to be a big fan of something (=like something)

to do wonder for: có lợi cho

to keep sb in shape: giữ cho (cơ thể) ai cân đối

to relieve pain: làm giảm đau

to refresh one’s mind: làm thư giãn, làm mới đầu óc

the king of sports (n) môn thể thao vua

competitive (adj) có tính cạnh tranh

to take up something: bắt đầu làm gì

to lower the risk of something: làm giảm nguy cơ

to have a crack at ( = to try ): thử cái gì

can’t imagine oneself doing something: không thể tưởng tượng được ai làm gì

breathtaking (adj) rất đẹp (mô tả khung cảnh,…)

Do you like playing sports?

Well, I think I’m a big fan of sports. Although I’m not good at it, but my favorite one is swimming. You know I can often meet new people and make friends when I do sports. And as I think that, you know, practicing a sport regularly does wonder for my health. It keeps me in shape, it helps to relieve my back and neck pains. And last but not least, it refreshes my mind after a long day of hard work.

What sport are popular in your country?

Well, I guess in Vietnam right now, it’s football. I think football is considered the king of sports. It’s very easy to play. All you need is just a ball, a few friends and two goals, which you can always make or create by marking the ground with, you know, a piece of clothing or bags, for example. And I think it’s a competitive sport, it can be very enjoyable to watch and play.

Do you think it is important to play a sport?

Of course. I think it’s essential for everybody to take up a sport, because, you know, as I mentioned before. Playing sports brings great benefits to your health. It helps to lower the risk of modern diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart attack. Anyway, at the end of the day, your body is the only place you’ve got to live, right? So I think you’d better take good care of it.

What sport would you like to try in the future?

Well, there are many sports that I would like to have a crack at, but if I have to choose one, that would be climbing. You know, I have always dreamt of climbing Mount Fuji, which is the highest peak in Japan. I can’t imagine myself reaching the summit and getting to admire the breathtaking view of the scenery below. That would be absolutely amazing and I’ll be on top of the world.

Do you watch sport on TV?

Football is my favourite sport to watch on TV. I’m terrible at football but I love watching it on TV, especially big games like the Champions League. I follow Liverpool Football Club and so do a few of my friends, so we normally go to the pub every weekend and watch whoever Liverpool are playing and a few of the other big games in the Premiership

What sports do people in your country like to play?

Oh, I would say all kinds of ball games. People in my country are fond of football because it has simple rules, can be played just with a ball almost anywhere, is very entertaining to watch and play and very short which makes viewers actively involved in the game from the beginning to the end. There are also a lot of basketball and volleyball fans.

How do people in your country stay fit?

We are blessed with beautiful countryside and a nice temperate climate so most people either go running or walking. Lots of young people play field sports, but more and more people are joining gyms. Gyms have really took off recently as people worry more and more about their appearance. I think it has much more to do with how good people look rather than actually keeping fit.

Is it important for children to play sports?

Definitely. Sport not only keeps them healthy, but it also teaches them discipline and keeps them out of trouble. For instance, in my school the kids who were dedicated to sport also achieved the highest grades in school and went on to good universities where they continued to work hard.

Do you like extreme sports?

Oh yeah, I do. Extreme sport help me overcome my fears, expand my personal boundaries and develops my self- affirmation as a person and helps me handle physical threats in life.

Who is your favourite sports star?

Oh, undoubtedly, it is roger Federer. He is the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. I love the way He plays tennis: the movement, the timing everything bg is just perfect. I also admire his impeccable manners and remarkable patience in dispensing his many obligations in everyday life. For me, roger us memorable and never to be repeated