PART ONE: SOCIAL INTERACTION

Topics to practice
1. Let’s talk about hobbies.
- What are your hobbies?
Well, actually, I have many hobbies. I like reading books, listening to music, going shopping.
Especially, I keen on playing sports, such as: football; basketball, volleyball, tennis and run
Marathon.
- Do you spend enough time for your hobbies?
Yes, I do. I have plenty of time for my hobbies. I usually spend 2 hours/ day for my hobbies Yes,
I do. Because I am not busy with my work and family, so I have lots of time for my hobbies
- With whom do you share your hobbies?
To be honest, I often use my time to share my hobbies with my family members and friends. For
example, I often watch TV shows, go shopping and read books together.
2. Let’s talk about your family.
- How many people are there in your family?
I have 4 people in my family: my father, my mother, my brothers and me. I love my family so
much!
- What do you often do with your family members?
I usually watching TVs, go shopping, play sports and travel to famous places with my family
members.
- How do you share your time with your family?
I often spend about/ approximately 1 hour per day and at the weekends with my family.
Occasionally, I spend time with my family members for holidays.
- Is family important to you?
Yes, my family is very important for me! Because, in my opinion, family are my father, my
mother, my brothers, and my sisters who are very close to me. Whenever I have trouble in my
life, they are always willing to give me a hand.
3. Let’s talk about likes and dislikes.
- What do you like and dislike doing at weekends?
To be honest, I like helping my mother around the house and maybe help her out with grocery
shopping and preparing the meals and watching a movie together with my family Besides, I
really hate doing the homework and job assignments, especially doing the laundry Because, in
my opinion, weekends are time for relaxation and entertainment.
- Do you like doing activities alone or with your friends?
Well, I like taking part in activities with my friends, because it is funnier and more enjoyable to
do things together and we can boost up our friendship and we can get benefits from relations.
- Do you have different likes as you were younger?
Yes, I do. When I was a child, I liked playing more than learning and studying and just cared
about myself. Now/ at the moment, as I grow older, I changed my perspectives and personalities
I keen on studying and working more to achieve success in my career. Besides, I care about
others and am eager to support homeless and poor people.
4. Let’s talk about time.
- What do you usually do when you have free time?
Well, whenever I have spare time, I often study and research more about economics and politics
because I want to know more about the world. Besides, I like to read books: such as comic
books, non – fiction or fiction books, scientific books as well as romantic books.
- Do you have enough free time now?
Yes, I do. I have plenty of time now. Because I don’t have many plans for the future, and I am
proud to say that I have good time management. No, I don’t. I lack free time now. Because my
schedule for work is extremely hectic. I even have to work at the weekends. I wish I could have
more free time in the future.
- Do you think it is important to have more free time?
Yes, I do, I think it is very crucial to have more free/spare time, because I have opportunity to
take care of myself and my lovely family. Besides, in my opinion, human beings are not
machines, restlessness and irritation will destroy our lives. We need relaxation and rest for our
lives.
5. Let’s talk about what you like.
- What’s your favorite season of the year?
Well, actually, I have many favorite seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. If I have to choose
one, I would say it is spring, because in spring time, I can take part in various holiday activities,
such as: visiting friends and relatives; travel and go to pagodas, as well as special holiday events
- What do you usually do in that season?
Well, in the summer time, I usually travel with my family members to beautiful beaches and
destinations, such as: Ha Noi, Ha Long Bay, Sam Son Beach, Cua Lo Beach, Da Nang, Ho Chi
Minh City
- What animal do you like the most? Why?
Well, I am interested in various animals, however, if I have to choose one, I would say it is dog,
because dogs have good personalities, such as: loyalty; compassion and unconditional love.
6. Let’s talk about online newspapers.
- Do you like reading?
Yes, I do. I am keen on reading. I usually read books, newspapers and especially magazines
about travel because I like traveling.
- Have you ever read news online?
Yes, I have read news online. Actually, I read the news every day and spend most of my free time
reading news. I am really keen on reading news online because it is very convenient and cheap. I
often read some online news websites, such as: Dantri.com; vnexpess.com
- What do you think about online newspapers?
In my opinion, I really keen on reading news online because it is very convenient and cheap. We
can gain and broaden our mind when we read online newspapers. I often read some online news
websites, such as: Dantri.com; vnexpess.com
- What’s your favorite website? What is it about?
- Do you believe everything you read online? Why/ Why not?
No, I don’t. I don’t totally put my truth on online newspaper because people can fake
information and there are many lies in online newspaper.
7. Let’s talk about shopping.
- Do you enjoy shopping? Why/ Why not?
Yes, I do, because shopping is my favorite activity and I can buy many things, such as: food,
clothes and groceries in the supermarket.
- What do you think about online shopping?
Well, in my opinion, I really keen on online shopping because it is very convenient and easy to
pay and sometimes, I can buy stuffs with free ship.
- Have you ever shopped online?
Yes, I have. Actually, I shop online twice per week. I often buy food, clothes and groceries
online.
- Do you love shopping on the Internet or in the shops?
I often go shopping on the Internet because it is very convenient and easy to pay and sometimes,
I can buy stuffs with free ship.
- Do you plan to buy anything of high value next year?
Yes, I do. I am going to buy a private car next year. Because I am far away from my company, I
have to go to work by car.
- What kind of things will you never buy online?
I will never buy online If I have to buy something that is very expensive, valuable and especially
fragile. I keen on checking with physical touch and seen by my eyes before purchasing any kind
of products.
- What is more important to you, the quality or the design of a product?
In my opinion, quality is more significant than the design of a product, because quality is what
counts and for example, if a car has a good engine, is much better than it has a good design.
8. Let’s talk about transportation.
- How do you go to work every day?
Well, I usually go to work by bus/car/motorbike/bike/ subway. Sometimes, I take the Grab car
service to go to work because of its convenient and cheap.
- What kind of public transport have you used?
I use various kinds of public transport, such as buses, trains, and taxi. Nowadays, there is Grab
Bike and Car which is very popular and used by thousands of people all around the world.
- Do you like travelling by train?
Yes, I do. I am keen on taking the train a lot! Convenient, safety, cheap and fast are things that I
am really keen on using train instead of other transports.
- When was the last time you travelled by train?
Well, let me think. The last time that I traveled by train was on my trip to Ha Long Bay. I booked
the ticket online and took the train all by myself. This was so amazing, funny and enjoyable trip
that I have ever experienced.
9. Let’s talk about your cell phone.
- What cell phone brand do you like?
Well, there are many phone brands that I prefer, such as: Nokia, Samsung, Sony. If I have to
choose one, I would say it is iPhone because it is a very famous/ well – known phone brands in
the world.
- Do you like listening to music on your phone?
Yes, I do. I am fond of listening to music on my phone. I usually listen to music while doing
housework, going to work and exercising.
- What application on the phone do you use most often?
Well, actually, I use different types of applications, such as: alarm clock; weather forecast; email,
however, the application I use most often is Google map, because it helps me to go places which
I am not familiar with
- Who do you spend most time talking to on the phone?
I usually spend most time chatting to my parents on the phone, because I live far away from
them, so talking through phone is the best way I can keep contact with my parents
- Do you feel more comfortable talking on the phone or face to face?
I prefer talking face to face more than talking on the phone, because when I talk face to face, I
can see emotions and feelings on their faces, and I can have direct interactions with them
10. Let’s talk about the telephone
- How often do you make telephone calls?
Well, I make telephones calls very regularly and almost every day.
- Do you sometimes prefer to send text messages instead of telephoning?
Yes, I do. Sometimes I send text messages to friends and relatives when I can’t make the call.
For example, when I am having a meeting, I usually text messages instead of telephoning.
11. Let’s talk about clothes.
- What kinds of clothes do you often wear in your daily life?
Well, in my daily life, I wear many kinds of clothes, such as: T – shirt; dress and jeans.
- Do you spend a lot of money on clothes?
Yes, I do. I often spend quite a lot of money on clothes, especially new styles of clothes because I
want to catch up with new fashion trend.
- What’s your favorite clothing store?
My favorite clothing store’s name is Germe shop. It is located in Cau Giay District. I usually buy
clothes and stuffs with my friends.
- Have you ever been to a fashion show? Do you like it?
Yes, I have. I once went to a fashion show in Hanoi. I very liked the show, there were many
famous models and beautiful clothes.
- Do you often pay attention to quality or price when you buy clothes?
Well, actually, I care more about the quality than the price when I buy clothes. For me, quality is
the most important thing.
- Do you think being fashionable is important?
Yes, I do. In my opinion, being fashionable is very crucial, because it helps me to be special in
the workplace and in the eyes of others.
12. Let’s talk about neighbors.
- Do you get on well with your neighbors?
Yes I do. I get along very well with my neighbors. We often talk, eat and discuss with each other
about our daily stories.
- Is there anything you don’t like about your neighborhood?
Yes, there is. Sometimes my neighbors are very noisy. I usually go and talk with them to solve
the problems together
- Do people in your area often spend time socially with their neighbors?
Yes, we usually spend time socially with each other. We often have big dinner, sing and dance
with each other. Sometimes, we travel together.
- Is it important to get along with neighbors?
- What kinds of problems do people often have with their neighbors?
13. Let’s talk about vacations.
- Do you like going on vacation?
It is a chance for me to relax after working and I can spend time with my family members and
friends Besides, going on vacation helps me to learn and know more about famous attractions
- Have you ever been on vacation alone?
Yes, I have. I have been on vacation alone. I once traveled to HCM city alone by airplane. It was
an amazing trip.
- Which do you prefer, a backpacking tour or a guided tour?
- What is your favorite travel destination?
- What’s the most interesting place you have visited so far?
14. Let’s talk about hometown.
- How far is your hometown from here?
- Do you like living there?
- What interesting places can people visit in your hometown?
- What kind of improvements do you want to be made in your hometown?
- How has the place changed over the last 10 years?