TOPIC 21 – BIRTHDAYS
Christopher (English US)
Jenny (English US)
- Do you enjoy birthdays?
Oh no. Time is the greatest enemy /ˈenəmi/ for every woman. I am no exception. I hate my birthday because it means I am another year older. The more I grow up, the less enthusiastic about birthdays I become.
Another reason is due to the fact that I’m tied up with loads of work and don’t have much time to spend on celebrations like birthdays. That’s actually quite sad.
However, when I was younger, parties were more enjoyable.
- What did you do on your last birthday? What do you usually do on your birthdays?
As I mentioned above, I have been rather busy for the last few years, so I didn’t do much on my last birthday. My birthday is always simple. On my last birthday, my husband and I went to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy seafood and some beverages, then we went to a cinema to watch a film. It’s quite simple, but very meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ and cozy /ˈkəʊzi/ to me.
- How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
First of all, I want to stress that I don’t like throwing big parties, especially for my birthdays. For that reason, I like something casual, like a small gathering with my husband or some of my close friends.
After that, we went to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy seafood and some beverages, then we went to a cinema to watch a film. It’s quite simple, but very meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ and cozy /ˈkəʊzi/ to me.
- Do you think it is important for you to celebrate your birthday?
Oh no, I don’t think it’s important. Time is the greatest enemy for every woman. They hate their birthdays because it means they’re another year older. The more I grow up, the less enthusiastic about birthdays I become.
Another reason is due to the fact that I’m tied up with loads of work and don’t have much time to spend on celebrations like birthdays.
So I just want to have a simple party with my husband or my close friends. It’s quite simple, but very meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ and cozy /ˈkəʊzi/ to me.
- What did you do on your birthday when you were young?
Well, when I was younger, at my birthday party, there were some of my friends and my boyfriend, who is now my husband. We went to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy seafood and some beverages, then we went to a cinema to watch a film. Lastly, we went to the Karaoker bar to let our hair down overnight. It was really crazy.
- Have your birthday parties changed compared to before?
Well, they haven’t changed. They remained the same. On my birthday party, as usual, my husband and I went to the best restaurant in my city to enjoy seafood and drink some beverages there. It’s really private, but it’s extremely meaningful to me.
- Have you changed a lot since your childhood?
I guess so. I mean, I am much more confident now compared to in the past. As a child, I was really insecure about myself, and it took me years to grow out of that mindset.
- Which birthdays are considered important in your country?
I’m not quite sure if there are any really special or essential birthdays in Vietnam. The only thing that crosses my mind is my 18th birthday, because the age of 18 is quite special. An individual of that age is legally considered to be an adult who must be responsible for his or her actions. Also, after their 18th birthday, people can drink alcohol and obtain a driving license.
- Do you receive lots of gifts on your birthday?
Oh no. On my birthday, I just invite some of my close friends and my husband. But only my husband most of the time. I want it simple and private. So I receive gifts mostly from my husbands. Every year, on my birthday, he gives me gifts such as flowers, chocolate bars, and dresses.
Although it is a few, it is meaningful to me a lot.
- With whom do you like to celebrate your birthday—family, friends, or alone?
I want to throw my birthday party with my husband. I want it to be simple, private, and quite cozy. But sometimes, I also want a party with my family and my friends to make it happier. But I love to party with my husband most of the time.
- What kinds of birthday gifts do you like to receive?
Well, actually, my birthday is really simple. just my husband and me most of the time. So I receive gifts from my husband most of the time. Including flowers, chocolate bars, dresses, or rings.
- What do people in your country do to celebrate birthdays?
In Vietnam, there are several things people can do for birthday celebrations. The most common activity is organizing a party in the presence of family members and friends. In addition, the celebrated individual will receive a birthday cake, cards with best wishes, and gifts from the celebrants. Still, nothing I just mentioned is obligatory.
- How do people often celebrate birthdays in your country?
Well, what I have noticed is that years ago, Vietnamese people used to mostly stay at home and throw indoor parties. But these days, they actually go on vacations on all sorts of occasions, including birthdays.
- Whose birthday do you think is the most important to celebrate in Vietnam?
I think the birthdays of people who have made the greatest contributions to our society and our nation are worth celebrating; for example, the most accomplished statesmen, the veterans who have defended the country, the doctors who have saved the lives of people and the most distinguished scientists who have made incredible scientific breakthroughs, and so on.
- How often do you go to a wedding or birthday party?
Well, I go to wedding ceremonies or birthday parties about 2-3 times a year. Sometimes 5–6 times a year.
- Which do you like more, birthday parties or weddings?
Given a choice, I would choose wedding ceremonies. They have a lot of dance and music. More importantly, I have a golden chance to meet my relatives and friends that I haven’t met for a long time. It’s great to meet a lot of people at weddings.
- Who is invited to a wedding party?
We can invite relatives, friends, co-workers, teachers, or neighbors to weddings. There’s a huge number of guests at Vietnamese weddings. Like at my wedding, we invited nearly 200 people to attend.
- How about a birthday party?
The number of participants for a birthday party is quite small, about 10–20 people. Because it’s quite private.
- If you could have a wedding party somewhere, where would it be?
Actually, I got married two years ago. But if I had a chance to marry my husband once, it would be on the beach in Nha Trang City. The good weather, the fresh air, and the scenery make my wedding more special, unique, and great.
VOCAB
- Enemy (n)
- Phiên âm: /ˈɛnəmi/
- Nghĩa: Kẻ thù
- Ví dụ: The two countries have been at war for years, considering each other as enemies.
- Throw big parties (idiom)
- Phiên âm: /θroʊ bɪɡ ˈpɑːrtiz/
- Nghĩa: Tổ chức tiệc lớn
- Ví dụ: They love to celebrate and often throw big parties for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
- Insecure (adj)
- Phiên âm: /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊr/
- Nghĩa: Thiếu tự tin, không an toàn
- Ví dụ: She has always been insecure about her appearance, constantly comparing herself to others.
- Cross someone’s mind (idiom)
- Phiên âm: /krɒs ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈmaɪnd/
- Nghĩa: Nảy ra trong tâm trí ai đó, nghĩ đến
- Ví dụ: It never crossed my mind that she would quit her job and move to another country.
- Most of the time
- Phiên âm: /moʊst ʌv ðə taɪm/
- Nghĩa: Hầu hết thời gian
- Ví dụ: Most of the time, she prefers to spend her weekends relaxing at home rather than going out.
- In the presence of
- Phiên âm: /ɪn ðə ˈprɛzəns ʌv/
- Nghĩa: Trong sự hiện diện của
- Ví dụ: It’s important to maintain professionalism in the presence of your superiors and colleagues.
- Go on vacations
- Phiên âm: /ɡoʊ ɒn veɪˈkeɪʃənz/
- Nghĩa: Đi nghỉ, đi du lịch
- Ví dụ: They love to go on vacations to exotic destinations, exploring new places and creating lasting memories.
- Scientific breakthroughs
- Phiên âm: /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈbrikˌθruːz/
- Nghĩa: Bước đột phá khoa học
- Ví dụ: The discovery of antibiotics was a significant scientific breakthrough that revolutionized the field of medicine.
- Distinguished (ADJ)
- Phiên âm: /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
- Nghĩa: Xuất sắc, nổi bật, đáng kính trọng
- Ví dụ: He is a distinguished professor, recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of physics.
TOPIC 21 – BIRTHDAYS
- Do you enjoy birthdays?
Oh no. Time is the greatest enemy /ˈenəmi/ for every woman. I am no exception. I hate my birthday because it means I am another year older. The more I grow up, the less enthusiastic about birthdays I become.
Another reason is due to the fact that I’m tied up with loads of work and don’t have much time to spend on celebrations like birthdays. That’s actually quite sad.
However, when I was younger, parties were more enjoyable.
- What did you do on your last birthday? What do you usually do on your birthdays?
As I mentioned above, I have been rather busy for the last few years, so I didn’t do much on my last birthday. My birthday is always simple. On my last birthday, my husband and I went to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy seafood and some beverages, then we went to a cinema to watch a film. It’s quite simple, but very meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ and cozy /ˈkəʊzi/ to me.
- How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
First of all, I want to stress that I don’t like throwing big parties, especially for my birthdays. For that reason, I like something casual, like a small gathering with my husband or some of my close friends.
After that, we went to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy seafood and some beverages, then we went to a cinema to watch a film. It’s quite simple, but very meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ and cozy /ˈkəʊzi/ to me.
- Do you think it is important for you to celebrate your birthday?
Oh no, I don’t think it’s important. Time is the greatest enemy for every woman. They hate their birthdays because it means they’re another year older. The more I grow up, the less enthusiastic about birthdays I become.
Another reason is due to the fact that I’m tied up with loads of work and don’t have much time to spend on celebrations like birthdays.
So I just want to have a simple party with my husband or my close friends. It’s quite simple, but very meaningful /ˈmiːnɪŋfl/ and cozy /ˈkəʊzi/ to me.
- What did you do on your birthday when you were young?
Well, when I was younger, at my birthday party, there were some of my friends and my boyfriend, who is now my husband. We went to one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy seafood and some beverages, then we went to a cinema to watch a film. Lastly, we went to the Karaoker bar to let our hair down overnight. It was really crazy.
- Have your birthday parties changed compared to before?
Well, they haven’t changed. They remained the same. On my birthday party, as usual, my husband and I went to the best restaurant in my city to enjoy seafood and drink some beverages there. It’s really private, but it’s extremely meaningful to me.
- Have you changed a lot since your childhood?
I guess so. I mean, I am much more confident now compared to in the past. As a child, I was really insecure about myself, and it took me years to grow out of that mindset.
- Which birthdays are considered important in your country?
I’m not quite sure if there are any really special or essential birthdays in Vietnam. The only thing that crosses my mind is my 18th birthday, because the age of 18 is quite special. An individual of that age is legally considered to be an adult who must be responsible for his or her actions. Also, after their 18th birthday, people can drink alcohol and obtain a driving license.
- Do you receive lots of gifts on your birthday?
Oh no. On my birthday, I just invite some of my close friends and my husband. But only my husband most of the time. I want it simple and private. So I receive gifts mostly from my husbands. Every year, on my birthday, he gives me gifts such as flowers, chocolate bars, and dresses.
Although it is a few, it is meaningful to me a lot.
- With whom do you like to celebrate your birthday—family, friends, or alone?
I want to throw my birthday party with my husband. I want it to be simple, private, and quite cozy. But sometimes, I also want a party with my family and my friends to make it happier. But I love to party with my husband most of the time.
- What kinds of birthday gifts do you like to receive?
Well, actually, my birthday is really simple. just my husband and me most of the time. So I receive gifts from my husband most of the time. Including flowers, chocolate bars, dresses, or rings.
- What do people in your country do to celebrate birthdays?
In Vietnam, there are several things people can do for birthday celebrations. The most common activity is organizing a party in the presence of family members and friends. In addition, the celebrated individual will receive a birthday cake, cards with best wishes, and gifts from the celebrants. Still, nothing I just mentioned is obligatory.
- How do people often celebrate birthdays in your country?
Well, what I have noticed is that years ago, Vietnamese people used to mostly stay at home and throw indoor parties. But these days, they actually go on vacations on all sorts of occasions, including birthdays.
- Whose birthday do you think is the most important to celebrate in Vietnam?
I think the birthdays of people who have made the greatest contributions to our society and our nation are worth celebrating; for example, the most accomplished statesmen, the veterans who have defended the country, the doctors who have saved the lives of people and the most distinguished scientists who have made incredible scientific breakthroughs, and so on.
- How often do you go to a wedding or birthday party?
Well, I go to wedding ceremonies or birthday parties about 2-3 times a year. Sometimes 5–6 times a year.
- Which do you like more, birthday parties or weddings?
Given a choice, I would choose wedding ceremonies. They have a lot of dance and music. More importantly, I have a golden chance to meet my relatives and friends that I haven’t met for a long time. It’s great to meet a lot of people at weddings.
- Who is invited to a wedding party?
We can invite relatives, friends, co-workers, teachers, or neighbors to weddings. There’s a huge number of guests at Vietnamese weddings. Like at my wedding, we invited nearly 200 people to attend.
- How about a birthday party?
The number of participants for a birthday party is quite small, about 10–20 people. Because it’s quite private.
- If you could have a wedding party somewhere, where would it be?
Actually, I got married two years ago. But if I had a chance to marry my husband once, it would be on the beach in Nha Trang City. The good weather, the fresh air, and the scenery make my wedding more special, unique, and great.
VOCAB
- Enemy (n)
- Phiên âm: /ˈɛnəmi/
- Nghĩa: Kẻ thù
- Ví dụ: The two countries have been at war for years, considering each other as enemies.
- Throw big parties (idiom)
- Phiên âm: /θroʊ bɪɡ ˈpɑːrtiz/
- Nghĩa: Tổ chức tiệc lớn
- Ví dụ: They love to celebrate and often throw big parties for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
- Insecure (adj)
- Phiên âm: /ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊr/
- Nghĩa: Thiếu tự tin, không an toàn
- Ví dụ: She has always been insecure about her appearance, constantly comparing herself to others.
- Cross someone’s mind (idiom)
- Phiên âm: /krɒs ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈmaɪnd/
- Nghĩa: Nảy ra trong tâm trí ai đó, nghĩ đến
- Ví dụ: It never crossed my mind that she would quit her job and move to another country.
- Most of the time
- Phiên âm: /moʊst ʌv ðə taɪm/
- Nghĩa: Hầu hết thời gian
- Ví dụ: Most of the time, she prefers to spend her weekends relaxing at home rather than going out.
- In the presence of
- Phiên âm: /ɪn ðə ˈprɛzəns ʌv/
- Nghĩa: Trong sự hiện diện của
- Ví dụ: It’s important to maintain professionalism in the presence of your superiors and colleagues.
- Go on vacations
- Phiên âm: /ɡoʊ ɒn veɪˈkeɪʃənz/
- Nghĩa: Đi nghỉ, đi du lịch
- Ví dụ: They love to go on vacations to exotic destinations, exploring new places and creating lasting memories.
- Scientific breakthroughs
- Phiên âm: /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈbrikˌθruːz/
- Nghĩa: Bước đột phá khoa học
- Ví dụ: The discovery of antibiotics was a significant scientific breakthrough that revolutionized the field of medicine.
- Distinguished (ADJ)
- Phiên âm: /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
- Nghĩa: Xuất sắc, nổi bật, đáng kính trọng
- Ví dụ: He is a distinguished professor, recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of physics.
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