English 12A1 · Listening · Week 7

Global
Warming

Announcements and radio broadcasts. Listen for figures, warnings and action points—then turn evidence into a clear response.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Listening-task audio is recorded in the page. Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of planet Earth: one side burning with wildfires, the other covered in melting ice

Climate headlines

Decide in pairs: true or false? Commit before revealing the evidence.

1. 2024 was the warmest year in the 175-year observational record.

ExplanationTrue. WMO reported a global mean near-surface temperature about 1.55°C above the 1850–1900 average.

2. Every year from 2015 to 2024 ranked among the ten warmest years on record.

ExplanationTrue. The entire ten-year period occupied the top ten.

3. Global mean sea level reached a record high in the satellite record in 2024.

ExplanationTrue. The 2015–2024 rise rate was more than twice the 1993–2002 rate.

Evidence: World Meteorological Organization · State of the Global Climate 2024.

Lead-in question: Which detail would be hardest to catch in a broadcast—and why?

Vocabulary

Study the picture clue, guess the term, then flip the card to check the word, its meanings and pronunciation.

Picture clue: planet Earth inside a glass greenhouse, surrounded by swirling orange heat

Tap to reveal the termgreenhouse effect/ˌɡriːnhaʊs ɪˈfekt/The process by which gases in the atmosphere trap heat near Earth’s surface.hiệu ứng nhà kính

Picture clue: a giant footprint made of dark smoke rising into a blue sky

Tap to reveal the termcarbon footprint/ˌkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/The total amount of greenhouse gases attributable to a person, product or activity.dấu chân carbon

Picture clue: factory chimneys pouring thick black smoke into the sky

Tap to reveal the termemission/ɪˈmɪʃn/A substance, especially a gas, released into the air as a result of human activity.khí thải

Picture clue: solar panels and wind turbines in a sunny green meadow

Tap to reveal the termrenewable/rɪˈnjuːəbl/Capable of being naturally replenished at least as quickly as it is consumed.có thể tái tạo

Picture clue: a cleared forest floor covered with tree stumps and a fallen trunk

Tap to reveal the termdeforestation/diːˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃn/The deliberate, large-scale clearance of forests for other forms of land use.nạn phá rừng

Picture clue: two hands shielding planet Earth from waves of red heat

Tap to reveal the termmitigation/ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/Action taken to reduce the severity, extent or harmful consequences of a problem.sự giảm nhẹ

Picture clue: a giant thermometer cracking apart under extreme heat

Tap to reveal the termunprecedented/ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd/Never having happened, existed or been experienced before.chưa từng có tiền lệ

Picture clue: a huge storm wave flooding and wrecking a coastal city

Tap to reveal the termcatastrophe/kəˈtæstrəfi/A sudden event that causes widespread, severe damage or suffering.thảm họa

Quick check

1. The city plans to replace coal-fired power with wind and solar energy. Which word best describes these sources?

ExplanationRenewable sources are replenished naturally; wind and sunlight are not depleted when electricity is generated.

2. Introducing a carbon levy to discourage fossil-fuel use and cut greenhouse-gas emissions is an example of…

ExplanationMitigation means reducing the causes or severity of climate change; the levy is intended to lower emissions.

3. In the sentence “The heatwave was unprecedented,” the underlined word is closest in meaning to…

ExplanationUnprecedented describes something that has not happened or been recorded before.

4. Which sentence uses carbon footprint correctly?

ExplanationA carbon footprint is the greenhouse-gas impact attributable to a person or activity, so flying less can reduce it.

Signals in the noise

Task 1 · Three practice announcements

Listen to the announcements and choose the best answer for each question.

Announcement 1

Airport weather advisory

Attention all passengers. This is a weather advisory from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Due to an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius, several afternoon flights may be delayed. Passengers are advised to stay hydrated and remain inside the terminal building. Outdoor boarding will be suspended until 5 PM. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Announcement 2

Riverside flood warning

Attention residents of riverside districts. The water level of the Hau River has risen to 4.5 meters, only 30 centimeters below the danger mark. Heavy rain is forecast for the next 48 hours. Residents in low-lying areas should prepare for possible evacuation. Emergency shelters are now open at three primary schools. Please stay tuned for further updates.

Announcement 3

School public-address message

Attention students and teachers. Due to severe air pollution and extreme heat, with the UV index reaching 11, all outdoor activities this afternoon are cancelled, including football practice and the morning exercise session tomorrow. Please stay indoors during breaks and drink plenty of water.

1. The airport temperature reached 42°C.

ExplanationTrue. The advisory explicitly states that temperatures reached 42°C.

2. Outdoor boarding will resume at…

Explanation5 PM. Outdoor boarding is suspended “until 5 PM,” so that is the stated resumption time.

3. The river is 30 cm above the danger mark.

ExplanationFalse. The water is 30 centimetres below, not above, the danger mark.

4. How many emergency shelters are open?

ExplanationThree. The warning says shelters are open at three primary schools.

5. The UV index reached 11.

ExplanationTrue. The school announcement gives 11 as the UV-index reading.

6. Which activity is cancelled tomorrow morning?

ExplanationMorning exercise. Football practice is cancelled that afternoon, while morning exercise is cancelled the following day.

Task 2 · “Climate Watch” classroom bulletin

Evidence from WMO’s State of the Global Climate 2024

Good evening, and welcome to Climate Watch. I’m your host, Mai Lan. According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 was the hottest year in the 175-year observational record. Global mean temperature was about 1.55 degrees Celsius above the 1850–1900 average. Each of the ten years from 2015 to 2024 ranked among the ten warmest years on record. Global mean sea level also reached a record high in the satellite record. From 2015 to 2024, sea level rose by an average of 4.7 millimeters per year—more than twice the rate recorded from 1993 to 2002. These global changes matter locally. Low-lying communities must strengthen flood planning, protect freshwater, and reduce emissions. Scientists stress that every fraction of a degree matters. That concludes tonight’s bulletin. Stay informed, stay prepared.

Complete each sentence. Write no more than three words and/or a number taken from the recording.

12024 was the ___ in the observational record.

2Temperature was about ___ °C above the 1850–1900 average.

3The period mentioned covers ___ years, from 2015 to 2024.

4Each year ranked among the ___ warmest years on record.

5Global mean sea level reached a ___.

6Sea level rose by ___ mm per year.

7The recent rate was ___ the earlier rate.

8One local response is stronger ___.

Explanation

1 · hottest year: the superlative matches “in the 175-year observational record.”

2 · 1.55°C: the unit is supplied in the sentence, so students enter only 1.55.

3 · 10 years: the unit is supplied, and the inclusive period from 2015 through 2024 contains ten years.

4 · 10: every year in that period entered the ten-warmest ranking.

5 · record high: this describes the sea-level benchmark reached in 2024.

6 · 4.7 mm: the unit is supplied in the sentence, so students enter only 4.7.

7 · more than twice: the recent rate exceeded double the 1993–2002 rate.

8 · flood planning: the speaker names strengthening flood planning as one local response.

Task 3 · “The Local Climate Hour”

A radio interview about the fictional “Cool Routes” pilot

Host: Welcome to The Local Climate Hour. Our focus tonight is Cool Routes, a pilot designed for a coastal district where hotter afternoons and heavier downpours increasingly disrupt daily travel. The proposal combines shaded bus stops, two hundred roadside trees, and a five-kilometre protected cycle lane.

Dr. Linh: It sounds ambitious, but the three elements do not deliver benefits on the same timetable. Shade structures can protect passengers almost immediately. Young trees, by contrast, may need several years before they reduce surface temperatures significantly. The cycle lane could cut short car journeys, but only if it connects homes with schools and markets rather than ending where land is cheapest.

Host: Some residents argue that the budget should go entirely to flood drainage. Is Cool Routes a distraction?

Dr. Linh: That is a false choice. Transport and drainage planning can reinforce each other. Permeable paving beside the cycle lane can absorb rainwater, while tree pits can temporarily hold runoff. However, neither measure replaces larger drains in the most flood-prone streets. The pilot should therefore begin where heat exposure is high but flood depth remains manageable.

Host: The council predicts that weekly car trips could fall by twelve per cent. Do you find that convincing?

Dr. Linh: I would call it a target, not a forecast. Behaviour depends on safety, continuity, and convenience. If cyclists are forced into traffic at major junctions, many families will keep using motorbikes or cars. The council should publish monthly usage data and ask residents why they do, or do not, change their journeys.

Host: So how should success be judged after the first year?

Dr. Linh: Not by the number of trees planted or kilometres painted. Those are outputs. Success means cooler waiting areas, fewer short car trips, safer journeys, and less standing water after heavy rain. A credible review should report both the gains and the groups who have not benefited.

Host: A useful reminder that climate policy is not just about visible projects, but about measurable outcomes. This has been The Local Climate Hour.

Listen and choose the best answer.

1. What is Dr. Linh’s main reservation about the three-part proposal?

ExplanationIts benefits will emerge at different speeds. Shade works almost immediately, whereas young trees need years to cool the area significantly.

2. According to Dr. Linh, when is the cycle lane most likely to reduce car use?

ExplanationA continuous route to everyday destinations makes cycling practical; a disconnected lane is unlikely to change family travel habits.

3. By calling the drainage argument “a false choice”, Dr. Linh implies that…

ExplanationTransport and flood measures can support one another: permeable paving and tree pits can manage runoff alongside mobility improvements.

4. How does Dr. Linh interpret the predicted 12% fall in weekly car trips?

ExplanationIt is a target, not a forecast. Actual behaviour will depend on safety, continuity and convenience, so usage data are still needed.

5. Which measure would Dr. Linh regard as an outcome rather than an output?

ExplanationLess standing water is a real-world change produced by the project; tree and lane counts merely record what was installed.

6. Which best describes the speaker’s overall attitude to Cool Routes?

ExplanationCautiously supportive. Dr. Linh recognises the pilot’s potential but repeatedly qualifies it with design, location and evaluation conditions.

Source for bulletin figures: World Meteorological Organization. The three short announcements and “The Local Climate Hour” interview are original classroom practice scripts.

Climate Response Council

Turn listening evidence into a practical decision for your school community.

Scenario

One budget. One priority.

Your school is preparing for hotter afternoons, heavier rain and rising energy use. The student council can fund one initiative this term.

Your mission: agree on the option with the strongest impact, then defend it with evidence.

A · Heat-safe timetable

Move outdoor activities and redesign shaded waiting areas.

B · Flood-ready campus

Add permeable surfaces, rain gardens and clearer warning routes.

C · Clean commute

Create safer cycling access and a car-free school morning.

D · Solar classrooms

Reduce electricity emissions through rooftop solar power.

Language bank

“The evidence points to…”

“Its immediate benefit would be…”

“This option is the strongest because…”

“Success should be measured by…”

Homework

Write a short paragraph of 150–180 words on the following topic:

“What can Vietnamese youth do to slow down global warming?”

Next lesson

Speaking: “Ecosystem” — explaining situations and giving instructions.

← Tất cả bài giảng

English 12A1 · Speaking

Ecosystem

“In nature, nothing exists alone.”

— Rachel Carson

Explain situations, give instructions. Explore how living things depend on one another — then explain what is happening in an ecosystem and tell others exactly what to do about it.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of a glass globe containing a rainforest with waterfalls above a coral reef full of tropical fish

Ecosystem Quiz

Work in pairs. Choose the best answer — then check the fact behind it.

1. Which ecosystem is often called the “rainforest of the sea”?

Fact checkCoral reefs support about 25% of all marine life while covering less than 1% of the ocean floor.

2. What is the world’s largest mangrove forest?

Fact checkThe Sundarbans, shared by Bangladesh and India, is the largest mangrove forest on Earth.

3. Which plant is an invasive species in the Mekong Delta?

Fact checkWater hyacinth (lục bình) spreads rapidly, blocking waterways and depleting oxygen for fish.

4. If predators disappear from an ecosystem, what usually happens to prey?

Fact checkWithout predators, prey multiplies out of control, exhausts its food, then crashes — destabilizing the whole ecosystem.

5. Which of these is an apex predator in Vietnam’s forests?

Fact checkThe Indochinese tiger sits at the top of the forest food chain, regulating prey populations.

Guess the Word

Study the picture clue, guess the term, then flip the card to check the word, its meanings and pronunciation.

Picture clue: a rich variety of plants, animals and insects living together in a rainforest

Tap to reveal the termbiodiversity/ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ (noun)The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat or in the world.đa dạng sinh họcCollocations: rich biodiversity · protect biodiversity“Vietnam is famous for its rich biodiversity, from dense jungles to vibrant coral reefs.”

Picture clue: animals living in their natural forest environment

Tap to reveal the termhabitat/ˈhæbɪtæt/ (noun)The natural environment in which a plant or animal normally lives.môi trường sốngCollocations: natural habitat · destroy habitats“Logging is destroying the natural habitats of countless species.”

Picture clue: a tiger hunting in the wild

Tap to reveal the termpredator/ˈpredətə/ (noun)An animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals.động vật săn mồiCollocation: apex predator“As an apex predator, the tiger keeps the forest ecosystem in balance.”

Picture clue: a deer grazing nervously while being watched by a hunter animal

Tap to reveal the termprey/preɪ/ (noun)An animal that is hunted, killed and eaten by another animal.con mồiCollocation: fall prey to“Without predators, deer overpopulate and fall prey to disease.”

Picture clue: a sequence of living things, from plants to small animals to a top hunter, each eating the one before

Tap to reveal the termfood chain/ˈfuːd tʃeɪn/ (noun)A series of living things in which each one eats the one below it in the series.chuỗi thức ănCollocation: disrupt the food chain“Removing a single species can disrupt the entire food chain.”

Picture clue: a rare animal fading away as its species disappears

Tap to reveal the termextinction/ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn/ (noun)The dying out of a species so that it no longer exists anywhere.sự tuyệt chủngCollocation: on the brink of extinction“The saola is on the brink of extinction in the Annamite Range.”

Picture clue: people protecting wildlife and releasing a sea turtle back into the ocean

Tap to reveal the termconservation/ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃn/ (noun)The protection of the natural environment and of wildlife.sự bảo tồnCollocations: wildlife conservation · conservation efforts“Conservation efforts have helped sea turtles return to Con Dao beaches.”

Picture clue: water hyacinth spreading rapidly and covering the surface of a canal

Tap to reveal the terminvasive species/ɪnˈveɪsɪv ˈspiːʃiːz/ (noun)A species that spreads into a new area and harms the native ecosystem.loài xâm lấnCollocation: control invasive species“Water hyacinth is an invasive species clogging the Mekong Delta’s canals.”

Quick check

1. Which of the following is the best definition of biodiversity?

ExplanationBiodiversity is the variety of living things — plants, animals and other organisms — in a habitat or ecosystem.

2. In the sentence “Pollution is driving the saola to the brink of extinction,” the phrase on the brink of extinction is closest in meaning to…

ExplanationTo be on the brink of extinction is to be extremely close to dying out completely.

3. Which sentence uses prey correctly?

ExplanationPrey is a noun for an animal hunted by another. In B, the deer are what tigers hunt and eat.

4. When a key predator is removed, the whole ______ can collapse, because prey populations grow unchecked.

ExplanationThe food chain links every species through feeding; removing one link can destabilize all the others.

5. Which collocation is correct?

ExplanationProtect biodiversity is the standard collocation; we also say rich biodiversity and conservation efforts.

6. Water hyacinth, originally from South America, now spreads so fast in Vietnamese rivers that it is considered a(n) ______.

ExplanationAn invasive species is a non-native species that spreads rapidly and harms the local ecosystem — exactly what water hyacinth does.

Speaking Strategies

Two toolkits for today: explain what is happening, then tell people exactly what to do.

Explaining a Situation

Giải thích tình huống

“The reason why … is that …”
“This can be explained by the fact that …”
“What is happening here is that …”
“In other words, …”

Giving Instructions

Đưa ra hướng dẫn

“The first step is to …”
“Make sure (that) you …”
“It’s essential to …”
“Avoid + V-ing …”
“Remember to …”

Put them together

First explain the situation: “What is happening here is that the pond is losing oxygen, and this can be explained by the fact that algae is covering the surface.” Then give instructions: “The first step is to remove the algae. Make sure you wear gloves, and remember to work in teams.”

Guided Practice

In pairs: explain the situation first, then give clear instructions. Try before you peek at the suggested ideas.

Practice 1

Coral bleaching in Phu Quoc

The coral reefs near Phu Quoc are bleaching — turning white and dying.

Your task: explain why this is happening, and give instructions on what tourists should and shouldn’t do.

Suggested ideas

Explain: “What is happening here is that rising sea temperatures are stressing the coral. The reason why the reefs are turning white is that, when the water gets too warm, the coral expels the tiny algae living inside it — and those algae are its main food source. In other words, the coral is slowly starving.”

Instruct: “If you visit Phu Quoc, remember to use reef-safe sunscreen. Make sure you never touch, kick or stand on the coral, and avoid buying coral souvenirs. It’s essential to keep a respectful distance so the reef has a chance to recover.”

Practice 2

Water hyacinth in your hometown

Water hyacinth is covering the canals in your hometown, blocking boats and killing fish.

Your task: explain the situation, and give instructions for organising a community clean-up day.

Suggested ideas

Explain: “The reason why the canals are blocked is that water hyacinth grows extremely fast in nutrient-rich water. What is happening here is that this invasive species covers the surface, blocks sunlight and depletes oxygen, so fish and native plants die.”

Instruct: “To organise a clean-up day, the first step is to form teams and assign each team one section of the canal. Make sure everyone wears gloves and boots. Avoid throwing the plants back into the water — collect them in bags and compost them instead. Remember to record how much you remove, so the commune can plan the next round.”

Production

Role-play in pairs. Use at least three target words and both speaking strategies.

Role-play 1

Save the Mangroves

A resort developer wants to clear a mangrove forest to build a beach resort.

Goal: negotiate a solution that lets the project change — without destroying the mangrove ecosystem.

Student A · Environmental officer

Explain the ecosystem situation — what the mangroves do for the coast, the fish and the local people — and give instructions for a sustainable alternative.

Student B · Resort developer

You need beachfront land for your resort and jobs for local workers. Question the officer’s claims, then negotiate for a workable compromise.

Arguments

Officer: Mangroves are a nursery habitat where young fish and shrimp grow before moving to the sea; their roots protect the coast from erosion and storms; they store huge amounts of carbon. “The first step is to build behind the mangrove belt, not through it. Make sure the design keeps a green corridor, and remember to replant every tree the project removes.” Eco-tourism boardwalks can earn more than a cleared beach.

Developer: The resort brings jobs and income; tourists expect direct beach access; the budget is limited. Ask: How wide must the protected belt be? Who pays for replanting? Can a smaller, greener resort still attract guests?

Role-play 2

The School Eco-Club Campaign

The school pond ecosystem is dying: algae covers the water, fish are gasping, and rubbish lines the banks.

Goal: the club leader must persuade a skeptical classmate to join the clean-up campaign.

Student A · Eco-club leader

Explain why the pond ecosystem is dying and give step-by-step instructions for the clean-up campaign this Saturday.

Student B · Skeptical classmate

You doubt the campaign will work. Raise objections and make the leader prove the plan is realistic.

Arguments

Leader: “The reason why the fish are dying is that algae and rubbish deplete the pond’s oxygen. What is happening here is that the pond’s small food chain is collapsing.” Instructions: “The first step is to register at the club table. Make sure you bring gloves; avoid stepping into the deep end; remember to sort the rubbish for recycling.”

Skeptic: It will just get dirty again in a month. Nobody else cares. Saturday is for resting, not for collecting rubbish. What difference can one morning make, anyway?

Homework

Video Vlog Assignment

Record a 2-minute vlog.

Explain one ecosystem problem in the Mekong Delta and give clear instructions on what local people should do to help.

Remember

Use at least 4 vocabulary words and 2 speaking strategies from today’s lesson.

← Tất cả bài giảng

English 12A1 · Speaking

Health and
Longevity

“The first wealth is health.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Describe experiences. Tell simple, true stories about health — a habit you changed, a time you were ill, a routine in your family — in four easy steps.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of a cheerful elderly Vietnamese couple doing tai chi at sunrise beside a lotus pond

True or False?

Work in pairs. Decide together — then check the fact behind each answer.

1. People in Okinawa, Japan, often live beyond the age of 100.

Fact checkTrue. Okinawa is one of the world’s famous “Blue Zones”, where many people stay active and healthy past 100.

2. Sleeping less than five hours a night is good for your memory.

Fact checkFalse. Most adults and teenagers need about 7–9 hours of sleep for the brain to remember and learn well.

3. Walking for 30 minutes a day can help you live longer.

Fact checkTrue. A daily half-hour walk is one of the simplest habits shared by long-lived people around the world.

4. You must run marathons to stay healthy.

Fact checkFalse. Regular, gentle activity — walking, cycling, gardening — is enough to keep most people healthy.

Guess the Word

Study the picture clue, guess the word, then flip the card to check its meaning and pronunciation.

Picture clue: a joyful very old man with a long white beard laughing in a sunny garden

Tap to reveal the wordlongevity/lɒnˈdʒevəti/ (noun)Living for a long time; a long life.tuổi thọ cao, sự sống lâuCollocation: promote longevity“Regular exercise and a calm mind promote longevity.”

Picture clue: a happy elderly woman celebrating her birthday, with three golden candles shaped as the number 100 on her cake

Tap to reveal the wordcentenarian/ˌsentɪˈneəriən/ (noun)A person who is 100 years old or more.người sống trăm tuổiExample: a healthy centenarian“Her grandmother, a centenarian, still gardens every morning.”

Picture clue: a child, a teenager, an adult and an old person walking along one path through the seasons

Tap to reveal the wordlifespan/ˈlaɪfspæn/ (noun)The length of time that a person lives.tuổi thọCollocations: average lifespan · extend your lifespan“The average lifespan in Japan is among the highest in the world.”

Picture clue: a young woman stretching by an open window at sunrise, starting her morning routine

Tap to reveal the wordroutine/ruːˈtiːn/ (noun)The usual way of doing things, especially every day.thói quen sinh hoạt hằng ngàyCollocations: daily routine · morning routine“His morning routine includes a short walk and a cup of green tea.”

Picture clue: a colourful healthy meal bowl with grilled fish, rice, vegetables and fruit

Tap to reveal the wordnutritious/njuːˈtrɪʃəs/ (adjective)(Of food) good for your health because it contains what the body needs.bổ dưỡngCollocations: nutritious food · a nutritious meal“A nutritious breakfast gives you energy for the whole morning.”

Picture clue: a young man refusing a sugary soda and fried food and choosing a glass of water

Tap to reveal the wordcut down on/kʌt ˈdaʊn ɒn/ (phrasal verb)To reduce the amount of something you eat, drink or do.cắt giảmExample: cut down on sugar“The doctor told him to cut down on sugar and soft drinks.”

Quick check

1. A person who has lived to the age of 100 is called a ______.

ExplanationA centenarian is a person who is 100 years old or more.

2. The average ______ in Viet Nam has risen to about 74 years.

ExplanationLifespan is the length of time a person lives, so we say “the average lifespan” of a population.

3. Which sentence uses cut down on correctly?

ExplanationTo cut down on something means to reduce the amount of it — here, the amount of coffee she drinks.

4. Eating plenty of vegetables and fish is part of a ______ diet.

ExplanationNutritious food contains the things your body needs to stay healthy.

Tell Your Story in 4 Steps

One simple frame for every experience you describe. Guess each step from its picture — then flip the card to check.

Picture clue: a schoolboy opening the curtains to the sunrise, a calendar and his school bag nearby

Guess this step — tap to flipStep 1 · StartWhen did it happen? Who was there?“When I was 15, …” · “Last year, …”

Picture clue: an exhausted schoolboy at his desk late at night, an empty soda can beside his books

Guess this step — tap to flipStep 2 · ProblemWhat was wrong at that time?“At that time, I …” · “I felt tired all the time.”

Picture clue: a determined schoolboy pushing a soda can away and choosing a bottle of water, with an alarm clock and his plan notebook on the desk

Guess this step — tap to flipStep 3 · ChangeWhat did you decide to do?“After that, I decided to …” · “So I started to …”

Picture clue: the same schoolboy, energetic and smiling, out in a sunny park in the morning

Guess this step — tap to flipStep 4 · ResultHow are things now?“Now I …” · “Since then, I …”

Model answer

“When I was fifteen, I found myself trapped in a vicious cycle: the later I stayed up scrolling through my phone, the more drained I felt the following day. At that time, I relied heavily on sugary drinks to keep myself alert, which, ironically, only made my sleep even more restless. The turning point came one morning when I nearly dozed off in the middle of an important exam. After that, I decided to overhaul my routine completely: I set a strict curfew for my phone, cut down on soft drinks and made a point of drinking more water. Since then, I have been sleeping far more soundly, and I wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy.”

Bản dịch

“Hồi mười lăm tuổi, tôi thấy mình rơi vào một vòng luẩn quẩn: càng thức khuya lướt điện thoại, tôi càng thấy kiệt sức vào ngày hôm sau. Khi đó, tôi lệ thuộc rất nhiều vào nước ngọt để giữ tỉnh táo, mà trớ trêu thay, điều đó chỉ khiến giấc ngủ của tôi càng thêm chập chờn. Bước ngoặt đến vào một buổi sáng, khi tôi suýt ngủ gật ngay giữa một bài kiểm tra quan trọng. Sau hôm ấy, tôi quyết định thay đổi hoàn toàn thói quen sinh hoạt của mình: đặt ra giờ giới nghiêm nghiêm ngặt cho chiếc điện thoại, cắt giảm nước ngọt và chú ý uống nhiều nước hơn. Kể từ đó, tôi ngủ ngon hơn hẳn, và mỗi sáng thức dậy đều thấy sảng khoái, tràn đầy năng lượng.”

Practice

Practice 1

Ask your partner

1. Do you sleep well? Tell me about one night you remember.
2. What healthy food do you like? When did you last eat it?
3. What do you do to relax after a long day?

Practice 2

My healthy change

Tell your partner about your change in 4 steps: Start → Problem → Change → Result.

Talk & Share

In pairs: talk for about one minute. Your partner listens, then asks you ONE question.

Your talk

A healthy experience I remember

A · A sports day you remember
B · A time you were ill and got better
C · A healthy habit in your family

Before you finish, check:

✓ I used the 4 steps (Start – Problem – Change – Result).
✓ I used at least 2 new words from today.
✓ I spoke for about 1 minute, and my partner asked me 1 question.

Homework

Record a 1-minute talk — or write about 100 words.

Topic: “A healthy experience in my family.” It can be about your grandfather’s morning routine, your mother’s nutritious cooking, or a change someone in your family made.

Remember

Use the 4 steps and at least 3 new words from today’s lesson.

English 12A1 · Listening · Week 8

Future
of Cities

Driverless pods, virtual twins and a city run by the sun. Listen to a conversation, a world news bulletin and a lecture — then decide which ideas about tomorrow's cities deserve your trust.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Listening-task audio is recorded in the page. Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of a future green city: white towers wrapped in vertical gardens, driverless pods on a curved road and a park lake at sunrise

Cities of the World Quiz

Work in pairs. Choose the best answer.

1. Which is the largest urban area in the world by population, with around 37 million residents?

Fact checkTokyo. The Tokyo metropolitan area is home to roughly 37 million people — the largest urban area on Earth, according to United Nations estimates.

2. The “Supertrees” — giant tree-shaped structures covered in plants that harvest solar energy — are a famous landmark of which city?

Fact checkSingapore. The Supertrees stand in Gardens by the Bay; their canopies collect solar energy and rainwater, and some release warm air from the gardens’ cooling system.

3. The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 metres, stands in which city?

Fact checkDubai. The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, rises 828 metres and has been the world’s tallest building since it opened in 2010.

4. Which capital was officially named the world’s first “Bike City”, where huge numbers of residents cycle to work or study every day?

Fact checkCopenhagen. The UCI (cycling’s world governing body) named Copenhagen the world’s first “Bike City”; in the Danish capital, cycling is the everyday way most residents travel to work and school. You will hear more about Copenhagen in today’s bulletin.

5. “The Line” — a planned car-free city 170 kilometres long, with no roads and no cars — is being built in which country?

Fact checkSaudi Arabia. The Line is part of the NEOM project in north-west Saudi Arabia: a straight, car-free city designed so that everything residents need is within a five-minute walk.

Vocabulary

Study the picture clue, guess the word, then flip the card to check the word, its meanings and pronunciation.

Picture clue: a cutaway under a city street showing water pipes, cables and a metro tunnel beneath a bridge

Tap to reveal the wordinfrastructure/ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə/ (noun)The basic systems a city or country needs to work well — roads, railways, water, electricity and communications.cơ sở hạ tầngCollocations: transport infrastructure · build infrastructure“Songdo was planned with its infrastructure complete before the first residents arrived.”

Picture clue: an eco-friendly city block with solar panels, a wind turbine, recycling bins and bicycles

Tap to reveal the wordsustainable/səˈsteɪnəbl/ (adjective)Able to continue for a long time without damaging the environment or using up natural resources.bền vữngCollocations: sustainable development · sustainable transport“A sustainable city produces little waste and uses clean energy.”

Picture clue: a heavy traffic jam of cars, buses and motorbikes packed bumper to bumper between tall buildings

Tap to reveal the wordcongestion/kənˈdʒestʃən/ (noun)The state of being so crowded with traffic that movement is very slow or blocked.sự tắc nghẽn (giao thông)Collocations: traffic congestion · ease congestion“Shared driverless pods could ease congestion in the city centre.”

Picture clue: a small white driverless pod with no steering wheel carrying happy passengers along a city street

Tap to reveal the wordautomated/ˈɔːtəmeɪtɪd/ (adjective)Operated by machines or computers, with little or no human control.tự động hóaCollocations: fully automated · an automated system“Automated pods will carry passengers around the new district.”

Picture clue: families enjoying a leafy park with cyclists and benches in a pleasant city neighbourhood

Tap to reveal the wordliveable/ˈlɪvəbl/ (adjective)Pleasant, comfortable and safe to live in.đáng sốngCollocation: a liveable city“Clean air, green parks and good transport make a city liveable.”

Picture clue: looking up at very tall apartment towers with many floors against a blue sky

Tap to reveal the wordhigh-rise/ˈhaɪ raɪz/ (adjective)(Of a building) tall, with many floors.(nhà) cao tầngCollocation: high-rise buildings“New high-rise blocks in Singapore are covered with plants and trees.”

Quick check

1. Which word means “the basic systems a city needs, such as roads, water and power”?

ExplanationInfrastructure is the set of basic systems — transport, water, power, communications — that a city depends on every day.

2. Traffic ______ is a serious problem in many big cities at rush hour.

ExplanationCongestion is a noun, and “traffic congestion” is the standard collocation for streets blocked with vehicles.

3. Which sentence uses automated correctly?

ExplanationAutomated is an adjective describing a machine or system that works by itself — a driverless train is automated. It is not a verb or a description of a park.

4. Planners want new districts to be both smart and ______, so they can keep growing without harming the environment.

ExplanationSustainable describes growth that can continue without damaging the environment. Liveable is about comfort for residents, and high-rise only describes tall buildings.

Listening Tasks

Task 1 · A new eco-district — Dialogue

Listen to Mai and Tom talking about Greenport, a new eco-district. Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D).

Task 1 · Dialogue

Mai and Tom discuss the Greenport project

1. What does Mai consider the best feature of Greenport?

ExplanationB. Mai says: “Every tower block has a garden on its roof, where residents can grow their own vegetables. For me, that’s the best idea in the whole project.” The pods are the feature that impresses Tom most — listen for who is speaking.

2. How will the pod system help prevent congestion?

ExplanationC. Tom explains: “The app groups neighbours who are travelling in the same direction, so one pod does the job of three or four motorbikes. That’s how they plan to keep the streets free of congestion.” Fewer vehicles — not faster ones — is the key idea.

3. What concerns Mai about life in Greenport?

ExplanationA. Mai worries about her grandfather: “He can barely use a smartphone. In Greenport, almost everything is controlled by apps — the pods, the heating, even the front door of your flat. I wonder how older residents will manage.”

4. What is special about the vertical farm?

ExplanationD. Tom says the farm “grows lettuce and herbs for the whole district” and that “most salads there travel less than a kilometre from farm to plate.” It is run by people, not robots: “a team of just six gardeners.”

5. What do Mai and Tom decide about their presentation?

ExplanationC. Tom suggests: “Let’s go with the transport system, then. It affects everybody, every day.” Mai replies “Agreed” — so the decision is made at the end of the conversation.

Task 2 · “City Watch” — Matching

Listen to the news bulletin about smart cities in five countries. Match each country with ONE characteristic (A–F). One characteristic is NOT mentioned.

Task 2 · News bulletin

City Watch: five countries, five ideas

Characteristics

A Rubbish disappears through pipes beneath the streets.
B A computer copy of the city lets planners try out ideas before building.
C Sunlight provides all the energy this desert city needs.
D Traffic lights are timed to keep cyclists moving.
E Ordinary families test robots and driverless cars in their daily lives.
F Residents grow most of their food in gardens on their roofs.

Choose the characteristic for each country.

1. Japan

2. Singapore

3. Denmark

4. South Korea

5. United Arab Emirates

Answers & explanations

1 · Japan — E: “Families will actually live there, testing driverless vehicles on its streets and robots in their homes as part of everyday life.”

2 · Singapore — B: “Planners there have built a complete digital copy of the entire city on computer — a ‘virtual twin’.”

3 · Denmark — D: In Copenhagen, traffic lights “run on a ‘green wave’ timed for cycling speeds, so riders who pedal steadily can cross the city without stopping at a single red light.”

4 · South Korea — A: In Songdo, rubbish “is sucked through a network of underground pipes straight to a central processing plant.”

5 · United Arab Emirates — C: Masdar City “is designed to run entirely on energy from the sun.”

F is the extra characteristic: rooftop food gardens were part of Greenport in Task 1 — they are not mentioned anywhere in this bulletin.

Task 3 · “The City of 2050” — Lecture

Listen to a university lecture and complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER for each answer.

Task 3 · Lecture

Dr. Kim, urban planning lecturer: “The City of 2050”

Notes: The city of 2050

1By 2050, cities around the world will have about ___ billion more inhabitants.

2In the “___-minute neighbourhood”, everything residents need each day is within a short walk or cycle ride.

3Future towers will produce their own energy, with ___ fitted on their roofs.

4Long lines of trees and parks, known as ___, will link districts and reduce street temperatures.

5___ will control the city’s systems as events happen, using live information from sensors.

Answers & explanations

1 · 2.5: “The United Nations expects the world’s cities to add roughly two point five billion people by the year 2050.” The note already gives the word billion, so only the number is needed.

2 · 15: “The fifteen-minute neighbourhood… all within fifteen minutes of your front door, on foot or by bicycle.”

3 · solar panels: “The tower of 2050 will not just consume energy; it will produce it. Roofs will carry solar panels…”

4 · green corridors: “Long ribbons of trees and parks — green corridors — will connect one neighbourhood to the next.”

5 · artificial intelligence: “Artificial intelligence will use that information to run the city in real time — adjusting traffic lights before a jam forms…”

Scripts & translations

Script 1 · Dialogue — Mai and Tom discuss Greenport

Tom: Hi, Mai. Have you watched that documentary about Greenport yet — the new eco-district they’re building just outside the city?

Mai: I have. Twice, actually! I keep thinking about the housing. Every tower block has a garden on its roof, where residents can grow their own vegetables. For me, that’s the best idea in the whole project.

Tom: The rooftop gardens are clever, I agree. But the transport system is what really impressed me. There are no private cars in the centre at all. Instead, you book a driverless pod on an app, and it takes you wherever you want to go.

Mai: I remember — each pod carries up to four passengers, doesn’t it?

Tom: Exactly. And the app groups neighbours who are travelling in the same direction, so one pod does the job of three or four motorbikes. That’s how they plan to keep the streets free of congestion.

Mai: It sounds wonderful. But I do have one worry. My grandfather is eighty-two, and he can barely use a smartphone. In Greenport, almost everything is controlled by apps — the pods, the heating, even the front door of your flat. I wonder how older residents will manage.

Tom: That’s a fair point. Though the documentary did say there will be helpers in every building to show people how the systems work.

Mai: True. Oh — and did you see the vertical farm? It’s inside the tallest tower.

Tom: I did! It grows lettuce and herbs for the whole district, and it’s run by a team of just six gardeners. Most salads there travel less than a kilometre from farm to plate.

Mai: Amazing. Anyway, we still have to choose one feature for our class presentation next week.

Tom: Let’s go with the transport system, then. It affects everybody, every day.

Mai: Agreed. And we can finish by asking the class if they’d be willing to give up their own motorbikes!

Bản dịch

Tom: Chào Mai. Cậu đã xem bộ phim tài liệu về Greenport chưa — khu đô thị sinh thái mới mà người ta đang xây ngay ngoại ô thành phố ấy?

Mai: Tớ xem rồi. Hai lần luôn ấy chứ! Tớ cứ nghĩ mãi về khu nhà ở. Mỗi tòa tháp đều có một khu vườn trên mái, nơi cư dân có thể tự trồng rau. Với tớ, đó là ý tưởng tuyệt nhất của toàn bộ dự án.

Tom: Vườn trên mái đúng là thông minh, tớ đồng ý. Nhưng điều làm tớ ấn tượng nhất lại là hệ thống giao thông. Ở khu trung tâm hoàn toàn không có xe cá nhân. Thay vào đó, cậu đặt một chiếc xe pod tự lái qua ứng dụng, và nó sẽ đưa cậu đến bất cứ đâu cậu muốn.

Mai: Tớ nhớ — mỗi chiếc pod chở được tối đa bốn hành khách, đúng không?

Tom: Chính xác. Và ứng dụng sẽ ghép những người hàng xóm đi cùng một hướng, nên một chiếc pod làm được việc của ba, bốn chiếc xe máy. Đó là cách họ dự định giữ cho đường phố không bị tắc nghẽn.

Mai: Nghe tuyệt thật. Nhưng tớ có một băn khoăn. Ông tớ đã tám mươi hai tuổi, mà ông gần như không biết dùng điện thoại thông minh. Ở Greenport, hầu như mọi thứ đều được điều khiển bằng ứng dụng — xe pod, hệ thống sưởi, thậm chí cả cửa chính của căn hộ. Tớ không biết những cư dân lớn tuổi sẽ xoay xở như thế nào.

Tom: Điểm đó hợp lý. Dù sao phim tài liệu cũng nói rằng mỗi tòa nhà sẽ có người hỗ trợ để hướng dẫn cư dân cách sử dụng các hệ thống.

Mai: Đúng vậy. À — cậu có thấy trang trại thẳng đứng không? Nó nằm bên trong tòa tháp cao nhất đấy.

Tom: Tớ có thấy! Nó trồng xà lách và rau thơm cho cả khu, và chỉ do một đội sáu người làm vườn vận hành. Hầu hết các món salad ở đó di chuyển chưa đầy một kilômét từ trang trại đến bàn ăn.

Mai: Tuyệt vời. Thôi, chúng ta vẫn phải chọn một đặc điểm cho bài thuyết trình của lớp vào tuần tới.

Tom: Vậy thì chọn hệ thống giao thông đi. Nó ảnh hưởng đến mọi người, mỗi ngày.

Mai: Nhất trí. Và chúng ta có thể kết thúc bằng một câu hỏi dành cho cả lớp: liệu các bạn có sẵn lòng từ bỏ chiếc xe máy của chính mình không!

Script 2 · News bulletin — “City Watch”

Good evening, and welcome to City Watch, our weekly look at the cities of tomorrow. Tonight we travel to five countries where the future is already under construction.

First, Singapore. Planners there have built a complete digital copy of the entire city on computer — a “virtual twin”. Before a single brick is laid, they can test how a new tower would change the wind, the traffic or the temperature of a whole neighbourhood, and fix problems while they are still on the screen.

Next, to Songdo in South Korea. In this purpose-built smart district, there are no rubbish trucks. When residents throw something away, it is sucked through a network of underground pipes straight to a central processing plant, where it is sorted and recycled. The streets stay clean, and no collection vehicles block the roads.

Our third stop is Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates. Rising out of the desert, this city is designed to run entirely on energy from the sun. Solar panels stretch across the rooftops, and the buildings are carefully angled to shade the streets and draw in cool breezes, so people can walk comfortably even in the desert heat.

Now to northern Europe — Copenhagen, in Denmark. The Danish capital is redesigning its streets around the bicycle. Its traffic lights run on a “green wave” timed for cycling speeds, so riders who pedal steadily can cross the city without stopping at a single red light. Officials say a bike journey across town is now often quicker than the same trip by car.

And finally, Japan, where the car maker Toyota is building Woven City, a real town at the foot of Mount Fuji. Families will actually live there, testing driverless vehicles on its streets and robots in their homes as part of everyday life — a whole town working as a living laboratory.

Five countries, five different answers to the same question: how should we live tomorrow? That’s all from City Watch tonight. Good night.

Bản dịch

Chào buổi tối, và chào mừng quý vị đến với City Watch, chuyên mục hằng tuần của chúng tôi về các thành phố của ngày mai. Tối nay, chúng ta sẽ đến năm quốc gia, nơi tương lai đã bắt đầu được xây dựng.

Đầu tiên là Singapore. Các nhà quy hoạch ở đó đã xây dựng một bản sao kỹ thuật số hoàn chỉnh của toàn bộ thành phố trên máy tính — một “bản sao ảo”. Trước khi một viên gạch nào được đặt xuống, họ có thể kiểm tra xem một tòa tháp mới sẽ làm thay đổi hướng gió, giao thông hay nhiệt độ của cả một khu phố như thế nào, và khắc phục các vấn đề ngay khi chúng vẫn còn trên màn hình.

Tiếp theo là Songdo ở Hàn Quốc. Tại khu đô thị thông minh được xây dựng có chủ đích này, không hề có xe chở rác. Khi cư dân vứt bỏ thứ gì đó, rác sẽ được hút qua một mạng lưới đường ống ngầm thẳng đến một nhà máy xử lý trung tâm, nơi rác được phân loại và tái chế. Đường phố luôn sạch sẽ, và không có chiếc xe thu gom nào gây cản trở giao thông.

Điểm dừng thứ ba của chúng ta là thành phố Masdar ở Các Tiểu vương quốc Ả Rập Thống nhất. Vươn lên giữa sa mạc, thành phố này được thiết kế để vận hành hoàn toàn bằng năng lượng từ mặt trời. Các tấm pin mặt trời trải dài trên các mái nhà, và các tòa nhà được bố trí góc nghiêng một cách cẩn thận để che bóng cho đường phố và đón những làn gió mát, nhờ vậy mọi người có thể đi bộ thoải mái ngay cả dưới cái nóng sa mạc.

Giờ hãy đến Bắc Âu — Copenhagen, ở Đan Mạch. Thủ đô của Đan Mạch đang thiết kế lại đường phố xoay quanh xe đạp. Hệ thống đèn giao thông ở đó vận hành theo một “làn sóng xanh” được tính giờ theo tốc độ đạp xe, vì vậy những người đạp đều ga có thể băng qua thành phố mà không phải dừng lại ở bất kỳ đèn đỏ nào. Các quan chức cho biết một chuyến đi bằng xe đạp xuyên thành phố nay thường nhanh hơn chính chuyến đi đó bằng ô tô.

Và cuối cùng là Nhật Bản, nơi hãng xe Toyota đang xây dựng Woven City, một thị trấn thực sự dưới chân núi Phú Sĩ. Các gia đình sẽ thực sự sinh sống tại đó, thử nghiệm xe tự lái trên đường phố và robot trong chính ngôi nhà của mình như một phần của cuộc sống thường ngày — một thị trấn vận hành như một phòng thí nghiệm sống.

Năm quốc gia, năm câu trả lời khác nhau cho cùng một câu hỏi: chúng ta nên sống như thế nào trong ngày mai? Đó là tất cả của City Watch tối nay. Chúc quý vị ngủ ngon.

Script 3 · Lecture — “The City of 2050”

Good morning, everyone. In today’s lecture, I want to look ahead — to the city of 2050 — and ask a simple question: what will change, and what will stay the same?

Let us begin with the numbers, because they explain why this matters. The United Nations expects the world’s cities to add roughly two point five billion people by the year 2050. In other words, two out of every three human beings will probably live in an urban area. Cities, therefore, are not just part of the future. In a very real sense, they are the future.

So, how will these crowded cities move people around? Private cars, I believe, will slowly disappear from city centres. In their place, we will see fleets of small, driverless electric vehicles that you summon when you need them and share with your neighbours. But the deeper change is not the vehicle — it is the distance. The most exciting idea in planning today is the fifteen-minute neighbourhood: a district designed so that your school, your clinic, your workplace and your weekly shopping are all within fifteen minutes of your front door, on foot or by bicycle. When daily life is that close, the long commute simply disappears.

Homes and offices will change, too. The tower of 2050 will not just consume energy; it will produce it. Roofs will carry solar panels, walls will collect and store heat, and smart windows will darken automatically when the sun is too strong. Many buildings will even grow food, with vegetables flourishing on balconies and rooftops.

Now, a warning. A city of glass and technology could easily become a hotter, harsher place. That is why planners are bringing nature back into the centre. Long ribbons of trees and parks — green corridors — will connect one neighbourhood to the next. These corridors are not decoration: their shade can lower street temperatures by several degrees, and they give rainwater somewhere safe to go.

Finally, let me say something about the invisible city: the data. Sensors in roads, buildings and buses will report conditions second by second, and artificial intelligence will use that information to run the city in real time — adjusting traffic lights before a jam forms, or sending power to the district that needs it most.

To sum up: more people, shorter journeys, buildings that produce energy, nature woven back into the streets, and systems that think ahead. The city of 2050 will not look like science fiction. It will look familiar — it will simply work better. Thank you.

Bản dịch

Chào buổi sáng tất cả các bạn. Trong bài giảng hôm nay, tôi muốn hướng về phía trước — đến thành phố của năm 2050 — và đặt một câu hỏi đơn giản: điều gì sẽ thay đổi, và điều gì sẽ còn nguyên?

Hãy bắt đầu với những con số, vì chúng giải thích vì sao vấn đề này quan trọng. Liên Hợp Quốc dự tính các thành phố trên thế giới sẽ đón thêm khoảng 2,5 tỷ người vào năm 2050. Nói cách khác, cứ ba người trên Trái Đất thì có lẽ hai người sẽ sống ở khu vực đô thị. Vì vậy, các thành phố không chỉ là một phần của tương lai. Theo một nghĩa rất thực tế, chúng chính là tương lai.

Vậy, những thành phố đông đúc này sẽ di chuyển con người bằng cách nào? Theo tôi, ô tô cá nhân sẽ dần biến mất khỏi trung tâm các thành phố. Thay vào đó, chúng ta sẽ thấy những đội xe điện nhỏ, tự lái, mà ta có thể gọi đến khi cần và chia sẻ với hàng xóm của mình. Nhưng thay đổi sâu sắc hơn không nằm ở phương tiện — nó nằm ở khoảng cách. Ý tưởng thú vị nhất trong quy hoạch ngày nay là “khu phố 15 phút”: một khu vực được thiết kế sao cho trường học, phòng khám, nơi làm việc và việc mua sắm hằng tuần của bạn đều nằm trong vòng mười lăm phút tính từ cửa nhà, đi bộ hoặc đi xe đạp. Khi cuộc sống thường nhật ở gần đến thế, những chuyến đi lại đường dài đơn giản là biến mất.

Nhà ở và văn phòng cũng sẽ thay đổi. Tòa tháp của năm 2050 sẽ không chỉ tiêu thụ năng lượng; nó sẽ sản xuất ra năng lượng. Các mái nhà sẽ lắp các tấm pin mặt trời, tường nhà sẽ thu và lưu trữ nhiệt, và cửa kính thông minh sẽ tự tối lại khi nắng quá gắt. Nhiều tòa nhà thậm chí sẽ tự trồng thực phẩm, với rau xanh tươi tốt trên ban công và sân thượng.

Giờ là một lời cảnh báo. Một thành phố của kính và công nghệ rất dễ trở thành một nơi nóng hơn, khắc nghiệt hơn. Đó là lý do các nhà quy hoạch đang đưa thiên nhiên trở lại khu vực trung tâm. Những dải cây xanh và công viên dài — “hành lang xanh” — sẽ nối khu phố này với khu phố khác. Những hành lang này không phải để trang trí: bóng mát của chúng có thể làm giảm nhiệt độ đường phố xuống vài độ, và chúng tạo cho nước mưa một nơi an toàn để thoát đi.

Cuối cùng, hãy nói về thành phố vô hình: dữ liệu. Các cảm biến trên đường phố, trong các tòa nhà và trên xe buýt sẽ báo cáo tình trạng theo từng giây, và trí tuệ nhân tạo sẽ sử dụng những thông tin đó để vận hành thành phố trong thời gian thực — điều chỉnh đèn giao thông trước khi ùn tắc hình thành, hoặc chuyển điện đến khu vực đang cần nhất.

Tóm lại: nhiều người hơn, hành trình ngắn hơn, các tòa nhà tự sản xuất năng lượng, thiên nhiên được dệt trở lại vào đường phố, và những hệ thống biết suy nghĩ trước một bước. Thành phố của năm 2050 sẽ không trông giống khoa học viễn tưởng. Nó sẽ trông quen thuộc — chỉ là vận hành tốt hơn mà thôi. Cảm ơn các bạn.

Design Your District

Scenario

One budget. One feature.

Your city council is designing a brand-new district and can fund ONE “future feature” first. In groups, choose the feature with the strongest benefit.

A · Shared driverless pods

No private cars in the centre; neighbours share small automated pods booked by app.

B · A virtual twin

A complete digital copy of the district, so planners can test every idea before building it.

C · The 15-minute neighbourhood

School, clinic, work and shopping within a short walk or cycle ride of every home.

D · Green corridors

Long ribbons of trees and parks cooling the streets and linking every neighbourhood.

Language bank

“Our priority should be…”

“The evidence from the recording is…”

“It would benefit residents most because…”

“In the long term, …”

Homework

Write a short paragraph of 150–180 words on the following topic:

“Describe the city you would like to live in in 2050.”

Use at least four words from today’s lesson: infrastructure · sustainable · congestion · automated · liveable · high-rise.

English 12A1 · Speaking · Week 8

Future
of Cities

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”

— Winston Churchill

Group debate. Two motions, two debates: should private cars be banned in the cities of the future — and should every new building wear a green roof? Argue with the four debate moves and the evidence you heard in Lesson 23, then present your group’s answer to a real question facing the Mekong Delta.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of two student debate teams facing each other at podiums, with a futuristic green city and driverless pods behind them

Where Would You Live?

You can move to ONE future city tomorrow. Which one?

Your voteGood choice — hold on to your reason. You will need it in today’s debate.

Guess the Word

Study the picture clue, guess the word, then flip the card to check its meaning and pronunciation.

Picture clue: a student at a lectern holding up a blank proposal document in front of her classmates

Tap to reveal the wordmotion/ˈməʊʃn/ (noun)A formal proposal that is discussed and voted on in a debate or meeting.kiến nghị (đưa ra tranh luận)Collocations: propose a motion · debate a motion“Today’s motion is that private cars should be banned from city centres.”

Picture clue: a red prohibition sign with a diagonal slash over a blue car

Tap to reveal the wordban/bæn/ (verb)To officially say that something is not allowed.cấmCollocations: ban private cars · impose a ban on“Several cities plan to ban petrol cars from the centre by 2030.”

Picture clue: families and neighbours living in an apartment block — people on balconies, children playing in the courtyard

Tap to reveal the wordresident/ˈrezɪdənt/ (noun)A person who lives in a particular place.cư dânCollocation: local residents“Residents of Greenport book a shared pod instead of driving.”

Picture clue: a clipboard checklist whose first item is highlighted in gold with a star

Tap to reveal the wordpriority/praɪˈɒrəti/ (noun)The most important thing, which must be dealt with first.ưu tiên hàng đầuCollocations: top priority · give priority to“Clean air should be the top priority in any future city.”

Picture clue: a happy young family holding a large house key in front of a modest apartment building, with a price tag and a piggy bank

Tap to reveal the wordaffordable/əˈfɔːdəbl/ (adjective)Cheap enough for ordinary people to be able to pay for.(giá) phải chăng, vừa túi tiềnCollocation: affordable housing“A smart city is pointless if its homes are not affordable.”

Picture clue: office workers with briefcases boarding a train at a busy station in the morning

Tap to reveal the wordcommute/kəˈmjuːt/ (verb)To travel regularly between your home and your place of work or study.đi lại (đi làm, đi học)Collocations: commute to work · a long commute“In a 15-minute neighbourhood, nobody needs to commute across the city.”

Quick check

1. In a debate, a motion is…

ExplanationA motion is the proposal placed before a debate — the idea both teams argue for or against before any vote is taken.

2. The city plans to ______ all petrol cars from the centre.

ExplanationTo ban something is to prohibit it officially — the only verb that fits “______ all petrol cars from the centre”. Motion is a noun, and commute means travelling to work.

3. Which sentence uses affordable correctly?

ExplanationAffordable means cheap enough for ordinary people to pay for, so C is correct. A contradicts itself, and affordable is an adjective, not a verb, so B is impossible.

4. For most ______, the daily commute takes almost an hour.

ExplanationResidents are the people who live in a place — they are the ones who commute to work or study every day.

Four Debate Moves

Guess each move from its picture — then flip the card to check.

Picture clue: a student speaking confidently into a microphone with a large speech bubble above her head

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 1 · State your pointSay clearly which side you are on.“Our team strongly believes that …”“We are convinced that …”

Picture clue: a student with a lightbulb above his head examining a model city through a magnifying glass

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 2 · Give reasons & examplesSupport your point — say why, and prove it.“The main reason is that …”“Take Greenport, for example …”

Picture clue: two students shaking hands and smiling while holding arrows pointing in opposite directions

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 3 · Disagree politelyAnswer the other team — respectfully.“I see your point, but …”“That may be true; however, …”

Picture clue: a student at a podium waving a finish flag beside a completed checklist

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 4 · ConcludeSum up and finish strongly.“To sum up, …”“For these reasons, we believe that …”

Model speech — Team FOR

Model answer

“Our team is firmly convinced that private cars should be banned from the cities of the future. The main reason is that the private car is astonishingly wasteful: a machine built for five passengers usually carries just one, yet it occupies precious road space in districts where land is desperately scarce. Take Greenport, for example: a single shared pod does the job of three or four motorbikes, which is precisely why its streets remain free of congestion. Our opponents may claim that a ban would restrict people’s freedom. I see their point, but there is little freedom in being trapped for hours in a traffic jam, breathing polluted air. Nor should we forget the residents who matter most — children and the elderly — who gain the most from quiet, safe streets. To sum up: the city of the future should be designed for people, not for parked cars.”

Bản dịch

“Đội chúng tôi hoàn toàn tin tưởng rằng ô tô cá nhân cần bị cấm tại các thành phố của tương lai. Lý do chính là ô tô cá nhân lãng phí một cách đáng kinh ngạc: một cỗ máy được chế tạo cho năm hành khách thường chỉ chở đúng một người, vậy mà vẫn chiếm dụng khoảng không đường sá quý giá tại những khu vực mà đất đai đang vô cùng khan hiếm. Hãy lấy Greenport làm ví dụ: một chiếc xe pod dùng chung làm được việc của ba, bốn chiếc xe máy, và đó chính là lý do đường phố nơi ấy không hề tắc nghẽn. Đối thủ của chúng tôi có thể cho rằng lệnh cấm sẽ hạn chế tự do của người dân. Tôi hiểu ý họ, nhưng nào có tự do gì khi bị mắc kẹt hàng giờ trong cảnh tắc đường, hít thở bầu không khí ô nhiễm. Chúng ta cũng không nên quên những cư dân quan trọng nhất — trẻ em và người cao tuổi — những người được hưởng lợi nhiều nhất từ đường phố yên tĩnh, an toàn. Tóm lại: thành phố của tương lai cần được thiết kế cho con người, chứ không phải cho những chiếc xe đậu đỗ.”

The Debate

Topic 1 · The motion

“Private cars should be banned in the cities of the future.”

Two teams, four moves each: state your point → give reasons and examples → disagree politely → conclude. The class then votes for the stronger team.

Team FOR · Defend the ban

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and examples · Speaker 3 responds to Team AGAINST · Speaker 4 concludes.

Team AGAINST · Oppose the ban

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and examples · Speaker 3 responds to Team FOR · Speaker 4 concludes.

Arguments

Team FOR:

1. Cars waste space and cause congestion — one shared pod replaces three or four motorbikes, as Greenport shows.

2. Fewer cars mean cleaner air and quieter, safer streets — a top priority for children and elderly residents.

3. In the 15-minute neighbourhood, cars are simply unnecessary: school, clinic and shops are all a short walk away.

Team AGAINST:

1. Freedom and convenience matter: families, elderly people and workers in a hurry cannot always wait for a shared pod.

2. A ban introduced before affordable alternatives exist would punish poorer residents who live far from the centre and face a long commute.

3. A total ban goes too far — cities should limit cars gradually, the way Copenhagen gave priority to bicycles instead.

Topic 2 · The motion

“Every new building in the cities of the future should have a green roof.”

Same two teams, same four moves — swap sides if your teacher asks. The class then votes for the stronger team.

Team FOR · Green on every roof

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and examples · Speaker 3 responds to Team AGAINST · Speaker 4 concludes.

Team AGAINST · Not on every building

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and examples · Speaker 3 responds to Team FOR · Speaker 4 concludes.

Arguments

Team FOR:

1. Green roofs cool the whole city: plants absorb sunlight that concrete would turn into heat, so the streets below stay bearable in summer.

2. They drink the rain: a planted roof soaks up storm water instead of sending it flooding into the streets — and gives residents a garden where land is scarce, as Greenport’s rooftop gardens show.

3. Roofs are wasted space: in a dense future city, the top of every building is free land for food, flowers and cleaner air.

Team AGAINST:

1. Green roofs are expensive to build and maintain, and that cost lands in the price of homes — the opposite of affordable housing.

2. Not every roof can carry one: older and very tall buildings may not bear the weight of soil and water, and a leaking planted roof is hard to repair.

3. A rule for EVERY building goes too far — planting trees at street level and protecting real parks often helps residents more.

Production

The issue

Floating homes for the Mekong Delta?

Flooding in the Mekong Delta grows worse every year. In your group, decide An Giang’s answer: should new homes here be built to float — or kept on solid land? Your group’s representative then presents your view in about one minute.

Option A · Build homes that float

Homes rise with the floodwater and settle back when it falls — no rebuilding after every flood, and families stay in the neighbourhood they love.

Option B · Keep homes on land

Raised foundations and stronger dykes protect homes the traditional way — cheaper to build, and easier for every family to afford.

Your representative presents

1. Your group’s decision, in the first sentence. 2. Two reasons, with one example. 3. One concrete proposal — what exactly should be built, and where? 4. A strong closing line the class will remember.

Homework

Write 120–150 words — or record a one-minute talk.

Defend your own view on the motion: “Private cars should be banned in the cities of the future.”

Remember

Use at least 3 of today’s words and 2 debate expressions.

English 12A1 · Listening · Week 8

Life
Skills

Skills for school — and for everything after it. Match six everyday life skills in a Pelmanism game, then listen to a counselling dialogue, a radio show and a talk about managing time, money and pressure.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Listening-task audio is recorded in the page. Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of a smiling student with a backpack beside a desk holding a planner, a piggy bank, an alarm clock, a frying pan and a bicycle

Pelmanism: Life Skills

Turn over two cards at a time and find the 6 matching pairs. Each pair shows one life skill.

Moves: 0Pairs found: 0 / 6

No pairs found yet — good luck!

Well done!

You found all 6 life skills: planning your day, cooking for yourself, managing your money, fixing things yourself, talking & listening and staying active & healthy. Keep them in mind — you will meet these skills again in today's listening tasks.

Vocabulary

Study the picture clue, guess the word, then flip the card to check the word, its meanings and pronunciation.

Picture clue: an hourglass with the sand almost finished, a blank calendar and a ringing red alarm clock

Tap to reveal the worddeadline/ˈdedlaɪn/ (noun)The latest time by which something must be finished.hạn chótCollocations: meet a deadline · a tight deadline“She planned her week carefully and met every deadline.”

Picture clue: a piggy bank surrounded by stacks of gold coins and a notebook with a pie chart

Tap to reveal the wordbudget/ˈbʌdʒɪt/ (noun / verb)A plan for how to spend the money you have; to plan your spending in this way.ngân sách; lập ngân sáchCollocations: a monthly budget · stick to a budget“If you budget carefully, your pocket money can last all month.”

Picture clue: wooden blocks stacked like steps, with a glowing star and a red flag on the highest step

Tap to reveal the wordprioritise/praɪˈɒrətaɪz/ (verb)To decide which things are most important and deal with them first.sắp xếp theo thứ tự ưu tiênCollocation: prioritise tasks“When time is short, prioritise the task that matters most.”

Picture clue: a student studying at his desk early in the morning while his phone lies face-down far away

Tap to reveal the wordself-discipline/ˌself ˈdɪsɪplɪn/ (noun)The ability to make yourself do what you should do, even when it is difficult.tính tự kỷ luậtCollocation: have self-discipline“It takes self-discipline to revise every day when nobody is watching.”

Picture clue: a small green seedling growing upright through a crack in grey pavement under sunshine

Tap to reveal the wordresilience/rɪˈzɪliəns/ (noun)The ability to recover quickly from problems and keep going.khả năng phục hồi, sự kiên cườngCollocation: build resilience“Failing once did not stop her; her resilience helped her try again.”

Picture clue: a happy student stretching her arms wide in a sunny park, with a water bottle and an apple on the bench

Tap to reveal the wordwell-being/ˌwel ˈbiːɪŋ/ (noun)A person's general health, happiness and comfort, in body and mind.sức khỏe và hạnh phúc toàn diệnCollocation: protect your well-being“Sleep, exercise and rest all protect your well-being.”

Quick check

1. Which word means “the latest time by which something must be finished”?

ExplanationDeadline is the time limit for finishing a task — for example, the deadline for an essay or a project.

2. Every morning, Lan writes a list of her jobs and always finishes the most urgent one before anything else. She knows how to ______.

ExplanationTo prioritise is to put things in order of importance and do the most important first — exactly what Lan does with her list.

3. Which sentence uses budget correctly?

ExplanationBudget can be a verb meaning “to plan how to spend money”, so budgeting pocket money is the correct use.

4. After failing his first driving test, Minh did not give up; he practised more and passed the second time. This shows ______.

ExplanationResilience is recovering from a failure and trying again. Self-discipline is about controlling yourself day by day; well-being is general health and happiness.

Listening Tasks

Task 1 · Too much on my plate — Dialogue

Listen to Linh talking to Ms. Lan, the school counsellor. Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D).

Task 1 · Dialogue

Linh asks the school counsellor for advice

1. Why did Linh arrange to meet Ms. Lan?

ExplanationB. Linh explains: “The graduation exams are in three months, I have a part-time job at a café four evenings a week, and at home I help my mum look after my little brother. By ten o'clock at night, I'm too exhausted to revise.” Exams, work and home duties together are more than she can manage.

2. What is Ms. Lan's first piece of advice?

ExplanationC. Ms. Lan says: “Write everything down: every task, every deadline. Then decide which two or three things genuinely matter most this week, and do those first.” The phone is mentioned by Linh, not as Ms. Lan's advice.

3. What change has Linh already made to her café job?

ExplanationA. Linh says: “From next week, I'll work on Saturday and Sunday only, until the exams are over.” She keeps the job, but reduces it to weekends only — she does not leave it.

4. According to Ms. Lan, why is sleep important for Linh?

ExplanationB. Ms. Lan explains: “A tired brain learns slowly and forgets quickly. Protect at least seven hours… Looking after your well-being is a skill, not a luxury.”

5. What does Linh decide to do this evening?

ExplanationD. At the end, Linh says: “So tonight, first step: I write my list and put it in order.” The next check-in with Ms. Lan is on Friday, not this evening.

Task 2 · “Skill Up!” — Matching

Listen to the radio show. Match each speaker with ONE piece of advice (A–F). One piece of advice is NOT mentioned.

Task 2 · Radio show

Skill Up!: five guests, five skills

Advice

A Set money aside regularly instead of spending everything you earn.
B Note down all your jobs and tackle the most important one first.
C Get support from others as soon as you run into difficulty.
D Work on something briefly every day rather than in rare long sessions.
E Pause and calm yourself before responding when you feel annoyed.
F Prepare everything you need for school the evening before.

Choose the advice for each speaker.

1. Maria

2. David

3. Tuan

4. Sara

5. Ken

Answers & explanations

1 · Maria — B: “Every morning I write down everything I have to do, look at the list, and choose the single most important job. That gets done before anything else.”

2 · David — E: “When I feel the anger coming, I stop, breathe in slowly, and count to ten before I say a single word.”

3 · Tuan — A: “Half my wages go straight into a savings account, and I allow myself a small amount for fun.”

4 · Sara — D: “Now I sit down for twenty minutes every single day… Small amounts, done regularly, have improved my playing more than those long sessions ever did.”

5 · Ken — C: “If I'm stuck for more than a day, I go and ask: a teacher, a classmate, my older cousin. Asking early turns a mountain back into a hill.”

F is the extra advice: preparing your bag and clothes the night before is sensible, but no speaker mentions it in the show.

Task 3 · “What school doesn't teach you” — Summary completion

Listen to Dr. Hayes's talk and complete the summary below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

Task 3 · Talk

Dr. Hayes, careers adviser: “What school doesn't teach you”

Dr. Hayes believes good (1) ______ can open doors to university or a first job, but adult life demands other skills. To manage money well, young people should keep their savings in a (2) ______ account, away from their daily spending. To manage time, they should keep one (3) ______ a day for themselves. When problems arise, they should split each difficulty into small (4) ______ and begin immediately. In a new place, they should (5) ______ more than they talk, so that their opinions carry weight later.

1Gap 1

2Gap 2

3Gap 3

4Gap 4

5Gap 5

Answers & explanations

1 · grades: “Grades open the door” — but, Dr. Hayes argues, adult life tests a different set of skills.

2 · separate: “Keep your savings separate from your everyday spending. Open a different account for savings.”

3 · hour: “Set aside at least one hour a day that belongs to you alone.”

4 · steps: “Break every difficulty down into small steps, and take the first step today.”

5 · listen: “In your first weeks in any new place… listen more than you speak.”

Scripts & translations

Script 1 · Dialogue — Linh talks to Ms. Lan, the school counsellor

Ms. Lan: Come in, Linh. Take a seat. You said in your message that you've been feeling under pressure lately. Tell me what's been happening.

Linh: It's everything at once, Ms. Lan. The graduation exams are in three months, I have a part-time job at a café four evenings a week, and at home I help my mum look after my little brother. By ten o'clock at night, I'm too exhausted to revise, and then I lie awake worrying about it.

Ms. Lan: That's a heavy load for anyone. Let me ask you this: when you sit down to study, where do you usually begin?

Linh: Honestly? With whatever is shouting loudest. I open my textbooks, see ten things I haven't finished, panic, and end up checking my phone instead.

Ms. Lan: That's very common — and it's exactly where a plan helps. Before you try to do more, write everything down: every task, every deadline. Then decide which two or three things genuinely matter most this week, and do those first. Not everything is equally urgent.

Linh: So… prioritise, instead of trying to do everything at the same time?

Ms. Lan: Exactly. A long list becomes much less frightening once it's in order. Now, what about the café job? The money is useful, I know.

Linh: It is — I save most of it for university. But four evenings a week is too much now. Actually, I spoke to my manager yesterday. From next week, I'll work on Saturday and Sunday only, until the exams are over. She was very understanding.

Ms. Lan: That's an excellent decision — and notice, you solved that one yourself. One more thing: rest. How much sleep are you getting?

Linh: About five hours. I know, I know… but there's so much to do.

Ms. Lan: Linh, sleep is not a reward for finishing your work; it's part of the work. A tired brain learns slowly and forgets quickly. Protect at least seven hours, and take a short break every hour when you revise. Looking after your well-being is a skill, not a luxury.

Linh: OK. So tonight, first step: I write my list and put it in order.

Ms. Lan: And I'll check in with you next Friday to see how the plan is going. Small steps, Linh — that's how big changes happen.

Bản dịch

Cô Lan: Vào đi em, Linh. Ngồi xuống đi. Trong tin nhắn em nói dạo này em cảm thấy rất áp lực. Kể cô nghe chuyện gì đang xảy ra nào.

Linh: Mọi thứ dồn lại cùng lúc, cô Lan ạ. Kỳ thi tốt nghiệp còn ba tháng nữa, em làm thêm ở quán cà phê bốn buổi tối mỗi tuần, ở nhà em còn phụ mẹ trông em trai. Đến mười giờ tối là em kiệt sức, không học nổi, rồi lại nằm thao thức lo lắng.

Cô Lan: Đó là một gánh nặng với bất kỳ ai. Cô hỏi em điều này: khi ngồi vào bàn học, em thường bắt đầu từ đâu?

Linh: Thật lòng ạ? Từ việc nào “la to” nhất. Em mở sách ra, thấy mười việc chưa làm xong, hoảng lên, rồi cuối cùng lại cầm điện thoại kiểm tra.

Cô Lan: Rất thường gặp — và đó chính là lúc một kế hoạch phát huy tác dụng. Trước khi cố làm nhiều hơn, hãy viết tất cả ra giấy: mọi nhiệm vụ, mọi hạn chót. Sau đó quyết định hai, ba việc thực sự quan trọng nhất trong tuần này, và làm những việc đó trước. Không phải việc nào cũng khẩn cấp như nhau.

Linh: Tức là… sắp xếp ưu tiên, thay vì cố làm mọi thứ cùng lúc ạ?

Cô Lan: Chính xác. Một danh sách dài sẽ bớt đáng sợ hơn nhiều khi nó đã được sắp xếp. Còn công việc ở quán cà phê thì sao? Cô biết khoản tiền đó có ích.

Linh: Dạ có ích ạ — em để dành phần lớn cho đại học. Nhưng bốn buổi tối mỗi tuần giờ là quá nhiều. Thật ra hôm qua em đã nói chuyện với quản lý rồi ạ. Từ tuần sau, em sẽ chỉ làm thứ Bảy và Chủ nhật, cho đến khi thi xong. Chị ấy rất thông cảm.

Cô Lan: Một quyết định tuyệt vời — và em thấy không, việc đó là tự em giải quyết đấy. Thêm một điều nữa: nghỉ ngơi. Em ngủ được bao lâu mỗi đêm?

Linh: Khoảng năm tiếng ạ. Em biết, em biết… nhưng nhiều việc quá ạ.

Cô Lan: Linh, giấc ngủ không phải phần thưởng sau khi làm xong việc; nó là một phần của công việc. Một bộ não mệt mỏi học chậm và quên nhanh. Hãy giữ ít nhất bảy tiếng, và cứ mỗi giờ ôn bài thì nghỉ ngắn một lần. Chăm sóc sức khỏe toàn diện của mình là một kỹ năng, không phải thứ xa xỉ.

Linh: Dạ. Vậy tối nay, bước đầu tiên: em viết danh sách của mình và sắp xếp lại thứ tự.

Cô Lan: Và thứ Sáu tuần sau cô sẽ gặp lại em để xem kế hoạch tiến triển thế nào. Từng bước nhỏ thôi, Linh — thay đổi lớn bắt đầu như thế đấy.

Script 2 · Radio show — “Skill Up!”

Host: Welcome to Skill Up!, the show where young people share the one skill that changed their school life. Today, five guests, five skills. Let's hear them.

Maria: I'm Maria, and I'm seventeen. Last year my head was full of homework, club meetings and family jobs, and I kept forgetting things. Now I keep a small notebook. Every morning I write down everything I have to do, look at the list, and choose the single most important job. That gets done before anything else. It sounds simple, but my days feel twice as long.

David: I'm David. I used to lose my temper in seconds — with teachers, with my little sister, even with my best friend. A coach taught me a trick: when I feel the anger coming, I stop, breathe in slowly, and count to ten before I say a single word. It doesn't make the problem disappear, but I no longer say things I regret.

Tuan: I'm Tuan, from Da Nang. I got my first part-time job last summer, and at first every coin I earned disappeared in a week: games, snacks, new shoes. Now I plan before I spend: half my wages go straight into a savings account, and I allow myself a small amount for fun. Watching the savings grow feels better than any pair of shoes.

Sara: I'm Sara. I play the piano, and for years I practised only before exams — three painful hours at once. My teacher changed my approach completely: now I sit down for twenty minutes every single day, even on busy days. Small amounts, done regularly, have improved my playing more than those long sessions ever did.

Ken: I'm Ken. I used to sit silently in class when I didn't understand something, because I didn't want to look stupid. The work piled up until I nearly failed maths. Now, if I'm stuck for more than a day, I go and ask: a teacher, a classmate, my older cousin. Asking early turns a mountain back into a hill.

Host: Five skills, five very different lives. Which one do YOU need most? That's all from Skill Up! today.

Bản dịch

Người dẫn: Chào mừng quý vị đến với Skill Up!, chương trình nơi các bạn trẻ chia sẻ một kỹ năng đã thay đổi đời sống học đường của mình. Hôm nay, năm vị khách, năm kỹ năng. Hãy cùng nghe họ chia sẻ.

Maria: Tôi là Maria, mười bảy tuổi. Năm ngoái đầu óc tôi ngập trong bài tập, họp câu lạc bộ và việc nhà, và tôi liên tục quên việc. Bây giờ tôi luôn mang theo một cuốn sổ nhỏ. Mỗi buổi sáng tôi viết ra mọi việc phải làm, nhìn lại danh sách, và chọn một việc quan trọng nhất — việc đó được làm trước tất cả. Nghe đơn giản, nhưng ngày của tôi như dài ra gấp đôi.

David: Tôi là David. Tôi từng nổi nóng trong vài giây — với thầy cô, với em gái, thậm chí với bạn thân nhất của mình. Một huấn luyện viên đã dạy tôi một mẹo: khi cảm thấy cơn giận đang đến, hãy dừng lại, hít vào thật chậm, và đếm đến mười trước khi nói bất cứ lời nào. Nó không làm vấn đề biến mất, nhưng tôi không còn nói những điều khiến mình hối hận.

Tuấn: Tôi là Tuấn, đến từ Đà Nẵng. Tôi có công việc làm thêm đầu tiên vào mùa hè năm ngoái, và lúc đầu mỗi đồng kiếm được đều biến mất trong một tuần — game, đồ ăn vặt, giày mới. Bây giờ tôi lên kế hoạch trước khi tiêu: một nửa tiền lương đi thẳng vào tài khoản tiết kiệm, và tôi cho phép mình một khoản nhỏ để vui chơi. Nhìn số tiền tiết kiệm tăng lên còn thích hơn bất kỳ đôi giày nào.

Sara: Tôi là Sara. Tôi chơi piano, và trong nhiều năm tôi chỉ luyện tập trước kỳ thi — ba tiếng đồng hồ đau khổ một lúc. Thầy giáo đã thay đổi hoàn toàn cách của tôi: giờ mỗi ngày tôi ngồi vào đàn hai mươi phút, kể cả những ngày bận rộn. Lượng nhỏ, làm đều đặn, đã cải thiện tiếng đàn của tôi hơn những buổi tập dài ngày trước rất nhiều.

Ken: Tôi là Ken. Tôi từng ngồi im lặng trong lớp khi không hiểu bài, vì không muốn trông mình ngớ ngẩn. Bài vở chất chồng cho đến khi tôi suýt trượt môn Toán. Giờ đây, nếu bị mắc kẹt hơn một ngày, tôi sẽ đi hỏi — thầy cô, bạn cùng lớp, anh họ của tôi. Hỏi sớm biến một ngọn núi trở lại thành một ngọn đồi.

Người dẫn: Năm kỹ năng, năm cuộc sống rất khác nhau. Bạn cần kỹ năng nào nhất? Đó là tất cả của Skill Up! hôm nay.

Script 3 · Talk — “What school doesn't teach you”

Good morning, everyone. In a few months, most of you will leave this school with exam results you have worked hard for. Those results matter: they can open the door to a university or a first job. But I want to talk about what happens after you walk through that door, because adult life tests a different set of skills, and nobody hands you a mark scheme.

Let us start with money. Sooner or later you will receive money that is truly yours to manage: a salary, perhaps, or money your parents send you each month at university. The students who cope best are not the ones who earn the most; they are the ones who know where their money goes. My advice is simple: keep your savings separate from your everyday spending. Open a different account for savings, and pay into it first, before the cafés and the shopping apps get their chance. Money you cannot see is money you do not spend.

Second: time. At school, bells and timetables organise your day. In adult life, nobody rings a bell. You must become your own manager, and the secret is not working longer; it is protecting your energy. However busy you are, set aside at least one hour a day that belongs to you alone: for exercise, for family, for doing absolutely nothing. That hour is not stolen from your work; it is what makes the other hours possible.

Third: problems. They will come: a broken motorbike on the morning of an interview, a landlord who will not return your deposit. Panic makes problems look bigger than they are. Break every difficulty down into small steps, and take the first step today, however tiny it is. A problem you have started is already smaller than a problem you are only worrying about.

And finally, people. In your first weeks in any new place — a university, a company — listen more than you speak. Watch how things are done, learn who really knows what, and save your opinions until you understand the situation. People who listen first are the ones whose words are taken seriously later.

Grades open the door. But it is these everyday skills — with money, with time, with problems and with people — that decide how far you travel once you are inside. Thank you.

Bản dịch

Chào buổi sáng tất cả các em. Vài tháng nữa, phần lớn các em sẽ rời ngôi trường này với kết quả thi mà các em đã nỗ lực hết mình để đạt được. Những kết quả đó quan trọng: chúng có thể mở cánh cửa vào một trường đại học hay công việc đầu tiên. Nhưng hôm nay thầy muốn nói về điều xảy ra sau khi các em bước qua cánh cửa đó, bởi cuộc sống trưởng thành kiểm tra một bộ kỹ năng khác hẳn, và không ai phát cho các em một barem chấm điểm.

Hãy bắt đầu với tiền bạc. Sớm hay muộn, các em sẽ nhận được khoản tiền thực sự do mình quản lý: có thể là tiền lương, hoặc tiền bố mẹ gửi mỗi tháng khi học đại học. Những sinh viên xoay xở tốt nhất không phải là người kiếm được nhiều nhất; họ là người biết tiền của mình đi đâu. Lời khuyên của thầy rất đơn giản: hãy giữ tiền tiết kiệm tách riêng khỏi tiền chi tiêu hằng ngày. Mở một tài khoản khác cho tiết kiệm, và gửi vào đó trước tiên, trước khi các quán cà phê và ứng dụng mua sắm kịp có cơ hội. Số tiền không nhìn thấy là số tiền các em sẽ không tiêu.

Thứ hai: thời gian. Ở trường, chuông và thời khóa biểu tổ chức ngày của các em. Trong đời sống trưởng thành, không ai rung chuông cả. Các em phải trở thành người quản lý của chính mình, và bí quyết không phải là làm việc lâu hơn — mà là bảo vệ năng lượng của mình. Dù bận đến đâu, hãy dành ít nhất một giờ mỗi ngày chỉ thuộc về mình: để tập thể dục, cho gia đình, hoặc để hoàn toàn không làm gì cả. Giờ đó không lấy cắp từ công việc của các em; nó là thứ làm cho những giờ còn lại trở nên khả thi.

Thứ ba: vấn đề. Chúng sẽ đến — một chiếc xe máy hỏng vào đúng buổi sáng phỏng vấn, một chủ nhà không chịu trả lại tiền cọc. Hoảng loạn làm mọi vấn đề trông lớn hơn thực tế. Hãy chia mỗi khó khăn thành những bước nhỏ, và thực hiện bước đầu tiên ngay hôm nay, dù nó nhỏ bé đến đâu. Một vấn đề đã bắt tay vào giải quyết luôn nhỏ hơn một vấn đề chỉ nằm trong lo lắng.

Và cuối cùng, con người. Trong những tuần đầu tiên ở bất kỳ nơi mới nào — một trường đại học, một công ty — hãy lắng nghe nhiều hơn nói. Quan sát cách mọi việc được vận hành, tìm hiểu ai thực sự am hiểu điều gì, và giữ ý kiến của mình cho đến khi hiểu rõ tình hình. Những người biết lắng nghe trước là những người mà sau này lời nói của họ được coi trọng.

Điểm số mở cánh cửa. Nhưng chính những kỹ năng thường nhật này — với tiền bạc, với thời gian, với vấn đề và với con người — mới quyết định các em đi được bao xa một khi đã ở bên trong. Cảm ơn các em.

Choose Your Skill

Your choice

One skill. One month.

In groups, choose the ONE life skill your group most needs to improve this month.

A · Manage your time

Plan the week ahead and put the most important task first.

B · Control your money

Track what you spend and save a little every week.

C · Stay calm under pressure

Pause, breathe, and respond instead of reacting.

D · Ask for help early

Talk to a teacher or a friend before a problem grows.

Language bank

“The skill we need most is… because…”

“At the moment, we often…”

“Our first step will be…”

“After one month, we will know it is working if…”

Homework

Write a short paragraph of 150–180 words on the following topic:

“Describe one life skill you want to improve, and explain how you plan to improve it.”

Use at least four words from today's lesson: deadline · budget · prioritise · self-discipline · resilience · well-being.

English 12A1 · Speaking · Week 9

Life
Skills

“Grades open the door — but life skills decide how far you travel.”

— after Dr. Hayes, Lesson 25

Debate consolidation. The four debate moves from Lesson 24, two motions on life skills: should they be a compulsory subject at school — and should every student hold a part-time job? Argue both with the evidence you heard in Lesson 25, then present your group’s pick for the school’s new life-skills club.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of two student debate teams at podiums in a classroom, with an alarm clock, a piggy bank, a frying pan, a bicycle and a first-aid kit floating above them

Which Skill Matters Most?

You leave school next summer. Which skill will you need first?

Your voteGood choice — hold on to your reason. You will need it in today’s debate.

Guess the Word

Study the picture clue, guess the word, then flip the card to check its meaning and pronunciation.

Picture clue: a student cooking a meal on her own in a small dormitory kitchen

Tap to reveal the wordindependent/ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/ (adjective)Able to look after yourself without needing help from other people.tự lậpCollocations: live independently · an independent life“At university, students must be independent: nobody reminds them to study.”

Picture clue: students in uniform all walking through the same classroom doorway beneath a large golden checkmark

Tap to reveal the wordcompulsory/kəmˈpʌlsəri/ (adjective)Required by rules; something that everyone must do.bắt buộcCollocations: a compulsory subject · compulsory lessons“Should life skills be a compulsory subject, like maths?”

Picture clue: a student's hands repairing a bicycle chain with a wrench and a tool kit

Tap to reveal the wordpractical/ˈpræktɪkl/ (adjective)Useful in real situations; connected with doing things rather than with theory.thực tế, thiết thựcCollocations: practical skills · practical experience“Fixing a bicycle is a practical skill you will use for years.”

Picture clue: a calm student balancing a stack of books while an alarm clock and a piggy bank float beside him

Tap to reveal the wordcope/kəʊp/ (verb)To deal successfully with a difficult situation.đối phó, xoay xở đượcCollocations: cope with pressure · cope with problems“Linh learned to cope with a heavy timetable by planning her week.”

Picture clue: an open backpack with a glowing water bottle, first-aid kit, umbrella and lunch box inside

Tap to reveal the wordessential/ɪˈsenʃl/ (adjective)Completely necessary; something you cannot do without.thiết yếu, không thể thiếuCollocations: essential skills · absolutely essential“Sleep is essential — a tired brain learns slowly and forgets quickly.”

Picture clue: a golden balance scale where a glowing heart and a small plant weigh more than a pile of exam papers and a diploma scroll

Tap to reveal the wordoutweigh/ˌaʊtˈweɪ/ (verb)To be more important than something else.quan trọng hơn, vượt trội hơnCollocation: the benefits outweigh the costs“For Team FOR, the benefits of life-skills lessons outweigh the extra hours.”

Quick check

1. In the motion “Life skills should be a compulsory subject”, compulsory means…

ExplanationCompulsory means required by the rules — every student must take the subject, whether they choose it or not.

2. Which sentence uses cope correctly?

ExplanationWe cope with a difficulty — the verb needs with and an object that is a problem or pressure, so C is correct. Cope is a verb, not an adjective, so B is impossible.

3. The ______ skills you learn by doing — cooking, budgeting, repairing — stay with you for life.

ExplanationPractical skills are learned by doing and used in real situations — cooking, budgeting and repairing are classic examples.

4. Team AGAINST argues that the costs of a new subject ______ its benefits.

ExplanationTo outweigh is to be more important than something else — costs outweigh benefits when the disadvantages matter more. Essential is an adjective and cope needs with, so neither fits.

Four Debate Moves — Level Up

Guess each move from its picture — then flip the card to check.

Picture clue: a student speaking confidently into a microphone at a podium with a large speech bubble above her head

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 1 · State your pointSay clearly which side you are on.“It is our firm conviction that …”“Our team maintains that …”

Picture clue: a student examining a bar chart in a notebook through a magnifying glass

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 2 · Give reasons & evidenceSupport your point — say why, and prove it with evidence.“This is borne out by …”“Consider Linh’s case: …”

Picture clue: a student listening thoughtfully to an opponent while a speech bubble bounces back between them like a ping-pong ball

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 3 · Concede, then rebutAccept a small part of the other side — then answer it.“We concede that …; yet …”“That argument overlooks one crucial fact: …”

Picture clue: a student at a podium waving a chequered finish flag beside a completed checklist with green ticks

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 4 · ConcludeSum up and finish strongly.“On balance, …”“For all these reasons, the motion must stand.”

Model speech — Team FOR

Model answer

“It is our firm conviction that life skills should be a compulsory subject at school. The main reason is that examinations, however demanding, test only what students know, whereas adult life tests what they can actually do. This is borne out by Linh’s story in Lesson 25: an able, hard-working student who was nevertheless overwhelmed by a part-time job, family duties and revision, simply because nobody had taught her to prioritise. Our opponents will argue that the timetable is already overcrowded. We concede that students are under pressure; yet that is precisely the point — a subject that teaches young people to budget, to cook and to cope with stress would repay every hour it occupies. On balance, the benefits decisively outweigh the costs: grades may open the door, but it is life skills that determine how far our students travel once they are inside.”

Bản dịch

“Đội chúng tôi tin tưởng vững chắc rằng kỹ năng sống cần trở thành một môn học bắt buộc ở trường. Lý do chính là: các kỳ thi, dù khắt khe đến đâu, cũng chỉ kiểm tra những gì học sinh biết, trong khi cuộc sống trưởng thành lại kiểm tra những gì các em thực sự làm được. Điều này được minh chứng rõ qua câu chuyện của Linh trong Tiết 25: một học sinh giỏi, chăm chỉ, vậy mà vẫn bị choáng ngợp bởi công việc làm thêm, việc nhà và việc ôn thi, chỉ đơn giản vì chưa ai dạy em cách sắp xếp thứ tự ưu tiên. Đối thủ của chúng tôi sẽ cho rằng thời khóa biểu đã quá tải. Chúng tôi thừa nhận học sinh đang chịu nhiều áp lực; nhưng đó chính là vấn đề — một môn học dạy các em cách lập ngân sách, nấu ăn và đối phó với căng thẳng sẽ xứng đáng với từng giờ học mà nó chiếm giữ. Xét trên tổng thể, lợi ích vượt xa chi phí một cách rõ rệt: điểm số có thể mở cánh cửa, nhưng chính kỹ năng sống mới quyết định học sinh của chúng ta đi được bao xa một khi đã bước vào bên trong.”

The Debate

Topic 1 · The motion

“Life skills should be a compulsory subject at school.”

Two teams, four moves each: state your point → give reasons and evidence → concede, then rebut → conclude. The class then votes for the stronger team.

Team FOR · Make it compulsory

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and evidence · Speaker 3 concedes, then rebuts · Speaker 4 concludes.

Team AGAINST · Keep it optional

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and evidence · Speaker 3 concedes, then rebuts · Speaker 4 concludes.

Arguments

Team FOR:

1. Grades are not enough: as Dr. Hayes said in Lesson 25, exams open the door, but money, time, problems and people decide how far you travel — and at the moment nobody teaches those essential skills.

2. These skills can be taught: Linh coped as soon as she learned to prioritise, and Tuan learned to budget in a single summer — short, practical lessons clearly work.

3. Compulsory means fair: not every family can teach cooking, first aid or money management at home, so school is the one place where every student can become independent.

Team AGAINST:

1. The timetable is already full: Linh was exhausted by exams, a café job and family duties — another compulsory subject would damage students’ well-being.

2. Life skills are learned by living, not by lessons: Ken learned to ask for help by facing real problems, and cooking is best practised in a real kitchen, not revised for a classroom test.

3. Choice works better: schools could run life-skills clubs and workshops, so students gain the practical skills they need without losing time for the subjects universities require.

Topic 2 · The motion

“Every student should have a part-time job before leaving school.”

Same two teams, same four moves — swap sides if your teacher asks. The class then votes for the stronger team.

Team FOR · Everyone should work

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and evidence · Speaker 3 concedes, then rebuts · Speaker 4 concludes.

Team AGAINST · School comes first

Speaker 1 states the point · Speaker 2 gives reasons and evidence · Speaker 3 concedes, then rebuts · Speaker 4 concludes.

Arguments

Team FOR:

1. Work teaches what lessons cannot: Tuan learned to budget in one summer of real wages — half saved, half for fun — a skill no textbook gave him.

2. A job builds independence early: earning money, planning shifts and dealing with customers prepare students for adult life long before graduation.

3. It need not harm study: Linh kept her café job by cutting it to weekends only — with prioritising, work and revision can coexist.

Team AGAINST:

1. Time is the real problem: Linh was exhausted by exams, work and family duties, and a tired brain learns slowly — another duty would damage students’ well-being in the exam year.

2. Not every student needs the money, and the students who do are exactly the ones a compulsory job would punish most.

3. Experience can wait: clubs, family businesses and holiday work offer the same lessons without risking the grades universities require.

Production

The issue

One club, one budget — which life-skills club should our school fund?

Next year our school can fund ONE new life-skills club. In your group, choose the club — then your representative presents your choice in about one minute and persuades the class to vote for it.

Cooking Club

Real meals on a student budget — nobody should leave school unable to feed themselves.

Money Club

Earning, saving and budgeting: pocket money, first salaries and student loans, handled wisely.

First-Aid Club

Stay calm and act fast — the skills that protect friends and family in an emergency.

Fix-It Club

Bicycles, leaky taps and loose screws — the practical repairs every home needs.

Your representative presents

1. Your group’s club, in the first sentence. 2. Two reasons — who benefits, and what members will actually be able to DO. 3. One practical detail — when it meets, and who could teach it. 4. A closing line that wins the class’s vote.

Homework

Write 120–150 words — or record a one-minute talk.

Defend your own view on the motion: “Life skills should be a compulsory subject at school.”

Remember

Use at least 3 of today’s words and 2 debate expressions.

English 12A1 · Speaking · Week 9

Higher
Education

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

— Malcolm X

Role-play and problem-solving practice. Step into the shoes of a school-leaver and a counsellor: describe a problem, ask for advice, weigh the options and agree on a solution — at the counsellor’s office, at the admissions office, and in your first year at university.

Download lesson plan Download handout

Vocabulary pronunciation uses your device’s English voice.

3D illustration of a student asking a question at a university admissions desk, with a laptop, application forms, a graduation cap and a diploma on the desk and a grand campus building behind them

After Graduation — What’s Your Path?

School finishes next summer. Which path will YOU take?

Your voteGood choice — hold on to your reason. You will need it in today’s role-plays.

Guess the Word

Study the picture clue, guess the word, then flip the card to check its meaning and pronunciation.

Picture clue: a worried student counting a stack of banknotes and coins beside a large blank price tag and a calculator

Tap to reveal the wordtuition fees/tjuːˈɪʃn fiːz/ (noun)The money that students pay a university or college for their teaching.học phíCollocations: pay tuition fees · tuition fees rise“Tuition fees at private universities can be higher than a family’s yearly income.”

Picture clue: a proud student wearing a gold medal and holding up a rolled diploma while confetti falls in front of a university building

Tap to reveal the wordscholarship/ˈskɒləʃɪp/ (noun)Money given to a student by a university or an organisation to help pay for their studies, usually because they have done very well.học bổngCollocations: win a scholarship · a full scholarship“She won a full scholarship, so her parents pay nothing for her degree.”

Picture clue: a grand university main building with columns, green lawns and students walking along the paths with books and backpacks

Tap to reveal the wordcampus/ˈkæmpəs/ (noun)The buildings and land of a university or college.khuôn viên trường đại họcCollocations: on campus · a large campus“The campus has a library, a stadium and its own dormitory.”

Picture clue: a student thinking at a signpost with blank arrows, while a stethoscope, a paint palette and a calculator float above her head

Tap to reveal the wordmajor/ˈmeɪdʒə/ (noun)The main subject that a student studies at university.chuyên ngànhCollocations: choose a major · major in economics“Her major is graphic design, although her parents want her to study medicine.”

Picture clue: two students chatting happily in a cosy dormitory room with bunk beds, a desk, a lamp and a kettle

Tap to reveal the worddormitory/ˈdɔːmɪtri/ (noun)A building at a university where students live, usually in shared rooms.ký túc xáCollocations: live in a dormitory · a dormitory room“He shares a dormitory room with three other first-year students.”

Picture clue: a determined student filling in a large paper form at a desk with a laptop, an envelope and a wall clock beside her

Tap to reveal the wordapplication/ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃn/ (noun)A formal written request, for example to join a university or to receive a scholarship.đơn đăng ký, hồ sơ ứng tuyểnCollocations: submit an application · an application form“The application must be submitted before the end of March.”

Quick check

1. A ______ pays part or all of a student’s fees because they have done very well at school.

ExplanationA scholarship is money given to a student to help pay for their studies — a campus is the university’s land and buildings, and a dormitory is where students live.

2. Which sentence uses major correctly?

ExplanationA student’s major is the main subject of their degree — “His major is computer science” is the only natural sentence. In A and C the word is forced into places where it cannot work.

3. Students who live in a ______ share rooms in a building on campus.

ExplanationA dormitory is the building where students live in shared rooms. Tuition fees are money you pay, and an application is a document you send.

4. Before a university can offer you a place — or a scholarship — you must complete and submit an ______.

ExplanationAn application is the formal written request you submit. You choose your major in it, and you study on a campus — but neither of those is something you “submit”.

Four Moves to Solve a Problem

Guess each move from its picture — then flip the card to check.

Picture clue: a worried student explaining her problem — a broken bicycle and an empty wallet — to a friend, with a large empty speech bubble above them

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 1 · Describe the problemSay clearly what has gone wrong, and why it matters.“The thing is, …”“I’m in a difficult position: …”

Picture clue: a student with raised hands asking an older counsellor for advice across a desk, with a large question-mark speech bubble above them

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 2 · Ask for & give adviceInvite the other person’s ideas — or offer yours, gently.“What would you do if you were me?”“If I were you, I would …”

Picture clue: a thoughtful student weighing a graduation cap against a pile of banknotes on a golden balance scale

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 3 · Weigh the optionsCompare the choices: one advantage and one drawback each.“On the one hand, …; on the other hand, …”“The advantage of … is that …”

Picture clue: two smiling students shaking hands in front of a university building, with a green tick in a speech bubble above them

Guess this move — tap to flipMove 4 · Agree on a solutionDecide together, and say the plan out loud.“So we’ve agreed to …”“Let’s go with …, then.”

Model dialogue — Ha visits the counsellor

Model dialogue

Ha: “May I ask your advice, Ms. Lan? The thing is, I’m in a difficult position. My parents insist that I apply for medicine, yet my heart is set on graphic design — and I have to submit my application by the end of March.”

Ms. Lan: “That is a common dilemma, Ha. Tell me — what worries you most?”

Ha: “Quite honestly, disappointing them. On the one hand, medicine guarantees a stable, well-paid career; on the other hand, I have won two design competitions, and my teachers say my portfolio is outstanding.”

Ms. Lan: “If I were you, I would weigh up both options with your parents, not against them. The advantage of design is that it builds on a genuine talent. Why not invite your parents to the university’s open day on campus, so that they can see the design faculty for themselves?”

Ha: “That’s a thought. And if they still object?”

Ms. Lan: “Then apply for a scholarship as well. If your talent earns you financial support, the tuition fees will no longer be an argument against your choice.”

Ha: “So we’ve agreed: first the open day with my parents, then the application for design — and the scholarship application as a back-up plan.”

Ms. Lan: “Let’s go with that, then. Remember, Ha: it is your major, and your future.”

Bản dịch

Hà: “Em có thể xin cô một lời khuyên không, cô Lan? Chuyện là thế này: em đang ở trong một tình thế khó xử. Bố mẹ em khăng khăng muốn em đăng ký ngành y, nhưng em lại đam mê thiết kế đồ họa — mà em phải nộp hồ sơ trước cuối tháng Ba.”

Cô Lan: “Đó là một tình huống khó xử rất thường gặp đấy, Hà. Em nói cô nghe — điều gì khiến em lo lắng nhất?”

Hà: “Thật lòng mà nói, là làm bố mẹ thất vọng. Một mặt, ngành y đảm bảo một nghề nghiệp ổn định, thu nhập tốt; mặt khác, em đã giành được hai giải thi thiết kế, và các thầy cô đều nói hồ sơ năng lực của em rất xuất sắc.”

Cô Lan: “Nếu cô là em, cô sẽ cùng bố mẹ cân nhắc kỹ cả hai lựa chọn, chứ không đối đầu với bố mẹ. Ưu điểm của ngành thiết kế là nó phát huy một tài năng thực sự. Sao em không mời bố mẹ đến ngày hội mở của trường đại học ngay tại khuôn viên trường, để họ tận mắt thấy khoa thiết kế?”

Hà: “Ý hay đấy ạ. Nhưng nếu bố mẹ vẫn phản đối thì sao?”

Cô Lan: “Vậy thì em hãy nộp thêm hồ sơ học bổng nữa. Nếu tài năng của em giành được hỗ trợ tài chính, học phí sẽ không còn là lý lẽ để phản đối lựa chọn của em nữa.”

Hà: “Vậy là chúng ta đã thống nhất: trước tiên là ngày hội mở cùng bố mẹ, sau đó là hồ sơ đăng ký ngành thiết kế — và hồ sơ học bổng làm phương án dự phòng.”

Cô Lan: “Cứ quyết định vậy nhé. Và hãy nhớ, Hà: đó là chuyên ngành của em, và là tương lai của em.”

Role-play

Role-play 1 · At the counsellor’s office

Choosing a major — your heart, or your parents’ wish?

Work in pairs. Follow the four moves: describe the problem → ask for and give advice → weigh the options → agree on a solution.

Student A · Ha, a Grade 12 student

Your parents insist on medicine, but you love graphic design. You have won two design competitions, and your application must be submitted by the end of March. You are afraid of disappointing your parents.

Student B · The school counsellor

Ask questions first, and listen. Then suggest at least two possible options, weigh them with Ha, and help her agree on a clear plan before she leaves your office.

Role-play 2 · At the admissions office

A missing document — and the deadline is tomorrow

Same pairs, new roles. Student A has the problem; Student B works at the university. Stay polite — and find a solution together.

Student A · A new applicant

You submitted your application online last week, but the confirmation email says one document is missing: your school report. The deadline is tomorrow, and you are worried sick. Explain your problem clearly.

Student B · An admissions officer

Stay calm and helpful. Explain A’s options: upload the report online before midnight tonight, or bring it to this office at 8 a.m. tomorrow — and remind A to keep the confirmation email.

Solve a First-Year Problem

The issue

First year at university: a new city, new people — and new problems.

In your group, choose ONE problem card. Discuss it with the four moves, agree on one solution — then your representative presents it in about one minute and persuades the class that it will work.

Homesick in the dormitory

Your friend has moved into a dormitory in Ho Chi Minh City. She misses her family in An Giang so much that she cries every night — and now she wants to give up and go home.

Money runs out too soon

Your friend spends his whole monthly allowance in the first two weeks — eating out and playing games — then has to borrow money until the end of every month.

Falling behind at lectures

Your friend cannot follow the fast lectures, has failed her first assignment, and is too shy to ask the lecturers for help.

The noisy roommate

Your friend’s roommate plays games until 2 a.m. every night. The final exams are coming, and your friend can neither sleep nor revise.

Your representative presents

1. The problem, in one sentence. 2. Two options you weighed — one advantage and one drawback each. 3. The solution you agreed on, and the first step — this week. 4. A closing line that convinces the class your solution will work.

Homework

Write a dialogue of 10–12 exchanges — or record a one-minute role-play with a partner.

A school-leaver asks for advice about a higher-education problem — and the two speakers agree on a solution.

Remember

Use at least 3 of today’s words, all 4 problem-solving moves, and finish with the solution you agreed on.

Lesson List

Global Warming

Ecosystem

Health and Longevity

Future of Cities

Future of Cities — Group Debate

Life Skills

Life Skills — Debate Consolidation

Higher Education — Role-play & Problem-solving

GlobalWarming

Climate headlines

Vocabulary

Quick check

Signals in the noise

Task 1 · Three practice announcements

Task 2 · “Climate Watch” classroom bulletin

Task 3 · “The Local Climate Hour”

Climate Response Council

One budget. One priority.

A · Heat-safe timetable

B · Flood-ready campus

C · Clean commute

D · Solar classrooms

Language bank

Homework

“What can Vietnamese youth do to slow down global warming?”

Ecosystem

Ecosystem Quiz

Guess the Word

Quick check

Speaking Strategies

Explaining a Situation

Giving Instructions

Guided Practice

Coral bleaching in Phu Quoc

Water hyacinth in your hometown

Production

Save the Mangroves

Student A · Environmental officer

Student B · Resort developer

The School Eco-Club Campaign

Student A · Eco-club leader

Student B · Skeptical classmate

Homework

Record a 2-minute vlog.

Health andLongevity

True or False?

Guess the Word

Quick check

Tell Your Story in 4 Steps

Practice

Ask your partner

My healthy change

Talk & Share

A healthy experience I remember

Homework

Record a 1-minute talk — or write about 100 words.

Futureof Cities

Cities of the World Quiz

Vocabulary

Quick check

Listening Tasks

Task 1 · A new eco-district — Dialogue

Task 2 · “City Watch” — Matching

Task 3 · “The City of 2050” — Lecture

Scripts & translations

Design Your District

One budget. One feature.

A · Shared driverless pods

B · A virtual twin

C · The 15-minute neighbourhood

D · Green corridors

Language bank

Homework

“Describe the city you would like to live in in 2050.”

Futureof Cities

Where Would You Live?

A · Greenport

B · Songdo

C · Masdar City

Global
Warming

Health and
Longevity

Future
of Cities

Future
of Cities

Life
Skills

Life
Skills

Higher
Education