1. Do you like to write a letter or email?

I really like writing letters to other people, especially on special occasions. I remember writing many letters, like birthday letters, or farewell ones to any of my friends or relatives who had to go somewhere far away from me. My friends and relatives always feel happy when they receive a letter from me; they say that it makes them feel important and cherished.

2. Do you think emails are useful?

Emails are really useful and important to me. I can use emails to contact people who are staying far away from me, and this really comes in handy as I have lots of foreign friends. Moreover, I can receive notifications of special deals or interesting information through emails by subscribing to any online channels that appeal to me.

3. What sorts of letters (or emails) do you think are the most difficult to write?

Formal emails, like the ones you send to recruiters, to your boss, to your professor and so on, are very difficult to write. You have to choose the right tone for the emails so that they do not appear too casual or too serious, and you have to pay attention to the format of the emails too.

4. Do you prefer to write letters or emails? Why?

It depends. For special occasions, like on someone’s birthday, I prefer writing letters to congratulate them as handwritten letters can show my sincerity. However, if I need to write something formal, say to a recruiter to apply for a certain position, email is my first choice. It’s instant, easy to format and I can attach different files with it so it is very convenient too.

5. Do you think email might one day replace handwritten letters?

I don’t think so. Handwritten letters still carry in themselves special meanings, one of which is that they can show a writer’s sentiment. I always think that it feels different when you look at someone’s handwriting, like you can actually sense their feelings when they wrote the letter. So handwritten letters are irreplaceable, at least to me.

Vocabulary

1. Cherished [adj] (bringing the pleasure of love or caring about someone or something that is

important to you): cảm giác được yêu thương

E.g. Her most cherished possession is a 1926 letter from F. Scott Fitzgerald.

2. Tone [noun] (the general mood or main qualities of something): tông 

E.g. I didn't like the jokey tone of the article - I thought it was inappropriate.

3. Sincerity [noun] (honesty): sự chân thành

E.g. So when I sat down to write my public letter of apology, it dripped with venomous sincerity.

4. Sentiment [noun] (tender feeling or emotion): tình cảm

E.g. That song is full of patriotic sentiment. It moved me deeply.

5. Come in handy [expression] (to be useful): có ích

E.g. I’ll keep these bottles - they might come in handy

7. Parks& Trees

Parks

1. Do you like going to parks and/or public gardens?

I have to say I have a really strong liking for public green spaces such as parks and gardens. I believe that, when it comes to stress relief, nothing can beat hanging around in the park. I am a great fan of the color green, so being able to wander among the various shades of tree leaves appears to be the optimal way for me to wind down. What’s more, looking at children having fun or people exercising and relaxing also cheers me up. That is the reason why I always treat myself to a visit to the park as a compensation for my heavy workload.

2. When was the last time you went to a park?

It is just about a week since I last paid a visit to the park. It was indeed a heart-warming experience for me as we had a family gathering there. We had a small picnic under the shade of an old tree, and the best thing about it was that everyone in the family was there. My father had never found the time to play with me as he had always been busy, so I’ve got to make the most of the time we are now able to spend together. That morning was really memorable, and I wished it could have lasted forever. I had never had so much fun.

3. Do you think the parks and the gardens where you live could be improved in any way?

I love my local park, but it doesn’t mean that there is noroom for improvement. What bothers me most is the water pollution in the park’s lake. The water is turning greenish black and floating dead fish appear every now and then. For me, parks are supposed to provide citizens with a clean atmosphere to enjoy, so it is quite devastating to witness how environmental degradation has reached into the greenest place of the city. Personally, I holdthe local park-goers accountable 

forthrowing litter into the lake and contaminating the water. I believe that a policy of zero tolerance towards the act of littering the lake would be effective and alleviate the environmental problems facing the park authorities.

4. Would you like to see more parks and gardens in your home town?

I would definitely treasure the chance to witness the establishment of more and more green spaces in my city. My hometown is a highly industrial area with factories and skyscrapers everywhere, so I value the increase in the number of parks and gardens as more available breathing space away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete junglethat is my city. Air pollution from factories is another pressing issue, and the abundance of trees provided by parks contribute to enhancing the air quality. Parks and gardens also beautify the city’s image, as they add colors to the view with trees and flowers. I dislike simplicity, so the monotonous picture of a dull, greyish city of buildings is definitely not my cup of tea.

5. Do you prefer to relax with your friends in a park or an indoor space?

Although I enjoy going to parks, my preference would be to gather with friends indoors. Parks are a lovely place to exercise or to picnic, but they are often too noisy and dynamic for an intimate talk with buddies. I would rather go to a café or bookshop where I can enjoy peaceand quiet while concentrating on my friends’ stories and sharing our confidences. Another factor that puts me off gathering with friends in parks is the extremes of our weather. When the temperature hits rock bottomat 9 degree or climbs to the top of the ladder at 38 degrees in the height of summer, meeting up in parks is uncomfortable and unthinkable.