Topic 42: Talk about the perfect house for you to live in.
PART 2
Jenny (English US)
Guy (English US)
Where is this house?
What does it look like?
What do you need to buy or build this home?
Why do you think this is the perfect home for you?
ANSWER
I currently reside in an apartment in District 5 in Saigon, a thriving metropolis in southern Vietnam. Life is extremely hectic here, and I really want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. That’s why I dream of having a house in the central highlands of Vietnam, particularly in Da Lat city. The main reasons for this choice are its mild climate, breathtaking views, abundance of flowers, and the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture.
My dream house would feature a variety of elements. Firstly, it would be a two-story house made of glass and timber, with an outdoor terrace where my family can enjoy sunbathing regularly.
Additionally, I would love to have a swimming pool and a beautiful courtyard flower garden in front of the house, as I have a great passion for flora and fauna. Just looking at the garden can help me reduce stress and recharge my batteries when I’m feeling down. I believe that there is nothing quite like the serene scene of Dalat relaxing in the water.
Therefore, having the opportunity to enjoy the peaceful surroundings would be an incredible feeling. Furthermore, living in a safe and comfortable environment is of utmost importance to me, as it contributes to my happiness and overall well-being.
Last but not least, my ideal house would include a spacious living room with a fireplace, an open-plan modern kitchen, and a cozy dining room where I could occasionally invite my friends over for dinner. The house should be at least 200 square meters, providing ample space for my family and friends to enjoy special occasions such as birthday parties or wedding ceremonies.
Of course, house prices in Da Lat cost an arm and a leg, so I must work around the clock to accumulate as much money as possible to make it happen. Hopefully, I will have enough money to buy our dream home in the near future.
PART 3
Jenny (English US)
Guy (English US)
What are the most important points to consider when buying a new home?
In my opinion, there are several factors that should be taken into account when purchasing a new house, such as the price, the location, and the neighbors.
Because it’s essential to find a location that allows us to gain easy access to places such as offices, schools, local amenities, and public transportation as well.
I reckon that buying a home is a huge investment; therefore, we should consider it carefully to make sure it is within our budget.
Lastly, we need to ensure that our neighbors are polite and kind, so we can have a good environment to live in.
What factors determine the cost of a house or apartment?
From my perspective, location is a major factor that influences the price of a house or apartment.
That’s why the house prices in the center of HCM city, such as Dists. 1, 2, 3, and 5, cost an arm and a leg because they’re near essential services such as schools, shopping, and public transportation.
The second factor is the number of bedrooms. The more bedrooms, the higher the rent. If you’re looking to cut down on rent costs, you may need to search for apartments with fewer bedrooms.
How have people’s house preferences changed compared to one generation before?
That’s a tough question. Based on my observation, homebuyers’ needs have certainly changed since my parents time. Some people have come to appreciate smaller homes with more amenities, while others desire even bigger homes with a games room and a yoga studio.
Why is this?
Aside from the reasons I have already mentioned, people have downsized their living needs because families tend to be smaller than a generation ago. I mean, there are more nuclear families than extended families compared to several decades ago.
Also, the cost of real estate has soared over the last 30 years, and homes now are on average seven times more expensive than when my parents were purchased.
What kinds of materials are popular to use in the construction of new buildings?
Generally speaking, nowadays, people mostly use steel, concrete, stone, and brick to construct buildings like high-rise buildings, skyscrapers, or modern apartments.
What are the reasons for this?
I guess that the main reasons are that they’re durable and reasonably priced.
Each has different strength, weight, and durability, which makes it right for various uses.
How has technology been used in modern construction to make buildings more comfortable and safer for residents?
In my humble opinion, technology has a big impact on making more comfortable and safer buildings, such as glass material, which doesn’t break easily and withstands heat. Or some concrete and steel can withstand strong forces from high winds. As a result, it’s really useful and good for every citizen.
What else may be used in the future?
I predict that buildings built with sandbags, barbed wire, and earth are resistant to natural disasters such as earthquakes.
How has technology impacted the construction industry?
With today’s technology, such as 3D printers and virtual reality, construction workers can now create virtual models of construction projects. It allows construction workers to plan and design projects more accurately, which leads to better-quality results.
How is technology helping improve construction site safety?
I reckon that mobile applications enable remote monitoring, allowing us to manage construction and ensure worker safety without being physically present at the site. Workers also have everything they need to perform tasks correctly, such as safety permits, checklists, plans, schedules, and instructions.
VOCAB
- A thriving metropolis
- Nghĩa: một thành phố phát triển mạnh mẽ
- Phiên âm: /ðə ˈθraɪvɪŋ mɪˈtrɒpəlɪs/
- New York City is a thriving metropolis with a vibrant cultural scene and bustling economy.
- Hectic -adj
- Nghĩa: bận rộn, hối hả
- Phiên âm: /ˈhɛktɪk/
- Her schedule is always hectic with back-to-back meetings and deadlines to meet.
- To escape the hustle and bustle of the city—idiom
- Nghĩa: thoát khỏi sự hối hả và sự ồn ào của thành phố
- Phiên âm: /tuː ɪˈskeɪp ðə ˈhʌsəl ənd ˈbʌsəl ʌv ðə ˈsɪti/
- They went on a weekend getaway to the countryside to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
- The central highlands
- Nghĩa: trung tâm cao nguyên
- Phiên âm: /ðə ˈsɛntrəl ˈhaɪləndz/
- The central highlands offer stunning landscapes and a cooler climate compared to the coastal regions.
- Immerse myself in
- Nghĩa: đắm mình vào, chìm đắm trong
- Phiên âm: /ɪˈmɜːs maɪˈsɛlf ɪn/
- During my vacation, I plan to immerse myself in the local culture and traditions.
- Flora and fauna
- Nghĩa: thực vật và động vật
- Phiên âm: /ˈflɔːrə ənd ˈfɔːnə/
- The national park is known for its diverse flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species.
- Feel down in the dumps—idiom
- Nghĩa: cảm thấy buồn bã, chán nản
- Phiên âm: /fiːl daʊn ɪn ðə dʌmps/
- After the breakup, she felt down in the dumps and needed some time to heal.
- The serene scene
- Nghĩa: cảnh quan yên bình
- Phiên âm: /ðə sɪˈriːn siːn/
- Sitting by the lake, I enjoyed the serene scene of the sun setting over the water.
- Last but not least, an idiom
- Nghĩa: cuối cùng nhưng không kém phần quan trọng
- Phiên âm: /lɑːst bət nɒt liːst/
- We have covered many important topics today, and last but not least, let’s discuss the upcoming events.
- Ample space
- Nghĩa: không gian đủ rộng
- Phiên âm: /ˈæmpəl speɪs/
- The new apartment has ample space for a home office and a comfortable living area.
- Cost an arm and a leg—idiom
- Nghĩa: rất đắt đỏ
- Phiên âm: /kɒst æn ɑːm ænd ə lɛɡ/
- The designer handbag she wanted to buy would cost an arm and a leg, so she decided to save up for it.
- Work around the clock-idiom
- Nghĩa: làm việc suốt ngày đêm
- Phiên âm: /wɜːrk əˈraʊnd ðə klɒk/
- During the busy season, the team had to work around the clock to meet the project deadline.
- Accumulate money
- NghỊa: tích lũy tiền
- Phiên âm: /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt ˈmʌni/
- He worked hard and managed to accumulate enough money to buy his dream car.
- Be taken into account.
- Nghĩa: được xem xét, được tính đến
- Phiên âm: /biː ˈteɪkən ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt/
- When making important decisions, all relevant factors should be taken into account.
- Downsize -v
- Nghĩa: cắt giảm kích thước, thu nhỏ
- Phiên âm: /ˈdaʊnsaɪz/
- The company decided to downsize its workforce in order to reduce costs.
- Nuclear families
- Nghĩa: gia đình hạt nhân (bao gồm cha, mẹ và con cái)
- Phiên âm: /ˈnjuːkliər ˈfæmɪliz/
- In many Western countries, nuclear families are the most common household structure.
- Extended families
- Nghĩa: gia đình mở rộng (bao gồm các thành viên gia đình mở rộng như ông bà, chú bác, anh chị em họ, v.v.)
- Phiên âm: /ɪkˈstɛndɪd ˈfæmɪliz/
- In some cultures, extended families live together in the same household and provide support for each other.
- Are resistant to
- Nghĩa: chống lại, chống đối
- Phiên âm: /ər rɪˈzɪstənt tuː/
- Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, making it difficult to treat infections.
- Virtual reality
- Nghĩa: thực tế ảo
- Phiên âm: /ˈvɜːrtʃuəl riˈælɪti/
- Virtual reality technology allows users to immerse themselves in simulated environments for entertainment or training purposes.
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Topic 41- Talk about a useful idea that you learned in school
