Unit 1

1. How important is it to find out about the culture of a company before you begin to work
there?
- Cultural fit: Understanding the company culture helps you determine if you align with
the organization's values, beliefs, and working style. A good cultural fit contributes to
job satisfaction, productivity, and long-term success in the company.
- Personal growth and development: By knowing the culture, you can assess if the
company provides a supportive environment to foster your growth and development.
Certain cultures may emphasize continuous learning and skill enhancement, while
others may not prioritize it.
2. What do you think motivate employees?
- Recognition and appreciation: Employees like to be acknowledged for their efforts and
contributions. When their hard work is recognized and appreciated, it boosts their
morale and motivates them to continue performing at their best.
- Opportunities for growth and development: Employees are motivated when they have
opportunities to grow and develop their skills. This can include opportunities for
training, career advancement, or taking on new responsibilities.
Unit 2
1. Do you think company should develop more on new or old employees?
Both new and old employees are valuable assets to a company, and it is crucial to
invest in the development and growth of both groups.
- New employees bring fresh perspectives, ideas, and skills to the company. By
providing training and development opportunities to new employees, companies can
ensure they are up-to-date with industry trends and equipped with the necessary skills
to excel in their roles.
- On the other hand, old employees bring experience, loyalty, and institutional
knowledge to the organization. They have a deep understanding of the company's
culture, processes, and history. Investing in the development of old employees
enhances their skills, keeps them engaged, and fosters their continued growth within
the organization.
 To strike a balance, companies should develop a comprehensive
training and development program that addresses the needs of both new
and old employees.
2. The importance of training?
- Skill development: Training helps individuals acquire new knowledge and skills that
are necessary for performing their job effectively. It allows employees to learn new
techniques, understand new technologies, and stay updated with the latest industry
trends.
- Increased productivity: Training equips individuals with the necessary skills and
knowledge to perform their job more efficiently. This leads to increased productivity
and improved job performance, ultimately benefiting the organization as a whole.
Unit 3
1. Talk about a time when you had to reach a decision with someone who has a significantly
more optimistic or pessimistic view than you?
- Sarah: Oh hello Phuong, have you seen the plan for a marketing campaign for a
fictional product I sent you yesterday?
- Phuong: Ah yeah, I have seen it. But do you find your plan too reckless and risky?
- Sarah: I really have a remarkably optimistic outlook on our chances of success, don’t
you think that?
- Phuong: Hmm, I hope our plan will be more cautious and goes in a safe direction.
Please take a look at my plan.
- Sarah: I think your approach is over cautious and lacking the “wow” factor.
- Phuong: But that means it will be less risky and is likely to be successful, right?
- Sarah: partly true, so why don’t we combine the elements of both strategies?
- Phuong: That is a good idea, keep doing it.
2. Talk about some future changes in your organization or place of study?
- A: Have you heard anything about the upcoming big changes in our school?
- B: Really? I don’t know, I am busy now and have not been following any news.
- A: Ah, I heard that FTU probably will have a new headquarters in Bac Ninh.
- B: Wow, what amazing news. So how about our current school?
- A: They said that Ha Noi campus is only for postgraduate students.
- B: Oh, when will our school implement the plan and deploy the construction of a new
school?
- A: Haha, I don’t know. Just a plan. This will probably take a long time. Wait and see
it.
- B: Haha oke
-
Unit 4
1. The importance of digital technologies?
- Communication: Digital technologies have revolutionized communication, making it
faster, easier, and more accessible. We can now connect with people from all around
the world through various platforms like social media, email, video calls, etc.
- Information access: The internet is a vast source of information, allowing us to access
knowledge on practically any topic with just a few clicks. Digital technologies enable
us to stay up to date with current events, research topics, and learn new skills through
online courses and tutorials.
- Efficiency and productivity: Digital technologies automate tasks and streamline
processes, increasing efficiency and productivity. With tools like project management
software, cloud storage, and collaborative platforms, teams can collaborate seamlessly
and achieve better results.
2. Describe a digital device to your liking?
- A: Hello Phuong, are you free now?
- Phuong: Ah, yeah. What’s the problem?
- A: I am doing a survey on digital devices. Do you mind if I ask you something about
this?
- Phuong: Of course not. My pleasure.
- A: What digital device do you like most?
- Phuong: I absolutely love the convenience and versatility of smartphones.
- A: Can you tell me the reason why you like smartphones the most?
- Phuong: A smartphone is a digital device that combines the functionalities of a mobile
phone, a computer, and various other multimedia devices. Smartphones have become
an essential part of our daily lives, providing us with instant access to information,
communication with others, entertainment, and much more.
- A: Many people believe that the appearance of phones has a negative impact on users'
health and lifestyle such as distraction; social isolation; physical health issues like eye
strain or posture-related issues; mental health effects like anxiety, depression, and low
self-esteem, etc. What do you think about these problems?
- Phuong: Of course everything has pros and cons. But I look at the pros more,
Smartphones have become an integral part of modern-day communication. In addition
to traditional voice calls and text messages, smartphones allow for video calls, instant
 messaging, and social media interactions, enabling communication with friends,
family, and colleagues.
- Phuong: Lastly, the portability and compactness of smartphones make them extremely
convenient to carry around.
-
Unit 5
1. What role do you think the reward system would play in your motivation?
- The reward system play a significant role in motivating me. Knowing that there is a
potential reward waiting for me upon achieving a specific goal or completing a task
can provide the necessary motivation to overcome challenges and stay focused.
Rewards act as positive reinforcement, providing a sense of accomplishment and
satisfaction, which in turn boosts my motivation to continue working towards my
objectives. Additionally, the anticipation of a reward can create excitement and drive,
enhancing my overall engagement and determination.
2. Talk about advantages and disadvantages of being your own boss?
- Advantages:
+ Flexibility: You can prioritize personal commitments and plan your work
accordingly. This flexibility allows for a better work-life balance.
+ Personal growth: You will gain experience in multiple areas. Being responsible for
your success fuels personal growth and enhances your skillset.
+ Networking Opportunities: When you’re your own boss, you can network with other
successful people. This can be a great way to learn from others and grow your own.
- Disadvantages:
+ You are responsible for everything: As the boss, you’re responsible for everything in
your own. If something goes wrong, it’s up to you to fix it. This can be stressful and
overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to being in charge.
+ You might feel isolated: When you’re the boss, you might feel isolated from others.
This is because you’re in charge and have to make all the decisions. This can be a big
challenge, especially if you’re used to working with a team.
 In conclusion, being your own boss offers freedom, control, and the
opportunity for personal growth, but it also comes with responsibility,
risk, long hours, isolation, and the need for skill diversification.
Balancing these factors and understanding their implications is key to
making an informed decision about pursuing self-employment.
Unit 6
1. Why is it difficult for fast fashion to be ethical?
- Environmental impact: Fast fashion is characterized by quick turnaround times and
large-scale production, resulting in excessive waste and pollution. The industry is
famous for producing vast amounts of textile waste and using toxic chemicals in
textile manufacturing, dyeing, and finishing processes.
- Short product lifespan: Fast fashion emphasizes frequent turnover of collections, often
with low-quality materials and production techniques. The resulting products tend to
have short lifespans and lose their appeal quickly, encouraging consumers to discard
them prematurely and contributing to landfill waste.
2. How many different ways can you think of to measure how ethical a company or
organization is?
- Legal Compliance: Judging whether the company operates within the boundaries of
the law is a fundamental measure of their ethicality.
- Social Responsibility: Examining the company's efforts to positively impact society,
such as through kindness, environmental initiatives, or community involvement, can
gauge their commitment to social responsibility.
- Consumer Protection: Evaluating how the company interacts with consumers,
including product safety, fair pricing, truthful advertising, and privacy protection.
Unit 7
1. Setting goals for yourself that need to be finished before you take a break is important
when you study on your own?
- Yes, setting goals for yourself that need to be finished before taking a break is
important when studying on your own. Goals provide a sense of direction and
motivation, helping you to stay focused and accountable. By clearly defining what you
need to accomplish before taking a break, you create a structured study plan that
ensures progress towards your learning goals. Setting goals also enhances time
management skills, improves productivity, and increases overall efficiency.
2. What tips to deal with urgency or timeline?
- Prioritize tasks: Make a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on their urgency. Identify
the tasks that need to be completed first and focus on those.
- Focus on the critical task: Identify the critical tasks that have the greatest impact on
the overall project timeline. Prioritize these tasks and allocate more time towards them
if needed.
- Avoid multitasking: Instead of trying to do multiple tasks at once, focus on one task at
a time. Multitasking can lead to decreased productivity and may compromise the
quality of your work.
- Utilize time management techniques: Use techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique
(working in focused intervals with short breaks) or time blocking (allocating specific
time slots for different tasks) to increase productivity and maintain focus.
Unit 8
1. What sorts of changes would be the most and least disruptive for you?
- Most disruptive changes:
+ Technological advancements: Introducing new technologies or upgrading existing
systems can have a significant disruptive impact. It often involves adapting
workflows, retraining employees, and potentially replacing outdated equipment.
+ Internet:
- Least disruptive changes:
+ Studying in university. Because for me I just transferred from high school to
university, change the studying environment. However, my daily lives do not have
much change. For many friends, they have to study far from home and even do not
come back home usually. But fortunately, my hometown is Bac Ninh and I don’t have
to study far from home and go home weekly in every weekend.
2. A time when you experienced a major change at work, in your studies or in your personal
life?
- The major change I experienced during my studies was when I transferred from high
school to university.
- Firstly, one of the most noticeable differences between high school and university was
the change in academic expectations. High school was structured, with fixed
schedules, and teachers closely monitoring our progress. However, in university, the
responsibility to manage coursework, assignments, and studying falls on the shoulders
of the student. This newfound freedom forced me to develop effective time
management skills, setting priorities, and maintaining self-discipline.
- Another significant aspect of the transition was the diverse and larger student
community at the university. This diversity added richness to the learning
environment, broadened my perspectives, and exposed me to different ways of
thinking and problem-solving.