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UNIT 1 PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS PART 1 1 Who are you closest to in your family? 2 If you have any brothers or sisters, what things do you enjoy doing together? 3 Who has had the greatest influence on.

UNIT 1: PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS PART 1:

1 Who are you closest to in your family?

2 If you have any brothers or sisters, what things do you enjoy doing together?

3 Who has had the greatest influence on your life so far?

4 Do you have many close friends? What makes a good friend?

5 Do you think you still have the same friends in ten years' time?

6 Do you and your friends share the same interests? Is this a good thing?

7 How do you like to spend yor time with your friends?

8 Would you prefer to spend your free time with your family or with friends? Why?

9 When you have trouble in life, who do you turn to for help -family members or friends?

10 How important is your family to you?

PART 2:

Situation: Your friend is in his/her early 30s He/ She is looking for the love of his/her life

What do you think is the best way to find out the person he/she loves- speed dating, online dating

or dating service?

speed dating

face-to-face interaction -> real people, real feelings

meet various people -> more options

to choose from

good for those don’t have many social relationships

time efficent

-meeting: too short to make accurate judgement

-not romantic -no guarantee you will find the right person

online dating

more convenient than other ways of trying to meet people

not take much time

good for those who are shy

private and confidential

-virtual -> not reliable (can’t trust all the information given)

-increase potential fro identify theft

dating

service

experienced enough to find the right person for you

save time

-cost money

PART 3: The important qualities of an ideal parent

- Responsibility:

o does a good job of upbringing

o tries his/her best to ensure favourable condition for children physical,

psychological and intellectual development

- Sympathy:

o be a good listener

o share trouble and happiness

- Tolerance:

o willing to forgive

o view things from children’s perspective

- Respect:

o treat children as growing people, not as children

o nurture children’s independece

Follow-up questions

1 Many mothers today work and are away from home all day How does this affect her and her family?

2 Would it be better for the family to have less money but have the mother at home ?

3 Why is the number of single mothers increasing nowadays?

UNIT 2: HEALTH AND FITNESS PART 1:

1 What do you do to keep fit?

2 What sports do you play?

3 When did you last play sport?

4 Are you an active person in your free time? What sort of thing do you do?

5 Do you prefer to exercise with other people or on your own? Why?

6 Do you have any unhealthy habits?

7 Do you eat what you like or what is good for health?

PART 2:

Situation: Your mother has just retired She is considering taking up something as a way to keep

fit What do you think is the best choice for her - going to the gym, jogging or doing yoga?

going to the

gym

 instructor and facilities available ->

more effective

 pay to use the facilities -> be motivated

 make new friends

-cost much money -strenous activities – more suitable

to young people

jogging

 cost almost nothing

 simple and easy -has problems with her knees-bad weather condition may affect

the regularity of the activity doing yoga

 calm the mind, strengthen the body

 enhance sleep quality

 suitable to her age

-cost money

PART 3: How to cope with stress

- Healthy lifestyle:

o sport – exercise

o enough sleep

- Social engagement:

o spend time with friends

o join clubs

o do voluntary work

- Positive thinking

o expect good and favourable results

o keep a strong belief in finding a solution to every problem and difficulty

o find the silver lining (every cloud has a silver lining)

- Maintaining a work life balance

o set your priorities

o allocate time appropriately for work (professional life) and other aspects of life (personal life, family life)

Follow-up questions

1 Do you think that life would be dull without stress?

2 In what ways does stress affect our health and life?

3 Some people blame modern life for the increasing amount of stress we suffer What is your point of view?

UNIT 3: THE MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT

PART 1:

1 What kind of music do you like best?

2 Do you prefer listening to live music or recorded music?

3 Who are your favourite singers?

4 Have you got any of their albums?

5 Have you ever seen them live?

6 What kind of films do you like best?

7 Do you prefer to watch films at the cinema or on TV?

8 Do you buy magazines or newspapers regularly? Why (not)?

9 Do you play computer games? What do you think about computer games?

PART 2:

Situation: You are a student It's Saturday evening You would like to enjoy an evening out with

some close friends You wunt lo huve fun with friends but you don't have much money lo spend There are three suggested options: going to the cinema, eating out and singing karaoke Which

do you think is the best choice?

going to the

cinema

 friends like films

 release of the latest film

 discount for students

-cost much money -can’t not talk while the film is on -different tastes in movie genre eating out

 friends enjoy eating out

 much fun together

 not cost much money (share the bill/ go Dutch

-concerned about food safed

singing karaoke  much fun together

 really entertaining

-friends don’t like singing

PART 3: What are the bad impacts of TV on children?

- Poor eye sight:

o too much screen time leads to vision problems: blurred eyes strained eye muscle

o become short-sighted

- Violent behaviours:

o imitate the action of the characters in the films -> likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others

o may become lesssensitive to the pain and suffering of other

o believe violence is the way to resolve conflicts

- Physical academic performance:

o not enough time to study

o stay up late to watch TV -> be less alert during the day + can’t concentrate -> bad results in school work

- Bad effects on the development of other skills

o TV viewing takes away the time children need to develop important skills:

language skills, interpersonal skills, social skills

Follow-up questions

1 Do you think TV is an effective baby sitter?

2 How important is watching TV in another language when you are studying that language?

3 Do you think you can live without TV?

4 How important is it to keep up to date with news and current events?

UNIT 4: HOBBIES PART 1:

1 What are your hobbies?

2 What is your favorite musical instrument?

3 Do you prefer action films or comedies? Why?

4 Do you often read books? Do you think it is important to read novels?

5 What is your favourite song?

6 What kind of TV programmes do you like watching?

PART 2:

1 Situation 1: Someone is going to retire He/she wants to take upa hobby He/she is

considering taling piano lessons, swinming lessons or joining a yoga club In your opinion, which is the best choice?

taking piano lessons  relaxing

 improve memory

- not suitable to his/her age

- cost money taking swimming

lessons

 good for health

 keep him/her in shape

 boost mood

- strenuous activity for his/ her age

joining a yoga club  good for physical and mental

health

 promote sleep quality

 promote healthy eating habits

 boost immune system

2 Situation 2: Your friend, a university student, is planning to join a cub at his universityHe is

considering music club, reading club and movie club In your opinion, which is the best choice? music club  have fun with people with the same

interesting

 develop musical ability

- need money to be equipment

reading

club

 gain new perspectives

 better writing skills

- friend is not fond of reading

movie club  be a part of s.t fun, creative and enjoyable

 help develop artistic ability and analytical

- take much time

- friend doesn’t like film

PART 3:

1 Everyone needs to take up a hobby

- Relief from stress:

Have fun and pleasure in activities not associated with chores and other reponsibilities

Healthy and productive distraction from work or personal troubles

- Educational opportunities:

Gain knowledge through the deelopment of hobbies

Develop skills (reading, composing,…)

- Social interaction:

Create a bond with others who have the same interest

A great way to meet and share experiences with people

Chance to network

- Life enrichment

Be exposed to different worlds other than the world of work

Reduce or eradicate boredom

Self exploration

2 People change their hobbies over time

- Trend:

Follow trend (cross stitching, blogging, Origami)

- Age:

Young people: hobbies that require physical fitness

Old people: relaxing, unchallenging hobbies

- Living standard:

Living standard gets higher -> take up expensive hobbies (car collection, antique

collection) to show status

- Availability of spare time for hobbies:

Busy schedule: hobbies that take little time (swimming, listening to music)

Much spare time: hobbies that require time & regular practice (dacing, making

handicrafts)

Follow-up questions

1 What is the most popular hobby in your country? Do you think it will remain popular in the future?

2 What are the social benefits of hobbies?

3 What is the balance between life and work like in your country? Will there be changes in this balance in the future?

4 Do you think it can be a disadvantage to have too much free time?

UNIT 5: TECHNOLOGY PART 1:

3 How much time do you spend using a computerat work and at home?

4 What do you use the internet for?

5 Has the internet made your job/studies easier?

6 Do you think older people are scared of new technology?

7 Do you think young children should have mobile phones?

PART 2:

Situation: Yow friend has just passed the university entrance exam He/she has been given some

money for establishmenit He is considering buying a mobile phone, a laptop, or a digital

camera What do you think is the best choice?

mobile

phone

 communication

 entertainment

 learning and doing research

 portable

- make phone call & send text messages without internet connection

- small screen + limited memory

- friend alreadly has a mobile phone laptop  more functions than mobile phone

 more options for typing and editing

 easier for making power point presentation

- cost much money

- can’t access the Internet without internet connection

digital

camera

 necessary for students who learn photography skills

- not useful for learning and communication

PART 3:

1 The Internet has made our lives better

- Researching:

Knowledge and information

Ebooks

Videos

- Communicating:

Email, chat, phone call

Dating

- Entertaining:

Music, films, games

- Working, doing business

Telecommuting (working from home)

Internet banking

Advertising

Buying and selling things online

- Education

Learn online

Take exam online

2 Computers have negative affects on our life

Follow-up questions

1 What have been the most significant technological developments of recent years?

2 Does technology help workers or does it make their lfe more difficult?

3 Do you think we are becoming too dependent on technology?

4 Do you think that eventually technology will be able to solve every problenm?

UNIT 6: TRANSPORT PART 1:

3 How do you usually get to work or school?

4 How do people in your cowtry get to where they want to go?

5 Do you often take public transport?

6 What is yor preferred means of getting around?

7 What means of transport do you use when you are in a hurry?

PART 2:

Situation: Your friends, who are a grop of studenis, are planning a trip from Danang to Ho Chi

Minh city,They are considering travelling by train, by car or by plane In your opinion, what is the best choice?

travelling by train  affordable cost for students

 safe

 enjoy the sights

- lack of flexibility (timing can’t be adjusted to individual

requirements) travelling by

plane

 fast -> less tiring & save time ->

more time in HCM city to enjoy

 comfortable

 get tickets form budget airlines

- cost much money

- can’t enjoy the scenery (nothing but the clouds)

travelling by car  flexibility (depart at any time, stop

at anywhere, move at own speed)

 save money

 have a means of transport to get around when in HCM city

- not safe

- tiring

- car sickness

PART 3:

1 What are the most serious transport problems in your country?

- Parking:

not enough parking space

high parking fee

- Public transport:

Infrequent service

Not available in many areas

- Traffic:

Heavy traffic (use private vehicles instead of public transport)

Traffic congestion

- Accidents:

Poor infrastructure (narrow roads, bad road condition)

Poor awareness of road users (exceed the speed limit, drive when they are drunk)

2 How can transport problems be solved?

- Build more roads

To solve traffic congestion & traffic accidents

- Introduce tough environment laws

To reduce traffic accidents

To raise awareness of the public

1 In your opinion, in what ways can governments encourage people to use public transport?

2 Do you think public transport should be free?

3 How do you think transport will change in the next ten years?

4 Do you think we should spend more money on roads or railways?

UNIT 8: THE WORLD AROUND US PART 1:

1 How do you get about mostly? By bus/by bicycle/by car/on foot

2 Where do you do most of your shopping? In an out-of-town hypermarket/ in Local stores/ in a supermarket/ on the Internet

3 Which of the following do you recycle regularly? Newspapers/bottles/aluminium/cans/none of these

PART 2:

Situation: A group of students from England going to take a tour around your country on their

fieldtrip They want to visit different landscapes, organise and enjoy some activities with local people.They want to know more information about the weather in your country

In your opinion, which is the best season for them to carry out their plan: spring, summer, or autumn?

spring  Tet holiday -> various

activities and festivals (watching firework, visiting pagodas, King Hung’s Temple Festival)

 Nice weather – neither too hot nor too cold

 Spectacular scenery (flowers bloom, vegetation looks fresh)

 Best time to know about Vietnamese culture

-Some services: not available during Tet holiday

summer  Many activities (boat trip,

cruise, floating markets)

 Best time for those who love swimming and sunbathing

-May find hot weather unbearable

autumn  Special festival (autumn

festival)

-Rainy, stormy

PART 3:

Individuals can take some actions to save our planet from climate change:

1 Use public transport

- reduce carbon dioxide emission

- lower energy consumption

2 Recycle things

- reduce garbage

- save energy and natural resources

3 Plant trees

- Trees absorb carbon dioxide – make the air fresh and clean

- prevent flood, soil erosion, land side

4 Use renewable energy (solar energy, wind power, hydroelectric power, biomass,…)

- cut down on carbon footprint

- solve the problem of energy scarcity

FOLLOWING-QUESTION:

1 What are the main environmental problems in your country?

2 How will climate change affect where people live in a hundred years?

3 Will we recycle our waste in a hundred years?

4 How will we solve environmental problems in the future?

UNIT 9: STUDIES AND WORK Part 1: Interview

1 Do you work, or are you a student?

2 What's the most interesting part of being a (candidate's occupation)?

3 What's the most difficult part of being a (candidate's occupation)?

4 Would you say it's a good occupation? (Why? Why not?)

5 What kind of work would you like to do in the future?

Part 2:

Situation: You have just graduated from college with a degree on English You want to apply for

a job in your local area These are some jobs advertised on Employment Centre website: a language teacher in a local secondary school, a tourist guide for a travel agency, and a secretary for a foreign company In your opinion, which is the best choice?

a language

teacher in a local

secondary school

 develop language skills

 not have to work 9 to 5 – more time for family

 long holiday

- low salary

- lots of meeting (on a weekly basic)

- not trained to work as a teacher

a tourist guide for

a travel agency

 develop language skills + communication skills (mostly verbal communication)

 go to different places, meet different people, get to know different cultures

 get tip

- tiring, physically demanding

- have to be away from home

- low job security in time of covid pandemic

a secretary for a  develop language skills + other skills: - to much paperwork