IELTS Speaking: Cách Trả Lời Chủ Đề “Describe a Person Who Has a Good Sense of Humor” – Bài Mẫu Band 6-9

Mở bài

Chủ đề “Describe A Person Who Has A Good Sense Of Humor” là một đề bài vô cùng phổ biến trong IELTS Speaking Part 2, xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các kỳ thi từ năm 2020 đến nay. Đây là dạng câu hỏi “Describe a person” – một trong những dạng đề kinh điển mà bất kỳ thí sinh nào cũng cần chuẩn bị kỹ lưỡng.

Chủ đề này đòi hỏi bạn không chỉ miêu tả một người có khiếu hài hước mà còn phải giải thích được tại sao bạn cho rằng họ hài hước, những tình huống cụ thể thể hiện điều đó, và ảnh hưởng của họ đến cuộc sống của bạn. Theo thống kê từ các trung tâm luyện thi uy tín, chủ đề về “người có khiếu hài hước” xuất hiện với tần suất cao (khoảng 15-20% các đề thi Part 2), và dự đoán sẽ tiếp tục là một chủ đề được ưa chuộng trong các kỳ thi sắp tới.

Qua bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:

• Các câu hỏi thường gặp trong cả 3 Part liên quan đến chủ đề hài hước và tính cách con người
• Bài mẫu chi tiết theo từng band điểm (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) với phân tích sâu về lý do đạt điểm
• Kho từ vựng phong phú về tính cách, hài hước và các biểu đạt tự nhiên
• Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của một Examiner chính thức
• Các lỗi phổ biến của thí sinh Việt Nam và cách khắc phục

---

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

Tổng Quan Về Part 1

Part 1 của IELTS Speaking thường kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi ngắn gọn về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích cá nhân và các chủ đề quen thuộc. Đối với chủ đề liên quan đến tính hài hước và con người, Examiner thường hỏi về bạn bè, tính cách và những điều khiến bạn vui vẻ.

Chiến lược quan trọng nhất là trả lời tự nhiên nhưng vẫn mở rộng đủ ý (2-3 câu). Đừng chỉ nói “Yes” hoặc “No” – hãy luôn thêm lý do hoặc ví dụ cụ thể.

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn, thiếu elaboration
• Sử dụng từ vựng quá đơn giản như “good”, “nice”, “happy”
• Không đưa ra ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
• Thiếu tự nhiên, nghe như đang đọc thuộc

Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp

Question 1: Do you think you have a good sense of humor?

Question 2: What kind of things make you laugh?

Question 3: Do you like watching comedy shows or movies?

Question 4: Who is the funniest person you know?

Question 5: Do you think humor is important in daily life?

Question 6: Are you good at telling jokes?

Question 7: Do people around you think you’re funny?

Question 8: What kind of humor do you prefer?

Question 9: Do you enjoy making others laugh?

Question 10: Has your sense of humor changed over time?

Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết

---

Question: Do you like making others laugh?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Trả lời trực tiếp Yes/No
• Giải thích lý do tại sao
• Đưa ra ví dụ cụ thể về tình huống bạn làm người khác cười

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I like making others laugh. It makes me feel happy when I see people smile. I usually tell funny stories to my friends when we meet. It helps everyone feel relaxed and comfortable.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Trả lời rõ ràng, có lý do đơn giản, có đề cập đến hành động cụ thể
• Hạn chế: Từ vựng còn basic (happy, feel, relaxed), cấu trúc câu đơn giản, thiếu chi tiết cụ thể
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Đáp ứng được yêu cầu trả lời nhưng chưa thể hiện khả năng ngôn ngữ cao, thiếu collocations và expressions tự nhiên

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely! I get a real kick out of making people laugh. There’s something incredibly rewarding about lifting someone’s spirits, especially when they’re having a rough day. I tend to use self-deprecating humor quite a bit – poking fun at my own mistakes or awkward moments – because it breaks the ice and makes everyone feel more at ease. Just last week, I cracked a joke about my terrible cooking skills during a dinner party, and it had everyone in stitches.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Sử dụng nhiều idiomatic expressions tự nhiên: “get a kick out of”, “lifting someone’s spirits”, “breaks the ice”, “in stitches”
  • Vocabulary đa dạng và precise: “rewarding”, “self-deprecating humor”, “awkward moments”
  • Có ví dụ cụ thể và gần đây (last week)
  • Giải thích được tác động cảm xúc (incredibly rewarding)
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Câu trả lời trôi chảy, tự nhiên, dài vừa đủ cho Part 1
  • Vocabulary: Sophisticated với nhiều collocations native-like
  • Grammar: Sử dụng cấu trúc phức: relative clause, present participle phrases, complex sentences
  • Pronunciation: Các expressions này thể hiện khả năng phát âm tốt các cụm từ khó

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• get a kick out of something: cảm thấy thích thú, vui vẻ với điều gì
• lifting someone’s spirits: làm ai đó vui lên, phấn chấn hơn
• self-deprecating humor: hài hước tự châm biếm
• break the ice: phá vỡ sự ngượng ngùng, tạo không khí thoải mái
• crack a joke: kể một câu chuyện cười
• in stitches: cười nghiêng ngả

---

Question: What kind of things make you laugh?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Liệt kê 2-3 loại hài hước/tình huống
• Giải thích tại sao chúng hài hước với bạn
• Có thể so sánh với những gì không làm bạn cười

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Many things make me laugh. I like watching funny videos on social media, especially cat videos. I also laugh when my friends tell jokes. Sometimes I laugh at comedy movies too. I think humor is very important in life.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Liệt kê được nhiều ví dụ, có câu kết đơn giản về tầm quan trọng
• Hạn chế: Mỗi ý chỉ được đề cập sơ qua, không có elaboration sâu, từ vựng repetitive (laugh xuất hiện 3 lần)
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng thiếu depth và variety trong cách diễn đạt

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

I’m quite easily amused by different types of humor. Witty wordplay and clever puns really tickle my funny bone – there’s something intellectually satisfying about humor that makes you think. I also find physical comedy hilarious, especially when it’s well-timed and unexpected. That said, what really gets me is observational humor – you know, when comedians point out the absurdity of everyday situations that we all experience but never really put into words. It’s that “aha” moment of recognition that makes it so relatable and funny.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Vocabulary sophisticate và specific: “witty wordplay”, “clever puns”, “observational humor”
  • Giải thích tại sao mỗi loại hài hước lại hấp dẫn
  • Sử dụng discourse marker tự nhiên: “That said”, “you know”
  • Có critical thinking: intellectual satisfaction, recognition
  • Tránh lặp “laugh” bằng cách dùng “tickle my funny bone”, “gets me”, “hilarious”
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Liên kết ý mượt mà với “That said”, “especially when”
  • Vocabulary: Topic-specific và expressive
  • Grammar: Complex structures với relative clauses, present participle
  • Ideas: Sophisticated understanding of different comedy types

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• easily amused: dễ thấy buồn cười, dễ cười
• witty wordplay: chơi chữ thông minh
• tickle my funny bone: làm tôi thấy buồn cười
• well-timed: đúng thời điểm
• observational humor: hài hước quan sát đời thường
• point out the absurdity: chỉ ra sự vô lý, phi lý
• relatable: dễ đồng cảm, liên quan đến bản thân

Học viên đang luyện tập IELTS Speaking Part 1 về chủ đề hài hước và tính cách

---

Question: Do you think humor is important in daily life?

🎯 Cách tiếp cận:

• Đưa ra quan điểm rõ ràng (Yes, definitely)
• Giải thích 2 lý do với examples
• Có thể đề cập đến consequences nếu thiếu hài hước

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think humor is very important. It helps people feel happy and reduces stress. When we laugh, we forget about our problems. Also, humor helps us make friends more easily because people like funny persons.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh: Có quan điểm rõ ràng, đưa ra 2 lý do (reduce stress, make friends)
• Hạn chế: Giải thích còn surface-level, “people like funny persons” hơi awkward, thiếu specificity
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Basic ideas được trình bày adequately nhưng thiếu sophistication

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:

Absolutely, I’d say humor is essential rather than just important. It acts as a social lubricant that helps us navigate awkward situations and bond with others more naturally. From a psychological perspective, having a good laugh releases endorphins, which alleviates stress and can even boost our immune system. Beyond the health benefits, humor also gives us perspective – it helps us take ourselves less seriously and cope with life’s challenges in a healthier way. I’ve noticed that people with a well-developed sense of humor tend to be more resilient when facing difficulties.

Phân tích:

• Điểm mạnh:
  • Vocabulary sophisticated: “social lubricant”, “navigate awkward situations”, “alleviates stress”
  • Đưa ra nhiều dimensions: social, psychological, health perspective
  • Có personal observation cuối cùng
  • Grammar đa dạng: relative clauses, parallel structures
  • Ideas sâu sắc: humor as coping mechanism, resilience
• Tại sao Band 8-9:
  • Fluency: Well-organized với clear progression of ideas
  • Vocabulary: Academic và topic-specific terms được dùng tự nhiên
  • Grammar: Complex sentences với multiple clauses
  • Ideas: Sophisticated understanding với multiple perspectives

💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:

• essential: thiết yếu, cần thiết
• social lubricant: chất bôi trơn xã hội (giúp giao tiếp mượt mà hơn)
• navigate awkward situations: xử lý những tình huống khó xử
• releases endorphins: tiết ra endorphin (hormone hạnh phúc)
• alleviates stress: giảm căng thẳng
• take ourselves less seriously: không quá nghiêm túc với bản thân
• well-developed sense of humor: khiếu hài hước được phát triển tốt
• resilient: kiên cường, có khả năng phục hồi

---

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)

Tổng Quan Về Part 2

Part 2 là phần độc thoại trong đó bạn có 1 phút chuẩn bị và 2-3 phút để nói về một chủ đề cụ thể mà không bị examiner ngắt lời. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để thể hiện khả năng ngôn ngữ của bạn.

Với đề bài về người có khiếu hài hước, bạn cần sử dụng thì quá khứ hoặc hiện tại tùy theo người bạn miêu tả. Đặc điểm: Nếu đây là người bạn vẫn thường xuyên gặp, dùng Present tenses; nếu là người trong quá khứ, dùng Past tenses.

Chiến lược quan trọng:

• Sử dụng hết 1 phút để ghi chú keywords (KHÔNG viết câu hoàn chỉnh)
• Nói đủ 2 phút (tối thiểu 1.5 phút) – đây là yêu cầu quan trọng
• Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points trên cue card
• Dành thời gian nhiều nhất cho bullet point “explain why” – đây là phần ghi điểm

Lỗi thường gặp:

• Không tận dụng thời gian chuẩn bị, ghi quá nhiều hoặc quá ít
• Nói dưới 1.5 phút hoặc vượt quá 3 phút
• Bỏ sót một trong các bullet points
• Không có ví dụ cụ thể, chỉ nói chung chung

Cue Card

Describe a person who has a good sense of humor

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How you know this person
• What this person usually does to make you laugh
• And explain why you think this person has a good sense of humor

Phân Tích Đề Bài

• Dạng câu hỏi: Describe a person – Miêu tả về một người cụ thể
• Thì động từ: Có thể dùng Present tenses (nếu vẫn giữ liên lạc) hoặc Past tenses (nếu đã mất liên lạc)
• Bullet points phải cover:
  • Who: Tên, mối quan hệ, tuổi/nghề nghiệp (nếu relevant)
  • How you know: Bối cảnh làm quen, thời gian
  • What does: Hành động cụ thể, kiểu hài hước, ví dụ điển hình
  • Explain why: Phân tích sâu về khiếu hài hước của họ – ĐÂY LÀ PHẦN QUAN TRỌNG NHẤT
• Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là nơi bạn ghi điểm cao nhất với vocabulary, ideas và critical thinking. Đừng chỉ nói “because he’s funny” mà phải phân tích timing, delivery, type of humor, impact on others, etc.

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7

Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút

I’d like to talk about my friend Nam, who is probably the funniest person I know. I met him when we were in high school, about five years ago. We sat next to each other in class and became good friends quickly.

Nam is really good at making people laugh. He often tells jokes during break time, and everyone enjoys listening to him. He also likes to do funny impressions of our teachers, which always makes the whole class laugh. Sometimes he makes funny faces or does silly actions that are very entertaining. When we hang out after school, he always shares funny stories from the internet or tells us about his daily experiences in a humorous way.

I think Nam has a good sense of humor because he knows how to make boring situations fun. For example, when we had to study for difficult exams, he would make jokes about the subject to help everyone feel less stressed. He is also very quick at thinking of funny responses in conversations. People always feel happy and relaxed when they are around him. His humor is not mean or hurtful – he never makes fun of others in a bad way. He just wants to make people smile and enjoy life more.

I really appreciate having a friend like Nam because he brings positive energy to our group. His sense of humor has helped me get through many difficult times in school. I think having a good sense of humor is a valuable quality in a person.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	6-7	Có sequencing rõ ràng, sử dụng basic connectors (also, sometimes, for example). Còn một số hesitation với ideas, chưa hoàn toàn smooth
Lexical Resource	6-7	Từ vựng adequate: “impressions”, “entertaining”, “quick at thinking”. Tuy nhiên còn lặp “funny” quá nhiều lần, thiếu variety và collocations tinh vi
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	6-7	Sử dụng mix của simple và complex sentences. Có relative clauses đơn giản. Một số errors nhỏ có thể xảy ra nhưng không ảnh hưởng communication
Pronunciation	6-7	Dễ hiểu, intelligible, có một số features tốt nhưng chưa sustained throughout

Điểm mạnh:

• ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ cả 4 bullet points
• ✅ Có ví dụ cụ thể (impressions of teachers, study sessions)
• ✅ Structure rõ ràng: intro → how you know → what he does → why he’s funny
• ✅ Đạt đủ độ dài yêu cầu (khoảng 1.5-2 phút)

Hạn chế:

• ⚠️ Từ “funny” được lặp lại quá nhiều lần (8 lần) – cần paraphrase
• ⚠️ Thiếu sophisticated vocabulary và idiomatic expressions
• ⚠️ Phần “explain why” còn surface-level, chưa có critical analysis sâu
• ⚠️ Một số cụm từ hơi awkward: “do silly actions”, “in a humorous way”

Thí sinh IELTS đang trình bày Part 2 về người có khiếu hài hước

---

📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8

Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút

I’d like to describe my uncle Minh, who I consider to be one of the most naturally funny people in my life. I’ve known him since I was a child, obviously, as he’s my mother’s younger brother, and we’ve always been quite close because he lives just a few blocks away from us.

What really sets Uncle Minh apart is his impeccable comic timing and his ability to find humor in everyday situations. He’s not the type to tell rehearsed jokes or pre-planned punchlines. Instead, he has this spontaneous wit that catches you off guard. For instance, last month during a family dinner, when my grandmother was complaining about how expensive vegetables have become, he deadpanned something about starting a vegetable farm on our rooftop. The way he delivered it with a completely straight face while everyone else was stressed about prices just broke the tension instantly. Everyone burst out laughing.

Another thing he does brilliantly is self-deprecating humor. He often pokes fun at his own mistakes or mishaps, which makes him incredibly relatable and approachable. He never punches down at others or uses humor that makes people uncomfortable.

The reason I think Uncle Minh has such a well-developed sense of humor is his emotional intelligence. He seems to have this innate ability to read the room and know exactly when humor is needed to lighten the mood. He understands that humor isn’t just about being funny – it’s about connecting with people and making them feel at ease. His humor comes from a place of genuine warmth rather than a desire for attention. He’s also incredibly quick-witted, able to come up with clever responses in the moment without seeming forced or trying too hard.

What I admire most is how his humor has enriched our family gatherings and helped us bond more closely. He’s taught me that a good sense of humor is really about emotional awareness and timing rather than just knowing a lot of jokes.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	7.5-8	Speaks fluently với minimal hesitation. Cohesive devices sophisticated: “What really sets…apart”, “Instead”, “Another thing”. Ideas well-organized và connected logically
Lexical Resource	7.5-8	Wide range of vocabulary với precise meaning: “impeccable comic timing”, “spontaneous wit”, “deadpanned”, “punches down”. Good use of collocations. Paraphrasing skill strong
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7.5-8	Wide range of structures: relative clauses, participial phrases, comparative forms. Complex sentences accurate và flexible
Pronunciation	7.5-8	Clear pronunciation với good use of features: stress, intonation. Easy to understand throughout

So Sánh Với Band 6-7

Khía cạnh	Band 6-7	Band 7.5-8
Vocabulary	“tells jokes”, “makes funny faces”, “funny”	“impeccable comic timing”, “spontaneous wit”, “deadpanned”, “self-deprecating humor”
Grammar	“He often tells jokes during break time”	“He has this innate ability to read the room and know exactly when humor is needed”
Ideas	“He makes jokes to help everyone feel less stressed”	“His humor comes from a place of genuine warmth rather than a desire for attention. He understands that humor is about emotional intelligence”
Examples	General: “makes funny impressions”	Specific with context: “last month during family dinner…deadpanned about rooftop farm”

Điểm nổi bật của bài Band 7.5-8:

• Sử dụng vocabulary topic-specific và precise
• Có concrete example với context rõ ràng
• Phần “explain why” có depth: emotional intelligence, reading the room
• Paraphrase “funny” thành nhiều expressions khác nhau
• Grammar structures đa dạng và accurate

---

📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9

Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ

I’d like to talk about my colleague David, who is hands down the most effortlessly hilarious person I’ve ever encountered. We met about three years ago when I joined a marketing agency in Ho Chi Minh City, and he was assigned as my mentor during the onboarding process. From day one, his humor was immediately disarming and helped me navigate the nerves of starting a new job.

What truly distinguishes David’s sense of humor is its sophistication and versatility. He’s a master of observational comedy – he has this uncanny ability to pinpoint the absurdities in mundane office situations and articulate them in ways that are both hilarious and insightful. For example, during a particularly tedious client presentation last month, when the client kept going off on tangents about completely unrelated topics, David subtly caught my eye and raised an eyebrow in this perfectly timed gesture that spoke volumes. Later, he brilliantly encapsulated the entire two-hour meeting by saying it felt like “watching someone try to fold a fitted sheet – you know something should be happening, but you’re not quite sure what.” That metaphor was so spot-on that it became an inside joke in our team.

What really sets him apart, though, is his emotional intelligence in wielding humor. He possesses this remarkable sensitivity to gauge the atmosphere and calibrate his humor accordingly. In high-pressure situations, he uses self-deprecating wit to defuse tension without undermining the seriousness of the work. When team morale is low, he knows how to inject levity at precisely the right moment. Crucially, his humor is never at someone else’s expense – he steers clear of anything that could be construed as offensive or alienating.

The reason I believe David has such an exceptional sense of humor boils down to several factors. Firstly, he’s incredibly well-read and culturally literate, which gives him a vast repository of references to draw upon. He can seamlessly weave in allusions to everything from classic literature to contemporary pop culture. Secondly, he has impeccable timing – that almost musical sense of rhythm in conversation where he knows exactly when to deliver a punchline or when to hold back for greater effect. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, his humor stems from a place of genuine kindness and desire to connect rather than any need for validation or spotlight. He uses humor as a social glue, a way to forge bonds and create a sense of camaraderie.

What I’ve come to appreciate most is how David has fundamentally altered my understanding of what good humor entails. It’s not merely about eliciting laughs – it’s about demonstrating empathy, offering fresh perspectives, and making people feel valued. His presence has immeasurably enriched our workplace culture, and I consider myself genuinely fortunate to have learned from someone who embodies such a well-rounded, thoughtful approach to humor.

Phân Tích Band Điểm

Tiêu chí	Band	Nhận xét
Fluency & Coherence	8.5-9	Speaks fluently và coherently với no noticeable effort. Sophisticated cohesive devices: “What truly distinguishes”, “Crucially”, “boils down to”. Ideas progress logically với excellent topic development
Lexical Resource	8.5-9	Precise và sophisticated vocabulary: “effortlessly hilarious”, “uncanny ability”, “pinpoint the absurdities”, “wielding humor”, “calibrate accordingly”. Natural use of idiomatic language. Wide range of collocations
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	8.5-9	Full range of structures với full flexibility và accuracy. Complex sentences với multiple clauses. Consistent grammatical control
Pronunciation	8.5-9	Full range of pronunciation features với precision và subtlety. Consistently easy to understand. Natural expression với sustained control

Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc

🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:

• Không có hesitation, speaks at natural speed
• Ideas flow seamlessly từ điểm này sang điểm khác
• Uses sophisticated discourse markers tự nhiên
• Sentence structures varied và complex nhưng không forced

📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:

• “hands down” – không cần bàn cãi (idiomatic)
• “immediately disarming” – ngay lập tức làm giảm sự đề phòng
• “uncanny ability to pinpoint” – khả năng phi thường trong việc chỉ ra chính xác
• “gauge the atmosphere” – đánh giá không khí
• “calibrate his humor accordingly” – điều chỉnh sự hài hước cho phù hợp
• “humor is never at someone else’s expense” – hài hước không bao giờ làm tổn thương người khác
• “boils down to” – quy về, tóm lại là
• “social glue” – chất keo gắn kết xã hội (metaphor xuất sắc)

📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:

• Complex sentence với multiple clauses: “He possesses this remarkable sensitivity to gauge the atmosphere and calibrate his humor accordingly”
• Relative clauses được nhúng smoothly: “that almost musical sense of rhythm in conversation where he knows exactly when…”
• Participial phrases: “Later, he brilliantly encapsulated…”
• Gerund phrases as subjects: “watching someone try to fold a fitted sheet”
• Inversion for emphasis: “Crucially, his humor is never…”

💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:

• Không chỉ miêu tả WHAT (what he does) mà analyze WHY và HOW
• Demonstrates critical thinking: humor as emotional intelligence, social tool, cultural literacy
• Shows nuanced understanding: timing, sensitivity, empathy in humor
• Reflects on personal growth: “fundamentally altered my understanding”
• Multiple dimensions: professional context, emotional impact, social function

🎭 Specific Examples With Rich Context:

• Không phải vague “he tells jokes” mà là detailed scenario: client meeting, fitted sheet metaphor
• The eyebrow raise example shows understanding of non-verbal humor
• Examples được embedded naturally vào narrative

---

Tương tự như describe a childhood friend you are still in touch with, việc miêu tả một người quen cần có sự kết hợp giữa tính cách và những trải nghiệm cụ thể để bài nói trở nên sinh động và đáng nhớ.

Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)

Examiner có thể hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn sau Part 2 trước khi chuyển sang Part 3:

Question 1: Do you spend a lot of time with this person?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, quite often. We work in the same office, so I see him almost every day. We also sometimes have lunch together.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely. Since we work in the same department, I interact with him on a daily basis. We collaborate on projects regularly, and we’ve also formed the habit of grabbing coffee together most mornings, which has become a much-needed dose of humor to kickstart the day.

💡 Key expressions:

• interact with someone on a daily basis: tương tác hàng ngày
• formed the habit of: hình thành thói quen
• much-needed dose of humor: liều hài hước cần thiết
• kickstart the day: bắt đầu ngày mới đầy năng lượng

---

Question 2: Has this person’s humor ever helped you in difficult situations?

Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, definitely. When I feel stressed at work, his jokes help me feel better. He makes difficult situations easier to handle.

Band 8-9 Answer:
Countless times, actually. Just last quarter, when our team was under tremendous pressure to meet a tight deadline, his ability to inject humor into those high-stress moments was absolutely invaluable. He has this gift for reframing challenging situations in ways that make them seem more manageable without downplaying their importance. It’s like he gives you permission to breathe even when things are intense.

💡 Key expressions:

• under tremendous pressure: chịu áp lực rất lớn
• meet a tight deadline: hoàn thành đúng thời hạn gấp
• inject humor: thêm vào sự hài hước
• gift for reframing: tài năng trong việc nhìn nhận lại
• downplaying: giảm nhẹ tầm quan trọng
• permission to breathe: sự cho phép để thở ra (nghỉ ngơi)

---

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion

Tổng Quan Về Part 3

Part 3 là phần thảo luận sâu nhất, kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi trừu tượng và phức tạp hơn Part 2. Examiner sẽ mở rộng chủ đề về người có khiếu hài hước sang các góc độ xã hội, văn hóa, giáo dục và xu hướng tương lai.

Đây là phần phân biệt rõ ràng giữa Band 6-7 và Band 8-9. Yêu cầu chính:

• Phân tích, so sánh, đánh giá các vấn đề
• Đưa ra quan điểm cá nhân có lý lẽ chặt chẽ
• Xem xét nhiều góc độ (advantages/disadvantages, causes/effects, past/present/future)
• Sử dụng examples từ xã hội rộng lớn, không chỉ kinh nghiệm cá nhân

Chiến lược trả lời:

• Mở rộng câu trả lời (4-6 câu, khoảng 40-60 giây)
• Sử dụng discourse markers để structure: “Well, I think…”, “On the one hand…”, “However…”
• Đưa ra ví dụ cụ thể từ society/culture/current events
• Thừa nhận complexity: “It’s a complex issue…”, “It depends on…”

Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:

• Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu), thiếu elaboration
• Chỉ nói về kinh nghiệm cá nhân, không nâng lên social level
• Thiếu từ vựng trừu tượng (abstract nouns)
• Không đưa ra lý lẽ rõ ràng, chỉ nói chung chung
• Không dùng tentative language để thể hiện critical thinking

Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu

Các câu hỏi được phân loại theo 3 themes chính liên quan đến chủ đề:

Theme 1: Humor in Society & Culture

---

Question 1: Why do you think some people are naturally funnier than others?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Cause/Explanation – Giải thích nguyên nhân
• Key words: “naturally funnier” – cần giải thích factors: personality, upbringing, skills
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Direct answer về main factors
  2. Elaborate từng factor với examples
  3. Có thể đề cập nature vs nurture debate

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think some people are funnier because they have a natural talent for it. Maybe they are born with a good personality that makes them humorous. Also, their family environment can affect this. If they grow up in a happy family where people laugh a lot, they will learn to be funny too. Another reason is practice – people who try to be funny often become better at making jokes over time.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Có 3 reasons: talent, family, practice – adequate organization
• Vocabulary: Basic level: “natural talent”, “good personality”, “happy family”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Ideas relevant nhưng development còn shallow, thiếu specific examples và sophisticated language

---

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-5-9:

Well, I believe there are multiple factors at play here. Firstly, there’s definitely a genetic component – some research suggests that certain personality traits like extroversion and quick thinking may be partially inherited, and these traits certainly lend themselves to humor. However, I’d argue that nurture plays an equally crucial role. People who grow up in environments where humor is valued and modeled – perhaps in families where witty banter is common or where storytelling is encouraged – naturally develop these skills more.

Beyond that, I think emotional intelligence is absolutely fundamental. The funniest people I know have this heightened sensitivity to social dynamics and timing. They can read subtle cues about when humor is appropriate and when it would fall flat. There’s also the element of creativity and lateral thinking – being able to make unexpected connections and see things from unconventional angles.

Interestingly, some research suggests that humor might even be a learned coping mechanism. People who’ve faced challenges early in life sometimes develop humor as a way to navigate difficult situations, which then becomes an ingrained part of their personality. So it’s really a complex interplay of nature, nurture, intelligence, and life experience.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Well-organized: Genetic → Environmental → Emotional intelligence → Cognitive skills → Coping mechanism. Shows sophisticated progression
• Vocabulary:
  • Academic: “multiple factors at play”, “genetic component”, “partially inherited”, “lend themselves to”
  • Topic-specific: “witty banter”, “emotional intelligence”, “heightened sensitivity”, “read subtle cues”
  • Tentative language: “I believe”, “I’d argue”, “suggests that”, “might even be”
• Grammar:
  • Complex structures: “People who grow up in environments where humor is valued…”
  • Participle phrases: “being able to make…”, “facing challenges…”
  • Relative clauses embedded naturally
• Critical Thinking:
  • Acknowledges complexity: “complex interplay”
  • Multiple perspectives: nature AND nurture
  • Evidence-based: “some research suggests”
  • Nuanced understanding: humor as coping mechanism

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Well”, “Firstly”, “However”, “Beyond that”, “Interestingly”
• Tentative language: “I believe”, “may be”, “I’d argue”, “might even be”, “suggests that”
• Abstract nouns: “extroversion”, “emotional intelligence”, “creativity”, “coping mechanism”
• Collocations: “multiple factors at play”, “lend themselves to”, “fall flat”, “ingrained part”, “complex interplay”

---

Question 2: Do you think humor differs across cultures? How?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Yes/No + Explanation với comparison
• Key words: “differs across cultures” – cần so sánh và give examples
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Clear Yes/No answer
  2. Explain different types/aspects of humor that vary
  3. Examples từ different cultures
  4. Có thể mention universal elements

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think humor is different in different cultures. For example, some countries like British people use sarcasm a lot, but in Asian cultures, this might be considered rude. Also, some jokes about family or religion might be funny in one culture but offensive in another. Language also plays a role because wordplay and puns don’t translate well between languages.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Yes answer → example about sarcasm → example về sensitive topics → language barrier
• Vocabulary: Adequate: “sarcasm”, “offensive”, “wordplay”, “puns”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question adequately với relevant examples, nhưng analysis còn surface-level, thiếu sophistication trong explanation

---

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:

Absolutely, humor is profoundly shaped by cultural context, and what’s considered hilarious in one culture can be completely lost in translation or even deemed inappropriate in another. There are several dimensions to this cultural variation.

Firstly, there’s the stylistic aspect. British humor, for instance, is renowned for its dry wit, self-deprecation, and understatement, whereas American humor tends to be more direct and expressive. In contrast, many Asian cultures, including Vietnamese culture, often favor humor that’s more subtle and situational, where the comedy emerges from the context rather than explicit jokes.

Then there’s the question of taboo subjects. What’s deemed acceptable to joke about varies enormously. In some Western societies, there’s relatively more latitude to joke about religion or politics, whereas in more conservative cultures, these topics are strictly off-limits. Similarly, humor involving self-effacement is highly valued in some cultures but might be perceived as lacking confidence in others.

Language itself presents another barrier. Much humor hinges on wordplay, puns, and linguistic nuances that simply don’t translate. Even when jokes are translated, they often lose their punch because the cultural references or semantic associations don’t resonate in the same way.

That said, I think there are universal elements to humor as well. Physical comedy, for instance, tends to be more universally accessible because it transcends language barriers. Similarly, humor rooted in common human experiences – like the frustrations of modern technology or the quirks of family life – can strike a chord across cultures, even if the specific manifestations differ.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear organization theo dimensions: Style → Taboos → Language → Universal elements. Shows excellent discourse management
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated: “profoundly shaped by”, “deemed inappropriate”, “renowned for”, “latitude”, “strictly off-limits”
  • Precise expressions: “lost in translation”, “emerges from”, “hinges on”, “lose their punch”, “strike a chord”
  • Academic collocations: “cultural variation”, “stylistic aspect”, “semantic associations”, “transcends language barriers”
• Grammar:
  • Passive voice used naturally: “what’s considered hilarious”, “what’s deemed acceptable”
  • Complex comparisons: “whereas American humor…”, “in contrast…”
  • Relative clauses: “humor that’s more subtle”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Multiple perspectives: style, content, language
  • Balanced view: acknowledges differences BUT ALSO universal elements
  • Specific cultural examples: British, American, Asian
  • Nuanced understanding: “varies enormously”, “several dimensions”

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Absolutely”, “Firstly”, “Then”, “Similarly”, “That said”
• Tentative language: “tends to be”, “often”, “might be perceived as”
• Academic vocabulary: “dimensions”, “manifestations”, “latitude”, “nuances”, “transcends”

---

Để hiểu rõ hơn về cách kể về một trải nghiệm gần đây trong IELTS Speaking, bạn có thể tham khảo Describe a recent social media trend that you participated in để nắm được cách structure và phát triển ý tưởng một cách hiệu quả.

Theme 2: Humor in Modern Life & Media

---

Question 3: How has social media changed the way people share humor?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Change/Development – So sánh past vs present
• Key words: “social media”, “changed”, “share humor”
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Acknowledge the change
  2. Explain how it was before (briefly)
  3. Explain current situation với specific examples
  4. Possible effects/implications

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Social media has changed humor a lot. In the past, people shared jokes by telling them face-to-face or through TV shows. Now, people can share funny videos and memes on Facebook or TikTok very quickly. Humor spreads much faster now because millions of people can see it in a short time. Also, anyone can create funny content, not just professional comedians. This makes humor more diverse but sometimes the quality is not as good.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Past → Present → Speed → Accessibility → Quality issue
• Vocabulary: Basic but relevant: “memes”, “spreads”, “professional comedians”, “diverse”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses key changes nhưng analysis lacking depth, examples còn general

---

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:

Social media has fundamentally transformed the landscape of humor in several profound ways. Perhaps most significantly, it’s democratized humor creation and distribution. Whereas humor was once largely the domain of professional comedians and entertainment industry gatekeepers, now anyone with a smartphone can craft and disseminate funny content to potentially millions of people. This has led to an explosion of creativity and the emergence of entirely new forms of humor – memes, viral videos, reaction GIFs – that simply didn’t exist before.

The speed of dissemination is also radically different. A joke that might have taken weeks or months to circulate through traditional channels can now go viral within hours. This rapid-fire nature has created what I’d call a more ephemeral quality to humor – trends come and go with dizzying speed, and what’s funny today might be outdated tomorrow. There’s this constant pressure for novelty and freshness.

Another fascinating aspect is how social media has enabled highly niche and specialized humor communities. People can find others who share their specific sense of humor, no matter how obscure or unconventional. This has led to the fragmentation of humor – rather than everyone watching the same comedy show, we now have countless micro-communities, each with their own inside jokes and cultural references.

However, this democratization comes with trade-offs. The barrier to entry being so low means we’re inundated with content of wildly varying quality. There’s also the issue of humor being weaponized – social media makes it easy for humor to blur the line between satire and genuine malice, and for offensive content to masquerade as “just a joke.” The algorithms that govern what content we see also create echo chambers where certain types of humor are amplified, potentially reinforcing rather than challenging our perspectives.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Masterfully organized: Democratization → Speed → Niche communities → Drawbacks. Shows sophisticated discourse management với clear progression và balance
• Vocabulary:
  • Advanced: “fundamentally transformed”, “democratized”, “largely the domain of”, “craft and disseminate”, “ephemeral”, “dizzying speed”
  • Topic-specific: “viral videos”, “memes”, “go viral”, “niche communities”, “inside jokes”, “echo chambers”, “algorithms”
  • Academic: “explosion of creativity”, “fragmentation”, “trade-offs”, “barrier to entry”, “weaponized”
• Grammar:
  • Complex sentences với multiple clauses: “Whereas humor was once largely the domain of…, now anyone…can craft…”
  • Passive voice effectively: “humor being weaponized”, “algorithms that govern”
  • Present perfect for changes: “has transformed”, “has enabled”, “has led to”
  • Gerund phrases: “The speed of dissemination”, “barrier to entry being so low”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Multiple dimensions analyzed: creation, distribution, speed, community, quality
  • Balanced perspective: benefits (democratization, niche communities) AND drawbacks (quality issues, weaponization)
  • Sophisticated concepts: echo chambers, algorithms, ephemeral nature
  • Evidence of deep thinking: “blur the line”, “masquerade as”, “reinforcing rather than challenging”

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Perhaps most significantly”, “Whereas”, “Another fascinating aspect”, “However”
• Hedging/Tentative language: “I’d call”, “might be”, “potentially”
• Sophisticated expressions: “fundamentally transformed”, “explosion of creativity”, “dizzying speed”, “wildly varying quality”
• Collocations: “domain of”, “circulate through”, “go viral”, “barrier to entry”, “inundated with”, “echo chambers”

---

Question 4: Do you think children should be encouraged to develop a sense of humor? Why?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion với justification
• Key words: “children”, “encouraged”, “develop”, “sense of humor”
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Clear opinion (Yes/No)
  2. Multiple reasons với elaboration
  3. Examples hoặc evidence
  4. Possible counter-argument hoặc limitation

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

Yes, I think children should learn to have a good sense of humor. First, it helps them make friends more easily because children like to be around funny people. Second, humor can help them deal with stress and problems at school. When they can laugh at difficulties, they become more confident. Also, having humor makes life more enjoyable. However, we should teach them that humor should not hurt other people’s feelings.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Clear Yes → 3 reasons (social, stress management, enjoyment) → caveat
• Vocabulary: Adequate: “deal with stress”, “confident”, “hurt people’s feelings”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Good basic structure với relevant points nhưng lacks sophisticated vocabulary và depth of analysis

---

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:

Absolutely, I’d strongly advocate for fostering humor in children, as it confers numerous benefits that extend well beyond just entertainment. However, it’s crucial that this is done thoughtfully and with appropriate guidance.

From a developmental perspective, humor plays a vital role in cognitive growth. It requires children to grasp multiple meanings, understand incongruities, and think abstractly – all of which are fundamental cognitive skills. Research has shown that children who develop humor early tend to be better at problem-solving and creative thinking because they’re practiced at looking at situations from multiple angles. Moreover, humor is intimately connected with language development. Appreciating wordplay, puns, and linguistic jokes demands a sophisticated understanding of language, which naturally reinforces learning.

On a social-emotional level, humor is invaluable for building resilience. Children who can find humor in challenging situations develop better coping mechanisms and tend to be more psychologically robust. It’s essentially a form of emotional regulation – being able to diffuse tension and maintain perspective when things go wrong. This skill becomes increasingly important as they navigate the complexities of social relationships and inevitable setbacks.

Furthermore, humor serves as a social lubricant. Children with a good sense of humor typically find it easier to forge friendships and integrate into peer groups. It helps them break down social barriers and creates shared moments of joy that strengthen bonds. In today’s world, where children face increasing pressure from academics and social media, the ability to find lightness and joy is more important than ever for their mental well-being.

That said, it’s paramount that adults model and teach appropriate humor. Children need to understand the distinction between humor that uplifts versus humor that diminishes others. Guidance is needed to ensure humor doesn’t cross the line into bullying or reinforcing stereotypes. When done right, though, cultivating a sense of humor in children is one of the greatest gifts we can give them for navigating life’s ups and downs.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Exceptionally well-organized: Clear stance → Cognitive benefits → Social-emotional benefits → Social skills → Mental health → Important caveat về appropriate humor. Shows masterful discourse management
• Vocabulary:
  • Advanced academic: “strongly advocate for”, “confers numerous benefits”, “developmental perspective”, “intimately connected with”, “invaluable”, “paramount”
  • Topic-specific: “cognitive growth”, “emotional regulation”, “resilience”, “coping mechanisms”, “social lubricant”, “forge friendships”
  • Sophisticated expressions: “grasp multiple meanings”, “navigate complexities”, “inevitable setbacks”, “strengthen bonds”, “cultivating”
• Grammar:
  • Full range of complex structures
  • Perfect use of relative clauses: “children who develop humor”, “Research has shown that…”
  • Gerund phrases: “Appreciating wordplay”, “being able to diffuse tension”, “cultivating a sense of humor”
  • Passive voice when appropriate: “it’s crucial that”, “Guidance is needed”
  • Conditional implications: “when done right”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Multi-dimensional analysis: cognitive, emotional, social, mental health perspectives
  • Evidence-based: “Research has shown that…”
  • Sophisticated understanding: humor as cognitive skill, emotional regulation, social tool
  • Balanced view: strong advocacy BUT with important caveat về appropriate guidance
  • Nuanced language: “distinction between humor that uplifts versus humor that diminishes”
  • Long-term perspective: “navigating life’s ups and downs”

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “Absolutely”, “From a perspective”, “Moreover”, “On a level”, “Furthermore”, “That said”
• Hedging/Academic tone: “I’d strongly advocate”, “tends to be”, “typically”, “essentially”
• Abstract nouns: “resilience”, “incongruities”, “setbacks”, “mental well-being”, “stereotypes”
• Sophisticated collocations: “confers benefits”, “intimately connected”, “forge friendships”, “cross the line into”, “cultivating a sense”

---

Thí sinh tự tin thảo luận Part 3 về vai trò của hài hước trong xã hội

Theme 3: Humor in Professional Settings

---

Question 5: Is it appropriate to use humor in professional or workplace settings?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Opinion + Evaluation với conditions
• Key words: “appropriate”, “professional”, “workplace”
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Nuanced answer (depends/yes but with conditions)
  2. Benefits của workplace humor
  3. Potential risks/inappropriate situations
  4. Guidelines hoặc conclusion về balance

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think humor can be used in the workplace, but we need to be careful. Some humor can help people relax and work better together. It can make the office environment more pleasant. However, we should avoid jokes about sensitive topics like religion or politics. Also, humor should not be used during very serious meetings or when discussing important business matters. Managers especially need to be careful because their jokes might make employees uncomfortable.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Conditional yes → Benefits → Limitations → Special consideration cho managers
• Vocabulary: Basic workplace vocabulary: “office environment”, “sensitive topics”, “serious meetings”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question adequately với both sides, nhưng analysis còn surface-level, thiếu specific examples và sophisticated language

---

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:

This is quite a nuanced question, and I’d say the answer is “yes, but with important caveats.” Appropriate use of humor in professional settings can be tremendously beneficial, but it requires considerable emotional intelligence and awareness of context.

On the positive side, humor serves multiple functions in the workplace. It acts as a powerful tool for building rapport and fostering team cohesion. When colleagues share a laugh, it creates psychological safety and can break down hierarchical barriers that might otherwise impede collaboration. Research actually suggests that workplaces where appropriate humor is encouraged tend to have higher levels of employee engagement and morale. Humor can also be invaluable for defusing tension during high-pressure situations – I’ve seen meetings where well-timed levity prevented what could have been contentious discussions from escalating.

Moreover, humor can enhance creativity and innovation. When people feel comfortable enough to be playful with ideas, they’re more likely to think outside the box and propose unconventional solutions. Some of the most successful companies, particularly in the tech sector, have actually cultivated work cultures where humor and creativity are intrinsically linked.

However, – and this is crucial – there are significant boundaries that must be rigorously maintained. Humor should never be at someone’s expense, particularly when it involves protected characteristics like gender, race, age, or religion. What might seem like harmless banter to some can be perceived as harassment or create a hostile environment for others. The power dynamics in workplaces add another layer of complexity – a joke from a manager carries different weight than one from a peer, and leaders need to be acutely aware of this imbalance.

Context is paramount. While humor might be appropriate during a casual team lunch or brainstorming session, it would be grossly inappropriate in situations like disciplinary meetings, delivering bad news, or discussing sensitive performance issues. The key is reading the room and understanding when humor will facilitate communication versus when it will undermine the seriousness of the situation.

Ultimately, I believe the most successful approach is one where organizations establish clear guidelines about appropriate humor while also fostering an environment where people feel comfortable being themselves. It’s about striking that delicate balance between professionalism and human connection. When done right, humor can be one of the most effective tools for creating a positive organizational culture.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Outstanding organization: Nuanced position → Benefits (rapport, tension relief, creativity) → Important limitations (boundaries, power dynamics) → Context matters → Conclusion về balance. Shows exceptional discourse management
• Vocabulary:
  • Advanced academic: “nuanced question”, “with important caveats”, “considerably emotional intelligence”, “awareness of context”, “rigorously maintained”
  • Professional/business terms: “building rapport”, “fostering team cohesion”, “psychological safety”, “hierarchical barriers”, “employee engagement”, “morale”, “contentious discussions”
  • Sophisticated expressions: “serves multiple functions”, “impede collaboration”, “think outside the box”, “intrinsically linked”, “power dynamics”, “acutely aware of”
• Grammar:
  • Full range of complex structures perfectly executed
  • Sophisticated use of relative clauses: “workplaces where appropriate humor is encouraged”, “meetings where well-timed levity prevented…”
  • Conditional structures: “When people feel comfortable…, they’re more likely to…”
  • Passive voice appropriately: “should never be at”, “can be perceived as”, “must be rigorously maintained”
  • Present perfect for ongoing relevance: “I’ve seen meetings where…”
  • Gerund phrases: “building rapport”, “fostering an environment”, “reading the room”, “being themselves”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Exceptional depth of analysis with multiple perspectives
  • Evidence-based approach: “Research actually suggests…”
  • Nuanced understanding of complexity: power dynamics, context dependency
  • Balanced argument: extensive benefits AND significant limitations
  • Sophisticated concepts: psychological safety, hierarchical barriers, protected characteristics, organizational culture
  • Real-world awareness: tech sector examples, disciplinary meetings
  • Meta-awareness: acknowledges complexity explicitly (“This is quite a nuanced question”)
  • Solution-oriented: suggests approach (clear guidelines + fostering environment)

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “On the positive side”, “Moreover”, “However – and this is crucial”, “Ultimately”
• Hedging/Academic language: “I’d say”, “tends to”, “suggests that”, “might seem”, “I believe”
• Abstract nouns: “rapport”, “cohesion”, “psychological safety”, “morale”, “innovation”, “imbalance”, “professionalism”
• Sophisticated collocations: “with important caveats”, “serves multiple functions”, “break down barriers”, “impede collaboration”, “defusing tension”, “cultivated work cultures”, “rigorously maintained”, “reading the room”, “striking that delicate balance”

---

Question 6: How might the role of humor in society change in the future?

🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:

• Dạng: Prediction/Future speculation
• Key words: “role”, “change”, “future”
• Cách tiếp cận:
  1. Acknowledge uncertainty về future
  2. Current trends that might influence
  3. Possible scenarios hoặc predictions
  4. Tentative language essential

📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:

I think humor will continue to be important in the future. With technology developing, people will probably share humor through new platforms and methods. Maybe virtual reality will create new types of comedy. However, I think some traditional forms like stand-up comedy will remain popular. As society becomes more diverse, humor might need to be more careful about not offending different groups.

Phân tích:

• Structure: General prediction → Technology impact → Traditional forms persist → Diversity consideration
• Vocabulary: Basic future predictions: “will continue”, “probably”, “maybe”, “might need to be”
• Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses future aspect với some relevant points, nhưng predictions lack sophistication và depth

---

📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8.5-9:

Predicting the future is always fraught with uncertainty, but based on current trends, I think we can identify several potential trajectories for how humor might evolve.

One likely development is the increasing intersection of humor with technology. We’re already seeing AI-generated comedy and interactive humor experiences through platforms like virtual and augmented reality. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more personalized humor – algorithms that learn your sense of humor and curate content specifically tailored to your preferences. This could create incredibly satisfying comedic experiences, but it might also exacerbate the fragmentation we’ve already discussed, where everyone exists in their own humor bubble.

Another significant trend I anticipate is humor becoming even more crucial as a coping mechanism in an increasingly complex and often anxiety-inducing world. As we grapple with issues like climate change, economic uncertainty, and social divisions, humor may become even more important as a way to process collective stress and maintain psychological equilibrium. We might see a surge in what I’d call “healing humor” – comedy that doesn’t just entertain but actively helps people navigate difficult emotions.

However, I think we’re also likely to see continued tension around the boundaries of humor. As societies become more aware of systemic inequalities and marginalized voices, there will probably be ongoing debates about what constitutes acceptable humor. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it reflects a more inclusive and conscientious society. The comedians and content creators who thrive will likely be those who can navigate this complexity while still being genuinely funny – who can push boundaries without punching down.

From a more philosophical angle, I wonder if humor might evolve to play a more explicitly constructive role in society. Rather than just being about entertainment or social commentary, humor could become a more deliberate tool for building empathy, bridging divides, and fostering understanding across different groups. We’re already seeing glimpses of this in comedy that tackles serious issues while remaining accessible and engaging.

That said, I think certain fundamental aspects of humor will remain constant because they’re rooted in basic human psychology – we’ll always find incongruity funny, we’ll always appreciate cleverness, and we’ll always need moments of levity to balance life’s challenges. The forms and platforms may change dramatically, but the essential human need for humor will endure.

Phân tích:

• Structure: Masterful organization: Acknowledgement của uncertainty → Technology trend → Coping mechanism → Social boundaries → Philosophical role → Constants that remain. Shows exceptional ability to structure complex future speculation
• Vocabulary:
  • Sophisticated future speculation: “fraught with uncertainty”, “identify several potential trajectories”, “likely development”, “anticipate”, “wouldn’t be surprised if”
  • Advanced terms: “intersection”, “curate content”, “exacerbate fragmentation”, “humor bubble”, “grapple with”, “psychological equilibrium”, “systemic inequalities”, “marginalized voices”
  • Philosophical language: “from a more philosophical angle”, “explicitly constructive role”, “rooted in basic human psychology”, “essential human need”
• Grammar:
  • Full range of future forms: “will continue”, “might evolve”, “could create”, “may become”, “will probably be”
  • Conditional structures: “if we see…”, “who can navigate…”
  • Present continuous for trends: “We’re already seeing…”
  • Perfect infinitives: “to have seen”, “to play”
  • Complex relative clauses: “The comedians and content creators who thrive will likely be those who can…”
• Critical Thinking:
  • Exceptional depth với multiple possible futures
  • Grounded in current trends: AI, personalization, social awareness
  • Multiple dimensions: technology, psychology, social, philosophical
  • Balanced perspective: opportunities AND challenges
  • Sophisticated concepts: fragmentation vs connection, healing humor, inclusive consciousness, empathy building
  • Meta-awareness: “Predicting the future is fraught with uncertainty”
  • Nuanced understanding: constants vs changes
  • Evidence of broad knowledge: systemic inequalities, marginalized voices, climate anxiety

💡 Key Language Features:

• Discourse markers: “One likely development”, “Another significant trend”, “However”, “From a more philosophical angle”, “That said”
• Speculative/Tentative language: “I think”, “might evolve”, “could create”, “may become”, “likely to see”, “I wonder if”, “probably be”
• Abstract nouns: “trajectories”, “fragmentation”, “equilibrium”, “inequalities”, “empathy”, “levity”, “incongruity”
• Sophisticated collocations: “fraught with uncertainty”, “intersection of humor with technology”, “exacerbate fragmentation”, “grapple with issues”, “surge in”, “navigate complexity”, “push boundaries”, “punching down”, “bridge divides”, “rooted in”

---

Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng

Topic-Specific Vocabulary

Từ vựng/Cụm từ	Loại từ	Phiên âm	Nghĩa tiếng Việt	Ví dụ	Collocation
sense of humor	n	/sens əv ˈhjuːmər/	khiếu hài hước	She has an excellent sense of humor that brightens everyone’s day.	good/great/well-developed/dry sense of humor
witty	adj	/ˈwɪti/	dí dỏm, nhanh trí	His witty remarks always catch people off guard.	witty comment/remark/response/observation
hilarious	adj	/hɪˈleəriəs/	rất buồn cười, hài hước	The story he told was absolutely hilarious.	absolutely/utterly/genuinely hilarious
crack a joke	v	/kræk ə dʒəʊk/	kể một câu chuyện cười	He loves to crack jokes during meetings to lighten the mood.	crack a joke about something
self-deprecating humor	n	/self ˈdeprəkeɪtɪŋ ˈhjuːmər/	hài hước tự châm biếm	His self-deprecating humor makes him very approachable.	use/employ/have self-deprecating humor
quick-witted	adj	/kwɪk ˈwɪtɪd/	nhanh trí, phản ứng nhanh	She’s so quick-witted that she always has the perfect comeback.	quick-witted person/response/remark
deadpan	adj/v	/ˈdedpæn/	nói một cách nghiêm túc mà không lộ cảm xúc (để tạo hiệu ứng hài)	He deadpanned the entire story with a straight face.	deadpan delivery/expression/humor
impeccable timing	n	/ɪmˈpekəbl ˈtaɪmɪŋ/	khả năng nắm bắt thời điểm hoàn hảo	His impeccable timing makes even simple jokes hilarious.	have/demonstrate impeccable timing
observational humor	n	/ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃənl ˈhjuːmər/	hài hước quan sát đời thường	Comedians who use observational humor point out the absurdity of everyday life.	practice/use observational humor
break the ice	v	/breɪk ðə aɪs/	phá vỡ sự ngượng ngùng	A good joke can break the ice in awkward situations.	break the ice with humor/joke
lift someone’s spirits	v	/lɪft ˈspɪrɪts/	làm ai đó vui lên	Her cheerful humor always lifts everyone’s spirits.	lift spirits/mood
comic relief	n	/ˈkɒmɪk rɪˈliːf/	sự giải tỏa căng thẳng bằng hài hước	He provides comic relief during stressful times.	provide/offer comic relief
punchline	n	/ˈpʌntʃlaɪn/	câu kết, điểm nhấn của câu chuyện cười	The punchline of his joke was completely unexpected.	deliver/land the punchline
in stitches	idiom	/ɪn ˈstɪtʃɪz/	cười nghiêng ngả	His performance had the audience in stitches.	have someone in stitches
tongue-in-cheek	adj	/tʌŋ ɪn tʃiːk/	nửa đùa nửa thật, có ý châm biếm	His tongue-in-cheek comment was meant to be ironic.	tongue-in-cheek humor/remark/comment
dry wit	n	/draɪ wɪt/	sự hài hước khô khan (kiểu Anh)	British humor is famous for its dry wit.	appreciate/understand dry wit
comic timing	n	/ˈkɒmɪk ˈtaɪmɪŋ/	khả năng nắm bắt thời điểm hài hước	Good comic timing is essential for stand-up comedy.	perfect/excellent comic timing
light-hearted	adj	/laɪt ˈhɑːtɪd/	vui vẻ, không nghiêm túc	His light-hearted approach makes difficult topics easier to discuss.	light-hearted manner/approach/tone
amusing	adj	/əˈmjuːzɪŋ/	buồn cười, thú vị	I found his anecdote quite amusing.	mildly/highly/genuinely amusing
laughter	n	/ˈlɑːftər/	tiếng cười	The room filled with laughter when he finished his story.	burst into/erupt in laughter

Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases

Cụm từ	Nghĩa	Ví dụ sử dụng	Band điểm
get a kick out of something	thích thú với điều gì đó	I really get a kick out of watching his impromptu performances.	7.5-9
tickle someone’s funny bone	làm ai đó thấy buồn cười	That comedian really knows how to tickle people’s funny bones.	7.5-9
read the room	hiểu được không khí, tâm trạng của mọi người	He’s excellent at reading the room and knowing when humor is appropriate.	8-9
strike a chord	gây được tiếng vang, chạm đến cảm xúc	His jokes about family life really strike a chord with audiences.	7.5-9
take something with a pinch of salt	không tin hoàn toàn, phải cân nhắc	You should take his exaggerated stories with a pinch of salt.	7-9
laugh something off	cười trừ, giải quyết bằng cách cười	She has the ability to laugh off embarrassing situations.	7-8
crack someone up	làm ai đó cười sặc sụa	His impressions always crack me up.	7-8
have the last laugh	cười sau cùng, thắng cuối cùng	Despite the criticism, he had the last laugh when his show became a hit.	7-9
no laughing matter	vấn đề nghiêm túc, không phải chuyện đùa	Mental health is no laughing matter, despite what some jokes suggest.	7.5-9
comedy gold	điều cực kỳ buồn cười	His stories about his travels are absolute comedy gold.	7-8
punch down	công kích người yếu thế hơn	Good comedians never punch down at marginalized groups.	8-9
land a joke	kể chuyện cười thành công	Not everyone can land a joke in front of a large audience.	7.5-8

Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)

Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:

• 📝 Well,… – Khi cần thời gian suy nghĩ ngắn (Well, I think humor plays a crucial role…)
• 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc điều bất ngờ (Actually, not everyone appreciates the same type of humor…)
• 📝 To be honest,… – Khi nói thật về quan điểm cá nhân (To be honest, I find sarcastic humor quite difficult to understand…)
• 📝 I’d say that… – Khi đưa ra ý kiến (I’d say that humor is essential in building relationships…)
• 📝 From my perspective,… – Góc nhìn cá nhân (From my perspective, self-deprecating humor shows confidence…)

Để bổ sung ý:

• 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó (On top of that, humor helps reduce workplace stress…)
• 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa (What’s more, people with good humor tend to be more resilient…)
• 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến (Not to mention the health benefits of laughter…)
• 📝 Beyond that,… – Ngoài ra (Beyond that, humor facilitates better communication…)
• 📝 Additionally,… – Thêm vào đó (Additionally, humor can break down cultural barriers…)

Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:

• 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác…
• 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… nhưng ta cũng cần xem xét…
• 📝 That said,… – Tuy nhiên, nói vậy thì… (I love humor. That said, timing is everything…)
• 📝 Having said that,… – Sau khi nói điều đó (Humor is important. Having said that, it must be appropriate…)
• 📝 Conversely,… – Ngược lại (Some find sarcasm funny. Conversely, others find it offensive…)

Để đưa ra ví dụ:

• 📝 For instance,… – Ví dụ (For instance, my uncle always uses self-deprecating humor…)
• 📝 Take… for example,… – Lấy… làm ví dụ (Take British comedy for example…)
• 📝 A case in point is… – Một ví dụ điển hình là…
• 📝 To illustrate this,… – Để minh họa điều này…

Để kết luận:

• 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại (All in all, humor is essential for social bonding…)
• 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì (At the end of the day, humor makes life more enjoyable…)
• 📝 Ultimately,… – Cuối cùng (Ultimately, the best humor comes from genuine warmth…)
• 📝 In the final analysis,… – Xét cho cùng (In the final analysis, humor reflects emotional intelligence…)

Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng

1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):

Mixed conditional:

• Formula: If + past perfect, would + base verb (hoặc ngược lại)
• Ví dụ: “If I hadn’t met someone with such great humor, I would be much more serious now.”
• “If humor weren’t so important, people wouldn’t spend so much time sharing jokes online.”

Inversion for emphasis:

• Formula: Had + subject + past participle, would + base verb
• Ví dụ: “Had he not used humor to defuse the situation, the meeting would have ended badly.”
• “Were it not for his sense of humor, our team dynamics would be completely different.”

2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):

Non-defining relative clauses:

• Formula: …, which/who + verb, …
• Ví dụ: “My friend David, who has an impeccable sense of humor, always knows how to lighten the mood.”
• “His self-deprecating humor, which never feels forced, makes everyone comfortable.”

Reduced relative clauses:

• Ví dụ: “People possessing a good sense of humor tend to be more resilient.” (= who possess)
• “Humor rooted in kindness is the most effective.” (= which is rooted)

3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):

Impersonal passive (rất academic):

• It is thought/believed/said that…
  • Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that humor enhances workplace productivity.”
• It is considered/regarded as…
  • Ví dụ: “It is considered inappropriate to use humor during serious disciplinary meetings.”
• Something is said to be…
  • Ví dụ: “Self-deprecating humor is said to be a sign of confidence.”

4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ – để nhấn mạnh):

What… is/was…

• Ví dụ: “What I find most impressive about his humor is his perfect timing.”
• “What really distinguishes his comedy is the emotional intelligence behind it.”

The thing that… is…

• Ví dụ: “The thing that makes him funny is his ability to observe everyday absurdities.”
• “The thing that sets her apart is her quick wit.”

It is/was… that…

• Ví dụ: “It was his sense of humor that helped us through difficult times.”
• “It is the spontaneity of his jokes that makes them so effective.”

5. Participle Phrases (Cụm phân từ):

Present participle (-ing):

• Ví dụ: “Having a good sense of humor, he easily makes friends wherever he goes.”
• “Using self-deprecating humor, she puts everyone at ease.”

Past participle (-ed):

• Ví dụ: “Equipped with impeccable timing, he delivers punchlines perfectly.”
• “Raised in a family that valued humor, she developed it naturally.”

6. Inversion After Negative Adverbials:

• Rarely/Seldom/Never + auxiliary + subject + verb

  • Ví dụ: “Rarely have I met someone with such natural comedic talent.”
  • “Never before has humor been so accessible through social media.”

• Not only… but also…

  • Ví dụ: “Not only does humor entertain, but it also builds social bonds.”

7. Subjunctive Mood (Thức giả định):

• It’s crucial/essential/important that + subject + base verb
  • Ví dụ: “It’s essential that humor be used appropriately in professional settings.”
  • “It’s crucial that comedians understand their audience’s sensitivities.”

8. Emphatic Structures:

• It is/was + noun/adjective + that-clause
  • Ví dụ: “It is the authenticity of his humor that makes it so appealing.”
  • “It was precisely his ability to read the room that made him successful.”

---

Các cấu trúc này, khi được sử dụng tự nhiên và chính xác, sẽ thể hiện rõ khả năng ngôn ngữ cao cấp của bạn và giúp đạt band điểm 7.5-9 trong phần Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Điều quan trọng là không nên cố gắng nhồi nhét tất cả vào một câu trả lời – hãy chọn những cấu trúc phù hợp với ý bạn muốn diễn đạt và sử dụng chúng một cách tự nhiên.

---

Lời Khuyên Cuối Cùng Từ Góc Nhìn Examiner

Là một IELTS Speaking Examiner với hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm, tôi muốn chia sẻ những lời khuyên quan trọng nhất để giúp bạn đạt điểm cao khi nói về chủ đề “Describe a person who has a good sense of humor”:

1. Authenticity Is Key (Tính chân thực là chìa khóa)

Đừng cố gắng học thuộc mẫu câu trả lời. Examiners được training để nhận biết memorized answers và điều này sẽ làm giảm điểm của bạn đáng kể. Thay vào đó, hãy thực sự suy nghĩ về một người bạn biết và nói về họ một cách tự nhiên. Sự do dự nhẹ hoặc tự sửa lỗi (self-correction) thậm chí còn tốt hơn việc nói trơn tru như đọc kịch bản.

2. Specific Examples Trump Generic Statements (Ví dụ cụ thể quan trọng hơn phát biểu chung chung)

Thay vì nói “He’s very funny and makes everyone laugh,” hãy kể một câu chuyện cụ thể: “Last month, during a tense family dinner when everyone was arguing about money, he suddenly said with a completely straight face that we should all become street performers. The absurdity of it just broke all the tension.” Ví dụ cụ thể như thế này ghi điểm cao hơn rất nhiều.

Tương tự với cách bạn có thể describe your first day at a new job or school, việc cung cấp chi tiết cụ thể và cảm xúc chân thật sẽ làm cho câu chuyện của bạn trở nên sống động và đáng tin cậy hơn.

3. Expand Your Vocabulary Naturally (Mở rộng từ vựng một cách tự nhiên)

Thay vì cố gắng nhồi nhét từ khó, hãy tập paraphrase. Nếu bạn đã dùng “funny” một lần, lần sau hãy thử “hilarious”, “amusing”, “witty”, hoặc “has great comic timing”. Điều này thể hiện lexical resource tốt hơn việc dùng một từ phức tạp mà không phù hợp ngữ cảnh.

4. Part 3 Requires Abstract Thinking (Part 3 đòi hỏi tư duy trừu tượng)

Đây là điểm phân biệt lớn giữa Band 6-7 và Band 8-9. Trong Part 3, đừng chỉ nói về kinh nghiệm cá nhân. Hãy phân tích vấn đề ở mức độ xã hội: “In contemporary society, humor serves not just as entertainment but as a crucial mechanism for social cohesion…” Sử dụng phrases như “from a sociological perspective”, “research suggests”, “in the context of…”

5. Show Critical Thinking (Thể hiện tư duy phản biện)

Đừng đưa ra câu trả lời một chiều. Hãy thể hiện bạn nhìn nhận vấn đề từ nhiều góc độ:

• “While humor can be beneficial…, it’s important to recognize that…”
• “On one hand… However, we must also consider…”
• “It’s a complex issue because…”

Điều này đặc biệt quan trọng trong Part 3.

6. Timing and Pacing (Thời gian và nhịp điệu)

Part 1: 2-3 câu mỗi câu trả lời (khoảng 15-20 giây)
Part 2: 2-3 phút đầy đủ – đừng dừng ở 1.5 phút
Part 3: 4-6 câu mỗi câu trả lời (khoảng 40-60 giây)

Nhiều thí sinh Việt Nam trả lời quá ngắn, đặc biệt ở Part 1 và Part 3. Hãy luôn elaborate và đưa ra examples.

7. Don’t Panic About Vocabulary Gaps (Đừng hoảng sợ khi thiếu từ vựng)

Nếu bạn không biết một từ, hãy paraphrase hoặc giải thích: “You know, that type of humor where people make fun of themselves… I think it’s called self-deprecating humor.” Điều này thể hiện communication strategies tốt và vẫn được đánh giá cao.

8. Pronunciation Over Perfection (Phát âm hơn là hoàn hảo)

Bạn không cần phát âm như native speaker. Điều quan trọng là:

• Clear enunciation (phát âm rõ ràng)
• Word stress đúng
• Sentence stress và intonation tự nhiên
• Intelligible (dễ hiểu)

Một accent nhẹ hoàn toàn được chấp nhận, miễn là không ảnh hưởng đến sự hiểu biết.

9. Manage Nerves (Quản lý lo lắng)

Nếu bạn nervous:

• Lấy một hơi thở sâu trước khi trả lời
• Nhớ rằng Examiner không phải kẻ thù – họ muốn bạn thành công
• Nếu không hiểu câu hỏi, đừng ngại hỏi lại: “Could you please repeat that?” hoặc “Sorry, I’m not sure I understand the question”

10. Practice But Don’t Memorize (Luyện tập nhưng đừng học thuộc)

Hãy luyện tập với nhiều variations của cùng một chủ đề. Thay vì học thuộc một bài về uncle Minh, hãy luyện nói về 3-4 người khác nhau có khiếu hài hước. Điều này giúp bạn flexible và natural hơn.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid (Lỗi thường gặp cần tránh):

❌ Nói quá nhanh vì nervous → Speak at a comfortable, natural pace
❌ Trả lời Yes/No không mở rộng → Always elaborate with reasons and examples
❌ Lặp lại từ “funny” quá nhiều → Use varied vocabulary
❌ Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể → Include specific anecdotes
❌ Nói quá chung chung ở Part 3 → Analyze at a societal level
❌ Dừng giữa câu vì quên từ → Paraphrase hoặc giải thích
❌ Không trả lời đúng câu hỏi → Listen carefully và address all parts
❌ Dùng template cứng nhắc → Speak naturally and flexibly

---

Final Thoughts (Suy nghĩ cuối cùng):

Chủ đề về người có khiếu hài hước là một trong những đề bài “thân thiện” nhất trong IELTS Speaking vì ai cũng có thể nghĩ ra một người như vậy trong cuộc sống. Hãy tận dụng điều này! Đừng stress quá mức về việc đạt band 9 – hãy tập trung vào việc communicate effectively và naturally.

Nhớ rằng, IELTS Speaking không chỉ đánh giá khả năng ngôn ngữ mà còn đánh giá khả năng giao tiếp thực tế của bạn. Một người đạt Band 7.5 với communication skills tốt thường ấn tượng hơn người đạt Band 8.5 nhưng nghe như đang đọc essay.

Khi bạn Describe a time when you disagreed with a friend, việc thể hiện sự chân thành và khả năng phân tích sâu sắc về mối quan hệ sẽ giúp bạn ghi điểm cao hơn nhiều so với việc sử dụng từ vựng phức tạp một cách gượng ép.

Chúc bạn thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking! Remember: Be confident, be natural, and let your personality shine through. Good luck!