Trong bài giải mẫu lần này, cô Khánh Huyền của The IELTS Workshop sẽ hướng dẫn bạn trả lời topic Describe a time when you sent a message or an email to someone but received no reply for a long time. Cùng tham khảo sample, từ vựng và một vài cách diễn đạt ghi điểm trong phần thi IELTS Speaking nhé.
Part 2: Describe a time when you sent a message or an email to someone but received no reply for a long time
Đề bài: Describe a time when you sent a message or an email to someone but received no reply for a long time.
You should say:
- who you sent it to
- what the message/email was about
- whether you finally received the reply
- and explain how you felt about the experience
1. Bài mẫu (Sample)
To answer this question, I would like to bring you back to the time when I was 19, going on 20. So, to set the scene, summer had just arrived, and I was back home after a long day at school. As I was taking the bus at that time, I had to take quite a short walk from the bus stop to my place. Can you imagine how I felt when dodging oncoming traffic, left and right, I suddenly saw a ghost from the past.
Well, not a literal ghost, of course. I’m not a lunatic. It was a friend from when I was in high school, who had cut me off, deservingly so may I add, after some inane and childish remarks from my part. Haunted by the scorching heat and the torrid guilt, I’d decided to look up her email address and got to writing an apology that night. It’s been so long, so I only have some vague memories of the content, but I’m sure that I’d kept it brief and said sorry for my words and actions at the time. I also proposed rekindling the friendship if she were open to the idea. For what it’s worth, she was a dear friend who understood me like no others. It would be a shame to let the opportunity slip away all because of pride or cowardice.
Anyway, I sent the email. And to be honest with you, I didn’t think she would reply. I mean, if I were in her shoes, I would definitely not get back in touch with someone as immature as I was back then. I only wished to do one thing right, even though I would have to not let the sleeping dog lie.
I’m happy to inform you that this story did have a happy ending. After some weeks, she sent me a text, agreeing to meet up and catch up over a cup of coffee. And so we did. It’s no easy feat making new friends at this age I suppose, so we’d better hold on tight to the ones we have.
Sample by Khanh Huyen– IELTS Teacher at The IELTS Workshop
2. Từ vựng (Vocabulary)
- cut someone off: cắt đứt quan hệ
- rekindle a friendship: hàn gắn, khôi phục tình bạn
- for what it’s worth: nói thật lòng thì, dù điều đó có đáng giá hay không
- get back in touch: liên lạc lại
- let sleeping dogs lie: để chuyện cũ ngủ yên, đừng khơi lại chuyện cũ
Part 3:
1. In what situations do people spend a long time responding to others’ messages?
Well, I suppose the obvious answer would be when they’re busy. I mean, those who have an office job may or may not be allowed to use their phone all the time, while those with a manual job must pay attention to their task, and can only check their messages periodically.
But personally, I’d say people take the longest to reply when emotions are involved. Say, you’ve just had an argument with your partner, or perhaps a close friend has said something that rubbed you the wrong way. It could take you a while to finish the first draft of a very long and heart-felt text message, and it would take a couple minutes for another friend to look at the notes and give some constructive criticism on that message.
There could be other reasons of course, but none seems to come to my mind at the moment. I’m stumped.
- rub someone the wrong way: khiến ai đó khó chịu, phật lòng
- stumped: bí ý, không nghĩ ra được
2. In what situations do people not respond to messages at all?
Well, from the top of my head, it’s because the message got buried under dozens of notifications. Anyone who has more than three messaging apps and three active text chains could relate to this, I guess. Another reason that has just popped to my mind is when you’ve read the text and even come up with a reply in your head, but then you get sidetracked and never get to sending a text back. As ridiculous as that sounds, I think many of us have been guilty of it from time to time. I may have been one of those people.
But then again, it is likely that the lack of a response is indeed an answer in itself. Sometimes silence is the message. If a relationship has deteriorated beyond repair, some could choose not to respond because they don’t wish to continue the conversation any further. It’s a rather uncomfortable truth.
- from the top of my head: nghĩ gì nói nấy ngay lúc đó, không chuẩn bị trước
- get sidetracked: bị phân tâm, chệch hướng
- silence is the message: sự im lặng chính là câu trả lời
3. What would you do if you did not receive a reply after sending out a message?
It depends on who the recipient is.
If it is a close friend, I would probably do nothing. To be fair, I mostly send them memes and other silly stories anyway, and those don’t need a follow-up. Besides, we’re all adults here with full-time jobs and a plethora of commitments; a reply would be the last thing on our to do list. I don’t find it a slight on their part.
If it were somebody I barely knew, however, I’d most likely leave it alone, considering how I barely text anyone anyway.
At the end of the day, communication is a two-way street. There’s only so much effort one person can make before it’s time to let things be.
- plethora of commitments: rất nhiều trách nhiệm, rất nhiều việc phải làm
- a two-way street: đôi bên cùng có trách nhiệm
4. Why do some people prefer sending a message instead of making a call?
By some people, I’d guess you meant me.
Well, for one thing, messages give us some time to think. We need a moment or two to gather your thoughts and phrase them properly. Otherwise, we could say things that are offensive or inaccurate without meaning to, which is a disaster!
Another thing about texting is that I find it much less intrusive. Imagine calling someone who is in an important meeting or while they’re on the road home. That would be such a convenience for them, or even a potential risk! From the way I see it, a message is like a ball in their court, they can do whatever they want, whenever they want.
- gather one’s thoughts: sắp xếp suy nghĩ
- ball in one’s court: có quyền quyết định
5. How do you show your respect in your messages?
I guess it largely comes down to thoughtfulness.
Like I try to acknowledge the other person’s time, which means no texting after 11 or before 9, which is handy as I would be in deep slumber then anyway. I also pay attention to my tone and word choice. It’s surprisingly easy for written messages to sound colder than intended, so I tend to soften my wording with phrases or memes and emojis. It could be coil sometimes, sure, but I’d say it’s better than being blunt and aloof and rude.
It may seem like a small thing, but I’ve found that basic courtesy goes a long way in maintaining healthy relationships.
- soften one’s wording: làm dịu cách diễn đạt
- go a long way: đem lại hiệu quả lớn, rất có ích
6. Why do some people feel angry when others don’t reply to their message?
It’s quite understandable, don’t you think?
When someone leaves us hanging for days on end, that’s just plain poor etiquette. You could easily interpret that as a sign that people don’t value our time, our effort, or even our relationship. Of course, there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for the lack of response, but how would we know without one?
So, if anything, I’d say that frustration often grows in the absence of information. Humans have a tendency to fill in the blanks, and unfortunately, we don’t always do so in the most charitable way.
- leave someone hanging: để người khác chờ đợi phản hồi
- days on end: suốt nhiều ngày liền
- fill in the blanks: tự suy diễn, tự lấp đầy những khoảng trống thông tin
Tạm kết
Hy vọng bài mẫu trên đã giúp bạn hình dung rõ cách triển khai ý tưởng và sử dụng ngôn ngữ phù hợp khi gặp chủ đề Describe a time when you sent a message or an email to someone but received no reply for a long time trong IELTS Speaking Part 2 & 3. Tham khảo các nguồn tài liệu hữu ích như KHO BÀI MẪU IELTS SPEAKING và Bộ đề dự đoán IELTS Speaking cập nhật mới nhất.
HỌC IELTS MIỄN PHÍ – lớp học độc quyền chỉ có trên website của The IELTS Workshop. Đăng ký để bắt đầu lộ trình học bài bản cùng thầy cô tại TIW ngay nhé!
