AGREE-DISAGREE.
1. Although more and more people read news on the Internet,
newspapers will remain the most important source of news. Do you
agree or disagree?
The Internet is beginning to rival newspapers as the best place to find
information about what is happening in the world. I believe that this
trend will continue, and the Internet will soon be just as important as
the traditional press.
On the one hand, I believe that newspapers will continue to be a
vital source of information, even in the Internet age. Firstly,
newspapers are the most traditional means of communicating the news,
and not everyone wants to or is able to use the Internet instead. For
example, old people or those in rural areas might not have the ability or
opportunity to get online, while many of us simply prefer newspapers
even if we do have Internet access. Secondly, newspapers can be trusted
as reliable sources of news because they employ professional
journalists and editors. Finally, many people like the experience of
holding and reading a paper rather than looking at a computer screen.
However, the Internet is likely to become just as popular as newspapers for
a variety of reasons. The main reason is that it allows us much faster
access to news in real-time and wherever we are, on
different gadgets and mobile devices. Another key benefit of online
news compared to newspapers is the ability to share articles, discuss them
with other people, give our views, and even contribute with our own updates
on social media. For example, there has been an explosion in the use
of platforms like Twitter and YouTube where anyone can share
their news and views. The final point is that this source of news is less
damaging to the environment.
In conclusion, I disagree with the view that newspapers will continue to
be the main source of news because I believe that the Internet will
soon be equally important.
Both views are justified to some extend… : cả 2 quan điểm đều hợp lí ở một
khía cạnh nào đó…
2. As a learning tool for young people, the media is better than
experiences. Do you agree or disagree?
Juveniles these days demonstrate their personal preference for different
media such as books and films instead of putting emphasis on hands-on
experiences when learning. While I acknowledge that there are still a
certain number of people who prefer the latter, I would argue it is more
reasonable to widen young people’s knowledge via books and movies.
People think that the paramount importance of real-life
experiences in learning may point to its provision of practical knowledge.
It goes without saying that first-hand experiences offer individuals the
authentic sensation as well as a long-lasting understanding of a huge
number of subjects. For example, in comparison to reading about the
production of ceramics through books, participating in making them greatly
enhances people’s comprehension of its process, which will definitely last
longer in our memory and the experience will not be ever replaced.
Learning through books and movies, however, is more recommendable in
terms of financial affairs and the variety of contents. With regard to the
former, written form of texts and films cost much less considerable amount
of money compared to the payment for hands-on experiences. A book
about the history and geography of Hoi An - an ancient town in central
Vietnam, for instance, is undoubtedly much more affordable compared to a
journey to this breathtaking hotspot. Looking at the second idea,
advancements in technology have facilitated the growth of the Internet
where the proliferation of movies has been encouraged, which fosters
the diversity of data that people can utilize for learning purposes. The
process of obtaining new knowledge is supported by a wide range of content,
which makes the attempt to gain first-hand experience become meaningless.
In conclusion, although I acknowledge that the role of
offering pragmatic knowledge of real-life experiences is undeniable, from
my perspective, the inexpensive cost and diversified content of books and
movies make them a more possible approach to widen one’s horizon.
While I acknowledge that : trong khi tôi thừa nhận rằng
3. The mass media, including television, radio and newspapers, have
great influence in shaping people's ideas. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
The mass media, including the radio, TV, newspaper and the
internet have a huge impact on people’s lifestyles, ways of thinking and
habits; the effect of media is very apparent in our daily lives and
surroundings since that tool being invented. Some
people believe that these mass media have a profound effect on shaping
people’s ideas. However, some people think that media cannot
fully affect on people. Additionally, I personally would argue that both
views may be true.
On the one hand, it is clear that media such as TV and radio have some
effects on people. The prime reason why the media have an impact on
people lies in a fact that people in their life are watching television,
reading the newspaper every hour and surf the net every
day. Therefore, information and ideas that media publish among people
have a direct effect on people’s behaviour, thought, attitude and lifestyle as
an example the enormous number of violent films on TV desensitized to
violence. For example, regular viewers end up thinking reality should be like
what they see on TV, which affects their behaviour and values.
However, the media cannot influence people’s culture and lifestyle fully,
in more detail culture is not monolithic and society is fragmented. For
instance, in our country TV shows just aim to preserve conventionality and
available status in our society, so media often cannot change the
prevailing attitude and way of people thinking in their
lives. Consequently, the media could not possibly influence all their
constituents.
In conclusion, people cannot deny the influence of media on people’s
attitude and their life. However, in some part media cannot have a deep
impact on people because some ideas and beliefs and attitudes have roots in
our culture and are not changeable.
The prime reason why: lí do cơ bản là vì
5. The high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of
advertising but not the real need of the society where such products
are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Advertising is well-known as a method of promotion, a method used by
corporations to introduce their products and services to the market, attract
the eye of consumers and increase sales. Critics of advertising argue that
advertising is the main drive of soaring sales of some products and
services, inducing consumers to purchase what they do not actually need in
their daily lives. I strongly agree with this statement.
Advertisements conquer the audience mainly by sending them a
message that they are lacking a specific brand or product that is likely to
make them acceptable or even distinguished individuals in society. The
advertisements as to medicine, dietary supplement, and other life-
enhancing products provide a typical
example. Targeting the buyers that are doubtful or worried about health,
advertisers have sought to encourage them to think that they are
threatened by such problems as malnutrition, and dysfunction of any part
of their bodies. Lack of knowledge in this field, the audience will rush to
buy the advertised products. Such cases are ever-present, and the
audience expects an immediate positive outcome — disregarding other
solutions.
Advertising also works to create a best-seller image for a newly-
marketed product. The audience is tempted to buy it in the hope that they
can thus become one of the eyewitnesses and participants of a fad. It is
not uncommon that cell phone users replace their phones every year,
although the phone they have abandoned is still in usable condition. They
might not actually need to make purchases so frequently, but
advertising spurs them to do so. The power of advertising has too often
been abused by advertisers, who tend to give an exaggerated account
of the popularity of a product, soon after the product is marketed. So
gullible are some buyers that they are driven to buy it. With the number
of buyers growing, it will evolve into a buying craze.
In conclusion, people should stay alert to the influence advertising has
on their decision-making process. As indicated above, advertising
has twisted the information about what product is needed, or what
product is favoured, thereby driving people to make insensible buying
decisions.
Spurs = encouraging
3. It is more important for schoolchildren to learn about local history
than world history. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Whether young students should learn history of their own country or that of
other societies in the world has always been a topic of debate. While it is
believed that teaching the former is of more
importance to schoolchildren, I disagree with this perspective.
Some people are pro children learning local history, and justifiably so.
The key rationale in favor of this view is that being aware of their roots can
instill a sense of patriotism in each child. This may foster an appreciation
for their national heritages, which means they are more willing to defend and
contribute to their country. By contrast, those who lack knowledge about
national history may not respect their own traditions. Vietnam perfectly
exemplifies this situation. As history education in most schools is sadly
lacking, many children have grown up with superficial
understanding about their ancestors’ past achievements and sacrifice,
hence their indifference to national current affairs. This is a testament to
the necessity of teaching schoolchildren local history.
However, I am convinced that it is far more beneficial for young children
to learn local history in parallel with world history. This is
because acquiring insights into events that took place in other parts of the
world can also give children a more holistic perspective of what happened
in their localities. On the other hand, learning exclusively about national
history could case an individual to be biased and harbor hostile feelings
about foreign people. For example, in Vietnam, history education mostly
features how Vietnam fought against foreign armies such as America or
France, misleading many students into thinking that people from these
countries are bad. This outlook may be more impartial if they thoroughly
understand those wars in world context.
In conclusion, while there are some justifications for considering local
history more important than world history, I would contend
that schoolchildren will derive the most benefit from learning both.
4. Nowadays young people mostly learn by reading books or
watching movies and TV shows, rather than personal experiences.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Juveniles these days demonstrate their personal preference for different
media such as books and films instead of putting emphasis on hands-on
experiences when learning. While I acknowledge that there are still a
certain number of people who prefer the latter, I would argue that it is
more reasonable to widen young people’s knowledge via books and movies.
People think that the paramount importance of real-life
experiences in learning may point to its provision of practical knowledge.
It goes without saying that first-hand experiences offer individuals the
authentic sensation as well as a long-lasting understanding of a huge
number of subjects. For example, in comparison to reading about the
production of ceramics through books, participating in making them greatly
enhances people’s comprehension of its process, which will definitely last
longer in our memory and the experience will not be ever replaced.
Learning through books and movies, however, is more recommendable in
terms of financial affairs and the variety of contents. With regard to the
former, written form of texts and films cost much less considerable amount
of money compared to the payment for hands-on experiences. A book
about the history and geography of Hoi An - an ancient town in central
Vietnam, for instance, is undoubtedly much more affordable compared to a
journey to this breathtaking hotspot. Looking at the second idea,
advancements in technology have facilitated the growth of the Internet
where the proliferation of movies has been encouraged, which fosters
the diversity of data that people can utilize for learning purposes. The
process of obtaining new knowledge is supported by a wide range of content,
which makes the attempt to gain first-hand experience become meaningless.
In conclusion, although I acknowledge that the role of
offering pragmatic knowledge of real-life experiences is undeniable, from
my perspective, the inexpensive cost and diversified content of books and
movies make them a more possible approach to widen one’s horizon.
8. Some claim that studying abroad has great benefits for a
student’s home country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Today, more and more parents are sending their children to study abroad,
leading to the question of whether study-abroad students are beneficial to
their home country. Although I personally agree that there are benefits
to the home country, I also believe that there are downsides.
There are two underlying reasons why I opine thatthe government
should welcome students who choose to pursue education in another
country. Firstly, it is a fact that there are lots of prestigious educational
institutions around the world that Vietnamese students can attend. This
means that these students can grow to their fullest potential, then return
to Vietnam with this knowledge and help to develop the country in multiple
aspects. Secondly, going abroad will help equip students with new
perspectives and lifestyles, which benefits the home country. For example,
students who come back from the US will usually be more open-
minded and proactive in their workplace. As a result, they will gradually
change the work culture for the better.
However, that is not to say that the home country would always benefit
from study-abroad students. The first reason is that there is an alarming
portion of students who do not return home after being abroad. Many
reasons can explain this phenomenon, such as the home country does not
offer a stable enough career prospect, or that the pay is not high enough,
which leads to brain drain. The second reason is that students can
be out of touch with the social scene in their home country after studying
abroad. As a result, fresh graduates may find it difficult to blend in at
work. For example, most abroad students are ignorant of social
movements happening in their home countries and often are not engaged in
conversations at work with these topics.
In conclusion, I believe that the benefits that study-abroad students bring
to their home country are undeniable. However, I do not think studying
abroad is suitable for anyone, and that we should have some policies to
ensure that these students will be more likely to return after graduating.
Advantages outweigh
disadvantages
5. In some countries, schools are teaching foreign languages for
primary school children. Do the advantages of this outweigh the
disadvantages?
Many educational institutions at the elementary level in certain nations
include non-native languages as a compulsory subject in
their curriculum. Despite the disadvantages involved, I am of the
opinion that this development is generally more favorable.
One of the main disadvantages is that implementing non-native
languages in elementary education programs may create considerable
pressure on young learners. The reason for this is that many students
nowadays already have a heavy volume of schoolwork and a hectic
curriculum to follow, they would find it challenging to have spare time if one
more subject is added to their already tight schedule. For example, when
a primary state school in Japan introduced a new scheme of forcing
students to learn foreign languages, it raised a number of objections from
parents as they voiced their concern over the paramount amount of stress
their children have to suffer from.
Nevertheless, I would argue that teaching foreign languages to primary
school students is more beneficial in terms of developing their intellectual
faculties and improving their future employability. It is true that
the acquisition of a new language at the beginning level promotes
frequent exposure to diverse and unique cultures. Such experience allows
children to gain an enormous wealth of knowledge about
others' customs and lifestyles as well as develop an acute awareness of
other exotic people. Furthermore, foreign languages are undoubtedly a
crucial tool to open more job opportunities. Employers in certain sectors
have a tendency to recruit applicants who demonstrate exceptional
linguistic competence, which suggests that students possessing expert
language skills are more inclined to have chances to work in various fields
such as interpretation, diplomacy, aviation, etc.
In conclusion, although children have to face pressure from studying
more lingual subjects in their very early years of life, the integration of
foreign languages in primary school's curriculum has paved the way for
enhancing students' capability and career prospects. Therefore, I hold the
belief that the advantages of this development clearly overshadow the
drawbacks involved.
5. In some countries, schools are teaching foreign languages for
primary school children. Do the advantages of this outweigh the
disadvantages?
Many educational institutions at the elementary level in certain nations
include non-native languages as a compulsory subject in
their curriculum. Despite the disadvantages involved, I am of the
opinion that this development is generally more favorable.
One of the main disadvantages is that implementing non-native
languages in elementary education programs may create considerable
pressure on young learners. The reason for this is that many students
nowadays already have a heavy volume of schoolwork and a hectic
curriculum to follow, they would find it challenging to have spare time if one
more subject is added to their already tight schedule. For example, when
a primary state school in Japan introduced a new scheme of forcing
students to learn foreign languages, it raised a number of objections from
parents as they voiced their concern over the paramount amount of stress
their children have to suffer from.
Nevertheless, I would argue that teaching foreign languages to primary
school students is more beneficial in terms of developing their intellectual
faculties and improving their future employability. It is true that
the acquisition of a new language at the beginning level promotes
frequent exposure to diverse and unique cultures. Such experience allows
children to gain an enormous wealth of knowledge about
others' customs and lifestyles as well as develop an acute awareness of
other exotic people. Furthermore, foreign languages are undoubtedly a
crucial tool to open more job opportunities. Employers in certain sectors
have a tendency to recruit applicants who demonstrate exceptional
linguistic competence, which suggests that students possessing expert
language skills are more inclined to have chances to work in various fields
such as interpretation, diplomacy, aviation, etc.
In conclusion, although children have to face pressure from studying
more lingual subjects in their very early years of life, the integration of
foreign languages in primary school's curriculum has paved the way for
enhancing students' capability and career prospects. Therefore, I hold the
belief that the advantages of this development clearly overshadow the
drawbacks involved.
2 PARTS ESSAY.
4. Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has
changed because of technology. In what ways has technology
affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been
a positive or negative development?
It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication
between people. Technology has affected relationships in various ways,
and in my opinion, there are both positive and negative effects.
Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and
social life. Firstly, telephones and the Internet allow business people in
different countries to interact without ever meeting each
other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for
relationships between students and teachers. For example, a student can
now take video lessons with a teacher in a different city or country. Finally,
many people use social networks, like Facebook, to make new friends and
find people who share common interests, and can they interact through
their computers rather than face to face.
In my view, this phenomenon might bring several impacts, both positive
and negative. On the one hand, these developments can be extremely
positive. Co-operation between people in different countries was much more
difficult when communication was limited to written letters or
telegrams. Nowadays, interactions via email, phone or video are almost as
good as face-to-face meetings, and many of us benefit from these
interactions, either in work or social contexts. On the other hand, the
availability of new communication technologies can also have the result of
isolating people and discouraging real interaction. For example, many
young people choose to make friends online rather than bonding with
their friends the real world, and these ‘virtual’ relationships are a poor a
substitute for real friendships.
In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionised communication
between people, but not all of the outcomes of this revolution have been
positive.
DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS.
9. Some people believe that studying at university or college is the
best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is
better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give
your opinion.
Nowadays, a number of teenagers find it difficult to choose between getting
a job or continuing their education after graduating from high school. Even
though there are some benefits of working straight after school, I believe
that going to college or university is the better option.
There are several reasons why people believe that getting a job is the better
choice. First, if people start to work at the age of 18, they could earn money
on their own and be able to live independently without their parents’
financial support. In fact, many students in Western countries tend to find a
job after high school to afford their living. Second, people who choose to
start their career early instead of going to university or college can have
more opportunities to gain real experience and learn exclusive skills for their
jobs. Therefore, this may bring out a good chance of getting promoted to
higher positions such as managers or executives.
On the other hand, I strongly believe that students would gain more benefits
if they continue their studies. Firstly, a plenty of employers might ask for
high academic qualifications from people applying for some professional
jobs. For many high-paying jobs such as statisticians, economists, and
medical jobs, master’s degree is one of the most vital
requirements. Secondly, today job market is more competitive and
a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in your resumé can be a huge
advantage compared to other applicants. Employers would prefer a person
who has an adequate amount of knowledge to work efficiently with less
training time.
In conclusion, it is deemed that students with higher academic
background are likely to be more successful in pursuing their dream jobs.
6. Some people say advertising has positive economic effects.
Others think it has negative social effects because it will make
people dissatisfied with who they are and what they have. Discuss
both views and give your own opinion.
There have been much discussion about advertisements. While some
people claim that it can be beneficial for businesses, others opine
that advertising is detrimental to individuals. In my opinion, both ideas
are correct to a certain extent.
On the one hand, advertising has long been used by business owners as
a great tool to boost sales. Advertisements can give new products
recognition and help educate first-time buyers. This means that it can
introduce innovative services that have never existed before to the public,
or partly guide clueless consumers who have never purchased a product
before on its range and qualities. A prime example of this is Nike’s “Just
Do It” campaign. In the old days, Nike’s products catered mostly to
athletes, but in the late 1980s, Nike created this campaign to introduce its
shoes to the masses. The effort was successful in helping Nike tap into a
new demographic and in yielding never-before-seen profits for the
brand.
On the other hand, advertisements have undeniable negative effects on
human’s psyche. Advertising’s core mission is to keep customers
informed, however, this is a double-edged sword, as new yearnings are
also created, preventing people from being satisfied with what they have and
boosting consumerism culture. As individuals are bombarded with
advertisements which state that they need something new to better their
life, depreciation of their existing assets will appear. For well-off people, life
will become a constant race to possess the next ground-breaking
products, while for less fortunate ones, they will unconsciously suffer from
feelings of inferiority due to not having what is considered good - as stated
on advertisements. These are unhealthy modes of living that people should
not have to experience.
In conclusion, whether advertising is advantageous or not depends on the
standpoint. For companies, it can provide great assistance to generate more
profits, whereas for individuals, advertisements can affect their thinking
adversely.
1. Some people think students should study the science of food and
how to prepare it. Others think that school time should be used in
learning important subjects. Discuss both views and give your
opinion.
It is sometimes advocated by individuals that students should have
opportunities to learn about food science and culinary skills; however,
others argue that subjects considered more important should be given
priority. While it is reasonable for students to focus only on academic
subjects, I believe that teaching students about food holds as an important
place.
A fundamental reason why important subjects should be students’ priority is
that those can affect their future career’s trajectory. Since employers
around the world often look for applications with at least a bachelor’s
degree, a preferred course of action for students is to do well
in academic subjects, which increases their chances of enrolling in a
university and graduating. Furthermore, a majority of education
systems around the world focus on academic disciplines, and students
often already have a tight schedule just studying these. This can make it
difficult for them to integrate learning about food into their daily activities.
Despite the potential difficulties that arise, I believe that allowing
students time to learn about food science and food preparation can be
beneficial to them. In the first place, food science is not only about food;
it is a combination of food, technology, and science. As a result, this subject
can be an excellent vehicle to teach students science and make the lessons
more engaging to them. In addition, learning about preparing and cooking
food can help students acquire knowledge about nutrition, allowing them
to make healthier food choices and create more balanced diet. This, in turn,
helps the fight against childhood obesity, which is having a major effect on
children’s well-being around the world.
In conclusion, although it is essential to study academic-focused
subjects which are often considered important, my belief is that
adding food science and culinary knowledge to the list of current
subjects will certainly result in benefits for students.
It is sometimes advocated by : nó đôi khi được ủng hộ bởi….
A fundamental reason why: lí do cơ bản là
Enrolling in a university = get into ….
Since = as
Despite the potential difficulties that arise : bất chấp những khó khăn đó,…
culinary knowledge = food knowledge
In the first place = firstly
future career’s trajectory: lộ trình nghề nghiệp tương lai
2. Some people believe that studying at university or college is the
best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is
better to get a job straight after [Link] both views and give
your opinion
When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a
job or continue their education. While there are some
benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is
better to go to college or university.
The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several
reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as
possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able
to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young
people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may
progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real
experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession.
This may lead to promotions and a successful career.
On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to
continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required
in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor,
teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a
result, university graduates have access to more and better job
opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with
fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly
competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one
position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a
university or college will not be able to compete.
In conclusion, for the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that
students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue
their studies beyond the school level.
face the dilemma of whether: phải đối mặt với vấn đề nan giải là liệu
While there are some benefits : trong khi có một vài lợi ích
In term of their : trong trường hợp…
For the reasons mentioned above: cho những lí do đã nêu ở trên
Hetic = busy
Problem and Solution
Questions
7. In schools and universities, girls tend to choose arts while boys
like science. What are the reasons for this trend and do you think
this tendency should be changed?
There is a fact that male and female college students show differences
in subject selection. While boys have a tendency towards science, girls
tend to take arts. It could be explained by dissimilarities between the two
genders and personally, I believe that no interventions should be made
to this trend.
To begin with, distinct favour in subjects chosen by male and female
students is understandable because of the differences in gender-specific
characteristics and ability. In particular, females are more patient, more
careful, and better at handling stress. Therefore, they are suitable for
subjects that require meticulousness, such as arts. Meanwhile, male
counterparts appear to be more intelligent, and better at logical thought,
which makes them suited for analytical subjects. Apparently, students should
and are likely to opt for subjects in which they have advantages.
From my personal perspective, this tendency should not be
changed. One reason is that any modifications would be unreasonable.
While the benefits of the changes are unclear, the drawbacks are obvious. It
is because boys and girls select different fields of study in order to most
effectively cultivate their aptitude. Hence, forcing them to take unwanted
subjects may cause the loss in their desire of learning. Another
justification for my opinion is that students’ freedom of choice should
be respected. To be more specific, college students should be allowed to
select their favourite subjects irrespective of their gender.
In conclusion, university students’ subject selection is dependent on their
qualities, which are profoundly influenced by their genders. In addition, I
would claim that this general tendency should not be reversed.