Topic 41: Talk about a useful idea that you learned in school.
PART 2
Jenny (English US)
Guy (English US)
What was the idea?
When and where did you learn it?
Who taught it to you?
How have you used it in your life?
ANSWER
I feel very fortunate to have had various golden opportunities to learn from mentors at the university. They have helped expand my knowledge and practical skills. In reality, I have learned a great deal from their expertise and experiences.
After seeing this topic, money management and investing come to mind. It was more than 14 years ago when I was taught by Mr. Vang, my economics teacher, during my senior year of university. He advised us that to achieve financial security, individuals should ideally follow the 50:30:20 rule, which suggests allocating 50 percent of income to needs, 30 percent to wants, and 20 percent to investments in mutual funds such as equities or mixed asset classes.
I completely followed this advice and built a portfolio based on it. Right after graduating from college, I secured my first job as an English tutor at an English center. Immediately, I opened a savings account and started investing in it. Every month, I save a portion of my salary and invest around 20% of my income.
Over the years, I have seen positive changes in my financial status. Even while I am sleeping, my money is working for me, and I am earning substantial profits. I am grateful for the invaluable advice I received. It has truly been useful, and I now feel financially secure.
PART 3
Jenny (English US)
Guy (English US)
Did you do anything afterwards to thank Mr. Vang for teaching you this useful idea about investing?
Actually, I hadn’t met him since I graduated from university. But I’m hopeful that I’ll meet him some time in the future. I will express my appreciation to him by inviting him for lunch and giving him a gift.
Could you tell me some ways to invest money nowadays?
Of course, today we have a variety of options to make an investment, such as the stock market, real estate, cash, gold, government bonds, and mutual funds. Last but not least are fixed deposits, which are the safest investment that is not impacted by market forces for investors of any age.
Why is knowledge the best investment?
As the saying goes “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.
Knowledge is a powerful tool that regulates access to opportunities and advancement. Therefore, it is essential to constantly improve, challenge, and expand our knowledge, or else it will fade away.
The more we know about a subject, the better prepared we are to deal with it. Knowledge serves as a stepping stone to power and success. Consequently, it is preferable to invest in knowledge.
Regardless of what we do or where we are, knowledge is something that no one can take away from us. This investment always pays off, regardless of the situation, and carries no risk. Enhancing knowledge is the best way to achieve our goals.
Why is knowledge more important than money?
As I mentioned before, “The most profitable investment is knowledge. Money allows us to purchase things, but to make the right purchases, we need the proper knowledge about the object being bought. Money can be lost, stolen, or misplaced, whereas knowledge cannot.
I really like a sentence that says, “The more you learn, the more you earn. Whether we are a student looking for a job, an aspiring professional hoping to become a millionaire, or a business leader going through a difficult period, it is critical to keep our knowledge up to date.
Why is knowledge the greatest power?
In my humble opinion, knowledge helps us to convert our ideas into reality and also enables us to achieve the success we desire in our lives. Moreover, knowledge helps us differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. It assists us in overcoming our faults, weaknesses, and dangerous situations in life.
Why is it important to invest in children?
From my perspective, investing in our offspring can help break the cycle of poverty in families, communities, and countries. It has the potential to shape the long-term health, stability, and prosperity of a society. And evidence shows that brain development is most rapid in the early years of life.
Why do we need to invest in our lives?
Personally speaking, investing in our lives enables us to be independent and not rely on the financial support of others in the event of any financial hardship. It ensures that we have enough money to cover your needs and desires for the rest of your life without depending on someone else or having to work in your old age.
What are the most common subjects taught in school?
In my humble opinion, the most commonplace subjects taught in school can vary depending on the educational system and country. However, there are several core subjects that are typically taught in schools in my nation. These include math, science, language, literature, history, biology, and so on.
What subjects would be good to include in the regular curriculum that are not currently taught?
I believe that two subjects should be included in any curriculum: financial management and mental health. We need knowledgeable teachers to teach students how to budget, plan for retirement, and understand financial documents.
Similarly, just as people need to make decisions regarding their finances, they will also need to make decisions about their mental health at a young age. If they are not properly prepared, these decisions may negatively impact their well-being and relationships.
What are effective ways to evaluate the quality of a teacher?
I think that assessing the quality of a teacher is important for ensuring effective education.
There are several efficient methods to know whether teachers are competent or not, such as gathering feedback from students, which can provide valuable insights into a teacher’s effectiveness. Surveys, questionnaires, or interviews can be used to obtain feedback on the teacher’s communication, teaching methods, supportiveness, and overall impact on student learning.
Alternatively, we can get feedback from parents and colleagues, which can provide additional perspectives on a teacher’s effectiveness. Parent surveys or meetings can gauge their satisfaction with the teacher’s communication, responsiveness, and impact on their child’s learning. Colleague input can offer insights into collaboration, teamwork, and overall professionalism.
What are some effective teaching qualities of teachers?
Based on my observation, some characteristics of a good teacher include knowledge and some skills in communication, listening, collaboration, adaptability, empathy, and patience.
VOCAB
- Senior year of university
- Nghĩa: năm cuối cùng của đại học
- Phiên âm: /ˈsiːnjə jɪər ʌv ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti/
- My sister is in her senior year of university, studying computer science.
- Financial security
- Nghĩa: an ninh tài chính
- Phiên âm: /faɪˈnænʃəl sɪˈkjʊrəti/
- Saving money and having a stable job contribute to financial security.
- Mutual funds
- Nghĩa: quỹ hỗn hợp
- Phiên âm: /ˈmjuːtʃuəl fʌndz/
- Many investors choose to invest in mutual funds for diversification and professional management.
- Equities- n
- Nghĩa: cổ phiếu
- Phiên âm: /ˈɛkwɪtiz/
- He invested a significant amount of money in equities to build his investment portfolio.
- Mixed asset classes:
- Nghĩa: các lớp tài sản kết hợp
- Phiên âm: /mɪkst ˈæsɛt ˈklæsɪz/
- A well-diversified investment portfolio typically includes mixed asset classes like stocks, bonds, and real estate.
- Fixed deposits:
- Nghĩa: tiền gửi có kỳ hạn
- Phiên âm: /fɪkst dɪˈpɒzɪts/
- Many people prefer fixed deposits as they provide a guaranteed return over a specific period of time.
- A portfolio
- Nghĩa: danh mục đầu tư
- Phiên âm: /pɔːtˈfəʊliəʊ/
- She manages a diverse investment portfolio consisting of stocks, bonds, and real estate.
- Secure a job.
- Nghĩa: đảm bảo một công việc
- Phiên âm: /sɪˈkjʊər ə ʤɒb/
- After graduation, he worked hard to secure a job in his desired field.
- Financial status
- Nghĩa: tình hình tài chính
- Phiên âm: /faɪˈnænʃəl ˈsteɪtəs/
- His financial status improved after he received a promotion at work.
- Feel financially secure.
- Nghĩa: cảm thấy an tâm về tài chính
- Phiên âm: /fiːl faɪˈnænʃəli sɪˈkjʊər/
- Having savings and a stable income allows people to feel financially secure.
- Fade away.
- Nghĩa: phai nhạt, mờ dần
- Phiên âm: /feɪd əˈweɪ/
- The memories of that trip slowly faded away over time.
- A stepping stone
- Nghĩa: bước đệm, bước chân đầu tiên
- Phiên âm: /ə ˈstɛpɪŋ stəʊn/
- Working part-time during college can be a stepping stone to a successful career.
- Pays off
- Nghĩa: đạt được kết quả, thành công
- Phiên âm: /peɪz ɒf/
- The long hours of studying paid off when she received a scholarship.
- Express appreciation
- Nghĩa: bày tỏ lòng biết ơn
- Phiên âm: /ɪkˈsprɛs əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃən/
- She wrote a thank-you note to express her appreciation for the support she received.
- Convert st into sth
- Nghĩa: chuyển đổi cái gì thành cái gì
- Phiên âm: /kənˈvɜːt st ɪntə stθ/
- They converted their old garage into a home office.
- Offsprings -n
- Nghĩa: con cái, con cháu
- Phiên âm: /ˈɒfsprɪŋz/
- He was proud of his offspring’s accomplishments and success.
- Prosperity -n
- Nghĩa: sự thịnh vượng, phồn vinh
- Phiên âm: /prɒˈspɛrɪti/
- The country experienced a period of economic prosperity with high employment rates and rising incomes.
- Commonplace -adj
- Nghĩa: thông thường, phổ biến
- Phiên âm: /ˈkɒmənpleɪs/
- Smartphones have become a commonplace item in today’s society.
- Curriculum -n
- Nghĩa: chương trình học
- Phiên âm: /kəˈrɪkjʊləm/
- The school offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes both academic subjects and extracurricular activities.
- Offer insights into
- Nghĩa: cung cấp cái nhìn sâu sắc về
- Phiên âm: /ˈɒfər ˈɪnsaɪts ˈɪntuː/
- The report offers valuable insights into consumer behavior and market trends.
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Topic 40- Describe a time when you started using a new technological device