9 PRESENTS

1. What kind of presents are popular in your country?

It depends on the receivers. For children, toys are the best choice. For youth, souvenirs are recommended.

2. Who gave presents to you? On what occasions?

I have received many presents, most of which were from my friends. They gave me gifts on my birthday.

3. What was your last present?

It was a hand-made doll, given by my best friend when I moved to another city.

4. What was the one you like best?

I loved my book Nepal a lot. It was given to me on my 23rd birthday by my brother.

5. Did you ever get a present you didn’t like?

Yes, I have, but I still treasure and take care of them.

6. How do you thank people who give you presents?

I gave them presents that they would like.

7. What are the times of the year that people give presents in your country?

Some special occasions are birthdays, weddings, graduation, New Year’s day, Valentine’s day, housewarming ceremonies, etc.

8. Who was the last person you gave a present to?

My mom, I bought her a coat on a business trip to Bangkok.

9. Is giving presents important in daily life?

Yes, it is. It’s one of the best ways to show your love and gratitude to someone.

11 NEWSPAPER/ MAGAZINE

1. What are the benefits of reading a newspaper/magazine?

Newspapers/magazines can broaden your mind about thousands of things without the need to travel.

2. How often do you read it?

I read it every day.

3. What’s the best time to read the newspaper?

I think the best time is in the morning when you start a new day.

4. What types of magazines do you usually read?

I usually read politics and fashion magazines. I also enjoy reading about culture and tourism.

5. What’s your favorite magazine?

My favorite is The New York Times, which writes about all sorts of things: business, sports, movies, travel, books, jobs, education, and real estate.

6. Do you read the paper or online news?

I prefer online news to save money.

7. How much does it cost you to buy paper newspaper per month?

I only buy a monthly newspaper, so it doesn’t cost much money. Around $5/month.

8. What is the most popular magazine in your country?

I think it would be Forbes magazine, a leading source for reliable business news and financial information.

13  A Favorite Subject

1. What subjects did you learn in school?

I learned Math, Science, Physics, Biology, Geography, History, Literature, English, Art, and Music.

2. What subject did you like the most when you were at school? Were you good at it?

I liked Biology the most although I was excellent at Literature.

3. Did your friends like that subject too?

Yes, they did. They enjoyed every single Biology lesson.

4. Was the textbook written in English or any other language?

It was written in English.

5. Who taught that subject?

My teacher was Ms. Karen, from the USA.

6. How was that subject helpful to you?

It helped me a lot in becoming a Biology teacher.

7. How often did you learn that subject?

I often had Biology lessons 5 times a week.

8. How long did you spend on that subject at home?

I spent roughly 2 hours per day studying Biology at home.

9. Have you ever attended any extra classes for that subject?

Yes, I have. I usually attended evening classes.

10. Is it important to study hard on both social sciences and natural sciences?

No, it isn’t. Students should study the ones they like and those that are helpful to their career path.

15 A Favorite Movie

1. Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theater?

I usually watch movies on my laptop, sometimes I go to the movie theater.

2. Is watching movies at the theater more interesting than watching movies at home?

Yes, definitely, because you can watch vivid images on a large screen with lively sound effects.

3. How often do you go to the movie theater?

I often go to the movie theater every weekend.

4. What’s your favorite type of movie? What movie of that type do you like?

My favorite type is comedy because whenever I watch one, I feel like there are no more worries in the world. I love the Mr.Bean movie series.

5. Was that movie adapted from a book?

No, the story is derived from funny situations in real life.

6. Who are the actors/actresses in the movie?

Mr. Bean is the main character, he is played by Rowan Atkinson who is from England.

7. Was it recommended by your friend, teacher or family?

It was recommended by my classmate.

8. Was the movie in your mother language or in English?

It was in English, but I can also watch it with subtitles.

9. Should children watch violent movies?

I don’t believe so. Young children are very impressionable and it could lead them to wanting to imitate the behavior.

10. What’s the most important factor of a great movie?

I believe that plot and actors are among the factors which decide the success of a movie.

17 Parties

1. On what occasions do people in your country celebrate parties?

There are many occasions when people throw parties such as New Year’s eve, wedding engagments, family reunions, birthdays, etc, but sometimes people hold parties just when they meet up and want to have something fun to do.

2. Are you a party animal?

Yes, I am. I’m crazy about going to parties. I love meeting friends, drinking, and talking.

3. When do parties often start and finish?

It depends on what kind of party it is. I believe the perfect time to have a party is in the evening, from 8-11 pm.

4. Where are the parties thrown?

They are held inside or outside. Some formal events like weddings/housewarmings are organized inside while others like family reunions and birthdays may be held outside.

5. What do you usually wear when you come to a party?

I often wear casual clothes like a T-shirt and jeans if I go to informal parties, and a dress for formal ones.

6. What do people do in the parties you attended?

At the party, people talk, eat and drink together. Some go there to find business opportunities and new partners.

7. Do you enjoy drinking alcohol at the parties?

Yes, a little beer can cheer me up.

8. Do people have to bring anything to the party?

It’s not required, but sometimes visitors bring some gifts to show their love for the host.

Why do people, especially the youth, love going to parties?

It’s just a good way for them to chill out after a long day.

18 A TEACHER

1. Who is your favorite teacher?

I like Mr. Tom the most, he is my English teacher.

2. Is he a foreign teacher?

Yes, he’s from the US.

3. What do you like about his lessons?

I have fallen in love with his American accent and he always shows us something new about the world outside of textbooks.

4. What’s he like?

He’s not only knowledgeable but also very friendly. He always treats us like friends, not students.

5. What does he usually wear when coming to class?

He usually wears a gray suit when he comes to class.

6. Do you love his subject?

Yes, I enjoy English a lot.

7. Do students in your class like him?

Yes, all of us admire him.

8. Do you want to be a teacher like him?

No, although I like him, my dream is not to become a teacher. I would like to be a chef.

9. Have you ever been punished by him?

No, he rarely punishes anyone.

10. Do you want to see him again?

Of course, he’s a great mentor.

19  A FRIEND

1. Who’s your best friend?

It’s Jenny. She’s my best friend.

2. What does she look like?

She has shoulder-length brown hair. I just love her lovely smile.

3. How and when did you meet?

I first met her when we were in high school.

4. How often do you see this friend?

I see her every day. We’re in the same class.

5. What’s she like?

She’s not only thoughtful but also very understanding. She’s always by my side to cheer me up whenever I’m in trouble.

6. Do you and her share anything in common?

Yes, a lot. We both love shopping and playing sports.

7. What do you and her do together?

We usually do homework and read books together.

8. Have you and her ever quarreled?

Yes, but we seldom quarrel. When we do argue, afterwards we seem to understand more about each other.

9. Does she know how to cook?

Yes, but she’s not a great cook.

10. Do your parents like her?

Yes, a lot. They always ask Jenny to come over for dinner.

11. Why is a friend important in life?

A good friend can make your life better in many ways. I don’t think anyone can stand loneliness.