes
instead of full sentences and try to speak as naturally as possible. Your talking time, which
includes your responses to the judges’ questions, should not exceed 7 minutes.
Good luck!
Suggested questions:
Topic 1: What are major problems facing teenagers nowadays? Talk about them.
- As a student, do you have any stress and pressure?
- What do you do to get over?
Topic 2:
Topic 3: Should we preserve customs and traditions? Why or why not?
- Do your family have any customs and traditions?
- What do you do to preserve them?
Topic 3 Should we preserve festivals in Viet Nam? Why or why not?
- Do you often go to festivals in our country?
- Which one do you often go to and what do you like most about it?
Topic 4: Should children be required to help with the housework? Why or why not?
- Do you often do the housework? What housework do you often do in your home?
- Do you think family member should share the housework equally? Why?
Topic 5: Talk about what makes a healthy lifestyle.
- Do you think that your lifestyle is healthy? Why or why not?
- If your best friend has an unhealthy lifestyle, what do you do to help him/her?
Topic 6: Describe a tourist attraction in your hometown.
- Do you and your friends often come to that place? What do you do to preserve it?
- As a student, what do you do to attract more tourists to your hometown?
Topic 7: Talk about an unforgettable experience in your life.
- Do you think that we need experiences to grow up?
- What do you do to overcome bad experiences in your life?
Topic 8: What are positive and negative aspects of living in the city? Talk about them.
- Which do you prefer: living in the city or living in the country? Why?
- Do you think living in the city is only suitable for youngsters? Why or why not?
Topic 9: What are the benefits of doing volunteer work? Talk about them.
- Have you ever done any volunteer work? When and where did you do it?
- Should children do volunteer work? Why or why not?
- If your friends never do volunteer work, what will you do to persuade them to do it?
What benefits can tourism bring to people? Talk about them.
- Do you like travelling? Where and when do you often go?
- What do you think about bad aspects of tourism?
- As a student, what can you do to minimize its limitations?
Topic 10: Talk about effects of technology advancements on our life.
- As a student, do you get any benefits from technology advancement?
- Do you have a smartphone? What would you do if your parents didn’t allow you to use it?
Topic 11: Do you love playing sports? Talk about your favourite one.
- Why should we play sports?
- If your best friend never does sports, what will you do to persuade him or her to play with you?
Topic 12: Children play video games more than do outdoor sports. What do you think about
this?
- Do you play video games? How often do you play? Does it affect your study?
- If you have a friend who is addicted to video games, what will you do to help him/her
With an education that emphasizes achievement and grades, many students face academic pressure and
stress. In the long run, this condition causes children to lose joy and excitement when learning and are
at risk of psychological and physical problems. Statistics show that more than 80% of students in our
country face pressure in the learning process The current state of academic pressure Learning pressure
is a problem that any student faces. Pressure is actually the pent-up of negative emotions such as
stress, fatigue,... and at the same time a part of life that motivates each individual to strive to overcome
difficulties and achieve high in learning. When there is pressure, students will be motivated and
increase their concentration level when studying. From there, you can memorize knowledge well and
pass the exam in the best way. However, if the pressure of studying goes on for a long time and you do
not know how to adjust, both physical and mental health are faced with socks ...

1. How do you celebrate festivals in your country?

Woah, isn’t this tricky? Let’s see… Each festival is quite one of a kind, but I always make a
point of having outings or small dates with my extended family and close-knit friends. We’d
enjoy festival food and do some common rituals that vary for each festival. So, take Mid-
autumn festival as an example, every year I would go to the Old Quarter to see the different
toys specifically made for this holiday.

 one of a kind (a): độc nhất vô nhị

 outing (n): họp mặt, gặp mặt
 extended family (n): đại gia đình
 close-knit friend (n): bạn thân
 ritual (n): nghi thức
2. What special food and activities do you have for these festivals?
 understatement (n): nói giảm nhẹ, nói bớt đi
 off the top of my head (phr): bật ra từ trong đầu
 family gathering (n): họp mặt gia đình
 Wandering Soul’s day (n): Lễ Vu Lan
 show appreciation towards (a): thể hiện sự quý
trọng
 departed loved ones (n): người thân đã khuất
 chilled dishes (n): hàn thực (như bánh trôi, bánh
chay)
3. How do you celebrate spring Festivals?
 make a toast with (phr): nâng ly
 of age (phr): đủ tuổi (thường là 18 hoặc 20)
 take this opportunity to do sth (phr): tận dụng cơ
hội làm gì
4. What’s your favorite festival of the year?
  in specific (phr): cụ thể
 treasure (v): trân quý
 family reunion (n): đoàn tụ gia đình
 go with (v): lựa chọn
 abundant (a): rất nhiều
II. Bài mẫu IELTS Speaking Part 2 chủ đề Talk about festival in
Vietnam
1. Đề bài: Talk about festival in Vietnam
Với chủ đề Talk about festival in Vietnam: Talk about festival in Vietnam

Bối cảnh Miêu tả lễ hội

 Tết là dịp lễ quan trọng nhất

 Mọi người được nghỉ khoảng 2 tuần.
của người Việt.
 Đoàn tụ với gia đình: thắp hương bàn thờ,
 Diễn ra vào tháng 1 hoặc tháng
thăm mộ.
2
 Đồ ăn vào dịp Tết: đặc biệt và ngon miệng
 Dịp lễ đoàn tụ
Câu chuyện Cảm nghĩ
 Yêu thích Tết vì đây là dịp được ở bên gia
đình và người thân

 Cả gia đình sẽ chúc Tết, trang  Tránh được sự xô bồ ở thành phố

trí nhà cửa, lì xì, đi chơi  Quên phiền muộn năm cũ để đón bầu không
khí rộn ràng của mùa lễ hội
 Trân trọng những người xung quanh

Setting Description

 most important holiday for  Everyone gets about 2 weeks off.

Vietnamese people.
 Coming back to homeland: worship at the
 Occurs in January or February family altar, visit graves.
 Reunion holiday  Food on Tet holiday
Story Feelings + Reasons
 The whole family will  an opportunity to be with family and loved
exchange greetings, decorate ones
the house, give lucky money,
 Avoid the hustle and bustle of the city
hang out on the streets
 Forget the troubles of the old year to welcome
 the cheery atmosphere of the festive season
 Appreciate people around
3. Sample Speaking: Talk about festival in Vietnam
My favorite holiday is Tet – one of the most important national celebrations in Vietnamese
culture. We celebrate Tet annually in January or February in the Gregorian calendar and it is
Gregorian calendar (n): lịch Dương

 cliché (a): rập khuôn

 intriguing (a): thú vị
 facet (n): khía cạnh
 family altar (n): bàn thờ gia đình
 ancestor (n): tổ tiên
 exquisite (a): rất ngon, tuyệt hảo
 exhilarating (a): phấn khích
 immerse myself in (phr): đắm chìm trong
 distinctive (a): đặc biệt, riêng có
 hustle and bustle (phr): sự xô bồ
 bask in (v): hưởng thụ

company (n): sự bầu bạn

 indispensable (a): không thể thôi

 Oh, absolutely. In fact, I think we do take the word ‘value’ to a whole new
level. Our country has over 8000 festivals every year, some of which are
held at the national level, and some are only local celebrations.
No matter the scale, though, most Vietnamese go to great lengths to ensure that the
traditional customs are celebrated after meticulous planning and preparation. The elders also
make a lot of efforts in passing down the meanings and ceremonies involved in these
festivals to the young generation.

 scale (n) cấp độ

 go to great lengths (phr): cố gắng rất nhiều để làm
điều gì đó
 meticulous (a): cẩn thận, kỹ càng
 pass down (v): truyền lại
2. What’s the difference between the ways festivals are celebrated now and in
the past?
 profound (a): rõ rệt
 formal (a): trang trọng
 critical (a): cần thiết
  unite (v): kết nối
 a multitude of (phr): nhiều
 celebratory ceremony (n): các dịp lễ kỷ niệm
 drastic (a): rõ nét, lớn
 obligatory (a): mang tính bắt buộc
 sheer joy (n): niềm hạnh phúc lớn
3. Do you think it is wrong for young people to not celebrate traditional festival
 stance (n): quan điểm
 approximately (adv): khoảng
 literally (adv): hiểu theo nghĩa đen
 snowed under with (phr): bận rộn
 highlight (v): nhấn mạnh
 cultural heritage (n): di sản văn hóa
 integral (a): cần thiết, không thể thiếu
 hence (): do đó
 in one’s best interest (phr): vì lợi ích của ai đó