ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP VSTEP SPEAKING- PART SITUATIONS Situation 1: I’d like you to imagine that you are trying to decide what to during the school holidays There are three options for you: going to a concert going to the park going to the movie Choice A concert Strong point - Going to the park - Going to the movie - ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP  relieve stress/raise my spirit after tiring school days experience live music with high quality of sound meet famous musicians/singers who I admire Get involved in an energetic atmosphere where I can have fun with those who share the same interests Cheap save money Get closer to nature  boost my emotions Go for a walk with my friend and breathe fresh air  achieve a peaceful body and mind Play some games > relaxing and happy A modern form of entertainment  suitable with my age Cinema is the only place I can enjoy the latest blockbusters (phim bom tấn) Large screen and surround-sound will bring me the best emotional experience Weak point - - - Too noisy and crowded/dangerous costly not popular in Vietnam So popular  boring Have been there many times  want to spend time for new activities More suitable with children Too crowded/waste a lot of time Watching film at home is more economical ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP Choice Buying books Strong point - - Going to travel in another country - - Giving money to your mother -  Books widen my knowledge and expand my horizons about different cultures around the world Help me reduce stress and pressure I want to become a …  my major requires huge knowledge about …(literature, history, society, …) It is my dream when I was a child to go abroad It is a great chance to discover a new region which attracts me (Culture, custom, habit, cuisine, fashion, locals/landscapes…) Make new friends ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP  LUYỆN THI VSTEP Situation 2: Imagine that you have just received a big sum of money from your university scholarship What will with it? Buying books for your hobbies Going to travel in another country Giving money to your mother for later use A gift to show my mother that I’m now mature enough and can support my family My house is very poor  spend this money on my family’s living expenses The best way to save money for my later use in the future Weak point - - - - My school has a big library which contains various kinds of book about different fields like: sciences, technology, society, … My room is so small, so I can’t find a suitable place to put them If I want to travel in another country, I have to spend a big sum of money  my scholarship will not be enough to pay for all expenses (travel, accommodation, food…) Is very dangerous because I have never gone to another country Though I give this money for mother, my mum still have to give money to me to pay for living cost Situation 3: you received a gift, which is plane tickets to Hong Kong Who you want to invite to go with you? Your mother Your boyfriend Your best friend ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP choices Strong point - Your boyfriend - Your best friend -  Feel safe when I go with my mother-an adult who can take care of me She has many experiences about Hong Kong  the best company A great chance to show my gratitude to my mother - Too old to go away Too busy doesn’t have time to travel Both of us like travelling  a great chance for us to broaden our horizons Have the best time to be together because normally we are too busy to see each other He will protect me and help to avoid sudden/dangerous situations abroad Have a lot of things in common (taking photos, trying local cuisine )  Have a great time together She knows both English and Chinese  explain to me what I don’t understand about this new region An interesting memory for us before we graduate - Too busy with his work My parents won’t allow me to go away with him for such a long time She is busy with her study at university ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP Your mother LUYỆN THI VSTEP Weak point - Situation 4: you are going to take part in IELTS exam next time How you prepare for that important test? Self-study through the Internet Finding a private tutor To take a course in an IELTS center choices Self - study through the internet - - Advantages There are many websites which offer various materials for me to choose from (videos/ebooks/podcasts ) Save a lot of money Convenient (study from the comfort of my home) - Disadvantages Lack professional learning environment to communicate Ineffective with lazy people ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP - - To take a course in an IELTS center - - -  - Can’t afford huge tuition fee It takes a lot of time to travel Situation 5: your sister has just graduated and she hasn’t found a job yet What recommendation will you give her? continue studying Master program attend a cooking course take a soft skill course choices continue studying Master program - attend a cooking course Give me one-to-one attention  Understand my learning style  give me suitable learning/teaching methods Provide me with the very best materials (Qualified tutors can choose effective references which help me familiarize myself with Ielts tests Advanced and professional learning environment (modern learning and teaching facilities/English clubs/discipline ) There are numerous qualified teachers who have a lot of experience and teaching skills/can correct my mistakes A huge source of materials ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP Finding a private tutor LUYỆN THI VSTEP - costly - limited communicative environment - Advantages Improve her major knowledge/academic background open up better job opportunities in the future Pursue her special interest in her major (tourism/journalism ) An important life skill for everybody, especially a woman to learn to take better care of family members and - - Disadvantages Costly (huge tuition fee) time-consuming (this can set back career opportunities) She can learn through videos online with only a click of the mouse  cheaper and easier ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP - take a soft skill course - Learn to get on well with others, improve positive behaviors and limit negative ones  Decrease levels of emotional distress Enhance social-emotional skills - - Prepare her for successful development in adulthood, work and life (learn to cooperate well with peers/neighbors/colleagues )  ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP herself Have a sense of accomplishment (taste, smell and enjoy her labor right when it’s been done) - LUYỆN THI VSTEP She can learn from her mother or sisters Costly and waste a lot of time (those skills can be naturally developed when she goes to work/takes part in social activities ) Situation 6: your brother has just passed an examination to a famous university Your parents are still considering about giving him a special present There are three options for you to suggest your parents: To buy a new smart phone for him To buy him a mini flat To ask directly about what he likes and then gives him exactly what he needs choices A new smart phone - A mini flat - Buy him what he likes - Advantages plays an important role in keeping in contact with parents when he studies away from home facilitates his study (surf the Internet to search for information/materials ) Great way to entertain himself in his spare time Save renting cost during his academic years at university Private and quiet space to focus on his study/work Safer for him than sharing a rented flat with someone he may not know about He will feel satisfied because my parents respect and understand his personal interests - - Disadvantages Too popular He has just bought a smart phone which still works well now It costs too much money to buy a mini flat it will not surprise him at all if he already knows what he is going to ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP - Make sure that what my parents buy will not be a waste of money (if the present is not what he needs, he will not use it) Situation 7: your younger brother’s head teacher has just called your parents and said that your brother is a naughty boy who often hits friends and never pays attention to the lesson He even sometimes plays truant at primary school What is the best penalty with him? Spank him so that he will realize his mistake Have a heart-to-heart talk with him and advise him to rectify his mistake Take him to a life-skill course choices spank him - ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP  LUYỆN THI VSTEP receive Advantages he is an obstinate person Disadvantages - he may learn from these  a certain level of fear will aggressive and violent behaviors force him to behave well - Have a heart-to-heart - talk with him - A vital tool to teach him - Badly affects about discipline and about psychology how to respect parents shy/unconfident ) We are quite close and get on his (become Ineffective because he is well with each other  he may very obstinate be ready to talk and listen to  He my advice This intimate talk will help me will listen not to anyone understand more about his personality/thingking  find effective ways to rectify his mistake Take him to a life-skill course - Life skills teach him about study skills and time managing skills he will find his own interest in study and It takes both time and money to attend the course ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP - stop playing truant Develop his communication skills  an effective way to learn how to behave well towards others  hitting friends will not happen again Situation 8: Yesterday while you lost your calm, you showed your anger to your colleague, but now you really regret it and want to say sorry to her How are you going to express your apology? Writing an email to say sorry to her Meeting face – to- face to apologize her for your anger Keep silent and try to behave well towards her next time choices Writing an email - - Meeting her face-to-face - - Keeping silent - ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP  Advantages Avoid direct talk with her  don’t feel ashamed Give me enough time to prepare carefully for my apology (explain my mistake clearly and specifically) Allow her time to think about whether she should forgive me or not Show my willingness to take responsibility for hurting her A chance for her to express how she felt about my attitudes  show my sincerity and respect for her She can understand me, because she knows that I am too young to keep my calm Disadvantages Don’t show my sincerity with her - I will be embarrassed  can’t say anything She may think that I deny my mistakes  our relationship will even become worse ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP - Situation 9: I’d like you to imagine that your school wants to organize a program to help students promote awareness of the environment Here are some of the suggestions they are considering: Organizing a picture exhibition Showing a film Holding a seminar ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP  Avoid any possible arguments when we meet in person (both of us are hottempered  easily lead to another misunderstanding) choices organizing a picture exhibition Advantages Disadvantages Pictures catch people’s eyes than any other ways Too crowded and noisy  around distract students from fully (pictures create the enjoying the pictures strongest impressions on viewers) Students are not only well aware of protecting the environment but they also can learn to appreciate art Showing a film Seeing a film full of lively images and high quality of sound will draw immediate attention from students A film which contains a meaningful content will fully express the message of preserving the nature My school lacks modern facilities for showing film to such a huge number of students ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP  A lot of professors who research on and are experts in environment can give students detailed information about this issue and directly explain to them what they don’t understand Seminars are great chances for students to exchange ideas/discuss/ suggest possible solutions to an issue ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP Holding a seminar LUYỆN THI VSTEP 10 It takes a lot of time to go to a seminar 11 Students may find this boring Situation 10: I’d like you to imagine that your community centre is trying to organize a sports club in your area to raise people’s interest in physical activities Here are some of the suggestions they are considering: A chess club A swimming club A yoga club Which is the best choice? choices A chess club A swimming club Advantages Require people’s brain to practice and think deeply  develop critical thinking Consider carefully before moving  improve concentration and decision-making skills Build social interaction among locals in the community -Develop height and help people keep in shape Disadvantages -it doesn’t require any physical exercise or movement  not good for health - players need to have patience to sit in more than hour to think  boring - it is too stressful The danger of drowning is a real risk for swimmers, ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP effectively - a water sport which is enjoyed by people of all ages (all people enjoy refreshing themselves under water) - Pools and beaches are great venues for people to meet new people or socialize with friends -This modern kind of physical exercise allows people to concentrate better improve their study and work efficiency - great way to escape from stress and working pressures  achieve a peaceful mind - prevent them for diseases such as obesity/heath attack/backache  ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP A yoga club LUYỆN THI VSTEP especially children Lack social interaction among locals (as this sport requires quiet space for people) It is not easy at all to yoga Situation 11: Next week, your friend will organize a birthday party to which she invited you But now you don’t know what you should give her as a gift There are three options for you: Buying a pair of tickets for you and her to go to the cinema together Buying her a dress Giving her a book Which is the best choice? Choices A pair of tickets advantages Great time for us to chill out together (we haven’t met for ages) to share the same hobby 10 Watching films, eating popcorn and being surrounded by large screens/high-quality sound will bring us the best emotions and refresh ourselves disadvantages 11 It is too crowded in the cinema  not an intimate atmosphere for friends to celebrate birthday 12 Cinema is a noisy place it is hard for us to chat with each other ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP A book  -A dress shows my sincerity and care for her  she will cherish it and keep it as a sweet memory - I understand her style/her interest in clothes  I believe I can choose a dress that really suits her  she will be thrilled when wearing such a charming dress -my friend is a big fan of novels  she will be surprised and delighted if I give her a book as a gift - books help her access any knowledge around the world  become knowledgeable - reading books is a great leisure activity for my friend whenever she is free ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP A dress It will be a waste of money if the dress doesn’t suit or fit with her It is considered an out-ofdate way of giving presents Situation 12: your friend will get married in the next week and you want to give her a special gift There are three presents which are suggested: A sum of money A dress A piece of home furniture Which is the best choice? Choices A sum of money A dress A piece of home furniture advantages It will be very practical Every newly-wed couple needs money to support their marriage life (pay for honeymoon/living expenses ) I’m too busy to spend time choosing another gift that suits her well -it is highly necessary for a newly-married woman to own a charming dress to enjoy the honeymoon with her husband - I understand her style/her interest in clothes  I believe I can choose a dress that really suits her  she will be thrilled when wearing such a charming dress -This gift shows my sincerity and care for her  she will cherish it and keep it as a sweet memory - This piece of furniture is of course one of the first things any couple needs to buy disadvantages It won’t show much of my sincerity to her It will be a waste of money if the dress doesn’t suit or fit with her I don’t really know what they really need or want to buy ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP when they start their marriage life  practical  Situation 13: Your school will organize a small party this weekend What will you wear to take part in the party? A charming dress combining with high heels Jeans and a T-Shirt combining with sport shoes A shirt and a skirt going with flat shoes advantages -look higher and thinner  make me feel more confident when socializing with friends -suit me well because this combination shows my femininity  look very charming and feminine Jeans and a -bring me convenience and comfort T-Shirt (easy to move around/easy to take combining part in out-door activities) with sport - look more modern/younger and shoes more dynamic A shirt and a skirt going with flat shoes  ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP choices A charming dress combining with high heels -suitable with my age  looker younger - flat shoes help me move around easily - look feminine disadvantages Putting on high heels prevents me from moving around easily  inconvenient It is too informal/ casual for such a party The skirt would be quite short and I may face some embarrassing situations Situation 14: your friend takes part in a party in another city, but she misses the final bus route, so she can’t come back to her home She is now very worried because her mother will be angry if she comes home late Your friend needs your advice There are three options for her: She should catch a taxi to come back home She had better ask someone for a lift/free ride You’ll pick her up by yourself (by motorbike) choices catch a taxi Advantages -it is easy and convenient to catch a taxi anywhere (there is no need to wait for too long/don’t worry about Disadvantages It costs a lot of money going ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP  ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP bad weather) - going by taxi is very fast  she can come home early  her mother won’t scold her ask someone for -it is very easy to ask someone for a lift help on the road (there are many people driving on the road at any time) - it will help her save the expensive fare pick her up by -she will be safe when going with yourself me –her friend - she doesn’t have to pay any fare save money - her mother will feel less worried when I take her home by taxi It will be risky for a girl to ask some strangers for a lift - it is too far from my city  it is quite dangerous if I ride motorbike alone to come to her site - she needs to wait for a long time Situation 15: your school wants to rebuild a new zone to serve students What is your suggestion? A canteen A modern library A dormitory choices A canteen Advantages -bring convenience to all students (there is no need to leave their school for lunch  have more time for eating) - Parents not need to rush to pack a lunch for kids in the morning - Schools’ canteens often ensure balanced and nutritional meals for students  they can enjoy fresh and healthy meals at school A modern -provide students with a variety of library books of different kinds from history, culture, tourism to sciences…  satisfy any students’ needs to advance their knowledge - offer a large and quiet reading room  students can indulge their Disadvantages My school has just built a new canteen and it is still in good condition  Unnecessary to build a new one It is very costly to build a modern library It would be more economical and convenient if students access online libraries for their ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP A dormitory passion for studying/reading books there -dorm life provides students with more campus social opportunities (Many university dorms offer social activities/mixers/programs for students to get to know each other) - it also assists students with safe, convenient and comfortable accommodation (quick walks to class, friends down the hall, security office around ) LUYỆN THI VSTEP materials My university campus is too small while a dorm will take up too much room  not feasible  ... PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP when they start their marriage life  practical  Situation 13: Your school will organize a small party this weekend What will you wear to take part in the party?... She is busy with her study at university ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP Your mother LUYỆN THI VSTEP Weak point - Situation 4: you are going to take part in IELTS exam next time How you prepare for that important... atmosphere for friends to celebrate birthday 12 Cinema is a noisy place it is hard for us to chat with each other ĐƯỜNG PHƯƠNG VSTEP LUYỆN THI VSTEP A book  -A dress shows my sincerity and