Part 1
Hometown
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is HCM City which is the largest financial and commercial center of Vietnam. I have been living here for more than 20 years now.
What’s the most interesting part of your hometown?
Well, hundreds of things come to mind because I’m in love with everything here. But if I have to pick one, food I guess. Living in a melting pot like HCM City means you have the opportunity to get exposed to different culinary cultures coming from around the world.
Would you say it is a good place to live? Why?
It depends. If you enjoy a fast-paced lifestyle, HCM city is a perfect choice for you. But if all the noises and pollutions can make you feel annoyed, living here will be a torture.
What changes would you like to make to your hometown?
As I mentioned, HCM city is notorious for its all-day long noises and heavily polluted air. So if I had a chance, I would build more open green spaces in central areas so that residents would have places to relax.
Crowded Place
What places do you think are often crowded?
Well, anywhere, from a hospital to even a post office can be extremely busy at any time during the day. This could be because HCM city attracts thousands of people from many parts of the country, and that’s why it is the most densely-populated city in Vietnam.
When was the last time you were in a crowded place?
It was only yesterday. My mom needed a new kettle so she had me visit the local department store to get it. I thought it would be busy, but what I saw in there was unexpected. There were an awful lot of people just standing around.
How do you feel when you are in crowded places?
Being in such busy places always makes me anxious as I can’t stand all those noises. My mind tends to race and the first thing that comes to my head is how to get out of there as soon as possible.
Patience
Were you patent when you were younger?
No, not really. When I was a child, I was notorious for my bad temper. I easily got mad when facing any emotional stress. Occasionally I still feel embarrassed about it when recalling it.
How do you feel when other people are not patent?
I think it’s understandable, especially for teenagers living in a crowded place like HCM city. I mean, it’s not as easy as it sounds to keep a cool head when you encounter a complicated situation.
Are you less or more patent when you’re angry?
As I said before, I used to be a hot-blooded boy when I was younger. At that time, patience was not something on my list. Impatience took lots of great opportunities from me, which I find quite regrettable.
Part 2
Describe a success your friend has achieved
• What it was
• When it happened
• Why your friend chose this area of activity
and explain why you thought this was a success.
I’m going to share with you a story about one of my friend’s successes that happened 3 years ago. After graduating from a small college located in the suburb of Dong Nai Province, Sumail decided to pursue his own ambition instead of following in his family’s footsteps, something that drove his parents crazy. Whereas his friends were squandering money on gambling or preparing to tie the knot, he started his career as an amateur Youtuber with nearly nothing to his name. During the very first part of his career path, due to the lack of financial support, he had to take lots of jobs in order to make ends meet. He was busy as a bee, taking part-time jobs in the daytime and burning the midnight oil night after night. After 1 year of hard work, he eventually managed to buy his first computer and then opened his own studio in a small dorm room. With his unique creativity and sense of humour, his career began to take off. Now he is one of the most popular youtubers in the world with more than 100 million subscribers. He has his own seaside villa, a number of supercars and an ideal family. We’re still talking about the old days as well as his achievements every time we meet.
Part 3
What qualities do you think are necessary for success in life?
To become a successful person in life, we are required to have a great number of qualities, but the most important one is certainly patience. I mean, nobody can succeed without experiencing failures. We need to persevere until the time is right, and our efforts will pay off.
Do you think having a lot of money can be seen as an achievement?
Yes, to some extent. All of us all try to earn as much money as possible as we all know it is terrible to live in poverty. Therefore, having a lot of money may mean the world to somebody and they are entitled to feel satisfied when achieving this as long as he or she doesn’t forget other values in life like family or love.
Is it good or bad for a person to be successful when he is still young?
It is more of a negative trend in my mind, simply because they will very likely be tempted by fame or wealth and fail to pursue other goals that are more precious like their career or a happy marriage. Public figures, for example Justin Bieber, who became internationally well-known way too early, are living a life fraught with scandals.
Do you think you are a person that feels happy easily?
Yes, probably. I consider myself as an optimistic and easygoing individual as I can smile even when my mood is low. I mean, I always try to look for the silver lining to stay positive in even the darkest moments in life. I often also burst out laughing when talking to someone humorous, even at a time of crisis.
Do rich people or poor people often feel happier?
It is quite difficult to say for sure. I guess the rich are more likely to feel happy as we all know material possessions can provide us with better education and entertainment. Therefore, we can more easily find jobs, enjoy a better living standard and afford activities that amuse us unlike those who are destitute.
Band 8.0