Chủ đề “waiting for something important” là một trong những đề bài phổ biến và thực tế nhất trong IELTS Speaking Part 2. Với tư cách là một giám khảo IELTS có hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm chấm thi, tôi nhận thấy chủ đề này xuất hiện đều đặn trong các kỳ thi từ 2019 đến nay, với tần suất khoảng 3-4 lần mỗi quý. Đây là chủ đề có mức độ xuất hiện Cao và dự kiến sẽ tiếp tục phổ biến trong các kỳ thi tương lai.
Điều đặc biệt về chủ đề này là nó kiểm tra khả năng kể chuyện, mô tả cảm xúc và suy nghĩ trong quá khứ của thí sinh – những kỹ năng quan trọng để đạt band điểm cao. Nhiều học viên Việt Nam gặp khó khăn khi phát triển câu chuyện một cách tự nhiên, thường rơi vào bẫy kể sự việc quá đơn giản hoặc thiếu chi tiết cảm xúc.
Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học được:
✅ Các câu hỏi thường gặp trong cả 3 Part liên quan đến chủ đề “waiting”
✅ Bài mẫu chi tiết theo 3 mức band điểm (6-7, 7.5-8, 8.5-9) với phân tích từng tiêu chí
✅ Hơn 50 từ vựng và cụm từ ăn điểm với phiên âm và ví dụ cụ thể
✅ Chiến lược trả lời hiệu quả từ góc nhìn Examiner
✅ Những lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam và cách khắc phục
✅ Các cấu trúc ngữ pháp nâng cao giúp tăng điểm Grammar
Hãy cùng bắt đầu hành trình chinh phục chủ đề này một cách bài bản và chuyên nghiệp nhất!
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview
Tổng Quan Về Part 1
Part 1 của IELTS Speaking kéo dài 4-5 phút, trong đó giám khảo sẽ hỏi các câu hỏi ngắn về cuộc sống hàng ngày, sở thích và thói quen của bạn. Đối với chủ đề “waiting”, các câu hỏi thường xoay quanh thói quen chờ đợi, mức độ kiên nhẫn và cảm nhận cá nhân về việc phải chờ.
Chiến lược quan trọng:
- Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi trong câu đầu tiên
- Mở rộng với lý do hoặc ví dụ (2-3 câu tổng cộng)
- Sử dụng thì động từ chính xác (hiện tại đơn cho thói quen, hiện tại hoàn thành cho kinh nghiệm)
- Tránh học thuộc, hãy nói tự nhiên như trò chuyện bình thường
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn chỉ “Yes” hoặc “No” mà không giải thích
- Dùng từ vựng quá đơn giản: “good”, “bad”, “like”, “don’t like”
- Thiếu ví dụ cụ thể từ cuộc sống thực tế
- Nói quá dài, lan man không có trọng tâm
Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp
Question 1: Are you a patient person?
Question 2: Do you usually have to wait for things?
Question 3: What do you usually do while waiting?
Question 4: Is it easy for you to wait for a long time?
Question 5: Have you ever waited for someone for a long time?
Question 6: Do you think people are less patient now than in the past?
Question 7: What kind of things do people in your country often have to wait for?
Question 8: How do you feel when you have to wait?
Phân Tích và Gợi Ý Trả Lời Chi Tiết
Question: Are you a patient person?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Đưa ra câu trả lời có yes/no rõ ràng
- Giải thích bằng ví dụ cụ thể về tính cách
- Có thể đề cập đến những tình huống bạn kiên nhẫn hoặc không kiên nhẫn
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think I’m quite a patient person. I don’t usually get angry when I have to wait for something. For example, when I wait for the bus, I just listen to music or check my phone.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Trả lời trực tiếp câu hỏi, có ví dụ cụ thể về hành vi
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng đơn giản (quite, don’t get angry, just), cấu trúc câu cơ bản
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Câu trả lời rõ ràng và có ví dụ nhưng thiếu vocabulary nâng cao và cấu trúc phức tạp. Ý tưởng chưa được phát triển sâu về lý do tại sao lại kiên nhẫn.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“I’d say I’m fairly patient, though it really depends on the circumstances. Generally speaking, I can keep my cool when waiting for public transport or in queues, as I’ve learned to use that time productively – perhaps catching up on podcasts or responding to messages. However, I must admit I become rather impatient when waiting for people who are chronically late without good reason, as I consider it disrespectful of others’ time.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary tinh tế: “fairly patient”, “depends on circumstances”, “keep my cool”, “chronically late”
- Cấu trúc phức tạp: “though it really depends…”, “as I’ve learned to…”
- Ý tưởng cân bằng: Thừa nhận cả hai mặt của tính cách (kiên nhẫn và không kiên nhẫn)
- Giải thích logic với lý do cụ thể
- Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Sử dụng discourse markers tự nhiên (Generally speaking, However, I must admit)
- Vocabulary: Precise và sophisticated (keep my cool, chronically late, disrespectful)
- Grammar: Complex sentences với relative clauses và subordinate clauses
- Ideas: Nuanced view thể hiện critical thinking
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- fairly patient: /ˈfeəli ˈpeɪʃənt/ – khá kiên nhẫn (không quá mức)
- depends on the circumstances: /dɪˈpendz ɒn ðə ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz/ – tùy thuộc vào hoàn cảnh
- keep my cool: /kiːp maɪ kuːl/ – giữ bình tĩnh, không nổi nóng
- chronically late: /ˈkrɒnɪkli leɪt/ – thường xuyên đến trễ (một cách mãn tính)
Question: What do you usually do while waiting?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Liệt kê 2-3 hoạt động cụ thể
- Giải thích lý do tại sao làm những việc đó
- Có thể so sánh giữa các tình huống chờ khác nhau
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“When I have to wait, I usually use my smartphone. I check social media like Facebook or Instagram, or sometimes I play mobile games. If I wait for a long time, I might read news online.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Liệt kê được nhiều hoạt động, có structure rõ ràng
- Hạn chế: Từ vựng rất cơ bản (use, check, play, read), thiếu variety trong cấu trúc
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Nội dung đầy đủ nhưng ngôn ngữ chưa impressive. Thiếu explanation về tại sao chọn những hoạt động này.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Well, like most people these days, I’m glued to my smartphone when waiting. I typically scroll through news feeds or catch up on podcasts that I’ve bookmarked earlier. If I know the wait will be substantial, say more than 15 minutes, I might dive into an e-book or tackle some work emails to make the most of that downtime. I’ve actually got into the habit of carrying a physical book as well, as it’s a nice screen break and helps me stay present rather than mindlessly consuming digital content.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary đa dạng và natural: “glued to”, “scroll through”, “catch up on”, “substantial”, “dive into”
- Phrasal verbs được sử dụng tự nhiên
- Chi tiết cụ thể: “more than 15 minutes”, “physical book”
- Thể hiện reflection: so sánh digital vs physical reading
- Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Discourse markers tự nhiên (Well, actually)
- Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions (glued to smartphone, screen break, stay present)
- Grammar: Present perfect (I’ve got into the habit of) và conditional structures
- Ideas: Thoughtful về productivity và well-being
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- glued to my smartphone: /ɡluːd tuː maɪ ˈsmɑːtfəʊn/ – dán chặt vào điện thoại, không rời mắt
- scroll through: /skrəʊl θruː/ – lướt qua (nội dung trên điện thoại)
- catch up on: /kætʃ ʌp ɒn/ – bắt kịp, xem/nghe những gì đã bỏ lỡ
- make the most of: /meɪk ðə məʊst ɒv/ – tận dụng tối đa
- stay present: /steɪ ˈprezənt/ – giữ sự tỉnh thức, tập trung vào hiện tại
Question: Do you think people are less patient now than in the past?
🎯 Cách tiếp cận:
- Đưa ra opinion rõ ràng (yes/no hoặc it depends)
- Giải thích với lý do liên quan đến thay đổi xã hội/công nghệ
- Có thể đưa ra ví dụ so sánh past vs present
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think people today are less patient than before. This is because of technology. Everything is very fast now – we can order food online and get it quickly, we can watch movies instantly. So people don’t want to wait anymore.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh: Opinion rõ ràng, có lý do và ví dụ về technology
- Hạn chế: Vocabulary lặp lại (very, quickly, instantly không có variation), câu ngắn và đơn giản
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Ý tưởng đúng hướng nhưng chưa được develop đầy đủ. Thiếu analysis sâu về why và how technology affects patience.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“I’d definitely agree with that observation. I think we’re living in what’s often called an instant gratification culture, where technology has conditioned us to expect immediate results. Think about it – we can stream any movie on demand, have food delivered within 30 minutes, and get answers to any question within seconds via Google. This convenience has come at a cost, though. People seem to have lost the ability to sit with discomfort or delay, which was actually quite a valuable skill that previous generations possessed. I’ve noticed this especially in younger people, including myself, who become noticeably agitated when a webpage takes more than a few seconds to load – something that would have been unthinkable to complain about just 20 years ago.”
Phân tích:
- Điểm mạnh:
- Vocabulary sophisticated: “instant gratification culture”, “conditioned us”, “come at a cost”
- So sánh past-present cụ thể và vivid
- Personal reflection thể hiện critical thinking
- Examples rất relatable và specific
- Tại sao Band 8-9:
- Fluency: Natural flow với discourse markers (Think about it, though, including myself)
- Vocabulary: Topic-specific terms (instant gratification, conditioned, previous generations)
- Grammar: Complex structures (relative clauses, passives, perfect tenses)
- Ideas: Balanced view nhận diện cả benefits và drawbacks, self-aware
💡 Key Vocabulary & Expressions:
- instant gratification culture: /ˈɪnstənt ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən ˈkʌltʃə/ – văn hóa thỏa mãn tức thì
- conditioned us: /kənˈdɪʃənd ʌs/ – điều kiện hóa chúng ta (làm cho quen với)
- come at a cost: /kʌm æt ə kɒst/ – đi kèm với cái giá (có mặt trái)
- previous generations: /ˈpriːviəs ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃənz/ – các thế hệ trước
- noticeably agitated: /ˈnəʊtɪsəbli ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd/ – bồn chồn một cách rõ rệt
Học viên IELTS đang luyện tập trả lời câu hỏi Speaking Part 1 về chủ đề kiên nhẫn và chờ đợi
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Tổng Quan Về Part 2
Part 2 là phần độc thoại quan trọng nhất của IELTS Speaking, kéo dài 3-4 phút bao gồm 1 phút chuẩn bị và 2-3 phút trình bày. Đây là phần giám khảo đánh giá kỹ năng kể chuyện, tổ chức ý tưởng và duy trì độ trôi chảy của bạn mà không bị gián đoạn.
Thời gian chuẩn bị: 1 phút
- Đọc kỹ đề và tất cả bullet points
- Ghi chú keywords, không viết câu hoàn chỉnh
- Lên outline đơn giản: Beginning → Middle → End → Feelings
Thời gian nói: 2-3 phút
- Tối thiểu 1.5 phút để không bị trừ điểm
- Lý tưởng là nói đủ 2 phút hoặc hơn
- Giám khảo sẽ dừng bạn khi hết thời gian
Chiến lược thành công:
- Sử dụng thì quá khứ đơn làm nền tảng khi kể chuyện (was, did, went, felt)
- Điểm nhấn thì quá khứ tiếp diễn cho background actions (was waiting, was feeling)
- Trả lời đầy đủ TẤT CẢ các bullet points
- Dành 30-40% thời gian cho phần “explain” – đây là phần ghi điểm cao nhất
- Sử dụng sequencing words: First, Then, After that, Finally
Lỗi thường gặp:
- Không sử dụng hết 1 phút chuẩn bị → thiếu structure
- Nói dưới 1.5 phút → mất điểm Fluency
- Bỏ sót bullet points → mất điểm Task Achievement
- Dùng sai thì (hiện tại thay vì quá khứ)
- Phần “explain feelings” quá ngắn hoặc superficial
Cue Card
Describe A Time When You Had To Wait For Something Important
You should say:
- What you were waiting for
- How long you had to wait
- Why it was important
- And explain how you felt while waiting
Phân Tích Đề Bài
Dạng câu hỏi: Describe an experience/event (Kể về một trải nghiệm trong quá khứ)
Thì động từ chính: Quá khứ đơn (Past Simple) và Quá khứ tiếp diễn (Past Continuous)
Bullet points phải cover:
- What you were waiting for – Cần nói rõ cái gì đang chờ (exam results, visa, important call, medical test, job offer, etc.)
- How long you had to wait – Thời gian cụ thể (days, weeks, months) – không cần chính xác 100% nhưng nên có timeframe
- Why it was important – Giải thích tầm quan trọng với cuộc sống/tương lai của bạn
- Explain how you felt while waiting – Đây là phần QUAN TRỌNG NHẤT để ghi điểm cao
Câu “explain” quan trọng:
Phần “explain how you felt” thường chiếm 35-40% bài nói và là nơi bạn thể hiện:
- Range of emotions (anxious → hopeful → relieved)
- Vocabulary về feelings
- Ability to reflect và analyze
- Coherence trong việc develop ideas
Nhiều thí sinh chỉ nói “I felt nervous” mà không elaborate, đây là lỗi nghiêm trọng làm mất điểm.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7
Thời lượng: Khoảng 1.5-2 phút
“I’d like to talk about a time when I had to wait for my university entrance exam results. This happened about two years ago, right after I finished high school.
After taking the exam in June, I had to wait for nearly three weeks to get the results. They announced that results would be available in early July, but they didn’t give an exact date. During this time, I checked the university website every single day, sometimes multiple times a day.
This was very important to me because my whole future depended on it. I wanted to get into my first-choice university to study business administration. If I didn’t get good enough scores, I would have to choose a different university or even a different major. My parents also had high expectations, which added more pressure.
While waiting, I felt really nervous and stressed. I couldn’t sleep well at night because I kept thinking about the results. Sometimes I felt hopeful because I thought I did well on the exam, but other times I worried that I made mistakes. I tried to distract myself by hanging out with friends or watching movies, but I couldn’t fully relax. When the results finally came out and I saw that I got accepted, I felt so relieved and happy. It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 6.5 | Có sequence rõ ràng (background → wait time → importance → feelings), sử dụng linking words cơ bản (After, During, While, When). Tuy nhiên thiếu variety trong discourse markers. Một số chỗ hơi repetitive. |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 | Từ vựng adequate nhưng đơn giản: “really nervous”, “very important”, “felt hopeful”. Có một số collocations tốt: “entrance exam”, “high expectations”, “distract myself”. Thiếu idiomatic expressions. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6.5 | Sử dụng đúng past simple và past continuous. Có một số complex sentences với “because”, “which”, “that”. Tuy nhiên structure chưa đa dạng, chủ yếu là simple và compound sentences. |
| Pronunciation | 6.5 | (Giả định) Clear và understandable, có thể có một số lỗi phát âm nhỏ không ảnh hưởng communication. |
Điểm mạnh:
- ✅ Trả lời đầy đủ tất cả bullet points
- ✅ Có structure rõ ràng và logical
- ✅ Time management tốt (đủ 1.5-2 phút)
- ✅ Ví dụ cụ thể và relatable (university entrance exam)
Hạn chế:
- ⚠️ Từ vựng về emotions quá basic: “nervous”, “stressed”, “worried”
- ⚠️ Thiếu descriptive language để paint a vivid picture
- ⚠️ Grammar structures chưa sophisticated
- ⚠️ Phần “explain feelings” chưa đủ deep và nuanced
📝 Sample Answer – Band 7.5-8
Thời lượng: Khoảng 2-2.5 phút
“I’d like to share an experience about waiting for my IELTS test results, which happened last year and was probably one of the most nerve-wracking periods of my life.
I took the IELTS exam in early September, and according to the test center, results would be available online exactly 13 days later. Those two weeks felt like an eternity. I had been preparing intensively for months, attending classes and doing countless practice tests, so naturally, I had high hopes but also considerable anxiety about whether I’d hit my target score of 7.5.
The stakes were particularly high because I needed this score to apply for my Master’s program in Australia. The application deadline was in late October, which meant I had very little room for error. If I didn’t achieve the required score, I’d either have to retake the exam – potentially missing the deadline – or give up on that particular university altogether. My family had also invested significantly in my test preparation, which added another layer of pressure.
Throughout the waiting period, I experienced a real emotional rollercoaster. Initially, I was quite optimistic, replaying the exam in my mind and feeling confident about most of my answers. However, as days went by, self-doubt started creeping in. I’d suddenly remember questions I might have answered incorrectly or wonder if my speaking performance had been good enough. I found myself obsessively checking my email and the test center website, even though I knew the exact release date. Sleep became difficult as I’d lie awake at night running through different scenarios – what if I got 7.0 instead of 7.5? Should I book another test date just in case?
To cope with this anxiety, I tried to keep myself occupied with other activities – I started a new Korean drama series and spent more time with friends. But honestly, there was always this gnawing worry at the back of my mind. When the results finally appeared online, I remember my hands were actually trembling as I logged in. Seeing that I’d achieved 8.0 overall was absolutely overwhelming – I felt this surge of relief and joy that’s hard to describe. It was definitely worth the wait, though I wouldn’t want to go through that emotional stress again anytime soon!”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 7.5-8.0 | Flow tự nhiên với minimal hesitation. Discourse markers đa dạng (Initially, However, Throughout, To cope with). Cohesion tốt với pronouns và referencing. Logical progression từ background → events → emotions. |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5-8.0 | Vocabulary range rộng: “nerve-wracking”, “emotional rollercoaster”, “self-doubt creeping in”, “gnawing worry”. Collocations natural: “hit target score”, “room for error”, “running through scenarios”. Paraphrasing tốt (anxious → worry → stress). |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 7.5-8.0 | Mix của simple, compound và complex sentences. Sử dụng past perfect (had been preparing), conditionals (If I didn’t achieve), gerunds và participle clauses. Mostly error-free với occasional minor slips. |
| Pronunciation | 7.5-8.0 | (Giả định) Clear, easy to understand với good use of stress và intonation. Features như sentence stress được sử dụng hiệu quả. |
So Sánh Với Band 6-7
| Khía cạnh | Band 6-7 | Band 7.5-8 |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | “felt really nervous and stressed” | “nerve-wracking period”, “emotional rollercoaster”, “self-doubt creeping in” |
| Grammar | “I felt hopeful because I thought I did well” | “I’d lie awake at night running through different scenarios” |
| Ideas | “Sometimes I felt hopeful, sometimes worried” | Detailed progression: optimistic → self-doubt → obsessive checking → coping strategies |
| Details | “three weeks” | “13 days felt like an eternity”, “hands trembling”, “surge of relief” |
Tại sao đạt Band 7.5-8:
- Vocabulary: Sử dụng less common lexical items một cách tự nhiên và appropriate
- Grammar: Flexible use of structures, including past perfect continuous
- Coherence: Ideas được develop logically với clear paragraphing
- Ideas: Emotional journey được mô tả chi tiết và nuanced
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8.5-9
Thời lượng: 2.5-3 phút đầy đủ
“I’d like to recount what I can only describe as an agonizing wait for my university admission decision, which occurred about three years ago and remains etched in my memory as one of the most emotionally charged experiences of my life.
The context was that I had applied to a highly competitive engineering program at one of Vietnam’s top universities. Unlike the standardized entrance exams that most universities use, this particular institution had a multi-stage selection process. After passing the written exam, I had to wait for interview results, which they said would be released “within six to eight weeks.” That vague timeframe, with no specific date, made the waiting even more excruciating. Every day felt like I was suspended in limbo, unable to move forward with my life planning.
The significance of this wait cannot be overstated. This wasn’t just about getting into a university – it represented years of preparation, countless sacrifices my family had made, and ultimately, my entire career trajectory. My parents, both blue-collar workers, had scraped together their savings to fund my extra tuition classes. The weight of their expectations, combined with my own ambitions, created what I can only describe as a pressure cooker situation. Moreover, I had turned down a guaranteed spot at another decent university to take this chance, which meant if I failed, I’d essentially be starting from scratch. The stakes couldn’t have been higher.
What made this period particularly challenging was the psychological toll it took. The first week or two, I maintained what I’d call cautious optimism. I’d replayed the interview in my mind countless times, analyzing every question I’d answered, every gesture the interviewers had made, trying to read between the lines for any hints about my performance. But as weeks dragged on with no news, that optimism gradually morphed into a constant state of anxiety. I found myself caught in this vicious cycle – I’d try to distract myself with other activities, but my mind would inevitably drift back to the wait. Sleep became increasingly elusive; I’d lie awake at night, catastrophizing about rejection and beating myself up over perceived mistakes in the interview.
What’s interesting in retrospect is how the waiting period revealed different facets of my personality. There were moments of almost manic productivity where I’d throw myself into learning new skills, convincing myself that regardless of the outcome, I needed to keep moving forward. Then there’d be periods of paralysis where I couldn’t focus on anything, just mindlessly scrolling through social media or refreshing my email for the hundredth time that day. My family could see I was struggling – my mother tiptoed around me, afraid any mention of the future would trigger my anxiety, while my father tried to offer reassurance that whatever happened, wouldn’t define my entire life, though his words, well-intentioned as they were, couldn’t quite penetrate the fog of my worry.
When the email finally arrived – seven weeks and three days after the interview, but who was counting? – I remember being paralyzed by fear, almost unable to open it. My hands were literally shaking, and I had to take several deep breaths before I could bring myself to click. Reading “Congratulations” felt surreal – there was this momentary disconnect where I had to read it three times to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding. Then came this overwhelming wave of emotion – relief, joy, disbelief, all hitting me simultaneously. I actually burst into tears, which is quite uncharacteristic for me. It wasn’t just happiness about getting in; it was the release of all that pent-up tension from almost two months of waiting.
Looking back, that experience taught me valuable lessons about resilience and managing uncertainty, though I’d be lying if I said I’d want to go through something like that again. The intensity of that wait, and the emotional journey it entailed, shaped how I approach important decisions and ambitions even today. It’s funny how a period of doing nothing but waiting can be so profoundly formative.”
Phân Tích Band Điểm
| Tiêu chí | Band | Nhận xét |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | 9.0 | Speaks fluently với minimal hesitation. Uses sophisticated discourse markers (Moreover, What’s interesting in retrospect, Looking back). Coherent và cohesive ở mức cao: ideas flow naturally với clear paragraphing. Self-correction natural. |
| Lexical Resource | 9.0 | Wide vocabulary range sử dụng naturally và flexibly. Idioms: “etched in memory”, “pressure cooker”, “read between lines”, “beat myself up”. Precise word choice: “agonizing”, “excruciating”, “etched”, “morphed into”. Successful paraphrasing và avoiding repetition. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 9.0 | Full range of structures với flexibility và accuracy. Complex sentences: “What made this period particularly challenging was…”, “What’s interesting in retrospect is how…”. Perfect and continuous aspects used accurately. Error-free throughout. |
| Pronunciation | 9.0 | (Giả định) Fully operational command với sustained, flexible use of features. Native-like use of intonation, word và sentence stress. Minimal L1 influence. |
Tại Sao Bài Này Xuất Sắc
🎯 Fluency Hoàn Hảo:
- Không có hesitation hoặc false starts
- Natural self-correction: “though his words, well-intentioned as they were”
- Sustained speech trong hơn 2.5 phút mà không lặp lại ý
- Uses rhetorical questions hiệu quả: “but who was counting?”
📚 Vocabulary Tinh Vi:
- Agonizing wait (không chỉ là “long wait”) – thể hiện emotional dimension
- Etched in my memory (idiomatic, formal hơn “I remember clearly”)
- Suspended in limbo (metaphorical, sophisticated)
- Scraped together (phrasal verb natural cho context về money)
- Pressure cooker situation (idiom vivid)
- Catastrophizing (psychology term dùng đúng context)
- Tiptoed around (figurative use rất natural)
- Pent-up tension (perfect collocation)
📝 Grammar Đa Dạng:
- Cleft sentences: “What made this period particularly challenging was…”
- Past perfect continuous: “had been replaying”
- Complex conditionals: “if I failed, I’d essentially be…”
- Participle clauses: “convincing myself that…”
- Relative clauses: “which they said would be released”
💡 Ideas Sâu Sắc:
- Không chỉ describe events mà analyze psychological process
- Self-awareness: “which is quite uncharacteristic for me”
- Reflection: “Looking back, that experience taught me…”
- Complexity: Thừa nhận contradictory emotions và behaviors
- Meta-commentary: “It’s funny how a period of doing nothing but waiting…”
Các yếu tố nâng bài lên Band 9:
- Narrative sophistication: Story có arc rõ ràng (setup → rising tension → climax → resolution → reflection)
- Psychological depth: Mô tả inner world một cách nuanced
- Vocabulary precision: Mỗi từ được chọn cẩn thận, không generic
- Syntactic variety: Không câu nào giống nhau về structure
- Natural storytelling voice: Sounds like an educated native speaker sharing a personal story
Thí sinh IELTS Speaking đang trình bày bài Part 2 về thời gian phải chờ đợi điều quan trọng với giám khảo
Follow-up Questions (Rounding Off Questions)
Sau khi bạn hoàn thành Part 2, giám khảo thường hỏi 1-2 câu ngắn liên quan trực tiếp đến câu chuyện bạn vừa kể. Đây là phần chuyển tiếp sang Part 3, nên câu trả lời nên ngắn gọn (1-2 câu).
Question 1: Do you often have to wait for important things?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Not really. That experience with university admission was quite special. Usually, the important things in my life don’t require such long waiting periods.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“Thankfully, that was rather an exception than the rule. Most significant events in my life have had more predictable timelines. Though I suppose waiting for exam results is something all students inevitably go through at various points.”
💡 Analysis: Band 8-9 version sử dụng: idiom (exception than the rule), precise vocabulary (predictable timelines), natural hedging (I suppose), và sophisticated structure (something all students inevitably go through).
Question 2: Would you wait again for something important like that?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, I think I would. If something is important enough, waiting is necessary. But I hope I can be more patient next time and not worry so much.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“I’d like to say I’ve learned to handle uncertainty better since then, but honestly, it depends entirely on the stakes. If it were something equally life-changing, I’d probably go through similar emotional turmoil regardless of what I tell myself about staying calm. I think some degree of anxiety is inherent when we’re waiting for things that truly matter – it’s human nature, after all.”
💡 Analysis: Band 8-9 version demonstrates: self-awareness (I’d like to say… but honestly), conditional thinking (it depends entirely on), sophisticated vocabulary (emotional turmoil, inherent, human nature), và honest reflection rather than simplistic answer.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Tổng Quan Về Part 3
Part 3 là phần thảo luận trừu tượng và sâu nhất trong IELTS Speaking, kéo dài 4-5 phút. Đây là nơi giám khảo đánh giá khả năng analyze, evaluate và discuss các vấn đề xã hội phức tạp của bạn – những kỹ năng quan trọng cho academic study.
Khác biệt giữa Part 3 và Part 1:
- Part 1: Personal, concrete (cuộc sống của bạn)
- Part 3: General, abstract (xã hội, người khác, theories)
Yêu cầu quan trọng:
- Phân tích và giải thích (analyze & explain)
- So sánh và đối chiếu (compare & contrast)
- Đưa ra quan điểm có lý lẽ (give reasoned opinions)
- Xem xét nhiều góc độ (consider different perspectives)
- Sử dụng examples từ society, research, trends (không chỉ personal)
Chiến lược trả lời:
- Mở rộng câu trả lời đến 3-5 câu (30-45 giây)
- Structure: Direct answer → Reason 1 (+ example) → Reason 2 (+ example) → Conclusion/Nuance
- Sử dụng discourse markers để organize ideas
- Thừa nhận complexity: “It depends”, “There are both advantages and disadvantages”
- Tentative language thể hiện critical thinking: “I would argue that”, “It seems to me”
Lỗi thường gặp của học viên Việt Nam:
- Trả lời quá ngắn (1-2 câu) → mất điểm Fluency
- Không có lý lẽ rõ ràng → mất điểm Coherence
- Chỉ nói personal experience thay vì general ideas
- Thiếu từ vựng trừu tượng (abstract nouns)
- Không demonstrate critical thinking
- Trả lời yes/no đơn giản mà không explore complexity
Các Câu Hỏi Thảo Luận Sâu
Theme 1: Patience in Modern Society
Question 1: Why do you think some people are more patient than others?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Cause/Reason question (Why)
- Key words: some people, more patient, others (so sánh differences giữa người)
- Cách tiếp cận: Đưa ra 2-3 factors explaining differences (personality, upbringing, life experience, culture)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“I think patience depends on personality first. Some people are naturally calm and can wait easily. Other people are more active and energetic, so they don’t like waiting. Also, I think upbringing is important. If parents teach children to wait and be patient from young age, they will be more patient when they grow up. Life experience also matters because people who have waited for important things before know how to control their emotions better.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Có 3 reasons (personality, upbringing, experience) rõ ràng
- Vocabulary: Basic (naturally calm, active, energetic, control emotions)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Ideas relevant và có logic nhưng development chưa deep. Thiếu specific examples hoặc elaboration. Vocabulary chưa sophisticated. Grammar đơn giản với mostly simple và compound sentences.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Well, I think patience is actually a complex trait that’s shaped by multiple factors. First and foremost, there’s definitely a dispositional element – some individuals simply have a more even-tempered nature, which could be influenced by genetics or early childhood development. These people seem to have greater emotional regulation, meaning they can tolerate discomfort or uncertainty without becoming agitated.
Beyond personality, I’d argue that life circumstances play a crucial role. People who’ve grown up in environments where delayed gratification was necessary – perhaps due to economic constraints or cultural values – tend to develop patience as a coping mechanism. In contrast, those who’ve had most of their needs met immediately might struggle more with waiting. There’s also an interesting cultural dimension here; societies that emphasize collectivism and long-term thinking, like many Asian cultures, often cultivate patience more explicitly through their education systems and social norms.
What’s more, I believe age and experience factor into this significantly. Younger people, whose brains are still developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for impulse control, naturally find waiting more challenging. As we mature and encounter situations where patience has paid off – whether waiting for career advancement or relationship development – we build what I’d call a patience muscle through positive reinforcement. So really, patience isn’t fixed; it’s a dynamic quality that evolves throughout our lives.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Well-organized với clear signposting (First and foremost, Beyond personality, What’s more). Mỗi point được elaborate fully với explanation và examples.
- Vocabulary:
- Abstract nouns: “dispositional element”, “emotional regulation”, “delayed gratification”, “impulse control”
- Precise verbs: “shaped by”, “tolerate”, “cultivate”, “factor into”
- Sophisticated phrases: “complex trait”, “coping mechanism”, “cultural dimension”, “patience muscle”
- Grammar:
- Complex structures: relative clauses (which could be influenced…), participle phrases (meaning they can…)
- Conditional: “those who’ve had most of their needs met”
- Passive for objectivity: “is shaped by”, “can be influenced”
- Critical Thinking:
- Multi-faceted analysis (nature vs nurture)
- Acknowledges cultural context
- References psychology (prefrontal cortex)
- Concludes with meta-observation (patience is dynamic)
💡 Key Language Features:
- Discourse markers: First and foremost, Beyond personality, In contrast, What’s more, So really
- Tentative language: I think, I’d argue that, I believe, seems to
- Abstract nouns: trait, element, regulation, circumstances, dimension, reinforcement
- Hedging: simply, often, naturally, might
Question 2: In what situations do people need to wait most often in daily life?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Description/Explanation (What situations)
- Key words: situations, most often, daily life (focus vào commonness và everyday contexts)
- Cách tiếp cận: Categorize different situations (transport, service, communication, entertainment) với examples cụ thể
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“People have to wait in many situations every day. The most common one is waiting for transport like buses or trains. Many people also wait in queues at supermarkets, banks, or government offices. These days, people also wait for online things like waiting for website to load or waiting for delivery. At work or school, we often wait for meetings to start or wait for other people to finish their work. So waiting is really a big part of daily life.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Lists several situations nhưng không categorize systematically
- Vocabulary: Basic (wait in queues, wait for delivery, big part)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Covers topic adequately với relevant examples nhưng thiếu depth và sophistication. Không elaborate hoặc analyze why these situations involve waiting.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“I’d say waiting has become almost ubiquitous in modern life, spanning various domains. Most notably, there’s the whole realm of transportation – whether it’s sitting in traffic during rush hour, waiting at bus stops, or experiencing flight delays. In urban Vietnam, for instance, traffic congestion means people routinely spend hours in transit, which is essentially dead time unless they’re productive with it.
Then there’s the service sector, where queuing is practically inevitable. Think about banks, post offices, hospitals, or even popular restaurants where you might need to wait in line for a table. These situations have actually gotten worse in some ways despite technological advances – ironically, while we can now book appointments online, the sheer volume of people doing so means waiting times haven’t necessarily decreased.
In the digital realm, we’re constantly waiting too, though the timeframes are compressed. We wait for emails, for websites to load, for app updates to complete, for customer service representatives to respond to our queries. What’s interesting is that while these waits are objectively short – maybe seconds or minutes – they feel interminable because we’ve become so accustomed to instant access to information.
On a more interpersonal level, there’s also waiting for others – colleagues who are late to meetings, friends who aren’t ready when they said they’d be, family members who take forever to decide where to eat. These situations are particularly frustrating because they involve a social dynamic where you’re at the mercy of someone else’s time management. So really, waiting has permeated every aspect of contemporary life, which perhaps explains why patience has become such a valuable commodity.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Systematically categorized (transportation → services → digital → interpersonal) với clear transitions. Each category fully developed với examples và analysis.
- Vocabulary:
- Topic-specific: “ubiquitous”, “spanning domains”, “dead time”, “sheer volume”, “interminable”
- Precise phrases: “routinely spend”, “gotten worse”, “compressed timeframes”, “permeated every aspect”
- Idiomatic: “at the mercy of”, “valuable commodity”
- Grammar:
- Variety: gerunds (queuing is practically inevitable), relative clauses (where you might need to wait)
- Passive for emphasis: “has become”, “are compressed”
- Present perfect to show ongoing situation: “has gotten worse”, “has permeated”
- Critical Thinking:
- Observation: technology hasn’t reduced waiting as expected
- Contrast: objective vs subjective time (seconds feel interminable)
- Social dimension: interpersonal waiting has different dynamics
- Concluding synthesis: explains why patience is valuable
💡 Key Language Features:
- Categorization markers: Most notably, Then there’s, In the digital realm, On a more interpersonal level
- Exemplification: for instance, Think about, Whether it’s
- Contrast: while, though, Ironically
- Meta-commentary: What’s interesting is that, So really
Theme 2: Technology and Waiting
Question 3: How has technology changed the way people wait?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Change/Compare (How has… changed)
- Key words: technology, changed, the way (focus vào transformation của behavior, not just technology itself)
- Cách tiếp cận: Compare past vs present, discuss both positive changes (entertainment options) and negative changes (reduced patience threshold)
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Technology has changed waiting a lot. In the past, people had nothing to do when they waited, so they just sat there or talked to others. Now we have smartphones, so we can do many things while waiting like checking social media, watching videos, or playing games. This makes waiting time pass faster and less boring. Also, technology helps us wait at home instead of in queues because we can book things online or order delivery. So technology makes waiting easier and more comfortable than before.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Has past-present comparison nhưng đơn giản
- Vocabulary: Very basic (a lot, many things, less boring, easier)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Addresses question với relevant points nhưng thiếu depth. Không explore negative aspects hoặc complexity. Vocabulary và grammar chưa sophisticated.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Technology has fundamentally transformed the waiting experience in quite paradoxical ways. On the surface, it seems to have made waiting more bearable – we now have myriad distractions at our fingertips through smartphones. While waiting for a doctor’s appointment or sitting in traffic, people can immerse themselves in social media, streaming services, or games, effectively creating a parallel experience that makes time pass more quickly. In that sense, idle time has been converted into productive or entertaining time, which is clearly an improvement over simply staring into space as our grandparents might have done.
However, here’s the paradox: while technology has made the act of waiting more tolerable, it’s simultaneously made us less tolerant of waiting itself. Because we’re now accustomed to instant gratification in so many areas – instant messaging, same-day delivery, streaming content on demand – our patience threshold has actually plummeted. We become irritated if a webpage takes more than three seconds to load, something that would have seemed miraculous just twenty years ago. So technology has created what I’d call a patience deficit.
Moreover, technology has introduced entirely new categories of waiting. We now wait for software updates, for emails, for social media notifications, for online transactions to process. These are micro-waits that cumulatively take up significant mental space and energy. There’s also this compulsive behavior that technology enables – constantly refreshing emails or checking phones – that turns waiting into an active, anxious state rather than a passive one.
Interestingly, some argue that technology has eliminated waiting altogether in certain domains. Online appointment systems show real-time queue positions, ride-sharing apps tell us exactly when our car will arrive, and food delivery platforms track our orders to the minute. This visibility and predictability certainly helps manage expectations, but it doesn’t eliminate the wait – it just makes it more transparent and measurable, which brings its own set of psychological effects.
So in sum, technology has made waiting simultaneously more bearable and less bearable – more bearable in the moment through distraction, but less bearable in expectation because we’ve been conditioned to expect immediacy in everything. It’s a double-edged sword, really.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Sophisticated organization: surface benefits → paradox → new types of waiting → argument about elimination → synthesis. Uses “However” and “Moreover” to build complexity.
- Vocabulary:
- Academic/formal: “fundamentally transformed”, “paradoxical”, “myriad distractions”, “immerse themselves in”, “patience deficit”
- Precise: “plummeted”, “micro-waits”, “cumulatively”, “compulsive behavior”
- Metaphorical: “parallel experience”, “double-edged sword”
- Grammar:
- Complex structures throughout
- Present perfect to show change: “has transformed”, “has made”, “has created”
- Participle phrases: “something that would have seemed miraculous”
- Comparative structures: “more bearable… less bearable”
- Critical Thinking:
- Identifies paradox (makes waiting easier but makes us less patient)
- Distinguishes between different dimensions (act of waiting vs tolerance for waiting)
- Questions assumptions (has technology really eliminated waiting?)
- Balanced conclusion acknowledging complexity
💡 Key Language Features:
- Presenting paradox: On the surface… However, here’s the paradox, simultaneously, double-edged sword
- Hedging academic claims: it seems to, I’d call, some argue that, certain domains
- Building argument: However, Moreover, Interestingly, So in sum
- Emphasizing irony: something that would have seemed miraculous, clearly an improvement… but
Minh họa công nghệ thay đổi cách con người chờ đợi trong xã hội hiện đại
Question 4: Do you think people will become more impatient in the future?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Prediction/Future question (Do you think… will)
- Key words: people, more impatient, future (yêu cầu speculation dựa trên current trends)
- Cách tiếp cận: Make prediction → Give reasons based on trends → Acknowledge uncertainty → Possible counterarguments
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think people will become more impatient in the future. Technology is getting faster and faster, so people will expect everything to happen immediately. Young people today already show less patience than older generations because they grew up with smartphones and internet. Also, life is becoming busier, so people will have less time to wait. However, maybe some people will learn to be patient again if they realize that being impatient causes stress. But overall, I believe impatience will increase in the future.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear position với supporting reasons, có attempt at counterargument
- Vocabulary: Basic (faster and faster, happen immediately, become busier)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Relevant ideas nhưng development superficial. Reasons không được elaborate với evidence hoặc detailed examples. Counterargument too brief.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“I’m inclined to believe that impatience will indeed escalate unless we make conscious efforts to counter this trend. Let me explain why. If we extrapolate from current patterns, several factors point toward diminishing patience. The acceleration of technological innovation means that with each passing year, we’re exposed to faster processors, quicker downloads, and more immediate access to services. This creates a moving baseline – what seems fast today will feel slow tomorrow. Psychologically, once we adapt to a new level of speed, we recalibrate our expectations, making us perpetually dissatisfied with current speeds.
Beyond technology, there’s also an economic dimension. In increasingly competitive, productivity-driven societies, time is literally money. Companies that can deliver faster – whether that’s Amazon’s same-day delivery or Instagram’s instant publishing – gain competitive advantages, which incentivizes them to make everything even faster. This creates a feedback loop where businesses and consumers mutually reinforce each other’s impatience. We demand faster service, companies provide it, and in doing so, they raise the bar for what’s considered acceptable, making us even more impatient.
That said, I think there are countervailing forces that might mitigate this trend. There’s growing awareness of the mental health costs associated with our always-on, instant-everything culture. Movements like digital detox, mindfulness meditation, and slow living are gaining traction, particularly among people who’ve burnt out from the relentless pace of modern life. These could represent a cultural backlash against extreme impatience. Additionally, as AI and automation handle more routine tasks, humans might actually have more breathing room for patience in areas that matter emotionally – like meaningful conversations or creative work.
Moreover, it’s worth considering that different societies might diverge in their trajectories. While Western, individualistic cultures might continue down the path of increasing impatience, collectivist societies or those with strong contemplative traditions, like many Asian cultures, might maintain or even strengthen patience as a cultural value precisely as a counterbalance to technological acceleration.
So while the default trajectory suggests increasing impatience, I don’t think it’s inevitable. It will largely depend on whether we, as individuals and societies, make deliberate choices to cultivate patience or simply passively accept the technology-driven culture of immediacy. The future isn’t predetermined – it’s being shaped by decisions we’re making right now about what kind of society we want to be.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Sophisticated argument structure: main prediction → reasons with elaboration → counterarguments → nuanced conclusion. Uses clear signposting throughout.
- Vocabulary:
- Academic: “inclined to believe”, “extrapolate”, “diminishing patience”, “recalibrate expectations”, “countervailing forces”
- Domain-specific: “moving baseline”, “feedback loop”, “cultural backlash”, “contemplative traditions”
- Precise: “escalate”, “mitigate”, “diverge”, “predetermined”
- Grammar:
- Conditionals: “If we extrapolate…”, “unless we make…”
- Future in the past: “what seems fast today will feel slow tomorrow”
- Passive for objectivity: “is being shaped by”
- Complex nominalizations: “the acceleration of technological innovation”, “awareness of the mental health costs”
- Critical Thinking:
- Nuanced prediction (not absolute)
- Multiple perspectives (technological, economic, cultural, psychological)
- Acknowledges complexity and uncertainty
- Considers different cultural trajectories
- Empowering conclusion (not deterministic)
💡 Key Language Features:
- Hedging predictions: I’m inclined to believe, I think there are, might, could represent
- Building complex arguments: Let me explain why, Beyond technology, That said, Moreover
- Presenting alternatives: unless, or, rather than
- Academic tone: extrapolate, countervailing forces, mitigate, predetermined
Theme 3: Cultural and Generational Differences
Question 5: Are there differences in patience between generations?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Compare & Contrast (differences between)
- Key words: differences, patience, generations (so sánh young vs old)
- Cách tiếp cận: Acknowledge differences → Explain causes → Give examples → Consider if differences are problematic
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Yes, I think older people are generally more patient than younger people. This is because older generations grew up without smartphones and internet, so they are used to waiting. They had to wait for letters, wait in long queues, and wait for information. Young people today grew up with fast technology, so they expect things to happen quickly. For example, young people get annoyed if a video takes too long to load, but older people don’t mind waiting. However, I think older people are also learning to use technology now, so maybe this difference will become smaller in the future.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Clear comparison với explanation
- Vocabulary: Basic (grew up without, used to, don’t mind)
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Relevant ideas với examples nhưng analysis shallow. Không explore deeper reasons hoặc implications. Vocabulary repetitive (waiting repeated many times).
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“There are definitely observable differences, though I’d be careful not to oversimplify or stereotype entire generations. Generally speaking, older generations – particularly those who came of age before the digital revolution – do seem to exhibit greater patience, but I think this is more about formative experiences than inherent qualities.
Consider the context in which different generations grew up. People who are now in their 60s or 70s lived through an era where waiting was simply unavoidable and normalized. If you wanted to communicate with someone far away, you sent a letter and waited days or weeks for a reply. If you wanted information, you went to a library and sifted through books. If you wanted to watch a particular movie, you waited for it to come to your local cinema or aired on television. This constant exposure to waiting essentially ingrained patience as a necessary life skill. They developed what we might call frustration tolerance because there were no alternatives.
In contrast, millennials and especially Gen Z have grown up in what’s been called the on-demand economy. From their earliest memories, they’ve had access to instant messaging, Google searches that answer questions in milliseconds, and Netflix that provides any movie at any time. Their brains have literally been wired differently through this environment – they’ve developed neural pathways optimized for rapid information processing and task-switching rather than sustained focus and patience. This isn’t a moral failing; it’s an adaptive response to their environment.
However, I think the narrative of “impatient young people” can be somewhat misleading. Young people show remarkable patience in certain domains – think about gamers who’ll spend hundreds of hours gradually progressing through a complex game, or content creators who painstakingly edit videos for hours. What’s changed isn’t patience per se, but rather what people consider worth waiting for. If something provides immediate feedback and engagement, young people will invest enormous time. But they have little patience for outdated processes that seem unnecessarily slow due to bureaucratic inertia rather than genuine necessity.
Furthermore, I’d argue that older generations are adapting too. Many elderly people now use smartphones and expect quicker responses than they once did. So while initial formation differs, there’s some convergence happening as older people acculturate to digital norms and younger people occasionally encounter situations where patience is non-negotiable.
What concerns me more than the generational difference itself is whether we’re collectively losing the capacity for deep patience – the kind needed for complex problem-solving, meaningful relationships, or long-term projects. That’s a challenge transcending generations that we all need to address.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Highly sophisticated: acknowledges complexity → historical context → neurological explanation → challenges narrative → convergence → broader implications. Each section fully developed.
- Vocabulary:
- Nuanced: “observable differences”, “oversimplify”, “formative experiences”, “ingrained”, “neural pathways”
- Academic: “adaptive response”, “convergence”, “acculturate”, “transcending”
- Precise verbs: “sifted through”, “aired on”, “wired differently”, “painstakingly edit”
- Grammar:
- Conditional: “If you wanted to…, you…”
- Present perfect: “have grown up”, “have had access”, “have developed”
- Passive for scientific tone: “has been called”, “have been wired”
- Comparative structures: “more about… than”, “rather than”
- Critical Thinking:
- Avoids stereotyping (careful not to oversimplify)
- Provides biological/neurological explanation
- Challenges common narrative
- Distinguishes between different types of patience
- Recognizes mutual adaptation
- Broader societal concern beyond generational divide
💡 Key Language Features:
- Hedging to avoid oversimplification: Generally speaking, I’d be careful not to, can be somewhat misleading
- Providing context: Consider the context, In contrast, However
- Challenging narratives: This isn’t a moral failing, What’s changed isn’t… but rather
- Expressing concern: What concerns me more, That’s a challenge
- Academic discourse: Generally speaking, Furthermore, per se
Question 6: How does culture influence the way people deal with waiting?
🎯 Phân tích câu hỏi:
- Dạng: Explanation/Analysis (How does… influence)
- Key words: culture, influence, way people deal with (relationship between culture and behavior)
- Cách tiếp cận: Identify different cultural attitudes → Give specific examples from different cultures → Explain underlying values → Consider globalization effects
📝 Sample Answer – Band 6-7:
“Culture affects how people wait in different ways. In some Asian countries like Vietnam or Thailand, people are more patient and accept waiting as normal. But in Western countries like America or Germany, people value time very much and don’t like to wait. This is because different cultures have different views about time. Asian cultures think of time as flexible, but Western cultures see time as money. Also, in collectivist cultures, people are taught to be patient and not complain, while individualist cultures encourage people to speak up when they are not satisfied. So cultural background makes a big difference in how people behave when waiting.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Comparison giữa Asian và Western cultures, có explanation về time concepts
- Vocabulary: Basic (very much, don’t like, big difference), some stereotypes
- Tại sao Band 6-7: Relevant ideas với clear examples nhưng somewhat simplistic và stereotypical. Thiếu nuance về within-culture variations. Over-generalization về “Asian” và “Western” cultures.
📝 Sample Answer – Band 8-9:
“Culture profoundly shapes both the tolerance for waiting and the strategies people employ while waiting, though I should caution against overgeneralizing, as there’s often more variation within cultures than between them.
That said, there are some discernible patterns. In what anthropologists call polychronic cultures – common in parts of Latin America, Africa, and some Asian countries – time is viewed more fluidly. People in these cultures often juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and are generally more accepting of delays and interruptions. Waiting isn’t necessarily seen as wasted time but rather as an opportunity for social interaction or reflection. For instance, in Vietnamese culture, there’s a concept roughly translated as “slow living” or taking time to savor experiences, which historically cultivated a certain comfort with waiting. People might strike up conversations with strangers in queues or use waiting time for quiet contemplation.
Conversely, in monochronic cultures – typically found in Northern Europe, North America, and parts of East Asia like Japan – time is highly structured and compartmentalized. The phrase “time is money” epitomizes this worldview. In these societies, waiting is often perceived as an inefficiency that should be minimized or eliminated. Germans, for example, are famous for their punctuality, and unnecessary waiting is seen as disrespectful. Japanese culture takes this even further with their meticulous scheduling and expectation of precision – trains that arrive within seconds of scheduled times reflect this cultural value.
However, there’s an interesting nuance: while Japanese culture demands external punctuality, it also cultivates patience through practices like meditation (Zen Buddhism) and tea ceremonies, which are fundamentally about embracing slowness. This shows that culture’s influence isn’t monolithic – the same culture can value both speed in some domains and patience in others.
Religious and philosophical traditions also play a role. Buddhist and Taoist teachings, prevalent in much of Asia, emphasize acceptance and non-attachment to outcomes, which can foster patience. Islamic culture has the concept of “inshallah” (God willing), which encourages a certain resignation to timing beyond one’s control. In contrast, the Protestant work ethic in Western cultures equates productivity with virtue, making idle waiting feel almost sinful.
Interestingly, globalization and technology are creating some convergence. In major Asian cities like Singapore, Seoul, or Shanghai, you’ll find people just as impatient about delays as in any Western city. The fast-paced urban lifestyle seems to override traditional cultural values about time. Meanwhile, there’s a counter-movement in the West – the slow food movement, mindfulness practices borrowed from Eastern traditions – suggesting a cultural borrowing in the opposite direction.
One more dimension worth mentioning is socioeconomic status within cultures. Wealthier individuals across most cultures tend to have less patience for waiting because they can afford alternatives – premium services, private transportation, etc. – that minimize wait times. So sometimes what we attribute to culture might actually be about economic privilege.
In essence, while culture certainly establishes baseline attitudes toward waiting, its influence is mediated by numerous other factors including urbanization, economic development, individual personality, and generational shifts. The relationship is dynamic rather than static.”
Phân tích:
- Structure: Exceptional organization: definition of frameworks (polychronic/monochronic) → examples → nuances within cultures → religious/philosophical dimension → globalization effects → socioeconomic factors → synthesis. Multiple layers of analysis.
- Vocabulary:
- Anthropological terms: “polychronic cultures”, “monochronic cultures”, “discernible patterns”
- Academic: “profoundly shapes”, “mediated by”, “dynamic rather than static”
- Precise: “epitomizes”, “cultivates”, “prevalent”, “resignation”, “override”
- Sophisticated: “non-attachment”, “meticulous scheduling”, “cultural borrowing”
- Grammar:
- Complex nominalizations: “tolerance for waiting”, “strategies people employ”
- Passive for academic tone: “time is viewed”, “is often perceived”
- Present perfect to show ongoing effects: “has cultivated”, “are creating”
- Comparative structures: “more variation within than between”
- Critical Thinking:
- Uses anthropological frameworks (polychronic/monochronic)
- Acknowledges within-culture complexity (Japan example)
- Considers multiple dimensions (religion, economics, globalization)
- Challenges overgeneralization
- Recognizes bidirectional influences
- Distinguishes between attribution and causation (culture vs economics)
- Sophisticated conclusion acknowledging dynamic nature
💡 Key Language Features:
- Academic hedging: I should caution against, That said, often, generally
- Introducing frameworks: what anthropologists call, In essence
- Showing nuance: However, there’s an interesting nuance, While… also
- Building complexity: Conversely, Interestingly, One more dimension, Furthermore
- Drawing conclusions: In essence, The relationship is
So sánh cách người từ các nền văn hóa khác nhau đối phóng với việc chờ đợi
Từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng
Topic-Specific Vocabulary
| Từ vựng/Cụm từ | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nerve-wracking | adj | /ˈnɜːv ˌrækɪŋ/ | căng thẳng đến mức làm tổn thương thần kinh | The wait for exam results was absolutely nerve-wracking. | nerve-wracking experience/period/wait/time |
| agonizing | adj | /ˈæɡənaɪzɪŋ/ | đau đớn, dày vò (về mặt tinh thần) | It was an agonizing three-week wait for the biopsy results. | agonizing wait/decision/period/delay |
| excruciating | adj | /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/ | vô cùng đau đớn, khó chịu | The excruciating wait for news about the accident victims seemed endless. | excruciating pain/wait/detail/slow |
| interminable | adj | /ɪnˈtɜːmɪnəbl/ | dường như không bao giờ kết thúc | The interminable wait at the visa office tested everyone’s patience. | interminable wait/delay/meeting/speech |
| pent-up | adj | /ˌpent ˈʌp/ | bị dồn nén, kìm nén (cảm xúc) | Years of pent-up frustration finally burst out. | pent-up emotions/anger/tension/energy |
| emotional rollercoaster | noun phrase | /ɪˈməʊʃənl ˈrəʊləˌkəʊstə/ | tàu lượn siêu tốc cảm xúc (thăng trầm mạnh) | The waiting period was an emotional rollercoaster with constant ups and downs. | be on/go through/experience an emotional rollercoaster |
| keep one’s cool | idiom | /kiːp wʌnz kuːl/ | giữ bình tĩnh, không nổi nóng | Despite the long delay, she managed to keep her cool. | keep/lose/maintain one’s cool |
| at the mercy of | idiom | /æt ðə ˈmɜːsi ɒv/ | phụ thuộc hoàn toàn vào, trong tay của | We were at the mercy of the airline’s schedule. | be at the mercy of someone/something |
| chronically late | adj phrase | /ˈkrɒnɪkli leɪt/ | thường xuyên đến trễ (mãn tính) | He’s chronically late for meetings, which frustrates everyone. | chronically late/ill/understaffed/underfunded |
| instant gratification | noun phrase | /ˈɪnstənt ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ | sự thỏa mãn tức thì | Modern technology feeds our need for instant gratification. | instant gratification culture/society/desire for |
| patience threshold | noun phrase | /ˈpeɪʃəns ˈθreʃhəʊld/ | ngưỡng kiên nhẫn (giới hạn chịu đựng) | My patience threshold has definitely decreased with age. | low/high patience threshold, exceed someone’s patience threshold |
| delayed gratification | noun phrase | /dɪˌleɪd ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ | sự thỏa mãn bị trì hoãn (khả năng chờ đợi phần thưởng) | The ability to practice delayed gratification is linked to success. | practice/learn/teach delayed gratification |
| glued to | idiom | /ɡluːd tuː/ | dán chặt vào, không rời (mắt khỏi cái gì) | Everyone was glued to their phones while waiting. | be glued to the screen/phone/TV |
| scroll through | phrasal verb | /skrəʊl θruː/ | lướt qua (nội dung trên điện thoại/máy tính) | I scrolled through social media to pass the time. | scroll through feeds/posts/comments/pages |
| catch up on | phrasal verb | /kætʃ ʌp ɒn/ | bắt kịp, xem/làm những gì bỏ lỡ | I used the waiting time to catch up on emails. | catch up on work/news/sleep/reading |
| make the most of | idiom | /meɪk ðə məʊst ɒv/ | tận dụng tối đa | Try to make the most of your waiting time. | make the most of time/opportunity/situation |
| bide one’s time | idiom | /baɪd wʌnz taɪm/ | kiên nhẫn chờ đợi thời cơ | He’s just biding his time until the right opportunity comes. | bide your time, patiently bide time |
| run out of patience | phrase | /rʌn aʊt ɒv ˈpeɪʃəns/ | hết kiên nhẫn | After three hours, I finally ran out of patience. | run out of patience/time/money/ideas |
| test someone’s patience | phrase | /test ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈpeɪʃəns/ | thử thách sự kiên nhẫn của ai | The constant delays really tested our patience. | test/try someone’s patience |
| in limbo | idiom | /ɪn ˈlɪmbəʊ/ | trong tình trạng bấp bênh, không chắc chắn | I felt like I was in limbo waiting for the decision. | be/remain/leave someone in limbo |
Idiomatic Expressions & Advanced Phrases
| Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ sử dụng | Band điểm |
|---|---|---|---|
| a watched pot never boils | việc gì càng chờ càng lâu (khi bạn theo dõi quá kỹ) | I kept checking my email every minute, but as they say, a watched pot never boils. | 8-9 |
| patience is a virtue | kiên nhẫn là một đức tính tốt | My grandmother always reminded me that patience is a virtue. | 7-8 |
| good things come to those who wait | điều tốt đến với người biết chờ đợi | I eventually got the job I wanted – good things really do come to those who wait. | 7-8 |
| time drags | thời gian trôi rất chậm | When you’re waiting for important news, time really drags. | 7-8 |
| time flies | thời gian trôi rất nhanh | When I’m busy at work, time flies, but waiting feels eternal. | 6-7 |
| kill time | giết thời gian, làm gì đó khi chờ | I read a magazine to kill time while waiting. | 6-7 |
| pass the time | làm cho thời gian trôi qua | I played games on my phone to pass the time. | 6-7 |
| on tenterhooks | hồi hộp, lo lắng chờ đợi | We were on tenterhooks waiting for the announcement. | 8-9 |
| sit tight | kiên nhẫn chờ đợi, không hành động | The doctor told us to sit tight while they ran more tests. | 7-8 |
| cool your heels | phải chờ đợi (thường không vui) | We had to cool our heels in the waiting room for two hours. | 8-9 |
| hanging by a thread | trong tình trạng bấp bênh, nguy hiểm | My patience was hanging by a thread after the third delay. | 8-9 |
| the waiting game | trò chơi chờ đợi (tình huống phải chờ) | Applying for a visa is just playing the waiting game. | 7-8 |
| a nerve-wracking ordeal | một thử thách căng thẳng | The wait for surgery results was a nerve-wracking ordeal. | 8-9 |
| keep someone in suspense | giữ ai đó trong sự hồi hộp | They kept us in suspense for weeks before announcing the winner. | 7-8 |
| bite one’s nails | lo lắng, căng thẳng (nghĩa bóng: cắn móng tay vì lo) | I was practically biting my nails waiting for the results. | 7-8 |
Discourse Markers (Từ Nối Ý Trong Speaking)
Để bắt đầu câu trả lời:
- 📝 Well,… – Khi cần thời gian suy nghĩ ngắn hoặc bắt đầu câu trả lời một cách tự nhiên
- “Well, I think patience depends on many factors.”
- 📝 Actually,… – Khi đưa ra góc nhìn khác hoặc sửa chữa ý
- “Actually, I’d say that technology has both positive and negative effects on patience.”
- 📝 To be honest,… – Khi nói thật về ý kiến hoặc cảm xúc cá nhân
- “To be honest, I find waiting extremely difficult.”
- 📝 I’d say that… – Khi đưa ra quan điểm có suy nghĩ
- “I’d say that younger people are less patient than previous generations.”
- 📝 Generally speaking,… – Khi nói về xu hướng chung
- “Generally speaking, people in urban areas are less patient.”
- 📝 From my perspective,… – Từ góc nhìn của tôi
- “From my perspective, waiting teaches us valuable life lessons.”
Để bổ sung ý:
- 📝 On top of that,… – Thêm vào đó, hơn nữa
- “On top of that, technology has made us expect instant results.”
- 📝 What’s more,… – Hơn nữa, còn nữa
- “What’s more, constant connectivity means we’re never truly patient anymore.”
- 📝 Not to mention… – Chưa kể đến
- “Not to mention the stress that comes with uncertainty.”
- 📝 Besides,… – Bên cạnh đó
- “Besides, waiting can actually be productive if used wisely.”
- 📝 Moreover,… / Furthermore,… – Hơn nữa (formal)
- “Moreover, patience is linked to better decision-making.”
- 📝 In addition to that,… – Thêm vào đó
- “In addition to that, waiting helps build character.”
Để đưa ra quan điểm cân bằng:
- 📝 On the one hand,… On the other hand,… – Một mặt… mặt khác…
- “On the one hand, technology makes waiting easier. On the other hand, it makes us less tolerant of waiting.”
- 📝 While it’s true that…, we also need to consider… – Mặc dù đúng là… chúng ta cũng cần xem xét…
- “While it’s true that young people seem impatient, we also need to consider the environment they grew up in.”
- 📝 Having said that,… – Nói như vậy thì… (để đưa ra ý trái ngược)
- “Technology speeds everything up. Having said that, some things still require patience.”
- 📝 That said,… – Tuy nhiên, mặc dù vậy
- “Patience is important. That said, sometimes impatience drives progress.”
Để giải thích và làm rõ:
- 📝 What I mean is… – Ý tôi là…
- “What I mean is that patience isn’t just about waiting, it’s about how you wait.”
- 📝 In other words,… – Nói cách khác
- “In other words, patience is a skill that can be developed.”
- 📝 Let me explain,… – Để tôi giải thích
- “Let me explain why I think culture matters.”
- 📝 To put it another way,… – Nói theo cách khác
- “To put it another way, technology has created a patience deficit.”
Để kết luận:
- 📝 All in all,… – Tóm lại, nhìn chung
- “All in all, I think patience is still valuable in modern life.”
- 📝 At the end of the day,… – Cuối cùng thì, xét cho cùng
- “At the end of the day, patience helps us make better decisions.”
- 📝 In sum,… / In summary,… – Tóm lại
- “In sum, technology has made waiting more bearable but us less patient.”
- 📝 So really,… – Vì vậy thực sự mà nói
- “So really, patience depends on both nature and nurture.”
Grammatical Structures Ấn Tượng
1. Conditional Sentences (Câu điều kiện):
Mixed conditional (Past + Present):
- Formula: If + past perfect, would + verb
- Ví dụ: “If I hadn’t prepared so thoroughly, I would be more anxious now.”
- Giải thích: Dùng để nói về điều kiện trong quá khứ ảnh hưởng đến hiện tại
Inversion for emphasis:
- Formula: Had + subject + past participle, would have…
- Ví dụ: “Had I known the results would take so long, I would have planned differently.”
- Giải thích: Formal và sophisticated hơn cấu trúc If thông thường
Third conditional cho reflection:
- Ví dụ: “If they had given us a specific date, the wait would have been more bearable.”
2. Relative Clauses (Mệnh đề quan hệ):
Non-defining relative clauses:
- Formula: , which/who + verb, (không thể bỏ được)
- Ví dụ: “The wait, which lasted nearly a month, felt like an eternity.”
- Giải thích: Thêm thông tin bổ sung, tạo câu phức tạp và natural
Reduced relative clauses:
- Ví dụ: “People waiting for important results often experience high anxiety.” (= People who are waiting…)
- Giải thích: Concise hơn, sounds more advanced
3. Passive Voice (Câu bị động):
Impersonal passive (It is thought/believed/said that…):
- Ví dụ: “It is widely believed that patience is becoming rarer in modern society.”
- Giải thích: Tạo tone objective và academic
Passive for emphasis:
- Ví dụ: “My patience was tested to its limits during that period.”
- Giải thích: Focus vào action và experience hơn là actor
Get passive (informal):
- Ví dụ: “I got frustrated waiting for so long.”
- Giải thích: Natural trong speaking, thể hiện emotional involvement
4. Cleft Sentences (Câu chẻ):
What-cleft for emphasis:
- Formula: What + subject + verb + is/was + noun/clause
- Ví dụ: “What I found most challenging was the uncertainty, not the waiting itself.”
- Giải thích: Nhấn mạnh phần quan trọng nhất của câu
It-cleft:
- Formula: It + be + emphasized element + that/who + clause
- Ví dụ: “It was the lack of information that made the wait so stressful.”
- Giải thích: Focus listener’s attention vào specific information
The thing that… construction:
- Ví dụ: “The thing that really bothered me was not knowing when it would end.”
- Giải thích: Natural way to emphasize trong speaking
5. Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous:
Present Perfect for experiences:
- Ví dụ: “I’ve had to wait for many important things in my life.”
- Giải thích: Connect past experiences to present relevance
Present Perfect Continuous for ongoing situations:
- Ví dụ: “People have been becoming less patient over the past decade.”
- Giải thích: Emphasize progression và ongoing nature của change
6. Advanced Participle Structures:
Present participle phrases:
- Ví dụ: “Waiting for the results, I found myself constantly checking my phone.”
- Giải thích: Show simultaneous actions, sounds sophisticated
Past participle phrases:
- Ví dụ: “Exhausted by the long wait, I finally decided to call them.”
- Giải thích: Explain reason hoặc condition concisely
Perfect participle:
- Ví dụ: “Having waited for three weeks, I had almost given up hope.”
- Giải thích: Show sequence of actions rõ ràng
7. Inversion for Emphasis:
Never/Rarely at the beginning:
- Ví dụ: “Never have I experienced such anxiety as during that wait.”
- Giải thích: Very formal và emphatic, impressive trong Speaking
Not only… but also with inversion:
- Ví dụ: “Not only did the wait feel endless, but it also affected my sleep.”
- Giải thích: Emphasize multiple effects
8. Wish and Hypothetical Structures:
Wish + past perfect (regret về quá khứ):
- Ví dụ: “I wish I had been more patient during that period.”
If only for stronger emotion:
- Ví dụ: “If only they had told us the exact date!”
I’d rather + past simple:
- Ví dụ: “I’d rather wait with clear information than be left in the dark.”
Sử dụng các cấu trúc này một cách tự nhiên trong câu trả lời sẽ nâng Grammar band score lên 7.5-9, nhưng quan trọng là phải đúng context và không sound forced.
Chiến Lược và Lời Khuyên Từ Examiner
Mindset và Cách Chuẩn Bị
1. Đừng học thuộc bài mẫu:
Là một examiner, tôi có thể nhận ra ngay khi thí sinh đang recite bài học thuộc. Điều này sẽ bị penalty nghiêm khắng trong tiêu chí Fluency và có thể bị nghi ngờ về tính trung thực. Thay vào đó:
- Học ideas và structures, không học từng từ
- Practice với nhiều variations của cùng một topic
- Develop khả năng adapt ideas vào different questions
2. Tính tự nhiên quan trọng hơn vocabulary “khó”:
Nhiều học viên Việt Nam cố nhồi nhét vocabulary phức tạp mà không dùng tự nhiên. Một câu đơn giản nhưng natural và appropriate tốt hơn một câu chứa từ vựng cao cấp nhưng sử dụng sai context.
3. Think in English, don’t translate:
Dấu hiệu của translation:
- Pauses ở weird places
- Unusual word order
- Formal vocabulary trong informal context
Cách cải thiện: Immerse yourself in English content (podcasts, videos) để absorb natural patterns.
Xử Lý Tình Huống Khó
Khi không hiểu câu hỏi:
✅ Nên: “I’m sorry, could you rephrase that question?” hoặc “Do you mean…?”
❌ Không nên: Guess và trả lời sai hướng, hoặc im lặng
Khi không biết từ vựng:
✅ Nên: Paraphrase hoặc describe: “I don’t know the exact word, but it’s like when you…”
❌ Không nên: Stop talking hoặc switch to Vietnamese
Khi blank mind:
✅ Nên: Use fillers tự nhiên: “Let me think about that for a moment…”, “That’s an interesting question…”
❌ Không nên: Long silence hoặc “I don’t know”
Khi phạm lỗi ngữ pháp:
✅ Nên: Self-correct naturally: “I mean…”, “Sorry, what I meant to say is…”
❌ Không nên: Dừng lại hoặc over-correct mọi lỗi nhỏ
Phát triển Band Score
Để đạt Band 6-7:
- Trả lời đầy đủ câu hỏi
- Develop ideas với reasons và examples
- Use basic connectors đúng (because, but, so)
- Vocabulary adequate cho topic
- Grammar mostly accurate với some complex sentences
Để đạt Band 7.5-8:
- Ideas more sophisticated và detailed
- Natural use của discourse markers
- Less common vocabulary used appropriately
- Wide range của grammatical structures
- Minimal errors that don’t impede communication
Để đạt Band 8.5-9:
- Sustained fluency với virtually no hesitation
- Sophisticated ideas với critical thinking
- Precise và flexible vocabulary
- Full range of grammatical structures
- Virtually error-free
- Natural rhythm và intonation
Luyện Tập Hiệu Quả
Daily practice routine:
-
Record yourself (10-15 phút/ngày):
- Part 2: Practice với cue cards khác nhau
- Listen back và identify hesitations, repetitions, errors
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Shadowing native speakers (15 phút/ngày):
- Listen to BBC podcasts, TED talks
- Repeat immediately sau speaker để absorb intonation và rhythm
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Think-aloud practice (throughout the day):
- Describe what you’re doing bằng tiếng Anh
- Narrate your thoughts và observations
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Mock tests with feedback (1-2 lần/tuần):
- Practice với teacher hoặc study partner
- Get specific feedback về pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary
Resources recommendation:
- IELTS-Simon.com – for natural, realistic answers
- ieltsliz.com – for comprehensive tips
- BBC Learning English – for pronunciation và natural phrases
- Youtube channels: E2 IELTS, IELTS Advantage
Common Mistakes của học viên Việt Nam
1. Pronunciation issues:
- Confusing /θ/ and /s/: “think” → “sink”
- Missing word endings: “waited” → “wait”
- Wrong stress patterns: “PHOtograph” vs “phoTOgrapher”
Fix: Focus on these specific sounds với targeted practice
2. Over-formal language:
- “I am of the opinion that…” trong Part 1
- “Furthermore, moreover, in addition” liên tục
Fix: Use more conversational phrases trong Part 1 và 2
3. Lack of examples:
- Only giving opinions without support
Fix: Always think “reason + specific example”
4. Memorized phrases too obvious:
- “There are several reasons for this phenomenon”
- “Last but not least”
Fix: Use natural discourse markers (Well, Actually, I think)
Nhớ rằng: IELTS Speaking không phải là một bài kiểm tra kiến thức mà là một cuộc trò chuyện để demonstrate communication skills. Hãy speaking naturally, confidently và authentically!
