Mở bài
Chủ đề “Describe A Time When You Experienced An Act Of Kindness” là một trong những đề bài phổ biến và được yêu thích nhất trong IELTS Speaking Part 2. Đây là dạng câu hỏi thuộc nhóm “Describe an experience/event” – yêu cầu thí sinh kể lại một kỷ niệm cụ thể liên quan đến lòng tốt và sự tử tế từ người khác.
Tần suất xuất hiện: Chủ đề này xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong các kỳ thi IELTS từ năm 2020 đến nay, đặc biệt trong giai đoạn 2023-2024. Theo thống kê từ ielts-blog.com và IELTS Speaking actual tests, câu hỏi về “kindness” và các biến thể của nó (helping others, receiving help, generosity) xuất hiện khoảng 3-4 lần/năm tại các test centers trên toàn thế giới. Dự đoán khả năng xuất hiện trong tương lai: Cao – vì đây là chủ đề nhân văn, tích cực và phù hợp với xu hướng đề thi IELTS hiện nay.
Chủ đề này quan trọng vì nó không chỉ đánh giá khả năng sử dụng ngôn ngữ mà còn cho thấy khả năng kể chuyện, diễn đạt cảm xúc và chia sẻ giá trị đạo đức của thí sinh. Đây cũng là topic dễ gây thiện cảm với examiner vì tính chất positive và heartwarming của nó.
Những gì bạn sẽ học được trong bài viết này:
- Câu hỏi thực tế xuất hiện trong cả 3 Part của IELTS Speaking
- Bài mẫu chi tiết theo 3 mức band điểm (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) với phân tích sâu
- Kho từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm chuyên biệt cho chủ đề kindness
- Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn của Examiner
- Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
- Techniques để mở rộng câu trả lời một cách tự nhiên
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview
Tổng Quan Về Part 1
Part 1 của IELTS Speaking kéo dài 4-5 phút với các câu hỏi ngắn về đời sống hàng ngày. Examiner muốn thấy bạn có thể trả lời tự nhiên, mạch lạc và mở rộng ý một cách hợp lý. Mỗi câu trả lời nên có 2-3 câu: câu đầu trả lời trực tiếp, câu sau giải thích hoặc đưa ra ví dụ.
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn gọn kiểu “Yes, I do” hoặc “No, I don’t” mà không mở rộng
- Sử dụng từ vựng đơn giản, lặp đi lặp lại (good, nice, happy)
- Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ kinh nghiệm bản thân
- Nói quá nhanh hoặc quá chậm, thiếu tự nhiên
- Không dùng discourse markers để câu trả lời nghe smooth hơn
Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp
Question 1: Are people in your country generally kind to strangers?
Question 2: Do you think kindness is an important quality?
Question 3: Have you ever helped a stranger before?
Question 4: When was the last time someone did something nice for you?
Question 5: Do you prefer to help others or receive help from others?
Question 6: Is it common for people in your community to help each other?
Question 7: Do you think young people today are as kind as older generations?
Question 8: What kind of help do you usually offer to your friends?
Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết
Question: Are people in your country generally kind to strangers?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Trả lời Yes/No rõ ràng
- Đưa ra lý do hoặc ví dụ minh họa
- Có thể nêu sự khác biệt giữa các khu vực hoặc hoàn cảnh
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think Vietnamese people are quite kind to strangers. They often help tourists with directions or recommend good places to eat. For example, when I see foreign visitors looking confused in my city, local people usually stop to help them.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi, có ví dụ cụ thể về tourists
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng đơn giản (quite kind, good places), cấu trúc câu cơ bản
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Câu trả lời adequate và relevant nhưng thiếu sophistication trong vocabulary và grammar. Ý tưởng đơn giản, chưa có depth.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“I’d say Vietnamese people are remarkably hospitable to strangers, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. There’s a deeply ingrained cultural value of helping others, which I think stems from our communal living traditions. For instance, it’s not uncommon to see locals going out of their way to assist foreign tourists with directions, or even inviting them for a meal. That said, in bigger cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, people might seem a bit more reserved initially, but they’re still fundamentally kind-hearted once you break the ice.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary tinh vi: remarkably hospitable, deeply ingrained, communal living traditions, going out of their way, fundamentally kind-hearted
- Grammar phức tạp: relative clause (which I think stems from), conditional form (it’s not uncommon to see)
- Ý tưởng balanced: thừa nhận sự khác biệt giữa rural và urban areas
- Natural discourse marker: I’d say, That said
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Fluent và flexible trong cách diễn đạt, vocabulary precise và topic-specific, grammar đa dạng với complex structures, ideas nuanced với sự so sánh tinh tế.
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- remarkably hospitable: cực kỳ hiếu khách, thân thiện
- deeply ingrained cultural value: giá trị văn hóa ăn sâu vào tiềm thức
- communal living traditions: truyền thống sống cộng đồng
- go out of one’s way: cố gắng hết sức, không ngại khó khăn để giúp đỡ
- fundamentally kind-hearted: có trái tim nhân hậu về bản chất
Question: When was the last time someone did something nice for you?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Xác định thời điểm cụ thể (recently, last week, a few days ago)
- Kể ngắn gọn việc gì đã xảy ra
- Nói về cảm giác của bạn
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Last week, my colleague helped me with a difficult project at work. I was very stressed because of the deadline, and she stayed late to help me finish it. I felt really grateful for her help.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Có time frame rõ ràng, ví dụ cụ thể
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng basic (difficult, very stressed, really grateful), thiếu detail về cảm xúc
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicative và clear nhưng lack của sophistication và depth trong cách miêu tả.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Just a few days ago, actually. I was running behind schedule for an important presentation at work, and my colleague noticed I was visibly stressed. Without me even asking, she took the initiative to help me organize my materials and even proofread my slides. What really touched me was that she stayed back well past her working hours, even though she had her own tasks to complete. Her selfless gesture really lifted a weight off my shoulders and reminded me how lucky I am to work with such considerate people.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary range: running behind schedule, visibly stressed, took the initiative, proofread, selfless gesture, lifted a weight off my shoulders
- Specific details: stayed past working hours, had her own tasks
- Emotional depth: what really touched me, reminded me how lucky
- Natural flow với discourse marker: Just a few days ago, actually, even though
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Câu trả lời fluent với nhiều idiomatic expressions, vocabulary precise và emotional, grammar varied với complex sentences, ideas có personal reflection.
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- running behind schedule: bị chậm tiến độ
- visibly stressed: rõ ràng là đang căng thẳng
- take the initiative: chủ động làm gì đó
- selfless gesture: hành động vị tha, không vụ lợi
- lift a weight off someone’s shoulders: làm nhẹ gánh nặng cho ai đó
- considerate people: những người chu đáo, biết quan tâm
Question: Do you think kindness is an important quality?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Đưa ra opinion rõ ràng (Yes, absolutely / Definitely)
- Giải thích tại sao (2 lý do)
- Có thể đưa ra impact của kindness trong xã hội
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think kindness is very important. Kind people make the world a better place. When people are kind to each other, everyone feels happier and society becomes more peaceful.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Opinion rõ ràng, có lý do
- Hạn chế: Clichéd phrases (make the world a better place), lý lẽ chung chung và predictable
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Adequate response nhưng thiếu originality và sophisticated reasoning.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Absolutely, I’d argue it’s fundamental to a functioning society. Kindness fosters trust and cooperation between people, which are essential building blocks for any community. Beyond the practical benefits, there’s also a ripple effect – when someone experiences an act of kindness, they’re more likely to pay it forward, creating a positive cycle. I also think kindness is closely linked to emotional intelligence, which research shows is often a better predictor of success than IQ. So in that sense, cultivating kindness isn’t just about moral virtue – it’s actually quite pragmatic for both personal and professional development.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Strong opening: Absolutely, I’d argue
- Abstract concepts: fundamental to a functioning society, essential building blocks, ripple effect, emotional intelligence
- Sophisticated reasoning: practical benefits + moral aspect + research evidence
- Advanced vocabulary: fosters, pay it forward, cultivating, pragmatic
- Balanced view: không chỉ đạo đức mà còn có practical value
- Tại sao Band 8-9: Demonstrates intellectual maturity, uses abstract vocabulary naturally, provides well-reasoned argument với evidence, shows critical thinking về nhiều dimensions của kindness.
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- fundamental to a functioning society: nền tảng cho một xã hội hoạt động tốt
- foster trust and cooperation: nuôi dưỡng niềm tin và sự hợp tác
- ripple effect: hiệu ứng lan tỏa
- pay it forward: truyền lại hành động tốt cho người khác
- emotional intelligence: trí tuệ cảm xúc
- pragmatic: thực dụng, thực tế
Học viên IELTS đang luyện tập phần thi Speaking với chủ đề lòng tốt và sự tử tế trong lớp học chuyên nghiệp
Tương tự như describe a time when you received a compliment unexpectedly, câu hỏi về kindness cũng yêu cầu bạn chia sẻ một trải nghiệm cá nhân đặc biệt và diễn tả cảm xúc một cách chi tiết. Việc kết hợp cả yếu tố emotional expression và specific details sẽ giúp câu trả lời của bạn trở nên ấn tượng hơn.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Tổng Quan Về Part 2
Part 2 là phần độc thoại kéo dài 2-3 phút, trong đó bạn có 1 phút chuẩn bị. Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để demonstrate khả năng nói liền mạch của bạn. Examiner sẽ không ngắt lời trong suốt thời gian này.
Chiến lược quan trọng:
- Sử dụng đủ 1 phút chuẩn bị: Ghi chú keywords cho từng bullet point, không viết câu hoàn chỉnh
- Nói đủ thời gian: Minimum 1.5 phút, ideally 2-2.5 phút
- Cover tất cả bullet points: Đừng bỏ sót bất kỳ yêu cầu nào
- Focus vào câu “explain”: Đây là phần ghi điểm cao nhất, cần mở rộng nhiều nhất
- Sử dụng past tense: Vì đang kể về một sự kiện đã xảy ra
Lỗi thường gặp:
- Không tận dụng hết thời gian chuẩn bị, nhảy vào nói ngay
- Nói quá ngắn (dưới 1.5 phút) vì thiếu ý tưởng
- Quên một hoặc nhiều bullet points
- Dành quá nhiều thời gian cho phần đầu, vội vàng kết thúc
- Không develop phần “explain” đầy đủ
Cue Card
Describe a time when you experienced an act of kindness
You should say:
- When and where it happened
- Who showed kindness to you
- What they did for you
- And explain how you felt about this experience and why it was meaningful to you
Phân Tích Đề Bài
-
Dạng câu hỏi: Describe an experience/event – kể về một sự kiện cụ thể trong quá khứ
-
Thì động từ chính: Past simple và past continuous để kể chuyện
-
Bullet points phải cover:
- When and where: Cần có time frame và location cụ thể (không cần quá chi tiết nhưng đủ clear)
- Who: Người đã tử tế với bạn – mối quan hệ, background ngắn gọn
- What they did: Hành động cụ thể – đây là phần “story” chính
- Explain how you felt and why meaningful: Phần quan trọng nhất – cảm xúc và ý nghĩa
-
Câu “explain” quan trọng: Đây là nơi bạn demonstrate emotional depth, reflection, và vocabulary range. Nhiều thí sinh chỉ kể chuyện mà quên phần explain, dẫn đến mất điểm. Phần này nên chiếm 30-40% thời gian.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7
Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút
“I’d like to talk about a time when I experienced kindness from a stranger. It happened about two years ago when I was traveling to Hanoi for a job interview.
I was at the train station, and I realized that I had left my wallet at home. I was very worried because I didn’t have money to buy a ticket. I tried to call my family, but my phone battery died.
A middle-aged woman noticed that I looked stressed. She came over and asked if I needed help. I explained my situation to her, and she immediately offered to lend me money for the train ticket. She said she understood how stressful it must be for me.
I was really surprised by her kindness because she didn’t know me at all. She gave me her phone number and told me I could pay her back whenever I had the chance. I felt very grateful and a bit emotional.
This experience was meaningful to me because it showed me that there are still kind people in the world. It reminded me to be more helpful to others when they need assistance. After I got the job, I returned the money to her and thanked her again. She was very happy to hear about my success.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 6-7 | Có logical flow nhưng còn basic linking (and, because, when). Một số hesitation có thể xảy ra. |
| Lexical Resource | 6-7 | Adequate vocabulary (stressed, grateful, meaningful) nhưng chưa sophisticated. Có repetition (very worried, very grateful). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6-7 | Mix của simple và complex sentences. Past simple được sử dụng đúng. Thiếu variety trong structures. |
| Pronunciation | 6-7 | Rõ ràng, dễ hiểu nhưng có thể có accent ảnh hưởng nhẹ. |
Điểm mạnh:
- ✅ Cover đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
- ✅ Có story structure rõ ràng với beginning, middle, end
- ✅ Câu trả lời relevant và easy to follow
- ✅ Thời lượng adequate (1.5-2 phút)
Hạn chế:
- ⚠️ Vocabulary khá basic và repetitive (very + adjective pattern)
- ⚠️ Thiếu descriptive details khiến story chưa vivid
- ⚠️ Grammar structures khá đơn giản, ít complex sentences
- ⚠️ Emotional expression chưa sâu sắc (just “grateful” and “surprised”)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8
Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút
“I’d like to share a particularly memorable experience that happened to me about three years ago, when I was going through a really tough time in my life.
I was traveling to Da Nang for an important job interview – one that I’d been preparing for weeks. To my horror, when I arrived at the train station, I discovered that my wallet was missing. I must have left it behind at the café where I’d had breakfast. I was completely panic-stricken because not only did I need money for the ticket, but I also had no way to get accommodation in Da Nang. To make matters worse, my phone battery had died, so I couldn’t contact anyone.
While I was standing there looking absolutely devastated, a woman in her fifties approached me. She had a warm, reassuring smile and asked if everything was alright. I poured out my entire situation to her, probably sounding quite desperate. Without hesitation, she opened her bag and handed me enough money for both the train ticket and a night’s accommodation. She even gave me her phone number and insisted I shouldn’t worry about paying her back immediately.
What struck me most was that she treated me like I was her own daughter. She told me she’d been in a similar situation years ago, and someone had helped her, so she wanted to pay it forward. I was genuinely moved by her selfless gesture, and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.
This experience was profoundly meaningful to me for several reasons. Firstly, it restored my faith in humanity during a time when I was feeling quite cynical about people. Secondly, it taught me the importance of being observant and compassionate towards others who might be struggling. Ever since then, I’ve tried to be more attuned to people around me who might need help. I did successfully get that job, and I made sure to return the money with a heartfelt thank-you note. She was delighted to hear about my success and told me that seeing me succeed was reward enough.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 7.5-8 | Smooth flow với sophisticated linking devices. Story well-structured với clear progression. |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5-8 | Wide range với collocations (going through tough time, looking devastated, restored faith). Idiomatic language natural. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 7.5-8 | Variety của complex structures: modal perfect (must have left), conditional implications, relative clauses. |
| Pronunciation | 7.5-8 | Clear, natural stress và intonation patterns. Easy to understand. |
So Sánh Với Band 6-7
| Khía cạnh | Band 6-7 | Band 7.5-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | “very worried” | “completely panic-stricken”, “looking absolutely devastated” |
| Grammar | “I was worried because…” | “To my horror…”, “To make matters worse…” |
| Ideas | “showed me there are kind people” | “restored my faith in humanity”, “taught me about being observant and compassionate” |
| Details | Basic description | Vivid details: “warm, reassuring smile”, “tears welling up” |
Tại sao tốt hơn Band 6-7:
- Vocabulary sophisticated hơn với nhiều collocations và idiomatic expressions
- Grammar structures đa dạng với inversion (To my horror), modal perfect
- Emotional expression richer và more authentic
- Ideas có depth hơn với personal reflection và life lessons
- Storytelling vivid hơn với sensory details
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9
Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ
“I’d like to recount an experience that, even now, several years later, still resonates deeply with me and has fundamentally shaped my perspective on human kindness.
This life-changing encounter took place about four years ago, during what I can only describe as one of the lowest points in my life. I was traveling to Da Nang for a crucial job interview – the kind that held the promise of turning my career around after several months of unemployment. I’d meticulously planned every detail, or so I thought.
When I arrived at the railway station, I reached into my bag only to experience that sinking feeling everyone dreads – my wallet wasn’t there. I must have inadvertently left it at the café where I’d stopped for breakfast. The gravity of the situation hit me immediately. Not only was I stranded without means to purchase a ticket, but I also had no viable way to secure accommodation in Da Nang. As if fate was conspiring against me, my phone had died, rendering me unable to reach out to anyone for help. I remember standing there, paralyzed by anxiety, feeling like my last chance was slipping through my fingers.
It was at this moment of utter despair that I noticed an elegantly dressed woman, probably in her mid-fifties, observing me with evident concern etched on her face. She approached me with this remarkably gentle demeanor and inquired whether I needed assistance. Fighting back tears, I laid bare my entire predicament. Her response was nothing short of extraordinary. Without a moment’s hesitation, she delved into her handbag and pressed a substantial sum into my hands – enough not just for the ticket, but also for accommodation and meals. When I stammered out that I couldn’t possibly accept such generosity, she simply waved away my protests.
What profoundly moved me wasn’t merely the tangible help she provided, but the empathy and dignity with which she did it. She shared that decades ago, when she was a struggling university student, a stranger had extended a similar lifeline to her. She considered it her moral obligation to perpetuate that cycle of kindness. The way she spoke, with such conviction and warmth, made me feel not like a charity case, but like someone whose struggle genuinely mattered to her. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I could barely articulate my gratitude.
This encounter has been transformative for me in multiple ways. On a practical level, it obviously saved me from a catastrophic situation and enabled me to attend the interview, which I’m happy to say I subsequently secured. But more importantly, on a deeper, more existential level, it shattered my growing cynicism about human nature. I’d been increasingly disillusioned by the apparent self-centeredness I observed around me, but this selfless act reminded me that genuine altruism still exists and thrives in our society.
Moreover, it taught me a powerful lesson about dignity in giving. She didn’t help me to feel superior or to garner praise; she did it because she fundamentally believed in paying forward the kindness she’d once received. This has become a guiding principle in my own life. I’ve since made it a personal mission to be more attuned to the struggles of those around me and to offer help whenever I’m in a position to do so, not out of obligation, but from a genuine desire to make a difference.
I did, of course, return the money along with a lengthy letter expressing my gratitude. Her response was characteristically gracious – she told me that knowing I’d succeeded was reward enough, and she encouraged me to extend the same kindness to someone else when the opportunity arose. That exchange of positive energy has stayed with me, and I like to think I’ve honored her request by helping others whenever I can.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 9 | Seamless flow, sophisticated discourse markers, expertly structured narrative với emotional arc |
| Lexical Resource | 9 | Extensive range với precise, sophisticated, idiomatic expressions. Collocations natural và appropriate. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 9 | Full range của structures sử dụng flexibly và accurately. Complex sentences với multiple clauses. |
| Pronunciation | 9 | Fully natural intonation patterns, stress, connected speech. Native-like features. |
Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc
🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
- Narrative flows như storytelling tự nhiên, không hesitation
- Sophisticated discourse markers: “As if fate was conspiring against me”, “On a deeper, more existential level”
- Perfect pacing với emotional build-up và resolution
📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:
- Abstract expressions: “resonates deeply with me”, “fundamentally shaped”, “life-changing encounter”
- Emotional precision: “paralyzed by anxiety”, “fighting back tears”, “overwhelmed with emotion”
- Sophisticated collocations: “meticulously planned”, “extend a lifeline”, “perpetuate that cycle”
- Literary devices: “slipping through my fingers”, “laid bare my predicament”
📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:
- Inversion: “Not only was I stranded…”
- Modal perfect: “must have inadvertently left”
- Cleft sentences: “What profoundly moved me wasn’t merely…”
- Multiple clause structures: “The way she spoke, with such conviction and warmth, made me feel…”
- Present perfect trong reflection: “has been transformative”, “has stayed with me”
💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
- Multi-layered reflection: practical impact + emotional impact + philosophical lessons
- Sophisticated reasoning về dignity in giving
- Long-term perspective: how it shaped future behavior
- Nuanced understanding: not just “grateful” nhưng analyzed why the experience matters
- Social commentary: cynicism vs. genuine altruism
🎭 Storytelling Mastery:
- Vivid scene-setting: “elegantly dressed woman”, “evident concern etched on her face”
- Emotional authenticity: “that sinking feeling everyone dreads”
- Dramatic tension: build-up from crisis to resolution
- Sensory details: physical actions, facial expressions, dialogue
- Full narrative arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
So sánh với Band 7.5-8:
- Vocabulary không chỉ advanced mà còn precise và sophisticated (exemplary level)
- Ideas không chỉ personal mà còn có philosophical depth và social commentary
- Grammar structures không chỉ complex mà còn varied và natural
- Emotional expression không chỉ authentic mà còn articulate và nuanced
Thí sinh IELTS Speaking Part 2 đang trình bày bài nói về trải nghiệm lòng tốt với sự tự tin và cảm xúc chân thật
Để hiểu rõ hơn về cách kể một câu chuyện cảm động và có chiều sâu trong IELTS Speaking, bạn có thể tham khảo thêm How to describe a time you helped a stranger in IELTS Speaking, nơi cung cấp các techniques cụ thể để develop narrative skills và emotional expression.
Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)
Sau khi bạn hoàn thành phần nói 2 phút, examiner thường hỏi thêm 1-2 câu ngắn để “round off” Part 2 trước khi chuyển sang Part 3. Đây là câu hỏi đơn giản, trả lời ngắn gọn trong 2-3 câu.
Question 1: Do you still keep in touch with that person?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, we occasionally message each other during holidays. She always asks about my career and life. I’m grateful to still have contact with her.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“Yes, actually. We’ve maintained a rather lovely friendship over the years. We exchange messages during festivals and significant life events. She’s become something of a mentor figure to me, and I genuinely value her wisdom and perspective. It’s one of those unexpected friendships that emerged from an extraordinary circumstance.”
Question 2: Would you do the same for someone else in a similar situation?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Definitely. That experience taught me the importance of helping others. I would not hesitate to help someone who needs it.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“Absolutely, without a second thought. That experience instilled in me a profound sense of responsibility to pay it forward. I’ve actually been in situations where I’ve been able to help others facing difficulties, and it’s incredibly rewarding. I think once you’ve been on the receiving end of such genuine kindness, you feel compelled to perpetuate that cycle.”
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Tổng Quan Về Part 3
Part 3 kéo dài 4-5 phút và là phần khó nhất của IELTS Speaking. Đây không còn là câu hỏi cá nhân nữa mà là thảo luận về các vấn đề xã hội, xu hướng, hoặc khái niệm trừu tượng liên quan đến chủ đề Part 2.
Yêu cầu:
- Phân tích, so sánh, đánh giá các vấn đề
- Đưa ra quan điểm có lý lẽ rõ ràng
- Xem xét nhiều góc độ, thừa nhận complexity
- Sử dụng examples từ xã hội, không chỉ kinh nghiệm cá nhân
Chiến lược:
- Mỗi câu trả lời nên dài 3-5 câu (30-45 giây)
- Sử dụng discourse markers: Well, Actually, To be honest, I think…
- Structure: Direct answer → Reason 1 + example → Reason 2 + example → Conclusion/Nuance
- Thừa nhận rằng vấn đề phức tạp: “It depends on…”, “To some extent…”, “While… it’s also true that…”
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu) vì không biết mở rộng
- Chỉ nói về bản thân thay vì analyze broader issues
- Thiếu từ vựng trừu tượng (concepts, trends, phenomena)
- Không đưa ra reasons hoặc examples
- Trả lời one-sided, không acknowledge different perspectives
- Dùng cụm từ quá cứng nhắc, không natural
Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu
Theme 1: Kindness in Modern Society
Question 1: Do you think people are less kind nowadays compared to the past?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Compare (past vs present) + Opinion
- Key words: less kind, nowadays, compared to the past
- Cách tiếp cận: Đưa ra opinion → Analyze factors ảnh hưởng → Give balanced view (acknowledge both sides)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I don’t think people are less kind nowadays. However, modern life is very busy, so people have less time to help others. In the past, communities were smaller and people knew each other better, so they helped more. But I still see many kind acts today, especially online where people raise money for charity.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Opinion → Reason → Comparison → Example, structure hợp lý nhưng basic
- Vocabulary: Common words (very busy, less time, raise money)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Communicative và relevant nhưng thiếu depth trong analysis. Vocabulary adequate nhưng chưa sophisticated. Ideas hơi superficial.
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Well, that’s a rather contentious question, and I’d say it’s not so much that people are less kind, but rather that kindness manifests differently in contemporary society. On the surface, it might appear that people are more self-absorbed, particularly in fast-paced urban environments where everyone seems preoccupied with their own concerns. However, I think this perception is somewhat misleading.
What’s actually changed is the nature of community and the channels through which kindness is expressed. In the past, people lived in tight-knit communities where helping neighbors was both a social norm and a practical necessity. Today, while face-to-face interactions might have decreased, we’re seeing unprecedented levels of collective kindness through platforms like crowdfunding sites and volunteer networks. Take, for instance, how quickly people mobilize online to support victims of natural disasters or families facing medical crises – this demonstrates that altruism is very much alive, just channeled through different mediums.
That said, I do think modern life’s relentless pace and increasing social atomization have made spontaneous acts of kindness somewhat less common in everyday encounters. People are genuinely pressed for time and may be less attuned to the needs of strangers around them. So to directly answer the question, I’d argue that kindness hasn’t diminished in absolute terms, but its expression has evolved alongside societal changes.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Tentative opening → Refute simple yes/no → Compare past vs present → Examples → Acknowledge nuance → Conclusion, extremely sophisticated organization
- Vocabulary: Abstract nouns (altruism, atomization), sophisticated phrases (manifests differently, misleading perception, unprecedented levels), academic tone (in absolute terms)
- Grammar: Complex structures với relative clauses, conditionals implied, passive constructions
- Critical Thinking: Nuanced view acknowledging surface perception vs. reality, multiple perspectives, evolution rather than decline
💡 Key Language Features:
- Discourse markers: Well, On the surface, What’s actually changed, That said, Take for instance
- Tentative language: I’d say, rather contentious, somewhat misleading, I think
- Abstract nouns: altruism, atomization, manifestation, perception, necessity
- Hedging: not so much… but rather, might appear, somewhat less common
- Sophisticated comparisons: not diminished in absolute terms, evolved alongside
Question 2: Why do you think some people are more willing to help others than others?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cause/Reason – Why question
- Key words: some people, more willing, help others
- Cách tiếp cận: Identify multiple factors (upbringing, personality, experiences, cultural background)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I think there are several reasons. First, family education is important. If parents teach their children to be helpful, they will become kind adults. Second, personality matters. Some people are naturally more caring than others. Finally, personal experience also plays a role. If someone has received help before, they are more likely to help others.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear listing với First, Second, Finally
- Vocabulary: Basic (family education, naturally caring, personal experience)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Well-organized với multiple reasons nhưng explanation shallow. Thiếu sophistication trong vocabulary và depth trong reasoning.
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“That’s a fascinating question because it touches on both nature and nurture. I’d say there’s a complex interplay of factors at work here.
Firstly, upbringing and socialization play a crucial role. Children who grow up in environments where prosocial behavior is modeled and rewarded are far more likely to internalize these values. Research in developmental psychology suggests that early exposure to acts of kindness and empathy literally shapes brain development and creates neural pathways that make helping others feel inherently rewarding.
Beyond that, there’s also the personality dimension. Some people are dispositionally more empathetic – they have what psychologists call a high degree of affective empathy, meaning they’re acutely sensitive to others’ emotional states. This heightened sensitivity often compels them to take action to alleviate suffering.
Cultural context is another significant variable. Societies that emphasize collectivism and interdependence tend to foster stronger helping behaviors compared to those that prioritize individualism and self-reliance. Take Asian cultures, for example, where there’s often a deeply ingrained sense of duty towards the community.
Lastly, and perhaps most interestingly, personal experiences can fundamentally alter someone’s propensity to help. People who have been through hardship and received assistance often develop what I’d call an empathy born of experience – they viscerally understand what it means to struggle, which motivates them to spare others from similar suffering. Conversely, individuals who’ve never faced significant challenges might lack that emotional reference point and therefore be less inclined to help.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Multi-factor analysis với clear signposting (Firstly, Beyond that, Lastly), each factor fully developed
- Vocabulary: Academic và sophisticated (prosocial behavior, neural pathways, dispositionally empathetic, collectivism, propensity)
- Grammar: Complex sentences với multiple embedded clauses, relative clauses, causative structures
- Critical Thinking: References research, considers multiple dimensions (psychological, cultural, experiential), shows nuanced understanding
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic references: Research in developmental psychology suggests, psychologists call
- Causative language: compels them to, motivates them to, shapes brain development
- Sophisticated vocabulary: interplay, internalize, heightened sensitivity, alleviate suffering
- Contrast structures: Conversely, compared to
- Examples: Take Asian cultures, for example
Theme 2: Kindness vs Self-Interest
Question 3: Some people say that true kindness doesn’t exist because everyone expects something in return. What’s your view?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion on a statement (philosophical question)
- Key words: true kindness doesn’t exist, expects something in return
- Cách tiếp cận: State your position clearly → Address the statement → Provide counterargument → Conclude with nuanced view
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I disagree with this statement. I believe true kindness exists. Many people help others without expecting anything back. For example, volunteers who work with poor children don’t get paid but they still do it. Also, when parents help their children, they don’t expect rewards. So I think genuine kindness is real and common in our society.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear disagreement → Examples, straightforward approach
- Vocabulary: Simple (help others, don’t get paid, genuine kindness)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Position clear và examples relevant nhưng analysis thiếu depth. Không address complexity của philosophical question.
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Well, this is quite a cynical viewpoint, and while I can understand the skepticism, I’d have to respectfully disagree. I think this perspective conflates different types of rewards and oversimplifies human motivation.
To address the point directly, yes, it’s true that helping others often produces psychological rewards – feelings of satisfaction, purpose, or enhanced self-worth. However, labeling this as ‘not true kindness’ seems to set an impossibly high bar. By that logic, virtually no human behavior could be considered truly altruistic since we derive satisfaction from almost everything we do. I’d argue that kindness doesn’t become less authentic simply because it makes us feel good; rather, that emotional reward is precisely what sustains and motivates prosocial behavior.
Moreover, there’s compelling evidence of genuinely selfless acts. Consider anonymous donations to charity, where donors deliberately avoid recognition, or cases of people risking their own safety to rescue strangers with no possibility of reward. These actions can’t be easily explained by self-interest theories.
I think what’s actually happening here is that humans are wired for reciprocity and cooperation through evolution – helping others confers survival advantages on the group, so we’ve developed intrinsic motivation to do so. But just because kindness has evolutionary roots doesn’t make it inauthentic or calculated. When someone helps another person in the moment, they’re typically not consciously weighing benefits; they’re responding to an innate drive to alleviate suffering.
So to sum up, while pure altruism might be philosophically debatable, practical kindness – where people help others without expectation of material gain – is not only real but fundamental to human society. The fact that it feels good to be kind is a feature, not a flaw, of how we’re designed.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Address cynical view → Refute logic → Provide counterevidence → Explain evolutionary perspective → Nuanced conclusion
- Vocabulary: Philosophical terms (conflates, altruism, intrinsic motivation, evolutionary roots), sophisticated hedging (quite cynical, respectfully disagree)
- Grammar: Full range including cleft sentences (what’s actually happening), conditionals, passive voice
- Critical Thinking: Engages với philosophical complexity, distinguishes types of rewards, references evidence, considers evolutionary perspective
💡 Key Language Features:
- Philosophical language: conflates, oversimplifies, impossibly high bar, authenticity
- Hedging and nuance: I’d argue that, seems to, can’t be easily explained by
- Evidence markers: compelling evidence, Consider, cases of
- Sophisticated conjunctions: Moreover, while, By that logic
- Meta-commentary: To address the point directly, To sum up
Describe a time when you were very surprised cũng là một chủ đề tương tự trong việc diễn tả cảm xúc mạnh mẽ và reaction của bạn trong một tình huống bất ngờ, kỹ năng này cũng áp dụng cho việc miêu tả cảm xúc khi nhận được lòng tốt từ người khác.
Theme 3: Teaching Kindness
Question 4: How can parents teach their children to be kind to others?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: How question (methods/strategies)
- Key words: parents teach, children, be kind
- Cách tiếp cận: Multiple strategies → Explain each with examples → Consider effectiveness
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Parents can teach kindness in several ways. First, they should be good role models by helping others themselves. Children learn by watching their parents. Second, parents can encourage children to share toys with friends and help family members. Third, they can read stories about kindness to children. These methods can help children understand the importance of being kind.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear listing với transition words
- Vocabulary: Basic teaching methods (be role models, encourage, read stories)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Practical suggestions nhưng explanation superficial. Thiếu sophistication trong how these methods work psychologically.
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“This is a crucial question because instilling empathy and kindness in children has far-reaching implications for society as a whole. I’d say there are several evidence-based approaches that work particularly well.
Most fundamentally, parents need to model the behavior they want to see. Children are incredibly perceptive and absorb behavioral patterns through observation. If they regularly witness their parents engaging in acts of kindness – whether it’s helping a neighbor, showing courtesy to service workers, or volunteering time for community causes – they’ll internalize these behaviors as normal. This modeling effect is far more powerful than any amount of verbal instruction.
Beyond modeling, I think it’s important to create opportunities for children to practice empathy actively. This might involve age-appropriate volunteer work, like participating in food drives or visiting elderly care homes. These hands-on experiences help children develop perspective-taking skills – they learn to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand different circumstances.
Another effective strategy is what psychologists call empathy discussions. When conflicts arise between siblings or friends, rather than simply imposing punishment, parents can guide children to consider how their actions affected others emotionally. Questions like “How do you think that made her feel?” help children develop the cognitive ability to recognize and respond to others’ emotional states.
I’d also argue that limiting exposure to overly competitive or individualistic messaging is important. In a world that often glorifies individual achievement above all else, parents need to actively counterbalance this by celebrating cooperative behavior and highlighting the value of community.
Importantly, kindness education shouldn’t be presented as obligation or duty but rather as something that enriches one’s own life. When children help someone and receive positive feedback, they associate helping with positive emotions, making them more likely to seek out similar experiences in the future.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Comprehensive multi-strategy approach với clear development của each point, sophisticated organization
- Vocabulary: Educational psychology terms (instilling empathy, modeling effect, perspective-taking skills, empathy discussions, cognitive ability)
- Grammar: Full range với participle clauses, relative clauses, conditional implications, passive structures
- Critical Thinking: References psychological principles, considers developmental psychology, addresses both cognitive and emotional dimensions
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic vocabulary: evidence-based approaches, far-reaching implications, internalize behaviors
- Educational terminology: modeling effect, perspective-taking skills, empathy discussions
- Process language: instilling, absorb, develop, internalize, counterbalance
- Sophisticated linking: Most fundamentally, Beyond modeling, Importantly
- Nuance: rather than, not as… but rather as
Question 5: Do you think schools should include lessons about kindness and empathy in their curriculum?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion + Should question (về education policy)
- Key words: schools, lessons about kindness, curriculum
- Cách tiếp cận: Strong opinion → Reasons supporting → Address potential counterarguments → Conclude
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I strongly believe schools should teach kindness. Academic subjects are important, but emotional education is also necessary. If children learn about empathy at school, they will become better citizens. Many countries already have character education programs and they work well. Teachers can use activities like group projects to teach cooperation and kindness.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Opinion → Reason → Example → Suggestion
- Vocabulary: Common terms (emotional education, character education, cooperation)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Clear position và reasonable support nhưng lacks depth in argumentation. Không fully explore implications hoặc counterarguments.
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“Absolutely, I’m a strong advocate for integrating social-emotional learning into formal education. In fact, I’d argue it’s become increasingly urgent in our current social climate.
The rationale is quite compelling. Research consistently shows that children with well-developed social-emotional skills not only perform better academically but also exhibit fewer behavioral problems and forge healthier relationships. By explicitly teaching empathy, kindness, and emotional regulation, schools can address the root causes of issues like bullying, social exclusion, and even some mental health challenges. These aren’t peripheral concerns – they fundamentally impact learning outcomes and student wellbeing.
Moreover, there’s a broader societal argument to be made. We’re living in an era of heightened polarization and declining social cohesion in many societies. Equipping young people with empathy and perspective-taking skills could help bridge divides and foster more civil discourse. These are essentially foundational civic competencies that democracy requires but that we’ve perhaps taken for granted and under-cultivated.
Now, I anticipate the counterargument that curriculum time is limited and academic subjects should take priority. However, I don’t see this as an either-or proposition. Social-emotional learning doesn’t need to be siloed into separate lessons; it can be woven throughout existing subjects. Take literature classes, for example – discussing characters’ motivations and emotions naturally develops empathy. Similarly, history lessons can explore moral dimensions of past events.
What I would caution against, though, is superficial implementation – simply adding a token “kindness curriculum” without genuine commitment or proper teacher training. For this to work, it needs to be embedded in school culture, not just treated as another box to tick.
So in conclusion, yes, schools absolutely should prioritize this, but it needs to be done thoughtfully and systematically, with adequate resources and training to make it genuinely effective rather than merely performative.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Strong position → Multiple justifications (educational + societal) → Address counterargument → Caveat about implementation → Clear conclusion
- Vocabulary: Policy language (strong advocate for, integrating, explicitly teaching, foundational civic competencies), sophisticated hedging (I’d argue, I anticipate)
- Grammar: Full range với conditional structures, passive voice, embedded clauses, cause-effect relationships
- Critical Thinking: Multiple levels of reasoning (individual, institutional, societal), acknowledges counterarguments, considers implementation challenges
💡 Key Language Features:
- Policy discourse: strong advocate for, increasingly urgent, broader societal argument
- Academic evidence: Research consistently shows, compelling rationale
- Counterargument language: Now I anticipate the counterargument, However, What I would caution against
- Implementation language: woven throughout, embedded in culture, adequate resources
- Nuanced conclusion: thoughtfully and systematically, genuinely effective rather than performative
Theme 4: Cultural Differences in Kindness
Question 6: Do you think the concept of kindness varies across different cultures?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Opinion + Comparison (cultural variations)
- Key words: concept of kindness, varies, different cultures
- Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge variation → Give specific examples → Explain underlying values → Conclude with universal aspects
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think different cultures show kindness in different ways. In Asian cultures, people show respect to elders and help family members a lot. In Western cultures, people often volunteer and donate to charity. However, the basic idea of being kind is similar everywhere. All cultures value helping others, just in different forms.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Yes → Examples of differences → Universal similarity
- Vocabulary: General terms (show respect, help family, volunteer)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Acknowledges cultural differences với examples nhưng analysis lacks depth. Oversimplified comparison (Asian vs Western).
📝 Câu trả lời mẫu – Band 8-9:
“That’s a remarkably nuanced question because while kindness as a fundamental human value is arguably universal, its manifestations and priorities definitely vary significantly across cultural contexts.
To elaborate, in collectivist societies – which characterize much of Asia, Latin America, and Africa – kindness often revolves around obligations to one’s immediate social network: family, close friends, and community members. There’s this implicit expectation of reciprocal care within these circles. Take Vietnamese culture, for instance – filial piety is considered a paramount virtue, and neglecting elderly parents would be viewed not just as unkind but as a fundamental moral failure. This inward-focused kindness extends to concepts like saving face and maintaining group harmony, even if it means suppressing personal opinions.
In contrast, individualist societies, predominant in Western Europe and North America, tend to emphasize more universalistic kindness – the idea of helping strangers or contributing to abstract causes through formalized channels like volunteering organizations or charity donations. There’s less automatic obligation to extended family but perhaps a broader, more diffuse sense of social responsibility.
Religious traditions also heavily color expressions of kindness. Christian charity, Islamic zakat (obligatory giving), Buddhist compassion – these theologically grounded concepts shape what kindness means and how it’s practiced in different societies.
However, having said all that, I think there’s a fundamental core that transcends culture: the recognition that alleviating suffering and promoting others’ wellbeing is valuable. What differs is really the scope (who deserves kindness), the methods (direct help versus systemic charity), and the motivations (duty versus voluntary compassion).
Interestingly, globalization is creating some convergence – younger generations across cultures are increasingly exposed to diverse kindness paradigms through social media and international interaction. This might eventually lead to a more hybrid understanding of kindness that draws from multiple cultural traditions.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Acknowledge complexity → Detailed comparison (collectivist vs individualist) → Religious dimension → Universal core → Future trends, extremely sophisticated organization
- Vocabulary: Anthropological terms (collectivist/individualist societies, filial piety, universalistic kindness, theologically grounded)
- Grammar: Full range với participle clauses, conditional implications, comparative structures
- Critical Thinking: Multi-dimensional analysis (cultural, religious, generational), avoids oversimplification, considers evolution
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic framing: remarkably nuanced question, fundamental human value, manifestations and priorities
- Anthropological vocabulary: collectivist societies, social network, universalistic kindness
- Comparative language: In contrast, whereas, differs in, convergence
- Cultural concepts: filial piety, saving face, zakat, compassion
- Hedging: arguably, tend to, perhaps, might eventually
Giám khảo IELTS đang đánh giá thí sinh trong phần Speaking Part 3 về chủ đề thảo luận sâu
Khi thảo luận về các vấn đề xã hội phức tạp như Describe a time when you received unexpected support from someone, việc phân tích đa chiều và sử dụng từ vựng trừu tượng sẽ giúp câu trả lời của bạn đạt band điểm cao hơn đáng kể.
Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng
Topic-Specific Vocabulary
| Từ vựng/Cụm từ | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| act of kindness | n | /ækt əv ˈkaɪndnəs/ | hành động tử tế | That simple act of kindness changed my entire day. | random act of kindness, small act of kindness, genuine act of kindness |
| compassion | n | /kəmˈpæʃən/ | lòng trắc ẩn, sự thương cảm | She showed great compassion toward the homeless. | show compassion, feel compassion, lack compassion, compassion fatigue |
| altruism | n | /ˈæltruɪzəm/ | lòng vị tha | True altruism means helping without expecting anything in return. | pure altruism, demonstrate altruism, spirit of altruism |
| empathy | n | /ˈempəθi/ | sự đồng cảm, khả năng cảm thông | Empathy allows us to understand others’ feelings deeply. | develop empathy, show empathy, lack empathy, empathy for others |
| generosity | n | /ˌdʒenəˈrɒsəti/ | lòng hào phóng, rộng lượng | Her generosity knew no bounds. | show generosity, act of generosity, display generosity, overwhelming generosity |
| selfless | adj | /ˈselfləs/ | vô vị lợi, không vụ lợi | It was a completely selfless gesture. | selfless act, selfless behavior, selfless individual, selfless dedication |
| heartwarming | adj | /ˈhɑːtwɔːmɪŋ/ | ấm lòng, cảm động | The reunion was truly heartwarming. | heartwarming story, heartwarming moment, heartwarming gesture |
| touched | adj | /tʌtʃt/ | cảm động, xúc động | I was deeply touched by their concern. | deeply touched, genuinely touched, visibly touched |
| overwhelmed | adj | /ˌəʊvəˈwelmd/ | choáng ngợp (bởi cảm xúc) | I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. | feel overwhelmed, overwhelmed with emotion, completely overwhelmed |
| grateful | adj | /ˈɡreɪtfəl/ | biết ơn | I’m eternally grateful for their help. | deeply grateful, eternally grateful, truly grateful, grateful for |
| go out of one’s way | phrase | /ɡəʊ aʊt əv wʌnz weɪ/ | cố gắng hết sức, không ngại khó khăn | She went out of her way to help me find accommodation. | really go out of one’s way, willing to go out of one’s way |
| restore faith in humanity | phrase | /rɪˈstɔː feɪθ ɪn hjuːˈmænəti/ | khôi phục niềm tin vào nhân loại | That experience restored my faith in humanity. | restore one’s faith, help restore faith |
| pay it forward | phrase | /peɪ ɪt ˈfɔːwəd/ | truyền lại hành động tốt | She encouraged me to pay it forward someday. | able to pay it forward, opportunity to pay it forward |
| lend a helping hand | phrase | /lend ə ˈhelpɪŋ hænd/ | giúp đỡ, chìa tay cứu giúp | He was always ready to lend a helping hand. | ready to lend, willing to lend, lend a helping hand to someone |
| lift a weight off someone’s shoulders | phrase | /lɪft ə weɪt ɒf ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈʃəʊldəz/ | làm nhẹ gánh nặng cho ai đó | Her support really lifted a weight off my shoulders. | really lift a weight, help lift a weight |
| take someone under one’s wing | phrase | /teɪk ˈsʌmwʌn ˈʌndə wʌnz wɪŋ/ | che chở, bảo vệ, chăm sóc ai đó | My mentor took me under her wing when I first started. | willing to take under one’s wing |
| stranger | n | /ˈstreɪndʒə/ | người lạ | A complete stranger helped me when I was lost. | complete stranger, total stranger, help a stranger, kindness to strangers |
| reciprocate | v | /rɪˈsɪprəkeɪt/ | đáp lại, trả ơn | I wanted to reciprocate her kindness somehow. | reciprocate kindness, reciprocate generosity, able to reciprocate |
| benevolent | adj | /bəˈnevələnt/ | nhân từ, nhân hậu | He had a benevolent nature. | benevolent gesture, benevolent person, benevolent attitude |
| considerate | adj | /kənˈsɪdərət/ | chu đáo, ân cần | She’s always been very considerate of others’ feelings. | extremely considerate, considerate person, considerate behavior |
Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases
| Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ sử dụng | Band điểm |
|---|---|---|---|
| a shoulder to cry on | người để tâm sự, dựa vào | She was a shoulder to cry on during my difficult times. | 7.5-8 |
| go the extra mile | nỗ lực thêm, làm nhiều hơn mong đợi | He always goes the extra mile to help his colleagues. | 7.5-8 |
| heart of gold | trái tim nhân hậu | Despite his tough exterior, he has a heart of gold. | 7-7.5 |
| milk of human kindness | lòng nhân từ, tính nhân đạo | She’s full of the milk of human kindness. | 8-9 |
| the salt of the earth | người tốt bụng, chân thành | My grandmother was the salt of the earth. | 7.5-8 |
| extend an olive branch | đưa ra lời hòa giải, thể hiện thiện chí | After the argument, he extended an olive branch. | 8-9 |
| warm the cockles of one’s heart | làm ấm lòng, cảm động sâu sắc | Their generosity warmed the cockles of my heart. | 8.5-9 |
| touch a chord | chạm đến cảm xúc, gợi lên cảm xúc | Her story of struggle really touched a chord with me. | 7.5-8 |
| moved to tears | cảm động đến rơi nước mắt | I was moved to tears by their kindness. | 7-7.5 |
| in someone’s hour of need | lúc ai đó cần giúp đỡ nhất | He was there for me in my hour of need. | 7.5-8 |
| a beacon of hope | ngọn hải đăng hy vọng, ánh sáng hi vọng | Her kindness was a beacon of hope in dark times. | 8-9 |
| ripple effect | hiệu ứng lan tỏa | Small acts of kindness create a ripple effect in society. | 8-8.5 |
Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)
Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:
- 📝 Well,… – Dùng khi cần một chút thời gian suy nghĩ hoặc khi câu trả lời phức tạp
- 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc correct một perception
- 📝 To be honest,… – Khi nói thật, thẳng thắn về opinion
- 📝 I’d say that… – Cách mềm mại để đưa ra quan điểm
- 📝 From my perspective,… – Nhấn mạnh đây là quan điểm cá nhân
- 📝 That’s an interesting question because… – Thể hiện bạn đang suy nghĩ sâu về câu hỏi
Để bổ sung ý:
- 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó, bổ sung thêm
- 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa, quan trọng hơn
- 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến
- 📝 Beyond that,… – Ngoài ra còn
- 📝 Another thing to consider is… – Một điều khác cần xem xét
- 📝 It’s also worth mentioning that… – Cũng đáng nói rằng
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… chúng ta cũng cần xem xét…
- 📝 That said,… – Tuy nhiên, mặc dù vậy
- 📝 Having said that,… – Sau khi nói điều đó
- 📝 To some extent,… – Ở một mức độ nào đó
- 📝 In some ways,… but in other ways,… – Theo một số cách… nhưng theo cách khác…
Để kết luận:
- 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại, xét cho cùng
- 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì
- 📝 So to sum up,… – Vì vậy tóm lại
- 📝 In conclusion,… – Kết luận
- 📝 What it boils down to is… – Điều cốt lõi là
Để đưa ra ví dụ:
- 📝 Take… for instance,… – Lấy… làm ví dụ
- 📝 A good example of this would be… – Một ví dụ tốt về điều này là
- 📝 To illustrate this point,… – Để minh họa điểm này
- 📝 For instance,… – Ví dụ như
Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng
1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):
-
Mixed conditional: “If I hadn’t experienced that kindness, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.” (Nếu tôi không trải nghiệm lòng tốt đó, tôi sẽ không là người như hôm nay)
- Dùng để nói về past situation với present result
-
Inversion for emphasis: “Had she not helped me that day, I would have missed the interview entirely.” (Nếu cô ấy không giúp tôi ngày hôm đó, tôi đã bỏ lỡ hoàn toàn cuộc phỏng vấn)
- Formal structure, impressive cho Part 3
2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):
-
Non-defining: “The woman, who I later learned was a retired teacher, showed me incredible kindness.” (Người phụ nữ, mà sau này tôi biết là một giáo viên đã nghỉ hưu, đã tỏ lòng tốt đáng kinh ngạc với tôi)
- Thêm thông tin bổ sung
-
Reduced relative clause: “The kindness shown to me that day has stayed with me ever since.” (Lòng tốt được thể hiện với tôi ngày hôm đó đã ở lại với tôi kể từ đó)
3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):
-
It is thought/believed/said that… “It’s widely believed that kindness is contagious – when we witness it, we’re more likely to be kind ourselves.” (Người ta tin rằng lòng tốt có tính lây lan – khi chứng kiến nó, chúng ta có nhiều khả năng tử tế hơn)
-
Reporting structures: “Research has shown that acts of kindness can significantly boost mental wellbeing.” (Nghiên cứu đã chỉ ra rằng các hành động tử tế có thể cải thiện đáng kể sức khỏe tinh thần)
4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):
-
What + clause: “What I find most remarkable about that experience is how it changed my outlook on life.” (Điều tôi thấy đáng chú ý nhất về trải nghiệm đó là cách nó thay đổi quan điểm của tôi về cuộc sống)
-
The thing that…: “The thing that struck me most was her genuine concern for a complete stranger.” (Điều khiến tôi ấn tượng nhất là mối quan tâm chân thành của cô ấy đối với một người hoàn toàn xa lạ)
-
It was… that…: “It was her selfless act that restored my faith in humanity.” (Chính hành động vô vị lợi của cô ấy đã khôi phục niềm tin của tôi vào nhân loại)
5. Participle Clauses (Mệnh đề phân từ):
-
Present participle: “Seeing my distress, she immediately came over to help.” (Thấy tôi đang hoang mang, cô ấy ngay lập tức đến giúp)
-
Perfect participle: “Having experienced kindness myself, I’m now more inclined to help others.” (Sau khi tự mình trải nghiệm lòng tốt, giờ đây tôi có xu hướng giúp đỡ người khác hơn)
6. Emphatic Structures:
-
Do/Does/Did + verb: “She did go out of her way to ensure I was okay.” (Cô ấy đã thực sự cố gắng hết sức để đảm bảo tôi ổn)
-
Not only… but also: “Not only did she lend me money, but she also gave me her contact information and checked on me later.” (Không chỉ cho tôi mượn tiền, cô ấy còn đưa thông tin liên lạc và hỏi thăm tôi sau đó)
Sơ đồ tư duy từ vựng IELTS Speaking chủ đề lòng tốt và sự tử tế với các cụm từ quan trọng
Việc kết hợp các cấu trúc ngữ pháp phức tạp này một cách tự nhiên sẽ giúp bạn demonstrate grammatical range – một trong bốn tiêu chí chấm điểm quan trọng. Tuy nhiên, hãy nhớ rằng accuracy cũng quan trọng như variety, vì vậy chỉ sử dụng những structures mà bạn tự tin.
Chiến Lược Trả Lời Từ Góc Nhìn Examiner
Với hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm chấm thi IELTS Speaking, tôi muốn chia sẻ một số insights quan trọng giúp bạn maximize band score cho chủ đề này:
Những Điều Examiner Thực Sự Quan Tâm
1. Authenticity over Perfection
Nhiều thí sinh Việt Nam nghĩ rằng họ cần một câu chuyện “hoàn hảo” hoặc “impressive” để đạt điểm cao. Sự thật là examiner đánh giá cao authenticity hơn. Một câu chuyện đơn giản nhưng được kể với genuine emotion và natural language sẽ score cao hơn một câu chuyện phức tạp nhưng nghe giống template.
Ví dụ: Thay vì bịa ra câu chuyện về việc cứu ai đó khỏi tai nạn nghiêm trọng (nghe không tự nhiên), hãy kể về lần một stranger giúp bạn tìm đường, nhưng kể chi tiết với real emotions.
2. Emotional Range và Expression
Chủ đề kindness cho phép bạn demonstrate emotional vocabulary rất tốt. Examiner muốn thấy bạn có thể express feelings beyond “happy” or “sad”. Sử dụng:
- overwhelmed, touched, moved to tears (cho cảm xúc mạnh)
- grateful, appreciative, indebted (cho lòng biết ơn với degrees khác nhau)
- surprised, taken aback, caught off guard (cho sự bất ngờ)
- heartwarming, uplifting, reassuring (cho feelings về experience itself)
3. Specificity Makes Stories Believable
Generic statements như “A person helped me” nghe fake. Specific details như “A middle-aged woman wearing a blue coat” hoặc “It was around 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon” làm story believable và demonstrate language ability tốt hơn.
Common Mistakes của Học Viên Việt Nam
Lỗi 1: Quá phụ thuộc vào “very” + adjective
- ❌ “I was very happy, very grateful, very surprised”
- ✅ “I was genuinely moved, deeply grateful, completely taken aback”
Lỗi 2: Không develop phần “explain why it was meaningful”
Nhiều thí sinh kể story tốt nhưng khi đến bullet point cuối (explain why meaningful), họ chỉ nói 1-2 câu đơn giản như “It was meaningful because it showed people are kind.” Đây là missed opportunity.
Phần này nên:
- Explain emotional impact
- Discuss how it changed your perspective
- Mention long-term influence on your behavior
- Reflect on broader implications
Lỗi 3: Memorized phrases không natural
Tôi có thể recognize ngay khi thí sinh đang recite memorized content. Red flags:
- Quá nhiều idioms cùng một lúc
- Vocabulary level suddenly jump từ simple lên advanced không consistent
- Intonation flat như đang đọc
- Pause ở weird places (not natural thought breaks)
Solution: Learn phrases nhưng practice until they feel natural trong YOUR voice.
Lỗi 4: Trả lời Part 3 như Part 1
Part 3 requires abstract thinking và societal analysis, không chỉ personal examples. Sự khác biệt:
Part 1: “Do you think kindness is important?”
- ❌ “Yes, because my mother taught me to be kind.”
- ✅ “Absolutely. I’d argue it’s fundamental to social cohesion. When people practice kindness, it creates trust…”
Tips Thực Chiến
Tip 1: The “Emotion-Action-Reflection” Structure cho Part 2
Khi kể story trong Part 2, structure này works exceptionally well:
- Set the scene (context)
- Describe the action (what happened)
- Express emotion (how you felt in the moment)
- Reflect on meaning (why it matters, what you learned)
Structure này naturally leads to a complete answer covering all bullet points.
Tip 2: Bridge từ Personal đến General trong Part 3
Technique này impressive:
- Start with personal experience briefly
- Then expand to broader implications
Example: “From my own experience, I’ve noticed that… and I think this reflects a broader trend in society where…”
Tip 3: The Power of “Actually” và “In fact”
These discourse markers buy you thinking time một cách natural:
- “Well, actually, I think…”
- “That’s interesting. In fact, research suggests…”
They also make you sound more thoughtful và less rehearsed.
Tip 4: Prepare Flexible Examples, Not Fixed Scripts
Thay vì memorize entire answers, prepare:
- 2-3 real personal experiences về kindness (có thể adapt cho different questions)
- Some current social examples (charity initiatives, community programs)
- General principles about kindness you believe in
Tip 5: Practice “Thinking Out Loud”
IELTS Speaking assesses spoken English, not your ability to have perfect pre-formed opinions. It’s OKAY to:
- Say “That’s a complex question…”
- Acknowledge different viewpoints: “Some people might argue… but I tend to think…”
- Show you’re considering: “Let me think about that…”
This demonstrates advanced discourse skills.
Red Flags Examiner Nhận Biết Ngay
🚩 Over-prepared answers – Khi answer quá polished, không natural hesitation, unnatural vocabulary clusters
🚩 Template language – Phrases như “There are three reasons why…”, “First and foremost…”, “Last but not least…” (these scream template)
🚩 Irrelevant tangents – Nói về topics không liên quan để fill time
🚩 Constantly repeating examiner’s words – Thiếu paraphrasing skills
🚩 Abrupt endings – Không conclude naturally, suddenly stop talking
What Impresses Examiners
✨ Natural self-correction – “I mean…”, “Or rather…” (shows you’re thinking)
✨ Sophisticated discourse markers – “Having said that…”, “To some extent…”, “Interestingly enough…”
✨ Nuanced opinions – Not black/white, acknowledging complexity
✨ Specific vocabulary – Topic-specific terms used appropriately
✨ Good pacing – Not too fast, not too slow, appropriate pauses
✨ Engagement – Eye contact (when cultural appropriate), natural gestures, showing interest
✨ Pronunciation features – Word stress, sentence stress, intonation (more important than accent)
Final Examiner Insights
Trong career của tôi, những thí sinh impressive nhất không phải là người có vocabulary lớn nhất hay grammar hoàn hảo nhất. Đó là những người có thể communicate ideas effectively với natural fluency và genuine engagement with the topics.
Cho chủ đề “act of kindness” specifically:
- Don’t overthink story selection – simplicity with depth beats complexity with shallowness
- Emotional authenticity resonates more than sophisticated vocabulary
- Show you’ve learned something from the experience
- Connect personal experience với broader social values
Remember: IELTS Speaking is a test of communication skills, not a test of how many big words you know or whether you have extraordinary life experiences. Be yourself, be genuine, và demonstrate your English abilities confidently.
describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting cũng là một chủ đề tương tự yêu cầu bạn phản ánh về ảnh hưởng của người khác trong cuộc sống. Kỹ năng kết hợp personal narrative với broader reflection là chìa khóa để đạt điểm cao trong cả hai chủ đề này.
Kết Luận
Chủ đề “Describe a time when you experienced an act of kindness” là một trong những topics đẹp và meaningful nhất trong IELTS Speaking. Nó không chỉ cho phép bạn demonstrate language skills mà còn share positive human experiences.
Key takeaways:
🎯 Authenticity là quan trọng nhất – Một câu chuyện real, simple nhưng được kể với genuine emotion sẽ impressive hơn một story phức tạp nhưng fabricated.
📚 Master emotional vocabulary – Đây là opportunity tuyệt vời để showcase range of expressions về feelings và reactions.
🏗️ Structure matters – Especially cho Part 2, ensure bạn cover tất cả bullet points và develop phần “explain” đầy đủ.
💭 Part 3 requires depth – Move beyond personal examples đến societal analysis, cultural comparisons, và abstract thinking.
🎤 Natural delivery beats perfect grammar – Focus on fluency và communication rather than trying to be grammatically perfect.
📖 Prepare flexibly – Have real experiences ready nhưng be able to adapt based on exact question wording.
🌟 Show growth và reflection – Examiners appreciate candidates who can reflect on how experiences shaped them.
Với preparation đúng cách, chủ đề này có thể become one of your strongest topics. Practice telling your story naturally, develop your emotional vocabulary, và remember that the examiner wants to hear YOUR authentic voice, không phải một rehearsed performance.
Chúc bạn thành công trong kỳ thi IELTS Speaking! Remember, kindness là universal language – và ability to express nó eloquently trong English sẽ serve you well không chỉ trong exam mà trong real-life communication.
