Writing (Cultural diversity) SVIP

Complete the essay with the words and phrases given.

Nowadays, more and more young Vietnamese people celebrate festivals like Christmas and Halloween. , this trend has numerous positive impacts on young Vietnamese people.

, participating in global festivals such as Christmas and Halloween encourages cultural exchange and understanding. Young people get the opportunity to learn about different traditions and customs around the world. , when young people participate in Christmas, they learn about the traditions of giving and the story of Saint Nicholas, which might differ from local Vietnamese folklore.

, festivals bring fun, happiness and joy to young people. They give an opportunity for young people to relax and spend enjoyable time with their friends and family. Young people can enjoy the festive spirit by watching performances, dressing up and eating festive food.

, celebrating international festivals can boost creativity and social skills. By organising and taking part in festivities, young people learn how to work together and solve problems creatively.

, I firmly believe that celebrating festivals like Christmas and Halloween offers significant benefits to young Vietnamese people. It not only fosters cultural understanding and provides joy, but also enhances creativity and social skills among the youth.

Read the essay again and reorder to make a complete outline.

• Finally, ... can boost ...
• Firstly, ... encourages ...
• Secondly, ... can bring ...
• In conclusion, I firmly believe that ... offers significant benefits to ...
• In my opinion, this trend ...
• Nowadays, more and more young Vietnamese people ...

Read the paragraph and match each sentence with its function.

: Firstly, participating in global festivals such as Christmas and Halloween encourages cultural exchange and understanding.

: Young people get the opportunity to learn about different traditions and customs around the world.

: For instance, when young people participate in Christmas, they learn about the traditions of giving and the story of Saint Nicholas, which might differ from local Vietnamese folklore.

Put the phrases into the correct columns.

Put the phrases into the correct columns.

Decide whether the following points are positive or negative impacts of studying abroad.

1. Students gain exposure to different cultures and understand the world better.

2. Students have the chance to build a global network of contacts.

3. Studying abroad costs a lot of money because of school fees, travel costs, …

4. Students have access to courses not available in their home country.

5. Students can find it hard to adjust to a new place with different customs.

Decide whether the following points are positive or negative impacts of studying abroad.

1. Differences in academic systems may cause stress and pressure.

2. Having studied abroad can make a student more attractive to employers.

3. Being far from family and friends can lead to feelings of loneliness.

4. Communication challenges can arise if you're not fluent in the local language.

5. Living far from home helps students become more independent.

Choose the best sentence written from the words and phrases given.

Many people / worried / influence / foreign cultures.

Choose the best sentence written from the words and phrases given.

The celebration / Christmas / gain / popularity / Vietnamese people.

Choose the best sentence written from the words and phrases given.

Young people / have / opportunity / learn / different / customs / traditions.

Choose the best sentence written from the words and phrases given.

These festivals / allow / people / different backgrounds / come / together.

a. Firstly, students gain exposure to different cultures, which helps them understand the world better.

b. Studying abroad offers many benefits for students.

c. Secondly, students can get access to different educational systems and courses not available in their home country.

d. All these benefits make studying abroad a choice worth considering for students.

e. Finally, students learn to be independent as they handle daily tasks on their own.

a. In addition, adapting to a new culture often leads to culture shock.

b. This often leads to feelings of loneliness and homesickness.

c. While studying abroad offers many benefits, it also comes with significant challenges.

d. To begin with, it is often very expensive due to high tuition fees and living costs.

e. Lastly, the differences in academic systems can be a source of stress for students.

a. Firstly, students can enhance their English and communication skills because they interact with people from different countries.

b. By experiencing different customs, foods, and celebrations, they develop personal growth and a broader perspective on the world.

c. Participating in cultural exchange programs brings many benefits to Vietnamese students.

d. Secondly, students gain a deeper understanding of other cultures and traditions, which helps them become more open-minded.

e. For instance, taking part in discussions and presentations allows them to use English more confidently.

a. By chatting with people who speak a different language, you get to practice what you've learned in a real and fun way.

b. Connecting with international friends on social media is a great way to improve your language skills and learn new words.

c. Also, social media is full of slang and idioms that you might not find in a textbook, so you can learn how people really talk.

d. This type of daily practice makes learning a language feel natural and less like a school subject.

e. For instance, if your friend is from Spain, you can text them in Spanish and they can correct your mistakes, which helps you get better.

a. When you go to these fairs, you can meet both locals who are interested in other cultures and people who have come from different countries.

b. These conversations are a fun way to learn about someone else's life and share your own experiences.

c. You might strike up a conversation while waiting in line for food or while watching a show.

d. Building a diverse group of friends can also lead to exciting future opportunities, like travel or further cultural exchange.

e. Multicultural events are an excellent opportunity for young people to make new friends and expand their social networks.

a. When young people hear these stories, it can inspire them to work hard to achieve their own dreams, whether in sports or in other areas like school or art.

b. Athletes who reach the top of their sport often come from humble beginnings and have to overcome many challenges to succeed.

c. For example, a young person who loves soccer might be motivated to practice every day after watching a star player's journey to success.

d. International sports events give young Vietnamese people heroes to look up to and stories of success to follow.

e. These events provide powerful role models that can help young people believe in themselves and their potential.

a. Knowing about other cultures is a very useful skill for students' future careers and travel.

b. It gives them a strong foundation for building relationships and succeeding in a globalized society.

c. This knowledge also helps students feel more prepared and comfortable when they travel or study abroad.

d. Today, many companies work with people all over the world, so having cultural awareness is a big advantage in the workplace.

e. For example, understanding the business customs of a country like Japan can help a student succeed in a meeting with a Japanese client.

a. When everyone tries to wear the same popular clothes, they often end up looking very similar to each other.

b. This can make them feel pressured to fit in, rather than expressing their own creativity and personality through their clothes.

c. International trends can also make young people lose their sense of individuality and personal style.

d. This makes fashion less about personal expression and more about following a crowd.

e. Instead of choosing clothes that they genuinely like, they might feel they have to follow what is popular at the moment.

a. This helps them practice in a fun and natural way.

b. On the one hand, these games can help teenagers improve their language skills because they often have to communicate with players from all over the world, for example, using English to talk about strategies.

c. However, a major negative impact is that excessive gaming can lead to addiction, causing them to spend too much time playing and not enough time on schoolwork or with their family.

d. Online gaming from other countries has both good and bad impacts on teenagers in Vietnam.

e. This can be very harmful to their health and social life.

a. First, young people often focus on foreign trends instead of understanding their own cultural heritage.

b. As a result, knowledge of Vietnamese history, arts, and family practices can decline among the younger generation.

c. Global pop culture can have negative effects by reducing respect for Vietnamese traditions.

d. Second, some traditional customs and values may be forgotten or neglected because global pop culture dominates attention.

e. For example, they may follow international music, fashion, or social media trends rather than participate in traditional festivals.

Hello Mia,

How have you been?

a. I remember you had an amazing trip there last year.

b. For instance, what's considered polite when visiting a church or drinking coffee?

c. What are the most important customs to be aware of?

d. Could you share some tips with me? I really want to be a respectful tourist.

e. I'm reaching out because I'm planning a holiday to Italy, and I'm so excited, but also a bit nervous about the cultural differences.

Your advice would be so valuable for me.

Thanks a lot,

Sarah

Dear Dr. Lan,

a. This event celebrates the diverse cultures within our school community and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about different traditions, foods, and arts.

b. There will also be a food tasting, where you can sample dishes from around the world.

c. You are cordially invited to our school's annual Multicultural Event on Friday, October 25th at 4:00 PM in the school auditorium.

d. Students will be showcasing presentations, musical performances, and dances representing various countries.

e. We would be honored if you could join us. Your presence would make this celebration even more special.

Please RSVP by October 18th so we can finalize the arrangements.

Sincerely,

Mai Anh Nguyen

Hi Ryan,

How are you doing? I hope you're having a great week.

a. I wanted to tell you about a traditional Vietnamese custom. When you visit a Vietnamese family's home, we often have meals together.

b. Also, try not to use your chopsticks to point at people at the table. It's more polite to gesture with your whole hand.

c. We use incense like that for special ceremonies, so it's considered very bad luck.

d. There are a few simple things to remember. First, you should never stick your chopsticks straight up in your bowl of rice.

e. It's very common to use chopsticks for most dishes. While it might feel different, it's a fun experience!

I hope to teach you in person someday!

Best wishes,

Matthew

Hello Kien,

Guess what?

a. The best part was watching all the different types of dances, like salsa and tango. The dancers were so talented.

b. Everyone was so friendly, and I learned some fun facts about countries like Mexico and Argentina.

c. It really made me feel like I was traveling the world in one place.

d. I went to the Latin American Festival this weekend, and it was incredible! The whole place was full of energy and music.

e. I also walked around the food stalls and tried some tacos and empanadas, which were delicious.

I hope you get a chance to go to a festival like this someday!

All the best,

Thuong