1. Speaking Part 1
Topic: Swimming
- Did you learn to swim when you were a child? [Why/Why not?]
Yes, I did. My father signed me up for swimming lessons at a local sports center when I was still a 6-year-old boy. Actually, I was never terrified of water, I’ve always had a vast natural affinity for it.
- How often do you go swimming now? [Why/Why not?]
I swim a few times a week. Fortunately, the nearest swimming pool is just a 5-minute walk from my apartment. It’s one of the few activities that make my mind rest.
- What places are there for swimming where you live? [Why?]
Well, we’re really lucky here in Ho Chi Minh City. We have a lot of sports centers. All have well-equipped pools. Membership varies from about $10 to $20 for an adult.
- Do you think it would be more enjoyable to go swimming outdoors or at an indoor pool? [Why?]
I do still prefer an indoor pool for several reasons. First, when swimming outdoors, I have to swim early or late in the day to avoid UV rays. Also, outdoor pools are more likely to be closed just when I have already scheduled my swim due to bad weather.
2. Speaking Part 2
Describe a famous business person that you know about.
You should say:
- Who this person is
- What kind of business this person is involved in
- What you know about this business person
- And explain what you think of this business person.
Sample Answer
I’m going to describe the most inspiring woman I have had the chance to meet and also the person
who I admire. She is Ms. Hanh Tran, the CEO of Youthbook, the publishing house where I used to work as an intern.
As the founder of Youthbook, she has been honored by many female leaders in Vietnam for her efforts. Currently, she has become an Internet sensation for being the first woman to travel across Vietnam, encouraging young people to achieve their ambitions. In her early 20s, Ms. Hanh has become one of the most influential businesswomen in my country.
As for her working style, I am not exaggerating when I say that Ms. Hanh is the epitome of hard work and determination. She possesses a huge amount of general and specific knowledge about the publishing industry and the ability to solve problems efficiently. Besides, Ms. Hanh is an optimistic person who puts on a happy face every day and has never failed to spread her inspiration and positive energy to other people in our organization. Last but not least, she is also a considerate person who always puts herself in other people’s shoes and does favors for other team members whenever she can. This is what makes her a perfect leader.
3. Speaking Part 3
Topic 1: Famous people today
- What kinds of people are most famous in your country today?
The Internet has given rise to many famous personalities these days, and a large portion of them are celebrities, I think. It saddens me that young people pay particular attention to those singers and actors with scandalous love life.
- Why are there so many stories about famous people in the news?
The most obvious reason is our fascination with celebrities. Humans have always desired to peek into the lives of those they idolize, such as brilliant thinkers and great artists. So, it is understandable that celebrity news is used by reporters to engage more and more audiences to sell advertisements.
- Do you agree or disagree that many young people today want to be famous?
Absolutely, I believe that everyone wants to be appreciated. The ambition to become an overnight sensation has been exaggerated thanks to the availability of social networking platforms like Facebook or Instagram. The desire itself is not negative as long as it motivates young people and encourages them to contribute more to society in one way or another.
Topic 2: Advantages of being famous
- Do you think it is easy for famous people to earn a lot of money?
I agree. It seems that society and our market economy value athletes and celebrities more than any other job. So, those famous individuals can make use of this to earn more money. You see, if a wellknown singer or actor endorse brands, he or she can make millions per brand.
- Why might famous people enjoy having fans?
To put it simply, because, without their fandom, celebrities will not have any fame or any job. Actually, famous people like singers and actors must hold fan meetings or live streams frequently to maintain relationships with their fans, or else they will risk losing a tremendous amount of money and popularity.
- In what ways could famous people use their influence to do good things in the world?
I believe they can do quite many things to create a positive impact on the lives of people. Celebrities are the trendsetters of the society. The way they handle problems, relationships, lead personal life can be a good example for people, especially teenagers. Besides, they can make use of their popularity to promote environment-protecting campaigns and help charity organizations get more support from philanthropists.
