Describe a Time When You Thought It Was Important to Tell the Truth
Suggested Ideas for Each Part
- When it happened:
During a school group project / 
At a family gathering / 
At work or in a serious situation - Who was involved:
A teacher / 
Parents / 
A close friend - Why you decided to tell the truth:
To avoid hurting someone later / 
It was the right thing to do / 
To avoid bigger trouble - How you felt:
Relieved / 
Proud / 
Nervous at first, but satisfied later
Useful Grammar Structures
- Past simple & past perfect:
I realized that if I had lied, it would have made things worse. - Conditional (Type 2 & 3):
If I had hidden the truth, my friend would have been hurt. - Passive voice:
The truth was eventually revealed. - Reported speech:
I told my teacher, “I forgot to include my friend’s name in the project.” - Gerunds and infinitives:
Telling the truth helped me regain trust.
Collocations (with Vietnamese translation)
- A tough decision
(một quyết định khó khăn) - Face the consequences (đối mặt với hậu quả)
- A guilty conscience (lương tâm cắn rứt)
- Build trust and credibility
(xây dựng sự tin tưởng và uy tín) - Come clean about something
(thành thật thú nhận một điều gì đó) - A moral dilemma (một tình huống khó xử về đạo đức)
- A sense of relief (cảm giác nhẹ nhõm)
Full Spoken Sample (about 2 minutes)
One of the most memorable times when I had to tell the truth was during high school . It happened in my final year, when my classmates and I were working on a group project for our literature class. We had to submit a detailed research paper, and each team member was responsible for a different part.
However, I made a huge mistake. One of my friends had written an entire section, but due to a misunderstanding, I forgot to include her name in the final submission. When the teacher announced the top-performing projects, ours was among them, but my friend was not given credit for her work. I could see how disappointed she looked, and I felt a guilty conscience growing inside me.
At that moment, I realized that I had two choices: either stay silent and pretend it was a mistake, or come clean about it . Even though I was afraid of facing the teacher’s reaction, I knew that being honest was the right thing to do. So, I went to the teacher and explained everything. Fortunately, she was understanding, and my friend’s name was added to the project. My friend was surprised but thankful, and I felt a sense of relief knowing that I had made things right.
This experience taught me that honesty is not always easy, but it helps build trust and credibility . If I had kept quiet, I would have felt guilty forever. So, even though it was a tough decision at first, it was definitely worth it in the end.
Part 3: Discussion Questions
1. Do you think honesty is always the best policy?
Ideas
Yes, because honesty helps maintain trust and relationships- However, in some cases, a “white lie” can prevent unnecessary harm
Collocations
- Maintain strong relationships (duy trì mối quan hệ vững chắc)
- A white lie
(một lời nói dối vô hại) - Avoid unnecessary conflicts
(tránh những xung đột không cần thiết)
Sample Answer
In general, I believe that honesty is the best policy because it helps maintain strong relationships . However, in some situations, telling a white lie may be better if the truth could cause unnecessary pain. For example, if someone is going through a hard time, we might sugarcoat the truth to make them feel better.
2. Why do some people lie?
Ideas
- To avoid getting into trouble
To protect someone’s feelings- For personal gain or manipulation
Collocations
- Cover up a mistake
(che giấu một sai lầm) - Manipulate the truth
(thao túng sự thật) - Save face
(giữ thể diện)
Sample Answer
There are many reasons why people lie. Some do it to cover up a mistake and avoid punishment, while others manipulate the truth for personal gain. In some cases, people lie simply to save face because they don’t want to feel embarrassed or ashamed in front of others.
3. Should parents teach their children to always be honest?
Ideas
Yes, because honesty is a core value that shapes good character- But they should also teach children when honesty might be harmful
Collocations
- Instill good values
(truyền dạy những giá trị tốt đẹp) - Moral development
(sự phát triển đạo đức) - Navigate difficult situations
(xoay sở trong những tình huống khó khăn)
Sample Answer
Yes, I think parents should instill good values in their children, and honesty is one of the most important ones. Teaching kids to be honest helps in their moral development . However, parents should also guide them on how to navigate difficult situations , because sometimes telling the full truth can be harmful.
4. Are there situations where it is better not to tell the truth?
Ideas
- If telling the truth could hurt someone unnecessarily
- When a small lie can protect someone’s confidence or emotions
Collocations
- A little white lie
(một lời nói dối nhỏ để tránh làm tổn thương ai đó) - Protect someone’s feelings
(bảo vệ cảm xúc của ai đó) - Tactful communication (giao tiếp khéo léo)
Sample Answer
Yes, there are situations where a little white lie is necessary. For example, if a friend asks whether their new haircut looks good, and I know it doesn’t, I might not be brutally honest. Instead, I would try to protect their feelings by being more tactful. So, while honesty is important, so is tactful communication .