Describe a comic actor who is popular in your hometown • Who the actor is • How you know him/her • What kind of person he/she is • and explain why he/she is popular in your country

SAMPLE ANSWER I ‘m going to tell you about a versatile actor from my country named Hoai Linh. He's commonly regarded as the most multitalented comedian in Vietnam. His comedy acting career started in 1991. He has won numerous Vietnamese cinematic awards since then and was awarded “meritorious artist” ín 2015. I've known him since I was a child. I first saw his performances on a show called Thuy Nga by night and immediately became an ardent fan, he's so hilarious. Since then, I started following his videos on Youtube. I actually got to meet him in flesh once. It was about 3 years ago when I had a chance to visit Saigon for the first time. So I thought to myself, I should take this opportunity to come to one of Hoai Linh’s shows. That night was incredible. I laughed my head off. What I like about Hoai Linh is that he can nail the tragedy as well as the comedy side of the same role. His performance cracks me up and makes me burst into tears in just one skit. He is gifted with a lot of distinct qualities that make him suitable for comedy: a good sense of humor, the ability to imitate different local accents, a beautiful voice for folk songs and natural acting skills. I also admire him for his life style. In real life, I hear he leads a simple life with almost no scandals as opposed to the luxurious scandaleous life he could have. He also spends a lot of time and money doing charity work. On top of all that, he also has a lovely personality. I hear that unlike those famous people who can be distant or difficult to work with, he is very friendly and warm to everyone especially his fans. All in all, when I think of comedy, I think of Hoai Linh. I hope that there will be more comic artists with real talent and charming personality like Hoai Linh in Vietnam

Useful vocab:

ü a versatile actor : diễn viên đa tài ü multitalented comedian : nghệ sĩ hài đa tài ü cinematic awards : giải thưởng điện ảnh ü meritorious artist : nghệ sĩ ưu tú (danh hiệu) ü an ardent fan : fan cuồng ü hilarious (adj) : vui tính ü I laughed my head off : cười ngặt ngẽo ü To nail (v) : hoàn thành xuất sắc vai trò ü Tragedy side : phần bi kịch ü comedy side: phần hài kịch ü To burst into tears : bật khóc ü A skit : vở kịch ngắn trào phúng ü To be gifted with : được thiên phú cho ü folk songs: bài hát dân ca ü to lead a simple life : sống một cuộc sống đơn giản ü luxurious scandaleous life: một cuộc cống xa hoa nhiều scandals ü distant (adj) : xa cách (về tính cách) ü real talent (n) : tài năng thực thụ