SPEAKING PART 1 - WORK/STUDY
1. Do you work or are you a student?
2. What kind of work do you do?
3. Why did you choose this job/profession?
4. Do you enjoy your work/studies? Why or why not?
5. What are your main responsibilities at work/studies?
6. Can you describe a typical day at work/studies for you?
7. How long have you been working/studying in your current job/field?
8. What qualifications are required for your job/studies?
9. Have you received any training for your job/studies?
10. How do you usually get to work/school?
11. Do you think you will continue with this job/profession in the future?
12. What do you like most about your job/studies?
13. What are the biggest challenges you face in your job/studies?
14. Do you think your job/studies will change in the future? How?
15. What would you like to change about your job/studies if you could?
16. Do you prefer studying or working? Why?
17. What skills do you think are most important for your job/studies?
18. Do you have any career/study goals for the future?
19. How do you manage your time between work/studies and other activities?
20. Have you ever had a part-time job while studying? If yes, what was it?
BANK OF WORDS:
1. TỪ VỰNG CHỦ ĐỀ STUDY
- to attend classes: to go to classes (Tham gia các lớp học)
- bachelors degree: an undergraduate course which usually lasts 3-4 years (Bằng cử nhân)
- boarding school: a school where pupils live during term time (Trường nội trú)
- distance learning: a way of studying where tuition is carried out over the Internet or by
post (Học từ xa)
1
- face-to-face classes: as opposed to distance learning the traditional way of
studying in a classroom with colleagues and a teacher (Lớp học trực tiếp)
- to fall behind with your studies: to progress less quickly than others (Tiến bộ chậm hơn
các học viên khác)
- to give feedback: to offer guidance on a student’s work (Đưa ra nhận xét, phản hồi)
- a graduation ceremony: an event where a successful student receives his or her academic
degree (Lễ tốt nghiệp)
- higher education: education, usually in a college or university, that is followed after high
school or secondary school (Bậc học cao hơn)
- an intensive course: a course that offers lots of training in order to reach a goal in as short
a time as possible (Khóa học chuyên sâu)
- to keep up with your studies: to not fall behind (Theo kịp với bài học)
- to learn something by heart: to memorize it (Học thuộc lòng)
- a mature student: a student who is older than average and who has usually returned to
education after a period at work (Học viên là người đã trưởng thành)
- masters degree: a period of study which often follows the completion of a bachelors degree
or is undertaken by someone regarded as capable of a higher-level academic course (Bằng
thạc sĩ)
- to meet a deadline: to finish a job or task in the time allowed or agreed (Hoàn thành công
viẹc đúng hạn)
- to play truant: to stay away from classes without permission (Trốn học)
- private language school: an independent school run as a business concern (Trường học tư)
- public schools: exclusive independent schools in the UK (Trường học công)
- a single-sex school: a school where only boys or girls attend (as opposed to a mixed-sex
school) (Trường nữ sinh/ nam sinh (chỉ dành cho một giới))
- to sit an exam: to take an exam (Tham gia vào kỳ thi)
- state school: a school paid for by public funds and available to the general public (Trường
học công)
- subject specialist: a teacher who has a great deal of knowledge about the subject they teach.
(Chuyên viên trong một môn học)
2
- to take a year out: to spend a year working or travelling before starting university
(Dành một năm để đi du lịch hoặc đi làm trước khi học đại học)
- tuition fees: the money paid for a course of study (Học phí)
- to work your way through university: to have a paid job whilst studying to support
yourself financially (Đi làm để lấy tiền trang trải học phí)
2. TỪ VỰNG CHỦ ĐỀ WORK
- to be called for an interview: to be invited to attend an interview
- to be your own boss: to have your own business
- a dead-end job: a job with no promotional opportunities
- to do a job-share: to share the weekly hours of work with another person
- a good team player: somebody who can work well with other people
- full-time: the number of hours that people usually work in a complete week
- a heavy workload: to have a lot of work to do
- a high-powered job: an important or powerful job
- holiday entitlement: the number of days holiday allowed
- job satisfaction: the feeling of enjoying a job
- manual work: work that requires physical activity
- maternity leave: time off work given to a woman about to have a baby
- to meet a deadline: to finish a job by an agreed time
- a nine-to-five job: a normal job that consists of an 8 hour day (approximately)
- one of the perks of the job: an extra benefit you get from a job
- part-time: working less than full-time
- to run your own business: see ‘to be your own boss’
- to be self-employed: see ‘to be your own boss’
- sick leave: time allowed off work when sick
- to be stuck behind a desk: to be unhappy in an office job
- to be/get stuck in a rut: to be in a boring job that is hard to leave
- to take early retirement: to retire early (retire: to reach an age when you are allowed to
stop working for a living)
3
- temporary work: work done for a limited time only
- voluntary work: to work without pay
- to be well paid: to earn a good salary
- working conditions: the hours, salary and other entitlements that comes with the job
- to work with your hands: to do manual work
3. MỘT SỐ THÀNH NGỮ - IDIOMS CÓ THỂ SỬ DỤNG TRONG BÀI NÓI
- Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night. (Nghĩa: thức đêm học bài)
Example: "During exam season, students often have to burn the midnight oil to prepare
adequately."
- Hit the books: To study diligently (Nghĩa: Ôn tập chăm chỉ)
Example: "I need to hit the books if I want to pass this exam."
- Learn the ropes: To learn how to do a particular job or task. (Nghĩa: Học cách làm
việc)
Example: "It took me a while to learn the ropes at my new job."
- Pull an all-nighter: To stay up all night studying or working. (Nghĩa: Thức cả đêm)
Example: "I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my assignment on time."
- Grindstone: To work hard and diligently. (Nghĩa: Làm việc chăm chỉ)
Example: "She's always got her nose to the grindstone, striving for success."
- Make ends meet: To earn enough money to cover expenses. (Nghĩa: đủ tiền trang
trải cuộc sống)
Example: "As a student, it can be challenging to make ends meet with tuition fees and
living expenses."
- Cut corners: To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often sacrificing
quality. (Nghĩa: Làm việc gì theo cách dễ nhất hoặc rẻ nhất, dù phải hi sinh chất
lượng)
Example: "You shouldn't cut corners when it comes to your education; it's important to
put in the effort."
- Bite off more than one can chew: To take on more responsibilities than one can
handle. (Nghĩa: Nhận trách nhiệm quá lớn so với khả năng)
4
Example: "I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with this part-time job
and full course load."
- Get a foot in the door: To obtain an initial opportunity that could lead to further
success. (Nghĩa: Có cơ hội ban đầu)
Example: "Internships are a great way to get a foot in the door in the industry."
- A steep learning curve: A difficult learning process. (Nghĩa: quá trình học khó khăn)
Example: "Starting a new job always has a steep learning curve, but it gets easier with
time."
- Jump through hoops: To go through a lot of difficulties or obstacles to achieve
something. (Nghĩa: Vượt qua nhiều khó khăn)
Example: "Getting accepted into that prestigious university required jumping through
hoops."
- Back to the drawing board: To start over again because a previous attempt failed.
(Nghĩa: Quay trở lại từ đầu)
Example: "The project didn't go as planned, so it's back to the drawing board for us."
- Burn the candle at both ends: Nghĩa: làm việc bán mạng, từ sáng tới tối muộn
Ever since Jane started her new job and began night classes, she's been burning the
candle at both ends to keep up with her responsibilities. She works late into the night and
wakes up early to study before heading to work again."
