Audio script
Michelle: Hi, Mike! How's it going?
Mike: Hi. I'm good, thanks. Are you still living in the same place?
Michelle: Yes, I'm still in that ‘sleepy’ little town. But you know, I enjoy living there. It's quiet, and
everyone is friendly. I don't really like the city. I feel like a stranger here. And it seems kind of
dangerous, especially at night.
Mike: Well, I live here in the city, as you know. We live in an apartment downtown. The city is big, and
it doesn't feel as safe as a small town like yours. But I think the people here are pretty friendly. My
neighbourhood is like a small town with its own stores, cafes, and restaurants... and we can enjoy all
kinds of entertainment: cinemas, museums ...
Michelle: OK, so then on weekends I should come into the city for all that.
Mike: OK. Sure!
4. Write a letter to your pen friend about: your last visit to a craft village. (Viết một bức thư cho bạn
qua thư của mình nói về chuyến thăm tới làng nghề mới nhất của bạn.)
Dear Lan,
I got a wonderful trip with Nam to Chang Son fan - making village last weekend.
For a long time, the Chang Son fan was not only a useful utensil in daily life, but also a beautiful image
appearing in many poems, on stage and in the cultural and spiritual life. To make a beautiful and durable
fan requires meticulousness and skillfulness from fan makers. Normally, the fan's blades are made from
bamboo, which are at least three years old and grow in the middle of a grove.
Moreover, to make fans more durable, the fan makers use joined blades, which have to undergo many
stages, such as cutting the bamboo into short pieces, scratching off its green cover, splitting the bark of
bamboo and applying a layer of varnish between the slats. Then, they are tied up in a bunch.
After a few months when the layer of varnish is dry, the slats of bamboo are whittled to make the fan
blades. Paper to make fans must be do (poonah) or diep (poonah paper covered with egg - shell powder)
bought in Dong Ho Village, Bac Ninh Province. Looking at the Chang Son fans, only simple colours,
such as green, red, violet and yellow are seen. However, when the fans are unfolded and seen in the
light, all the delicate decorative pattern, and designs will appear lively and bright. To foreigners, they
can see the characteristics of the Vietnamese people: simple but profound, and beautiful but discreet.
I am look forward to hearing from you
Best wishes,
Hoa