Follow the steps in the writing guide.

WRITING GUIDE

A. TASK

Write an opinion essay with this title:

Should school holidays be shorter?

B. THINK AND PLAN

1. How long are school holidays in your country?

2. Why do we have school holidays?

3. What do you do in the holidays?

4. Do the holidays create any problems? If so, what are they?

5. Would you like the holidays to be longer or shorter? Why?

C. WRITE

Paragraph 1: Introduce the question in the title.

Many people think ...

Paragraph 2: Give your opinion.

In my opinion, ... Firstly, ... Secondly, ... Finally, ...

Paragraph 3: End the essay by answering the question directly.

All in all, ...

D. CHECK

- number of paragraphs

- ordering of information

- key phrases

- can, could, be able to

- have to, need to, must, should

4. USE IT! Prepare and practise an interview with a famous sports star. Follow the instructions.

(Chuẩn bị và thực hành một cuộc phỏng vấn với một ngôi sao thể thao nổi tiếng. Làm theo chỉ dẫn.)

 - Work in pairs. One of you is a famous sports  star and the other is an interviewer.

(Làm việc theo cặp. Một trong hai bạn là ngôi sao thể thao nổi tiếng và người kia là người phỏng vấn.)

- Prepare some questions and answers.  

(Chuẩn bị một số câu hỏi và câu trả lời.)

- Act out the interview in class.

(Thực hiện cuộc phỏng vấn trong lớp.)

5. USE IT! Work in pairs. Look at the pictures. Imagine that you went to a football match  or basketball game last weekend. Prepare and practise new dialogues with the phrases in exercises 2 and 3.

(Làm việc theo cặp. Nhìn vào những bức tranh. Hãy tưởng tượng rằng bạn đã tham dự một trận đấu bóng đá hoặc trận đấu bóng rổ vào cuối tuần trước. Chuẩn bị và thực hành các đoạn hội thoại mới với các cụm từ trong bài tập 2 và 3.)

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Househusbands

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the article on American families. In general I agree with it, but there are some important things it left out. It didn't tell the reader much about the life of a househusband. It's not an easy life. I know, because I'm now a househusband myself. A househusband has to change many of his ideas and his ways.

First of all, he has to change the way he thinks about time. Before I was a househusband, I worked full-time for the New York Times. I was a reporter, and time was always important. We had to finish our article quickly and give them to the editor. Everyone was always in a hurry. This is the way, many other men work, too. Businessmen, lawyers, bankers, and doctors all have to work quickly.

At home it's different. The househusband cannot be in a hurry all the time. If you rush around, you will make everyone unhappy! The children will be unhappy because they don't understand. For them, time is not important. Your wife will be unhappy because the children are unhappy. You will be unhappy, too, because they are all unhappy. So you have to learn to slow down. That is the first and most important rule for a househusband.

There is something else the househusband must learn. You must learn to show how you feel about things. At work, men usually do not talk about feelings. If they do, people think they are strange. So, many men are not used to telling anyone about their feelings. They do not know how to talk about their anger, worries, or love. But children need to know how you feel. They need to know how much you love them. If you are angry, they need to know why. Your wife also needs to know about your feelings. If you do not say anything, your family may get the wrong idea. Then there may be serious problems.

People talk a lot about househusbands these days. Usually they talk about men doing the housework, the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. But in my opinion, these are the easiest things to learn. It was much harder for me to change the way I think and the way I act with my family. I think, other men will also find this harder, but, like me, will find it necessary if they want to have a happy family!

Ted Diamond

The househusband has to learn ______ .

A. to do things more slowly

B. the importance of time.

C. to do things more quickly

D. how to understand his work.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Househusbands

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the article on American families. In general I agree with it, but there are some important things it left out. It didn't tell the reader much about the life of a househusband. It's not an easy life. I know, because I'm now a househusband myself. A househusband has to change many of his ideas and his ways.

First of all, he has to change the way he thinks about time. Before I was a househusband, I worked full-time for the New York Times. I was a reporter, and time was always important. We had to finish our article quickly and give them to the editor. Everyone was always in a hurry. This is the way, many other men work, too. Businessmen, lawyers, bankers, and doctors all have to work quickly.

At home it's different. The househusband cannot be in a hurry all the time. If you rush around, you will make everyone unhappy! The children will be unhappy because they don't understand. For them, time is not important. Your wife will be unhappy because the children are unhappy. You will be unhappy, too, because they are all unhappy. So you have to learn to slow down. That is the first and most important rule for a househusband.

There is something else the househusband must learn. You must learn to show how you feel about things. At work, men usually do not talk about feelings. If they do, people think they are strange. So, many men are not used to telling anyone about their feelings. They do not know how to talk about their anger, worries, or love. But children need to know how you feel. They need to know how much you love them. If you are angry, they need to know why. Your wife also needs to know about your feelings. If you do not say anything, your family may get the wrong idea. Then there may be serious problems.

People talk a lot about househusbands these days. Usually they talk about men doing the housework, the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. But in my opinion, these are the easiest things to learn. It was much harder for me to change the way I think and the way I act with my family. I think, other men will also find this harder, but, like me, will find it necessary if they want to have a happy family!

Ted Diamond

The househusband has to learn ______ .

A. to do things more slowly.

B. the importance of time.

C. to do things more quickly.

D. how to understand his work.

Read the passage and do the exercise below

English Volunteer Teachers in Vietnam

There is a serious shortage of English teachers in high schools , colleges and universities . Many students have only had the chance to learn English from a local Vietnamese teacher , who is responsible for around 50 students . Volunteers from English speaking countries are needed to assit Vietnamese teachers to teach the students correct English pronunciation and conversational skills as it is considered a valuable asset . Please note that if you wish to volunteer during the school holidays in July and August you will be teaching English to 6-18 year olds as a part of the Children's Program .

In Vietnam , the English language is considered as a gateway to the students' future and a chance to escape poverty . Effective use of the English language will provide students with confidence and improve their future employment opprtunities .

Volunteers in the Teaching program are not required to be a qualified teacher or have any previous teaching experience All we ask is that you give 100% effort and enthusiasm in your work with the students .

Write " T " before the sentence if it is true . Write " F" if the sentence is not true .

1. Volunteer teachers will help Vietnamese teachers to teach the students pronunciation and conversational skills

2. Each volunteer teacher will have to be responsible for a class of 50 students

3. Volunteers in this teaching program must be qualified and experienced in teaching English

4. Volunteer teachers should be enthusiastic about their work with students .

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

Househusbands

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the article on American families. In general I agree with it, but there are some important things it left out. It didn't tell the reader much about the life of a househusband. It's not an easy life. I know, because I'm now a househusband myself. A househusband has to change many of his ideas and his ways.

First of all, he has to change the way he thinks about time. Before I was a househusband, I worked full-time for the New York Times. I was a reporter, and time was always important. We had to finish our article quickly and give them to the editor. Everyone was always in a hurry. This is the way, many other men work, too. Businessmen, lawyers, bankers, and doctors all have to work quickly.

At home it's different. The househusband cannot be in a hurry all the time. If you rush around, you will make everyone unhappy! The children will be unhappy because they don't understand. For them, time is not important. Your wife will be unhappy because the children are unhappy. You will be unhappy, too, because they are all unhappy. So you have to learn to slow down. That is the first and most important rule for a househusband.

There is something else the househusband must learn. You must learn to show how you feel about things. At work, men usually do not talk about feelings. If they do, people think they are strange. So, many men are not used to telling anyone about their feelings. They do not know how to talk about their anger, worries, or love. But children need to know how you feel. They need to know how much you love them. If you are angry, they need to know why. Your wife also needs to know about your feelings. If you do not say anything, your family may get the wrong idea. Then there may be serious problems.

People talk a lot about househusbands these days. Usually they talk about men doing the housework, the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. But in my opinion, these are the easiest things to learn. It was much harder for me to change the way I think and the way I act with my family. I think, other men will also find this harder, but, like me, will find it necessary if they want to have a happy family!

Ted Diamond

According to the passage, children _______ .

A. don't know how to show their feelings.

B. are always in a hurry.

C. usually don't think time is important.

D. are usually unhappy.