Describe a promise that you made to someone
Suggested ideas for each part
- What the promise was: 🎓 To study hard and get a high IELTS score / 🏋️ To exercise regularly with a friend / 🏡 To visit grandparents more often
- To whom you made it: 👩👩👧 Parents / 👩🏫 A teacher / 👫 A close friend
- Whether it was easy or difficult to keep: ⏳ Difficult due to time management / 💪 Challenging but rewarding / 😊 Easy because it was meaningful
- Why you made it: 🤞 To prove I was responsible / ❤️ To make someone happy / 🏆 To achieve a personal goal
Useful grammar structures
- Past simple: I made a promise to my mother that I would study hard.
- Past continuous: At first, I was struggling to keep my promise because I was too busy.
- Past perfect: I had never been so determined before.
- Conditionals: If I had broken my promise, I would have felt really guilty.
- Future intentions: In the future, I will try to keep all my promises.
Collocations
- Make a heartfelt promise 💖 (hứa chân thành)
- Stick to a commitment 🎯 (giữ lời cam kết)
- Face challenges along the way ⛰️ (đối mặt với những thử thách trên đường đi)
- Stay motivated and determined 💪 (giữ động lực và quyết tâm)
- Build trust and credibility 🤝 (xây dựng sự tin cậy và uy tín)
- A rewarding experience 🏆 (trải nghiệm đáng giá)
- Break a promise ❌🤞 (thất hứa)
Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)
One of the most important promises I have ever made was to my mother. I promised her that I would work really hard to improve my English and achieve a high IELTS score 🎓. This was a very heartfelt promise 💖 because she always encouraged me to do my best, and I wanted to make her proud.
At first, it was not easy to stick to my commitment 🎯 because I was juggling a lot of responsibilities. I had schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and sometimes, I just wanted to relax instead of studying. However, I reminded myself why I made this promise, and that helped me stay motivated and determined 💪. I created a strict study plan, attended extra classes, and practiced speaking every day.
Along the way, I definitely faced challenges ⛰️. There were times when I felt frustrated, especially when I couldn’t see quick progress. But instead of giving up, I found ways to make learning fun, such as watching English movies and talking to friends in English.
After months of hard work, I finally achieved my goal! When I received my IELTS certificate with a high score, my mother was incredibly happy, and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. It was truly a rewarding experience 🏆 because I not only kept my promise but also improved myself in the process.
This experience taught me the importance of building trust and credibility 🤝. If I had broken my promise, I would have felt really guilty. But by keeping it, I made my mother proud and proved to myself that with dedication, I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
Part 3: Discussion Questions
1. Why do some people fail to keep their promises?
Ideas
- ⏳ Lack of time management
- 🧠 Forgetting or losing interest
- 🤥 Making unrealistic promises
Collocations
- Overpromise and underdeliver 📉 (hứa quá nhiều nhưng không thực hiện được)
- Lack of self-discipline 🏋️♂️❌ (thiếu kỷ luật bản thân)
- Fail to live up to expectations 😕 (không đáp ứng được kỳ vọng)
Sample answer
Some people fail to keep their promises because they overpromise and underdeliver 📉. They might make promises without fully considering whether they can fulfill them. Others lack self-discipline 🏋️♂️❌ and struggle to stay committed. Additionally, some people simply forget or lose interest over time, causing them to fail to live up to expectations 😕.
2. Do children keep their promises?
Ideas
- 🧸 Children are innocent and try their best
- 🍭 But they might forget easily
- 📖 Parents teach them the importance of keeping promises
Collocations
- Short attention span ⏳ (khả năng tập trung ngắn)
- Learn moral values 📚 (học các giá trị đạo đức)
- Follow through with commitments ✅ (thực hiện cam kết đến cùng)
Sample answer
Children often try to follow through with commitments ✅, but because they have a short attention span ⏳, they may forget their promises. However, as they grow up, they learn moral values 📚 from their parents and teachers, which helps them understand why keeping promises is important.
3. Do parents in your country make promises to their children?
Ideas
- 🎁 Parents promise gifts for good behavior
- 🎡 Promise family trips or rewards
- 💡 Teach children about responsibility
Collocations
- Motivate children with rewards 🏆 (động viên trẻ bằng phần thưởng)
- Set a good example 🌟 (làm gương tốt)
- Encourage responsibility 🎯 (khuyến khích tinh thần trách nhiệm)
Sample answer
Yes, parents in Vietnam often motivate children with rewards 🏆, such as promising toys or trips if they do well in school. They also try to set a good example 🌟 by keeping their own promises. This helps children develop responsibility 🎯 and understand the importance of honesty.
4. What kinds of promises do people often make?
Ideas
- ❤️ Promises in relationships (marriage, loyalty)
- 🎯 Self-promises (exercise, studying)
- 🤝 Work-related promises (deadlines, commitments)
Collocations
- Make a lifelong commitment 💍 (hứa hẹn gắn bó cả đời)
- Set personal goals 🎯 (đặt mục tiêu cá nhân)
- Keep professional integrity 💼 (giữ uy tín nghề nghiệp)
Sample answer
People make many kinds of promises, such as making a lifelong commitment 💍 in relationships, setting personal goals 🎯 like exercising regularly, or maintaining professional integrity 💼 by meeting work deadlines.
5. Is it useful to write down promises?
Ideas
- ✍️ Helps people remember
- 📆 Acts as a commitment
- 🧠 Makes people take it seriously
Collocations
- Stay accountable 📖 (giữ bản thân có trách nhiệm)
- A constant reminder 📌 (lời nhắc nhở thường xuyên)
- Strengthen determination 🔥 (tăng cường quyết tâm)
Sample answer
Yes, writing down promises helps people stay accountable 📖. It serves as a constant reminder 📌 of what they committed to, and it can strengthen determination 🔥, making them more likely to follow through.