Unit 3: Becoming Independent

SKILLS

READING

1. Work with a partner, ask and answer the questions. 

(Làm việc với bạn bên cạnh, hỏi và trả lời câu hỏi.)

1. Have you ever forgotten to do your homework? 
2. Do you often have to struggle to meet deadlines? 
3. How do you manage your time?

2. Read the text and select the statement that expresses its main idea.

(Đọc bài đọc và chọn câu diễn tả ý chính của bài.)

Being independent is being able to take care of yourself, and not having to rely on anyone else. That is what many young people strive for. However, the ability to live independently does not develop naturally: you need a number of life skills to stop relying on your parents and older siblings. Among those skills, time management is probably the most important one. With good time-management skills, you can build your confidence and self-esteem. These skills will also help you to perform your daily tasks, including your responsibilities at school and at home. If you can use your time wisely, you will not feel very stressed when exam dates are approaching. You can act more independently and responsibly, get better grades at school and have more time for your family and friends.

Time-management skills are not difficult to develop. First, make plans for the things you need to do on a planner or an app on your mobile device. Organise them in a schedule so that they can be checked later. Figure out how much time you will need for each of the things, and then put time limits on them. Second, prioritise your activities. If you have so much to do in a day or a week, you may be at a loss as to how to fit everything in. So decide what is important to you and give it the most of your time or add it to the top of your list. Third, develop routines, because once routines are developed, they take less time to do.

Time-management skills cannot be developed in one day. However, when you have them, they can help you to become independent.

Bài dịch:

Kỹ năng quản lý thời gian

Có được kỹ năng quản lý thời gian cũng không phai là quá khó. Đầu tiên bạn hãy lập kế hoạch cho những việc bạn cần làm trên bảng kế hoạch hoặc trên một ứng dụng ở điện thoại di động của bạn. Hãy sắp xếp chúng theo thời gian biểu đế sau đó bạn có thể kiểm tra. Bạn hãy xác định bạn cần bao nhiêu thời gian cho mỗi công việc và giới hạn thời gian cho công việc dỏ. Thử hai, bạn hãy ưu tiên cho các hoạt động của bạn. Neu bạn có qua nhiều việc phải làm trong một ngày hay một tuần, bạn có thể sẽ lúng túng vì phải tìm cách thu xếp công việc. Vì thế mà hãy quyết định việc nào là quan trọng với bạn và dành nhiều thời gian nhất cho công việc dó hoặc xếp nó lên đầu danh sách. Thứ ba. bạn hây xây dựng lề thói làm việc hàng ngày vì khi đã thành lề thói hàng ngày thì chúng sẽ tốn ít thời gian thực hiện hơn.

Kỹ năng quản lý thời gian không thể trong một ngày mà có được. Tuy nhiên khi bạn đă có những kỹ năng đó. chúng có thể giúp bạn trở nên độc lập.

     A. You need important life skills to become independent.

     B. Good time-management skills help you to build your confidence and self-esteem.

     C. Time-management skills are not difficult to develop.

     D. Mastering time-management skills has many benefits and there are three steps to develop them.

3. Read the text again. Dccidc whether the sentences are true (T), false (F), or not given (NG). 

(Đọc lại bài đọc rồi quyết định xem nhừng câu sau đây đúng (T). sai (F) hay không có thông tin (NG)) 

4. Answer the following questions. 

(Trả lời những câu hỏi dưới đây.)

1. What are the benefits of having good time-management skills?

→ With good time-management skills, vou don't feel very stressed when exam dates are approaching; you can act more independently and respossibly, get better grades at school and have more time for family and friends.

2. How can you make plans for the things you need to do?

→ Write the things you will have to do on a planner or an app on your mobile device, and put time limits on them.

3. Why should you schedule the things you need to do?

→ So you can check them later.

4. How can you prioritise your activities?

→ Decide what is important to you and give it the most of vour time or add it to the top of your list.

5. Why should you develop routines?

→ Once routines are developed, they take less time to do.

5. Work in groups. Discuss the questions. 

(Làm việc theo nhóm và thảo luận những câu hỏi sau.)

Học sinh làm việc theo nhóm và trình bày ý kiến cá nhân

SPEAKING

1. The table below presents the skills teens need to develop in order to he independent, and the reasons why those skills are necessary. Work in pairs. Discuss and match the skills with the appropriate reasons. 

(Bảng dưới đây trình bày những kỹ năng các bạn thanh thiếu niên cần xây dựng cho mình để trở thành người độc lập và lý do tại sao những kỹ năng đó là cần thiết. Làm việc theo cặp. thào luận và ghép các kỹ năng với những lý do phù hợp.)

1. Finding information	1 - D	A. Activities such as doing the laundry or cleaning the house are important daily routines.
2. Getting around on your own	2 - F	B. You gain confidence in your ability to make good decisions and don’t avoid issues.
3. Coping with loneliness	3 - C	C. You communicate effectively and get along well with people around you.
4. General housekeeping	4 - A	D. You think independently and make informed decisions.
5. Health and hygiene	5 - G	E. Lacking these skills may make you feel depressed and you may make the wrong decisions about your life.
6. Problem solving	6 - B	F. You don’t depend on others to go to places and take responsibility for being late.
7. Interpersonal communication	7 - C	G. Keeping your body healthy and clean will make you feel happy and more confident.

2. Lan and Minh are talking about what they think arc the most important skills the) need in order to be independent. Use the words in the box to complete their conversation. Then practicc it in pairs. 

(Lan và Minh đang nói về những điều họ cho là những kỹ năng quan trọng nhất để trở thành người độc lập. Hãy dùng từ cho trong khung để hoàn thành cuộc nói chuyện của các bạn ấy rồi tập hội thoại theo cặp.)

Lan: Minh, which of the life skills do you think are the most important?

Minh: In my opinion, coping with (1)____loneliness____ is the most important skill.

Lan: Really? Why do you think so?

Minh: Because lacking this skill may make me feel depressed and I may make the wrong (2) _____decisions____  about my life. What about you? Which of the skills are the most important for you?

Lan: (3) _____Interpersonal communication____  skills. Because they can help me to (4) ____communicate_____ effectively and get along well with people around me.

3. If you want to he independent, which of the skills in 1 are the most important for you? Work in pairs. Use the ideas in 1 to have a similar conversation as the one in 2. 

(Nếu bạn muốn độc lập, theo bạn kỹ năng nào ở bài tập 1 là quan trọng nhất? Theo cặp. hãy sử dụng những ý tưởng ở bài tập 1 làm thành một cuộc hội thoại tương tự như ở bài tập 2.)

LISTENING

How parents help you become independent.

1. Look at the photo and answer the questions. 

(Hãy nhìn tranh và trả lời câu hỏi.)

- What are the people in the photo doing?

→ The father is helping the boy ride a bike.

- Do you think the boy needs his father's assistance to learn to ride a bicycle independently?

(Câu trả lời tùy thuộc học sinh)

2.  Listen to an interview on Life Skills, the most popular radio show for teens and parents, and match the statements with the speakers. 

(Hãy nghe cuộc phỏng vấn nói về Những kỹ năng sống, chương trình phát sóng truyền thanh được yêu thích nhất dành cho tuổi thiếu niên và các bậc phụ huynh rồi ghép những lời phát biêu theo đúng người nói.)

Click tại đây để nghe: 

Statements

a. He has to fulfill all his responsibilities, and is punished if he fails.

b. His parents tend to be very protective of him.

c. He has to do household chores and follow a set routine.

d. One of his responsibilities is to look after his grandparents.

e. He has been taught to make his own decisions.

f. He is encouraged to express his opinions.

Speakers

1. Long: b, f 
2. Tuan:  a,d  
3. Minh:  c, e

3. Answer the questions.

Click tại đây để nghe: 

1. Why does Long think his parents are overprotective of him?

→ Because they didn't let him do any household chores and drove him to school until he finished Grade 9.

2. What do Long’s parents often encourage him to do?

→ To voice (speak out) his opinions.

3. What do Tuan’s parents focus on teaching him?

→ They focus on teaching him about responsibility.

4. How do Tuan’s parents keep him motivated?

→ If he does his responsibility well, they give him a reward.

5. What does Minh have to do?

→ To do chores and follow a set routine.

6. What can Minh do about his clothes, books, or toys?

→ He can make his own choices about these items.

4. Work in groups. Tell your group members whether you were brought up in the same way as Long, Tuan, or Minh.  

(Làm việc theo nhóm. Hãy nói cho các thành viên trong nhóm biết cm có được dạy giống như Long. Tuấn hay Minh không)

* Câu trả lời tùy thuộc học sinh

Lời trong băng

MC: Hello and welcome to Life Skills, the most popular radio show for teens and parents. Today. I've invited three Grade 11 students to share with us how their parents help them to become independent. Long, would you like to start?

Long: Hi. well. I'm the only child, so my parents tend to be overprotective of me.

They didn't let me do any household chores and drove me to school until finished Grade 9. However, since I was a little child. I’ve always been encouraged to voice my opinions. My parents even aske for my opinion before they make important family decisions.

MC: That’s great. That helps you develop self-confidence. And Tuan? How do your| parents help you become independent?

Tuan: Well, my parents focus on teaching me about responsibility. I’m given a list on responsibilities, such as doing household chores, looking after my grandparents... And my parents make sure that I fulfill all of them. If I fail. I get punished. Bui if I do them well, I get a reward. This keeps me motivated.

MC: Your parents seem strict, but also very fairễ What about you, Minh?

Minh: My parents set some limits and establish rigid rules about important issues. I have to do chores and follow a set routine. But I can make my own choices about personal things such as clothes, books or toys. My parents encourage me to consider all options before making my own decisions.

MC: Yes, setting limits can teach you self-discipline, and keep you safe and healthy.

It's also great that your parents teach you decision-making skills. I hope thai one day you'll be ready to leave home and live independently. Thank you so much for joining the show.

WRITING

1. Read the advertisement for life skills courses in Teenage Magazine below and answer the questions.

(Hãy đọc mục quảng cáo về các khóa học kỹ năng sống trên Tạp Chí Thiếu Niên dưới đây rồi trả lời câu hỏi)

Dịch:

TRUNG TÂM RÈN LUYỆN KỸ NĂNG NGÔI SAO XANH

1. What courses are advertised?

→ Courses that teach the skills people need to become independent.

2. Who are the courses for?

→ Those who want to be independent / live on their own successfully.

3. What skills do you think you will be taught if you take the ‛Coping with loneliness’ course?

→ The skills to overcome the feeling of loneliness.

4. What will you get if you enrol early?

→ A discount on tuition fee.

5. What can you do if you need more information about the courses?

→ Write to Ms Angela Brown.

2. Denise is interested in the life skills courses. Below is her letter asking for further information, but the parts are jumped-up. Put them in the right order according to the template on page 32. 

(Denise quan tâm đến khóa học dạy kỳ năng sống. Dưới đây là bức thư cô ấy viết yêu cầu niết thèm thông tin, nhưng những phần trong bức thư đã bị đảo lộn. Hãy xếp chúng lại theo đúng thứ tự theo mẫu viết thư ở trang 32.)

April 21st, 2013

Dear Ms Brown,

a) I am a first year student and live away from home. Although I have close friends, I miss my family very much. I don’t like being alone and I always need someone to be around me. I don’t know how to overcome the feeling of loneliness so I can become more independent.

(b) I would also like to know how much the tuition fee will be if I enrol early.

(c) Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

(d) I am writing to enquire about the life skills courses you advertised in Teenage Magazine.

(e) I hope that your answers to my questions will help me to make the right decision about the course.

(f) Could you advise me which of the courses I should take?

Sincerely,

Denise

Letter template:

• Date
• Greeting
• Content
  1. Stating the reason for writing the letter and / or giving reference: (d)
  2. Giving background information: (a)
  3. Requesting advice based on the background information: (f)
  4. Requesting further information: (b)
  5. Expressing hope: (e)
  6. Thank-you note and formal closing: (c)
• Signature

• course duration (thời lượng khóa học)
• lecturer / trainer (giáng viên / huấn luyện viên)
• starling date (ngày bắt đầu học)
• certificate, etc (chứng chỉ ...)

Yours sincerely,

Tran Bao Ngoc