Writing Contest – Tell us about your Tet ;)

So the new year is coming. You must be really busy with preparing to go back home, especially if you are studying in another city. Buying train and bus tickets is a hassle, especially with the price going up during this peak time. I never had that experience but many of my friends did.

So I was thinking about writing about Vietnam, about Tet (there is not an equivalent word in English, so just use “Tet”, or Vietnamese new year, or Lunar new year, whichever you feel more like using). But then… since you guys have done with course work (hopefully), why don’t we have a small contest?

So here it is, our small contest. In 500 words, tell us about your Tet. How did you celebrate it in your family, in your city (where you grew up), in Vietnam. If you are to meet some foreigners and they ask you about Tet, what do you want them to know about our traditional new year? You can also tell us more specifically about what you or your family do during Tet.

What’s the reward? We don’t have any “physical” price to give you, sorry. But the best one will be chosen, and we’ll work with the winner to improve the writing (if there is anything left to be improved), and it will get officially posted here, of course 😉

These are similar topics to choose from, pick the one you like the most and write about it. The more original the better. And if you want to write about Tet in your city and it does not happens to be a big city? Even better! we would like to know about your city, your town, no matter how big or small, promise 😉 If you love your hometown we will love it, too!

Have fun 😉

Update:

The deadline is Thursday , January 27th 2011 (one week before the new year)

You can either post your entry here or email us at englishstudyforvms at gmail dot com (meaning, englishstudyforvms @ gmail . com)

Practice writing – 5 – Opening our own companies or…

This topic is suggested by Tran Viet Cuong

“Some people prefer to take a position in a company and work for the company.
Other people think it is better to go into business for themselves. Which do you think is better?

Anh here is Viet Cuong’s essay about this topic.

People have to work to earn money to pay off their life. Working is neccessery element. However, how they work, they are self-employed or  just only employee. From my point of view, I would rather be to go into business for myself. I would explore only a few primary ones here.

The main problem with this argument is that it is ignorant of the basic fact that company of one’s own has more benefit than employee. The employees get a little money, called salary,  from total profit which business gets while the employer get the part of money remaining. It also shows us why one like to become a employer.

Another reason why I think owing the company is better than a employee is that I would like to be an excellent  leader. The business only successes if leader of business has skills and techniques  such as plant one’s succession, really listen, know one’s team,…. I had studied and experienced  these skills and techniques while I was a student. So, I believe that I can lead my company to achieve great success.

What is more, I like to challenge myself to life. I like putting myself under pressure. Only pressure on
working is increasing, I can show all my ability. I want to know my limitation of capacity and how I the
feeling of pushing myself to working and get success is wonderful. How great to experience that feeling in the life.  

In a word, I prefer to be a employer rather than to be a employee because I want to earn more money
and to success in leading. Also going through the life by challenging myself is another reason.
And I want to say that my life is happier if I own my business.

Thanks for your contribution, Cuong. To others, we’re looking foward to your comments, ideas and it is even greater if you can send to us your own essay on this topic.

Practice Writing – 4 – Students’ choice of classes

In some school, teachers decided what classes students must take, other schools allow students to select their own classes. Which system do you think is better and why? Include details and examples in your explanations.

Collected by Mạch Nguyện Minh.

To those who plan to write an essay here, please read Comments in our first Practice – Practice Writing 1 – to avoid common mistakes (especially about the structures required for the TOEFL test). Thank you 🙂

Vietnamese – English saying

Bài này là để chúng ta tập hợp các cách nói kiểu Việt Nam và cách nói kiểu Mĩ tương ứng. Tất cả mọi người đều có thể đóng góp bằng cách post comment 🙂

Writing practice – 3 – Reason for attending college

Let’s try a classical topic,

“People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.”

Collected by anh Thống from ETS website.

Have a topic to suggest? Please post it here.

Practice Writing – 2 – Teenagers, students and part time job

This topic is suggested by Duy Nguyen

“In some countries, the teenager has to do part time works to earn some money and the student as well . Do you agree or disagree that teenagers or students should do part time job“

If you have any suggestion for up coming topics, please post it here.

Practice Writing – 1 – Pets as family members

”Pets should be treated like family members” do you agree or disagree with this statement?. (Suggested by Nguyen Khac Dinh)