TOPICS
1. Parents always want the best for their children - many harbor dreams of top colleges,
followed by lucrative careers within a global, competitive economy. They put intense
pressure on their children to earn perfect grades, no matter the cost. Experts warn that this
can lead to social, emotional, and physical stress.
What are the causes and effects of this? What can be done to reduce the pressure?
2. Although same-sex marriage has been regulated through law, religion, and custom in
most countries of the world, the legal and social responses have ranged from celebration
on the one hand to criminalization on the other. Scholars and the general public became
increasingly interested in the issue during the late 20th century, a period when attitudes
toward homosexuality and laws regulating homosexual behavior were liberalized,
particularly in Western Europe and the United States. The issue of same-sex marriage
frequently sparked emotional and political clashes between supporters and opponents.
Do you agree or disagree with legalizing same-sex marriage in Vietnam? Explain your
perspectives.
3. With the development of social media, many youngsters are being allowed unsupervised
access to the Internet and are using the Internet to socialize with others. This can lead to a
number of dangerous situations which can be threatening for children.
Discuss what problems children may face when going online without parental
supervision and how these problems can be solved.
4. A university regulation has a very general rule for the student way of dressing as being
polite. As a result, some students feel free to wear casual clothes to school. Some even
choose the clothes that are too sexy for students.
Discuss if the university should have stricter regulation for the school uniform; or let the
students free to choose the clothes they like; or punish them seriously.
5. Many university students live with their families while others live away from home
because their universities are in different places. What are the advantages and
disadvantages both situations? Nowadays, many students move away from their
hometown to get to their universities in the different locations while others live with their
families.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying far away from home (not
abroad)?
6. Teaching foreign languages, especially English, to children at kindergarten age is an issue
that is of great concern to Vietnamese parents. Many people believe in a ‘Critical Age
Period’ for learning languages and that this may apply to second language learning. Most
people believe this age to be before puberty and it’s a time when children are more reliant
on learning innately. Once puberty arrives learners tend to rely on more formal learning
‘skills' and ‘strategies’. This may lead to the apparently greater success of children when
learning foreign languages, as compared to adults, but it may also be due to other factors
such as the fact that children have more time in school to spend on learning.
For Vietnamese children, what is the best age to start learning foreign languages? What
are the advantages and disadvantages of learning English at a young age?
7. A growing number of countries are now implementing restrictions on smoking in public
places like restaurants, workplaces, parks, malls, government offices, and schools among
others. However, the contentions on these smoking restrictions are still heard from
supporters and critics.
Do you support or oppose smoking bans? Give reasons to support your opinions.