PART 2 & 3

Topic 34 – Talk about an object that reflects your traditions

Topic 34 – Talk about an object that reflects your traditions.

BAND 8.0+

PART 2

Alice (English US)

George (English US)

What is this object?

What is it made of?

When and where did you get it?

Where do you keep this object, and why?

What do you use this object for?

What part of your tradition does it reflect?

Explain how you feel about it.

ANSWER

I come from a country that is famous for its rich culture and heritage. And there are so many traditional objects that reflect Vietnamese culture, and they are commonly found in most parts of the country, but the most important object is the ao dai.

ÁO DÀI, a Vietnamese traditional dress, or most well-known under the name áo dài, has always been one of the most iconic things when it comes to what could be representing Vietnam best. It is made of a variety of fabrics, and it is harmoniously accompanied by pants. It comes in different colors, depending on the person who wears it. So they can choose any color they prefer.

Áo dài first appeared in Huế as a Vietnamese traditional dress in that period.

Nowadays, the áo dài is obviously the first choice of Vietnamese women when it comes to what to wear on special occasions, like the Tet holiday, the opening days of companies, graduation ceremonies, and wedding days. More commonly, it is worn by high school girls or flight attendants.

Actually, I have an Ao dai, and my mother made it; it’s made of silk,and its pants are made of cotton. So it’s very comfortable and easy to breathe. And I wore it to my wedding ceremony last year. Many people praised it.

Because it’s really precious to me, I put it in my wardrobe and only wear it on special occasions.

I really like wearing Ao Dai because Ao Dài has inherently been an elegant symbol of the Vietnamese in general and of the Saigonese in particular. Thus, the Vietnamese traditional dress has been gradually labeled as a symbol of the beauty of Vietnamese women.

PART 3

Alice (English US)

George (English US)

  1. Apart from wearing ao dai on your wedding days, when was the last time you wore it?

Well, I usually wear Ao dai on the Tet holiday. And on the Tet holiday last year, it was the last time I wore it. I took a lot of photos with Ao Dai. It was really charming and nice.

  1. How has Ao Dai changed over the years?

In my opinion, Ao Dai has seen significant evolution throughout the years, as well as the role it has played in society and fashion.

In the past, it was only made of silk and worn on special occasions like Tet holidays or wedding days.

But now, it can be made of a variety of fabrics and can be worn on any occasion, including going traveling, working at some banks or airlines, or studying in high school.

Most recent innovations include emboldened cuts and an array of materials, patterns, and colors. As a whole, the Vietnamese ao dai is a dress that each woman can customize to fit her own taste and figure.

  1. What are some objects that reflect cultural importance?

Apart from Ao dai, like I just mentioned, there are several symbols of VN, like Banh Chung, which is a traditional cake of Vietnamese people during Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays.

Buffalo has become a symbol in VN for the meaning of diligence, associated with the development of a country going up from agriculture.

More commonly, Vietnam is an agricultural center of the world. Therefore, rice is definitely an iconic image in Vietnam.

  1. Is it important for a society to designate some objects as important for heretage?

Oh, yes, absolutely. I think that it’s necessary to identify certain items as national and local traditions and cultures. Because it gives a sense of belonging, acts as a reminder of our important culture, and builds a community’s association.

  1. Why is it important to preserve and live our own culture?

Culture and its heritage reflect and shape values, beliefs, and aspirations, thereby defining a people’s national identity. It is important to preserve our cultural heritage because it maintains our integrity as a people.

  1. How can we preserve culture for the next generation?

I reckon that the best way to preserve our cultural heritage, whatever it may be, is to share it with others. Cultural heritage and the natural history of a nation have very high value and are unique. It is an identity that can be introduced to the world.

  1. What can younger generations do to preserve objects of cultural importance?

I believe the youth should acknowledge the importance of the symbolism of their culture and the effort that has been put into maintaining it. So they should store these objects in a safe place.

  1. Why are cultural elements important in our society?

From my point of view, in addition to its intrinsic value, culture provides important social and economic benefits.

With improved learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together with others, culture enhances our quality of life and increases overall well-being for both individuals and communities.

Culture plays an essential role in the life of a person and society. It acts as a means of accumulating, storing, and transmitting human experience. It is the culture that shapes people into who they are as they gain knowledge and learn the language, symbols, values, norms, customs, and traditions.

  1. How do the elements of culture affect our society?

Based on my observation, our culture shapes the way we work and play, and it makes a difference in how we view ourselves and others. It affects our values—what we consider right and wrong. This is how the society we live in influences our choices. But our choices can also influence others and ultimately help shape our society.

  1. What were some important cultural elements?

From my perspective, the major elements of culture are material culture, language, aesthetics, education, religion, attitudes and values, and social organization.

  1. What is most important in culture?

I think that language is one of the most important parts of any culture. It is the way in which people communicate with one another, build relationships, and create a sense of community. There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today, and it makes us unique in a number of ways.

  1. Why is identity important in society?

Having an identity can give us a sense of belonging, which is important to our well-being and confidence. We might make friends with others who have similar interests. This will make us both more optimistic and more open to people from different backgrounds.

  1. Why are all cultures important?

I reckon that culture is a strong part of people’s lives. It influences their views, their values, their humor, their hopes, their loyalties, and their worries and fears. So when we are working with people and building relationships with them, it helps to have some perspective and understanding of our cultures.

  1. How does culture influence everyday life?

Well, some examples of culture in everyday life include clothes, food, holidays, music, knowledge and beliefs, traditions and innovations, family life, and much more. These examples of everyday culture with established cultural norms affect the lives of each social group and each of us. There are many classifications of culture.

  1. What can happen if these cultural artifacts are lost over time?

I think if it happened, our culture would be lost since symbolism and memory have faded with time. It could lead to a loss of heritage for people.

  1. Have the types of objects that show cultural significance changed over time, and why do you think this is?

Oh yes, I think it has changed over the years and centuries. Some artifacts that may have been so important to our ancestors are no longer in public now. Like tools, clothing, and decorations because they are obsolete.

  1. Why are artifacts important to understanding the past?

I guess that archaeologists use artifacts and features to learn how people lived in specific times and places. They want to know what these people’s daily lives were like, how they were governed, how they interacted with each other, and what they believed and valued.

  1. Why is it important to preserve artifacts?

Honestly speaking, it’s vital that we preserve artifacts from history so that future generations learn how movements, laws, and social change affect them and how they can go about changing things.

  1. Do you think there will be different kinds of items in the future that will earn importance that are just thought of as common objects today?

Oh, yes, definitely. Life is changing rapidly. So I believe they can be different in the years to come. For example, the iconic image of VN now is a buffalo. But in the future, when we become a wealthy and industrial nation, Buffalo will be replaced by a tiger to show our power.

VOCAB

  1. Heritage -n
  • Nghĩa: di sản, di tích
  • Phiên âm: /ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ/
  • The city is proud of its rich cultural heritage, with historical sites and traditions passed down through generations.
  1. The most iconic thing
  • Nghĩa: điều đặc trưng nhất
  • Phiên âm: /ðə məʊst aɪˈkɒnɪk θɪŋ/
  • The Eiffel Tower is often considered the most iconic thing in Paris.
  1. Harmoniously -adv
  • Nghĩa: hòa hợp, hài hoà
  • Phiên âm: /hɑːˈməʊniəsli/
  • The different colors of the sunset blended harmoniously, creating a breathtaking view.
  1. When it comes to
  • Nghĩa: khi nói đến
  • Phiên âm: /wɛn ɪt kʌmz tuː/
  • When it comes to Italian cuisine, pasta and pizza are often the first dishes that come to mind.
  1. Precious -adj
  • Nghĩa: quý giá, quý báu
  • Phiên âm: /ˈprɛʃəs/
  • The necklace was adorned with precious gemstones and passed down from generation to generation.
  1. Wardrobe -n
  • Nghĩa: tủ quần áo
  • Phiên âm: /ˈwɔːdrəʊb/
  • She organized her wardrobe and arranged her clothes neatly.
  1. An elegant symbol
  • Nghĩa: biểu tượng thanh lịch
  • Phiên âm: /ən ˈɛlɪɡənt ˈsɪmbəl/
  • The peacock is often regarded as an elegant symbol of beauty and grace.
  1. Significant evolution
  • Nghĩa: sự tiến hóa đáng kể
  • Phiên âm: /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt ˌiːvəˈluːʃən/
  • The invention of the internet brought about a significant evolution in communication and information sharing.
  1. Customize -v
  • Nghĩa: tùy chỉnh
  • Phiên âm: /ˈkʌstəmaɪz/
  • You can customize the settings of the app to suit your preferences.
  1. Apart from
  • Nghĩa: ngoài ra
  • Phiên âm: /əˈpɑːt frɒm/
  • Apart from studying, she enjoys playing the piano in her free time.
  1. Diligence
  • Nghĩa: siêng năng, cần cù
  • Phiên âm: /ˈdɪlɪdʒəns/
  • His success is a result of his diligence and hard work.
  1. An iconic image
  • Nghĩa: hình ảnh đặc trưng
  • Phiên âm: /ən aɪˈkɒnɪk ˈɪmɪdʒ/
  • The photograph of Marilyn Monroe standing over the subway grate is an iconic image of the 20th century.
  1. A sense of belonging
  • Nghĩa: cảm giác thuộc về
  • Phiên âm: /ə sɛns ɒv bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/
  • Being part of a community gives people a sense of belonging and connection.
  1. Aspirations -n
  • Nghĩa: khát vọng, nguyện vọng
  • Phiên âm: /ˌæspɪˈreɪʃənz/
  • She had high aspirations and dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
  1. Preserve cultural heritage.
  • Nghĩa: bảo tồn di sản văn hóa
  • Phiên âm: /prɪˈzɜːv ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ/
  • The museum works diligently to preserve the cultural heritage of the indigenous tribes.
  1. Maintains integrity
  • Nghĩa: duy trì tính toàn vẹn
  • Phiên âm: /meɪnˈteɪnz ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/
  • The company prides itself on maintaining integrity and ethical business practices.
  1. Acknowledge -v
  • Nghĩa: công nhận, thừa nhận
  • Phiên âm: /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/
  • It is important to acknowledge the contributions of others to foster a sense of appreciation and respect.
  1. Intrinsic value
  • Nghĩa: giá trị bản chất
  • Phiên âm: /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk ˈvæljuː/
  • The painting holds intrinsic value not only for its artistic beauty but also for its historical significance.
  1. A means of -n
  • Nghĩa: một phương tiện để
  • Phiên âm: /ə miːnz ɒv/
  • Music can be a means of expressing emotions that words cannot convey.
  1. Gain knowledge
  • Nghĩa: thu nhận kiến thức
  • Phiên âm: /ɡeɪn ˈnɒlɪdʒ/
  • Reading books is a great way to gain knowledge and expand one’s understanding of the world.
  1. Establish cultural norms.
  • Nghĩa: thiết lập các quy tắc văn hóa
  • Phiên âm: /ɪˈstæblɪʃ ˈkʌltʃərəl nɔːmz/
  • Society plays a crucial role in establishing cultural norms and shaping behavior.
  1. Aesthetics -n
  • Nghĩa: thẩm mỹ
  • Phiên âm: /iːsˈθɛtɪks/
  • The design of the building prioritizes both functionality and aesthetics.
  1. A sense of belonging
  • Nghĩa: cảm giác thuộc về
  • Phiên âm: /ə sɛns ɒv bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/
  • Being part of a community gives people a sense of belonging and connection.
  1. Have similar interests
  • Nghĩa: có các sở thích tương tự
  • Phiên âm: /hæv ˈsɪmɪlər ˈɪntrɪsts/
  • They became good friends because they had similar interests in music and sports.
  1. People from different backgrounds
  • Nghĩa: những người từ các nền văn hóa khác nhau
  • Phiên âm: /ˈpiːpəl frɒm ˈdɪfərənt ˈbækɡraʊndz/
  • The conference brought together people from different backgrounds to discuss global issues.
  1. Archaeologist -n
  • Nghĩa: nhà khảo cổ học
  • Phiên âm: /ˌɑːkiˈɒlədʒɪst/
  • The archaeologist discovered ancient artifacts during the excavation of the historical site.

 

Học thêm các bài IELTS Speaking mới nhất 👇👇👇

Topic 33- Describe a national festival in your country

Topic 35- Talk about a modern public building that you have visited

 

Composed by Ms.Ngọc IELTS