Idioms & Expressions:
photogenic (adjective; this means that someone usually looks attractive in photos)
My sister is very photogenic. All of her Instagram posts get a lot of likes.
camera shy (adjective; describes a person who does not like to have their picture taken)
I hate it when everyone wants to pose for a photo. I’m very camera shy.
shutterbug (noun; a person who is always taking pictures)
My brother bought a camera and now he’s turned into a shutterbug.
shoot (verb; can be used for “taking” pictures or video)
My friend is going to be shooting video at the wedding.
sink or swim (an expression that refers a situation where there is very tough competition)
The business world is a sink or swim environment.
good look (noun; this refers to clothing or a hairstyle that looks good on a certain person)
That dress is a good look on you. You should wear it more often.
in style / out of style (phrases that state whether certain clothing is fashionable or not)
Cargo pants have gone out of style.
fashion sense (noun; if you have good fashion sense, then you always dress very well)
She always looks really good. She has great fashion sense.
black out (verb; means to go unconscious)
He blacked out after he hit his head.
black and blue (the color of bruised skin after an injury)
After he got beaten up, he was black and blue.
beet red (adjective; describes the color of someone’s face when they’re embarrassed)
My face turned beet red when I realized my parents overheard my phone call.
caught red-handed (verb; means someone is caught in the act of doing something)
They caught the thief red-handed.
golden opportunity (noun; refers to the most opportune time to accomplish something)
The team has possession of the ball and a golden opportunity to score.
green light (noun; refers to the approval to proceed)
We got the green light for our project.
red tape (noun; refers to time-consuming diplomatic or bureaucratic tasks that must be accomplished)
There’s a lot of red tape to take care of before you can get a visa.
true colors (noun; refers to someone’s true nature / who they really are, as opposed to who they pretend to be)
After I knew him for a while, I saw his true colors.
white lie (noun; a small lie that you don’t think will cause much harm)
I told a little white lie to my parents about why I missed school.
Part I: Group Discussion
Photography
Do you like to take photographs?
I do like to take photographs, but I’m not very good at taking them. I believe it takes talent and skill to take a good photo, and I don’t have the requisite talent or skill to take an amazing photo right now. But if I see a beautiful view, I want to take a photo of it.
Do you prefer to take pictures of people or of scenery?
Scenery, mostly. I’m not good at taking portraits of individual people. Scenery is usually more impressive, I think.
Where do you often take photographs?
Wherever I am, especially if I’m in a new place. When I first travel somewhere, I take a lot of photos of it. As time goes on, I take fewer and fewer, because I’m familiar with the place.
Have you ever taken a family photo?
Yes, but it’s been a long time. I haven’t been home for about 3 years, and our last family photo was then. It was at a party to celebrate my sister’s upcoming trip to Africa.
Do you like taking photos of yourself?
Sometimes, but I don’t think I’m very photogenic. I prefer it when other take photos of me.
Swimming
Do people in Vietnam enjoy swimming?
I don’t know – do they?
Did you learn swimming when you were little?
Yes, my parents had me take swimming lessons. I never became very good or very fast, but because of the lessons, I can at least stay afloat when I’m in the water.
Is it important for children to learn swimming?
Not necessarily. I think the risk of drowning is overrated. But it’s a good skill to have, I think. And swimming is also very good exercise.
Clothes
What type of clothes do you like to wear?
I like to dress formally. I like wearing suits and ties. However, that’s not practical all the time. Sometimes you have to dress down and wear shorts and a T-shirt in hot weather.
What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear?
America is huge and has over 300 million people, so there are limitless fashion choices.
What kind of clothes do you dislike?
I can’t think of anything I don’t like wearing. However, I don’t like wearing old or dirty clothes. I like to have newer clothes that fit me.
Part II: Pair Interviews
Describe a house/ apartment that someone you know lives in. Please say:
whose house/apartment this is
where the house/apartment is
what it looks like inside
and explain what you like or dislike about this person’s house/apartment.
I remember I visited my aunt’s house in Galveston, Texas. She married a rich man and so her home was pretty big and situated right on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It was three stories tall and painted white and blue. The most interesting feature of it was that it was raised up on stilts, in order to keep the house safe from flooding. There was also an elevator inside the house, to carry them up from the garage where they parked their car. The kitchen was massive, and the living room had twenty-foot tall ceilings. There was also a really wide deck that looked out on the water, which was good for sunsets. It was pretty cool to see such a rich home, because I’d never really been in one before. I’ve been there more than once, since I got the opportunity to go back and visit a few years later during a family reunion, actually.
Part III: Class Discussion
Colors
Do you have a favourite colour?
I like blue and gray. When they’re combined, I think that’s the prettiest shade. The color of the beach during the winter is the only thing I can think of in real life that is my favorite color.
What are your country’s colours?
America’s flag has red, white and blue. Other countries have those colors, too, but our flag is very recognizable.
Do you think colours affect our moods?
Subconsciously, they do. I read that the interior of McDonald’s restaurants are yellow, because yellow is a color that inspires hunger.
Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were a child?
I don’t remember what I liked when I was a child, so I’m actually not sure. I haven’t been a child for a long time. I think I wore a lot of blue though.
Miscellaneous
What kind of people do you find annoying?
Loud people. I don’t like it when people make loud noises or shout. I guess I prefer a peaceful atmosphere. That’s why I usually carry around headphones, so that I don’t have to listen to other people.
Who’s a famous person you would like to meet?
I think I’d like to meet Chris Evans. He’s the actor who plays Captain America in the Marvel superhero movies. I’d like to see what he’s like in real life and how he acts when he’s not playing a character. He also seems like a really fun guy to hang out with.
