Listening

1. SPEAKING Work in pairs. Can you recite any poems, lines of poetry or song lyrics by heart in Vietnamese? Were they written recently or a long time ago? Why do you remember them?

(Làm việc theo cặp. Bạn có thể thuộc lòng bất kỳ bài thơ, dòng thơ hay lời bài hát nào bằng tiếng Việt không? Chúng được viết gần đây hay đã lâu rồi? Tại sao bạn lại nhớ đến họ?)

Answer:

Person A: Hi, have you ever read any Vietnamese poetry or song lyrics that you really love?

Person B: Yes, I have! One of my favorites is "Điệu Ru Tình Yêu" by Trịnh Công Sơn. It's a beautiful lullaby that he wrote in the 1960s.

Person A: That sounds lovely. What is it about?

Person B: Well, the song is about a mother singing to her child and telling the child how much she loves them. It's very emotional and heartfelt.

Person A: That sounds really touching. Do you remember any of the lyrics?

Person B: Yes, I do! The first verse goes like this:

"Riêng mình ta đêm nay ngoài trời mưa gió

Mưa rơi buồn như tình ta vô tình đong đưa

Nếu con khóc đêm nay mẹ làm sao ngủ được

Để mẹ ru con giữa đêm mưa dầm dề."

Person A: Wow, that's beautiful. Do you know why Trịnh Công Sơn wrote this song?

Person B: Yes, I think he wrote it during a difficult time in his life when he was feeling lonely and sad. But he turned his pain into art and created this wonderful lullaby that has touched the hearts of so many people over the years.

Person A: That's amazing. I really appreciate you sharing this with me. I'm going to look up the song and listen to it.

Person B: You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

2. Read and listen to the poem. Do you think its message is optimistic or pessimistic? What do you think the last line is telling us to do?

(Đọc và nghe bài thơ. Bạn nghĩ thông điệp của nó là lạc quan hay bi quan? Bạn nghĩ dòng cuối cùng bảo chúng ta làm gì?)

The lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation.

And I refuse to believe that

I can change the world.

I realize this may be a shock, but

‘Happiness comes from within’

ls a lie, and

“Money will make me happy’

So in 30 years, I will tell my children

They are not the most important thing in my life.

My employer will know that

I have my priorities straight because

Work Is more important than

Family

I tell you this:

Once upon atime

Families stayed together

But this will not be true in my era.

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making.

In the future,

Environmental destruction will be the norm.

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this Earth.

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic.

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we reverse it.

Answer:

The message of the poem seems to be pessimistic. The speaker of the poem expresses a belief that they are part of a lost generation that cannot change the world and that society is becoming increasingly focused on material possessions rather than family and environmental values. The speaker's view of the future is bleak, with divorce and environmental destruction becoming the norm.

However, the last line of the poem tells us that it is not too late to change this future. The speaker suggests that unless we take action to reverse these negative trends, the future they describe will come true. Therefore, the final line is telling us to take action and make a positive change in our society before it's too late.

3. Match the underlined words in the poem with definitions a—h.

(Nối các từ được gạch chân trong bài thơ với các định nghĩa a—h)

straight; era; quick fix; the norm; peers; apathetic; lethargic; foolish

Answer:

a. a period of time in history

• "era" refers to a historical period.

b. not interested in anything

• "apathetic" means a lack of interest or concern.

c. in the right order

• "straight" means correctly arranged or in the proper order.

d. people who are the same age

• "peers" refer to people of the same age or social group.

e. an easy solution, but not a good one

• "quick fix" means an easy but temporary solution to a problem.

f. not clever or intelligent

• "foolish" means lacking good sense or judgment.

g. something that is typical or usual

• "the norm" means something that is usual or typical in a particular situation.

h. lazy - not wanting to do anything

• "lethargic" means lacking energy or enthusiasm.

4. Listen to the poem again. How does starting with the last line change the meaning? Which version of the poem do you agree with more?

(Nghe lại bài thơ. Làm thế nào để bắt đầu với dòng cuối cùng thay đổi ý nghĩa? Bạn đồng ý với phiên bản nào của bài thơ hơn?)

Answer:

Starting the poem with the last line changes the meaning of the poem as it adds a sense of hope and possibility. It suggests that the situation described in the poem is not inevitable and can be reversed if the current generation takes action to change it.

Without the last line, the poem is a bleak and pessimistic commentary on the current generation's apathy and lack of concern for the future. However, with the last line, the poem becomes a call to action, urging the current generation to take responsibility and work towards creating a better future.

Listening Strategy

Sometimes the information you need for a listening task is implied rather than stated directly. For example, if somebody says ‘I wish I was back home’, it implies they are not happy with their current situation.

5. Read the Listening Strategy. Then listen to four short extracts and circle the correct implication: a or b.

(Đọc Chiến lược nghe. Sau đó lắng nghe bốn đoạn trích ngắn và khoanh tròn hàm ý đúng: a hoặc b)

1. a. He wishes he hadn't gone to the gym.

b. He was much stronger in the past.

2. a. She is a big fan of Robbie Williams.

b. She is not a big fan of Robbie Williams.

3. a. He often tries food from other countries.

b. He rarely tries food from other countries.

4. a. He does not like the jumper very much.

b. His sister does not usually buy him a birthday present.

Answer:

HS tự thực hiện.

6. Listen to four speakers. Match sentences A—E below with the speakers (1—4). There is one extra sentence.

(Nghe bốn loa. Nối các câu A—E dưới đây với người nói (1—4). Có một câu phụ)

This speaker believes that

A. poetry was better in previous eras.

B. men are not as good as women at writing poems.

C. poetry is still popular with young people.

D. young people like poetry more than adults do.

E. good poems tell us about the poet's feelings.

Answer:

HS tự thực hiện.

7. Listen again. Circle the words which best sum up the speakers’ opinions.

(Lắng nghe một lần nữa. Khoanh tròn những từ tổng hợp đúng nhất ý kiến ​​của người nói)

1. These days, rap artists are / aren’t the best poets.

2. Writing poems for greetings cards would / wouldn't be a good job.

3. A good poem has / doesn’t have to rhyme and make sense.

4. Learning poems by heart is / isn’t a waste of time.

Answer:

HS tự thực hiện.

8. SPEAKING Work in pairs. Discuss the opinions in exercise 7. Do you agree with the affirmative or negative version? Give reasons.

(Làm việc theo cặp. Thảo luận về các ý kiến ​​trong bài tập 7. Bạn đồng ý với phiên bản khẳng định hay phủ định? Đưa ra lý do)

I think / don’t think rap artists are the best poets these days because ...

Answer:

1. "These days, rap artists are/aren't the best poets."

Some people may argue that rap artists are the best poets because of the intricate wordplay, metaphors, and storytelling in their lyrics. Others may argue that traditional poets, who use rhyme schemes and more complex literary devices, are still the best poets. Ultimately, it depends on one's personal preference and definition of what makes a good poet.

1. "Writing poems for greetings cards would/wouldn't be a good job."

Some people may view writing poems for greetings cards as a creative and fulfilling job, while others may see it as monotonous and lacking in artistic merit. It may also depend on the quality of the cards and the compensation offered for the work.

1. "A good poem has/doesn't have to rhyme and make sense."

This opinion is highly subjective and can vary greatly depending on personal taste and cultural context. Some may argue that a good poem should adhere to traditional poetic techniques, such as rhyme and meter, while others may prefer free verse and unconventional approaches to language. Similarly, some may prioritize a poem's coherence and meaning, while others may value its emotional impact and evocative imagery.

1. "Learning poems by heart is/isn't a waste of time."

Again, this opinion is subjective and depends on one's personal interests and goals. Some may view memorizing poetry as a valuable exercise in cultivating memory and appreciation for language, while others may see it as a rote and unproductive activity. It may also depend on the specific poems being memorized and the context in which they are being learned (e.g., for a performance or for personal enrichment).