Sample topic TV programs – IELTS Speaking parts 1, 2, 3

1. Sample topic TV programs – IELTS Speaking part 1

1.1. What types of TV programs do you enjoy? 

I love watching news on televisions as I want to be informed about what’s happening around me, especially in this tumultuous time of the Covid pandemic. I want to have information that can be used to keep me and my family safe.

• Tumultuous (adj): biến động

1.2. What’s your favorite TV show? Which TV program do you like the most?

I prefer watching news programs on either BBC or CNN. The advantage of watching news on these channels is that they speak in a clear and precise manner. I can learn a lot on how to use formal language watching the presenters on these two channels.

• Precise (adj): chính xác

1.3. Do you usually watch TV programs or use your cell phone to watch?

I find myself watching more and more content on my cell phone on the bus or at lunches rather than watching TV in my living room. It is just more convenient. Most of these programmes are also free, so I’m thinking of cutting the cord to just watch these programs exclusively on my personal devices.

• Cutting the cord (expression, noun phrase): việc từ bỏ không sử dụng cáp truyền hình nữa

1.4. Do you prefer watching the same type of program all the time?

Well, after a while, news can bore me out and the severity of some news can take a toll on my mental health. Therefore, every now and then I also choose to watch sitcom series such as “How I met your mother” and the likes because the humour is lighthearted and suitable for relaxation.

• To bore someone out (expression): làm ai đó chán
• Severity (n): mức độ nghiêm trọng
• To take a toll on someone/something (expression): gây thiệt hại cho ai đó/cái gì đó
• Sitcom (n): phim truyền hình nhiều tập về hài tình huống.

1.5. What types of programs do you watch on TV?

I wouldn’t typically broadcast this, but I have a guilty pleasure for reality shows like America’s Next Top Model or The Face. I’m drawn to them due to their high level of drama, which keeps me absolutely captivated.

• Broadcast: phát tin
• Absolutely captivated: hoàn toàn bị quyến rũ

1.5. Are you fond of watching TV?

Yes, I can spend hours watching my favorite shows in front of the TV, so everyone calls me a couch potato. When I’m fully engrossed in a TV show, it actually helps me feel refreshed and removes all of my daily stress.

• A couch potato: người nghiện xem tivi
• Engrossed (a) IN: hăng say về
• Refreshed (a): thư giãn

1.6. When do you typically watch television?

I watch TV at my convenience, whether I’m in a good mood or not. I particularly enjoy watching programs during prime time as I find them quite valuable. For instance, the 7 pm news broadcast offers a wealth of information, spanning topics from education and entertainment to global political issues.

• Global political issues: vấn đề chính trị toàn cầu

2. Bài mẫu Describe a game show or a quiz program you've watched on TV or online – IELTS Speaking part 2

You should say:

• Where and when you watched it
• What it was like
• How often you watched it
• And explain why you liked/ disliked it

I’d like to discuss “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” a TV show that has held a special place in my heart for quite some time. To the best of my recollection, it originally hailed from the UK and made its Vietnamese debut approximately a decade ago.

This quiz program featured contestants tackling a series of 15 progressively difficult questions. The initial five questions often had a light-hearted tone, providing moments of amusement for my family and me.

Contestants were provided with four lifelines to assist them with the tougher questions, most of which were usually exhausted by the time they reached around question 7 or 8. The show was a treasure trove of knowledge, covering a wide range of topics, from everyday matters like cookie ingredients to academic subjects such as quantum physics and archaeology.

As someone naturally curious, I seldom missed an episode during my high school years. Once the Internet became accessible in Vietnam, I expanded my viewership to include the UK and US versions as well. The knowledge gained from these programs proved invaluable during high school quizzes. The show's charm was further enhanced by its witty and humorous host, who injected numerous comedic moments into the proceedings.

In my view, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” stands as one of the most captivating and enriching television shows. It not only offers a chance to unwind after a long day but also serves as a means to broaden one's horizons.

• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Ai là triệu phú
• Approximately: khoảng
• Quantum physics: vật lý lượng tử
• Archaeology: khảo cổ học

3. Example: TV programs & Children

3.1. What TV shows do children enjoy watching?

From my perspective, children like watching cartoons on TV. Most kids are addicted to watching cartoons all day because they do not enjoy being bored. Therefore, funny, fanciful/fantastical cartoons are the best choices for them.

• Be addicted to (a): thích thú đến nghiện
• Fanciful = fantastical (a): huyền ảo

3.2. Do you believe children watch television excessively?

I do believe that kids spend too much time in front of the television. These days, parents are too preoccupied with their jobs to spend the time and patience playing with their children; instead, they turn to the television. This is in contrast to the past, when youngsters merely wanted to be outside having fun without using any technology.

• Preoccupied (a): Bận rộn
• Patience (n): Sự kiên nhẫn
• Merely (adv): Đơn thuần

3.3. What are the effects of watching TV programs on children?

Young people are greatly influenced by television, both positively and badly. On the one hand, kids’ horizons can be greatly expanded by watching shows like game shows, quiz shows, or reality shows. These programs are extremely educational, and kids can learn a great deal from them.

However, when kids binge on their preferred TV series, they frequently disregard other obligations like homework or domestic chores. This explains why more and more kids are withdrawing from society and becoming more reckless.

• Horizon (n): chân trời/kiến thức
• Binge on (v): say sưa với
• Disregard (v): xem thường
• Withdraw from (v): rút ra khỏi
• Reckless (a): liều lĩnh

3.4. What type of television program do you prefer the most?

I enjoy a wide range of TV programs, but if I were to choose the type I like the best, I would say I have a preference for educational and informative programs. These programs include documentaries, science shows, and historical documentaries. I find them not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating.

• Documentaries: phim tài liệu
• Science shows: chương trình khoa học
• Historical documentaries: phim tài liệu lịch sử
• Scientific discoveries: khám phá khoa học
• Gravitate: hút