IELTS SPEAKING Q2-2020

Contents
IELTS SPEAKING PART 1 .................................................................................................................. 3
1. Fish and fishing ........................................................................................................................ 3
2. Strangers.................................................................................................................................. 3
3. Technology in education ......................................................................................................... 4
4. View/Landscape ...................................................................................................................... 4
5. Important things ...................................................................................................................... 5
6. Products and prices ................................................................................................................. 5
7. Tidy .......................................................................................................................................... 6
8. Appearance ............................................................................................................................. 6
9. Gift ........................................................................................................................................... 7
10. Celebrities ................................................................................................................................ 7
11. Age ........................................................................................................................................... 8
12. Jokes and comedies ................................................................................................................. 8
13. Public transportation ............................................................................................................... 9
14. Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 9
15. Success................................................................................................................................... 10
16. Newspapers and magazine.................................................................................................... 10
17. Shopping ................................................................................................................................ 10
18. Stay up late ............................................................................................................................ 11
19. Number.................................................................................................................................. 11
20. Pen or pencil .......................................................................................................................... 12
21. Sweet/Cakes .......................................................................................................................... 12
22. Being alone - Spending time by yourself ............................................................................... 13
23. Art .......................................................................................................................................... 13
24. Water sports .......................................................................................................................... 14
25. Park/Running/Walking .......................................................................................................... 14
26. Science ................................................................................................................................... 15
27. Work or study ........................................................................................................................ 15
28. House or flat .......................................................................................................................... 15
29. Hometown ............................................................................................................................. 16
30. Social Network....................................................................................................................... 16
31. Borrowing/lending ................................................................................................................ 17
32. Reading/Music/Travel/Hobbies … ......................................................................................... 17
33. Animal (Pets-Wild animals) ................................................................................................... 18
34. Handwriting ........................................................................................................................... 18
35. Break / holiday ...................................................................................................................... 19
 IELTS SPEAKING PART 1
1. Fish and fishing
1. Do you like eating fish?
Yes, I do. It is excellent low-fat food packed with essential fatty acid, vitamins and
minerals. In addition, eating fish also helps improve my sleep quality, you know I
actually suffer from insomnia.

2. Is fishing popular in your country?

Yes people in Vietnam consider fishing a popular form of escapism simply because it’s a
great way for them to escape from their daily routine. In addition, finishing also helps
them de-clutter their mind. I guess those are the reasons why finishing are so common
here in VN.

3. Where can you see fish?

I guess I can see fish almost any bodies of water such as streams, rivers or even in some
aquariums. Especially in estuaries we can see various kinds of fish like sturgeon or
mackerel.

4. Do you keep fish as pets?

I don’t and neither do I want to as I believe fishkeeping will cost me a fortune as I need
a lot of equipment such as a thermometer, gravel, a filter kit and an aquarium of course.
And as a person who is frugal with money, I don’t want to squander my money on
those items.

2. Strangers
1. Is it easy to start a conversation with strangers?
It depends. For those who are introverts, it can be so intimidating to strike up a
conversation with a stranger. However, for those who are extroverts and outgoing, I
don’t think there is a problem for them to talk to strangers.

2. Do you often carry on conversations with strangers?

No I don’t. To be honest, I suffer from SAD – social anxiety disorder, which means that I
find talking to stranger a real hassle. I usually try my best to avoid having conversations
with people that I don’t know.

3. Do you mind being evaluated when you meet someone for the first time?
I mean who doesn’t. Although I know that first impressions count, I think being judged
right at the first meeting is a bit too much. And if the judgment is negative, it might
seriously affect my self-esteem and I don’t think I can cope well with that.
3. Technology in education
1. Does your school allow using technological devices?
Oh yes, they actually have a number of top-notch technological gadgets such as
projectors or electronic white boards to assist the lectures and students.

2. Do you use any technological devices when going to school?

Definitely yes, you know that I have cursive writing so in order to jot down some notes,
I usually type on my laptop. In fact, I find it so convenient and efficient so every day
when I go to university, I always have my laptop with me.

3. Do you think technology helps you learn better?

Of course yes, I am tech savvy so actually I can make the most of using technology to
benefit my learning process. With the assistance of technology, I can really study more
effectively and efficiently.

4. Would you prefer learning traditionally or with technology?

Technology obviously, maybe some people will not be very confident with this hi-tech
wizardry but I personally can derive a lot of benefits of the use of technology in
learning. So there is no way for me to go back to studying the traditional way.

4. View/Landscape
1. Is there any beautiful view in your hometown? Is there a beautiful view near your
house?
Oh yes, in the vicinity of my house, there is a park designed by Japanese architects.
It's artfully landscaped, with beautiful paths that lead around a shimmering, willow
tree-dotted pond. I consider this is the most stunning view in my hometown.

2. What is the most breathtaking landscape you have ever been?

Well, the only thing that springs to my mind now is Dalat city. I visited the place 6
months ago and my hotel room overlooked a magnificent pine forest. The view was
actually really therapeutic.

3. Do people like to take photos of beautiful views?

I guess they do, simple because it’s a great way to capture the moment so that
whenever they look at the pictures, it will give them a nostalgic feeling of the places
they have been to.
4. Why do people prefer to use mobile phones to take photos of beautiful views?
I guess because it is handy and portable than using a proper camera. In addition to that,
Phones have cellular and wifi connections, plus apps that can connect to various photo-
sharing or social media networks.

5. Important things
1. What is the most important thing that you have done?
Maybe the most important thing I have done is refusing to follow my father’s footsteps,
left everything behind and started a whole new career path which I am so passionate
about.

2. How do you consider something important or not?

Very interesting, I usually rate it and look at its urgency. If it can be done by somebody
else, I will delegate it to somebody else. If not, I consider it important.

3. Do you get help from people when doing something important?

Well I don’t want to sound pretentious but I am fastidious about doing my important
tasks, so when it comes to something crucial, I usually do it myself without disturbing
others unless I am desperately in need of help. Then I will.

4. Do you make sure something important will be done carefully?

As I have mentioned before, I am attentive so yes, I want things done flawlessly. And if I
am not satisfied, I will redo it until I am. Maybe it sounds a bit too much, but it’s just me.

6. Products and prices

1. What kind of products do you usually buy? / Which item do you buy the most?
Well I would call myself a bookworm so I usually squander money on books. So at least
once a week I make a purchase on a new book, which really puts me in some financial
predicament sometimes.

2. Do you care about the price when buying things? Why?

Of course I do, I am not that rich to ignore the price when buying things. I’m actually
living on a tight budget so I do put prices into account when I want to buy something.

3. Do you often go shopping?

Well if you are talking about shopping for clothes then I’d say no, I am not a slave to
fashion. But if you are asking about like shopping for everyday necessity, probably I do it
once or twice a week.

4. Should people buy expensive products?

Well although I am a cheapskate, I always believe that you get what you pay for, low-
cost products usually mean poor quality. So I do believe that buying expensive items is
way better than cheap ones.
5. Are the price and the quality of a product related? Are good products always
expensive?
I am sure there is a price-quality relationship, which means that the higher the price is,
the higher the quality. But it is not necessarily true in all cases. For example, when
demand exceeds supply, product’s prices will increase, but maybe not their quality.

7. Tidy
1. Are you a tidy person?
I don’t want to sound pretentious but I am kinda fastidious, maybe a bit too much but
yes that’s just me. Once a week I have to de-clutter my room to make sure I get rid of all
the unnecessary items.

2. Are you often tidy at your workplace or at your house?

Well as I have mentioned, I am don’t really often from OCD, which stands for obsessive
compulsive disorder I often keep my workplace and my house cleaned. I believe that
working in a tidy environment helps maximize my productivity.

3. Do you think being tidy everywhere is good?

Maybe it is bit weird but I don’t think so because It might result in some conflicts
between those who are tidy and those who are not. I think in order to maintain the
harmony, only when it is necessary should we be tidy.

8. Appearance
1. Do you often judge others based on their look?
No as I have been told not to judge a book by its cover, I believe personality and
behaviours are what I should take into account if I want to judge someone, not their
appearance.

2. How do you know if someone likes or dislikes you?

I don’t think there is any possible ways of knowing that. People nowadays are so good at
camouflaging their feelings. But I guess sometimes I can just sense it, naturally, like they
don’t talk to me or sit next to me, which means they dislike me, obviously.

3. What would you do if someone doesn’t like you?

I don’t think I have to do anything, it’s their problem, not mine. You know that we
cannot please everyone and I am not a pleaser. So if they dislike me, I will just let them.
9. Gift
1. Do you spend time choosing gifts for other people?
Oh yes, I suppose that people have different personality traits. Therefore, I should
really spend time choosing presents that suit them best. You know when their birthdays
are around the corner, it really gives me a headache to think about what gifts I should
send them.

2. What is the best gift you have ever received?

Perhaps it was a trip to Japan from my parents. A few years ago I graduated from
university with flying colours and to award my tremendous achievement, they out of
the blue gave me the ticket and I was really delighted about it as I am a travel
enthusiast.

3. Do you think it is important to choose the right gift for people?

Absolutely, as I always believe that sending undesired presents can be risky for
relationships. Not only that, if we give the right gift for people, it can boost their
happiness, and even consolidate people’s relationships.

10. Celebrities
1. Have you ever met any celebrity in real life?
Yes, I have, a few years ago I attended a concert of My Tam, a prominent singer in
Vietnam. I was really blown away by her gorgeousness and angelic voice. It was just a
jaw-dropping experience to see a celebrity in real life.

2. Do you think the huge amount of income of celebrities is reasonable?

Of course, I believe they to face tons of problems that ordinary people don’t such as
being followed or harassed by phone, email by fans or followers who might cross the
line and become obsessed. Obsession can turn into threats and even physical harm.

3. Would you like to become famous one day?

Of course I do, being famous would give me a lucrative income that I can use to
financially support my family and friends. On top of that, I can splurge on hobbies and
enjoy my life or even do some charities.

4. What would you ask them if you met them in real life?
I would definitely ask for their advice. I mean how they can weather difficult situations
in their lives. How it is like to sacrifice their private lives and what it is like to be famous.
11. Age
1. What do you think is the best age to learn driving?
Biologically speaking, the ultimate time to learn is at around 25 years of age as the
brain is fully developed at this stage and the body is young and supple enough to be
able to respond with still-sharp reflexes. Also, the levels of desire to learn is also high at
this age so they will really make the effort to learn driving.

2. How do you feel about getting older?

I hate it seriously. There are things that I should have done in my adolescence but I
didn’t. And I have missed my opportunity. I detest getting older, it’s horrible. But I guess
there is nothing I can do about.

3. Should we treat people of different ages in the same way?

No we shouldn’t in my opinion, I believe that for seniors, we have to treat them with
respect and dignity. For children, maybe we need to be strict when they show some
poor behaviors such as covetousness, rebellion or defiance.

12. Jokes and comedies

1. Are you good at telling jokes?
Yes, I actually have been told to have such a good sense of humour. Whenever my
friends are with me, I usually crack a joke and they can’t help but laugh to death.

2. Do your friends like to tell jokes?

It depends on their personality really, some do and some don’t so I cannot really tell you
whether they like it or not. But I do have a friend who loves to tell jokes, even though
his jokes usually fall flat but he enjoys doing it for the sake of it.

3. Do you like being close to a person who has a good sense of humor?
Oh yes I do. I think whenever I am with a humorous person, I can really feel their
positivity, which will actually help reduce my depressive thoughts. Not only that, they
can make the atmosphere lighter and much more comfortable. So I really enjoy their
company.

4. Which types of programmes are most popular in your country? What kind of things
make you laugh? What type of programmes do you find funny on TV?
I guess reality shows really crack me up sometimes. They are ubiquitous nowadays in
Vietnam and whenever I am stressed, depressed or have any problems that need to be
addressed, I will just watch my go-to reality show and it really does help.

5. Do you think it is important to have a sense of humour and why?

Yes I do simply because being funny will put other people at ease, which can help
establish a good rapport with them. In addition, when you have a sense of humor, you
look at the bright side of life. Not only does this positive attitude improve your well-
being, but it also has an encouraging effect on the people you relate to.
13. Public transportation
1. Do Vietnamese people use public transportation?
No I don’t think so I guess this is because buses or trains here are filthy and inefficient.
Not only that, there is a lot of jostling and pushing that really deter people from using
mass transit.

2. When was the last time you used public transport?

I only have a dim recollection of the last time I used public transport, maybe it was
probably 2 years ago when I had to go to my university to pick up my university degree.
My motorbike at that time was broken, so the only option I had left was bus.

3. Do you want to improve Vietnamese public transport system?

Well if I had the authority, I would improve the public transit service and encourage
more transit ridership by create more drop-off and pick-up points. Maybe even build
more queue-jumper lanes and bus lanes or even having a priority bus traffic signals.

14. Discussion
1. What do you like to talk about?
I am a chatty person so I can pretty much talk about anything, but I am particularly into
discussing music as I am a guitar aficionado, as you can see here.

2. Did you change the way you discussed when you were a child?
Of course, when I was little, I didn’t really get straight to the point when I talked about
something. But as an adult, I don’t like to beat around the bush and I prefer to be more
straightforward.

3. Do you change your opinions frequently?

I don’t think that I am a flip-flopper, I usually stick to my opinions, maybe it sounds a bit
negative but I am an adamant person.

4. What topics do you usually talk with your friends?

We have a lot of topics to chat about but to break the ice, we usually start off with
weather like how erratic the weather is or how scorching hot it has been and things like
that. Then after that, we pretty much talk about anything.

5. Are you more of a listener or a speaker?

I think I am more of a listener since I am kind of receptive and patience that are the
most important quality traits for a good listener. Besides, I never interrupt when others
speak. So I think that is pretty good.
6. What are some key points to be a good listener?
Well if we want to listen to someone attentively, we have to ‘put ourselves in the other
person’s shoes’ so that you ‘understand’ their viewpoint better.

15. Success
1. Is it important to succeed for the first time? Why?
Not necessarily. I believe that we have to experience failures first in order to achieve
success. If people succeed at their first attempt, they might feel complacent, which will
create a barrier to help them achieve more in life.

2. What factors lead to success?

I would say there are tons of elements that determine a person’s success such as
determination, commitment, dedication or receptiveness. But I’d say it really depends
on how people define success.

16. Newspapers and magazine

1. Do you prefer to read newspapers or magazines?
I think I prefer the former since they are cheaper, or even dirt-cheap I would say. This is
because newspapers use inferior quality of paper and poor quality of ink whereas
magazines are published with glossy paper, which makes them pricier.

2. Do you prefer to read news online or in the newspaper?

Well I think I would go for reading news online since I can derive the information at my
fingertips. However, I know there is way too much fake news available on the internet
so I have to be really skeptical about it.

3. Did you like to read comic when you were a kid?

Oh definitely yes. When I was little, I usually set aside money to buy comics weekly.
Reading comics at that time was like disconnecting myself from my life and immersing
myself in a wonderful magical world. I really enjoyed the good old days.

17. Shopping
1. Do you like/enjoy shopping?
Well if you are talking about shopping for clothes then I’d say no, I am not a slave to
fashion. I find shopping for clothes time-consuming and money-wasting.

2. Who does most of the shopping in your household?

Oh, It’s my mom, she knows how to drive a good bargain and she knows exactly what is
needed for the house. So I guess it is sensible that mom does all the shopping in my
family.
3. Should we spend money on expensive products? What is the quality of high-end
items and low-cost gadgets?
I believe that we get what we pay for so if we really invest money in buying what we
need, the product is gonna last for a long time whereas if we are a bit cheapskate, we
might regret later.

18. Stay up late

1. Do you often stay up late?
Oh yes, since I am a night owl, I usually sit up for doing my assignments. I feel like I can
maximize my productivity if I work at night. So I oftentimes stay up late.

2. Did you often sleep late when you were young? How have your sleeping habits
changed since you were young?
No I don’t think so, when I was little, I was such a creature of habit. I always went to
bed at exactly 10pm in the evening. Now I always have to burn the midnight oil to finish
my work.

3. How do you feel when you wake up after a late sleep?

Well I usually feel a bit groggy and fatigued throughout the day, however, a cup of
coffee can always do me good. It really helps re-energize my mind and I can stay
focused much better.

4. Do you like to read before bed?

Yes, I do. To me, it is such a best way to reduce depressive thoughts and reading before
bed actually helps de-stress myself. So I often spend about 30 minutes reading before
going to sleep.

19. Number
1. Are you good at remembering numbers?
No I don’t. It is such a shame to say that I have a goldfish memory so I cannot really
remember anything, especially numbers, they are way too complicated for me.

2. Are you good at Maths?

Oh yes, I actually excel in maths, which is weird. In fact, I do have a good command of
the subjects and I can solve math problems with one hand tied behind my back.

3. Do you think (in the future) your job will require you to work with numbers?
I don’t think so mainly because I am working as an English instructor, which means that
there will be no numbers involved, which is excellent. I detest working with number, it
really messes my mind up.
20. Pen or pencil
1. Do you usually use a pen or pencil?
Well to be honest, I don’t really use either of them partly because I have cursive writing.
If I want to jot something down, I will use my laptop or my phone, which is more
convenient.

2. When was the last time you bought a pen or pencil?

Probably a few months ago when I had to sit my final exam. I bought a handful of
pencils because I was anxious that I may break one or two during the exam. Its better
safe than sorry, you know.

3. Which one do you use more often? Pen or pencil?

I think I would prefer the former because if I make any slip-up, I can erase it easily. I am
particularly into graphite pencils as they help my handwriting more legible and they
don’t get blunt easily.

4. What do you think when someone gives you a pen or a pencil as a gift?
I would definitely express my gratitude to the gift giver. I believe that it’s the thought
that counts, not the gifts value. So doesn’t matter what they give me, I will always
treasure it.

21. Sweet/Cakes
1. Do you like to eat sweets? Do you like dessert? Do you like eating cakes?
I absolutely love them. In fact, I have a sweet tooth and I am a chocoholic, so whenever
I can, I will just treat myself a bar of chocolate or a chiffon cake. Not good for my health,
I know, but I can’t help it.

2. Do you like sweets now compared to when you were a child?

When I was little, my parents were so strict with me that they didn’t allow me to eat any
sweets or cakes. They were worried that I would end up getting overweight. So maybe
at that time, I had no interests in eating cakes or sweets.

3. Have you ever tried to make sweets?

Yes I have but to be honest with you, I don’t think I have a knack for baking or anything
relating to cooking. There was a time I tried to bake a chocolate cake and I failed
miserably.

4. Why do people like sweets?

This is rather complicated and abstract I think. Simply put, I suppose people crave sugar
for the sake of it. Or maybe a candy bar can actually provide us with energy to work and
study more effectively.
5. Is there any kind of special cake in your country?
Yes, plenty of them, birthday cakes, wedding cakes. But for some traditional events such
as Tet holiday, we also have Banh Chung – a rice sticky cake, which is a signature of
Vietnam.

22. Being alone - Spending time by yourself

1. Do you like to be alone?
Yes, as I am more of an introvert, I really enjoy keeping myself to myself so I can do
whatever I want without being disturbed by others.

2. When was the last time you were alone and what did you do then?
Maybe it was a couple of weeks ago when my family attended a wedding party, at that
time I was by myself, preparing my favorite dishes and enjoying a cup of wine.

3. What do you do when you are alone?

As you can see that I am a guitar aficionado, so whenever I am alone, I usually immerse
myself in playing the guitar. This really helps refresh my mind and stave off my
boredom.

23. Art
1. Do you like arts?
Yes, I do love art. I am particularly into contemporary art since it allows me to broaden
my understanding of myself, my community, and the world. It also helps me become a
critical thinker as I consider the influences that led to the creation of each work of art,
such as sociopolitical climate or cultural influences.

2. Have you ever visited an art gallery?

Yes, I have. It was actually 2 years ago. At that time, I was a tour guide showing my
friend around Saigon. We paid a visit to an exhibition located in the heart of the city. It
was about visual art. Such a jaw-dropping experience for me.

3. Is there any artwork on the wall in your room?

No there isn’t. My room is quite stuffy so we don’t have any space for any artwork. Not
only that, a piece of art is usually costly and as a person who is living on a tight budget, I
don’t want to splurge on pictures or statues to be honest.

4. Do you want to work as an artist?

Definitely, working as an artist does give me a lucrative income so that I can have a
comfortable life. In addition, I can also financially support my family and friends and
maybe do some charity as well.
24. Water sports
1. Have you done any water sports?
I think the only water sport I have ever done is swimming, which is really paradoxical
because in Vietnam, we have many bodies of water where people can immerse
themselves in water sports, but that is not the case for me.

2. Are water sports popular in Vietnam?

Yes I think so, especially in some coastal cities such as Da Nang or Nha Trang. People can
pretty much try any kinds of water sports they like such as wakeboarding, surfing or
even rafting.

3. What kind of water sports do you want to try? What water sports do you like
doing?
I think I’m gonna give scuba diving a go since I am so fascinated with the marine life.
Besides, from what I’ve read, scuba diving can help me improve my concentration
capacity as I have to simultaneously keep my balance while swimming and pay
attention to the marine environment. So I hope I can try scuba diving in the future.

25. Park/Running/Walking
1. What do people often do in the park?/ What do your neighbors do at the park?
There are quite a lot of recreational pursuits that people often do in a park like doing
exercise, meeting friends, having a picnic, you name it. For me, I enjoy doing exercise
there to shed some extra pounds.

2. Did you often visit the park when you were young?
I only have a dim recollection of me visiting a park when I was little. Maybe not as I
remember spending most of my time in the house playing Pictionary with dad. We
always had a blast whenever we played it.

3. Do you walk a lot / Do you like running? Do you think running is a good way to
stay healthy?
Yes I do. Walking/running is a form of exercise which helps me get lean. Not only that,
according to a research that I read weeks ago, walking/running helps reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease. So I try to go for a walk at least 30 minutes a day.

4. What place for you to go walking? Where do you think is a good place to run?
In the vicinity of my house, there is a decent park designed specifically for people who
love doing exercise. Motorbikes are banned, there are lots of trees providing shade for
park-goers so I guess that park is an ideal place for me to exercise.
26. Science
1. Do you like to study science?
To be honest, I don’t like science at all since I have a goldfish memory. You know,
memorizing all the equations and formulas is a real killer for me.

2. Do you have to study science at school?

Yes, I do. Science is a compulsory subject in our school’s curriculum so I have to study
science at least three times a week, which is tedious and boring beyond belief.

3. What are some applications of science?

I think there are plenty of applications of science such as using scientific knowledge for a
specific purpose, whether to design a product, process, or medical treatment; to
develop a new technology; or to predict the impacts of human actions and so on.

4. Should children study science?

From my perspective, I think student should study science since it helps them elucidate
all scientific phenomena. Not only that, science can help them develop critical thinking,
which lay a solid foundation for their comprehensive development.

27. Work or study

1. Are you a student or do you work now?
I actually graduated from architecture university a few years ago, I was a salutatorian,
you know, the second-highest-ranked graduate in my course. However, I didn’t fancy
working as an architect, so now I am trying to earn my second degree.

2. What subject are you studying?

I am majoring in linguistics, which in my opinion, is boring beyond belief. I had to study
about syntax, phonetics, assimilations and stuff. I know they are useful, but tedious.

3. Why did you choose that subject?

Well to be completely honest with you, I am so passionate about being an English
teacher, a qualified one. And this course provides me with a good command of how to
teach effective, which was I chose the subject.

4. Is it different from your expectation?

Way too different. As I have mentioned earlier, I wasn’t expecting to learn how a
sentence is form linguistically or why a vowel is nasalized or shortened in some certain
cases. So yes, it is really different from what I expected.

28. House or flat

1. What kind of housing do you live in?/ Do you live in a house or a flat?
Well I am living in a detached house with my family. It is a 2-story house with a small
garden where I can unwind and chill out after an exhausting day at university.
2. Could you please describe the place you live in?
It is not really spacious. We have three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen of
course. We also have a small garden where my mom can do some gardening. I’d have to
say she really has green fingers as the garden looks really nice.

3. Which is your favourite room in your home?

Definitely my bed room, you know, I can do anything and anytime at leisure in the
room. Oh and since I am a guitar aficionado, I love to play guitar in my room without
being bothered by my family members.

4. Is there anything which needs to be improved in your house?

Yes, right now my room is painted white, which is a bit dull and colorless. If I could, I
would love to paint it greenish. This is my favorite colour and I believe that green is also
beneficial for my mental health.

29. Hometown
1. Where do you come from?
Well I was born and raised in HCMC, which is one of the largest cities in Vietnam with
the population of around 13 million people.

2. What's the most attractive part of your hometown?

Oh, in the vicinity of my house, there is a park designed by Japanese architects. It's
artfully landscaped, with beautiful paths that lead around a shimmering, willow tree-
dotted pond. I consider this is the most stunning view in my hometown.

3. Has your hometown changed much these years?

Yes, but in a negative way I’d say. You know, Saigon has become more polluted due to
excessive use of private vehicles. Not only that, people nowadays are not so
environmentally conscious, which is really sad.

4. Do you think you will be still living in your hometown in the future?
Yes, I think so, I have my family, my friends here and I want to develop my career in Ho
Chi Minh city. You know, there are a lot of employment prospects here and I can easily
move up my career ladder.

30. Social Network

1. How often do you use social networking applications?
On a daily basic I would say, I have quite a lot of international connections so I use
Facebook or skype to keep in touch with my friends.

2. Why do you use social networking apps?

As I have mentioned before, I need them to stay in connect with my friends from
different parts of the world. And another reasons is that one of my friends is helping me
better my speaking skills so I use social networking app every day to practice speaking
with him.

3. What are the disadvantages of social networking apps?

Well, I believe that social networking sites are linked to increased risk of mental health
problems such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Too much time spent scrolling
through social networking sites can result in symptoms of anxiety or even depression.

4. Do you think it is good to make friends online?

I don’t really think so to be honest, there are a lot of cyber scams on the Internet so it is
so hard to establish a true friendship with others. I guess we might be able to make
friends, but maybe fair-weather friends, just my opinion.

31. Borrowing/lending
1. Have you borrowed books from others?
Not really since I don’t want to bother other people. If I want to read something, I will
just head to a local library to read it, or I can just order the book online, which is more
convenient.

2. Have you ever borrowed money from others?

Not really, I do believe that money can break relationship so I have always tried to avoid
borrowing money from others. Only when am I in desperate I will ask for some money
but I always pay them back on time.

3. Do you like to lend things to others?

Well it depends on what kinds of things they want to borrow from me and it also
depends on the relationship between me and the borrower. If he is near and dear to
me, I would say yes. If we are not that close, I’m afraid that I would say no!

32. Reading/Music/Travel/Hobbies …
1. Do you like reading?
Yes, I consider reading my mental nourishment. For me, reading is such a good way to
help me de-stress after a long day at university and I really enjoy it.

2. What kind of books do you read?

There are so many kinds of book genres that I like but I am particularly into fiction books
simply because they can provide me a wide range of knowledge on different fields. In
addition, I can also pick up some advanced expressions for my IELTS exam.

3. Do you read electronic books?

Not really, as you can see, I suffer from visual impairment, which is why I have to wear
glasses all the time. So I don’t really want to worsen my vision by reading digital books
or online books.
4. Do you read books related to your profession?
Yes I do, I have to read tons of English books to have a good demand of the subject I am
studying at university. It is quite time consuming, but it helps me a lot to develop my
career.

33. Animal (Pets-Wild animals)

1. Are there many people keeping pets in Vietnam?
Well, I think there are quite a large number of pet-raisers here in Vietnam. They raise
dogs, cats, birds or fish. For those who are more adventurous, they also keep snakes or
lizards as pets, which is really bizarre in my opinion.

2. Have you ever had a pet when you were young?

Yes when I was little, I had a dog named Lucky. To me, she was one of the cleverest dogs
ever. However, she died in an accident when I was studying at school. That really broke
my heart into pieces and I have never adopted any pets since.

3. What pet will you keep if you want?

Well I am a dog person so definitely I want to raise a dog, Husky to be more specific. I
like their appearance and fluffy fur and I have been told that Huskies are really dynamic
and playful and can be good companion.

4. Do you think it is necessary to protect wild animals?

Absolutely yes, there are many species that are on the verge of extinction and if we
don’t take actions to protect them, they will become extinct, which can detrimentally
affect our biodiversity.

5. What wild animals do you like?

I am particularly into the Kiwi – New Zealand’s national bird. I find them interesting as
although they are birds, they are flightless. However, a kiwi can outrun a person due to
its muscular legs.

34. Handwriting
1. Do you often write with a pen?
Not really, I have cursive handwriting so I try to avoid writing with a pen. Whenever I
need to jot something down, I will use my laptop or my phone, which is more
convenient.

2. Is your handwriting easy to read for other people?

As I have mentioned before, my handwriting is illegible and unintelligible. I can’t even
read my own handwriting, let alone other people.
3. Do you like to receive cards with hand-written words?
Oh yes I do, especially on Christmas day. Receiving Xmas card really brighten up my day.
I think sending hand-written cards is a great way to express our gratitude towards
others.

4. Can we tell someone's personality from his or her handwriting?

Yes, I do think so. Handwriting does speak volumes for a person’s personality. For
example, one with legible handwriting could be well-organized or even fastidious. So I
do think we can tell a person’s personality via their handwriting.

35. Break / holiday

1. Which one do you prefer? A long break or a short break?
For me personally, I prefer a short break because whenever I take a long break, I tend to
become demotivated and indolent, which will result in me being unproductive for the
rest of the day. So a 30-minute break is ideal for me really.

2. What do you like to do in your break?

Well, in my break time, I love to listen to music simply because I consider listening to
music pure escapism and it really helps de-clutter my mind. So I often listen to music
when I have a break.

3. Why do we have to take a break?

I think having a break is such a great way to re-energize our mind so that we can stay
focused better. Not only that, good breaks can reduce mental fatigue and it boosts
brain function so we can work more effectively.