• Generally (speaking), ...

• For the most part, ...

• Typically/Usually, …

B. FOCUS ON SPEAKING

Describe a natural environment that you like (e.g. forest, lake, park, mountain)
You should say: + Fresh air
• Where it is mountain + Breath-taking landscapes
• What you can see there + Hiking
• What people do there + Enoy cool atmostphere
+ Get closer to nature
And explain why you like this particular natural environment

Suggestions
It is better to invent one rather than talk about a real one. You can talk about “a newly-developed
riverside park with botanical gardens’’, for example. Living by doing sth about agriculture
Looking after the forest
Focus on Uncommon Vocabulary Cutting down forest to heat themselves
Nouns: habitat, a bamboo wooded area, lush shrub, gorgeous flower, stunning plant life, rock sculpture
Verbs: like being in the fresh air, encourage
Adjectives: tranquil, unspoiled, spectacular, clean
Idioms:
Get closer to nature (= able to see things in nature like trees and animals, able to have a good
experience in nature)
• When we were camping in the mountains, we got really close to nature. We even saw a bear!

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Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city (= get away from busy and frenetic activity or
excitement of the city)
• I want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and live a quiet and simple life in some
remote area.

Focus on Grammar
Use present perfect tense:
• I’ve actually been there a few times.
Use past continuous and past simple:
• The first time I visited this place, I took quite a few photos while I was walking around.
Use future tense:
• It’s going to be enlarged next year; it will include a boating lake.

Sample Response

I'm going to talk about an amazing place in my hometown called Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

It’s located close to District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, and as far as I know, they’re listed as one of the oldest
zoos in the world, since they were founded about more than 100 years ago. There are lots of animals
exhibited in the zoo, along with a wide variety of trees and plant species.

The Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a popular place to while away an afternoon and is visited
by locals and tourists, especially those who want to get closer to nature. This is because there are a
number of different sections to explore including the animal conservation area, orchid garden and plant
conservation centre and a children’s amusement area as well. Besides, the zoo exhibits a diverse range of
animals including monkeys, tigers and hippos, and it also aims to help animal conservation of endangered
species through a breeding-in-captivity program. The way I see it, this area can be used as a knowledge
centre where visitors can learn more about the species on display and how to protect them for the future.

Hmm… what else I can tell you?

Oh yes, there are many reasons why I like this place. When I visited it the first time two years ago, it was
tranquil with not many people, so I took quite a few photos while I was walking around the zoo. Since
then, I’ve been there a few more times. Also, I think the Ho Chi Minh Zoo and Botanical Gardens brings a
truly amazing feeling to witness natural scenery, with lots of surrounding trees and gorgeous flowers.
Generally speaking, all those things make this place a popular attraction for those who want to get away
from the hustle and bustle of the city.

That’s all I want to talk about this amazing place.

Suggested Response

I'm going to talk about an amazing place in my country called ……………. Your own keywords

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………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
It’s located …………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This is a popular place to……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
and is visited by…..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
There are many reasons why I like this place.……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
That’s all I want to talk about this amazing place.

PART 3
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
• Which environmental
problems are people most
concerned about in your
country?
Sample response:
Well, I think many Vietnamese
people are most concerned about
global warming, which I suppose is
as a result of excessive emissions
of greenhouse gases. This causes
us to experience much hotter
summers, and they’re particularly
worrying in the Central and the South of the country where there is a real risk of drought due to the

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consistent lack of rainfall. The extinction of many species is considered as another critical issue, with
increasing numbers of endangered species like rhinos and white tigers killed in recent years.

Suggested response:
Well, I think many Vietnamese people are most concerned about…
…is considered as another critical issue…

………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… Your own keywords

………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………

• What should the government do to protect the environment?

Sample response:
There are some practical measures that policymakers should take to protect it. One of them is cutting
carbon emissions. They can encourage many citizens to use public transport on a more regular basis rather
than private one, as transportation has become the major source of CO2 emissions in recent years.
Another measure could be recycling. The government needs to ensure that all of recycling materials are
being reused as they should be, as well as throw bags in with mixed recyclables.

Suggested response:
There are some practical measures that policymakers should take to protect it. One of them is (that)…
Another measure could be (that)…

………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… Your own keywords

………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………

• How about individuals? What measures can they take to protect the environment?
Sample response:
There are a lot of ways on how individuals can do to protect the environment. They should reduce energy
use by turning off appliances when they’re not using them. This will consequently help minimize electricity
consumption. They can also ese a fuel-efficient car, or if they are traveling in short distances, take a walk
or ride a bicycle would be more preferable.

Suggested response:

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There are a lot of ways on how individuals can do to protect the environment. They should…
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… Your own keywords
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………
………………….………………………………………….………………………………………….…… ………………….………………………

HOMEWORK

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

PART 1
• Do you take an interest in nature?
• Have you ever participated in any environmental events?
• Do you think pollution is a big problem nowadays?
• Do you or your family take steps to help the environment?
PART 2

Describe a river, lake or sea that you have visited

You should say:
• Where this place is
• Why you went there
• What you liked about this place
And say whether you would like to go there again

PART 3
• What do you think is the main danger the world faces in terms of the environment?
• What examples are there of how we damage the natural world?
• In which ways do we respond well to environmental problems?

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