Session 8 - Transcript

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Session 8 - Transcript

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Thành Dũ

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Track 81

Examiner: Do you think people often idealise their childhoods?

Candidate: Certainly, they do. The older we get, the more nostalgic we get about the past.
It's only normal. And why should we dwell on the negatives? I don't think it does any harm
to idealise a bit if it makes us happy to remember things in a more positive light. The only
danger is that it may make us unhappy with our current lots to believe that everything was
so much better back then
Examiner: How does a person's childhood influence what kind of adult they become?
Candidate: Well, I suppose the adult you become is influenced by three main factors:
firstly, your childhood, that is 'nurture'; then, your genes, that is 'nature'; and last but not
least, the choices you make as an adult. To my mind, of all three, nurture has the greatest
impact. They've conducted research on twins who were separated at birth and, while there
are undoubtedly many similarities between them, they are also very
different in many key ways: their success in the world of work, their relationships with
other people. I think all this is influenced by the role models we have throughout our
childhoods.
Examiner: When does a child become an adult in your view?
Candidate: That's a difficult question to answer and all societies grapple with this issue. It
is, of course, critical for the criminal justice system to define an 'adult' correctly, or at least
try to, because if somebody commits a crime as a child, they get treated more leniently than
if they commit a crime as an adult. So, I suppose you
have to decide when you think people become fully responsible for their actions. I wouldn't
want to be the one making that decision. I just don't know.
Examiner: Do you agree with the saying 'children should be seen and not heard'?
Candidate: I'm assuming this means that children should respect their elders and not create
havoc by being noisy and answering adults back. I have some sympathy with this view.
However, moderation is usually the best course to take in all things, as with upbringing.
Children should respect their elders, which involves doing as they're told. Too many
children nowadays think they run the household, making demands, etc. However, it is also
true that a child is part of the family, too and also deserves respect. I think this means they
should be allowed to express their points of view and they should be listened to and
consulted. It's a fine balance, I suppose.
Examiner: Is it good for children to be exposed to frightening and sad experiences or
should they be protected from these as far as possible?
Candidate: I don't think they should experience too many sad or terrifying experiences, if it
can be helped.
Nevertheless, what is very useful for teaching children about these darker sides of life
without scarring
them is stories. In stories they can learn about evil and the dangers in the world around them
but in a
controlled way where the 'baddies' are punished and everyone ends up happy. This gives
them a focus for
the fears that all children have but it is a fictional one so doesn't upset their peace of mind.
Examiner: Are children in your country generally well brought up?
Candidate: My instinct is to say 'no' because you see many misbehaving children when
you're out and about. In
reality, there are probably many more well brought up children than badly brought up ones,
it's just that
the good children don't attract your attention as much.
Examiner: Do you think people often idealize their childhoods?
Candidate: Certainly, they do. The older we get, the more nostalgic we get about the past.
It's only normal. And why should we dwell on the negatives? I don't think it does any harm
to idealize a bit if it makes us happy to remember things in a more positive light. The only
danger is that it may make us unhappy with our current lots to believe that everything was
so much better back then
- Agree/ Disagree
(Certainly/ of course/ of course not… (I fully (completely) agree/disagree with …)
- Supporting your idea 1: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Supporting your idea 2: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Alternative idea : Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence + Example
(briefly)
- Conclusion: Restate your opinion briefly (1 or 2 sentences)
(Given the point that mentioned above, I believe that…)

Examiner: How does a person's childhood influence what kind of adult they become?
Candidate: Well, I suppose the adult you become is influenced by three main factors:
firstly, your childhood, that is 'nurture'; then, your genes, that is 'nature'; and last but not
least, the choices you make as an adult. To my mind, of all three, nurture has the greatest
impact. They've conducted research on twins who were separated at birth and, while there
are undoubtedly many similarities between them, they are also very
different in many key ways: their success in the world of work, their relationships with
other people. I think all this is influenced by the role models we have throughout our
childhoods.

Examiner: When does a child become an adult in your view?

Candidate: That's a difficult question to answer and all societies grapple with this issue. It
is, of course, critical for the criminal justice system to define an 'adult' correctly, or at least
try to, because if somebody commits a crime as a child, they get treated more leniently than
if they commit a crime as an adult. So, I suppose you have to decide when you think people
become fully responsible for their actions. I wouldn't want to be the one making that
decision. I just don't know.
Examiner: Do you agree with the saying 'children should be seen and not heard'?
Candidate: I'm assuming this means that children should respect their elders and not create
havoc by being noisy and answering adults back. I have some sympathy with this view.
However, moderation is usually the best course to take in all things, as with upbringing.
Children should respect their elders, which involves doing as they're told. Too many
children nowadays think they run the household, making demands, etc. However, it is also
true that a child is part of the family, too and also deserves respect. I think this means they
should be allowed to express their points of view and they should be listened to and
consulted. It's a fine balance, I suppose.
- Agree/ Disagree
(Certainly/ of course/ of course not… (I fully (completely) agree/disagree with …)
- Supporting your idea 1: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Supporting your idea 2: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Conclusion: Restate your opinion briefly (1 or 2 sentences)
(Given the point that mentioned above, I believe that…)

Examiner: Is it good for children to be exposed to frightening and sad experiences or

should they be protected from these as far as possible?
Candidate: I don't think they should experience too many sad or terrifying experiences, if it
can be helped. Nevertheless, what is very useful for teaching children about these darker
sides of life without scarring them is stories. In stories they can learn about evil and the
dangers in the world around them but in a controlled way where the 'baddies' are punished
and everyone ends up happy. This gives them a focus for the fears that all children have but
it is a fictional one so doesn't upset their peace of mind.
State your opinion
(In my opinion, in my point of view…)
- Supporting your idea 1: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Supporting your idea 2: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Conclusion: Restate your opinion briefly (1 or 2 sentences)
(Given the point that mentioned above, I believe that…)
Examiner: Are children in your country generally well brought up?
Candidate: My instinct is to say 'no' because you see many misbehaving children when
you're out and about. In reality, there are probably many more well brought up children than
badly brought up ones, it's just that the good children don't attract your attention as much.
State your opinion
(In my opinion, in my point of view…)
- Supporting your idea 1: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Supporting your idea 2: Main idea in topic sentence + supporting sentence +
Example
- Conclusion: Restate your opinion briefly (1 or 2 sentences)
(Given the point that mentioned above, I believe that…)