thảo luận Practicing English with vOzers :D

I just took TOEIC speaking test at my company last week. And the result is awful. I have a TOEIC certificate of 850 points, but it is the certificate of listening and reading skills. I practice reading English stories and listening to VOA LEARNING ENGLISH videos every day. I kept thinking of that way will improve my speaking English skill. But maybe I am wrong. I could not speak anything when I took the test. Is there anyone who attends this kind of test here? Can you share your experience to pass this test?
 
I just took TOEIC speaking test at my company last week. And the result is awful. I have a TOEIC certificate of 850 points, but it is the certificate of listening and reading skills. I practice reading English stories and listening to VOA LEARNING ENGLISH videos every day. I kept thinking of that way will improve my speaking English skill. But maybe I am wrong. I could not speak anything when I took the test. Is there anyone who attends this kind of test here? Can you share your experience to pass this test?
I don't have any experience regarding the TOEIC speaking test, but as far as I can imagine, it is quite similar to the PTE.
As you mentioned, reading English stories (I assume "reading" here means "reading aloud") only improves your performance in the first task of the TOEIC test where you are given a text to read out loud. When you listen to VOA Learning English, you will probably improve your listening skills.
Here is my suggestion: speak to yourself. Maybe in front of the mirror. Think of everything in English and practice speaking wherever you can. At first, just practice describing anything you encounter. When you have already familiarised yourself with simple tasks, move on to more challenging ones like telling a story, giving your opinion and defending your argument.
Just let your speech flow by thinking simple and using familiar vocabulary. If a topic or an idea makes you stop to search for words, then it's already too complicated.
 
Since when did we actually die?
22 years old, you graduated from university, because your major is not easy to find a job, the first few years you have to drive motorbike taxi, fast delivery.
24 years old, you find a job, the job is not high paying, and often have to work overtime until late at night.
30 years old, you get married, the person is introduced by the matchmaker, your parents ask you if you like the girl, you nod loudly: "I like it."
At the age of 33, your health is getting worse and worse, the overtime is getting less and less, and the rate of advancement is getting slower and slower. Your wife tells you: "Our daughter is going to kindergarten, bilingual 6 million a month." You frowned, she couldn't take it anymore, "Loc's son, 12 million a month!" "I was like that, do you want your children to fail too?!" You keep quiet, go back to your room to give your wife 12 million, that money you calculate for your birthday to reward yourself with a new computer set.
36 years old, your daughter entered 1st grade. The teacher said first grade is very important, you laughed, yes yes yes, please take care of my daughter for me, the teacher see you don't understand, show you the way: "one month tutoring about..etc." In sixth grade, she said middle school is very important, you laughed and said: "yes yes yes, I am planning to pay extra tuition for my daughter."
One day when your daughter came home, she said to you: "Dad, I want to learn piano".
Although you are no longer wondering, the sentence "I can't buy it" these years, you have said a lot, but this time still can't say it.
Fortunately, the daughter is quite understanding, she said: "It's okay, Dad, if you cant buy it, I can learn the guitar well." You look at your good daughter, feeling happy in your heart.
46 years old, your daughter attends high school in a not-so-bad school.
One day, you were in a meeting, received a phone call from the teacher, the phone said your child had a fight at school, invited parents to go to school to solve it. You timidly ask your boss 5 years younger than you to take a break. When you go to school, you are taught by the teacher, "you are a parent but you don't know how to teach your child", you laugh, yes, yes.
49 years old, daughter goes to college.
Your daughter's major, you look at and understand nothing. You just know that the job is definitely not easy to find, but the tuition is extremely high.
One night, you got drunk and came home to talk to your children. You say the words that you used to hate, " You must think for the sake of the future job, choose a hot profession, don't do what you want anymore."
You and your child go from talking to arguing. You find out you're old, don't argue with girls anymore. You cant say again to her, can only scream: "I am your father!"
she looks at you, knows it's useless to argue, you don't want to listen anymore. When she comes back to her room, you hear a voice echo: "I don't want to live like you."
You don't know why you sit and cry, the first crying after 50 years old.
Probably because the wine is too spicy, right?
Probably because the wine was too spicy.
55 years old, daughter go work, seems to have sympathized with you a little. 56 years old, daughter married.
You asked her if you liked that boy. She said firmly: "I like it." You are very excited.
60 years old, working hard all your life, you want to travel a little.
The other half has been with you for the past 30 years, but you still don't know like her or not.
You and her begin to calculate the travel tour. After so many years, the two still disagree, still quarrel. After that, everything was ready, then the daughter said: "Mom and Dad, we're so busy, can you help us take care of my son?". You delay your plane ticket, go back like 30 years ago.
At the age of 70, the daughter's child is also full growth, no longer needing to take care of him every day. You decide to say, "Must go on a trip." But the stick in hand can only help you go down to the flower garden downstairs.
73 years old, you lie on a hospital bed, wake up from a coma, surrounded by people, you dreamily see the doctor shaking his head, the people around him look dignified.
You realize, you're going to die.
you have no fear.
you suddenly wonder,
When did I actually die?
you remember getting married at the age of 30,
Turns out, by then, you were already dead.
3 seconds before your death, 73 years of your life rewind, 1 second, 2 seconds pass, your face expressionless.
The 3rd second, you suddenly laugh.
It's 15 years old, you see a boy with a loaf of bread, carrying a bag, following a group of other students. The boy walked over to the girl's next door's balcony and looked out the window.
That's the girl you secretly loved at the age of 15,
You can't figure out what she looks like, you try to remember.
3 seconds passed, the person next to you suddenly cried, you fell into the night without knowing anything.
177020345_834912630434428_374148398545810767_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
Just finished the fourth season of Castlevania (the animated series) yesterday. Has any of you guys watched/finished it? I'm not a huge Castlevania fan but would like to discuss about its animate adaptation.
 
I am desperately finding partners to practice English speaking. Anyone interested in? a group of 3 to 5 will be great. We can do it on Zoom!!!! I will be available from 9pm to 12am, anyone with same time zone?
 
I am desperately finding partners to practice English speaking. Anyone interested in? a group of 3 to 5 will be great. We can do it on Zoom!!!! I will be available from 9pm to 12am, anyone with same time zone?
You can use Cambly software to improve your English skills. I see the advertisement on Cambly software on the Voz forum. You can buy an account at a cheap price. You can try it.
 
You can use Cambly software to improve your English skills. I see the advertisement on Cambly software on the Voz forum. You can buy an account at a cheap price. You can try it.
Noted with thanks. I just want to talk with somebody in English. I used to joined some English clubs before Covid. Now they are all close so I am kinda missing these old days. :>
 
Since when did we actually die?
...
It's 15 years old, you see a boy with a loaf of bread, carrying a bag, following a group of other students. The boy walked over to the girl's next door's balcony and looked out the window.
That's the girl you secretly loved at the age of 15,
View attachment 601600
We all have been there and trying not to live meaningless but meaningful. But its never always about love.
 
Noted with thanks. I just want to talk with somebody in English. I used to joined some English clubs before Covid. Now they are all close so I am kinda missing these old days. :>
you can use Bitu app, this app holds some room for 3 to 5 people to speak English for separate topics in 30 minutes, they provide one mentor to help team contact and fix the mistake, and it's held at definite times of the day, you can choose the suitable for you, sorry because my bad English write skill:), plus it's completely free
 
Since when did we actually die?
22 years old, you graduated from university, because your major is not easy to find a job, the first few years you have to drive motorbike taxi, fast delivery.
24 years old, you find a job, the job is not high paying, and often have to work overtime until late at night.
30 years old, you get married, the person is introduced by the matchmaker, your parents ask you if you like the girl, you nod loudly: "I like it."
At the age of 33, your health is getting worse and worse, the overtime is getting less and less, and the rate of advancement is getting slower and slower. Your wife tells you: "Our daughter is going to kindergarten, bilingual 6 million a month." You frowned, she couldn't take it anymore, "Loc's son, 12 million a month!" "I was like that, do you want your children to fail too?!" You keep quiet, go back to your room to give your wife 12 million, that money you calculate for your birthday to reward yourself with a new computer set.
36 years old, your daughter entered 1st grade. The teacher said first grade is very important, you laughed, yes yes yes, please take care of my daughter for me, the teacher see you don't understand, show you the way: "one month tutoring about..etc." In sixth grade, she said middle school is very important, you laughed and said: "yes yes yes, I am planning to pay extra tuition for my daughter."
One day when your daughter came home, she said to you: "Dad, I want to learn piano".
Although you are no longer wondering, the sentence "I can't buy it" these years, you have said a lot, but this time still can't say it.
Fortunately, the daughter is quite understanding, she said: "It's okay, Dad, if you cant buy it, I can learn the guitar well." You look at your good daughter, feeling happy in your heart.
46 years old, your daughter attends high school in a not-so-bad school.
One day, you were in a meeting, received a phone call from the teacher, the phone said your child had a fight at school, invited parents to go to school to solve it. You timidly ask your boss 5 years younger than you to take a break. When you go to school, you are taught by the teacher, "you are a parent but you don't know how to teach your child", you laugh, yes, yes.
49 years old, daughter goes to college.
Your daughter's major, you look at and understand nothing. You just know that the job is definitely not easy to find, but the tuition is extremely high.
One night, you got drunk and came home to talk to your children. You say the words that you used to hate, " You must think for the sake of the future job, choose a hot profession, don't do what you want anymore."
You and your child go from talking to arguing. You find out you're old, don't argue with girls anymore. You cant say again to her, can only scream: "I am your father!"
she looks at you, knows it's useless to argue, you don't want to listen anymore. When she comes back to her room, you hear a voice echo: "I don't want to live like you."
You don't know why you sit and cry, the first crying after 50 years old.
Probably because the wine is too spicy, right?
Probably because the wine was too spicy.
55 years old, daughter go work, seems to have sympathized with you a little. 56 years old, daughter married.
You asked her if you liked that boy. She said firmly: "I like it." You are very excited.
60 years old, working hard all your life, you want to travel a little.
The other half has been with you for the past 30 years, but you still don't know like her or not.
You and her begin to calculate the travel tour. After so many years, the two still disagree, still quarrel. After that, everything was ready, then the daughter said: "Mom and Dad, we're so busy, can you help us take care of my son?". You delay your plane ticket, go back like 30 years ago.
At the age of 70, the daughter's child is also full growth, no longer needing to take care of him every day. You decide to say, "Must go on a trip." But the stick in hand can only help you go down to the flower garden downstairs.
73 years old, you lie on a hospital bed, wake up from a coma, surrounded by people, you dreamily see the doctor shaking his head, the people around him look dignified.
You realize, you're going to die.
you have no fear.
you suddenly wonder,
When did I actually die?
you remember getting married at the age of 30,
Turns out, by then, you were already dead.
3 seconds before your death, 73 years of your life rewind, 1 second, 2 seconds pass, your face expressionless.
The 3rd second, you suddenly laugh.
It's 15 years old, you see a boy with a loaf of bread, carrying a bag, following a group of other students. The boy walked over to the girl's next door's balcony and looked out the window.
That's the girl you secretly loved at the age of 15,
You can't figure out what she looks like, you try to remember.
3 seconds passed, the person next to you suddenly cried, you fell into the night without knowing anything.
We first die when we decide to become a murderer and kill the child inside ourselves. That a brutal lesson almost every one must learn by oneself and cannot be taught by anyone. There are some that can keep the child inside themselves to live forever, to those I look up and admire.
I myself also tried to keep that child alive, to see him being happy forever. But somewhere in my life, I looked back and could not find him anywhere. The spark in me has dimmed, I had lost the carefree laughter, I had lost the passion, the feeling of wonder when I find out something new. My mind is clouded, sometime I hate myself or even my life. But the death of that child is not the end, it's just the start of another journey. I refuse to give up, to succumb into sadness, that spark may be dimmed but it refuse to be extinguished. I'll quote JRR Tolkien here
It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. . . . Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. . . . There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for
I believe, in our life, we have to keep on struggling and fighting against the world forever. And maybe then, we will look back to find that our life is not so full of regret and sadness, but there is also joy and happiness. Perhaps through all the hardness that we have fought, we will learn to cherish every moment in our life, to find happiness in small thing just like we did when we were just a child? But no matter what happened my friend, do not look back and regret, because every thing you have done make the one you are now and you should be proud of it!
 
We first die when we decide to become a murderer and kill the child inside ourselves. That a brutal lesson almost every one must learn by oneself and cannot be taught by anyone. There are some that can keep the child inside themselves to live forever, to those I look up and admire.
I myself also tried to keep that child alive, to see him being happy forever. But somewhere in my life, I looked back and could not find him anywhere. The spark in me has dimmed, I had lost the carefree laughter, I had lost the passion, the feeling of wonder when I find out something new. My mind is clouded, sometime I hate myself or even my life. But the death of that child is not the end, it's just the start of another journey. I refuse to give up, to succumb into sadness, that spark may be dimmed but it refuse to be extinguished. I'll quote JRR Tolkien here

I believe, in our life, we have to keep on struggling and fighting against the world forever. And maybe then, we will look back to find that our life is not so full of regret and sadness, but there is also joy and happiness. Perhaps through all the hardness that we have fought, we will learn to cherish every moment in our life, to find happiness in small thing just like we did when we were just a child? But no matter what happened my friend, do not look back and regret, because every thing you have done make the one you are now and you should be proud of it!
I used to try to read the Little Prince more than two times, but I still understand nothing. And I realize that I am not a boy of the past with fantasy sky to can feel the message of the story.
 
Last edited:
you can use Bitu app, this app holds some room for 3 to 5 people to speak English for separate topics in 30 minutes, they provide one mentor to help team contact and fix the mistake, and it's held at definite times of the day, you can choose the suitable for you, sorry because my bad English write skill:), plus it's completely free
Awesome! I just have it installed and joined (listen only), and it was great! Damn I thought I was like some where between the intermediate level. Yet not even close! LOL I can keep up with their speed but no way I can reach to their vocabs. It made me feel like I need to improve my English than ever! 🤣 I hope this feeling wont leave me too soon.
I dont see any problem at your writing. I guess I am bad at writing too?
 
Awesome! I just have it installed and joined (listen only), and it was great! Damn I thought I was like some where between the intermediate level. Yet not even close! LOL I can keep up with their speed but no way I can reach to their vocabs. It made me feel like I need to improve my English than ever! 🤣 I hope this feeling wont leave me too soon.
I dont see any problem at your writing. I guess I am bad at writing too?
Thank you:love:. Actually, i got 420 points in my toeic exam =((, my grammar is so bad and I'm trying to improve that.
 
Since when did we actually die?
22 years old, you graduated from university, because your major is not easy to find a job, the first few years you have to drive motorbike taxi, fast delivery.
24 years old, you find a job, the job is not high paying, and often have to work overtime until late at night.
30 years old, you get married, the person is introduced by the matchmaker, your parents ask you if you like the girl, you nod loudly: "I like it."
At the age of 33, your health is getting worse and worse, the overtime is getting less and less, and the rate of advancement is getting slower and slower. Your wife tells you: "Our daughter is going to kindergarten, bilingual 6 million a month." You frowned, she couldn't take it anymore, "Loc's son, 12 million a month!" "I was like that, do you want your children to fail too?!" You keep quiet, go back to your room to give your wife 12 million, that money you calculate for your birthday to reward yourself with a new computer set.
36 years old, your daughter entered 1st grade. The teacher said first grade is very important, you laughed, yes yes yes, please take care of my daughter for me, the teacher see you don't understand, show you the way: "one month tutoring about..etc." In sixth grade, she said middle school is very important, you laughed and said: "yes yes yes, I am planning to pay extra tuition for my daughter."
One day when your daughter came home, she said to you: "Dad, I want to learn piano".
Although you are no longer wondering, the sentence "I can't buy it" these years, you have said a lot, but this time still can't say it.
Fortunately, the daughter is quite understanding, she said: "It's okay, Dad, if you cant buy it, I can learn the guitar well." You look at your good daughter, feeling happy in your heart.
46 years old, your daughter attends high school in a not-so-bad school.
One day, you were in a meeting, received a phone call from the teacher, the phone said your child had a fight at school, invited parents to go to school to solve it. You timidly ask your boss 5 years younger than you to take a break. When you go to school, you are taught by the teacher, "you are a parent but you don't know how to teach your child", you laugh, yes, yes.
49 years old, daughter goes to college.
Your daughter's major, you look at and understand nothing. You just know that the job is definitely not easy to find, but the tuition is extremely high.
One night, you got drunk and came home to talk to your children. You say the words that you used to hate, " You must think for the sake of the future job, choose a hot profession, don't do what you want anymore."
You and your child go from talking to arguing. You find out you're old, don't argue with girls anymore. You cant say again to her, can only scream: "I am your father!"
she looks at you, knows it's useless to argue, you don't want to listen anymore. When she comes back to her room, you hear a voice echo: "I don't want to live like you."
You don't know why you sit and cry, the first crying after 50 years old.
Probably because the wine is too spicy, right?
Probably because the wine was too spicy.
55 years old, daughter go work, seems to have sympathized with you a little. 56 years old, daughter married.
You asked her if you liked that boy. She said firmly: "I like it." You are very excited.
60 years old, working hard all your life, you want to travel a little.
The other half has been with you for the past 30 years, but you still don't know like her or not.
You and her begin to calculate the travel tour. After so many years, the two still disagree, still quarrel. After that, everything was ready, then the daughter said: "Mom and Dad, we're so busy, can you help us take care of my son?". You delay your plane ticket, go back like 30 years ago.
At the age of 70, the daughter's child is also full growth, no longer needing to take care of him every day. You decide to say, "Must go on a trip." But the stick in hand can only help you go down to the flower garden downstairs.
73 years old, you lie on a hospital bed, wake up from a coma, surrounded by people, you dreamily see the doctor shaking his head, the people around him look dignified.
You realize, you're going to die.
you have no fear.
you suddenly wonder,
When did I actually die?
you remember getting married at the age of 30,
Turns out, by then, you were already dead.
3 seconds before your death, 73 years of your life rewind, 1 second, 2 seconds pass, your face expressionless.
The 3rd second, you suddenly laugh.
It's 15 years old, you see a boy with a loaf of bread, carrying a bag, following a group of other students. The boy walked over to the girl's next door's balcony and looked out the window.
That's the girl you secretly loved at the age of 15,
You can't figure out what she looks like, you try to remember.
3 seconds passed, the person next to you suddenly cried, you fell into the night without knowing anything.
View attachment 601600
That's heart touching
I've seen better translation from Google Translate bro :)
 
Back
Top