Describe a Prize You Have Received
Suggested Ideas for Each Part
- What it was:
A gold medal / 
A scholarship / 
A certificate of excellence - When you received it:
During a school competition / 
At a national event / 
At a graduation ceremony - What you did to receive it:
Worked hard and practiced daily / 
Won a speech contest / 
Excelled in a sports event - How you felt:
Proud and excited / 
Emotional and grateful / 
Motivated to achieve more
Useful Grammar Structures
- Past simple: Last year, I won a national writing competition.
- Past perfect: Before receiving the prize, I had spent months preparing for the contest.
- Comparisons: This prize was the most meaningful award I had ever received.
- Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I hadn’t worked so hard, I wouldn’t have won the award.
- Present perfect: I have never felt prouder in my life.
Collocations
- Prestigious award (giải thưởng danh giá)
- Sense of achievement (cảm giác thành tựu)
- Highly competitive (cạnh tranh khốc liệt)
- Overcome challenges
(vượt qua thử thách) - Rewarding experience
(trải nghiệm đáng giá) - Hard-earned success (thành công nhờ nỗ lực)
- Boost motivation
(tăng động lực)
Full Spoken Sample (2 Minutes)
One of the most unforgettable moments in my life was when I received a prestigious award for winning a national English speech contest . It happened last year during my final year of high school. The competition was highly competitive , with students from all over the country taking part, so winning it was a big deal for me.
To prepare, I had spent months practicing my speech every day. I worked on my pronunciation, body language, and storytelling skills to make my speech more engaging. I also participated in smaller competitions to gain confidence and receive feedback. On the day of the final round, I was incredibly nervous, but I gave it my all. When they announced my name as the winner, I couldn’t believe it! It was one of the happiest moments of my life.
The prize included a certificate, a medal , and a cash reward. But for me, the most valuable thing was the sense of achievement . Winning the competition made me realize that all my hard work had paid off. It also boosted my motivation to keep improving my English skills. If I hadn’t practiced so much, I wouldn’t have won this award.
Looking back, this experience was a rewarding experience because it taught me resilience and perseverance. It also opened up new opportunities, like receiving a scholarship for my university studies. I truly believe that working hard towards a goal makes the victory even sweeter!
Part 3: Discussion Questions
1. Do you think competition is all about the prize?
Ideas
- Some people compete only for the prize
- Others see competition as a way to improve skills and push themselves
Healthy competition helps people grow
Collocations
- Healthy competition
(cạnh tranh lành mạnh) - Drive for excellence
(động lực để vươn lên) - Lifelong learning
(học tập suốt đời)
Sample Answer
No, I don’t think competition is just about the prize . While rewards can be motivating, the real benefit of competition is healthy competition , which encourages people to do their best. Some people compete not for the prize, but for the drive for excellence . In my opinion, competitions should focus on lifelong learning rather than just winning.
2. What prizes should schools set for students?
Ideas
- Scholarships for outstanding students
- Medals and certificates for competitions
Small gifts to encourage participation
Collocations
- Academic excellence (thành tích học tập xuất sắc)
- Merit-based scholarships (học bổng dựa trên thành tích)
- Encourage participation
(khuyến khích tham gia)
Sample Answer
Schools should offer merit-based scholarships for students with academic excellence . They can also give out certificates and medals to recognize achievements in competitions. Even small rewards like books or stationery can encourage participation and motivate students.
3. Why do many companies offer prizes to their customers?
Ideas
To attract more customers and increase sales- To build customer loyalty
- To promote new products
Collocations
- Customer loyalty
(lòng trung thành của khách hàng) - Marketing strategy
(chiến lược tiếp thị) - Brand recognition (nhận diện thương hiệu)
Sample Answer
Many companies offer prizes as part of their marketing strategy to attract more customers. It also helps build customer loyalty because people feel more valued when they receive rewards. Additionally, giveaways increase brand recognition , making customers more likely to choose their products in the future.
4. Why do some companies encourage employees to compete with each other?
Ideas
- To increase productivity
- To push employees to do their best
However, too much competition can create stress
Collocations
- Performance-based rewards
(phần thưởng dựa trên hiệu suất) - Workplace motivation (động lực tại nơi làm việc)
- Toxic competition
(cạnh tranh độc hại)
Sample Answer
Some companies encourage competition to boost workplace motivation and increase productivity. Employees may work harder if they know they can receive performance-based rewards . However, too much pressure can lead to toxic competition , which can harm teamwork and create stress in the workplace.