(Reading time: 4 - 8 minutes)
27. Tiredness (new)
What things make you tired?
Sample answer
Most of the things that cause my tiredness are related to work, for example the huge workload making me work overtime, unexpected problems I have to deal with, aggressive and impatient customers, or unsupportive colleagues. All of the things I've just listed are really troublesome and tiring.
What do you do when you feel tired?
Sample answer
Every time tiredness arises, a cup of herbal tea or a gentle song is what I need. In general, I tend to lose myself into music or the nice smell of herbal tea to clear my mind and somewhat distract myself from the stress and anxiety.
Who do you prefer talking to when you feel mentally tired, your friends of your family?
Sample answer
I have my preference for talking to my family, particularly my younger sister, every time I feel stressed or mentally tired. My younger sister is the one who I spend most of my time with and feel very comfortable when being with her. So, a small talk with her is what I need.
Do you want to talk to strangers when you feel mentally tired?
Sample answer
No, I don't. I'm usually not in the mood of small talks to strangers when the mental tiredness arises. I'd rather stay alone and get some sleep rather than get involved in small talks.
28. Sun/ Sunny days (new)
Do you like sunshine? / Do you like sunny days?
Sample answer: If no
To be honest, I’m not into sunny . I’d prefer a partially cloudy day without rain, when the weather is pretty cool, so that I could pleasantly take part in outdoor activities without getting sunburn or sweating from the heat of the sun’s rays.
Sample answer: If yes
Yes, I am in love with sunshine and the sunny weather. I find that a sunny day can somewhat lift up my moods and make me feel more positive. Also, when I go out on a sunny day, I don't have to worry about whether I've brought along a raincoat or whether my clothes and shoes can stand the rainwater.
What do you like to do on a sunny day?
Sample answer
On a sunny day, I like to wake up early and take a walk around my neighborhood to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine, when the temperature isn’t too high. I also prefer to do the laundry as clothes dry faster due to the lower humidity on these days.
Sample answer
Sunny day is the best weather to do some outdoor activities. The first thing I like to do is my personal errands such as going to the mall, buy food at the market and visit different places. In fact, I normally go out on weekend’s afternoon to do these activities with my friends. To sum up, sunny days is the best time to do almost everything.
Would you like to stay at home or go outside when the weather is great?
Sample answer
I’ve always had the urge to go outside on a nice day, as the beautiful weather makes me feel really comfortable from the inside. Also, there’s no hindrance of crappy weather to outdoors activities, so I think I just can’t stick to staying in bed and missing such an occasion.
Sample answer
I prefer being indoor rather than outdoor regardless of the nice weather. I don’t like to be exposed under the sun and try my best to avoid getting sunburn or sweating because of the sun's rays.
Have you ever used sunscreen?
Sample answer
Yes, of course. I will not leave my house without applying sunscreen on my skin. The reason is that I am immensely aware of the importance of sunscreen use which can help prevent skin cancer by protecting you from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
Are there any technologies with sun nowadays? For example?
Sample answer
The first thing that springs to my mind when I hear the questions is the solar panel. This device involves the use of sunlight to generate electricity at home by a range of solar panels being set up on the rooftop. The solar panel is extremely environmentally friendly and economic by saving money on electrical bills.
Are there many sunny days in your hometown?
Sample answer
My hometown is in the middle region of a tropical country which means there’s usually sunshine. In fact, due to its coastal location, it’s the driest and hottest region in my country, especially in the summer, so the weather is somewhat extreme.
29. Market (old)
What do street markets sell ?
Sample answer
They sell all kinds of grocery and food, ranging from household supplies to fresh fruits, meats and vegetables. there are also some niche markets which particularly sell one kind of products, such as woodwork, chemicals, fabric, or clothing.
Are there many street markets in Vietnam?
Sample answer
There are a lot of marketplaces in Vietnam. Prior to the emergence of supermarkets, street markets are the common place where Vietnamese people shop for grocery. No matter how developed Vietnam has become, I believe street markets still exist in Vietnam.
What are the differences between street markets and supermarkets?
Sample answer
The most remarkable difference is related to bargain. Definitely you cannot make any bargains when shopping in a supermarket since everything comes with a fixed price on a tag. In contrast, bargaining has become a norm when buying things at a local market, otherwise you might be overcharged.
Do you often go to the supermarket?
Sample answer
I don’t often go to the supermarket. I mostly do the shopping at the convenient store where I can quickly grab things I want and leave.
30. Visit relatives (old)
Do you often visit your relatives?
Sample answer
I don’t often visit my relatives because my work schedule is so tight and there are some relatives I don’t really like talking to. I just visit my relatives whenever I have to do that, particularly in some large family gatherings, like the death anniversary ceremonies or Tet holiday.
What do you do when visiting relatives?
Sample answer
Well, I do nothing special when paying a visit to my relatives. Mainly we have some small talks to catch up with each other and enjoy some home-made food.
When was the last time you visited a relative?
Sample answer
I don’t remember exactly but I would say it was around 5 months ago in Tet holiday. As a part of Vietnamese culture in the New Year, my family and I paid a visit to my uncle’s home to practice ancestor worship.
Why do people visit their relatives?
Sample answer
I think it is to maintain the ties of kinship. Unlike western cultures, in eastern cultures, individuals rely heavily on an extended network of mutual relationships with family members. That’s why the Vietnamese or Chinese pay a visit to their relatives regularly.
31. Social network (old)
How often do you use social networking applications?
Sample answer
I would say that I use social networking applications every day, especially facebook and instagram. Those apps are really fun and entertaining to kill the time.
Why do you use social networking apps?
Sample answer
I use Facebook and Instagram mostly to catch up with family and friends who also use these apps on a daily basis. Also, I check Facebook and Instagram to read latest news.
What are the disadvantages of social networking apps?
Sample answer 1
The most noticeable downside of this platform is related to its content. It is undeniable that there are a lot of fake or over-dramatic contents on these apps, trying to capture the public’s attention.
Sample answer 1
As for me, the biggest minus point of social networking apps is the excessive quantity of advertisements. I find the high-frequency advertising extremely irritating.
Do you think it is good to make friends online?
Sample answer
No. I don’t think starting a friendship through online platform is a good thing to do. This is because people who you perceive as friends can be deceptive and carry malicious intent. So, safety is better than sorry, you shouldn’t make friends online.
Are you going to change the amount of time spending on social networking apps in the future?
Sample answer
I have never thought about this, but I assume in the near future that's not gonna happen as social networking platforms are somehow part of my life.
Sample answer
Yes, in the future I'm gonna reduce the amount of time spending online and start to develop new good habits, such as doing physical exercise or reading books.