Describe the time when you first talked in a foreign language: Bài mẫu kèm từ vựng

Bài viết giới thiệu Sample IELTS Speaking part 2 Describe the time when you first talked in a foreign language thuộc nhóm chủ đề describe an experience (miêu tả một trải nghiệm) kèm theo các từ vựng ghi điểm trong bài. Đây là một trong nhóm chủ đề phổ biến trong bài thi IELTS Speaking Part 2.

Describe the time when you first talked in a foreign language

You should say:

1. Where you were

2. Who you were with

3. What you talked about

4. And explain how you felt about it

IELTS Speaking sample:

Well, it is a bit embarrassing to tell you the truth that although I have learned English for half my life, until now, I still don't have many chances to talk to native speakers. The first time I attempted to talk to foreigners was about 2 years ago when I was a freshman whose English level was so low.

At that time, I had just finished my final test at university. I had lots of time on my hands so I decided to unwind a bit by going to the movies and catching up on the latest movie. Everything was okay until I got inside the theater and realized that someone had taken my reserved seat. They were a young American couple. Because It was too dark inside so I guessed they just mistook mine for theirs, so of course I needed to talk with them about that. Well, It wouldn’t have been a big problem if my speaking skill was a bit better. Honestly, at that moment I nearly froze and couldn’t get any words out of my mouth. Of course my English was not that bad, I think I can exchange a few words but I didn’t know why I still struggled to start speaking. Perhaps I had overestimated my ability, or just my confidence.

The film almost started and I was forced to say or I would not have my seat. I showed my ticket to them and recalled all of my limited vocabulary range just to convey the meaning that they were taking my seat. I even used my body language since through their facial expression, I thought they didn’t actually catch it. Fortunately, the Americans were so patient to try to hear what I was saying. At last, I did manage to get myself understood. They instantly stood up and kept saying sorry to me. Of course I didn’t get angry but the thing that really bothered me at that time was the idea that I had to sign up for an English course immediately.

Well, I still enjoyed the film. After that, I met the couple again outside the theater, they gave me a bottle of soft drink as their apology and told me something I guessed was about the film. One more embarrassing moment, I wish I could understand it.

Từ vựng trong IELTS Speaking sample:

1. Embarrassing /ɪmˈbær.ə.sɪŋ/: ngượng ngùng

Ví dụ: I found the whole situation excruciatingly embarrassing.

2. Attempt to V: cố gắng làm việc gì đó

Ví dụ: I attempt to understand this lesson

3. Freshman /ˈfreʃ.mən/ : sinh viên năm nhất

Ví dụ: He's a freshman at Harvard.

4. Mistake something/ someone for…: nhầm lẫn ai/ cái gì

Mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ nhầm lẫn

Ví dụ: You can't mistake their house

5. Couldn’t get any words out of my mouth: không thể thốt ra được lời nào

6. Struggle to V /ˈstrʌɡ.əl tuː/ : gặp khó khăn

Ví dụ: I struggle to understand this article all afternoon.

7. Overestimate /ˌəʊ.vəˈres.tɪ.meɪt/: đánh giá quá cao

Ví dụ: I overestimated and there was a lot of food left over after the party

8. Body languages: ngôn ngữ cơ thể

Body /ˈbɒd.i/ : cơ thể

Languages /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/: ngôn ngữ

Ví dụ: I could tell from her body language that she was very embarrassed.

9. Facial expression /ˈfeɪ.ʃəl ɪkˈspreʃ.ən/: biểu đạt gương mặt

Ví dụ: Take a look at her facial expression, her facial expression doesn't change

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Sample

At what age should children start learning a foreign language?

Gợi ý: ideal age (độ tuổi lý tưởng), be exposed to English (được tiếp xúc với tiếng Anh), develop their mother tongue first (phát triển ngôn ngữ mẹ đẻ trước tiên), children’s acquisition of their first language is nearly enough (sự tiếp thu ngôn ngữ đầu tiên của trẻ em đã gần đủ)

I personally think that 6 or 7 is the ideal age for children to learn a second language. Actually, many Vietnamese parents want their kids to be exposed to English as much as possible, even right after their birth. I don’t think it is a good idea since at that time, kids need to develop their mother tongue first. Wrong methods of teaching 2 languages at the same time can make a child get confused. Therefore, I think they’d better learn a new language when they start school because at that time, children’s acquisition of their first language is nearly enough.

Which skill is more important, speaking or writing?

Gợi ý: used more frequently (sử dụng thường xuyên), be more prioritized (được ưu tiên hơn), communicate and socialize (giao tiếp và hòa nhập xã hội), thesis (luận án)

Actually, both are equally important. It kind of depends on each person’s need: which skill that they need to use more frequently would be more prioritized. For instance, those who want to communicate and socialize only in everyday conversations or at the workplace, speaking skills tend to be more necessary. However, writing also plays a vital role in certain circumstances like doing research, writing a thesis and so on.

Does a person still need to learn other languages if he or she is good at English?

Gợi ý: settle down (ổn định cuộc sống)

It depends, I suppose so. Although English is now considered as the most popular language across the globe, it is not always widely used in many countries and so people still need to learn other languages. You see, some developed countries like China or Japan always encourage their citizens to use their first language because they want to develop it. Thus, if anyone wants to work or settle down in those countries, they definitely need to learn those languages.

Do you think minority languages will disappear?

Gợi ý: do nothing to preserve languages (không làm gì để bảo tồn ngôn ngữ), international collaboration is enhanced (hợp tác quốc tế được đẩy mạnh), leans towards using the same language (thiên về dùng chung 1 ngôn ngữ), minority languages will be abolished (ngôn ngữ thiểu số sẽ bị xóa bỏ)

I’m afraid it would happen in the future if governments do nothing to preserve languages which are spoken by a minority of people. You see, in modern days, when international collaboration is enhanced, everyone leans towards using the same language so that people all around the world can understand and exchange ideas. Hence, minority languages will be abolished to make way for only a handful of common ones.