UNIT 5: RELATIONSHIP

Part 2: Talk about a closed friend

Well, the person I’d like to talk to you about is a very good friend of mine, Van.
We struck up a relationship when we were just little babies because our parents
are closed friends.
If I were to describe how she looks I would say Van is a very gorgeous and
charming girl who always attracts a lot of attention from men. She is much
taller than me so it’s kind of embarrassing standing next to her to be honest.
Van also has straight black hair and deep, dark brown eyes. Like most
teenagers, she pays a lot of attention to her appearance and likes dressing in the
latest and I can say that she is a fashionita.
I usually meet her at the weekend because we study at different schools. We
often go to the cinema or the café, we can talk about stories at my or her
schools. It is so interesting.
And the reason why she became my bestie is that we really hit it off right from
the start, and we also see eye to eye on a lot of things such as fashion, sport and
even video games. She is my closest friend so I feel like we can share
everything together, from schoolwork to our love lives. The thing I admire most
about Van is that she is really protective and likes to look after people.
I think that I’m so lucky to have a friend like her. So, if I had to talk about one
of my best friends, it would have to be Van.

Part 1
1. Do you have a large or small family?
I come from a small family. There are 5 people in my family: my parents, an
older and a younger brother. So, I am the only daughter in the family.
2. How much time do you spend with your family?
For now, I live alone in another city far from my family, so, I am only able to
spend about two days per month with them.
3. What do you like to do together as a family?
My family enjoys cooking together and afterwards having special meals.
We catch up on news and talk about our lives. We enjoy music as well. So,
when we get together, we play several musical instruments and sing along.
4. Do you get along well with your family?
Sure. We are really close to each other. I am happy that I can tell them
anything. They are always there to listen when I have problems.
5. Is yours a typical family?
Well, I can say that, yes, our family is a typical one. A family, who stays by
each other through good times and bad times.
6. Are there many different types of family in your country?
Yes, types of families vary in terms of the size of the household. There are
small families with one or two children and large families with about eight or
more children. Sometimes, parents decide to adopt a child without relatives.
7. Who are you closest to in your family? (5)
I am the closest to my mom. I think it is because we are the only women in the
family. So, we share the same ideas about many things and she always supports
me.
8. Which country are you from?
I come from Vietnam, where people are very friendly and I always feel safe
when staying in the country.
9. Do you live with your family?
Yes, I am living with my family now. Because of pandemic COVID19, I have
been at home since Liberation Day ( 30th April).
10. What does your mother do?
My mother is a doctor. She works at a hospital in my hometown. She is so busy
but she always look after her family well.
11. Do you have a lot of close friends? (6)
I have only one friend I would confide in. I’m quite picky and more
importantly, I have a somewhat irrational fear that none of my friends really like
me and that I’m just a guy they can barely tolerate and it is hard for me to live
in harmony with them.
12. Do you think friendship is important? (7)
Off course, friendships play a vital role in our life. They make our lives
interesting and wonderful. They help us develop a sense of sharing whether they
are tangible things or just inspirational or motivational words of wisdom.
13. Which do you prefer: to spend time with a friend or spend time alone?
(8)
It depends. Normally, I’m more of a loner and generally spend more time in
solitude than with friends. But when I’m in a bad mood, loneliness makes me
feel isolated from the whole world. On those days, I will hang out with my
friends so that sad and unhappy thoughts don’t come into my mind.
14. What kind of people do you like to have as friends?(9)
I find myself attracted to people who are honest and who know how to behave
with others. I always avoid making friends with people who have a superiority
complex.
15. Are most of your friends from school or outside school? (10)
Most of my friends are from high school. People who I met at work or from
clubs have less in common with me, whereas at Uni we shared common
interests.
Part 2
Describe the person in your family who you most admire. (Miêu tả người trong
gia đình mà bạn ngưỡng mộ nhất)
You should say:
 what their relationship is to you
 what they have done in their life
 what they do now
 and explain why you admire them so much.
Model Answer
Well, it’s really hard for me to choose one family member that I admire
because, you know, I love and admire them all equally. But if I had to choose
one, it would have to be my dad.
You know, my dad is a very hard-working person. He gets up pretty early, at
about 5 and 5:30 every morning. He often has quick breakfast and then goes to
the farm. He normally works 10 or 12 hours a day on the farm. You
know, farming for a living is hard work, especially during summer time, when
the temperature can go up to nearly 40 degrees which is extremely hot. Working
outdoors in this condition is a nightmare. Although my dad has to work super
hard to support the family, I’ve never heard him complain about hard work or
things like that. That’s the first reason why I really admire him.
And the second thing that I want to talk about is that my dad is a very
dedicated (tận tụy) husband and father. He always puts his family first. I
feel like he’s willing to do everything to make his wife and children smile.
Although he has to work super hard during the day, he always makes time
for me and my brothers and sisters.
I’ve learned a great deal from my dad. You know, being a farmer’s daughter,
I understand the value of hard work. My dad is always a good role model for
me. Actually, there are so many things that I could talk about, but I know that I
don’t have enough time for it. So if I had to choose one family member that I
admire the most, I would talk about my dad.