Luyện tập SVIP

Communication

Read some information about gift-giving in the UK. Read about each occasion and talk to a partner if you have a similar or different custom in Viet Nam.

● People in the UK often receive presents on Christmas Day and on their birthday.
● On Christmas Eve (24^th December), parents often put presents for their children in Christmas stockings and leave them in the children's bedrooms when they are asleep. Children believe that the presents are from Santa Claus who comes in through the chimney.
● On their 18^th birthday, when people become adults legally, they may also receive a silver key as a present to symbolise their entry into the adult world.
● Chocolate eggs are often given to children as presents at Easter, which is celebrated on a Sunday between 22^ndMarch and 25^th April.
● The most popular presents for mothers on Mother's Day are chocolates and flowers. Mother's Day is on a Sunday, and usually falls in the second half of March or the beginning of April.
Example 1:
Student A: I don't get presents on Christmas Day, but I get lucky money on New Year's Day.
Student B: Oh, really? I get presents on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Student A: Lucky you!
Example 2:
Student A: Do you give presents to your mother on Mother's Day?
Student B: No, I don't. But I give her flowers on Women's Day.
Student A: I do, too.

Communication

Put the following jumbled-up words and phrases to make questions about giving and receiving presents.

1. for/who/presents/do/buy/you/often

2. presents/on/buy/what/do/you/occasions

3. shopping for presents/which shop/you're/do you usually/when/go to

4. the most/present/expensive/what's/you've/given

Communication

Put the following jumbled-up words and phrases to make questions about giving and receiving presents.

1. on/presents/what/receive/you/occasions/do

2. get/what/you/normally/do/presents

3. received/what/ever/is/the/you've/present/best

Culture

Read the two texts about the American and the Vietnamese ideas of success and answer the questions.

Success for the Americans
The American idea of success has not changed much over the several centuries of its existence. First, success has always meant providing their family with a decent standard of living. Second, as for career development, success means ending their career in a higher and more prosperous position than when they began it. To an American, it is clear that success is the result of hard work and self-reliance.
Success for the Vietnamese
For many people, the idea of success varies greatly. However, the Vietnamese share some common views about personal success. First, success always goes along with a high-status job with good income. Second, being respected at work also means success. To a Vietnamese, a successful person is someone with high status and is supported by all people involved in his job.

1. What is the American idea of success?

2. Who can be considered a successful person in Viet Nam?

3. What are the similarities / differences between the ideas of success in the two cultures?