SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER

IFS A
SPEAKING
SPEAKING 1
VOCABULARY
I have a passion for ... có đam mê với điều gì
I’m particularly interested in ... đặc biệt thích cái gì
I’m quite good at ... khá giỏi cái gì
I’m not so good at ... không giỏi cái gì

ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES (Tính từ mô tả cảm xúc, trải nghiệm)
great (a) tuyệt vời
boring (a) nhàm chán
rewarding (a) đáng làm (công việc)
exciting (a) hứng thú, làm say mê
challenging (a) đầy thử thách
interesting (a) thú vị
attractive (a) hấp dẫn, thu hút
amazing (a) làm kinh ngạc

PRACTICE 1
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the questions.
1. What are your best skills and abilities?
2. What skills do you want to learn?
3. Would you like to learn anything new in the future?
4. Is there a job you would really like to do in the future?

PHRASES FOR INTRODUCING A TOPIC (Cụm từ dùng để giới thiệu chủ đề)
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
Today, I’m going to talk about ...
I’m going to present ...
Speaking of ..., I would like to talk about ...

PRACTICE 2

Describe your dream job

You should say:
VOCABULARY
- what this job would be
substantial career advancement (n)
- where you would work thăng tiến đáng kể
- which qualifications you would need diplomatic (a) thuộc về ngoại giao
- and explain why you would like to have this job most
enhance (v) nâng cao
disseminate (v) truyền bá
enviable income (n) mức lương mơ ước
pursuit (n) sự theo đuổi -> pursue (v)
MODEL ANSWER
Well, speaking of a dream job, I’ve had always wanted to become an English teacher.
My major is English and I’m also learning how to disseminate knowledge to others in an effective
way. Therefore, teaching English would be a suitable option, from which I can benefit a lot. In my
opinion, you will always succeed if you do what you love. Besides, as I’m quite patient with kids,
there won’t be much difficulty in teaching them. Although it can be challenging for the first time,
the experience will always be rewarding.
Practically, English is an international language, which requires one’s pursuit of this language, if
he or she wants to make substantial career advancements. In my country, where English is not
a mother tongue, the demand for learning it is increasing. People learn English out of
communicative, academic, diplomatic and other considerations. In fact, numerous parents have
invested a lot of money for their children to learn English, in the hope of a better future for them.
If I try to enhance my knowledge and teaching ability over time, I believe that I will have more
students and have an enviable income.

SPEAKING 2
STRUCTURES TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF (Cấu trúc dùng để giới thiệu bản thân)
1. When talking about names: Khi nói về tên
My name is ...
I’m ...
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IFS A
You can call me ...
2. When talking about jobs: Khi nói về nghề nghiệp
I’m a/an ...
I’m currently working at …
I have been working as a/an ... at ...
3. When talking about nationality and current address: Khi nói về quốc tịch và nơi ở hiện tại
I’m now living in …
I’m from ... / I live in ...
I was born in ..., but I live in ...
4. When talking about hobbies: Khi nói về sở thích
I like / love / enjoy / prefer
I dislike / don’t like / don’t enjoy / don’t prefer
My all-time favourite (school subject, actor, sport, ...) is ...
5. When talking about family: Khi mô tả về gia đình, bạn bè
I have ... brothers and sisters
My best friends are ... / I have ... close friends
6. When talking about daily activities: Khi mô tả về các hoạt động hằng ngày của bản thân
In my free time, / In my leisure time, / In my spare time, I like/enjoy ...
After school, I often ...
7. When talking about plans in the future: Khi dự định hay có kế hoạch làm gì
In the future, I’d like to ...

SPEAKING 3
PRACTICE 1
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A

Describe a festival / celebration you enjoy

VOCABULARY
You should say:
gather around (v) quây quần
- when it is celebrated
- why it is celebrated Vietnamese square cake (n) bánh chưng

- what people do on that day dried candied fruit (n) mứt

- what you do on that day yellow apricot blossoms (n) hoa mai

family reunion (n) sum họp gia đình peach blossoms (n) hoa đào

MODEL ANSWER
I would like to talk about the Lunar New Year festival, also known as the Tet holiday, which is the
occasion expected the most by Vietnamese people every year.
The festival usually lasts for around 3-4 days, and it takes place when a new year comes according
to the lunar calendar. Tet is also an occasion for family reunion. When Tet comes around the
corner, most Vietnamese people return to their hometown to gather around with their family
members.
Many Vietnamese people prepare for Tet by cooking special traditional food which includes
Vietnamese square cake, or dried candied fruit. Traditionally, every household is decorated by
yellow apricot blossoms in the central and the southern parts of Vietnam, or peach blossoms in
the north.
There are some common things that people do during this festival. Children will receive lucky
money in the red envelopes from adults as a way to give them wishes for the new year. People
often visit their relatives and friends to wish them all a happy new year. In addition, people also
visit temples and pagodas to wish for a better year to come for their families.
The new year festival is so important to me and also to all Vietnamese citizens. The reason is
because we get more days off from work and study, and therefore we have more time to spend
with our families. It is also a great time to think about what we have done in the previous year,
and to make plans for the upcoming year.

Follow-up questions
1. How do people in Vietnam celebrate Tet festival?
2. Do you think it is important to celebrate special events?

PRACTICE 2
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IFS A

Describe your favorite free time activitiy

You should say:
VOCABULARY
- what activity it is
exotic (a) lạ, thuộc nước ngoài
- where you do this
- how often you do this absorb (v) chú tâm làm việc gì

- and explain why this is your favourite activity recipe (n) công thức nấu ăn

nightmare (n) ác mộng over the moon: cực kì hạnh phúc

a piece of cake: dễ dàng

MODEL ANSWER
Today I’m going to talk about one of the most interesting activities I have joined in. It’s cooking.
Every day after school, I would hurry home to make a simple but tasty meal for my parents, who
enjoy my food so much.
To some people my age, cooking can be such a nightmare, but my mom has been teaching me
how to cook since I was a little girl, so I find it just a piece of cake. I would say I’m quite a good
cook and I’m proud of this.
I’m best at cooking such Vietnamese traditional food as beef noodles and spring rolls but I also
try making exotic dishes in my free time. When I cook, both my mind and my body are so
absorbed in it that I forget the surroundings. One thing with cooking is that there are thousands
and thousands of recipes to try. You may think you know all the ways of making a certain meal,
but different recipes can prove you wrong. The excitement and nervousness when trying out a
new recipe make cooking never seem boring to me. And I feel over the moon when I see the end
result.

Follow-up questions
1. Do you prefer indoor or outdoor activities?
2. Why do people need to have hobbies?

SPEAKING 4
VOCABULARY
I’m a big fan of ... = like something very much rất thích cái gì
be out of one’s comfort zone ra khỏi vùng an toàn
( thử cái gì đó hoàn toàn mới mẻ)
have a crack at = try / give something a try thử cái gì
relax = unwind thư giãn
blow off some steam giải tỏa căng thẳng
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
recharge one’s battery nạp năng lượng

PRACTICE 1
LEISURE TIME
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the questions.
1. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
2. How much time do you have each week for doing these things?
3. Why do you like doing these activities?
4. How did you start doing this activity at first?
5. Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?

PRACTICE 2

Talk about a new sport or hobby you would like to take up

You should say:
- what it is
- how you would start it
- why you have not started it yet
- and explain what help you would need

VOCABULARY
trousers (n) quần passion (n) niềm đam mê
fascinate (v) thu hút keep fit (v) giữ dáng

MODEL ANSWER
If I get the chance, I would like to start playing football soon.
This is a sport that fascinates me a lot and after 4-5 months when I will finish my high school
graduation, I will start playing this game every Sunday morning. In fact, some of my neighbours
already play this game every evening in a nearby football playground and all I have to do is start
playing with them.
They are very close to me and they’ll definitely welcome me to join their team. I will need to buy
a pair of sports trousers and shoes and spend some money to start playing it.
Although I often watched this game on television or at our local playground, I’ve never played it
myself. Maybe because I was a bit anxious about my performance and skills and that’s why I have
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
not started it yet. I planned to start playing it when I was in grade 9, but because my family had
to move to a new city, I could not start it.
This is a game that fascinates me and since I often watch it on television, I have a great passion
for it. I need to keep fit and stay healthy and I found it would be a great game to do so. That’s
the most important reason I want to start playing football as soon as possible.
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
SPEAKING 5
PRACTICE 1
Discuss these questions with a partner.
1. Where do you like to go shopping?
2. What do you like to buy when you go shopping?
3. How often do you go shopping?

PRACTICE 2

Describe a shop that has opened in your hometown

You should say:
VOCABULARY
- what shop it is
gorgeous (a) lộng lẫy
- what it sells
- when you first started going to this shop feel at home: cảm giác như ở
nhà
- and explain why you like to go to this shop
ambience (n) bầu không khí
attract (v) thu hút
hustle and bustle (n) sự xô bồ, vội vã
space (n) không gian
discount (n) sự giảm giá
unique (a) độc đáo
MODEL ANSWER
Well, a shop that has just opened in my hometown I want to share with you is Cloud cafe, which
is located in the city centre.
This cafe is decorated in an old, traditional style with a lot of bookshelves and attracts many
foreign tourists. I still remember the first time I went there was 3 months ago, which was also
the opening day. The space was so unique with gorgeous paintings and decoration. It really made
me feel at home.
As for the reasons why I really enjoy this place, I have to say because of its warm ambience,
which I haven’t found in other cafes yet. I often go there to escape from the hustle and bustle
of the city. I find it extremely comfortable with a cup of coffee and a small book. And an
interesting thing is if I go there on Saturday nights, I can enjoy some soft music played by their
staff. I am also pleased that the waiters tend to remember their customers and often give me a
small discount. For all these reasons, I would say that I’ll still keep going back there in the future.

SPEAKING 6
PRACTICE 1
Work in pairs and take turns to give your talk about the topic in two minutes.
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
Describe an invention that has changed people's life
You should say:
VOCABULARY
- what the invention is
irreplaceable (a) không thể thay thế
- who invented it
radical (a) đáng kể
- what changes it brought
obsolete (a) lỗi thời = outdated
breakthrough (n) đột phá

MODEL ANSWER
Well, talking about an invention that has changed people's life, I believe the computer is one of
the most important inventions.
Computers have certainly become an irreplaceable part of our everyday life. Thanks to the
introduction of the computer, human life has undergone radical changes. Almost every single
task, from writing a letter to operating an entire production process, can now be easily
completed using computers.
And computers can offer users help with not only their work and study, but their entertainment
activities as well. For example, on a day with bad weather and you just don’t want to go out, you
can stay at home and read novels, comics, watch movies, listen to music or play games - all on
your personal computer.
Another important impact of computers is in the workplace, where many of the old ways of
working have been made obsolete. Almost all factories and businesses are computerized, and it
is suggested that most employees should know how to use computers in order to work more
quickly and effectively.
For all the above benefits it has brought to human life, I strongly believe that the computer which
is a technological breakthrough has changed our lives for the better.

PHRASES FOR EXPRESSING OPINIONS (Cụm từ đưa ra ý kiến, quan điểm cá nhân)
I think ...
I believe ...
I’m sure ...
In my opinion, ...
From my point of view, ...
If you ask me, ...
Personally, ...
To me, ...

PRACTICE 2
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
Now work in pairs and discuss the topic.
COMPANY ADVERTISING
1. How important do you think it is for companies to advertise their products?
2. How do advertisements influence people to buy things?
3. How effective is advertising as a way of persuading people to buy things?
4. Apart from advertising, what other factors can influence people’s decisions to buy things?

SPEAKING 7
VOCABULARY (Từ vựng về thời tiết)
mild (a): ôn hòa, ấm áp to be drenched (to the skin): mưa xối xả
cosy (a): ấm áp, dễ chịu to pour down = to rain heavily: mưa to
chilly = cold (a): lạnh moist and humid (a): ẩm ướt
freezing cold (a): cực kì lạnh
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
gloomy (a): ảm đạm, xám xịt high wind = strong wind (n): gió mạnh
clear (a): trời quang breeze (n): a nice gentle wind: gió nhẹ
sunshine (n): ánh nắng mặt trời heavy snow (n): tuyết dày
dry (a): khô snowstorm (n): bão tuyết
boiling hot / scorching hot (a): cực kì nóng frosty (a): lạnh cóng

PRACTICE
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the questions.
1. What’s the weather like in your country?
2. Does the weather affect your mood?
3. What is your favourite season?
4. Do you think the weather is changing due to global warming?

A: SPEAKING 8
VOCABULARY
home-cooked food (n) đồ ăn nhà làm
ready meals / take-aways (n) đồ ăn làm sẵn
be a fussy eater người kén ăn
have a sweet tooth thích ăn đồ ngọt
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IFS A
have a balanced diet có chế độ ăn uống hợp lí, cân bằng
dine in >< dine out (v) ăn ở nhà >< ăn ở ngoài
delicious / scrumptious / mouth-watering (a) ngon miệng
nutritious (a) bổ dưỡng
nutrient (n) chất dinh dưỡng

PHRASES FOR EXPRESSING LIKES AND DISLIKES (Cụm từ mô tả sự yêu thích/không thích)
LIKES DISLIKES
I like / love / enjoy / prefer ... I really don’t like / love / enjoy / prefer ...
I’m interested in ... I can’t stand ...
I’m really into ... I hate ...
I’m fond of ... I’m not into ...
I’m keen on ... I’m not a big fan of ...

PRACTICE 1
Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions.
1. What kind of food do you like to eat?
2. What kind of new food would you like to try? Why?
3. Are there any types of food you don’t like?
4. Do you like cooking?
5. Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?
SPEAKING THE FORUM CENTER
IFS A
PRACTICE 2
Read the task card and spend one minute preparing your talk.
Take it in turns to speak. Try to speak for two minutes.

Describe a kind of food people eat in a special occasion

You should say:
- when you eat that meal
- how you prepare it
- what ingredients are used to prepare it
- and explain why you enjoy it

VOCABULARY
ordinary food (n) món ăn thông thường green bean (n) đậu xanh
complicated (a) phức tạp = complex soak (v) ngâm

ingredient (n) thành phần wrap (v) gói

meticulous (a) tỉ mỉ memorable (a) đáng nhớ
glutinous rice (n) gạo nếp spiritual life (n) đời sống tinh thần
MODEL ANSWER
So when talking about Vietnamese traditional food, there is a wide range of choices to choose
from. But today I would like to talk about Vietnamese square cake or Banh Chung, which most
Vietnamese people eat during Tet holiday.
Compared with cooking ordinary food, the process of making Banh Chung is much more
complicated and time-consuming because it has lots of ingredients and you have to be careful
and meticulous.
To make Banh Chung, we need glutinous rice, pork meat, and green beans. First we have to
choose and soak the sticky rice in water one night before. After that, rice is wrapped into a
square shape.
Then Banh Chung will be boiled for about 12 hours. This is the most memorable part, we often
gather around the fire with our family members, chatting and eating snacks during the whole
night. No mater how modern the world may become, Banh Chung still plays an important role
in Vietnamese spiritual life during Tet holidays.
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IFS A
SPEAKING 9
PRACTICE 1
HOME TOWN
1. Can you describe the place where you grew up?
2. What places of interest are there in your home town?
3. What kind of food is popular in your hometown?
4. How has your town changed in the last 10 years?
PRACTICE 2

Describe a place of natural beauty that you have visited

You should say:
- when you visited this place
- what kind of scenic features the place had
- what you remember most about the place
- and explain whether you would like to visit the place again

VOCABULARY
overlook (v) nhìn ra, trông ra stroll (v) đi dạo = go for a walk
go sightseeing: đi tham quan fresh air (n) không khí trong lành
landscape (n) cảnh thiên nhiên hospitable (a) hiếu khách

sunrise (n) mặt trời mọc coastal city (n) thành phố biển
MODEL ANSWER
Today I’d like to tell you about a place of natural beauty that I have visited and that is Nha
Trang, which is located in the south of Viet Nam. Every year, it attracts millions of tourists from
all over the world. I went there with my family last summer vacation and we took a trip for 3
days and 2 nights. We stayed at a beautiful hotel that overlooked the sea.
When we were in Nha Trang, we went sightseeing to enjoy the beauty of many beautiful
landscapes such as crystal clear sea water, smooth golden sand and crowded street markets.
We also took part in many activities such as swimming, and go fishing. We got up early to
watch the sunrise and stroll along the beach to enjoy the fresh air.
I also really like the local residents who gave us very a warm welcome. They were very friendly
and hospitable. I would highly recommend everyone should visit Nha Trang because it is a
beautiful coastal city and you’ll definitely have a lot of memorable moments here with your
family.
SPEAKING 10 - REVIEW