Topic 45: Talk about a situation outside of your control that had a significant impact on your life.
PART 2
Jenny (English US)
Guy (English US)
When did it happen?
What was the uncontrollable situation?
How did it affect your life?
What did you do to manage your circumstances?
ANSWER
I believe that each of us sometimes faces challenging circumstances. that are beyond our control in life. After reviewing this topic, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 comes to mind. It had a profound impact globally, and I was no exception.
The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most serious health crises in human history, spreading rapidly across the globe from January 2020 to the present. Vietnam is one of the few countries that took various measures and largely succeeded in controlling the outbreak from the beginning.
However, since April 2021, Vietnam has been experiencing the largest outbreak. At that time, our government imposed travel restrictions, a series of quarantines, and entry bans within the city to prevent the spread of the virus.
During the lockdown, we had to stay at home. We would be fined up to VND3 million (US$130) if we left our house without appropriate reasons. It completely disrupted my life.
The main problem I experienced was that Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was facing a food delivery crisis, such as a shortage of vegetables, meat, and eggs. Grocers and shippers were overwhelmed with orders for necessities under lockdown. I had to buy more food and supplies online to avoid crowded markets and stores.
Besides, it affected my travel plans. I had booked a tour to travel to Thailand, but it had to be delayed until 2022. I had to work from home instead of going to my class to keep my distance from my students.
I was in a panic and dissatisfied during that time. In order to cope with the situation, I ran on my treadmill to maintain good health and reduce stress. We followed the guidelines strictly: wearing face masks, getting vaccinated, and washing our hands to protect our health and others’.
Luckily, after nearly a year, everyone got vaccinated. Both Thailand and Vietnam reopened for international tourism. So we had an exhilarating tour to Thailand nine months ago, and my life has returned to normal.
PART 3
Jenny (English US)
Guy (English US)
What are some common situations for many people in their lives that cannot be foreseen?
Apart from the COVID-19 pandemic that I just mentioned, people can experience some scenarios that we cannot know in advance, such as accidents, earthquakes, losing our loved ones, winning the lottery, or having a baby.
What is some general advice for handling some of these situations?
In my opinion, the best advice is for people to stay focused and keep cool or calm as much as possible.
Panic is definitely the worst reaction.
How is technology being used to help people handle surprising events?
From my perspective, modern technology is being exploited in several ways.
We can use mobile phones or social media like Facebook and Zalo to communicate with others in case of lockdown, as I mentioned before. Modern medical equipment also helps mitigate threats to health.
Has this changed compared to a generation before?
Yes, it has evolved significantly. In the past, technology was less advanced, so there wasn’t much help. Mobile phones were more expensive, and people couldn’t video conference as easily.
Medical science has progressed a lot these days.
What happens if you get lost in a forest?
If I found myself lost in the woods, I would stay calm and do my best to retrace my steps and find my way out.
To survive in the forest, we will need shelter, fire, food, and water. The forest will provide materials that we need to make a makeshift tent and start a fire, which will keep us warm and protect you.
If a person becomes lost in the forest and does not have a phone,what would they do?
As far as I am concerned, the first step is to stay as calm as possible.
Next, we should see what time it is and look at the position of the sun. In this way, we can find out which direction they are facing.
Or we can locate a river and follow it; we will most likely end up at a human settlement where we can get assistance.
In a big forest, it is wise to stay put for a day or wait for help.
What is the first thing to do when lost in the woods?
In my humble opinion, as soon as you realize that you’re lost in the woods, stop moving and stay with your group. Only continue to move if we know where you are, need to find shelter, or are looking for water.
It’s much easier for rescuers to find a stationary person than someone who is moving around.
Why do you think this is?
My husband taught me this because he is very interested in how to survive in some difficult situations, and he watched tons of videos about survival skills on the internet.
What are some positive personal characteristics that can help individuals navigate difficult experiences?
I reckon that confidence and persistence are the main keys to coping with challenging situations.
When we believe in ourselves and have motivation to keep going until we reach success, This can be considered a valuable asset.
Can you give examples of this?
Like being lost in a forest, they should be positive and continue to find their way. We are likely to return home safe and sound rather than give up.
Which resources should a perfect society provide to alleviate challenging situations for its citizens?
Based on my observation, authorities can provide both social and financial support for their citizens who are experiencing difficult circumstances.
My government provided many relief programs to citizens and businesses during COVID 19. They also provided free food for the elderly and poor citizens.
VOCAB
1. Be beyond SB’s control.
- Nghĩa: Nằm ngoài tầm kiểm soát của ai đó
- Phiên âm: /biː bɪˈjɒnd ˌsʌmbədiz kənˈtrəʊl/
- The weather conditions were beyond our control, and the event had to be canceled.
- The most serious health crises
- Nghĩa: Những cuộc khủng hoảng sức khỏe nghiêm trọng nhất
- Phiên âm: /ðə məʊst ˈsɪərɪəs hɛlθ ˈkraɪsiːz/
- The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious health crises the world has faced in recent history.
- Take measures
- Nghĩa: Đưa ra biện pháp
- Phiên âm: /teɪk ˈmɛʒəz/
- The government implemented strict lockdown measures to control the spread of the virus.
- The outbreak:
- Nghĩa: Sự bùng phát (dịch bệnh)
- Phiên âm: /ðiː ˈaʊtbreɪk/
- The outbreak of Ebola in the region caused widespread panic and concern.
- Quarantine -n
- Nghĩa: Cách ly
- Phiên âm: /ˈkwɒrəntiːn/
- Anyone entering the country from a high-risk area must undergo a 14-day quarantine.
- Entry bans
- Nghĩa: Lệnh cấm nhập cảnh
- Phiên âm: /ˈɛntri bænz/
- The government imposed entry bans on travelers from countries with high infection rates.
- A shortage of
- Nghĩa: Sự thiếu hụt về
- Phiên âm: /ə ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ ɒv/
- There is a shortage of medical supplies in the hospitals due to the high demand.
- Necessities
- Nghĩa: Những vật phẩm cần thiết
- Phiên âm: /nɪˈsɛsɪtiz/
- People rushed to the stores to stock up on necessities like food and toiletries during the lockdown.
- Keep your distance from
- Nghĩa: Giữ khoảng cách với
- Phiên âm: /kiːp ˈdɪstəns frɒm/
- It is important to keep a safe distance from others to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Be in panic.
- Nghĩa: Trong tình trạng hoảng loạn
- Phiên âm: /biː ɪn ˈpænɪk/
- When the earthquake struck, people were in a state of panic, trying to find a safe place.
- Exploit -v
- Nghĩa: Lợi dụng, khai thác
- Phiên âm: /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/
- Some companies try to exploit the situation by raising prices on essential goods during a crisis.
- Mitigate threats to sb/st
- Nghĩa: Giảm thiểu các mối đe dọa đối với
- Phiên âm: /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt θrɛts tuː/
- The government implemented strict security measures to mitigate threats to national security.
- Evolve -v
- Nghĩa: Tiến hóa, phát triển
- Phiên âm: /ɪˈvɒlv/
- Technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, revolutionizing various industries.
- In the woods
- Nghĩa: Trong rừng
- Phiên âm: /ɪn ðə wʊdz/
- We went camping and set up our tents in the woods for a night of outdoor adventure.
- human settlement persistence
- Nghĩa: Sự tồn tại của một khu định cư của con người
- Phiên âm: /ə ˈhjuːmən ˈsɛtlmənt pərˈsɪstəns/
- Despite the challenges, the human settlement in the area showed persistence and resilience in the face of adversity.
- Relief programs
- Nghĩa: Các chương trình cứu trợ
- Phiên âm: /rɪˈliːf ˈprəʊɡræmz/
- The government launched relief programs to provide financial assistance to those affected by the natural disaster.
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