Showing posts with label Speaking English. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Speaking English. Show all posts

Friday, 23 February 2024

Some common contractions

WANNA - wan to

I wanna do it now.
I wanna eat a hamburger.

KINDA - kind of

I am kinda agreeing with you.
I am kinda not going to the party tonight.

OUTTA - out of 

I am outta here.
It's outta order.

GONNA - going to

I am gonna stop doing it right now.
I am gonna advert it on Gumtree.
I am gonna give it up.

WATCHA - what are you

Watcha thinking?
Watcha doing?
Watcha feeling?

GIMME - give me

Please gimme some extra tape water.
Gimme some pence, please.
Gimme some seconds, please.



Saturday, 9 May 2020

Please do not overuse I think in your communication

Không cần nói nhiều, với những ai học tiếng Anh thì I think blah blah blah không có gì quá xa lạ. Nhưng dùng nhiều I think bạn không gây ấn tượng với người đang giao tiếp. Muốn trở nên natively hơn khi nói tiếng Anh nên học thêm những alternatives of I think as introduced in these videos.
15 other choices of I think...

Nếu bạn thích học tiếng Anh với một bạn nữ xinh đẹp người Anh thì xem video bên dưới.
21 alternative ways of saying I think


Bạn có thể dễ dàng tìm và đọc thêm trên mạng, ví dụ:
1. https://englishstudypage.com/speaking/ways-to-say-i-think/

Sunday, 2 February 2020

Holidays

Let's talk about holidays

  1. What public holidays do you have in your country?
    We celebrate a lot of public festivals in my country. I am sure you know about the Tet holiday which is the most important one. In addition, we get together with our family for the Mid-Autumn Day and the National Day.
  2. Do people in your country celebrate Christmas?
    Yes, though it's really hard to say, probably most people would go shopping with families or friends to take advantage of the sales in the shops, but personally speaking, I am afraid we don't celebrate Christmas like the way people do in Western countries.
  3. Do you like public holidays?
    Yes, I am fond of holidays. The key/main thing/point is that on these days, I don't have to work and have plenty of time to relax and also I will have more quality time with my family.
  4. Which public holidays do you like the most?
    I believe my favourite public holiday would be Tet festival because I get seven days at the very least to go travelling and also it's the best time to get around, the weather is neither too cold nor too hot, and you can find shades of blossoms all around, which is very pretty.
  5. What do people in your country usually do on public holidays?
    It's kind of hard to say but people that I know around me tend to go shopping with their families or friends to take advantage of the sales in the shops, but maybe for others, they probably will stay at home to relax or to take a rest or to sleep much more than usual.
  6. Do you think public holidays are important? Do you think there should be more public holidays in your country?
    I believe public holidays are rather important and there should be more of them in my country. The main factor is that people really need to unwind without any distractions after tiring at work and also public holidays can dramatically boost consumption, as goods in the shops will be sold at a discount during these days.

Weather

Below are the commonly asked questions in the IELTS speaking test.

  1. What's the weather like today?
    It's really freezing (or sunny, cool, breezy, chilly, warm, humid, hot) today. If I didn't have to take the IELTS exams, I would prefer to stay at home watching my favourite TV series.
  2. What kind of weather do you like (best)?
    Actually, I prefer cloudy days, because then it's neither too hot nor too cold. And what's more important to me is that this weather is perfect for photography as the light is so soft. So at this time of day, I like to go out with my camera to take photos.
  3. What's the weather (usually) like in your hometown?
    In my hometown, the weather is quite pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold most of the time. Even in winter, the temperature is still quite mild, but the summer is often hot and humid.
  4. Do you like that weather (ỏ, that kind of climate)?
    One thing I am not happy about the weather in my hometown is that it doesn't snow at all. There are places with snowfalls in Vietnam, like Sapa, but only just a little bit. Every time I see children having a snowball or making a snowman on TV, I genuinely envy them.  
  5. Can you give any examples of unusual weather?
    As for the unusual weather, global warming has really become a trendy topic around the world. It is caused by the greenhouse effect as the sheer volume of carbon dioxide emitted into the air, prevents the atmosphere from cooling off at night.
  6. Would you prefer to live in a place that has just one, warm season, that lasts the whole year or a place with different seasons?
    Well, if I had to choose between the two, I'd probably go with the distinct seasons in each year because each season has its own metrics. I think I would get bored if it was warm all year round.
  7. Do people in Vietnam play the same sports in a different season of the year?
    No, in spring and autumn, when the temperature is neither too cold nor too hot, people in Vietnam tend to hike in the mountains or go running. When it comes to summer, camping in the forests and playing balls, etc. But in winter, people believe it not suitable for outdoor exercises, so they prefer to either play indoor games like swimming in indoor swimming pools, badminton, volleyball or stay at home to keep warm.

Walking

Today, we are learning how to express your opinion about walking as among the IELTS Speaking topics. Below are some questions which you might be asked in the speaking test.

  1. Do you like walking?
    Walking is unavoidable, especially when you live on campus. You go to school on foot, you go shopping on foot, you walk here and there every day. There are days that my legs actually killed me.
  2. Do you like to walk on your own or with others?
    Say if I'm in a hurry definitely I just walk or run as fast as I can, no time for chit chat right? But even when there's plenty of time, walking is ideal to calm me down, breath in some fresh air and enjoy the world outside in silence. So I think I'm more into walking on my own.
  3. Would you say that your city is a good place for walking?
    Walking is not as popular as it used to be in Ha Noi, as more and more people prefer riding a motorbike or driving. So currently there are fewer parks or walking areas. Moreover, walking under such hot weather with heavily polluted air is definitely not a good idea. Therefore, I would not recommend my city as a good place for walking.

Sunday, 30 December 2018

Những cách nói khác thay cho Do you understand?

Trong giao tiếp, có lúc, bạn phải ngắt lời người khác hoặc tạm dừng câu chuyện để xác minh xem người đối diện đã hiểu hết nội dung hay chú ý lắng nghe không. Bên cạnh câu "Do you understand", những cách nói dưới đây cũng giúp bạn diễn đạt được nội dung này.

- Do you know what I mean? (Bạn hiểu ý tôi chứ?)

- Do you know what I’m talking about? (Bạn biết tôi đang nói gì chứ?)

- Does that make any sense? (Điều tôi vừa nói có ý nghĩa gì với bạn không ?)

- Do you see what I mean? (Bạn có hiểu ý tôi không?)

- Am I making any sense ? (Tôi nói bạn có hiểu không?)

- Are you following me? (Bạn vẫn theo kịp ý tôi chứ?)

- Do you get the message? /Do you get the picture? (Bạn có hiểu đại ý không?)

- Do you get it? / Get it ? (Hiểu chứ)

- Dig? (từ lóng) = Understand? (Hiểu chứ - tiếng lóng)

- Do you hear what I’m saying?  (Bạn vẫn đang nghe lời tôi nói chứ?)

Nếu biết thêm những cách nói khác thay cho câu "Do you understand me", bạn có thể bình luận cuối bài để chia sẻ cùng những độc giả khác.
Thích cái comment đầu tiên:
Mình học Communication Studies ở University of Washington. Mình đã làm một nghiên cứu cùng giáo sư, địa điểm nghiên cứu là Tutoring Service (gia sư) trong trường. Mỗi gia sư được yêu cầu sử dụng các cách hỏi để cho câu trả lời là yes/ no như "Do you understand me?", "Got that?", "Do you know what I mean?" ... Cách hỏi thứ hai là hỏi ý kiến, cảm nhận, thay vì yes/no như "How does that sound?", "Does that sound good?", "How do you like that?" .... Kết quả là học sinh cảm thấy thoải mái, hài lòng hơn với những câu hỏi về ý kiến và cảm nhận. Nhiều học sinh cho rằng khi trả lời các câu hỏi như "Do you know what I mean?", họ cảm thấy không thoải mái. Kết luận, theo đánh giá của học sinh, những câu hỏi như "How does that sound?" ... có ý nghĩa và hiệu quả hơn.

Reference:
[1] https://vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/giao-duc/hoc-tieng-anh/10-cach-noi-thay-cho-do-you-understand-3347132.html
[2] https://www.facebook.com/Moingay4tuvungtienganh/posts/1586298898073682?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARB16MDxFD5kIqDxBgF-a6nFDyZzln3b0sWVKaqrTx5S5jg4VynX0hoLbOACFHE2IoRgeZNU5C5Sn1nLl-jjfnyICGpuiBIKwI4dNZmbVWOrWWu-gaPG-_oVEK-Gszl2CShNA2E-5-tUdtmIrNvMN_--GGSKrC5wV5ebmeAOkzOH4se1OYS15azZ5mhuXf8Ij8TBBVPWUOa32tYVjFT_pGLxMzkcMOOrP8ErkvSvKGBZaVRV4jDL8zuqnQWdx-FQgUBRGm6-3rZDz4J_m6xicw4PZcC3vaXFkhEFe_Yg-CrNIuA1gF-KwLqKAz6M4loUuZ9VoN-h4Kwk4cpwkPZz&__tn__=C-R

How to end the conversation in the most polite way

You are worrying about how to end a conversation, right? Here are tips and tricks shared here for you to do so. Let's work them out immediately.





Sunday, 9 December 2018

Một vài mẹo trả lời để kiếm điểm cao bài Speaking Part 1 trong IELTS

Trong giao tiếp, mục tiêu quan trọng nhất là truyền tải thông điệp giữa hai bên. Vì vậy, bạn không cần phải dài dòng mà nên đi thẳng vào vấn đề. Tuy nhiên, cuộc sống không đơn giản như câu hỏi Yes/No, nghĩa là không chỉ cần đáp lại gọn lỏn một từ là có thể êm chuyện. Bạn cần phải diễn đạt một chút để làm cho câu trả lời hay hơn, thuyết phục hơn.
Trong kì thi IELTS, phần Speaking là để giảm khảo kiểm tra khả năng sử dụng ngôn ngữ của thí sinh. Nếu trả lời quá ngắn gọn, bạn không tạo được cơ hội cho giám khảo đánh giá khả năng sử dụng ngôn ngữ của mình. Nếu biết tận dụng những mẹo sắp nói dưới đây, chúng tôi dám chắc bạn sẽ ăn trọn điểm Speaking Part 1.

1. Kết hợp chi tiết

Hỏi: Do you live in a flat or a house?
Thay vì: I live in a house.
Nên trả lời: I live in a house with my husband and our two sons. We have also got a dog and a cat.

Notes: nên dùng AND, WITH, ALSO

2. So sánh với quá khứ

Hỏi: Do you play sport?
Thay vì: Yes, I play football.
Nên trả lời: Yes, I used to love basketball, but now I play football more often because that's what my colleagues love to do every Friday noon.

Notes: nên dùng USED TO, NOW

3. Thêm lí do

Hỏi: What do you do in your free time?
Thay vì: I hang out with my friends.
Nên nói: I hang out with my friends so that I can relax and have a great time after long working hours,
Notes: nên dùng: BECAUSE, SO THAT, SO, IN ORDER TO

4. Nói về tương lai

Hỏi: Do you work or study?
Thay vì: I am at university at the moment.
Nên nói: I am at university at the moment, but I'm graduating next year (or at the end of this year, next autumn) and I will hopefully get a job in advertising immediately.
Notes: nên dùng BE GOING TO, WILL

5. Nêu các ý kiến khác nhau

Hỏi: Is your city a good place to live?
Thay vì: Yes, it is.
Nên nói: If I had to say, it is the best place to live. Although people say that it has got more polluted these days.
Notes: nên dùng: ALTHOUGH, EVEN, THOUGH, EVEN SO, YET, HOWEVER.

6. Nêu ví dụ

Hỏi: Do you get along with your brothers?
Thay vì: No, we're not into the same things.
Nên nói: No, we're not into the same things like when we're both watching TV shows, we always fight about what show to watch.
Notes: nên dùng LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, SUCH AS.

7. Nói về độ thường xuyên

Hỏi: What do you do at the weekend?
Thay vì: I watch TV and play video games.
Nên nói: I usually watch TV and play video games, but sometimes I go out for a drink with my friends/I wander around the streets by my place with my wife.
Notes: nên dùng USUALLY, OFTEN, ONCE IN BLUE MOON,...

8. Bày tỏ cảm xúc quan điểm

Hỏi: Do you like shopping?
Thay vì: Yes, I do like shopping.
Nên đáp: Yes, I do because I love trying on new clothes, and I always feel more confident when I'm wearing a new outfit (bộ áo quần mới).
Notes: nên dùng LOVE, BE FOND OF, FEEL

9. So sánh chi tiết

Hỏi: How long have you live in HaNoi?
Thay vì: I've lived in HaNoi for three years?
Nên nói: I've lived in HaNoi for three years but I'm going to move to London next year.

Notes: nên dùng BUT, HOWEVER.

Sẽ còn cập nhật những nội dung mới.

Monday, 26 November 2018

Những mẫu câu dễ nhớ dễ ăn điểm trong bài thi nói

Trong khi nói, nếu biết tận dụng những cấu trúc câu để dẫn nhập tình huống, hoặc đưa ra quan điểm của mình, rồi dự đoán những điều mình không chắc, v.v... Những mẫu câu như thế giúp bạn ghi điểm khi mà nó tạo ấn tượng với giám khảo chấm thi bạn là một người biết sử dụng ngôn ngữ uyển chuyển. Sau đây là một số câu dễ nhớ thường gặp.

Giới thiệu chủ đề nói

  • OK then, I would like to talk about...
  • Right, I am going to tell you about...
  • Well, I would like to tell you about...
  • Absolutely, I would like to talk about...

Đưa ra quan điểm

  • In my mind, In my opinion,... Theo tôi, theo quan điểm của tôi...
  • I suppose... Tôi giả sử
  • I reckon.... Tôi cho là...
  • I guess... Tôi đoán...
  • I doubt... Tôi nghi ngờ...
  • Personally, I think... Cá nhân tôi nghĩ...
  • I feel quite strongly about that... Tôi cảm thấy khá chắc rằng...
  • I am really in favour of... Tôi thật sự thích...

Nói chung chung

  • As a rule... Theo quy luật thì...
  • Overall,... Nhìn chung,...
  • Generally,... Nhìn chung thì,...
  • In general... Nhìn chung,...
  • On the whole...

Suy đoán

  • It's (very/highly) likely/unlikely that... will...
    Rất có khả năng/không có khả năng...
  • It probably/definetely won't....
    Có khả năng không...
  • It's difficult to say, but maybe...
    Thật khó để nói nhưng có thể là...
  • I'm not (quite/entirely/a hundred percent) sure, perhaps...
    Tôi không hoàn toàn/100% chắc, có lẽ...
  • I'm pretty certain/sure that...
    Tôi khá chắc là...
  • I predict/expect that...
    Tôi đoán/mong đợi rằng...

Câu giờ (Buying time)

  • Well, let's see...
    À ừ, để xem nào...
  • Let me think about that for a moment...
    Để tôi nghĩ/xem về cái đó chút nào
  • That's a good question...
    Câu hỏi hay đấy.
  • Uhm, I am wondering about this problem.
    Uhm, tôi đang tự vấn về điều đó đây.

Sunday, 11 November 2018

IELTS Vocabulary: Education

Part 1: Style questions

1. Are you studying English at a school?
Answer: Yes … I’m taking an intensive course at a local private language school … I attend classes three times a week …

2. Would you say you are a good student?
Answer: I’m OK I think … I’m pretty good at meeting deadlines and I’m keeping up with my studies … plus I find it quite easy to learn things by heart which is useful when learning a language …

3. When you were younger did you enjoy your time at school?
Answer: Yes … I liked school … it was an ordinary state school … nothing special … a single-sex school … which I’m not sure I liked … but the teachers were great … I had lots of friends and I never played truant like some pupils there …

Part 2: Style tasks

Describe a time during your education that you really enjoyed. You should say:

- when this period was
- where you were
- what you were studying at the time
and say why you were so happy.

Answer: I’d like to tell you about my time at university … I was a mature student … I didn’t go to university until I was 25 … and it was my first time away from my parents so it was very exciting … I was doing a Bachelors Degree and it was a bit of a challenge … some people take a year out but I’d been away from education for 8 years … plus I had to work my way through uni so I was very busy … and sitting exams at the end of each year was a new experience for me as well but I really enjoyed higher education learning about a subject I loved … history … and the social life was great as well … I don’t think I’ve ever had so many friends … I had my graduation ceremony last year in the local cathedral and I know my parents were really proud … so yes … that was a really happy time … I’m thinking of doing a Masters Degree soon … though that might be through distance learning as I have a full-time job now …

Part 3: Style questions

1. What qualities do you think a good teacher has?
Answer: They should be patient … they should be subject specialists and be able to explain the subject clearly … they should give feedback quickly … for example not hang on to essay for ages like some of my teachers …

2. What are the advantages of studying in a distance learning course?
Answer: It’s a more flexible way of studying especially if you have a job … tuition fees are usually cheaper … but you have to be very motivated … and I would imagine more people fall behind with their studies compared to face-to-face classes …

3. Do all children get equal opportunities in education?
Answer: In my country, I think it is quite equal but in the UK I’ve heard that most people who go to the top universities have studied at public schools … you have to be very rich to study in a school like that … they’re usually boarding schools as well so the fees are enormous …

Definitions

- to attend classes: to go to classes
- bachelors degree: an undergraduate course which usually lasts 3-4 years
- boarding school: a school where pupils live during term time
- distance learning: a way of studying where tuition is carried out over the Internet or by post
- face-to-face classes: as opposed to distance learning the traditional way of studying in a classroom with colleagues and a teacher
- to fall behind with your studies: to progress less quickly than others
- to give feedback: to offer guidance on a student’s work
- a graduation ceremony: an event where a successful student receives his or her academic degree
- higher education: education, usually in a college or university, that is followed after high school or secondary school
- an intensive course: a course that offers lots of training in order to reach a goal in as short a time as possible
- to keep up with your studies: to not fall behind
- to learn something by heart: to memorize it
- a mature student: a student who is older than average and who has usually returned to education after a period at work
- 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
- to meet a deadline: to finish a job or task in the time allowed or agreed
- to play truant: to stay away from classes without permission
- private language school: an independent school run as a business concern
- public schools: exclusive independent schools in the UK
- a single-sex school: a school where only boys or girls attend (as opposed to a mixed-sex school)
- to sit an exam: to take an exam
- state school: a school paid for by public funds and available to the general public
- subject specialist: a teacher who has a great deal of knowledge about the subject they teach.
- to take a year out: to spend a year working or travelling before starting university
- tuition fees: the money paid for a course of study
- to work your way through university: to have a paid job whilst studying to support yourself financially.

Monday, 19 February 2018

IELTS Speaking Tips

Qua nhiều nguồn tài liệu khác nhau, chúng tôi muốn gom lại đây những mẹo dành riêng cho bài thi nói IELTS.

Keep talking

Speaks at length without noticeable effort or loss of coherence.

In IELTS Speaking, your score goes up when you say more, even if that results in more errors. That’s because IELTS is a test of what you CAN do, not what you can’t. So say as much as you can in response to the question until you run out of ideas or start repeating yourself. It’s not a bad thing if the examiner has to interrupt you.
Example: You know, I wouldn't usually reveal so much to a stranger I've only just met, but, well, you are such a good listener and I feel like I could go on for hours, or at least another fifteen minutes...

Use an idiom or two

Uses some less common and idiomatic vocabulary and shows some awareness of style and collocation

The IELTS examiner is listening for evidence that you can go beyond ‘textbook English’ and start using real, idiomatic English. So impress the examiner by including a few idiomatic phrases like “I’m a bundle of nerves” to mean “I’m nervous”.Example:
I am a bundle of nerves = I am very nervous
I'm cool as a cucumber = I'm not at all nervous.
I'm a bundle of cucumbers = No meaning. Epic fail.

Paraphrase the question

Uses paraphrase effectively

If the examiner asks you a question and you can immediately think of a way to paraphrase it—i.e. express the same meaning in other words—go ahead and say something like “Oh, you mean (paraphrase question)?” This is a very effective strategy to demonstrate one of the core skills that the examiner is listening for. Try to do this two or three times during the test.
Example:
Q: Do you like cucumbers?
A: Do you mean those long, green, oddly-shaped vegetables? To be honest, I've never really liked them.

Courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yvazv2nUpw

Use linking words to connect your ideas

Uses a range of connectives and discourse markers with some flexibility.

What does this mean in normal English? It means that you use a range of expressions like ‘in other words’, ‘also’, ‘however’ and ‘on the other hand’ to connect your ideas. The key word is a range. The examiner doesn’t want to hear you say ‘on the other hand’ a hundred times! So record yourself speaking and notice if you use a phrase like ‘on the other hand’ too much. If so, use a different phrase instead. Now you can start demonstrating a good range of linking words.
Example:
On the one hand I'd like a job that pays more, but on the other hand, I enjoy the work I'm doing at the moment. In fact, the more you are passionate about your job the more you are paid.

Don't be afraid of mistakes

Frequently produces error-free sentences, though some grammatical mistakes persist

That means it’s possible to make some mistakes and still get IELTS 7.0 or 7.5. However, some candidates score poorly because they worry too much about mistakes. As a result, they speak too slowly and their mistakes become MORE obvious! It’s more important to demonstrate fluency (See Tip #1) than it is to produce error-free speech. Of course, it’s also good to correct yourself if you do notice a mistake.
You can get IELTS 6 with frequent mistakes.
You can get IELTS 7 with some mistakes.
You can get IELTS 8 with very few mistakes.






Tuesday, 13 February 2018

IELTS Vocabulary: Business

Part 1 - Style questions
Examiner: Do you work or are you student?
Student: I run my own business actually... I have an online business selling cosmetics... I set up the business 5 years ago and I'm into working for myself.

  • to run your own business: tự kinh doanh
  • to set up a business: bắt đầu kinh doanh
  • to work for yourself: làm tư, làm riêng

Examiner: What is your ideal job?
Student: I don't think I would enjoy working for a big company... I think/believe I would like to go it alone and be self-employed... I'm not quite sure what area of business it would be but I think I'd enjoy the process of drawing up a business plan and seeing if I could be successful...

  • to draw up a business plan: lên kế hoạch kinh doanh
  • to be self-employed: tự làm chủ, tự kinh doanh
  • to go it alone: tự kinh doanh
Examiner: Is your town a nice place to live?
Student: It's okay... the main problem we have is our local high street... it used to be a busy centre but lots of shops have gone bust... it must be very difficult to make a profit when you have huge supermarkets in the area and a lot haven't been able to survive with such cut throat competition...
  • to go bust: buộc phải đóng cửa (đi bụi)
  • to make a profit: có lợi nhuận, làm lợi
  • to cut throat competition: cạnh tranh bằng cách giảm giá xuống mức thấp khiến đối thủ cũng phải giảm, đôi khi ở mức không còn lãi.
Part 2 - Style tasks
Describe a business you know that you admire. You should say
what this business is
what the business sells
how long you have known about the business
and say why you like it so much.
Student: Actually I discovered a business very recently that I like so much I'd like to do something similar in the future... it's a small niche business that runs courses in how to cook... especially bread... the owner uses his kitchen for the courses and went into business with a local community shop and sells a lot of the bread and cakes they make in the shop... I first go to hear about the business last year... my wife paid for me to do one of the baking courses and I got to know the owner during the training... it's a lifestyle business really... he doesn't have plans to take on employees or expand into new areas... he's happy earning a living doing the thing he loves... I really admire what he does and I'm sure a lot of people would to do something similar... he has a web presence... in fact that's how we got to find out about his company... and he uses social media to raise the company profile... but he's the only person involved in running the business so he's in complete control of where the business goes... that's something that must make it really satisfying... as long as he's managing to balance the books and the cash flow is healthy I'm sure he must be very pleased with what he has achieved.
  • to go into business with: tham gia kinh doanh cùng
  • niche business: kinh doanh những mặt hàng nhỏ, độc, chỉ có ở một thị trường nhất định
  • lifestyle business: kinh doanh cá thể
  • to take on employees: thuê nhân viên
  • to earn a living: kiếm tiền
  • to have a web presence: có website để giới thiệu sản phẩm
  • cash flow: dòng tiền
  • to raise a company profile: tạo thương hiệu công ty
  • to balance the books: không dùng nhiều tiền hơn số tiền kiếm được
Part 3 - Style questions
Examiner: Why do some people decide to set up their own business?
Student: I suppose it's the idea of being in control of your own destiny... or of believing in a product or service idea you may have... plus it must be very exciting... launching products... winning contracts... and seeing your sales figures improving must be wonderful.
  • to win a contract: giành được hợp đồng
  • to launch a product: giới thiệu sản phẩm mới
  • sales figures: báo cáo doanh số
Examiner: What are some of the dangers involved in starting a business?
Student: Well... obviously you need to have a good idea... some people say you need to do market research beforehand so you know what the market wants... if you don't do this you could go under... and if it is a good idea the chances are someone else is doing the same thing so you could end up facing stiff competition...
  • to go under: buộc phải đóng cửa
  • to do market research: làm nghiên cứu thị trường
  • stiff competition: đối thủ mạnh
Examiner: What are some of things you have to do when running your own business that might not appeal to everyone?
Student: Personally I don't like being in debt so taking out a business loan wouldn't suit me at all... and I know a lot of companies do cold calling to try and drum up business... that's something I would hate to do... and laying people off if the business gets in trouble... that would be horrible.
  • to take out a loan: vay tiền
  • to lay someone off: cho thôi việc
  • to cold call: cuộc gọi bán hàng không được báo trước
  • to drum up business: câu khách

Friday, 15 December 2017

Beating stress

Do you know you can apply "STRESS" theory to reduce stress?

I want to talk about beating stress today. You know life here in London is very stressful and I think topic's today is very useful for everyone because we can do something about it. Probably you have some changes in your life, maybe a big change or small change but instead of being afraid. I think you should have some positive and your attitude and think of change as a normal parts in the life.
Do you know maybe in London, the families are crowded into a small housing space, sometimes you would argue with your family, and I think try to resolve the disagreement with people is very important because you can build a strong relationship and keep commitment you have made. Sometimes, you are feeling alone and make some comfort, I think you can ask with the people you trust for help. That is important because if you have a bunch of friends, they could listen to you, you can release some stress through talking to them.

Actually, I find a funny things to help you could reduce some stress, by this words S.T.R.E.S.S, that's stress. How about, The word 'S', you can have  the SCHEDULING, yes, for example, you don't have a schedule too many things in the day, if you feel you are too busy, you can cut out one or two activities.
The next word "T" is TREAT YOUR BODY WELL, and experts says that do exercise can reduce stress and also if you eat healthy food, your brain and your body get the nourishment they need.
How about "R" is very important, its says relax, you can do some activities you enjoy or that relax you, you could read a good book or learn to new hobby, or spend time to visit a spa, shopping and that could make a good difference. And for me, I like play piano when I fell some stress and sometimes I watch some movies that make me laugh a lot
The word "E" is EXPECTATION I mean you can do your best and don't to do perfect and don't expect others to be too...because that will be release and reduce lots of stress for you and for the people around you
how about  the next " S" word is, stands SLEEP, I really really love to sleep so much to be honest, because sleep...if you get a good night's sleep, then it will keep your mind and your body in shape. And expert says if you sleep more than 7 hours, you will actually get tired, so don't sleep too much in the day, just sleep it when you feel enough.
And the last word "S" is SMILE , I always do this action, if you smile and have confident, you thoughts and your attitude influence the way you see things. If you are a negative person, you can actually learn to think in a more positive ways because that will make you feel comfortable when you are copying with stress.
Finally, I think we should take action and apply these tips in our life, so everyone can beat stress.

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Pot luck


Trong ngôn ngữ giao tiếp hằng ngày, khi đứng giữa một trời lựa chọn, ta chẳng biết chọn cái nào, cái nào cũng hay, cũng tốt cả, thôi thì " cầu may",  " chọn đại một cái"....hay bạn đang ở trong tình trạng có quá nhiều cần phải làm mà bạn lại không biết nên phải làm cái nào trước, cái nào sau khi ta không có một kế hoạch cho riêng nó thì " chọn một em bất kỳ" trong số đó....

Meaning

  • take a chance, 
  • describes a situation in which one must take a chance that whatever is available will prove to be good or acceptable.
  • anything that is available, or is found by a chance rather than something chosen, planned or prepared (Ref Cambridge Dictionary)

Example

  1. I didn't know which restaurant to eat at, so took pot luck and chose the one recommended in the guide book.
    Tôi không biết nhà hàng nào để ăn cả, vì thế mà chọn đại một cái trong số các nhà hàng đã khuyên trong sách hướng dẫn này.
  2. If you can'r decide which book to pick, take pot luck, I'm sure you they'll all be good to read.
    Nếu như bạn không quyết định được nên chọn quyển sách nào, thì lấy đại một quyển trong số chúng, tôi tin chắc là chúng rất là tốt để đọc.
  3. I'm going to take pot luck, and I'm sure the course I choose will be the right one for me.
    Tôi chọn đại khóa học này và tôi tin là sự lựa chọn là phù hợp với tôi.


Saturday, 24 December 2016

Off the top of one's head

Trong lúc bạn đang làm việc của mình, một đồng nghiệp hỏi bạn một vấn đề gì đó khá bất ngờ. Vì bạn đang tập trung vào công việc nên bạn không thể lục tung dữ liệu trong bộ nhớ để trả lời câu hỏi của đồng nghiệp một cách chính xác nhất. Trong tình huống này, bạn có thể dùng cụm từ "Off the top of my head" với hàm ý rằng "à, mình chỉ nhớ mang máng trong đầu là..." hay "nếu mình nhớ không lầm thì...". Bài viết này bàn về thành ngữ "Off the top of one's head" thường dùng nhiều trong văn nói tiếng Anh.

Meaning

  • without giving it too much thought or without precise knowledge
  • without careful thought or investigation
  • based on what you remember
  • from the knowledge you have in your memory
Look at the following dialogues
Dialogue 1
Mary: How much do you think this car would be worth on a trade?
Fred: Well, right off the top of my head, I'd say about a thousand.
Dialogue 2
Tom: What time does the morning train come in?
Bill: Off the top of my head, I don't know.

Examples

  • I can't tell you off the top of my head.
    Tôi không thể nói với bạn những gì tôi không biết chính xác.
  • From what I can remember off the top of my head, on the 4th down run, there OLine just collapsed. There wasn’t much room for Mathews to run.
    Với những gì tôi có thể nhớ trong đầu lúc này, vào lần chạy thứ 4, ở đó OLine mới đổ. Không có nhiều khoảng trống cho Mathews để chạy.
  • Off the top of my head, he considerably improved the games.
    Mình nhớ mang máng, anh ấy cải tiến đáng kể nhiều trò chơi.
  • What was the name of that plumber you used?
    I couldn't tell you off the top of my head.
    Tên của ông thợ sửa ống nước mà bạn đã nhờ là gì vậy?
    Tôi không thể nói với bạn vì chỉ nhớ mang máng trong đầu.
  • Off the top of my head I could probably only name three women artists.
    Những gì gợi trong trí nhớ tôi chỉ có thể gọi tên ba nữ vận động viên.
  • "What's the capital of Mauritania?" "I don't know off the top of my head, but I could go and look it up."
    "Thủ đô của Mauritania là gì vậy?" "Tôi không biết chính xác nữa, nhưng tôi có thể đi và tra nó."

Saturday, 15 October 2016

The most frequent collocations in spoken English

A collocation is a group of two or more words that are often used together. These combinations sound common and natural to native English speakers.
Image courtesy of https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/images/6671.jpg
The following table displays several collations most commonly used in English speaking.

All along
All the time/from the very beginning
Do you think he's been cheating us all along?
Bạn có nghĩ rằng anh ấy đã và đang lừa dối chúng ta?
All the same
All/just the same = No difference
Nevertheless
He's not very reliable, but I like him just the same.
'Will you stay for lunch?' 'No, but thanks all the same.'
All the same, there's some truth in what she says.
All thumbs
Clumsy, awkward
Vụng về, lóng ngóng, không gọn gàng
Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs.
Can you thread this needle for me? I'm all thumbs.
Poor Bob can't play the piano at all. He's all thumbs. Mary is all thumbs when it comes to gardening.
As a rule
Usually, but not always
As a rule, men should wear tuxedos at formal dinners.
As a rule, the bus picks me up at 7:30 every morning.
As for me/as to me (someone/something)
In my opinion
He prefers hiking and surfing. As for me, I would rather just stay at home and relax.
As for dessert, I'd better skip it today.
We are not sure as to how to pay the bill.
See more at http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/as+for
As well
Also, too
They advertised the new movie on television and in newspapers as well.
Mary is going to Italy and to France as well.
A fine software engineer, he has knowlede of database design as well.
Be about to
Ready (to do)
I am about to go downtown.
The chorus is about to sing.
Be all in
Be extremely tired
I was all in after only the first mile of the race. I could barely even walk for the rest of it!
I've had six children to look after today and I'm in all.
Be in charge (of something/someone)
Be responsible for something or someone
Who's in charge here?
The teacher put me in charge of organising the project.
Be in the red
If you or your bank account are in the red, you owe money to the bank.
See be in the black
If a bank account is in the black, it contains some money, and if a person or business is in the black, they have money in the bank and are not in debt.
Be in debt
State government has been operating in the red for five straight years. What with all those car repairs, we're going to be in the red this month.
Tourism is down and many hotels are operating in the red. The phone company found itself about $1.8 billion in the red.
Be into something
Be interested in
If you're into something, it means you really like it.

'I'm into listening to music. What are you into?'
'I'm into singing!'
See more at https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/word-the-week/be-something
Be out of sorts
In bad humor
to be slightly ill or slightly unhappy
I've been feeling tired and headachy and generally out of sorts.
Be touch and go
Be uncertain of the result
If a situation is touch-and-go, it is uncertain
The doctor says that it's touch-and-go whether Mary will be okay.
Be up to one's ears in something
Be very busy
to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage
I'm up to my ears in work.
She's up to her ears in debt.
Big shot
Important person
a person or an organization with a lot of power or influence
He is trying to become a big shot in the mortgage business.
Break into something
Enter by force
to begin suddenly to do something
to force your way into something
He broke into a run, and we couldn’t catch him.
He’s had his apartment broken into twice.
By heart
By memorising
to learn something in such a way that you can say it from memory
learned in such a way that you can repeat it from memory:
My father can still recite the poems he learned by heart at school.

By the way
Incidentally
used to introduce a new subject to be considered or to give further information
I think we've discussed everything we need to - by the way, what time is it?
Oh, by the way, my name's Julie.
Catch sb's eye
attract attention
A sudden movement caught my eye.
I tried to catch the waiter's eye, so we could order.
It was the unusual colour of his jacket that caught my eye.
Catch sb's breath
get your breath (back)
Stop and rest
to pause or rest for a short time until you can breathe comfortably or regularly again
I had to stop running to catch my breath.
Come true
become reality
If a hope, wish, or dream comes true, it happens although it was unlikely that it would
I'd always dreamed of owning my own house, but I never thought it would come true.
After all the problems I'd had getting pregnant, Oliver's birth was a dream come true.
Down to earth
practical, reasonable, and friendly:
She's a down-to-earth woman with no pretensions.
After twice of divorces, she is thinking of a down-to-earth view of marriage.
Draw the line
fix a limit
to never do something because you think it is wrong
set a limit on what one is willing to do or accept
to separate one thing from another
I swear a lot, but even I draw the line at saying certain words.
You can make as much noise as you want, but I draw the line at fighting.
It's hard to keep young people under control, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
It's not clear where this author draws the line between fact and fiction.
Even so
Nevertheless (tuy vậy), but
despite what has just been said
mặc cho cái gì đó vừa được nói ra
I had a terrible headache, but even so I went to the concert.
An immediate interest cut might give a small boost to the economy. Even so, any recovery is likely to be very slow.
Feel up to (doing) something
Be able to do something
to have the energy to do something
I don't feel up to going out tonight.
Few and far between
rare, scarce
not very many or not appearing very frequently
Sunny, warm weekends have been few and far between this summer.
For good
Forever
She's gone and this time it's for good.
From now on
Now and in the future
from this moment and always in the future
From now on the gates will be locked at midnight.
Get cold feet
Be afraid to do
to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had planned to do, especially something important such as getting married
We're getting married next Saturday - that's if Trevor doesn't get cold feet!
I'm worried she may be getting cold feet about our trip to Patagonia.
Get mixed up
Get confused
upset, worried, and confused, especially because of personal problems
He's just a mix-up kid.
Had better
should
If you had better/best do something, you should do it or it would be good to do it
I'd better leave a note so they'll know I'll be late.
Hold it!
Stop! Wait!
used to tell someone to wait or stop doing something
Hold it! I don't have my coat on yet.
Hold it! What are you saying?
Hold on (a minute)!
Wait!
- used to tell someone to wait for a short time
- used to say that you are confused or surprised by something that you have just heard or read and want to understand it
Hold!
to hold something or someone firmly with your hands or arms
"Are you ready?" "No, hold on."
Hold on, I'll check in my diary.
Now hold on, Ed, that wasn't what we agreed at all!
She held on tightly to his waist.
Hepefully, you could learn and practice these collocations as much as possible. Good luck!

Sunday, 2 October 2016

Other Ways to Say IN CONCLUSION

What are the other ways to say in conclusion? You can use the following expressions:
  • To sum up,
  • In summary,
  • To conclude,
  • In closing,
  • Finally, it may be concluded…
  • To summarise,
  • All in all,
  • Overall, it may be said…
  • Taking everything/this into account,
  • On the whole,
  • All things considered,
  • In sum,
  • Everything considered,
  • By and large,
  • Considering all this...
  • In a nutshell,



Thursday, 3 March 2016

give the green light to

Mỗi ngày học từ bạn/đồng nghiệp một thành ngữ hay. Hôm nay đọc email, mình gặp một thành ngữ mà hiểu theo tiếng việt bật đèn xanh cho ai đó. Ví dụ: cô ấy chưa chịu nên chưa bật đèn xanh cho chàng trai đến thăm nhà. Trong tiếng Anh, cụm từ này nói thế nào.

Meaning

Khá giống dịch word-by-word, bật đèn xanh trong tiếng Anh có thể nói/viết như là give the green light to sth/to do sth.
give the green light to sth: to give ​permission for someone to do something or for something to ​happen. (cho phép ai đó làm điều gì hoặc cho phép điều gì đó xảy ra)
Ở đây, người ta không dùng turn on/switch on the green light gì đâu nhé.
Image courtesy of http://reallifeglobal.com/give-the-green-light/

Examples

  1. The government has given the green light to our tree-planting project, so we can go ahead and start organizing things.
    Chính phủ vừa bật đèn xanh cho dự án trồng cây của chúng ta, vì thế mà chúng ta có thể tiến hành và bắt đầu tổ chức một số việc.
  2. The ​council has given the green ​light to the new ​shopping ​centre.
    Hội đồng thành phố vừa cho phép (xây dựng) trung tâm mua sắm mới.
  3. My mother will not give me the green light to throw out my school books.Mẹ sẽ không cho phép tớ quăng những cuốn sách học ở trường.
  4. Very strong indications are that Cabinet will give the Suriname-based airline the green light to begin flights to Guyana.
    Những dấu hiệu mạnh mẽ đó là Cabinet sẽ bật đèn xanh cho/cho phép hãng hàng không Suriname để bắt đầu chuyến bay đến Guyana.
  5. Just under a year ago, ESP submitted a formal planning application for the new site to Malvern Hills District Council. And now the council has decided to give it the green light.
    Chỉ cách đây chừng 1 năm, ESP gởi một hồ sơ dự án xây dựng khu mới hướng địa hạt quận Malvern Hills. Và nay hội đồng địa hạt đã quyết định cho phép công ty xúc tiến công việc.

Usages

  1. give the green light to sth
  2. give someone the green light to do sth
  3. get the green light to do sth
Hãy nghe một bài hát giải trí trước khi bạn đi khỏi blog này. Bài hát có tựa đề Give me the green light


Thursday, 18 February 2016

Adverbs in Spoken English

Trong giao tiếp hằng ngày, ta thường nghe người Anh họ rất hay nói những trạng từ này, họ hiếm khi nói " of course, certainly, sure.... Ta thử tìm hiểu nhé.

1. Definitely

Meaning:
defined as a absolutely or certainty, without any doubt, được sử dụng để nhấn mạnh sự chắc chắn khi không có bất kỳ nghi ngờ nào
Synonyms:
surely, for sure, without/beyond doubt, without/beyond question, absolutely, plainly, clearly, decidedly, far and away...
Examples:
1. - Are you going to have children? bạn định không có con à?
    -  Oh, definitely ( without any children) uh, chắc chắn rồi
2. I shall definitely be at the airport to meet you. 
   Tôi chắc chắn sẽ có mặt tại phi trường để gặp bạn.
3. The mother definitely has loved for her child. 
    Mẹ chắc chắn sẽ rất yêu các con của bà sinh ra.
4. - Dr Kaln is very nice. He's very interested in his patients.
      Bác sĩ Kaln rất tốt bụng. Ông ấy rất thích thú với các bệnh nhân của mình
      -  oh, do you think so? uh, bạn cũng nghĩ thế ah?
      -  Definitely. chắc chắn là thế.


2. Absolutely:

Meaning:
completely in a absolute way with an unlimited power,  được sử dụng để nhấn mạnh sự chắc chắn khi hoàn thành một cái gì đó một cách tuyệt đối hoặc với sức mạnh không giới hạn.
hoặc thể hiện một cách hùng hồn trong yes/ no trong sự thỏa thuận.
Synonyms:
completely, perfectly, quite, fully, a hundred percent, surely, certainly, truly, exactly, without question, without doubt, plainly...
Examples:
1. He is absolutely certain who will win 
    Tất nhiên là anh ấy chắc chắn ai sẽ là người chiến thắng.
2. Keep absolutely quite during the movie
   Hãy chắc chắn là giữ im lặng trong suốt quá trình chiếu phim.
3. The King rule absolutely. Các quy luật mà nhà vua đưa ra đều là chắc chắn.
4. Would you like to see the movie tonight? Absolutely!
    Bạn có muốn đi xem phim với tôi tối nay không?. Chắc chắn là có rồi.
5. We all need to work harder. Absolutely.
    Chúng ta cần phải làm việc chăm chỉ. Chắc chắn là thế rồi.
6. Do you think he's right? Absolutely not!
    Bạn có nghĩ là anh ta đúng không? Chắc chắn là không.

3. Probably

Meaning:
to say that a statement is very to likely to be true, để nói lên những điều mà mình nghĩ có thể là đúng
Synonyms:
likely, perhaps, possibly, maybe, most likely, in all likelihood, as likely as not...
Examples:
1. I'll probably be home to midnight.
    Có lẽ tôi sẽ có mặt ở nhà lúc nửa đêm.
2. Probably the best thing to do is to call them before you come.
    Có lẽ điều tốt nhất để làm là nên gọi họ trước khi bạn đến đó.
3. All those thing were very probably true.
     Những điều này chắc có lẽ là đúng.
4. - There might be a film to on at 2 pm that we could watch.
       Bộ phim mà chúng ta sẽ xem là chiếu lúc 2h chiều ah?
    - Yes, probably. Chắc lẽ vậy.


 4. Precisely:

Meaning: exactly, dùng để nhấn mạnh những gì đang nói.
Synonyms:
exactly, on the button, on the dot, correctly, yes, quite so, strictly,  accurately, ...
Examples:
1. - It should be call " English Test" not " Test of English"
      Nên gọi là " English Test" chứ không phải là " Test of English"
    - Precisely. Chính xác là thế.
2. He know precisely what we want.
    Anh ta biết chính xác những việc mà anh muốn gì.
3. You look tired - you should go home and rest?. - I'm going to do precisely that.
    Trông bạn có vẻ mệt- Bạn nên về nhà và nghỉ nghơi đi. - Chính xác là tôi định làm thế.


5. Not really:
ta thường sử dụng khi muốn làm mềm cho câu trả lời No - answer.
Example:
- Do you not like chocolate? Bạn không thích chocolate ah?
- No, not really. Không, không thật sự lắm.




Monday, 1 February 2016

Telling Time in English

Lưu lại cách nói giờ trong tiếng anh.