Buzz
1. Mẫu câu hỏi đề tài Discussions - IELTS Speaking phần 1
1.1. What subjects do you enjoy discussing?
As I’m passionate about fashion and beauty, I can have endless conversations with my girlfriends about the latest fashion trends around the world. I also love to exchange ideas about my favorite books and movies.
- Be passionate about s.th: đam mê điều gì
1.2. Have your conversation topics evolved since childhood?
Well, yes and no. I still have had the same hobbies and interests since my childhood so my friends and I often hold conversations about the latest comic books and movies. But as a grown-up, now I also discuss social issues and diurnal responsibilities.
- Grown-up (n): người lớn
- Diurnal (adj): hằng ngày
1.3. Do you alter your viewpoint frequently?
I formulate my opinions based on research and facts relevant to each situation. Therefore, I adapt my opinions as circumstances and new information dictate.
1.4. Do you prefer to converse or listen?
In general, I think I am more of a listener, because I find it pretty difficult to come up with ideas to talk about, especially with new friends. But when I’m around my besties, I become much more open and talkative.
- More of a + N: có xu hướng là điều gì hơn
- Come up with s.th: nghĩ ra điều gì
2. IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a fascinating conversation you had with friends
You should mention:
- Who you spoke to
- Where you were
- What the conversation was about
And elaborate on why you found it intriguing
Example
I'd like to share an instance when I engaged in a group discussion with my old high school friends.
It was a Sunday evening when my friends and I decided to get together for a reunion after 5 years apart. We have all been caught up in our work so having such an opportunity to sit back and enjoy ourselves was like gold dust.
We were catching up with each other’s life updates and laughing whilst looking back at our carefree school days. All of the sudden, one of my friends expressed his concern about the future as he was under a lot of peer pressure. We then all manifested our insecurities and problems, trying to let him know that we had all been going through such a hard time during our 20s.
Following that, we decided to document our dreams and aspirations, discussing their specificity, achievability, and significance. We outlined our available resources and planned the efforts required to achieve them, while also offering encouraging words to boost each other's morale.
It was a conversation that was not only interesting but also enriching. It gave us a new, positive outlook on life. The entire conversation was inspiring and full of new visions and promises and that was what made it fascinating. Thanks to that short meeting with my besties, I was able to find my inner peace, knowing that I was not alone during my journey and that I must do my utmost to achieve my life goals.
Vocabulary
- Get together (v): gặp gỡ nhau
- Be caught up in s.th: bị cuốn vào gì đó
- Be like gold dust: hiếm có
- Catch up with s.o/ s.th: bắt kịp với ai/ cái gì
- All of the sudden: đột nhiên
- Peer pressure (n): áp lực đồng trang lứa
- Manifest (v): làm lộ ra, bày tỏ
- Insecurities (n): những sự bất an
- Enriching (adj): có tính xây dựng
- Inner peace (n): sự bình yên trong tâm hồn
- Do one’s utmost: cố gắng hết sức
3. IELTS Speaking part 3: Engaging in discussions
3.1. Is it beneficial to discuss problems with others?
Well, I believe that the main reason for confiding in others about our personal problems is to find the best solution. True, we are capable of dealing with our own problems, but we can also make some rash decisions on our own. As a result, such decisions may result in worse scenarios and, in some cases, even ruin a person’s life.
For example, when it comes to choosing a life partner, we tend to let our hearts guide us rather than our minds. This emotion-based option, on the other hand, appears stunning until that life partner reveals themselves to be a violent, belittling one. We are much more likely to choose a much better person if we consult with some trusted friends and relatives.
- Confide (v): tâm sự
- Rash decision (n): quyết định cẩu thả, thiếu suy nghĩ
- Emotion-based option: sự lựa chọn dựa trên cảm xúc
3.2. Do you believe it’s preferable to confide in friends rather than family about problems?
Well, I believe we can discuss our problems with whoever we truly trust, whether it is friends or family because problems derive from a variety of sources. When a problem arises in the social circles of friends or love, it is best to talk to a good friend because he or she may understand the issue better than parents, who are from an older generation.
On the contrary, if the issue is about healthcare or career choices, we can rely on family members because they have the financial resources and experience to help us out. As a result, before deciding who to talk to, we must clearly define the origins of our problems.
- Derive from s.o/ s.th: xuất phát từ ai/ cái gì
- Rely on s.o/ s.th: dựa/ tin tưởng vào ai/ cái gì
3.3. Is it always advisable to share a problem with many people?
No, absolutely not. Despite the fact that speaking out about our problems will make us feel less burdened in heart and mind, this foolish action will have negative consequences. People are already up to ears with a lot of work, and it’s unfair to keep someone bothered by our problems. In addition, when our secrets are divulged to the public, there can be fair-weather friends who would leave us in adversity and even take advantage of the problem to gain the upper hand.
- Burdened (adj): cảm thấy có gánh nặng
- Be up to ears: cực kì bận rộn
- Fair-weather friends: bạn bè giả tạo
- Take advantage of s.o/ s.th: lợi dụng ai/ cái gì
- Gain the upper hand: chiếm ưu thế
3.4. Which communication skills are most crucial during participation in meetings?
I think people should all learn to respect others before they have an axe to grind. Let’s say 10 people are in a meeting at work, and if everyone wants to contribute opinions into the discussion and but nobody stays calm to listen and pose constructive questions, the meetings will become a complete shamble that never brings any value but a negative atmosphere.
Moreover, the ability to communicate kindly and calmly is another essential factor when engaging in any form of group discussion. When you can express yourself in a friendly manner, your suggestions become more easily accepted.
- Have an axe to grind: bày tỏ quan điểm
- Constructive (adj): có tính xây dựng
- Shamble (n): cuộc hỗn chiến
