Part 2
Part 2 - Cue Card
Describe a time when you told your friend an important truth
You should say:
- Who your friend is
- What the truth was
- What your friend's reaction was
- And explain why you think it was important to tell your friend the truth
Part 2 Sample Response
Right, so I'm thinking of something that happened about two years ago with my close friend Mai. We'd been friends since high school, and she was dating this guy who... well, let's just say he wasn't treating her very well.
I'd noticed he was constantly checking her phone, getting jealous whenever she spent time with us, and basically trying to control what she wore. The final straw was when I saw him being really rude to her at a coffee shop - just completely dismissive and condescending. Mai seemed to think this was normal behavior, but honestly, it was quite concerning to watch.
So I decided I had to say something. I chose a quiet moment when we were walking around Hoan Kiem Lake, and I told her straight up that I thought her boyfriend was being emotionally manipulative. I explained what I'd witnessed and how it made me feel as her friend.
Her initial reaction was... well, defensive actually. She got quite upset and said I was being judgmental, that I didn't understand their relationship. We had a bit of an argument, and she didn't speak to me for about three weeks, which was honestly quite painful.
But eventually, she came back and thanked me. She said my words had made her start noticing things she'd been ignoring. They broke up about a month later, and she's much happier now with someone who actually respects her. Looking back, I think it was crucial to speak up because sometimes friends need that outside perspective to see what's really happening.
Essential Vocabulary
Types of difficult truths
- hard to swallow - difficult to accept
- wake-up call - reality check
- uncomfortable reality - unpleasant facts
- home truths - honest personal criticism
- brutal honesty - very direct truthfulness
- painful revelation - hurtful discovery
- inconvenient truth - unwelcome facts
- harsh reality - unpleasant situation
- bitter pill - difficult truth to accept
- eye-opening revelation - surprising truth
Friend relationships and dynamics
- thick as thieves - very close friends
- childhood companion - friend from youth
- trusted confidant - someone to share secrets
- inner circle - closest friend group
- ride or die friend - loyal through everything
- fair-weather friend - friend only in good times
- drift apart - gradually become less close
- patch things up - repair relationship
- mutual friend - friend of both people
- solid friendship - strong, reliable bond
Emotional reactions and responses
- took it badly - reacted negatively
- flew off the handle - got very angry
- went into denial - refused to believe
- burst into tears - started crying suddenly
- stunned silence - shocked quiet reaction
- grateful in the end - appreciated eventually
- took it to heart - was deeply affected
- brushed it off - ignored or dismissed
- saw red - became very angry
- came around eventually - changed mind later
Communication approaches
- gentle approach - soft, careful way
- straight talking - direct, honest communication
- beating around the bush - avoiding directness
- sugar-coating - making easier to accept
- diplomatic way - tactful approach
- heart-to-heart - intimate, honest conversation
- intervention style - serious confrontation
- casual mention - bringing up lightly
- sitting them down - formal serious talk
- dropping hints - indirect suggestions
Consequences and outcomes
- strengthened our bond - made friendship stronger
- temporary rift - short-term separation
- cleared the air - resolved tension
- learned the hard way - discovered through difficulty
- dodged a bullet - avoided problem
- bridge burned - relationship ended
- blessing in disguise - hidden benefit
- turned out for the best - good final result
- rocky patch - difficult period
- came to their senses - realized truth
Natural Spoken Phrases
- "I couldn't just sit there and..." feeling compelled to act
- "It was eating away at me" causing internal stress
- "I had to get it off my chest" needed to express
- "Looking back, I'm glad I..." retrospective satisfaction
- "It wasn't easy to say, but..." acknowledging difficulty
- "I knew it might backfire, but..." accepting risk
- "The truth needed to come out" necessity of honesty
- "I couldn't bear to watch..." unable to tolerate situation
Part 3
Part 3 Discussion Questions
- Do you think it's more important to win a game or follow the rules in sports?
- Sometimes people should tell lies. Do you agree?
- How do you know when others are telling lies?
- Do you think we should tell the truth at all times?
Part 3 Sample Response
Sometimes people should tell lies. Do you agree? That's quite a complex moral question, isn't it? I'd say there are definitely situations where a small lie might actually be the kinder option. For instance, in Vietnam, we have this concept of saving face - sometimes telling someone a harsh truth in public can be really damaging to their reputation. A gentle white lie might preserve their dignity while you address the issue privately later. But obviously, I'm talking about minor situations, not serious deception that could harm someone.
Essential Vocabulary
Sports ethics and fair play
- level playing field - equal conditions for all
- bend the rules - break rules slightly
- integrity of the game - honesty in sports
- competitive advantage - benefit over others
- win at all costs - prioritize victory over ethics
- fair play - honest, respectful competition
- spirit of the game - true intention of sport
- unsportsmanlike conduct - bad behavior in sports
- moral victory - winning through good behavior
- hollow victory - winning without satisfaction
- cheating scandals - dishonesty controversies
- role model behavior - setting good example
Justifiable lies and white lies
- white lies - harmless untruths
- necessary deception - lies serving good purpose
- protecting feelings - avoiding emotional harm
- sugar-coating reality - making truth easier
- social lubricant - lies that help relationships
- diplomatic approach - tactful dishonesty
- spare someone's feelings - avoid causing hurt
- harmless fiction - innocent untruths
- compassionate deception - lies meant to help
- lesser of two evils - choosing better bad option
- moral gray area - unclear ethical situation
- contextual ethics - morality depends on situation
Detecting deception and lies
- tell-tale signs - obvious clues of lying
- body language cues - physical signs of dishonesty
- inconsistent story - changing details
- gut feeling - instinctive suspicion
- read between the lines - understand hidden meaning
- shifty behavior - suspicious actions
- avoid eye contact - not looking directly
- defensive reactions - angry responses to questions
- overcompensating - trying too hard to convince
- sixth sense - intuitive detection
- red flags - warning signs
- poker face - hiding true emotions
Universal honesty and truth-telling
- absolute honesty - complete truthfulness always
- moral compass - sense of right and wrong
- brutal honesty - harsh but truthful
- transparency - openness and honesty
- ethical dilemma - moral conflict situation
- slippery slope - gradual decline in ethics
- integrity - consistent moral behavior
- character building - developing good morals
- moral foundation - basic ethical principles
- trust-based society - community built on honesty
- credibility - believability and trustworthiness
- moral relativism - ethics depend on context
Natural Spoken Phrases
- "It's a bit of a double-edged sword..." has good and bad aspects
- "I'm somewhat torn on this because..." conflicted opinion
- "There's definitely merit to both sides..." acknowledging complexity
- "It largely depends on the context..." situational answer
- "From a practical standpoint..." realistic perspective
- "Ideally, we'd all..." perfect world scenario
- "In my experience..." personal observation
- "The way I see it..." personal viewpoint
- "To some extent..." partially agreeing
- "That raises an interesting point about..." connecting ideas