Gợi ý từ vựng, ý tưởng cho IELTS speaking topic films

Xin chào các bạn, mình là Hương Giang, giáo viên IELTS 8.5 ở ECE. Trong bài viết này chúng ta cùng tìm hiểu ý tưởng về chủ đề “films” – một chủ đề dù khá quen nhưng cũng khó để gây ấn tượng trong IELTS speaking. Trong bài viết hôm nay, chúng ta cùng khai thác chủ đề này qua các câu hỏi sau nhé:

Cô Nguyễn Hương Giang – Giáo viên 8.5 IELTS tại ECE

IELTS speaking Part 1 topic films

1. Do you like to watch films?

→ To be honest, these days I hardly ever have the time to sit through an entire film because I’m constantly juggling work and other commitments. I’m always busy as a bee. That said, back when I was a university student and had far more free time on my hands, I could easily binge-watch a whole series in just a couple of days.

• Juggle work and other commitments: cố gắng hoàn thành hết mọi việc
• Sit through an entire film: ngồi xem hết một bộ phim
• busy as a bee: rất bận rộn 
• Binge-watch: cày phim, xem liên tục

2. What types of movies do you like? Why?

→ Animated films are usually my go-to choice whenever I manage to carve out some time to go to the cinema. Some people might find them a bit predictable in terms of storyline, but what I genuinely appreciate is the visual artistry. The animation is often incredibly vibrant, and the characters feel so expressive and endearing. There’s a certain charm and emotional warmth in animated films that I don’t quite get from other genres.

• go-to choice: lựa chọn ưu tiên

• carve out some time: dành được ít thời gian

• visual artistry: cách tạo hình ảnh (trong phim)

• Endearing: dễ thương

3. Do you still enjoy watching the movies you loved as a child?

Honestly, yes, I do. As a child, I was always thrilled whenever I was allowed to watch cartoons. What has changed over time, though, is the way I experience them. When I was younger, I tended to focus on the moral lessons behind the stories. Now, I’m more drawn to how comforting and relaxing they are. There’s something incredibly soothing about watching those adorable characters and simply switching off from the real world for a while.

• moral lessons: các bài học đạo đức
• be drawn to: bị hấp dẫn, thích cái gì

4. Do you prefer watching movies at home or at the cinema?

→ I’d definitely say the cinema. As I’ve mentioned before, I tend to associate movies with going out rather than staying in. When I’m at home, I constantly feel the urge to tick things off my to-do list, whether it’s housework, meeting deadlines, or giving feedback to my students. It’s hard for me to completely switch off in that environment. At the cinema, though, I’m physically removed from all those responsibilities, so I can fully immerse myself in the film and genuinely enjoy the experience without distractions.

• tick things off my to-do list: hoàn thành các công việc mình đề ra 
• switch off: (trong ngữ cảnh này) hoàn toàn dứt ra (khỏi công việc)

IELTS speaking Part 2 topic films

Describe a movie you watched recently that you felt disappointed about

You should say:

• When it was
• Why you didn’t like it
• Why you decided to watch it
• And explain why you felt disappointed about it

To tell you the truth, I’m a huge fan of animated films, especially those known for outstanding visual artistry. I remember being incredibly excited about a movie called Ne Zha 2. It was actually released last year, but it’s still the most recent film I watched that truly disappointed me.

I was completely hooked the first time I saw the trailer. A friend of mine shared a short clip on Facebook, and those few scenes were both hilarious and surprisingly emotional. As someone who absolutely loves the vibrancy and charm of animated characters, I genuinely thought it was going to be a masterpiece.

However, when I finally got the chance to watch the full movie, it was such a let-down. The plot turned out to be painfully predictable, and to make matters worse, most of the interesting scenes had already been revealed in the trailer. The remaining parts felt disconnected and, at times, rather tedious.

What made it even more embarrassing was that I had convinced my husband to watch it with me. I had hyped it up so much beforehand, telling him it would be amazing. But halfway through the film, we both started feeling drowsy, and honestly, it was a struggle to sit through the entire thing.

Looking back, I think my disappointment mainly stemmed from having overly high expectations. It taught me not to judge a movie solely based on an impressive trailer.

• Hooked: thích thú, thấy hấp dẫn 
• painfully predictable: quá dễ đoán
• a let-down: nỗi thất vọng
• hyped it up: tung hô, khen 
• sit through (a movie): ngồi xem hết

IELTS speaking Part 3 topic films

• Do you believe movie reviews?

I think movie reviews can be a useful reference point, especially when I’m unsure whether a film is worth my time. For instance, I sometimes watch review videos on YouTube to get a general sense of the storyline and overall quality before deciding to book a ticket. It helps me assess whether the film aligns with my personal taste. That said, I don’t rely on them entirely. Reviews often reveal key plot details, which can diminish the suspense and overall viewing experience. Moreover, some reviewers may be sponsored or financially incentivised to promote certain films, which raises questions about their objectivity. So while reviews can be informative, I prefer to treat them as guidance rather than a decisive factor.

Useful reference point: nguồn tham khảo

Aligns with my personal taste: phù hợp với gu

Diminish the suspense:  giảm sự háo hức

Financially incentivised:  được tài trợ

• What are the different types of films in your country?

There’s quite a wide range of film genres in my country, but I’d say romantic comedies are probably among the most popular. Many of them revolve around family dynamics and everyday life, so they’re light-hearted and easy to watch. In fact, they’re the kind of films families can enjoy together during a relaxed evening meal. Quite a few are also adapted from foreign productions but localised to suit Vietnamese culture. Because of their relatable themes, they tend to appeal to viewers of all ages. Another genre that has gained popularity, particularly among younger audiences, is action films. In the past, Vietnamese viewers mainly relied on Hollywood blockbusters for this type of entertainment. However, in recent years, domestic filmmakers have started producing their own action movies, and the quality has improved considerably. I think this reflects the gradual development of our local film industry.

Revolve around: xoay quanh nội dung gì

Adapted and localised to suit Vietnamese culture: chuyển thể và thay đổi để phù hợp với văn hóa Việt Nam

Appeal to viewers of all ages: phù hợp  với mọi lứa tuổi

• Are historical films popular in your country? Why?

I would say historical films are moderately popular in my country, but they’re not necessarily mainstream. They tend to attract viewers who are particularly interested in history or national identity rather than the general public. One reason is that historical films often require a substantial budget for costumes, set design, and visual effects, so they aren’t produced as frequently as romantic comedies or action films. When they are well-made, though, they can generate a lot of interest, especially if they portray significant events or legendary figures from Vietnamese history.

• National identity: bản sắc quốc gia

• Substantial budget: kinh phí khá lớn

• Set design: thiết kế bối cảnh

• Portray: khắc họa

• Legendary figures: nhân vật huyền thoại

Hy vọng phần gợi ý và chia sẻ ý tưởng này có thể giúp các bạn đọc tiếp cận với chủ đề một cách linh hoạt và sử dụng từ vựng chủ đề tốt hơn nhé.

Đoàn Nương

Tôi là Đoàn Nương - Giám đốc trung tâm ngoại ngữ ECE. Tôi hiện đang là giảng viên của khoa ngôn ngữ các nước nói tiếng Anh - Trường Đại Học Quốc Gia Hà Nội. Tôi đã có 19 năm kinh nghiệm giảng dạy IELTS và 15 năm là giảng viên Đại Học. Tôi mong muốn đưa ECE trở thành trung tâm ngoại ngữ cho tất cả mọi người, mang tới cho học viên môi trường học tập tiếng Anh chuyên nghiệp và hiệu quả.