SAMPLE WRITING TASK 2

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. EDUCATION……………………………………………………2
2. SOCIAL MEDIA & THE INTERNET………………………….26
3. ADVERTISING & NEWS MEDIA……………………………..33
4. CULTURE & ARTS……………………………………………..41
5. GOVERNMENT POLICY……………………………………….55
6. BUSINESS & WORK…………………………………………....72

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 EDUCATION

TOPIC 1: For many employers, formal academic qualifications are becoming more
important than experience.

Why is that? Is it a positive or negative development?

[TWO-QUESTION ESSAY]

Formal qualifications are now considered to be one of the most decisive elements in the
recruitment process of many organizations since they are thought to be the best indicator
of an individual's ability. I believe that this trend is a negative development as it shifts
students' focus from real knowledge gains to ways of achieving high scores, resulting in
other social issues.

Formal academic qualifications are now preferred because they are proof of a
candidate's competence, and sometimes intelligence. University curriculums are
designed carefully to teach students in-depth knowledge with the ultimate (primary)
goal to generate a quality workforce for the labor market. As these courses are often
demanding and challenging, it as an undeniable fact that students have to exert
themselves (try very hard) to complete their study and obtain a degree. This means that
qualifications holders, especially top achievers, have been well-equipped with sufficient
(enough) specialized knowledge (được trang bị đủ kiến thức chuyen môn), enabling
them to work well. This is particularly the case for research-related jobs in which
knowledge foundation and academic excellence (thành tích học tập xuất sắc) rather
than experience or skills, is of great importance. (be very importance)

Although a focus on qualifications may make the recruitment process efficient and
effortless, I am concerned that this is a negative trend. An increasing emphasis on
formal degrees would discourage students from neither improving practical skills nor
accumulating hands-on (practical, empirical) working experience, generating an
unskilled and inexperienced workforce. Indeed, when employers recruit a person only
based on their qualifications, this may convey (deliver) a misleading message among
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undergraduates that being able to pass exams at school is enough to help them find a
job. Such belief, in reality, has given grounds for the birth of a huge proportion of
graduates with underdeveloped skills (tạo nền tảng cho sự sản sinh 1 tỉ lệ lớn những cử
nhân thiếu kĩ năng), who then went unemployed in Vietnam. Stories about university
valedictorians (thủ khoa tốt nghiệp đại học) becoming jobless for years are ironically
common (phổ biến 1 cách nực cười) in the country, raising the issue of skill training for
the youth.

In conclusion, the preference for formal academic qualifications among employers is

understandable since they truly reflect job applicants' ability to some extent. However,
on a broader scale, this is a negative development as it undermines the importance of
hands-on skills and working experience, giving birth to an unskilled workforce and even
higher youth unemployment rates.

(Summarize the main ideas in the conclusion)

TOPIC 2: Schools are no longer necessary because children can get so much
information available through the Internet, and they can study just as well at home.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

With the aid of the Internet, some people believe that children can be well educated
without school attendance. While accepting the fact that children can learn a lot from
information available on the Internet, I am of the opinion that the role of formal
schooling is irreplaceable. (không thể thay thế)

It is true that the Internet can enable children to self-study and explore their fields of
interest. In parallel with the widespread use of the Internet, the proliferation of free
educational websites (sự gia tăng của các web học miễn phí) and online informative
resources (các nguồn thông tin online) has made the access to information easier than
ever before. By only browsing those sites, young children can enrich their knowledge
of any subject. For example, children who are interested in English can improve their
skills by watching videos made by experienced native teachers and imitating the ways
they speak and write. It is also the case for a wide range of other subjects such as

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science or arts for which youngsters could find thousands of vivid videos and animated
lessons (các video và bài học sống động). This results in the notion that self-directed
online learning (tự học onlinne) could be possible for children.

(Topic sentence – one main idea) However, I think that those gains from the Internet
could never completely replace formal education. With regard to mental development
that virtual education fails to accommodate, the school is where young children could
nurture socially acceptable behavior and hone vital interpersonal skills. This is
because children are required to respect their teachers, share toys with friends, and
cooperate with their classmates in group activities. (Counter / Comparison) I believe
that proper personality development is more crucial than knowledge-centered
education for these impressionable young individuals. Teachers' close supervision of
children's behavior is therefore indispensable, not to mention that it also safeguards
them against exposure to external potential harm such as juvenile delinquency. (Small
conclusion) Compared to schools, such protection is unavailable if children study on
their own at home since they may be at risk of accessing sites with pornography or
violent content.

In conclusion, although the Internet offers children free lessons that fit their interests, I
believe that knowledge alone is not enough for a child's comprehensive development.
Therefore, school-based education must be regarded as an indispensable part of the
young's well-rounded education

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TOPIC 3: Some people believe that everyone has a right to a university education
and that governments should make it free for all students no matter what their
financial background. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

SAMPLE 1 [STRONG OPINION]

1. Immense benefits = Huge benefits

2. Privilege (n): Đặc quyền
ð Underprivileged students = Poor students
3. Manual labor: Lao động chân tay
4. Viable human resources: Nguồn nhân lực chất lượng
5. Pursuit of academic excellence: Sự theo đuổi thành tích học tập xuất sắc
6. (to) drop out of school: Bỏ học giữa chừng
7. (to) render sb/sth + adj = (to) cause, khiến ai/cái gì như thế nào
8. (be) trapped in vicious circle: Bị mắc trong vòng xoáy luẩn quẩn

Over recent years, more and more people have been attending universities and the issue
of whether students should pay for this privilege has been evolved as a topic of debate.
I completely contend that tertiary education should be freely accessible to all people
regardless of their financial background.

First and foremost, it is undeniable that university education does offer immense
benefits to society. Specifically, making university education available will encourage
more people to attend, which definitely lead to a more educated workforce who are more
productive than manual labor. Conspicuously, countries with higher rates of
welleducated population have higher levels of innovation and development growth.
Many developed nations in Europe, including Germany, Sweden, and France to name a
few, offer their citizens university education free of charge, which is one of the key
policies resulting in their viable human resources, and subsequently the world-leading
positions in science and technology.

In addition, another convincing justification for why government should totally

subsidize higher education is to ensure equality of opportunity. If students are required

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to pay for tuition fees, those facing financial problems may be dissuaded from engaging
in tertiary education, thus making high education unfair. As a consequence, in order to
afford to study at the university, underprivileged students would have to settle with
lowpaid part-time jobs to earn money for tuition fees while attending lecturers, placing
unnecessary stress on their pursuit of academic excellence. More seriously, such a
financial burden may force them to drop out of schools and instead enter the job market
earlier, which would render these people trapped in the vicious circle of low-quality life.
Take students in England as a typical example. They are said to leave university with
some of the highest levels of debt in the world, so it is no wonder many students will
consider skipping further education altogether in favour of following alternative routes
into work.

In conclusion, I am of the strong opinion that university education should remain

equally available to all people regardless of their financial status. Not only is this fair
but also this will ensure that countries can prosper and thrive in the long run with a
welleducated workforce

(summarize main ideas)

SAMPLE 2 [BALANCED] – (collected)

It is thought that studying at university is everyone’s right, and all tuition fees should be
fully paid by the government. The former view is reasonable; however, I disagree that
the government should take responsibility for students’ university education fees.

I believe every student is entitled (được trao quyền) to go to college to acquire tertiary
degrees. It is because, from my point of view, knowledge gained at university should be
freely imparted (truyền đạt – ns về kiến thức) to everyone. Furthermore, all students,
although different in financial backgrounds, are equal in intelligence and academic
capability, hence equal opportunities to gain admittance to university. [Hence + noun /
V-ing / S + V = Therefore,…]

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However, the government are under no obligation to take care of university attenders’
education costs. Providing free tertiary education might either push the government to
the verge of bankruptcy (có nguy cơ phá sản) or levy higher taxes (áp thuế cao hơn) on
citizens because the costs for the government to maintain facilities or employ qualified
teachers are certainly exorbitant. Additionally, education quality would also suffer
owing to the increased number of students in one class, which prevents teachers from
giving out thorough care for everyone. In fact, class size also exerts a fairly significant
impact on how each student interacts with teachers and their peers. If there are too many
members in one class, they will be afraid to ask questions, for example, which leads to
their poor performance at university.

In conclusion, while I agree that it is everyone’s right to pursue tertiary education, it

seems to me that the government should not fully pay for study costs. So far, there have
been ample opportunities (nhiều cơ hội) for scholarships, and I think that is the best
method to support students.

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TOPIC 4: In countries where the unemployment rates are high, most pupils should
be offered only primary education; there is no point in offering secondary
education to those who will have no hope of finding jobs.

Do you agree or disagree?

[STRONG OPINION]

Some people suggest that education should be restricted to primary level only in
countries facing high unemployment rates. Personally, I believe that this is a
groundless and unjustifiable suggestion. (Đề xuất vô căn cứ và không hợp lý)

Firstly, universal (global) access to education until the age of 16 is vital to the
wellrounded development (sự phát triển toàn diện) of the young. Besides training
people for their future careers, education also has an important role in creating well-
mannered and self-sustaining individuals (những cá nhân cư xử tốt và tự lực) who can
lead independent lives and contribute to society. To fulfil such missions (đạt được, hoàn
thành những nhiệm vụ này), access to primary level education is insufficient (not
enough) since it merely (only) equips people with mathematical skills (which are)
suitable only to deal with basic life matters. Complementing (bổ sung cho) primary level
schooling, secondary education is instrumental in the further cognitive, mental, and
social development (sự phát triển nhận thức, trí tuệ và kĩ năng xã hội) of the younger
generations, let alone (chưa bàn đến việc…, not to mention) finding jobs or making
money. Therefore, depriving youngsters of chances (tước bỏ cơ hội) to pursue
secondary level education might go against the basic human right of each individual to
be fully educated and fulfil their potential. (quyền cá nhân cơ bản…được giáo dục đầy
đủ và phát huy tiềm năng)

Secondly, discouraging students from completing secondary level schooling might

exacerbate (worsen) the issue of high unemployment rates and its associated
consequences (hậu quả kèm theo) instead of doing any good to society (do good to
sb/st…: có lợi cho). If the majority of young people finished only at primary level,
society would seriously lack a skilled labor force to handle demanding and intellectual
professions (giải quyết những công việc trí thức khó khăn), which are the key to its
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continual progress. Besides that, such a trend might lead to a surplus in the blue-collar
workforce (sự dư thừa lao động tay chân), who would have to compete for menial jobs
(những công việc cấp thấp) yet receive a low income to afford a decent life. Such a
situation might therefore have a domino effect (hệ lụy) of rising rates of poverty, crime,
and other social ills (tệ nạn xã hội), further hampering (prevent) the socio-economic
development of any nation

In conclusion, I am convinced that the right to access secondary education should be

granted (given - tiền/quyền lợi) to all youngsters in all nations, regardless of (bất kể)
their socio-economic problems (các vấn đề kinh tế xã hội). Failure to provide such
educational opportunities might create an adverse impact on all aspects of society and
prevent it from progressing rather than solving the problem.

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TOPIC 5: Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students
in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

[STRONG OPINION]

It is widely accepted that men and women should have the same educational
opportunities. However, I do not agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of
each gender in every university subject.

Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic.
Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives.
If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would
need enough applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with
one gender than the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For
example, nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants, and it would be difficult
to fill these courses if fifty percent of the places needed to go to males.

Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair
to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select
the best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both
men and women have the same opportunities, and applicants know that they will be
successful if they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the
best candidate for a place on a course, it would be wrong to reject her in favour of a
male student with lower grades or fewer qualifications.

In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and it would
be both impractical an unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender.

(266 words – By Simon)

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TOPIC 6: It is better for college students to live in schools than live at home with
their parents. Do you agree or disagree?

[SAMPLE 1: STRONG OPINION]

Living environment has a profound impact on students’ life, especially on academic

achievements and life skills. It is a highly debated issue that whether college students
should be sent to boarding schools or live with their parents. From my stance, I would
contend that campus life would be a more beneficial option for college students.

Campus life would offer abundant opportunities for university students to enhance
their cultural sensitivity and develop essential soft skills. College dormitories could
create environments where students from different backgrounds and cultures gather and
interact on a daily basis, meaning that their mutual understanding and cultural
exchange could substantially increase for the improvement of their interpersonal skills.
In addition, participating in extracurricular activities such as sports and community
service offered at university dormitories would considerably help refine students’ life
skills. In other words, it would be a significant disadvantage for those who return home
after class since they would miss valuable time for social networking as well as life
skill practice.

Another major advantage of tertiary students who board at schools is that they may
become more responsible and skillfully lead their independent life that they hardly
have a chance when sharing their space with their parents. To be precise, on-campus
students would have to face different difficult situations and deliver their own decisions
in tough time without parental intervention or control. Such circumstances would
well equip them with various types of qualities such as problem solving and decision
making. As a result, those enjoying campus life would have more likelihood to
become independent and capable individuals whose maturity would far outweigh home-
living ones’.

In conclusion, living in college accommodation like dormitory would allow students of

different cultural backgrounds to enrich their knowledge, sharpen their necessary soft

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skills, and lead a self-reliant life which family-oriented students could barely gain.
[SAMPLE 2: BALANCED]

There has been a topic of debate as to whether it is better for students to live
independently away from their parents whilst studying at university. Although some
people agree with this, my firm conviction is that it depends on the culture of the region
where the students are from.

This practice is popular in Western-based societies, like the US or the UK.

Independence from parents at a young age is largely accepted and encouraged,
especially when students reach the age of eighteen and are able to earn a living on their
own. A large majority of students seek temporary employment near their school to earn
money or gain valuable work experience, while others will spend time participating in
university clubs and activities on campus. This element, I believe, is closely linked to
their further development and future success.

However, in many Asian countries such as Vietnam, where traditional values of strong
family bonds play a significant role in the lives of the youth and the national ethos, I
suspect that it could bring more harm than good. It is, however, common for family
members to live separately when they are pursuing tertiary education because most
universities in Vietnam are located in major or municipal cities. Students from other
provinces have to stay in dormitory accommodation or rent a room off campus in order
to complete their study. I consider this to have a detrimental impact on family
relationships because it can possibly lead to the unfortunate disappearance of the
country’s long-standing culture.

In conclusion, I do consider that living close to schools and universities, away from
family, is beneficial for a student’s studies, though it can have a significant negative
impact on family relationships depending on the student’s cultural background.

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TOPIC 7: Many universities today are offering online courses for students as an
alternative of courses delivered on campus. Is this a positive or negative
development? [COUNTER-ARGUMENT]

There has been an increasing tendency of providing online courses in addition to formal
ones by universities around the world. Concerning the effects of such a trend, I firmly
believe that the availability of computer-based courses should be considered as a
completely beneficial movement.

To begin with, it is a fallacy to consider the provision of internet courses as a negative

trend. In fact, some people insist that opting for online courses could lead to the
probability of forming generations of students who would lack critical social skills such
as interpersonal and teamwork capabilities. However, such a claimed scenario would
not happen with the support of advanced online communication platforms. Thanks to
the introduction of effective communication tools such as Skype of Facetime, students
could easily interact with each other for academic discussions or team assignments,
ensuring their chances to enhance essential communication skills. Therefore, it seems
obvious to me that presumed negative impacts of visual classes would not be a matter.

On the other hand, I would strongly argue that the provision of online courses as
alternatives is beneficial to both students and universities. Firstly, access to
Internetbased courses would enable students, especially those who reside in remote
regions, to get access to higher education with ultimate flexibility and convenience.
Compared to traditional courses which require student attendance and fixed class
schedules, Internetbased ones allow students to study at their own pace by granting them
full rights to decide their schedules and academic progress. Secondly, with regard to
universities, offering online courses could help them reach more students worldwide
with reduced investments. Since classes could be conducted online with no geographic
restrictions, colleges would be spared from the costs of expanding their schools yet still
able to provide courses for more national and international students.

To conclude, the existence of computer-based courses as alternative options to formal

classes should be considered as a profitable education progress in modern world.

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TOPIC 8: Every person should stay at school until eighteen. Do you agree or
disagree?

[COUNTER-ARGUMENT]

Completing formal education has been considered as a choice rather than a must in the
modern world. I hold a belief that such flexibility is totally agreeable compared to
compelling people to go to school full time.

Compulsory eighteen schooling time seems a fallacy to me although many people

would argue that it is necessary to provide people with fundamental knowledge and
social skills for their adulthood. I believe that such preparation could be gained without
formal schooling. In Vietnam, many underprivileged adolescents are deprived of
education opportunities but still able to hone skills such as communication and
organization skills through their part-time jobs like waiter or salesman. In terms of
mental development, it is hardships and real experiences in life that actually teach them
life lessons of hard work, determination, and honesty to overcome their underprivileged
backgrounds. The life story of Mr. Vu, the chairman of the nation-leading steel company
- Hoa Sen in Vietnam could be an example. This successful business man did not have
a chance to go to school for further than grade nine but has grasped all business skills
through working experience. The case has undermined that point that eighteen years
of education is vital to a person's development.

Another point supporting my view is that flexible education could best fit individuals'
needs and preferences. The practice is meaningful for people who have poor learning
ability and no interest in academic education, especially those in Vietnam where the
high school curriculum is deemed heavy and theory-focused with no applicability. For
these individuals, pursuing education until the age of eighteen is in fact a waste of time,
or even a torture, as they might be under constant pressure to understand lessons and
catch up with their peers. If these students are allowed to decide their schooling time,
they could better plan their life by spending more time on completing vocational courses
to early prepare for their chosen career paths. The case is actually true for those who

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wish to work in professions like flight attendant or mechanic, which require practical
and job-based skills rather than in-depth knowledge taught at school.

In conclusion, I am convinced that schooling until adulthood should never be

obligatory but optional for all students. Flexible education duration may offer people
with more choices to decide their life plans based on their own needs and ability.

VOCABULARY CHO CHỦ ĐỀ GIÁO DỤC:

+ formal education = formal schooling

+ a choice rather than a must: lựa chọn hơn là bắt buộc

+ be deprived of: tước đoạt cơ hội

+ grasp skills / hone skills: nâng cao kỹ năng

+ no interest in academic education: ko hứng thú học

+ poor learning ability: khả năng học kém

+ completing vocational courses: hoàn tất các khóa học nghề

+ require practical and job-based skills: đòi hỏi kỹ năng thực tế

+ in-depth knowledge taught at school: kiến thức chuyên sâu đc dạy ở trường

+ obligatory but optional: ko nên bắt buộc nhưng (nên) tùy chọn

+ based on their own needs and ability: dựa trên nhu cầu và khả năng

+ hone (v): make something perfect (hoàn thiện – kĩ năng, kiến thức,…) +

underpriviledged (a) = poor

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TOPIC 9: Many people go to university for academic study. More people should be
encouraged to do vocational training because there is lack of qualified workers
such as electricians and plumbers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

[BALANCED OPINION]

The debate over the selection of academic study or vocational training has become the
issue of intense public and personal interest. While I concede that encouraging
academic pursuit is beneficial to some extent, I believe vocational training courses
should be promoted as the main priority of workforce development.

There are certain grounds supporting the view of encouraging scholastic pursuit at
colleges and universities. The most obvious proof is that prioritizing
knowledgeintensive courses ensures the creating of generations of intellectual personnel
with great vision and overarching understanding of different fields. This type of training
would empower young students to become erudite experts who are indispensable to take
highranking management positions in companies or governmental organizations.
Another necessity of promoting academic training takes root in the fact that this type
of training plays an irreplaceable role in building research and academia communities.
A shortage in the number of students undertaking university education and research
activities would eventually result in the lack of researchers and specialists who assume
the responsibility for leading innovations and providing data-driven recommendations
for improving international and national policies.

On the other hand, I am convinced that vocational training should be recognized as

the key to the workforce supply question. The provision of practical vocational skills
and knowledge serves as the most crucial advantage of this type of training. In contrast
to the limited demand of intellectual and academically equipped workforce, qualified
and skilled workers are in great demand in all countries. The pursuit of expertise in
particular manual professions would bring individuals extensive job and career
development opportunities which might be significantly more limited in intellectual
fields. Moreover, encouraging people to pursue vocational training congruently (cùng
16
lúc) helps governments to mitigate the problem of unemployment associated with
workforce imbalance. This practice contributes to shifting career interest of
unemployed graduates towards mediocre yet promising jobs which could give them a
chance to earn their living.

In conclusion, although I recognize the necessity of promoting college education, I

firmly believe that priority should be given to vocational training, making it the core
of workforce development.

1 - intellectual personnel: nguồn nhân lực trí thức

2 – empower: support and encourage the ability to do sth

3 – erudite expert: chuyên gia uyên bác

4 – overarching understanding: hiểu biết tổng quát

5 – academia communities: những cộng đồng học thuật

6 - data-driven recommendations: đề xuất theo định hướng dữ liệu

7 - assume the responsibility for = take the responsibility for

8 – provision (n): sự cung cấp

9 - intellectual and academically equipped workforce: lực lượng lao động trí thức và
học thuật

10 – expertise = specialized knowledge: kiến thức chuyên môn

11 – manual jobs / professions: công việc lao động, chân tay

>< intellectual professions

12 - congruently (adv): đồng thời

13 – mediocre but promising jobs: những công việc tầm thường nhưng tiềm năng
TOPIC 10: In some countries, secondary schools aim to provide a general

17
 education across a range of subjects. In others, children focus on a narrow range
of subjects related to a particular career.

Which of these two systems is more appropriate in today’s world?

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. Career-oriented subject: môn học định hướng, liên quan đến nghề nghiệp
2. (to) grasp an overall understanding of: Có hiểu biết tổng quát về…
3. Daunting difficulties = Extreme difficulties
4. (to) fail to explain socio-economic matters: không thể giải thích các vđề kinh tế
xã hội
5. Social sciences: Các môn khoa học xã hội
6. (to) Empower students with essential orientation: Giúp học sinh có định hướng
cần thiết
7. (to) Determine their career passion: Quyết định đc đam mê nghề nghiệp
8. (to) identify their occupation fields of interest.: Xác định được lĩnh vực nghề
nghiệp mà mình thích
9. (to) facilitate secondary students’ future career preparation: Tạo điều kiện
cho học sinh cấp 2 có sự chuẩn bị cho nghề nghiệp sau này
10. (to) nurture in-depth knowledge and skills: Nuôi dưỡng kiến thức chuyên sâu
và kĩ năng
11. (to) Set sb’s heart on sth / V-ing: Rất mong muốn đạt được cái gì (quyết tâm đạt
được)
12. Current overwhelmingly competitive labor market: Thị trường lao động cực kì
cạnh tranh hiện nay
13. (to) Have / gain a profound insights into: Có kiến thức sâu rộng về cái gì
14. (to) Endow young students with ultimate advantages over other candidates: Giúp
học sinh có lợi thế hơn hẳn các ứng viên khác

SAMPLE:
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Secondary school curricula have drawn major public attention to their spectrum of
subjects. [THESIS STATEMENT] While an education program containing a wide
range of subjects would be beneficial to some extent, I firmly believe that a
careeroriented one would be a better choice.

[TOPIC SENTENCE 1] A curriculum providing general knowledge of diverse subjects

benefits secondary students in different ways. [IDEA 1] The most obvious benefit
is that students could gain the overview of a wide range of subjects, helping them grasp
an overall understanding of different aspects of life and develop essential personal skills.
[IDEA 1: COMPARISON - CONTRAST] Without the general knowledge of Math,
writers, singers, and actors would find daunting difficulties in managing their family or
personal finance. Vice versa, economists whose expertise is in Math and Finance would
fail to explain socio-economic matters if they do not have a background in social
sciences. [IDEA 2] Another clear benefit is that an education program with various
subjects empowers students with essential orientation to determine their career passions
which seldom come into shape during their teenage years. [FURTHER/DETAILED
EXPLANATION] Students have the opportunities to get exposed to and engaged in
various subjects to identify their occupation fields of interest.

[TOPIC SENTENCE 2] However, I am of the opinion that a specialized training

curriculum is a better choice because it would facilitate secondary students’ future career
preparation. [IDEA 1] The primary reason is that such a training program allows
students to nurture in-depth knowledge and skills in the occupation that they set their
heart on, paving a way for major professional advances. In the current overwhelmingly
competitive labor market, having a profound insights into a particular field would endow
young students with ultimate advantages over other candidates, and hence, provide them
with brighter job opportunities. [IDEA 2] Secondly, an education program with a strong
focus on profession-oriented modules can maximize students’ study efforts and
investment. In the era of overloading information, concentrating on a few subjects would
be the wisest learning way which could guarantee the usefulness and fruitfulness of
investment in education.
19
In conclusion, while the option of teaching diverse subjects has its merits, I contend
that specialized training system provides favorable education and optimal professional
preparation for secondary students to lead successful career paths.

20
TOPIC 11: It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing
high school and going to university.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

BRAINSTORMING:

- Mở bài: + Câu 1: Giới thiệu chủ đề

+ Câu 2: Trả lời câu hỏi (1 cách khái quát, ko đưa quan điểm
- Thân bài:
+ Đoạn 1: Advantages / Disadvantages

Câu 1: Topic sentence

Idea 1 -> Giải thích
Idea 2 -> Giải thích +
Đoạn 2: Disadvantages / Advantages
Câu 1: Topic sentence
Idea 1 -> Giải thích
Idea 2 -> Giải thích
- Kết bài: Tóm tắt lại các ý đã nêu trong bài (2 advantages / 2 disadvantages)
SAMPLE:
Taking a gap year before attending college has recently gained enormous popularity
amongst high school graduates. My essay below will analyze both the benefits and the
drawbacks of the phenomenon.
Having a year off after high school graduation is advantageous in some certain
aspects. First, gap-year takers can utilize this period of time to travel to acquire
knowledge of various fields such as foreign languages and cultures. This would be more
difficult during their years at university owing to their intense studying schedules.
Second, many high school graduates benefit from taking a temporary job before starting
their college life. Due to the inadequate provision of career orientation in high school
sparing another 12 months looking for a job or signing up for a vocational course is
considered a remedy for students to figure out their future path.
From an opposite angle, the disadvantages of a gap year before college are varied.
Initially, compared to the students having a year off, those who go straight to university
after high school are more likely to have a permanent job early. They finish their
academic studies one year in advance, hence better opportunities to get a job with stable
incomes. Another major drawback is that high school seniors can have difficulty getting
motivated to resume their education after a long time being distracted from formal
21
schooling. Possibibly, a year off might turn into years off or that students would never
pursue college due to unpredictable changes and occurrences during the gap year.
In conclusion, despite some benefits in terms of traveling and working, taking a year off
before college life might both jeopardize students’ occupational opportunities and result
in studying discouragement. (257 words)

- intense studying schedules: Lịch học căng thẳng

- (to) utilize = (to) use
- inadequate provision of career orientation: Sự chuẩn bị không đầy đủ về định
hướng nghề nghiệp
- figure out their future path: Tìm ra con đường (nghề nghiệp) tương lai
- (to) pursue college
= to attend higher education
= to follow tertiary education
- signing up for a vocational course: Đăng ký khóa học nghề
- a remedy for: a good solution to sth
- (to) jeopardize = (to) pose a threat to

TOPIC 12: When children start school, teachers have more influence on their
intellectual and social development than their parents. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?

Teachers and parents are key influencers in the comprehensive development of children.
I believe that the roles of these two parties are equally important, rendering such a
comparison meaningless.

In terms of cognitive skills (kĩ năng nhận thức), teachers take on the role as (take
responsibility) the main academic instructors for children by imparting knowledge of
various subjects (truyền đạt kiến thức nhiều môn). As teachers are professionally trained
to design and deliver lessons in an effective, systematic, and easy-to-comprehend way,
they are believed to play the key role in the academic pursuit (theo đuổi học tập) of
children. However, parents also contribute to this aspect since they provide such
support as answering children's enquiries and helping them brainstorm and work on

22
their homework or assignments at home. Children also reap benefits from their parents'
guidance on learning strategies (sự hướng dẫn của bố mẹ về chiến lược học) that best fit
their academic strengths and weaknesses.

With regard to social development, both parents and teachers have equal influence on
school-aged children by being their role models. Since school is a simplified model of
society (mô hình tối giản của xã hội), conforming to (tuân theo) the rules set out by their
teacher can be instrumental (very important) to the development of desired behaviors
among children. Parental guidance within this domain (field) is also irreplaceable since
children interact with their parents the most and learn to behave well in family or social
relationships under parental instruction. This process also involves trial and error
(phương pháp – thử và sai) in which parents help school-aged children to recognize and
correct their behavioral mistakes, (which is) a type of supervision impossible to achieve
in a classroom setting.

In conclusion, I am convinced that teachers and parents all shoulder responsibility for
educating students to be both academically capable and socially well-behaved.

SOCIAL MEDIA & THE INTERNET

TOPIC 1: There have been many inventions in human history, such as the wheel.
Some people think the most important thing is the internet. To what extent do you
agree or disagree with this opinion?

(NOTE: Đề chứa yếu tố tuyệt đối)

SAMPLE:
In the ancient era, the human race discovered how to create fire, invented the wheel and
laid the foundation for today's printing technology. Later on, in the industrial era, they
built more complex machinery and started to use motored vehicles. Although all these
facilities proved their great significance to all mankind throughout history, some state

23
that the single most important invention is the Internet. From my perspective, such a
statement is an exaggeration, despite some benefits of the Internet.

In this digital era, the Internet helps store (1), communicate (2) and disseminate
(=spread) information (3) in a fast and convenient way. (Idea 1) As a key method of
storing data, there is an increasingly high number of people uploading their files onto
the Internet. Microsoft's OneDrive, for example, is a cloud storage that provide file
storage services for ten of millions of people. (Idea 2) Furthermore, as an important
means of communication, the Internet enables people to get in touch with their friends
easily. This can be clearly seen in the case of SnapChat, a messaging application with
millions of users monthly. (Idea 3) Finally, the Internet serves as an important tool that
facilitates the dissemination of the information. An excellent example of this is
Facebook, a social network that acts as a virtual platform helping one spread their ideas
whenever and wherever they want.

Athough the power of the Internet cannot be overstated, I firmly believe that there are
even more valuable inventions. The first is electricity, without which almost all
electronic devices cannot function. In other words, the Internet could be of no use if
there were no electricity. The second is engines, which can be seen in a great diversity
of facilities, from the old hydropower locomotives (xe lửa hơi nước) to today's luxury
solar-powered airoplanes. If there were no engines, people would have to use
animalpowered or human-powered vehicles, which are often much slower than motored
ones. To illustate, the top pace of an average camel is 30 miles per hour, a half that of a
car on a highway. The final and most important discovery, from my point of view, is
mobile phones, which are the physical platform for various forms of digital
communication. Today, billions are using mobile phones to make calls and send text
messages on a daily basis, a much greater number than that of those using the Internet
for the same purpose.

To sum up, the Internet has some enormous advantages to the human race, but there are
even more significant discoveries, including electricity, engines and mobile phones. I

24
predict that along with the Internet, these three inventions will still be the cornerstones
(nền tảng) of future humanity.

TOPIC 2: Research recently shows an increasing number of business meetings and

trainings taking place online. Do advantages of this development outweigh the
disadvantages?

The trend that many companies hold virtual conferences and provide online training
for their staff has become increasingly more popular recently. I personally think that
the benefits of employing such a form of technology in the workplace vastly outweigh
the drawbacks.
On the one hand, I have to concede that conducting computer-based meetings and
training sessions may lead to some undesirable results. Firstly, as people have to rely
on particular online platforms like Skype for communication, any breakdown of the
internet connection can interrupt or even bring the entire ongoing communication
process to an abrupt end. This is such a frustrating experience that no business expects
to undergo, especially when it comes to high-profile meetings. Secondly, due to the lack
of face-to-face interaction, participants will be likely to lose their concentration if the
meeting lasts for hours. As a consequence, the quality and the outcome could turn out
to be unexpectedly low.
However, I am more convinced of the advantages offered by distance communication.
The first one is associated with cost effectiveness, which is always of top priority of a
business. Companies have to incur several types of finances, which include training site
rentals and other documentation costs, to be able to organize a conventional conference.
By running online programs, organizations could significantly cut back on unnecessary
expenses and accordingly (therefore) increase its profit. Timesaving manner of virtual
meetings is another merit worth mentioning, which is particularly the case for
transnational companies. The board of directors of Unilever, for example, do not need
to spend hours on long-haul flights to meet one another for business development

25
strategies. With technological aids, discussions can be conveniently conducted at their
office desk.
In conclusion, despite the disadvantages regarding technical errors and attendees'
attention span, I amd completely in favor of online business meetings and training
programs since their benefits are much more considerable.
TOPIC 3: Social media such as Facebook, Twitter is replacing face-to-face contact
in people's everyday lives. Do you think the advantages of this development
outweigh the disadvantages?

The introduction of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter has
revolutionized the way people interact with each other and partially replaced face-
toface communication. Despite some definite advantages, I am of the opinion that
this technological breakthrough has more damaging effects on both individuals and
society.

It is irrefutable that online social media has facilitated long-distance

communication, allowing people to connect with one another easily no matter where
they are. By using this advanced technology, people from different countries now can
be brought together through chats or video calls. (Provide comparison to support idea)
This was never the case in the past when they rarely had a chance to meet or
communicate with anyone outside of their immediate circle of community. What is
more, businessmen now can hold virtual conferences which allow participants in
various locations to access live onsite meetings. They do not have to gather in a
conference room, which helps to ease distance communication in business. (tham
khảo đề Business taking place online)

However, I believe that these social media channels bring about more negative impacts.
Firstly, socializing online can be risky. It is easy for Facebook users to assume fake
identities and hide their true characteristics for frauds. This issue is particularly
concerning for impressionable and gullible teenagers. There are many cases reported
that young female students shared their nude photos with only friends who then used

26
those sensitive photos for extortion. On a larger scale, the availability of new
communication technologies can also have the result of discouraging real interaction.
Young people now show a tendency to immerse themselves in online networks rather
than real-life circles of friends. Consequently, they are no longer forming close and
supportive relationships which are the fabric of any society. Society as a whole is
becoming gradually disjointed as a result.

In conclusion, although no one can deny the benefits of telecommunication via social
media, its disadvantages in terms of online frauds and more fragmented society far
outweigh the merits

1 - immediate circle of community = closest relationships

2 – virtual = online (a)

3 - ease distance communication = make distance communication easy

4 – disjointed / fragmented society = cộng đồng xã hội rời rạc (not well connected)

5 – impressionable and gullible: immature and easy to be deceived, tricked

6 – extortion (n): tống tiền

7 – the fabric of = the structure of

27
TOPIC 4: The news media have become too much influential in people's lives today
and this is a negative development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

[band 7+] [ONE-IDEA PARAGRAPHS]

People hold different views about the news media as it has brought an immense amount
of influence to people lives. Some claim that this might result in negative developments
and although I contend that the media should hold accountable for this, I am more
convinced that its benefits can never be overshadowed by its drawbacks.

There are several reasons which shed light on why the popularity of news media brings
many disadvantages. In order to draw attention from viewers, the news media
occasionally distorts the truth by exaggerating the problem. Thus, it causes
misinformation and misunderstanding among people. Unquestionably, through
television, the media broadcasts a large number of films, including many with adult
themes and violence, which are unsuitable for children. By imitating the actions in these
movies, children are profoundly influenced due to their curiosity and innocence.

Despite its many criticisms, there are more compelling reasons why I firmly believe that
the disadvantages can never outweigh the advantages. It is worth mentioning that with
the ease of access of the Internet, a tremendous amount of knowledge and information
is now available to people, some of which are provided by the media. For example,
regarding the business aspect, if the latest information is not reported, many
businessmen could be facing an extremely high level of risk due to a lack of information.
Meanwhile, it also saves the lives of hundreds of people via weather forecasts. By
accurately predicting and updating information in a timely manner, the news media
could minimize the number of casualties caused by natural disasters and other
phenomena.

Based on these above mentioned facts, in spite of unwanted influences causing by the
media such as misunderstanding and misinformation, I would contend that its role is
indispensable since the media provides people a massive source of knowledge.

[301 words]

28
TOPIC 5: With the rapid development of communication technology, e.g smart
phones, tablets and other communication devices, some people believe that the
disadvantages of these devices outweigh their advantages. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?

The last few decades has witnessed the burgeoning demand for modern communication
tools. Due to its rapid penetration into modern life, many people believe that the
demerits of high-tech devices overshadow their benefits; however, I hold an opposite
belief to such an argument.

On the one hand, the drawbacks of using modern devices in communication are
inevitable. One is that overreliance on advanced communicative tools may render
(=cause) users vulnerable to addiction, causing them to indulge in the virtual world and
become socially isolated. Therefore, lack of face-to-face interaction, poor social life,
or, in worse cases, psychological disorder is commonly found in those heavy users.
Furthermore, several health problems can be ascribed to the excessive use of modern
tools. Backache, eyesight degradation or obesity is now on the rise since people, for
instance, nurture the habit of spending hours on end updating online social network
platforms.

Nevertheless, I would stand by the view that the merits of modern communication
technology yields substantially eclipse its downsides. Firstly, smartphones or tablets
are the fastest and most convenient means of communication. In the past, one's
communication was usually restricted by geographical distance and low mobility, but
nowadays within a few touches of a button, users are able to interact and mingle with
people all over the world by calling or messaging. Consequently, as distance is no
longer a matter of concern, one's social circle can be expanded, which boosts production
and distribution of goods, thereby accelerating the development of any nation's
economy.

In conclusion, although modern communication technology has certain drawbacks, its

enormous benefits are of much greater importance for the overall well-being of both
individuals and society as a whole

29
 ADVERTISING & NEWS MEDIA

TOPIC 1: Advertisments are becoming more and more common in everyday life.
Is this a positive or a negative development (26/11/2016)

SAMPLE 1: STRONG OPINION WITH COUNTER-ARGUMENT

In this contemporary world, advertising industry seems to prevail in all corners of daily
life. As far as I am concerned, this trend has significantly benefited society and
individuals.

Misconception of the growth of advertising as threats to modern society would be

discarded. One argument for this belief is that promotion and marketing campaigns
may be abused to deliberately mislead customers into purchasing low-quality items. I
reject this opinion since advertising industry is put under the control of stringent laws
which would effectively prevent any potential advertising activities from deceiving
consumers. Furthermore, if misleading customers, cheating companies would be held
responsible for their acts and underrated by the public, deterring firms from undertaking
deceptive advertising approaches. Hence, advertising world should be filled with
credible and informative adverts for buyers.

Otherwise, several benefits (that) the development of advertisement brings to society

should be mentioned. Firstly, the growth of promotion and marketing campaigns play
a vital role in boosting production and economy. To specify, with creative contents and
appealing product's images, advertising ads can stimulate customer's demands, boosting
consumption and thus production. Such an upward spiral could result in production
expansion, more job opportunities for citizens, and eventually more taxes contributed to
governmental budgets. Secondly, thanks to the pervasion of advertising industry,
consumers could enjoy more purchase options. For example, unlike in the past when
most customers can only rely on local brand products due to the lack of advertising
means, thesedays, through pervasive adverts (which are) broadcasted in various
channels, local consumers could get exposed to a wide range of products to choose their

30
most satisfactory ones. Such a development delivers irrefutably pleasant and beneficial
buying experience for consumers.

In conclusion, the advantages development of advertisement brings to society and

consumers are undeniable, making it a completely beneficial phenomenon.

PHÂN TÍCH COUNTER-ARGUMENT PARAGRAPH

Topic Sentence:
Misconception of the growth of advertising activities as threats to modern society
should be discarded.

Câu Counter: (Người có ý kiến đối lập mình suy luận như thế nào)
One argument for this belief is that promotion and marketing campaigns may be abused
to deliberately mislead customers into purchasing low-quality items.

Câu Refute (Câu phản biện của mình, phản biện lập luận của người khác):
I reject this opinion since advertising industry is put under the control of stringent laws
which would effectively prevent any potential advertising activities from deceiving
consumers. Furthermore, if misleading customers, cheating companies would be health
responsible for their acts and underrated by the public, deterring firms from undertaking
deceptive advertising approaches.

Câu Small concluding sentence:

Hence, advertising world should be filled with credible and informative adverts for
buyers.

31
SAMPLE 2: BALANCE OPINION

• Advertisement(s) = Advert(s) = Commercial(s) = Publicity material(s)

The development of businesses has given rise to the growing number of advertisements
that can be seen anywhere, on streets or in the media. In my opinion, this phenomenon
could be both positive and negative.

On the one hand, advertising has brought a number of benefits for not only consumers
but also businesses. Certainly, advertising provides details about newly launched
products, which is important for consumers who are still unaware of such products. In
fact, improving quality alone would be less effective if producers failed to
commercialize their commodities (goods). Furthermore, companies, entrepreneurs for
example, spend a great deal of money on publicity materials (các ấn phẩm quảng cáo)
in order to approach prospective customers. This, in return, generates higher profit and
enhances those companies’ competitiveness in the market.

On the other hand, the surge (rapid increase) in quantities of commercials exerts
several undesirable impacts on customers. First, instead of being well-informed about
a new line of product, people are being bombarded with all kinds of advertisements.
Those can be either deceptive or annoying; and such information overload has become
a nuisance (sự phiền toái) to many people, particularly when their favorite telecasts
(chương trình TV) are constantly interrupted by irrelevant promotions. Second,
advertising encourages people to purchase what they do not really need. Images of
celebrities are used in many extravagant commercials (những quảng cáo tốn kém)
especially cosmetics, to stimulate people to purchase products that are being advertised.
However, in reality, most of those products are of little use to buyers.

In conclusion, advertisements of various types have become prevalent (very common)

in modern society; and this is, in my view, advantageous and detrimental as well.

32
33
 :

TOPIC 2 Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we
really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that
may improve our lives.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

(COUNTER-ARGUMENT)

Recently, commercial advertisements have bombarded a variety of television channels,

newspapers, magazines and websites. While some claim that this trend helps
popularize new goods that enhance people's living standards, I would contend that the
main result is that more unnecessary products are consumed by the public.

There is a common fallacy that advertising is an important means to introduce new

and invaluable products to the public. People may argue that in the past, a number of
world-changing products had gained popularity thanks to advertising, such as the
success story of electronic cigarette advertisements in the early 2000s, which were
believed to have saved millions from tuberculosis and lung cancer. However, in more
recent years, the market has become saturated, leaving very little chance that one can
invent a revolutionary product that changes people's life. Even when there are such
lifechanging inventions, it is still very unlikely that they can reach their potential
customers through advertising channels. because these channels are now owned,
controlled and dominated by large corporations, who have no top priority other than
promoting their own merchandise (goods)

I believe the main purpose of most advertisments is to persuade customers to make a

purchase regardless of (despite) their true needs. To meet sales targets, large companies
often exaggerate the usefulness of a small feature of their products when advertising.
For example, the latest Samsung mobile phone is no different from its predecessor,
except for a slightly faster processor, but Samsung marketers are skilful enough to
convince customers that their older phones are just obsolete, and that these devices must
be upgraded to the latest version. Some other companies, including Unilever, have

34
hired celebrities to take part in advertisements, to appeal to customers who are fans of
these famous people. All these advertising techniques may promote the sales, but are
far from (không hề) encouraging customers to purchase the goods they truly need.

In conclusion, all the existing data provides a concrete foundation that advertising
has been used as an important selling tool of many businesses, whose primary goal is
profit, rather than meeting customer's needs

35
 :

TOPIC 3 Children are big target audience for advertisers. Companies hope that if
they start selling products to children at an early age, children will continue to buy
the products when they are adults. Some people are against advertising to children.
They say that children should not be targets because they are too easily affected by
advertising.

What is your opinion? Should advertisers be allowed to advertise to children? Why

or why not?

It is noticeable that marketing companies have been increasingly place much emphasis
on winning younger customers. However, while advertising to children is significantly
effective, it also comes with disadvantages. Personally, I am of the opinion that
advertisers have no rights to target children.

For a variety of reasons, misleading advertisements raise a concern over adverse effects
on children’s mental development. Firstly, at the very young age, children are not
cognitively able to identify selling purposes. As a result, they are highly likely to believe
in what are conveyed in advertising messages invented intentionally to make the sale.
Secondly, excessive exposure to advertisements leads to the cases in which children
smoke, use alcohol and adopt unhealthy lifestyles. For example, the texts and visuals
might be designed with bad role models such as a violent hero or a shopaholic super
model, thus encouraging immature and impressional children to imitate their acts These
negative consequences would noticeably carry over to adulthood if not prevented.

It is no doubt that commercial advertisements have an undesirable impact on educating

children. If there were no longer advertisements to clients under ten (years old),
grownups would find teaching their sons and daughters relatively trouble-free. In fact,
it seems that advertisers would meet their target of the entire family by affecting
significantly young minds. Take parents of those obssessed with kids products as an
example, their offspring steadily increase their demands, whereas pampering
unquestionably could leads to a spoiled generation.

36
In conclusion, it is undeniable that advertising has both the downsides and benefits, but
I am convinced that there should be a ban on advertisements to children under a certain
age.

37
 :

TOPIC 4 Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from

competing companies. To what extent do you think are consumers influenced by
advertisements? What measures can be taken to protect them?

In today’s material world, we are inundated with (bị bủa vây với) various forms of
advertising. In my view, this can be dangerous as it encourages us to spend without
thinking and young people, in particular, need some protection from it.

The first point to make is that advertising does make us spend money although we do
not need to. There are nowadays so many different ways companies promote their
products and services, ranging from television commercials to simple flyers (tờ rơi) that
we cannot escape it. Whenever, for example, sport fans watch a football match on
television, they will see the logos of the tournament sponsors. Likewise, if cinemagoers
watch the latest blockbuster movie (phim bom tấn), very probably they will see a product
placed in the film by some advertising agency. The volume of this advertising means
that we, as consumers, tend to be profoundly influenced by it and buy without thinking.

It is not easy to decide how to regulate (kiểm soát) advertising. Clearly, governments
ought to restrict advertisements for harmful products such as alcohol and tobacco. They
do not have the power, however, to control other forms of advertising. This means we
need to use our common sense (tri giác) when we go to the shops, and ask ourselves
whether we really need to make that purchase. Parents should, however, ensure that
young people are protected from too much exposure to (tiếp xúc vs) advertising. This
can mean simply explaining that it is not in fact necessary to buy the newest Xbox, or
simply turning the television off.

My conclusion is that while we cannot escape advertising or its effects in the modern
world, children should be encouraged not to pay too much attention to it.

(272 words – Dominic Cole)

38
TOPIC 5: The news media have become too much influential in people's lives today
and this is a negative development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

[band 7+]

People hold different views about the news media as it has brought an immense
amount of influence to people lives. Some claim that this might result in negative
developments and although I contend that the media should hold accountable for this,
I am more convinced that its benefits can never be overshadowed by its drawbacks.

There are several reasons which shed light on why the popularity of news media brings
many disadvantages. In order to draw attention from viewers, the news media
occasionally distorts the truth by exaggerating the problem. Thus, it causes
misinformation and misunderstanding among people. Unquestionably, through
television, the media broadcasts a large number of films, including many with adult
themes and violence, which are unsuitable for children. By imitating the actions in these
movies, children are profoundly influenced due to their curiosity and innocence.

[One-idea para] Despite its many criticisms, there are more compelling reasons why I
firmly believe that the disadvantages can never outweigh the advantages. It is worth
mentioning that with the ease of access of the Internet, a tremendous amount of
knowledge and information is now available to people, some of which are provided by
the media. For example, regarding the business aspect, if the latest information is not
reported, many businessmen could be facing an extremely high level of risk due to a
lack of information. Meanwhile, it also saves the lives of hundreds of people via
weather forecasts. By accurately predicting and updating information in a timely
manner, the news media could minimize the number of casualties caused by natural
disasters and other phenomena.

Based on these above mentioned facts, in spite of unwanted influences causing by the
media such as misunderstanding and misinformation, I would contend that its role is
indispensable since the media provides people a massive source of knowledge.

39
:

[301 words]

40
 CULTURE & ARTS

TOPIC 1: Some people argue that government money should not be used for art
and cultural activities. Some said it is necessary for governments to fund those
activities for the benefit of their population. Discuss both views and give your
opinion

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1 - time-honored culture: nền văn hoá lâu đời

2 – hallmark (n): a typical feature

3 - attract a massive influx of tourists: thu hút đông đảo du khách

4 - export the unique image of Thai culture: quảng bá văn hoá

5 - inimitable: không copy / ăn theo được (độc đáo – unique)

6 - secular societies: vô thần / không theo tôn giáo nào

7 - opinion is largely divided: nhiều quan điểm khác nhau

People have different views about whether or not public money should be spent on art
and cultural events. I hold the opinion that governments should allocate part of their
spending to such activities because they offer tremendous benefits in various ways.

Opponents of money allocation for art and cultural activities tend to argue that
government expenditure should be used to improve public services, thereby enhancing
people's overall qualỉty of life rather than spent on the arts, which is often deemed an
unnecessary waste. In increasingly secular societies (xã hội vô thần), a large proportion
of taxpayers have no religion nor and interest in arts. Therefore, spending public money
on organizing such events, which serve them no benefit, may be considered a waste of
money. From their viewpoint, monetary contribution through the tax system should be,

41
for example, invested in upgrading the public transport system to make people's travel
experiences more comfortable or building more parks where they can gather to relax,
keep fit, and improve their general well-being.

However, I believe that art and cultural activities deserve funding from the government
for many reasons. To begin with, such celebrations are the hallmarks (typical feature,
điểm nổi bật) of a society in terms of its time-honored culture (văn hóa lâu đời), which
should be preserved by all means (bằng mọi giá). With the abolition (sự loại bỏ) of
traditional events, it might only be a matter of time before the loss of cultural identities
occurs. In addition, festivities are instrumental in boosting the economic growth of a
country. Take Thailand as a typical example. Songkran, which is the Thai New Year's
festival, attracts a massive influx of tourists (rất nhiều đoàn du khách) from different
parts of the world every year, exporting the unique image of Thai culture worldwide and
thus promoting its tourism industry in such a way that is inimitable. (rất độc đáo)

In conclusion, although opinion is largely divided, as discussed above, I am

completely convinced that art and cultural events should be funded by the government
because of their indispensable role in retaining a country's distinct cultural values and
stimulating economic development

42
TOPIC 2: In today’s world of advanced science and technology, we still greatly
value our artists such as musicians, painters and writers. What can arts tell us
about life that science and technology cannot?

USEFUL VOCABULARY:

1. Command profound respect: Có được sự kính trọng sâu sắc

2. Deliver messages about: Truyền tải thông điệp về cái gì đó

3. Depict misery, misfortune and sorrow: miêu tả sự lầm than, không may và nỗi đau

4. Narrate a resonant story: kể một câu truyện sinh động

5. Convey such a powerful message: Truyền tải thông điệp mạnh mẽ

6. Cherish the beauty of culture: Quý trọng vẻ đẹp văn hóa

7. Fade our belief: Làm mờ đi niềm tin của chúng ta

8. The gravity of culture: Sức nặng của văn hóa

9. Cultural identity: Bản sắc văn hóa

10. Touch us to a much deeper extent: Chạm đến chúng ta ở tầng sâu hơn

11. here to stay: Luôn hiện hữu trước mắt

OUTLINE:

- Body 1: Literature and the appreciation of life (trân trọng giá trị cuộc sống)
- Body 2: Art deliver culture (trân trọng văn hóa)

SAMPLE

43
In this modern era of nonstop scientific and technological advancement, artists still
command profound respect from people the world over. There are a number of things
about life that arts can teach people whilst science and technology fail to do so.

Many forms of art, especially literature, can deliver messages about the appreciation of
what people have in life as well as life itself. Hundreds of literary works choose to depict
misery, misfortune and sorrow that still exist in many places, and this sends the strongest
message to those who do not appreciate their lives. “The Goldfinch”, for example, which
narrates a resonant story about the miserable life the main character led after the
unfortunate death of his mother, does (cấu trúc nhấn mạnh) make each one wonder
whether they have become heartless toward their own loved ones. It is widely
acknowledged that there are any technologies in the world that could manage to convey
such powerful messages.

Arts teach human to cherish the beauty of culture and are the fuel for their spiritual lives.
This is extremely important in a world where science and technology seem to fade their
belief in the gravity of culture in daily life. The connection between arts and culture is
here to stay, and traditional music and ancient paintings can remind us of where we came
from and who we are at present. That is to say (this means), our cultural identity is
preserved in various forms of arts.

All things considered, although science and technology advance our understanding of
all things and better our lives (verb), arts can touch us to a much deeper extent, help us
value what we have, and remind us of the significance of our culture.

44
TOPIC 3: Most people have forgot the meaning behind traditional and religious
festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of festivals, and
that most of us treat them as opportunities to have fun. While it is true that enjoyment
seems to be the priority during festival times, I do not agree that people have forgot
what these festivals mean.

On the one hand, religious and traditional festivals have certainly become times for
celebration. In the UK, Christmas is a good example of a festival period when people
are most concerned with shopping, giving and receiving presents, decorating their
homes and enjoying traditional meals with their families. Most people look forward to
Christmas as a holiday period, rather than a time to practice religion (hành đạo). Similar
behavior can be seen during non-religious festivals, such as Bonfire Night. People
associate this occasion with (gắn liền dịp này với) making fires, watching firework
displays, and perhaps going to large events in local parks; in other words, enjoyment is
people's primary goal.

However, I disagree with the idea that the underlying meaning (ý nghĩa đằng sau) of
such festivals has been forgot. In UK primary schools, children learn in detail about the
religious reasons for celebrating Christmas, Easter and a variety of festivals in other
religions. For example, in late December, children sing Christmas songs which have a
religious content, and they may even perform nativity plays (những vở kịch về sự sinh
ra của Chúa) telling the story of Jesus' birth. In addition, families also play a role in
passing knowledge of religious festivals' deeper significance to the next generation
(truyền lại kiến thức về tầm quan trọng của lễ hội tôn giáo cho đời sau). The same is
true for festivals that have a historical background, such as Bonfire Night or
Halloween, as people generally learn the stories behind these occasions at an early age.

In conclusion, although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during festivals, I

believe that they are still aware of the reasons for these celebrations.
45
TOPIC 4: The main visitors to museums and historical sites are tourists, not local
people. Why is it the case? What can be done to attract local people to these places

Tourists are generally drawn to museums and historical locations when visiting new
countries. However, records have shown local people’s low attendance at these
attractions. Some explanations will be put forward before solutions can be drawn to
tackle this problem.

There are several reasons as to why tourists, instead of the local people, come to
museums and historical places. First, these locations can provide visitors with a
comprehensive overview of the traditions in the locality (particular area) they are
situated. As a result, such destinations are generally more appealing to the newcomers
than to the locals, those without the need to familiarise themselves with the traditional
values of the region. Moreover, because the layout of museums and historical houses is
likely to remain unchanged through years, they can be visually unattractive to the local
inhabitants, who may have been to these sites for at least once in their younger years.

Several measures can be prompted to promote locals’ attendance rate at buildings for
historic relics (di tích) and museums. The main solution is to change the public’s
perception of such places as sites for only monotonous activities. Should civic events
including weddings, anniversaries and concerts be allowed to be held in these locations,
they would attract substantial public attention to historical values.(đảo ngữ câu đkiện
Loại 1) Another resolution is that historians and preservationists should be featured
more frequently on the media, with their articles on the tremendous worth of museums
and historical remains.

To conclude, historical areas and museums can be uninteresting for local citizens
because they can be too familiar with the culture that these places depict. To better this,
there should be more media coverage on historical assets, and also more open-door
policies to use such locations as spots for more public-oriented activities.

[Summarize main ideas]

46
TOPIC 5: It is more important for schoolchildren to learn about local history than
world history. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

[COUNTER – ARGUMENT]

Teaching history for schoolchildren has been a heated topic constantly. There is a
common belief that local history is more important to children than world history.
However, I disagree with this belief.

I believe the notion that local history is more valuable than world history should be
rejected. Some people may claim that the insights into the local historical values are
completely enough for one to live. Their claim could be true a few decades ago when
most interpersonal communications were between people of the same race and origin.
However, this view is now outdated, as the world has become globalised and
international business and migrant workers have made any community a global village.
In this context, an understanding of a foreign country’s history would enable future
local workers to reinforce the relationship between them and the expatriates (kiều bào)
from that country.

In addition, I am strongly convinced that children would benefit the most only when
the learning of local history is placed parallel with (song song với) that of world history.
To understand a local historical event, children should put the regional and sometimes
even world context in that historical era into consideration. For example, children
should acknowledge that the event that Vietnam regained its independence after
defeating the Japanese troops in Indochina (Đông Dương) in 1945, and this only
happened after a series of relevant events in the World War II, one of which is the
surrender (sự đầu hàng) of Japan to the Allies. In this way of learning, children would
understand history more deeply and thoroughly.

All the existing data has provided a concrete foundation that the study of local
history should always be parallel with that of world history. Such a practice would
guarantee that children learn history more comprehensively and be able to tighten the
bond with migrant workers in their country.

47
TOPIC 6: Some people think that studying from the past offers no benefits to
today's life, while others believe that history is a valuable source of information for
us. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

SAMPLE 1:

Function of history in modern life has become a heated topic of discussion in the modern
world. Despite the arguments refuting the importance of historical knowledge, I am
more convinced that history is an invaluable source of information for contemporary
humans.

On the one hand, some people believe that historical knowledge is of no useful benefits
for modern life. One noticeable reason is that learning about historical and sorrowful
events in the past would bring painful feelings and loss of faith in humanity (nhân đạo
nhân văn) rather than certain benefits. For example, memorizing terrorist attacks or
inhumane events in the past seems to leave doleful emotion and render (=cause) modern
people miserable since they cannot reverse the history. In addition, most knowledge
legacies in the past have become outdated in the modern contexts in which
breakthroughs take place daily. Therefore, findings from researching history would be
deemed unnecessary and have limited values to modern development.

On the other hand, I am of the opinion that one of the most valuable references
nowadays comes from history. Firstly, young generation can have more opportunities
to access and inherit legacies from their ancestors. Past knowledge and discoveries could
create a concrete foundation on which people can further develop further advances with
the goal of generating considerable contributions to modern humankind. Secondly,
learning mistakes in the previous growing process are immensely precious experience
that modern people can use to avoid previous generations’ mistakes. For example, by
analyzing causes leading to disastrous world wars, governmental officials can withdraw

48
lessons (rút ra bài học), trying to compromise (thỏa hiệp) and abstain from provocations
(tránh những sự kích động) triggering another war.

In conclusion, from the above reasons, even though the role of history is undermined
by some people, I would embrace the contribution of history as humankind’s precious
source of information.

SAMPLE 2:

There are different opinions about the role of history in our present life. While a lot of
people insist that there would be nothing to gain from doing research on what happened
in the past, I suppose history does teach us precious lessons.

On the one hand, I understand why some people think it is pointless to learn from
the past. First, history is the field that is rarely used in people’s lives, and therefore, they
would rather pay attention to science or technology than focus on something that
brings no relevant values to the present or future. Second, each historical event is
interpreted differently based on different facts and perspectives, so there is no guarantee
of the accuracy of information obtained. If, in many cases, historical documents were
falsified, it would cause tremendous damage to people’s culture and religion.

On the other hand, I would argue that studying from past events is essential for two
principal reasons. History helps young people have thorough insights into their own
culture and how their country has evolved. This is particularly true in case of Vietnam.
The youth need to understand how their ancestors defended the nation against intruders
(bảo vệ quốc gia khỏi những kẻ xâm lược) throughout many dynasties (triều đại) and
maintain a sovereign and free country (duy trì một quốc gia có chủ quyền và tự do),
which would develop their patriotism and pride (lòng yêu nước và tự hào).
Furthermore, history depicts the mistakes made in the past, hence helping people to
avoid similar ones in the future.

In conclusion, acquiring knowledge about historical events, although redundant (thừa

thãi) according to some, seems to be of great value to me.

49
TOPIC 7: Maintaining public libraries is a waste of money since computer
technology can replace their functions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

SAMPLE 1:
Public libraries are believed to be wasteful in the modern era of technology. While it is
true that advanced technology could provide easier and more convenient access to
information in several ways, I believe governmental-funded libraries are indispensable

On the one hand, it is justifiable to say that techological tools can satisfy the quest
for knowledge of readers even in a more convenient (1) and satisfactory (2) way in
comparison with libraries. (Idea 1 – More convenient) Internet-based platforms and
devices empower users with immediate access to an abundance of information and data,
allowing them to retrieve desired information instantly beyond the constraints of
locations. For instance, an Internet user can look up particular historical events or
medical advice in the blink of an eye without spending hours dropping by (visit shortly)
libraries and searching for relevant books. (Idea 2 – More satisfactory) Likewise,
computer technology is also a solution for busy book seekers thanks to a variety of
newly updated e-books (which are) ready to be downloaded. Their choice of books is
even wider compared to that of library goers as it takes time to publish a printed book
and international books are usually unavailable.

On the other hand, I am persuaded that public libraries play an irreplaceable role in
modern society. One point is that public libraries and their book borrowing services are
meaningful to book lovers who have disadvantaged background since they are they only
chances for these people to access valuable information sources. On a larger scale,
governmental-backed libraries could promote the healthy habit of reading among the
public, which in the long term contributes to raising the intellectual level of community.
(contribute to + Noun / V-ing)
In conclusion, while advanced IT solutions can offer convenient access to information,
I am of the opinion that maintaining public libraries still matters to (important to)
the public.

50
SAMPLE 2:

The debate over the necessity of libraries in modern society has been heated
constantly. While it is argued that online platforms provide easier and more convenient
access to information in several ways, I believe the libraries are indispensable.
There are strong reasons supporting the view that online tools enjoy advantages in
terms of information provision. The primary reason is that internetbased platforms
and devices empower users with immediate access to a myriad of information and data,
allowing them to retrieve (gain) desired information instantly. For instance, it just takes
only a few seconds for an Internet user to look up particular historical events or medical
advice without spending hours finding relevant books in a library. Another significant
point endorsing this view is the omnipresent access (anywhere, anytime) to information
that not libraries but online platforms could provide. Internet-connected devices could
bring their owners the ultimate convenience of being able to search for and gain wanted
information beyond the constraints of time and locations. Such availability of
information could satisfy the quest for knowledge of any users, even those who could
not afford their time to go to libraries.

On the other hand, I am persuaded that libraries play in an irreplaceable role

in modern society. The most significant proof of necessity is that libraries help
preserve knowledge of humankind. Without libraries and their protected books,
invaluable knowledge of past generations could not have been kept and transfered to the
later ones. In addition to their role of retaining (keeping) knowledge, libraries' books
provide people with more authenticated and reliable information compared to those
available on the Internet. For scholars and scientific researchers having strict demands
for data accuracy (có yêu cầu cao về độ chính xác thông tin), libraries and their books
play a vital role in scientific research and information retrieval. Even for normal
readers, libraries are considered as irreplaceable places where they could look for
credible (reliable) nformation
In conclusion, while online platforms offer convenient access to information, I
am of the opinion that libraries maintain their indispensable role in the modern world

51
TOPIC 8: Museums and art galleries should concentrate on works that show
history and culture of their own country rather than works of the other parts of
thư world. To what extent do you agree of disagree?

Modern museums and art galleries are popular places for both local people and tourists
alike to learn about local and global history and cultures. Concerns as to whether
international or national collections should be given more focus should depend on the
type and intended function of a particular museum or art gallery.

Government-funded (public) museums and galleries should concentrate on displaying

national and local exhibits (vật trưng bày). (Reasoning) The fundamental purpose is to
preserve and promote national and local cultural beauty and historical heritage for
prosperity. Extensive local collections categorized chronologically (sắp xếp theo trình
tự thời gian) can help visitors immerse themselves in a local cultural atmosphere for
better overall understanding of their origins. (Counter) Adding a display of foreign
works of art or artifacts might disrupt the flow of such a unique experience due to
information overload. As a consequence, visitors might leave these places without
clearly visualizing their national heritage.

On the other hand, other types of museums and art galleries have different missions of
opening up outside cultures to local people. Such an attempt is instrumental (very
important) in creating future global citizens with cultural sensitivity to be adept at
(skilled at) facing the challenges of a globalized world. For example, museums like the
Lourvre Museum in France or the National British Museum in the UK concentrate on
world heritage and artifacts, serving as international hubs for cross-border cultural and
history learning.

In conclusion, I am convinced that the curation (sự chọn lọc để trưng bày) of a particular
museum or art gallery is decided in line with (similar to) its intended mission. Some
allow visitors to immerse themselves in local legacies, while others fascinate visitors by
a vast array of (a wide range of) global heritage on display (being shown)

52
TOPIC 9: Scientists say that in the future, humanity will speak the same language.
Do you think this is a positive or negative social development?

The omnipresence (xuất hiện ở mọi nơi) of some languages around the globe has resulted
in an anticipation (sự dự đoán) that one specific language will be worldwide spoken by
all people in the future. While this trend offers some undeniable benefits, I believe that
it is a negative development

On the one hand, it is true that a universal language (ngôn ngữ toàn cầu) may help
remove language barriers, allowing people from different parts of the world to convey
(truyền tải, deliver) their thoughts and ideas more effectively. Using the same language
would, as a result, facilitate many fields including international business transactions
(giao dịch kinh doanh quốc tế), cross-border cooperation and tourism (hợp tác và du
lịch quốc tế). The emergence (sự mọc, nổi lên) of English as the predominant
communicative language (ngôn ngữ giao tiếp phổ biến nhất) has testified to (minh chứng
cho) this advantage. Furthermore, without linguistic barriers, any country could freely
communicate and cooperate with others, forming a global village with a myriad of
unprecedented opportunities. (những cơ hội chưa từng có (tiền lệ) trước đây)

On the other hand, I am of the belief that those aforementioned advantages are
negligible (=insignificant) when compared with the potential consequence. As people
around the world speak merely (=only) one language, this would lead to the
disappearance of many other languages which are integral to (very important) unique
national identities of any country. For example, some ethnics' cultures (văn hóa các dân
tộc) in Vietnam would be on the edge of extinction, if minor languages of these tribes
are replaced by one global dialect (tiếng địa phương toàn cầu), which threatens
Vietnam's cultural diversity.

In conclusion, it seems that people can reap (gain) a great number of benefits regarding
communication thanks to the use of a universal dialect. I firmly hold the view that the
drawbacks should not be overlooked (bỏ qua) and concrete actions should be taken to
retain (keep) the linguistic diversity in the world

53
TOPIC 10: Differences between countries become less evident each year.
Nowadays, all over the world people share the same fashions, advertising, brands,
eating habits and TV channels. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of
this?

[COUNTER-ARGUMENT]

It is undoubtedly the case that the world today has become a global village. One of the
effects of this is that increasingly people in all corners of the world are exposed to
similar services and products and adopt similar habits. My view is that this is largely a
beneficial process and in this essay I will explain why.

The first point to make is that there are some downsides to this process of cultural
globalisation, but these are relatively minor. The most significant of these
disadvantages is that it can weaken national culture and traditions. For example, if
people watch films and television programmes produced in the United States, sometimes
they adopt aspects of the lifestyle of the American characters they see on television.
Typically, however, this only affects minor details such as clothing and does not
seriously threaten national identity.

When we turn to the other side of the argument, there are two major points to make
in favour of this process. The first of these is that the more we share habits, products
and services, the better we understand each other and this reduces prejudice against other
nations. The other point relates to modernity. It is a sign of progress in a society that
people are no longer restricted to brands and advertisements from their own society but
are able to access more international goods. [Counter] If, for example, there were
unable to drink Coca Cola or wear Nike, then that would mean their society was not part
of the international community. [extend ideas by using countering it]

In conclusion, I understand the point of view of people who worry about cultural
globalisation because it is a threat to national traditions. However, this is outweighed
by its positive impact on international understanding and the fact that it represents
progress within a society. [Summarize ideas]

54
 (298 words – Dominic Cole)

TOPIC 11: If people go to live in another country, they should follow the customs
and traditions of the new country. Do you agree or disagree?

The compliance of immigrants with the customs and traditions of the country of
residence has been accepted as a spoken rule around the globe. I contend that such
concession is completely necessary.

Adherence to new community customs keeps migrants away from social conflicts. Due
to the fact that some of the socially accepted behaviors of immigrants in their home
country would turn to be inacceptable in the new one, these people may be dragged into
social conflicts if they fail to respect local rules. For instance, the habit of eating dog
meat of Vietnamese or South Korea people would lead to social antagonism and even
law suits if they continue to practice their habit when residing in western countries in
which such an action is considered immoral and illegal.

More importantly, adaptation to local customs is the vital key for expatriates to
integrate into the local community. Traditional and customary values have been long
established in the lifestyles of local dwellers, and these values shape the way they judge
and get along with other community members. Socially conflicting behaviors of
immigrants may create prejudice against them among local residents, and the
continuation of those behaviors would render migrants be treated as social outcasts.
Since deeply rooted traditions are obviously unlikely to change, newcomers to the
community have no choice but to adhere to those customary rules in order to secure
local acceptance. Efforts of acculturation of immigrants help them to build new relations
and live in harmony with local dwellers.

From the above reasons, I am firmly convinced that adhering to local customs and
traditions plays an indispensable part of immigrants’ integration process. This practice
should be adopted and exercised by expatriates all around the world.

TOPIC 12: If people go to live in another country, they should follow the customs
and traditions of the new country. Do you agree or disagree?
55
The compliance of immigrants with the customs and traditions of the country of
residence has been accepted as a spoken rule around the globe. I contend that such
concession is completely necessary.

Adherence to new community customs keeps migrants away from social conflicts. Due
to the fact that some of the socially accepted behaviors of immigrants in their home
country would turn to be inacceptable in the new one, these people may be dragged into
social conflicts if they fail to respect local rules. For instance, the habit of eating dog
meat of Vietnamese or South Korea people would lead to social antagonism and even
law suits if they continue to practice their habit when residing in western countries in
which such an action is considered immoral and illegal.

More importantly, adaptation to local customs is the vital key for expatriates to
integrate into the local community. Traditional and customary values have been long
established in the lifestyles of local dwellers, and these values shape the way they judge
and get along with other community members. Socially conflicting behaviors of
immigrants may create prejudice against them among local residents, and the
continuation of those behaviors would render migrants be treated as social outcasts.
Since deeply rooted traditions are obviously unlikely to change, newcomers to the
community have no choice but to adhere to those customary rules in order to secure
local acceptance. Efforts of acculturation of immigrants help them to build new relations
and live in harmony with local dwellers.

From the above reasons, I am firmly convinced that adhering to local customs and
traditions plays an indispensable part of immigrants’ integration process. This practice
should be adopted and exercised by expatriates all around the world.

GOVERNMENT POLICY

56
TOPIC 1: With many problems of transport and accomodation in cities, some
government are encouraging businesses to move to rural areas. Do you think the
advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

USEFUL VOCABULARY :

- Relocate (v): di chuyển tới (relocate sth to…) (tái định cư)

- industrial zones / parks: Khu công nghiệp

- urban regions / areas / locations: Khu vực thành thị

= metropolitan areas (…) : Các khu vực thành phố lớn

= metropolis(es): Các thành phố lớn

-> the downtown = the city centre

- the countryside = (in) the suburbs = (on) the outskirts = the suburban regions / areas

- Enterprises (n): doanh nghiệp

- On the verge of: trên bờ vực

- Commuter (n): người di chuyển thường xuyên

- Mitigate (v): làm giảm nhẹ bớt 1 vấn đề

- Divert…to / into: Chuyển đổi

- rural-based labor force: lực lượng lao động nông thôn

- the shortage of housing = việc thiếu nhà ở

- Concrete foundation: nền tảng chắc chắn

- The gain(s) / the loss(es): Cái được / mất

SAMPLE:

In recent decades, the increasingly serious problems of accomodation and transport in

many cities has caused some governors to consider a new policy in which companies

57
are encouraged to relocate to countryside regions. While this policy has a number of
drawbacks, I contend that the benefits of it are far weightier.

There are a few disadvantages that the policy of encourage enterprises to move out of
urban areas may bring. The wave of urban-rural relocation of businesses may leave a
number of centre-based employees on the verge of unemployment unless these people
accept to travel a long distance to work. Even in the scenario (viễn cảnh) that they do
accept, there is still another drawback to consider. As the number of urban-rural
commuters increases, the city public transport network will be placed under pressure.

However, I believe that the advantages of such a policy far exceed the disadvantages.
The most outstanding benefit is that once businesses are relocated to the countryside,
their employees will not have to seek for accomodation in the city centre, and the
shortage of housing in the downtown areas can be mitigated. As regards the traffic, this
policy can divert rural-based labour force to an out-of-town destination. Therefore, the
traffic flow (lưu lượng giao thông) into the city on a daily basis (everyday) is
fundamentally reduced (cơ bản được giảm bớt). Finally, such relocation has a
substantial advantage of creating more job opportunities and thus economic benefits to
the local community in suburban regions.

All the existing data provides a concrete foundation that the gains of the policy that
stimulates companies and industrial zones to move to out of inner-city locations are far
more significant than the losses.

TOPIC 2: People living in large cities face several problems. What are these
problems? Should governments encourage people to move to smaller towns?

The problems associated with city life are a major topic of concern in modern society.
I believe that traffic congestion and air pollution are two of the greatest issues, and it is
imperative that the authority motivate citzens to move to suburban areas and satelite
cities.

58
People living in metropolises often have to deal with traffic jams and low air quality.
The former problem is caused by a high traffic density, which results from a large
number of private vehicles. In Hanoi, for example, there are millions of motorbikes and
cars, which leads to the issue that traffic jams occur every day in the peak hours. The
latter problem is the consequence of a great amount of industrial fumes produced by
factories located in the city. A clear illustration of this is the case of Vinataba tobacco
manufacturing sites in Hai Phong City, in which ten thousand citizens are suffering from
a variety of respiratory problems related to air contamination.

However, I am of the opinion that citizens should be encouraged to relocate to the

suburb and satellite cities, which can solve the two above-mentioned problems
simultaneously. If people move away from metropolises, the population density in these
cities are likely to be decreased, leading to a lower number of private vehicles. This
means that traffic congestion may be properly addressed. Additionally, urban-rural
migration can also result in the relocation of manufacturing plants from city centres to
the outskirts, because these plants may move along with their workers to the new places.
The air quality in the city, therefore, may be improved.
In conclusion, I am firmly convinced that amongst the most prevalent problems that
city dwellers often face are traffic congestion and the degradation of air quality (air
pollution). To resolve these matters, people should be motivated to migrate to the
outskirts and satellite towns.

TOPIC 3: In cities and towns all over the world the high volume of traffic is a
problem. What are the causes of this and what actions can be taken to solve this
problem?

It is undoubtedly the case that urban areas around the world increasingly suffer from
congestion. In this essay, I examine the reasons for this trend and suggest some practical

59
policies the authorities could implement (tiến hành) to reduce the level of traffic in our
cities.

The first step is to understand why traffic has increased in towns and cities; and broadly
speaking, there are three main reasons for this. One is that cars have become more
affordable for the average consumer and they are no longer a luxury item, but (mà là)
something that most families expect to own. A second reason is that public transport
has become increasingly unreliable in recent years, not least (nhất là, đặc biệt là)
because many bus and train services have been reduced because of the difficulty in
funding them. The third reason is that society has in general become more mobile
(changeable, dễ biến đổi) and this means more people are prepared to commute to work
by car than they were before.

There is almost certainly no one solution to this problem given the complexity of its
causes; however, one option has to be to improve the reliability of public transport to
encourage people to take the bus or the train rather than get in the car. It would also be
possible to discourage people from driving to work by introducing special tariffs (thuế
quan) for using the roads, especially during peak periods. A successful example of this
is the congestion charge scheme (chính sách phí tắc đường) in London which has
certainly reduced the level of traffic in inner-city areas.

In conclusion, there are a variety of different factors that have led to rising levels of
traffic in urban areas. While it may not be possible to find a complete solution, any
action should probably involve encouraging greater use of public transport and making
it more expensive for the motorists to drive in urban areas.

60
TOPIC 3: In many countries, governments are spending a lot of money on
improving internet access. Why might this be happening? Is this the most
appropriate use of government money?
In the modern world, governments of many countries disburse a great deal of money on
improving internet access. From my personal perspectives, this ongoing practice could
be persuadably elaborated by immense benefits of the Internet. However, such an
investment is not worth state budgets.

Several foreseeable benefits could be attributed to increasing investments in internet

provision. First of all, quality provision of Internet makes e-learning accessible for
people inhabiting in disadvantaged regions, whose academic pursuit is restricted due to
distance constraints. The practice would, therefore, ensure efficient access to education
in remote areas without allocating a huge amount of money for constructing schools and
education facilities. Another noteworthy driving force is related to economic
development. Specifically, since access to Internet is vital to the operation and trading
of nearly all companies in the modern age, investments in better Internet supply can
substantially enable businesses to boost their productivity, expand sales channels, and
thrive. (phát đạt, thịnh vượng)

Nevertheless, I am of the strong notion that despite obvious benefits, such an

investment in internet connection is deemed unjustifiable. It would be fair to say that
the efforts of bettering Internet access can be shouldered by business entities, not only
the state, since they can afford such cost-effective investments to boost their own profits.
By mobilizing funding from the private sector, the government can play a minimal role
in the field but still obtain improved Internet connection. Moreover, there exist more
pressing social issues that deserve public disbursements. Using public money to provide
health care and treatment for the underprivileged, saving thousands of lives, would be a
more crucial and meaningful public budget allocation than providing better Internet
since such non-profitable endeavor could only be burdened by the governments.

In conclusion, even though convincing reasons are in place to justify governmental

expenditure (hợp lý hóa số tiền của chính phủ) on Internet advancement, such spending
is unnecessary to be incurred by the states.

61
TOPIC 4: In some countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy.
Some people think that the government should be responsible for solving this
problem.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. vexing (a) = worrying = annoying

2. be accountable for sth / V-ing = be liable for = be responsible for…

3. Boot camp: trại huấn luyện (thường trong quân đội)
4. (to) meet the demand (for sth / to V): đáp ứng nhu cầu, đòi hỏi
5. be of high chance to be vulnerable to…= có nhiều nguy cơ bị ảnh hưởng xấu bởi
6. (to) devote…to sth/ V-ing: cống hiến
ð devote virtually their whole time to working = dành gần như toàn bộ thời gian
cho công việc
7. (to) ensure material well-being: đảm bảo chất lượng cuộc sống về mặt vật chất
8. (to) Shoulder the blame/burden (of) /responsibility for… = gánh vác gánh nặng /
trách nhiệm
9. lead a sedentary lifestyle: có lối sống ít vận động, ngồi quá nhiều ð a sedentary
job
10. (to) be inclined to V = Tend to V
11. (to) place emphasis on = tập trung vào, nhấn mạnh (tầm quan trọng)
12. (to) engage sb in sth/ V-ing: khiến ai thấy hứng thú với…

It is true that children in some parts of the world are becoming obese and unhealthy. I
agree with the role of the government in resolving this vexing issue. However, I also
believe that the role of parenting and school settings should also be emphasized.

Childhood obesity and children’s health problems should be partly blamed on the
authority (đổ lỗi 1 phần cho chính quyền). We can hardly deny the fact that
overweight children are of high chance to be vulnerable to numerous serious diseases

62
such as diabetes and hypertension (tăng động), which poses a dire threat to (đe dọa
nghiêm trọng tới) the national growth of any country as they are the future’s human
resources. As a result, the authority should be accountable for mitigating this problem.
Take China as a good example, the governing body has been taking action to lower
obesity rate among children by organizing boot camps where children are physically
trained to lose weight and take up daily healthy habit. This is because China’s political
activists (nhà hoạt động chính trị) are scared of the scenario (viễn cảnh) that these
overweight children will not be able to meet the physical demand to join the army.

Besides the governmental role, parents and schools are also liable for (= be responsible
for) their children’s good health. Regarding the former, working parents nowadays
tend to devote virtually their whole time to working in order to ensure material
wellbeing, which means that they may spend less time carefully taking care of their
children’s diet. Therefore, without supervision, children might eat unhealthy food or
lead a sedentary lifestyle. This explains why proper parental care and control (sự chăm
sóc và kiếm soát đúng cách của bố mẹ) is crucial in ensuring children’s balanced diet
and healthy life. In terms of the role of education in teaching children about health
living, some schools are inclined to place emphasis on theoretical subjects as math and
literature, and neglect the importance of physical education (phớt lờ sự quan trọng của
thể dục), which reduces their students’ workout frequency (việc tập luyện thường xuyên).
School efforts to promote healthy diet and engage students in physical exercises are
irreplaceable in tackling the problem of child obesity.

In conclusion, the government, parents and schools should all shoulder the
responsibility for protecting their children from obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

(*) Tip triển khai ý tưởng, đoạn văn nói về tác hại: Đổ lỗi cho hoàn cảnh => Lấy
làm cơ sở lập luận – Xem phụ lục 2 Lesson 3

63
TOPIC 5: Many people think that good health is a basic human need, that medical
services should not be run by profit-making companies. Do the advantages of
private health care outweigh the advantages?

Good health has been long deemed as one of human essential needs. The proliferation
(sự gia tăng nhanh) of private health-care services has been witnessed in the modern
world. Although the benefits of profit-making medical services are undeniable, I
personally reckon (=believe, consider) that the disadvantages overshadow its
advantages.

Regarding the benefits, private clinics could share responsibilities with state hospitals
in taking care of people's health. With today's rapid growth of population, public medical
services may not be solely (be the only one) able to provide sufficient (enough)
healthcare for all citizens. Therefore, the appearance of the private ones could
contribute to solving (contribute to V-ing / noun) the problem, attenuating (=mitigate)
the challenges of overloaded systems facing public hospitals. Take Vietnam's status quo
(present situation) as an example, the government seems to lack both financial and
professional capability to well-supply health care for 93 million Vietnamese citizens
nationwide. Therefore, the mission may only be possible with the engagement
(=involvement) of private hospitals to increase the availability of health services for
people in need.

However, a negative impact with regards to high cost also emerges along with the
introduction of medical private sector. It is undeniable that medical facilities employed
(=used) in profit-yielding healthcare services are far more modern and better than those
in public hospitals. Due to this reason, the fees for diagnosis and treatments (chẩn đoán
và điều trị) are accordingly exorbitant (therefore - very expensive), thus preventing the
low and medium-income classes from enjoying those quality services. In other words,
access to private clinics may turn a privilege for only wealthy groups. (trở thành đặc
quyền của người giàu). As a result, this practice would not only render (*) the
poverty-stricken (=very poor people) vulnerable to (dễ phải chịu) deaths caused by
serious diseases which public medical services could not cure, but also aggravate

64
(=exarcerbate / worsen) social inequality between the rich and the poor (sự bất công
trong xã hội giữa người giàu-nghèo). Such exclusion (sự loại trừ, k cho hưởng quyền)
may go against the intended purpose of private sector involvement (sự tham gia của tư
nhân), especially in developing countries like Vietnam or Cambodia where the majority
of population are living under the poverty line.

• (render sb/sth + adj: cause…)

In conclusion, shouldering a part of the challenges posed to medical services (which
are) run by the government is a distinct benefit of profit-making medical organizations.
Nevertheless, the problem of unaffordable costs for the impoverished should be taken
into account (xem xét cân nhắc) as a more serious concern of such entities (business,
organization)

65
TOPIC 6: Some people believe the government should spend money on building
train and subway lines to reduce traffic congestion. Others think that building
more and wider roads is the better way to reduce traffic congestion.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

[COUNTER ARGUMENT]

The methods of mitigating traffic congestion have been a heated topic of controversy.
Some people argue that the construction of larger roads is the answer for the problem.
However, I contend that such a solution is ineffective in the long term, while the option
to construct railways and subways is a far better measure.

There is a common fallacy that governmental spending on building larger roads could
sustainably address the problem of traffic congestion (giải quyết vấn đề tắc đường một
cách bền vững). An increase in road size could reduce the traffic intensity in the short
term, but larger roads also mean that the citizens are encouraged to purchase more
individual vehicles. This leads to the fact that the roads, albeit (despite) larger, would
soon be filled with intense traffic again. For instance, traffic jams returned to
Shanghai’s main streets not long after they were expanded in the early 1990s. In brief
(tóm lại), if this solution is implemented (tiến hành), traffic jams would still persist (vẫn
dai dẳng) in the long run.

Rail and subway systems, however, could ensure that traffic congestion is properly
addressed. Unlike cars and buses, trains are capable of transporting hundreds of people
simultaneously (cùng lúc) and thus would meet the transport demand of a vast number
of passengers. Moreover, trains do not have to go through intersections and traffic
lights, and dedicated lines (làn riêng) ensure their travel is hardly interrupted. In other
words, trains are always on time regardless of (bất kể) the level of traffic. This level of
punctuality (sự đúng giờ) would encourage many people to choose railways and
subways as their primary means of transport (phương tiện gthông cơ bản) and the

66
number of individuals vehicles would decrease accordingly (therefore). As a result,
traffic congestion could be tackled successfully.

The existing data provides a concrete foundation to conclude that building more and
larger roads in an unsustainable measure, while train and subway lines would be a much
more effective solution for the problem of traffic congestion.

67
TOPIC 7: Many developing countries required aids from international
organizations to continue their development. Some people argue that
international organizations should provide financial aid, others think practical aid
and advice are more useful.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

SAMPLE 1: CÁCH VIẾT TRUYỀN THỐNG CỦA DẠNG BÀI “DISCUSSION

ESSAY”
+ “Financial aid” rất quan trọng vì giúp các quốc gia kịp thời giải quyết khó khan
trong nước
ð Thúc đẩy sự phát triển, tiến bộ.
+ “Practical aid and advice” bao gồm “technology and knowledge transfer” cũng
rất quan trọng vì giúp quốc gia đó có được nguồn nhân lực giỏi cũng như các tiến bộ
về mặt khoa học – kỹ thuật
ð Thúc đẩy sự phát triển, tiến bộ.
ð Từ đó cho thấy, “the combination of both types of aid” sẽ là một giải pháp
hoàn hảo để các tổ chức, cộng đồng quốc tế giúp đõ các quốc gia đang phát
triển.

1 – preferential grants: tiền trợ cấp ưu tiên

2 – third world / underprivileged / disadvantaged / impoverished / less developed /

underdeveloped nations (countries)

3 – empirical (a) = practical (a) (based on real-life experience)

3 – plausible (a) = true, believable

4 – empower (v): encourage and support the ability to do sth

5 – human capacity: the ability of human to do particular things successfully (năng lực)

6 – reap advantages / benefits (from…)

7 – overarching (a): tổng quát, bao quát (VD: overarching strategy / goal)

68
It is true that international organizations have been significantly contributing to
underdeveloped countries’ progress over recent years through different methods.
Meanwhile, people argue whether financial support or practical assistance and
empirical advice should be more prioritized. I would endorse the combination of both
types of aid.

On the one hand, I believe that financial support from global community would
facilitate the development of third world nations. Preferential grants could enable
local authorities in disadvantaged countries to flexibly allocate investment in any fields
identified as pressing issues to national growth. Taking Vietnam as a typical
example, with the ODA sponsorship from Japan, a focus on improving national
infrastructure and transportation system have been translated into plausible results.
Residence living standards have been uplifted and conditions have been created for
the development of all aspects of the economy.

On the other hand, global community should also provide underprivileged countries
with practical support and empirical advice to assist their development. This kind of aid
typically includes technology and knowledge transfer, which could directly empower
local human capacity and facilitate technological advancement, (which are) the key to
any nation’s progress.

As elaborating the advantages which third world nations can reap from financial and
non-financial aids, I am of the belief that the combination of both kinds of support
would more fully benefit disadvantaged countries and their local communities
financially and technically for overarching development. In other words, only one
type of support provided would fail to maximize its aid efficiency and outcomes.

In conclusion, both subsidy and practical advice should be sent to impoverished

countries by international organizations with the goal of bolstering their national
progress to the fullest extent.

(274 words)

SAMPLE 2: CÁCH VIẾT COUNTER ARGUMENT CỦA DẠNG BÀI

69
“DISCUSSION ESSAY” (REFUTE ONE VIEW – ENDORSE THE OTHER)
+ “Financial aid” hoàn toàn không thể giúp gì cho các quốc gia đang phát triển vì
các vấn đề lạm phát cũng như việc sử dụng và quản lý tiền không hợp lý ð Hoàn
toàn phản đối
+ Ngược lại, “practical aid and advice” bao gồm “technology and knowledge
transfer” cũng rất quan trọng vì giúp quốc gia đó có được nguồn nhân lực giỏi cũng
như các tiến bộ về mặt khoa học – kỹ thuật
ð Thúc đẩy sự phát triển, tiến bộ => Cần nhấn mạnh đây là phương pháp hợp lý
trong dài hạn để giúp các quốc gia đang phát triển và tránh được những vấn đề
nảy sinh của “Financial aid”

1 – recipient (of sth) (n): người nhận - a person who receives something

ð Third world recipient(s): Ý nói người dân các nước đang phát triển

2 – corruption (n) tham nhũng

3 – unrealized (a) not yet done or achieved (unrealized ambition/goal/project)

4 – deprive sb of sth = tước đi của ai cái gì

5 – X could (best) illustrate this point / argument => to give example

6 – entity = business, organization

7 – engagement = involvement

International support to developing countries has evolved as a major topic of concern

recently. Since I refute the effectiveness of financial aid provision to these nations, I
firmly believe that non-financial aid and advice would be more beneficial to third world
recipients.

It is a misbelief to consider finance-related support as better preference to

disadvantaged nations. Advocates of such a view would assume that cash supply
would enable the local authorities in developing countries to flexibly allocate sponsored
70
budget for various fields and targets that are identified pressing for local communities.
However, such a scenario is invalid since corruption and lack of management which
are common in these regions may lead to inefficiency and even misuse of the
preferential loans. As a consequence, the intended purposes of loans to support
underprivileged people would become unrealized, depriving these poor countries and
their communities of opportunities to thrive.

Moreover, less developed nations could benefit substantially more from non-financial
aid. This kind of aid typically includes technology and knowledge transfer, which
could directly empower (support) local human capacity and facilitate technological
advancement, the key to any nation’s progress. The success of development projects of
East Meet West, a multi-national non-profit organization could best illustrate this
argument. The entity carries out programs which involve improving education and
health of children, building and renovating vital institutions (cơ quan), and providing
clean water have resulted in life quality improvements of underprivileged people in
Vietnam’s rural areas. It seems to the local in-need communities that direct
engagement of international entities would bring them seeable and practical benefits
than other forms of aid.

In conclusion, I consider offering advice and practical aid to the developing countries
as a more efficient and effective aid from international organizations.

(285 words)

TOPIC 8: It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should

only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

The role of one government to support citizens of other countries has been a major
topic of concern in today’s society. From my perspective, this practice is feasible and
71
there are compelling reasons why governments should help people in the global
community rather than only focusing on the citizens of their own countries.

In this context of globalisation and international integration (trong bối cảnh toàn cầu
hóa và hội nhập quốc tế), the provision of assistance for peoples of all countries in the
world is not an impossible task anymore. One explanation for this is that modern
means of transport have transformed the way that international assistance could be
given, and now assistance could reach even the most remote places on Earth. For
example, thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in a mountainous city in Nepal
were rescued by US and German military helicopters in 2014. One further explanation
is that thanks to international banking, the international community could offer a
helping hand to any country where the financial system is on the verge of collapse. An
excellent example of this is that the saving money of millions of taxpayers and
pensioners in Greece was saved by a timely act (một sự hành động kịp thời) of the
European Commission of injecting a huge amount of bailout money (bơm – tiền cứu
trợ) into Greek banks in 2009.

I strongly believe any government must assume (take) the responsibility of helping
citizens in other countries. This is mainly because assisting inhabitants in other
countries, to some extent, is synonymous with assisting people in the home country. In
2014, hundreds of US and UK doctors and nurses were sent to African countries to cope
with the outbreak (sự bùng phát) of Ebola, a dreadful plague (một dịch bệnh khủng
khiếp), which had killed many thousands by that time. This action prevented the plague
from further spreading to other nations, including the US and the UK themselves, who
considered that there was a free movement of people between countries and there were
millions of African migrant workers in the US and the UK at that time. In addition, the
act of supporting people all around the world may promote a sense of humanity, which
is essential to the sustainable development (sự phát triển bền vững) of the world, because
humanity (sự nhân đạo, nhân văn) is the foundation of peace and stability (nền tảng cho
hòa bình và ổn định)

72
To conclude, governments must provide assistance for citizens of other countries for a
clear reason that this feasible act could simultaneously enhance a global sense of
humanity and assure their own nations of a proper living environment.

(395 words)

73
 BUSINESS & WORK

TOPIC 1: Some people think that people who choose a job early and keep doing it
are more likely to get a satisfying career life than those who frequently change jobs.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. Experience greater fulfilment: Trải qua cảm giác trọn vẹn lớn hơn

2. Remain on a particular career path for a long period of time: Làm một công việc trong
một thời gian dài

3. Greater career fulfilment: Cảm giác trọn vẹn với công việc lớn hơn

4. An overwhelming decision: Một quyết định nặng nề

5. Explore a range of different career paths: Khám phá nhiều ngành nghề khác nhau

6. Guarantee job satisfaction: Đảm bảo sự thỏa mãn trong công việc

7. (to) derive sth from sth: Có/ đạt được cái gì từ việc…

It is said that those who pursue and continue with a particular career choice early in life
are more likely to experience greater fulfilment in regards to their work than those who
tend to switch jobs more regularly. In my opinion, although opting for (choose) a steady
career do bring job satisfaction later in life, I contend that the fulfilment from doing
wanted work as a result of frequent job changing are weightier.

Choosing a career early in life and pursuing it for an extended period of time can have
many great benefits.To commence with, starting a career early can provide someone
with not only a stable income to cover daily expenditure at present but also a better
financial situation with pension later in life, and hence greater satisfaction. [hence +
noun/ V-ing]. Additionally, remaining on a particular career path for a long period of

74
time may allow someone to advance to the first-rank positions / top of their chosen field
through promotion, which may also possibly lead to greater career fulfilment.

On the other hand, I contend that those who change jobs or career paths more
regularly may experience more notable benefits. One point is that if some people’s
personalities are not suitable for staying in a particular job for long periods of time, they
may need to hop their jobs frequently with a view to staying satisfied and performing
well in work. In addition to this, choosing a career path can be an overwhelming
decision for young people without much real-world experience, and therefore
exploring a range of different career paths early on may lead them to eventually finding
a career that will be more suitable for them in the long term. Consequently, they are
likely to devote themselves to their chosen work and achieve career success (which is)
associated with a great deal ofsatisfaction

All things considered, albeit (despite) a stable salary level (1) and promotion prospect
(2) due to the loyalty to the companies, I am convinced that frequent job switching can
guarantee career fulfilment because the job hoppers are more likely to derive satisfaction
from their daily work.

TOPIC 2: Some people think that men and women have different qualities that
make men more suitable for certain jobs, and women more suitable for others. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?

In this day and age, job suitability has been evolved as a heated subject of debate. Whilst
the preponderance of men and women in some specific sectors could be attributed to
innate differences, I strongly believe that profession suitability is not determined by
gender.

On the one hand, it is conspicuous that males and females have some different sets of
characteristics, which enable them to better perform in some specific tasks. With
regard to women,they tend to be exceptionally good at detail-oriented professions due
to their carefulness and sensitivity. For example, nursing is a female-dominated
75
profession as women can not only listen to and communicate with patients better but
also develop empathy for them more easily. In contrast, men who are regarded
hottempered and careless would not apt for such patience-required jobs. To specify, men
are instinctively physically stronger and more decisive than women, helping them
deliver more satisfactory performance in domains including construction, politics, and
army.

However, I am of a stronger notion that gender plays a negligible role in career fitness.
It is not gender but other qualities that act as key determinants of job suitability. In
other words, if receiving relevant education or possessing suitable traits, both men and
women are proved to be equally capable of maintaining the same level of productivity
in most professions. Moreover, equal presence of men and women is deemed
irreplaceable to the development of all industries. For instance, fields ranging from
marketing to high-tech production usually require the engagement of both genders in
order to gain insight into a wide range of customers' demands and feelings, with the
ultimate goals of delivering best services and products for society.

In conclusion, to some extent it is unquestionable that males and females can have
different advantages defined by their genders in some certain fields of jobs.
Nonetheless, I endorse the view that profession suitability is beyond gender restriction
that individuals could pursue any career of their choice and ability.

TOPIC 3: Unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing developed

nations today, therefore some people claim that the governments should reduce the
working week to thirty five hours.

Do the advantages this outweigh the disadvantages?

It is unquestionable that rising unemployment is one of the most pressing issues in the
industrial world. One solution that has been put forward is to cut the working week to a
maximum of 35 hours. However, in my view the downsides of this solution are far
weightier than its gains.

76
It is fairly easy to understand the reasons why this proposal has been made. The
reasoning is that if workers are not allowed to work for more than 35 hours weekly,
then employers will be forced to engage (employ) more staff, and there would be at least
two advantages to this. Not only would unemployment be reduced, but the working
conditions of employees on very long shifts would also be significantly improved. For
example, a factory employing 300 manual workers doing 10 hours a day might employ
450 workers.

However, I am more convinced that this proposal should not be implemented. This
argument is based on economic competitiveness. More specifically, if a company was
forced to employ more workers to produce the same amount of goods, then its wage bill
would rise and its products might become more expensive and less competitive
compared to those of companies with longer working weeks. In this case, it is possible
that the company either might become insolvent (vỡ nợ) or it would have to make some
employees redundant. As a result, the intended benefit to the personnel (staff) would
not happen.

All things considered, this is clearly a complex issue as there are significant advantages
and disadvantages to the proposal. My own personal view is that it would be better
not to introduce the shortened working week because it works only in theory and
not in practice.

TOPIC 4: For many employers, formal academic qualifications are becoming more
important than experience.

Why is that? Is it a positive or negative development?

Formal qualifications are now considered to be one of the most decisive elements in the
recruitment process of many organizations since they are thought to be the best indicator
of an individual's ability. I believe that this trend is a negative development as it shifts
students' focus from real knowledge gains to ways of achieving high scores, resulting in
other social issues.

77
Formal academic qualifications are now preferred because they are proof of a
candidate's competence, and sometimes intelligence. University curriculums are
designed carefully to teach students in-depth knowledge with the ultimate (primary)
goal to generate a quality workforce for the labor market. As these courses are often
demanding and challenging, it as an undeniable fact that students have to exert
themselves (try very hard) to complete their study and obtain a degree. This means that
qualifications holders, especially top achievers, have been well-equipped with sufficient
(enough) specialized knowledge (được trang bị đủ kiến thức chuyen môn), enabling
them to work well. This is particularly the case for research-related jobs in which
knowledge foundation and academic excellence (thành tích học tập xuất sắc) rather
than experience or skills, is of great importance. (be very importance)

Although a focus on qualifications may make the recruitment process efficient and
effortless, I am concerned that this is a negative trend. An increasing emphasis on
formal degrees would discourage students from neither improving practical skills nor
accumulating hands-on (practical, empirical) working experience, generating an
unskilled and inexperienced workforce. Indeed, when employers recruit a person only
based on their qualifications, this may convey (deliver) a misleading message among
undergraduates that being able to pass exams at school is enough to help them find a
job. Such belief, in reality, has given grounds for the birth of a huge proportion of
graduates with underdeveloped skills (tạo nền tảng cho sự sản sinh 1 tỉ lệ lớn những cử
nhân thiếu kĩ năng), who then went unemployed in Vietnam. Stories about university
valedictorians (thủ khoa tốt nghiệp đại học) becoming jobless for years are ironically
common (phổ biến 1 cách nực cười) in the country, raising the issue of skill training for
the youth.

In conclusion, the preference for formal academic qualifications among employers is

understandable since they truly reflect job applicants' ability to some extent. However,
on a broader scale, this is a negative development as it undermines the importance of
hands-on skills and working experience, giving birth to an unskilled workforce and even
higher youth unemployment rates.

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