Describe an individual you know who hails from a different cultural background | IELTS Speaking Part 2 + 3

Part 2: Talk about someone you know who comes from a different culture

Tell about an individual you know who originates from a different culture
You should mention:
Who the person is
Where they are from
How you got acquainted with them
And describe your feelings towards them

Below is a sample for the topic 'Describe a person you know who is from a different culture'.

1. Sample Answer (Model Essay)

2. Vocabulary Highlights

• light-hearted: nhẹ dạ cả tin
• very laid back: rất thoải mái
• cheeky: táo tợn
• dry humor: Hài không cảm xúc
• responsible: chịu trách nhiệm
• determined: xác định
• dining etiquette: nghi thức ăn uống
• marriage customs: phong tục hôn nhân
• rituals: nghi lễ

Part 3: Cultural Aspects

Besides Part 2, please also consider Part 3 for this topic.

1. Where and how can we get to know people of different cultures better?2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity?3. How can traditional culture and other cultures coexist?4. Which Vietnamese traditions are disappearing?

1. Where and how can we expand our understanding of people from different cultures?

I believe social media platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram are the most convenient and quickest ways to connect with individuals from diverse cultures. These platforms facilitate seamless global connections, enabling people to meet and find like-minded companions effortlessly. For face-to-face interactions, tourist cities or regions in each country, such as cosmopolitan areas like West Lake or Old Quarter in Hanoi, provide ideal settings to interact with foreigners and engage in meaningful conversations.

• cosmopolitan: khắp thế giới

2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of cultural diversity?

In my view, we can assess this on both personal and organizational levels. Personally, exposure to a culturally diverse environment enriches one's perspective and global awareness, fostering open-mindedness and empathy towards different mindsets and viewpoints.

Conversely, personal identity may suffer in the face of diversity, as individuals may struggle to adopt a singular way of life amidst myriad options. On a societal level, however, diversity enriches our world, making it more vibrant and offering opportunities for mutual discovery and learning. Yet, diverse mindsets can also breed disagreement and, historically, have sparked conflicts rooted in cultural, racial, or ethnic disparities.

• culturally diverse setting: bối cảnh đa dạng về văn hóa
• mindsets: tư duy
• personal identity: danh tính cá nhân
• cultural: thuộc văn hóa
• racial: chủng tộc:
• ethnic: dân tộc

3. How can traditional culture coexist with other cultures?

Achieving this requires open-mindedness and mutual respect from proponents of all cultures. As societies evolve, new ideologies and practices inevitably clash with established traditions. Advocates on all sides must recognize the strengths of differing perspectives and acknowledge their own shortcomings. Finding common ground and fostering shared values allows cultures to harmonize. Where agreement is elusive, mutual respect should prevail, acknowledging that perspectives different from our own are equally valid.

• harmonize: hài hòa
• perspectives alien: quan điểm xa lạ

4. Which Vietnamese customs are fading away?

I'm not a traditional expert, but offhand, I can identify two customs that are gradually disappearing. Firstly, the practice of dyeing teeth black, once a standard of beauty, now persists primarily among traditional tribes and older generations. Secondly, traditionally beautiful perspectives have shifted towards valuing whiteness, marking a notable cultural evolution.

Another example is the practice of chewing betel. This 'fruit' or 'nut' was widely consumed in the past, seen as both a snack and a conversation starter, akin to coffee today. Betel chewing was also used to maintain the black color of teeth after dyeing, contributing to the gradual decline of these traditional practices in Vietnamese culture.

• practices: thực hành
• tradition: truyền thống
• customs: phong tục
• practices: thực hành

Bài mẫu bởi thầy Trung Hiếu – Giáo viên Mytour HN