2nd

Grammar

Sentence Structure

To-be Sentences (Descriptive)

Personal Descriptions:

• “The weather is beautiful today”
• “This coffee is too hot”
• “The students are very attentive”

Emotional States:

• “I am excited about the trip”
• “She is nervous before presentations”

Action Verb Sentences

Daily Activities:

• “The chef prepares amazing dishes”
• “Students submit assignments online”
  Impact on Others:
• “Your story inspires many people”
• “This music calms my nerves”

Tenses Review

Here’s a detailed elaboration with contextual examples:

Present Tense

1. Schedules & Routines

Daily Life:

• “The bus arrives at 7:30 AM every morning”
• “My first class starts at 9:00 AM”
• “The cafeteria closes at 8 PM”

2. Universal Facts & Scientific Truths

• “The Earth revolves around the Sun”
• “Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius”
• “Plants need sunlight to grow”

3. Personalities & Characteristics

Personal Traits

• “She speaks four languages fluently”
• “He excels at problem-solving”

Habits

• “They always arrive early to meetings”
• “She drinks green tea every morning”

Present Continuous

1. Current Actions (Right Now)

• “She’s preparing dinner right now”
• “We’re discussing the new project”

2. Ongoing Temporary Situations

Job Search

• “I’m looking for a new apartment”
• “We’re renovating our house”

Studies

• “She’s studying for her final exams”
• “They’re working on their thesis”

3. Complaints & Annoyances

Family Life

• “The neighbors are always playing loud music”
• “The kids are constantly fighting”

Work Situations

• “My colleague is always coming late”
• “The printer is forever breaking down”

4. Near Future Plans

Travel:

• “We’re flying to Paris next week”
• “They’re moving to Singapore next month”

Social Plans:

• “I’m meeting Sarah for coffee tomorrow”
• “We’re having dinner with the Johnsons tonight”

Present Perfect: Connecting Past to Present

1. Life Experiences

Travel:

• “I have visited five countries this year”
• “She has never been to Europe”

Achievements:

• “He has won three competitions since January”
• “They have published ten papers in their career”

2. Recent Actions with Current Impact

Work:

• “I have just finished the report”
• “We have already sent the email to the client”

Study:

• “I have completed all my assignments”
• “She has studied for six hours today”

3. Ongoing Situations

Life Changes:

• “I have lived in Tokyo for five years” (still living there)
• “They have worked together since 2018” (still working)

Relationships:

• “We have known each other since college”
• “She has been married for ten years”

Other Topics Mentioned

1. Transitive/Intransitive Verbs (Nội Động Từ / Ngoại Động từ)

2. Article (Mạo từ)

3. Conditional Sentences

Pronunciation

Vietnamese Vs English Pronunciation: Key Differences

1. Jaw Movement Differences

Vietnamese Characteristic:

• Minimal jaw movement (mostly lips and tongue)
• Shorter mouth opening
• More contained sounds

English Requirement:

• Exaggerated jaw movement needed
• Wider mouth opening for clear vowels
• Practice exercises:
  1. “BATH - BAT - BED - BAD”
  2. “SHEEP vs SHIP”
  3. “FOOL vs FULL”

2. Breath Control & Diaphragm Usage

• Vietnamese Speaking:
  • Chest-level breathing
  • Shorter breath units
• English Speaking:
  • Deep diaphragmatic breathing required (Lấy hơi từ bụng)
  • Longer breath units for stress patterns

3. Vowel Combinations

Vietnamese Challenge:

• Tendency to separate vowels
• Adding glottal stops between vowels

English Requirement:

• Smooth transitions needed
• Common combinations to practice:
  1. “ia” as in “material” /məˈtɪriəl/
  2. “ui” as in “fluid” /ˈfluːɪd/
  3. “oa” as in “boat” /bəʊt/

Practice Techniques

1. Mirror Practice:

   • Watch jaw movement
   • Monitor mouth openings
   • Check tongue position

2. Recording Exercises:

   • Record yourself reading
   • Compare with native speakers
   • Focus on problem areas

3. Daily Drills:

   • Exaggerated jaw exercises
   • Breathing exercises
   • Vowel combination practice
   • Two-step syllable awareness

4. Common Problem Words:

   • “Think” vs “Sink”
   • “Three” vs “Tree”
   • “This” vs “Dis”
   • “Thank” vs “Tank”

Take-away

1. Lấy Hơi Từ Bụng

Nguyên lý:

• Hơi phải đi từ bụng lên, không phải từ ngực
• Khi nói, bụng sẽ phình ra, không phải ngực

Cách kiểm tra:

• Đặt tay lên bụng khi nói câu có trọng âm:
  1. “I DON’T want to GO there”
  2. “This is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS”
• Bụng sẽ rung mạnh ở các từ viết HOA

Bài tập:

• Hít sâu, để bụng phình ra
• Đọc to từng câu, cảm nhận bụng rung
• Tập nói to dần từ nhỏ đến lớn

2. Nối Âm

• Một âm tiết đa phần đều sẽ có 2 chuyển động, khi ghép các âm tiết cạnh nhau, thì sẽ tối giản được các chuyển động miệng (thường là lên/xuống) để nói mượt hơn.

Ví dụ:

• Fire ⇾ “Faaaa-ir”
• “What is it?” → “Whaaaa-tiiiiii-zit”
• “Turn on” → “Tɜ-non”
• “Pick up” → “Piiiii-kup”

3. Nhớ Sử Dụng Cằm

Điểm khác biệt với tiếng Việt:

• Tiếng Việt: Miệng hẹp, ít cử động cằm
• Tiếng Anh: Cần mở miệng rộng, cằm chuyển động nhiều

Các cặp âm cần luyện tập:

• SHIP vs SHEEP
• BIT vs BEAT
• PULL vs POOL

Bài tập trước gương:

• Đặt ngón tay dưới cằm
  • Cảm nhận cằm di chuyển
• Tập mở miệng to hơn bình thường

4. Nguyên Âm Đôi Và Tính Đối Xứng

• Miệng phải đối xứng khi phát âm
• Chuyển động mượt mà, không đứt đoạn

Các cặp nguyên âm thường gặp:

• “oʊ” như trong “boat”

• “ai” như trong “fire”

Vocabulary

TLinh, Trung, Thanh

• lose count of sth
• lose face
• lose sight of
• be over the moon
• be on cloud nine
• quarrel
• open to dispute
• prerequisite
• rich ~ affluent ~ wealthy
• make ends meet
• poor ~ needy ~ impoverished
• misfortunate
• take a rain check (on something)
• you can say that again
• introvert
• extrovert
• yawn
• tone sth down
• irritated ~ annoyed
• photogenic
• economics
• resort to
• tone sth down
• photogenic
• manufacturer
• vendor