IELTS Fluent · Cuối khoá · Speaking: Art, History and Heritage

Did you enjoy art lessons when you were at school?

Not really, to be honest. I was never very good at drawing, so I used to feel a bit embarrassed when the teacher put our work on the wall. Looking back, though, I think the lessons were quite relaxing compared with subjects like maths.

How often do you visit museums or galleries?

Probably only two or three times a year. I usually go when a friend visits from another city or when there's a special exhibition that everyone's talking about online. I'd like to go more often, but I rarely have the time.

Is there any kind of art you would like to try in the future?

Yes, I've always wanted to try pottery. I've seen lots of short videos of people shaping clay on a wheel, and it looks incredibly calming. There's a small studio near my office that runs weekend classes, so I might sign up next month.

Do you think public places in your city need more art, such as murals or sculptures?

Definitely. A lot of the walls in my city are just plain concrete, and some colourful murals would make the streets much more cheerful. I think public art also gives local artists a chance to show their work to people who'd never go to a gallery.

I'd like to talk about the Imperial City in Hue, in central Vietnam, which I visited about two years ago during the summer holiday. I went there with my parents and my younger brother, mainly because my dad had been talking about it for years and wanted us to see it with our own eyes.

The site is enormous – it's surrounded by thick stone walls and a moat, and inside there are palaces, temples, gates and gardens that were built for the royal family a couple of centuries ago. We spent almost a whole day walking around. What impressed me most was the main gate, which is decorated with really detailed carvings, and some of the halls, where the original red and gold colours have been carefully restored. We also hired a local guide, who explained how the emperors lived and why some parts of the city were destroyed during the wars.

To be honest, it was boiling hot that day, so by the afternoon we were all exhausted. But I remember feeling quite moved, especially when the guide showed us old photos comparing the buildings before and after restoration. It made me realise how much effort goes into protecting places like this.

Overall, I felt proud that my country has such an important piece of history, and I think the visit made me much more interested in learning about the past. If I had the chance, I'd definitely go back, maybe in the evening when it's cooler and the buildings are lit up.

Why is it important to protect old buildings?

I think old buildings are like a physical record of a country's history. When you stand inside an ancient temple or palace, you get a much better sense of how people lived than you would from a textbook. They're also part of a city's identity – if every building were modern, cities around the world would all look the same. And of course, they attract tourists, which brings money to the local economy.

Should the government or private companies pay for the preservation of historic sites?

In my opinion, it should be mainly the government's responsibility, because these sites belong to the whole nation, not to one company. That said, I don't see anything wrong with private companies contributing, for example through sponsorship, as long as they aren't allowed to change the character of the place or cover it with advertising.

How has tourism affected historic places in your country?

It's had both positive and negative effects. On the one hand, the income from ticket sales has paid for a lot of restoration work, and many local people now earn a living from tourism. On the other hand, some places have become extremely crowded, and the large number of visitors can actually damage old floors and walls. In some old towns, traditional houses have also been turned into souvenir shops, so they've lost some of their original atmosphere.

Do you think young people today are less interested in history than people were in the past?

I don't think they're less interested; I'd say they're interested in a different way. Young people might not enjoy reading long history books, but lots of them watch historical dramas, documentaries or short videos explaining historical events. So if history is presented in a more engaging, visual way, I believe young people can be just as curious about the past as older generations.