First Step Newsletter 42 – December 24, 2011

http://firststepvietnam.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

First Step Vietnam Newsletter

Learning English in a Fun Way!

FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com 

097.550.8648

———————————————

News Around the World

Business

 

Behind the red line

At a glimpse, they are deep in the red, incurring losses amounting to trillions of Vietnam dong in this year’s first half by selling oil products at subsidized prices to lend a helping hand to the Government’s drive to fight inflation and restore stability. It is just half of the truth, however.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/features/friday/21062/

 

 

2012 distribution map to be sketched out

The Center of Business Studies and Assistance BSA has completed the drawing of the goods distribution map thanks to which, enterprises could imagine the goods flow to set up their production and business plans.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/business/16866/2012-distribution-map-to-be-sketched-out.html

 

 

World Bank helps Vietnam increase competitiveness

The World Bank Group (WB) announced the new five-year country partnership strategy (CPS) with Vietnam on Tuesday to provide support to address Vietnam’s challenges as a lower middle-income country.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/financial-markets/21020/

 

 

A port for entrepreneurs to shelter

Politburo’s Resolution 09-NQ-TW on forming the role of Vietnam’s entrepreneurial community during national industrialisation and modernisation and international integration will act as a fulcrum to help entrepreneurs weather current storms in production and business practices.

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/business/a-port-for-entrepreneurs-to-shelter.html

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

Vietnam, China vow to boost bilateral ties

Vietnam and China need to deepen co-operation in all fields and educate the people of both countries, especially the younger generations, about the importance of neighbourly relations and mutual support.

http://nhandan.org.vn/cmlink/nhandan-online/homepage/politics/external-relations/vietnam-china-vow-to-boost-bilateral-ties-1.326628

 

 

N.Korea mourns, son is "Great Successor"

North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of leader Kim Jong-il and state media hailed his untested son as the "Great Successor" of the country.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/n-korea-mourns-son-is-great-successor-1.55252

 

 

Vietnam reaffirms support for GMS co-operation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated Vietnam’s strong support for Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) co-operation while attending the 4th GMS Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on December 19-20.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/sciencetechnology/www.nhandan.org.vn/Vietnam-reaffirms-support-for-GMS-cooperation/215715.epi

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

Menu digitalization smart devices: just surf and touch

Tablet PCs now not only can undertake office jobs for office workers, but can also help serve customers at café and restaurants.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16761/menu-digitalization-smart-devices–just-surf-and-touch.html

 

 

3G market eyes 2014 breakthrough

The number of third-generation network (3G) users in Vietnam will sharply rise in the next three years from the current subscriber numbers of less than 10 million, claimed Qualcomm, one of the world’s leading 3G chipset suppliers.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16502/3g-market-eyes-2014-breakthrough.html

 

 

Mind reading machines on their way: IBM

Century-old technology colossus IBM depicted a near future in which machines read minds and recognize who they are dealing with.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/19936/mind-reading-machines-on-their-way–ibm.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

Vietnamese universities losing best students?

Vietnamese universities fail to attract the most excellent and the richest students, because they choose to go studying abroad when feeling disappointed about the domestic university education.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16758/vietnamese-universities-losing-best-students-.html

 

 

International help sought in boosting math education

Strengthening international co-operation is one of the ways to develop the study of mathematics in countries like Vietnam, experts have said.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/020/19958/international-help-sought-in-boosting-math-education-.html

 

 

Universities need to up teacher training

Teachers colleges need to improve their training methods since students graduating from them lack skills, according to experts at a workshop in HCM City yesterday, Dec. 22.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16892/universities-need-to-up-teacher-training.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

 

 

Brain size may predict risk for early Alzheimer’s disease: study

New research suggests that, in people who don’t currently have memory problems, those with smaller regions of the brain’s cortex may be more likely to develop symptoms consistent with very early Alzheimer’s disease.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/16863/brain-size-may-predict-risk-for-early-alzheimer-s-disease–study.html

 

 

Hanoi cautious about new swine flu strain

Health workers in Hanoi are tightening control over new cases of influenza at 17 hospitals in the city in order to prevent the spread of a newly identified swine flu variant, S-OtrH3N2.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/19981/hanoi-cautious-about-new-swine-flu-strain.html

 

 

Six kidney donors for patient who lost both kidneys in operation

Can Tho General Hospital claimed that so far six people have come forward to donate their kidney to a patient whose health is deteriorating after doctors inadvertently removed both her kidneys.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/health/www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Six-kidney-donors-for-patient-who-lost-both-kidneys-in-operation/215764.epi

——————————————————————————————————-

Entertainment

Interesting Video Clips

10 Highly Unusual Facts About Christmas

Watch this video clip and see what 10 unusual facts about Christmas are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gq6Wq4IORw&feature=relmfu

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Funmoods – Molly’s Christmas Gifts

Do you have difficulty selecting gifts for your beloved? Watch this video clip and see how Molly can work it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFBqpLC8Q0o

—————————————————————————————————————————–

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Watch this video clip to see how a puppet can read a Christmas poem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifK-k8Ii8Xw

———————————————————————————————————————————–

10 Biggest Robberies

Are you curious about the biggest robberies ever? Watch this video clip and find out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6kGF5DbdS4&feature=g-feat&context=G2ce0dbaYFAAAAAAAAAA

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Jokes

Joke: Luck of the Draw

 

A man found himself in terrible financial difficulties. He is so desperate that for the first time in his life he gets down on his knees and prays to God for help.

‘Dear God, I desperately need your help. I have no money to spend on Christmas presents for my family. Could you possibly arrange it so that I win the Lottery?’ The lottery draw is held, but he wins nothing.

He sends another prayer to God. ‘My business has gone bust and if I don’t get some money soon I’ll lose my car and my Christmas will be will be very difficult. Please fix things so I win the lottery.’ Lottery night comes, but he’s unlucky.

So he prays to God again. ‘Please God, I’ve lost my car and now they’re trying to take my house. Please help me to win the Lottery or our Christmas will be ruined.’ Come lottery night, he again fails to win anything.

‘Undeterred, be prays to God again. ‘I am now a bankrupt, my house has been repossessed by the finance company and so has my car. We are now living on the street, but all I need to get my life back together and perhaps enjoy some kind of Christmas is to win the lottery.’

Suddenly there’s a flash of brilliant life as the heavens open and the man is confronted by the very voice of God himself. ‘Hey, do me a favor! Will you buy a ticket?’

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Useful Websites

Website: http://zamzar.com/

Free conversion between document, image, music, video, audio, eBook, compressed and CAD formats. No download or account required.

———————————————————————————————————————————– 

 

Songs

 

Song: Last Christmas by Wham

Listen to one of the most popular Christmas songs and enjoy the holiday!!!

http://loidich.com/ld1874-LastChristmas-Wham.html

http://mp3.zing.vn/bai-hat/Last-Christmas-Wham/ZWZEC6UZ.html

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Please let us know how we can improve the newsletter for you! 

 

——————————————————————————————-

English language courses

 

at First Step Vietnam

 

For more information, please call 097.550.8648

Email: FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstStepVietnam

Address: No.21, Alley 157, Phao Dai Lang Street

Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Local & International News

 

Business

Behind the red line

At a glimpse, they are deep in the red, incurring losses amounting to trillions of Vietnam dong in this year’s first half by selling oil products at subsidized prices to lend a helping hand to the Government’s drive to fight inflation and restore stability. It is just half of the truth, however.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/features/friday/21062/

2012 distribution map to be sketched out

The Center of Business Studies and Assistance BSA has completed the drawing of the goods distribution map thanks to which, enterprises could imagine the goods flow to set up their production and business plans.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/business/16866/2012-distribution-map-to-be-sketched-out.html

World Bank helps Vietnam increase competitiveness

The World Bank Group (WB) announced the new five-year country partnership strategy (CPS) with Vietnam on Tuesday to provide support to address Vietnam’s challenges as a lower middle-income country.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/financial-markets/21020/

A port for entrepreneurs to shelter

Politburo’s Resolution 09-NQ-TW on forming the role of Vietnam’s entrepreneurial community during national industrialisation and modernisation and international integration will act as a fulcrum to help entrepreneurs weather current storms in production and business practices.

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/business/a-port-for-entrepreneurs-to-shelter.html

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

Vietnam, China vow to boost bilateral ties

Vietnam and China need to deepen co-operation in all fields and educate the people of both countries, especially the younger generations, about the importance of neighbourly relations and mutual support.

http://nhandan.org.vn/cmlink/nhandan-online/homepage/politics/external-relations/vietnam-china-vow-to-boost-bilateral-ties-1.326628

 

N.Korea mourns, son is "Great Successor"

North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of leader Kim Jong-il and state media hailed his untested son as the "Great Successor" of the country.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/n-korea-mourns-son-is-great-successor-1.55252

Vietnam reaffirms support for GMS co-operation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated Vietnam’s strong support for Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) co-operation while attending the 4th GMS Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on December 19-20.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/sciencetechnology/www.nhandan.org.vn/Vietnam-reaffirms-support-for-GMS-cooperation/215715.epi

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

Menu digitalization smart devices: just surf and touch

Tablet PCs now not only can undertake office jobs for office workers, but can also help serve customers at café and restaurants.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16761/menu-digitalization-smart-devices–just-surf-and-touch.html

3G market eyes 2014 breakthrough

The number of third-generation network (3G) users in Vietnam will sharply rise in the next three years from the current subscriber numbers of less than 10 million, claimed Qualcomm, one of the world’s leading 3G chipset suppliers.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16502/3g-market-eyes-2014-breakthrough.html

Mind reading machines on their way: IBM

Century-old technology colossus IBM depicted a near future in which machines read minds and recognize who they are dealing with.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/19936/mind-reading-machines-on-their-way–ibm.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

Vietnamese universities losing best students?

Vietnamese universities fail to attract the most excellent and the richest students, because they choose to go studying abroad when feeling disappointed about the domestic university education.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16758/vietnamese-universities-losing-best-students-.html

International help sought in boosting math education

Strengthening international co-operation is one of the ways to develop the study of mathematics in countries like Vietnam, experts have said.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/020/19958/international-help-sought-in-boosting-math-education-.html

Universities need to up teacher training

Teachers colleges need to improve their training methods since students graduating from them lack skills, according to experts at a workshop in HCM City yesterday, Dec. 22.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16892/universities-need-to-up-teacher-training.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

Brain size may predict risk for early Alzheimer’s disease: study

New research suggests that, in people who don’t currently have memory problems, those with smaller regions of the brain’s cortex may be more likely to develop symptoms consistent with very early Alzheimer’s disease.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/16863/brain-size-may-predict-risk-for-early-alzheimer-s-disease–study.html

Hanoi cautious about new swine flu strain

Health workers in Hanoi are tightening control over new cases of influenza at 17 hospitals in the city in order to prevent the spread of a newly identified swine flu variant, S-OtrH3N2.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/19981/hanoi-cautious-about-new-swine-flu-strain.html

Six kidney donors for patient who lost both kidneys in operation

Can Tho General Hospital claimed that so far six people have come forward to donate their kidney to a patient whose health is deteriorating after doctors inadvertently removed both her kidneys.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/health/www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Six-kidney-donors-for-patient-who-lost-both-kidneys-in-operation/215764.epi

——————————————————————————————————-

First Step Newsletter 41 – December 17, 2011

http://firststepvietnam.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

First Step Vietnam Newsletter

Learning English in a Fun Way!

FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com 

097.550.8648

———————————————

News Around the World

Business

 

Supermarkets trap consumers with promotions

Many consumers have been duped into believing that promotional campaigns held by supermarkets are a great chance to buy items at low prices, and they are unaware of the tricks that lay behind the campaigns.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/business/supermarkets-trap-consumers-with-promotions-1.54757

 

Vietnam’s bank restructuring is big opportunity for foreign investors

Increasing the ownership ratios that foreign strategic partners can hold at Vietnamese joint stock banks, not increasing the chartered capital in order to encourage the merger of banks are proposals by EuroCham Vietnam when talking about the bank restructuring.

http://hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=22021&CatId=13

 

 

Tax payment to go under close scrutiny

Tax compliance will be observed more strictly given the recent changes in Vietnam’s tax policy, said experts of Deloitte at a seminar to update tax regulations held by the accountancy firm on Thursday.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/other/20933/

 

 

2012 remains challenging for businesses

The year 2011 is coming to an end, but businesses still dare not set up any goals for 2012 because they anticipate big difficulties ahead.

http://en.baomoi.com/Info/2012-remains-challenging-for-businesses/5/213949.epi

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

 

U.S. officially ends military mission in Iraq

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced on Thursday the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq during a ceremony in Baghdad after the Iraqi war broke out nearly nine years ago.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/16586/u-s–officially-ends-military-mission-in-iraq.html

 

 

Putin defends fairness of election

The results of Russia’s parliamentary elections on Dec. 4 reflected the views of Russian voters, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday in his annual Q&A session.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/16601/putin-defends-fairness-of-election.html

 

 

ASEAN transport ministers’ meetings wrap up

The ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) meetings with partners concluded in Phnom Penh , Cambodia on Dec. 16 with joint statements emphasising satisfaction with the progress of strategic cooperative programmes and proposals for new programmes.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/ASEAN-transport-ministers-meetings-wrap-up/201112/23017.vnplus

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

 

Producing drinking water from seawater with waste energy

German firm Taprogge and ESACO (Vietnam) are jointly investing in seawater desalination technology in the country. The Saigon Times Daily had a talk with Detlef Taprogge, CEO of Taprogge, about the Taprogge Terrawater Technology during a recent demonstration of a system using this tech in HCMC’s Can Gio District. Excerpts:

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/interviews/businesstalk/20908/

 

 

Mobile call charges will be as cheap as street rice

The mobile call charges in Vietnam have decreased by 15 percent per annum in the last three years. However, the charges are still much higher than that in other countries in the world. Experts believe that the charges would decrease further, while mobile phone calls would become as popular and cheap as the “street rice.”

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16589/mobile-call-charges-will-be-as-cheap-as-street-rice.html

 

 

Vietnam plans bright future for solar energy

Despite boasting great potential for solar power development, Vietnam has just made little use of it due to a lack of a detailed roadmap and incentive policies.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/018/19819/vietnam-plans-bright-future-for-solar-energy.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

Errors widespread in textbooks

Textbooks are often believed to contain factual knowledge. But teachers, and even parents, have pointed out myriad mistakes in the materials which are used to teach K-12 students in Vietnam.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/020/19856/errors-widespread-in-textbooks.html

 

 

322-program PhDs feel shocked when returning to Vietnam

The PhDs, who return from the overseas training courses funded by the State under the program 322, called “322-program PhDs”, say they feel giddy with the wages and the working conditions at universities. A lot of them set up their own businesses or quietly leave the schools which previously sent them abroad.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16486/322-program-phds-feel-shocked-when-returning-to-vietnam.html

 

 

Violence threatens school environment

These days it’s common to hear about violence in school and find videos on the internet of students fighting each other.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16525/violence-threatens-school-environment.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

 

Health workers in short supply

The shortage of health workers, particularly doctors, has become a huge concern at communal health clinics, according to Dr Dao Thi Ngoc Lan, director of the Yen Bai Department of Health.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16530/health-workers-in-short-supply.html

 

 

Infant health at risk from lack of paediatricians, equipment

A shortage of paediatricians and equipment at hospitals is affecting healthcare for infants in the south-eastern, Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), and south-central regions.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16572/infant-health-at-risk-from-lack-of-paediatricians–equipment.html

 

 

Salt in moderation

The sodium in common salt is essential to life, but too much can be harmful in more ways than one.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111208-Salt-in-moderation.aspx

——————————————————————————————————-

Entertainment

Interesting Video Clips

Signs

Watch this video clip to see a strange yet beautiful  love story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0HNWto0UY

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Same Place, Same Time, Tomorrow

Just give yourself a chance to move on no matter what. Watch this video and see it yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZwCnJdQjG4

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Lovesick

Watch this video clip and see what being lovesick means to this man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFDAvcwDPTA&feature=related

———————————————————————————————————————————–

"Heavenly Appeals"

Watch this video clip and see what appeals in heaven could be like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYq_35xJtFY

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Jokes

Joke: Let me ask you a question

A little boy is in school working on his arithmetic. The teacher says, "Imagine there are 5 black birds sitting on a fence. You pick up your BB gun and shoot one. How many blackbirds are left?"

The little boy thinks for a moment and says, "NONE!" The teacher replies, "None, how do you figure that?" The little boy says, “ if I shoot one, all the other birds will fly away scared, leaving none on the fence." The teacher replies, "Hmm, not exactly, but I do like the way you think!"

The little boy then says, "Teacher, let me ask you a question.There are 3 women sitting on a park bench eating ice cream cones. One is licking her cone, another is biting it and the third one is sucking it. How can you tell which one of the women is married?"

The teacher ponders the question uncomfortably and then finally replies, "Well, I guess the one sucking her cone."

To which the little boy replies, "Actually, its the one with the wedding ring, but I do like the way YOU think!"

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Useful Websites

Website: http://www.wordle.net/

 

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.

———————————————————————————————————————————– 

 

Songs

 

Song: Win by Brian Mcknight

Listen to a inspirational song by Brian MaKnight to find the motivation to keep moving forward!

http://www.loidich.com/ld96-Win-BrianMcKnight.html

http://mp3.zing.vn/bai-hat/Win-Brian-McKnight/IWZCIW7F.html

 

 ———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Please let us know how we can improve the newsletter for you! 

 

——————————————————————————————-

English language courses

 

at First Step Vietnam

 

For more information, please call 097.550.8648

Email: FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstStepVietnam

Address: No.21, Alley 157, Phao Dai Lang Street

Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Local & International News

 

Business

Supermarkets trap consumers with promotions

Many consumers have been duped into believing that promotional campaigns held by supermarkets are a great chance to buy items at low prices, and they are unaware of the tricks that lay behind the campaigns.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/business/supermarkets-trap-consumers-with-promotions-1.54757

Vietnam’s bank restructuring is big opportunity for foreign investors

Increasing the ownership ratios that foreign strategic partners can hold at Vietnamese joint stock banks, not increasing the chartered capital in order to encourage the merger of banks are proposals by EuroCham Vietnam when talking about the bank restructuring.

http://hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=22021&CatId=13

Tax payment to go under close scrutiny

Tax compliance will be observed more strictly given the recent changes in Vietnam’s tax policy, said experts of Deloitte at a seminar to update tax regulations held by the accountancy firm on Thursday.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/other/20933/

2012 remains challenging for businesses

The year 2011 is coming to an end, but businesses still dare not set up any goals for 2012 because they anticipate big difficulties ahead.

http://en.baomoi.com/Info/2012-remains-challenging-for-businesses/5/213949.epi

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

U.S. officially ends military mission in Iraq

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced on Thursday the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq during a ceremony in Baghdad after the Iraqi war broke out nearly nine years ago.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/16586/u-s–officially-ends-military-mission-in-iraq.html

Putin defends fairness of election

The results of Russia’s parliamentary elections on Dec. 4 reflected the views of Russian voters, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday in his annual Q&A session.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/16601/putin-defends-fairness-of-election.html

ASEAN transport ministers’ meetings wrap up

The ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) meetings with partners concluded in Phnom Penh , Cambodia on Dec. 16 with joint statements emphasising satisfaction with the progress of strategic cooperative programmes and proposals for new programmes.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/ASEAN-transport-ministers-meetings-wrap-up/201112/23017.vnplus

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

Producing drinking water from seawater with waste energy

German firm Taprogge and ESACO (Vietnam) are jointly investing in seawater desalination technology in the country. The Saigon Times Daily had a talk with Detlef Taprogge, CEO of Taprogge, about the Taprogge Terrawater Technology during a recent demonstration of a system using this tech in HCMC’s Can Gio District. Excerpts:

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/interviews/businesstalk/20908/

Mobile call charges will be as cheap as street rice

The mobile call charges in Vietnam have decreased by 15 percent per annum in the last three years. However, the charges are still much higher than that in other countries in the world. Experts believe that the charges would decrease further, while mobile phone calls would become as popular and cheap as the “street rice.”

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16589/mobile-call-charges-will-be-as-cheap-as-street-rice.html

Vietnam plans bright future for solar energy

Despite boasting great potential for solar power development, Vietnam has just made little use of it due to a lack of a detailed roadmap and incentive policies.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/018/19819/vietnam-plans-bright-future-for-solar-energy.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

Errors widespread in textbooks

Textbooks are often believed to contain factual knowledge. But teachers, and even parents, have pointed out myriad mistakes in the materials which are used to teach K-12 students in Vietnam.

http://www.dtinews.vn/en/news/020/19856/errors-widespread-in-textbooks.html

322-program PhDs feel shocked when returning to Vietnam

The PhDs, who return from the overseas training courses funded by the State under the program 322, called “322-program PhDs”, say they feel giddy with the wages and the working conditions at universities. A lot of them set up their own businesses or quietly leave the schools which previously sent them abroad.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16486/322-program-phds-feel-shocked-when-returning-to-vietnam.html

Violence threatens school environment

These days it’s common to hear about violence in school and find videos on the internet of students fighting each other.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16525/violence-threatens-school-environment.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

Health workers in short supply

The shortage of health workers, particularly doctors, has become a huge concern at communal health clinics, according to Dr Dao Thi Ngoc Lan, director of the Yen Bai Department of Health.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16530/health-workers-in-short-supply.html

Infant health at risk from lack of paediatricians, equipment

A shortage of paediatricians and equipment at hospitals is affecting healthcare for infants in the south-eastern, Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), and south-central regions.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16572/infant-health-at-risk-from-lack-of-paediatricians–equipment.html

Salt in moderation

The sodium in common salt is essential to life, but too much can be harmful in more ways than one.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111208-Salt-in-moderation.aspx

——————————————————————————————————-

First Step Newsletter 40 – December 10, 2011

http://firststepvietnam.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

First Step Vietnam Newsletter

Learning English in a Fun Way!

FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com 

097.550.8648

———————————————

News Around the World

Business

 

 

Integration boosts domestic firms

The country’s integration into the World Trade Organisation has positively influenced a majority of domestic enterprises, according to a Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Intergration-boosts-domestic-firms/201112/22839.vnplus

 

 

Inefficient state-owned groups continue paying high salaries

State-owned corporations and groups in Vietnam continue paying high salaries, despite incurring losses.

http://dtinews.vn/en/news/018/19757/inefficient-state-owned-groups-continue-paying-high-salaries-.html

 

 

For a safe and highly competitive banking system

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s December 6 decision to merge three joint stock commercial banks is considered a crucial step towards building a safe, healthy and effective banking system.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/economy/www.qdnd.vn/For-a-safe-and-highly-competitive-banking-system/211868.epi

 

 

Vietnamese try to conquer “hard-to-deal-with” far markets

After succeeding in some big markets, big Vietnamese economic groups have begun undergoing challenges to conquer far and hard-do-deal-with markets such as Africa, or the Middle East. Vinamilk’s shares remain valuable.

http://en.baomoi.com/Info/Vietnamese-try-to-conquer-hardtodealwith-far-markets/5/211916.epi

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

UK, Vietnam boost multi-faceted cooperation

Vietnam attaches great importance to the development of cooperative relations with European Union countries, including the UK.

http://dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/19745/uk–vietnam-boost-multi-faceted-cooperation.html

 

 

ASEAN talks about sustainable mineral exploitation

Senior officials from ASEAN countries gathered in Hà Nội on December 7 for their week-long meeting to discuss future plans and initiatives in sustainable mineral exploitation in the region.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/world/news.gov.vn/ASEAN-talks-about-sustainable-mineral-exploitation/212196.epi

 

 

ASEM experts to discuss counter-terrorism strategies

Asian and European counter-terrorism experts will meet in Indonesia on December 12 for talks on reinforcing cooperation to combat radicalisation and extremism.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/asem-experts-to-discuss-counter-terrorism-strategies-1.53970

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

Pain for IT outsourcing

Japan is a potential software outsourcing market, but local companies are struggling.

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/tech/pain-for-it-outsourcing.html

 

 

Gap between city, rural internet use widens

Though Vietnam ranks among the top 20 countries for access to the internet, there remains a widening gap between users in urban and rural areas, IT experts said.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Gap-between-city-rural-internet-use-widens/201112/22818.vnplus

 

 

Foreign manufacturers try to localize their apps to approach to local users

Information technology experts say that they are witnessing a wave of localizing apps for mobile phones which aim to reach to more Vietnamese clients.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16297/foreign-manufacturers-try-to-localize-their-apps-to-approach-to-local-users.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

MOET’s plan on six-subject university entrance exam not applauded

While high school students complain that the higher number of exam subjects will put a heavier burden on them, teachers say that the Ministry of Education and Training MOET’s plan on six-subject exam is unfeasible.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16204/moet-s-plan-on-six-subject-university-entrance-exam-not-applauded.html

 

 

Low quality universities making their way to penetrate into Vietnam

In order to save money, a lot of students register to follow the joint training programs between Vietnamese and foreign schools, instead of going studying abroad. Meanwhile, some experts believe that the study only brings money and time waste.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16194/low-quality-universities-making-their-way-to-penetrate-into-vietnam.html

 

 

Better career guidance on offer next year

A new career guidance programme aims to help students between the 9th and 12th grades gain better access to information about career paths and job opportunities.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Better-career-guidance-on-offer-next-year/201112/22751.vnplus

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

EU offers medical policy financing agreement

The European Union has signed a EUR39.25 million (USD52.66 million) financing agreement for a health policy support programme in Vietnam.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/health/www.dtinews.vn/EU-offers-medical-policy-financing-agreement/211581.epi

 

 

Concern over presence of toxic chemicals in animal feed

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has ordered related agencies to investigate the use of toxic chemicals present in animal feed after a complaint from the Animal Feed Association of Vietnam.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2011/12/98808/

 

 

Super-fast medical examination: one minute per patient!

At many big public hospitals in Vietnam, because of overload, super-fast medical examination have happened. Each patient is only examined within one minute. As a result, medical mistakes are on the rise.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/special-report/16180/super-fast-medical-examination–one-minute-per-patient-.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Entertainment

Interesting Video Clips

80-Year-Old Lady Criminally Charged For Feeding Ducks

Watch this video clip and see why an old lady was charged for feeding ducks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcLtrw3EX5I&feature=g-trend

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Education Evolution

Watch this video clip and see what has been changing in class and what has not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGvl5dg3l2M

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Surprise Wedding Reception

Watch this video clip and see how these people can make a surprise wedding reception

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lVS22y4uoU

———————————————————————————————————————————–

The Best Graduation Speech EVER!

Watch this video clip and see a very impressive graduation speech.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg1HnP7ce7U

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Jokes

Joke: The World’s Shortest Books

25. "My Plan To Find The Real Killers" by O.J. Simpson
24. "To All The Men I’ve Loved Before" by Ellen DeGeneres
23. "The Book of Virtues" by Bill Clinton
22. The Difference between Reality and Dilbert
21. Human Rights Advances in China
20. "Things I Wouldn’t Do for Money" by Dennis Rodman
19. Al Gore: The Wild Years
18. Amelia Earhart’s Guide to the Pacific Ocean
17. America’s Most Popular Lawyers
16. Career Opportunities for Liberal Arts Majors
15. Detroit – A Travel Guide
14. Different Ways to Spell "Bob"
13. Dr. Kevorkian’s Collection of Motivational Speeches
12. Easy UNIX
11. Ethiopian Tips on World Dominance
10. Everything Men Know About Women
9. Everything Women Know About Men
8. French Hospitality
7. George Foreman’s Big Book of Baby Names
6. "How to Sustain a Musical Career" by Art Garfunkel
5. Mike Tyson’s Guide to Dating Etiquette
4. Spotted Owl Recipes by the EPA
3. Staple Your Way to Success
2. The Amish Phone Directory
1. The Engineer’s Guide to Fashion

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Useful Websites

Website: https://trello.com/

 

Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, Trello tells you what’s being worked on, who’s working on what, and where something is in a process.

———————————————————————————————————————————– 

 

Songs

 

Song: Save The Last Dance for Me By Michael Buble

Listen to this beautiful song and keep thinking who you will save the last dance for.

 

http://loidich.com/ld6329-SaveTheLastDanceForMe(WeddingDateOST)-MichaelBuble.html

http://mp3.zing.vn/bai-hat/Save-The-Last-Dance-For-Me-Michael-Buble/ZWZAEO0Z.html

 ———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Thanks for reading!

Please let us know how we can improve the newsletter for you! 

 

——————————————————————————————-

English language courses

 

at First Step Vietnam

 

For more information, please call 097.550.8648

Email: FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstStepVietnam

Address: No.21, Alley 157, Phao Dai Lang Street

Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Local & International News

 

Business

Integration boosts domestic firms

The country’s integration into the World Trade Organisation has positively influenced a majority of domestic enterprises, according to a Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Intergration-boosts-domestic-firms/201112/22839.vnplus

 

Inefficient state-owned groups continue paying high salaries

State-owned corporations and groups in Vietnam continue paying high salaries, despite incurring losses.

http://dtinews.vn/en/news/018/19757/inefficient-state-owned-groups-continue-paying-high-salaries-.html

 

For a safe and highly competitive banking system

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s December 6 decision to merge three joint stock commercial banks is considered a crucial step towards building a safe, healthy and effective banking system.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/economy/www.qdnd.vn/For-a-safe-and-highly-competitive-banking-system/211868.epi

Vietnamese try to conquer “hard-to-deal-with” far markets

After succeeding in some big markets, big Vietnamese economic groups have begun undergoing challenges to conquer far and hard-do-deal-with markets such as Africa, or the Middle East. Vinamilk’s shares remain valuable.

http://en.baomoi.com/Info/Vietnamese-try-to-conquer-hardtodealwith-far-markets/5/211916.epi

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

UK, Vietnam boost multi-faceted cooperation

Vietnam attaches great importance to the development of cooperative relations with European Union countries, including the UK.

http://dtinews.vn/en/news/017004/19745/uk–vietnam-boost-multi-faceted-cooperation.html

ASEAN talks about sustainable mineral exploitation

Senior officials from ASEAN countries gathered in Hà Nội on December 7 for their week-long meeting to discuss future plans and initiatives in sustainable mineral exploitation in the region.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/world/news.gov.vn/ASEAN-talks-about-sustainable-mineral-exploitation/212196.epi

ASEM experts to discuss counter-terrorism strategies

Asian and European counter-terrorism experts will meet in Indonesia on December 12 for talks on reinforcing cooperation to combat radicalisation and extremism.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/asem-experts-to-discuss-counter-terrorism-strategies-1.53970

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

Pain for IT outsourcing

Japan is a potential software outsourcing market, but local companies are struggling.

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/tech/pain-for-it-outsourcing.html

Gap between city, rural internet use widens

Though Vietnam ranks among the top 20 countries for access to the internet, there remains a widening gap between users in urban and rural areas, IT experts said.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Gap-between-city-rural-internet-use-widens/201112/22818.vnplus

Foreign manufacturers try to localize their apps to approach to local users

Information technology experts say that they are witnessing a wave of localizing apps for mobile phones which aim to reach to more Vietnamese clients.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16297/foreign-manufacturers-try-to-localize-their-apps-to-approach-to-local-users.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

MOET’s plan on six-subject university entrance exam not applauded

While high school students complain that the higher number of exam subjects will put a heavier burden on them, teachers say that the Ministry of Education and Training MOET’s plan on six-subject exam is unfeasible.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16204/moet-s-plan-on-six-subject-university-entrance-exam-not-applauded.html

Low quality universities making their way to penetrate into Vietnam

In order to save money, a lot of students register to follow the joint training programs between Vietnamese and foreign schools, instead of going studying abroad. Meanwhile, some experts believe that the study only brings money and time waste.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16194/low-quality-universities-making-their-way-to-penetrate-into-vietnam.html

Better career guidance on offer next year

A new career guidance programme aims to help students between the 9th and 12th grades gain better access to information about career paths and job opportunities.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Better-career-guidance-on-offer-next-year/201112/22751.vnplus

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

EU offers medical policy financing agreement

The European Union has signed a EUR39.25 million (USD52.66 million) financing agreement for a health policy support programme in Vietnam.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/health/www.dtinews.vn/EU-offers-medical-policy-financing-agreement/211581.epi

Concern over presence of toxic chemicals in animal feed

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has ordered related agencies to investigate the use of toxic chemicals present in animal feed after a complaint from the Animal Feed Association of Vietnam.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2011/12/98808/

Super-fast medical examination: one minute per patient!

At many big public hospitals in Vietnam, because of overload, super-fast medical examination have happened. Each patient is only examined within one minute. As a result, medical mistakes are on the rise.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/special-report/16180/super-fast-medical-examination–one-minute-per-patient-.html

——————————————————————————————————-

First Step Newsletter 39 – December 2, 2011

http://firststepvietnam.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

First Step Vietnam Newsletter

Learning English in a Fun Way!

FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com 

097.550.8648

———————————————

News Around the World

Business

Trust is most important in business

Jeffrey E. Carleton, global markets head and country treasurer of Citibank Vietnam, has fulfilled himself in this country, doing the job of his dreams and having the most important person of his life – his wife – beside him.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/features/general/20696/

 

 

Economists urge to loosen monetary policies

If the State Bank of Vietnam keeps tightening the monetary policies, this would lead to the sharp fall of the productivity, which may make the high inflation return, economists have warned.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/business/15942/economists-urge-to-loosen-monetary-policies.html

 

 

Investors doubt Vietnamese economy: survey

The last quarter of the year has seen a significant fall in private equity investors’ confidence in the Vietnamese economy, a recent report by audit advisory Grant Thornton Vietnam said.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/business/investors-doubt-vietnamese-economy-survey-1.53122

 

 

Gov’t prepares to offer subsidized essential goods by year end

Government, ministries and local authorities are busy implementing measures to prevent a price insurgence, which usually occurs due to high consumption demand ahead of Tet Lunar New Year.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2011/12/98682/

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

PM urges efforts to fulfill socio-economic goals

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries and localities nationwide to show determination to fulfil the country’s socio-economic development goals in 2011.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/National/2011/12/98664/

 

 

ASEAN discusses securities integration

The 15th CEOs meeting of the ASEAN Exchanges group, a three-day event hosted by the Hanoi Stock Exchange, opened here on Nov. 30, discussing plans to integrate member securities exchanges into the international financial field.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/ASEAN-discusses-securities-integration/201112/22653.vnplus

 

 

50 percent of administrative procedures should be slashed

The Government should cut down 50 percent of the existing regulations and re-consider its role: control or promote development? This is the content of the recent talks between VietNamNet and experts.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/15269/50-percent-of-administrative-procedures-should-be-slashed.html

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

Facebook settles US privacy violation charges

Facebook has agreed to tighten its privacy policies and submit to external audits in order to settle charges that it abused users’ personal data, US authorities said Tuesday.

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/tech/facebook-settles-us-privacy-violation-charges.html

 

 

Vietnam to build 600 million USD space centre

A national space centre will be built at an investment of over 600 million USD and is expected to be completed in 2018.

http://hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=21895&CatId=29

 

 

Denmark helps foster wind energy

Danish energy technology and financial support would help Viet Nam harness its largely untapped wind resources, said chief advisor of Danish Export Credit Agency Jorn Fredsgaard Sorensen.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Miscellany/218169/Denmark-helps-foster-wind-energy-.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

Universities lack enough funds to improve

Universities with their own financial self-control schemes should have the same rights to set their own tuition fees that private institutions have, a conference heard last Tuesday.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16067/universities-lack-enough-funds-to-improve.html

 

 

With low salaries, teachers cannot devote themselves to education

Teachers say that they decide to become teachers because they love the job. However, the love alone does not allow them live and devote themselves to the teaching.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16025/with-low-salaries–teachers-cannot-devote-themselves-to-education.html

 

 

It’s difficult to find English teachers ‘cause of cultural differences

Native English teachers speak too fast that students cannot understand them, or teachers make “strange gestures” as snipping cheeks and touching the bodies of students are the things that occurred at many schools.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/15953/it-s-difficult-to-find-english-teachers–cause-of-cultural-differences.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

 

 

Vietnam: Average life span increases to 73

The average life expectancy of Vietnamese people has increased to 73 from 72.8 of 2010, according to the General Department of the Population and Family Planning.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16050/vietnam–average-life-span-increases-to-73.html

 

 

National fight against cancer makes positive leap forward

The country’s health sector has seen progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment in recent years, experts agreed at a two-day seminar that began in HCM City yesterday, Dec 1.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16081/national-fight-against-cancer-makes-positive-leap-forward.html

 

 

Medicine from lolot

Mediterranean people use vine leaves to make a parcel of minced lamb whereas the Vietnamese use lolot leaves to wrap around meat, though never lamb as they cannot stand the smell.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111201-Medicine-from-lolot.aspx

——————————————————————————————————-

Entertainment

Interesting Video Clips

Cute Kid – Door to Door Salesman

Watch a very funny video clip about a young salesman!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxCHEJSHOBE

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Future Supply Chain 2016

The importance of supply chain in this modern economy is undeniable. Watch this video clip and see how the future supply chain works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US5lO1HfmEo&feature=related

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Quantum Levitation

Watch this video clip and see an incredible technology at a fair in the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws6AAhTw7RA

———————————————————————————————————————————–

Planets viewed from Earth as if they were at the distance of our moon

Watch this video clip to see how the other planets can be viewed from the Earth if they were at the distance of the moon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Yi58jtNdY

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Jokes

Joke: Freshmen versus seniors

Freshman: Is never in bed past noon.

Senior: Is never out of bed before noon.

Freshman: Reads the syllabus to find out what classes he can cut.

Senior: Reads the syllabus to find out what classes he needs to attend.

Freshman: Calls the professor "Teacher."

Senior: Calls the professor "Bob."

Freshman: Would walk ten miles to get to class.

Senior: Drives to class if it’s more than three blocks away.

Freshman: Memorizes the course material to get a good grade.

Senior: Memorizes the professor’s habits to get a good grade.

Freshman: Knows a book-full of useless trivia about the university.

Senior: Knows where the next class is. Usually.

Freshman: Lines up for an hour to buy his textbooks in the first week.

Senior: Starts to think about buying textbooks in October… maybe.

Freshman: Looks forward to first classes of the year.

Senior: Looks forward to first beer garden of the year.

Freshman: Is proud of his A+ on Calculus I midterm

Senior: Is proud of not quite failing his Complex Analysis midterm

Freshman: Conscientiously completes all homework, including optional questions

Senior: Homework? I knew I forgot to do something last night

Freshman: Is excited about the world of possibilities that awaits him, the unlimited vista of educational opportunities, the chance to expand one’s horizons and really make a contribution to society

Senior: Is excited about new dryers in laundry room

Freshman: Takes meticulous four-color notes in class

Senior: Occasionally stays awake for all of class

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Useful Websites

Website: http://musicovery.com/index.php?ct=us

 

With Musicovery : interactive webRadio you can determine what music to listen to by your mood, define it by genre or narrow it down to a particular decade. Choose to hear only only hits or only non hits or set it to discovery mode to, um …discover.

Make your picks then watch musicovery deliver just the right musical choices for you. I like!

———————————————————————————————————————————– 

 

Songs

 

Song: Wonderful World by James Morrison

 

Listen to this song to feel the beauty of the world under James Morrison’s eyes.

http://loidich.com/ld4763-WonderfulWorld-JamesMorrison.html

http://mp3.zing.vn/bai-hat/Wonderful-World-James-Morrison/ZWZBOEWO.html

 ———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Thanks for reading!

Please let us know how we can improve the newsletter for you! 

 

——————————————————————————————-

English language courses

 

at First Step Vietnam

 

For more information, please call 097.550.8648

Email: FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstStepVietnam

Address: No.21, Alley 157, Phao Dai Lang Street

Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Local & International News

 

Business

Trust is most important in business

Jeffrey E. Carleton, global markets head and country treasurer of Citibank Vietnam, has fulfilled himself in this country, doing the job of his dreams and having the most important person of his life – his wife – beside him.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/features/general/20696/

Economists urge to loosen monetary policies

If the State Bank of Vietnam keeps tightening the monetary policies, this would lead to the sharp fall of the productivity, which may make the high inflation return, economists have warned.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/business/15942/economists-urge-to-loosen-monetary-policies.html

Investors doubt Vietnamese economy: survey

The last quarter of the year has seen a significant fall in private equity investors’ confidence in the Vietnamese economy, a recent report by audit advisory Grant Thornton Vietnam said.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/business/investors-doubt-vietnamese-economy-survey-1.53122

Gov’t prepares to offer subsidized essential goods by year end

Government, ministries and local authorities are busy implementing measures to prevent a price insurgence, which usually occurs due to high consumption demand ahead of Tet Lunar New Year.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2011/12/98682/

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

PM urges efforts to fulfil socio-economic goals

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries and localities nationwide to show determination to fulfil the country’s socio-economic development goals in 2011.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/National/2011/12/98664/

ASEAN discusses securities integration

The 15th CEOs meeting of the ASEAN Exchanges group, a three-day event hosted by the Hanoi Stock Exchange, opened here on Nov. 30, discussing plans to integrate member securities exchanges into the international financial field.

http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/ASEAN-discusses-securities-integration/201112/22653.vnplus

50 percent of administrative procedures should be slashed

The Government should cut down 50 percent of the existing regulations and re-consider its role: control or promote development? This is the content of the recent talks between VietNamNet and experts.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/15269/50-percent-of-administrative-procedures-should-be-slashed.html

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

Facebook settles US privacy violation charges

Facebook has agreed to tighten its privacy policies and submit to external audits in order to settle charges that it abused users’ personal data, US authorities said Tuesday.

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/tech/facebook-settles-us-privacy-violation-charges.html

Vietnam to build 600 million USD space centre

A national space centre will be built at an investment of over 600 million USD and is expected to be completed in 2018.

http://hanoitimes.com.vn/newsdetail.asp?NewsId=21895&CatId=29

Denmark helps foster wind energy

Danish energy technology and financial support would help Viet Nam harness its largely untapped wind resources, said chief advisor of Danish Export Credit Agency Jorn Fredsgaard Sorensen.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Miscellany/218169/Denmark-helps-foster-wind-energy-.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

Universities lack enough funds to improve

Universities with their own financial self-control schemes should have the same rights to set their own tuition fees that private institutions have, a conference heard last Tuesday.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16067/universities-lack-enough-funds-to-improve.html

 

With low salaries, teachers cannot devote themselves to education

Teachers say that they decide to become teachers because they love the job. However, the love alone does not allow them live and devote themselves to the teaching.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/16025/with-low-salaries–teachers-cannot-devote-themselves-to-education.html

It’s difficult to find English teachers ‘cause of cultural differences

Native English teachers speak too fast that students cannot understand them, or teachers make “strange gestures” as snipping cheeks and touching the bodies of students are the things that occurred at many schools.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/15953/it-s-difficult-to-find-english-teachers–cause-of-cultural-differences.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

Vietnam: Average life span increases to 73

The average life expectancy of Vietnamese people has increased to 73 from 72.8 of 2010, according to the General Department of the Population and Family Planning.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16050/vietnam–average-life-span-increases-to-73.html

 

National fight against cancer makes positive leap forward

The country’s health sector has seen progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment in recent years, experts agreed at a two-day seminar that began in HCM City yesterday, Dec 1.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/16081/national-fight-against-cancer-makes-positive-leap-forward.html

Medicine from lolot

Mediterranean people use vine leaves to make a parcel of minced lamb whereas the Vietnamese use lolot leaves to wrap around meat, though never lamb as they cannot stand the smell.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111201-Medicine-from-lolot.aspx

——————————————————————————————————-

First Step Newsletter 38 – November 26, 2011

http://firststepvietnam.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

First Step Vietnam Newsletter

Learning English in a Fun Way!

FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com 

097.550.8648

———————————————

News Around the World

Business

 

 

PM resolves to speed up public investment reform

The government is making every effort to restructure public investment to stop scattered investment and waste, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assured the National Assembly on November 25.

http://english.vov.vn/Home/PM-resolves-to-speed-up-public-investment-reform/201111/132715.vov

 

 

Trade deficit drops, development continues

The trade deficit continued its down-turn, falling to US$8.9 billion in the first 11 months of 2011, a year-on-year decrease of $1.7 billion, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/217975/Trade-deficit-drops-development-continues.html

 

 

Easy business

For Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN), doing business seems to be quite easy. The State utility company is said to incur a huge loss of over VND10 trillion, or nearly US$500 million, in 2010, and to tackle the problem, all what it has to do is to ask for approval to hike the power price, a move instantly supported by key Government agencies despite the widespread disagreement of the public. There are numerous demands from National Assembly deputies at the ongoing NA sitting and experts to urge competent State agencies to grill EVN leaders on the company’s business performance. However, all such calls have fallen on the deaf ear, as relevant authorities yesterday simply decided to raise the power price by some 5% from next year, before the questions have been answered.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/features/friday/20535/

 

 

Consumers prefer clean and green products

Consumers tend to prioritize clean and safe food and goods produced by environmentally-friendly manufacturers, reported FTA Market Research Co.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/other/20507/

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

Regional conference debates new security architecture

A series of important issues for regional security have been discussed at the eighth Assembly Conference of Council for Security Cooperation in Asia-Pacific in Hanoi.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/15713/regional-conference-debates-new-security-architecture.html

 

 

Khmer Rouge ideologue says defended Cambodia from invaders

The Khmer Rouge revolution in the 1970s was aimed at freeing Cambodia from colonialism and protecting it from invasion by Vietnam, the party’s ideologue, Nuon Chea, told a court on Tuesday, opening his defense against a charge of genocide.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/khmer-rouge-ideologue-says-defended-cambodia-from-invaders-1.52120

 

 

Thai govt says won’t amend law to let Thaksin return

Thailand’s government appears to have back-tracked on thoughts of changing an amnesty law in favour of self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after public outrage over his possible return.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/thai-govt-says-won-t-amend-law-to-let-thaksin-return-1.52013

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

 

Vietnamese social networks seeking new sources of income

In order to avoid a direct confrontation with foreign social networks, such as Facebook, LinkinEd, Cyworld or MySpace, Vietnamese social networks go their own ways to earn money to exist and improve their competitiveness on the Internet content market.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/15778/vietnamese-social-networks-seeking-new-sources-of-income.html

 

 

Russia supports Vietnam’s nuclear power development

Russia backs Vietnam’s plans to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, affirms First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/sciencetechnology/english.vietnamnet.vn/Russia-supports-Vietnams-nuclear-power-development/205945.epi

 

 

ASEAN ministers to boost tech ties

Science and technology ministers of the 11 ASEAN members are meeting in HCM City to discuss strengthening co-operation within the bloc.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Politics-Laws/217953/ASEAN-ministers-to-boost-tech-ties.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

The stories recorded at the lecture halls which people have found at universities

Students come late to class, sleep during the lessons, play games and chat with each other were the things seen by some people at universities in Hanoi.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/15779/the-stories-recorded-at-the-lecture-halls-which-people-have-found-at-universities.html

 

 

Vocational schools’ thirst for students getting more serious

The situation of vocational schools, which have been dragging out a miserable existence for the last many years, has got even worse due to the lack of students. A lot of schools reportedly can enroll 10-20 percent of the number of students needed this year.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/15555/vocational-schools–thirst-for-students-getting-more-serious.html

 

 

Quality of higher education still poor, admits Education Minister

Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan answered nearly 40 questions on the question and answer session on November 24. However, Luan’s presentation did not satisfy National Assembly deputies.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/15767/quality-of-higher-education-still-poor–admits-education-minister.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

 

When will hospitals not be overloaded?

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien did not say when the overload at hospitals will end, but she told National Assembly deputies that the Ministry of Health would submit a plan to the government next year.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/15601/when-will-hospitals-not-be-overloaded-.html

 

 

Coffee may protect against endometrial cancer: study

Long-term coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk for endometrial cancer, according to a study published online Tuesday in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/15712/coffee-may-protect-against-endometrial-cancer–study.html

 

 

Fruit of the vine

Nutritionists view grapes as nature’s gift to all, especially to people who don’t want to be old before their time. They supply energy, vitamins, minerals in addition to many other benefits.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111121-Fruit-of-the-vine.aspx

——————————————————————————————————-

Entertainment

Interesting Video Clips

Challenging Behavior in Young Children

Watch the video clip to see the how teachers deals with young children

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eCfnrGu5xo&feature=related

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Sustainable Development -15 Global Challenges

Watch this video clip to see what challenges for sustainable development are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dghuWWw7fnw&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL2C7D2B78000F1C2D

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

Watch this video clip to take a closer look at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mutKToi4jxY

—————————————————————————————————————————–

Pepsi Max – Urgency

Watch a very funny commercial by Pepsi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEYT0FbNaUQ

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Jokes

Joke: Near Death

A middle aged woman has a heart attack and is taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she has a near death experience. During that experience she sees God and asks if this is it.

God says no and explains that she has another 30 years to live. Upon her recovery she decides to just stay in the hospital and have a face lift, liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, etc.

She even has someone come in and change her hair color. She figures since she’s got another 30 years she might as well make the most of it. She walks out of the hospital after the last operation and is killed by an ambulance.

She arrives in front of God and complains: "I thought you said I had another 30 years!!

God replies, "Sorry, I didn’t recognize you."

———————————————————————————————————————————–

 

Useful Websites

Website: http://www.marcandangel.com/

 

Marc and Angel share practical tips and ideas on life, hacks, productivity, aspirations, health, work, tech and general self improvement.

———————————————————————————————————————————– 

 

Songs

 

Song:Hurt by Christina Aguilera

Listen to a song to see the regrets of a daughter when making her father upset.

http://mp3.zing.vn/bai-hat/Hurt-Christina-Aguilera/ZWZBU0II.html

 ———————————————————————————————————————————–

                                

 

Thanks for reading!

Please let us know how we can improve the newsletter for you! 

 

——————————————————————————————-

English language courses

 

at First Step Vietnam

 

For more information, please call 097.550.8648

Email: FirstStepVietnam@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstStepVietnam

Address: No.21, Alley 157, Phao Dai Lang Street

Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Local & International News

 

Business

PM resolves to speed up public investment reform

The government is making every effort to restructure public investment to stop scattered investment and waste, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assured the National Assembly on November 25.

http://english.vov.vn/Home/PM-resolves-to-speed-up-public-investment-reform/201111/132715.vov

Trade deficit drops, development continues

The trade deficit continued its down-turn, falling to US$8.9 billion in the first 11 months of 2011, a year-on-year decrease of $1.7 billion, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Economy/217975/Trade-deficit-drops-development-continues.html

Easy business

For Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN), doing business seems to be quite easy. The State utility company is said to incur a huge loss of over VND10 trillion, or nearly US$500 million, in 2010, and to tackle the problem, all what it has to do is to ask for approval to hike the power price, a move instantly supported by key Government agencies despite the widespread disagreement of the public. There are numerous demands from National Assembly deputies at the ongoing NA sitting and experts to urge competent State agencies to grill EVN leaders on the company’s business performance. However, all such calls have fallen on the deaf ear, as relevant authorities yesterday simply decided to raise the power price by some 5% from next year, before the questions have been answered.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/features/friday/20535/

Consumers prefer clean and green products

Consumers tend to prioritize clean and safe food and goods produced by environmentally-friendly manufacturers, reported FTA Market Research Co.

http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/other/20507/

——————————————————————————————————

Politics 

 

Regional conference debates new security architecture

A series of important issues for regional security have been discussed at the eighth Assembly Conference of Council for Security Cooperation in Asia-Pacific in Hanoi.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/15713/regional-conference-debates-new-security-architecture.html

Khmer Rouge ideologue says defended Cambodia from invaders

The Khmer Rouge revolution in the 1970s was aimed at freeing Cambodia from colonialism and protecting it from invasion by Vietnam, the party’s ideologue, Nuon Chea, told a court on Tuesday, opening his defense against a charge of genocide.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/khmer-rouge-ideologue-says-defended-cambodia-from-invaders-1.52120

Thai govt says won’t amend law to let Thaksin return

Thailand’s government appears to have back-tracked on thoughts of changing an amnesty law in favour of self-exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after public outrage over his possible return.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/international/thai-govt-says-won-t-amend-law-to-let-thaksin-return-1.52013

——————————————————————————————————- 

Technology

 

 

Vietnamese social networks seeking new sources of income

In order to avoid a direct confrontation with foreign social networks, such as Facebook, LinkinEd, Cyworld or MySpace, Vietnamese social networks go their own ways to earn money to exist and improve their competitiveness on the Internet content market.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/15778/vietnamese-social-networks-seeking-new-sources-of-income.html

Russia supports Vietnam’s nuclear power development

Russia backs Vietnam’s plans to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, affirms First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov.

http://en.baomoi.com/Home/sciencetechnology/english.vietnamnet.vn/Russia-supports-Vietnams-nuclear-power-development/205945.epi

ASEAN ministers to boost tech ties

Science and technology ministers of the 11 ASEAN members are meeting in HCM City to discuss strengthening co-operation within the bloc.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Politics-Laws/217953/ASEAN-ministers-to-boost-tech-ties.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Education

 

The stories recorded at the lecture halls which people have found at universities

Students come late to class, sleep during the lessons, play games and chat with each other were the things seen by some people at universities in Hanoi.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/15779/the-stories-recorded-at-the-lecture-halls-which-people-have-found-at-universities.html

 

Vocational schools’ thirst for students getting more serious

The situation of vocational schools, which have been dragging out a miserable existence for the last many years, has got even worse due to the lack of students. A lot of schools reportedly can enroll 10-20 percent of the number of students needed this year.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/education/15555/vocational-schools–thirst-for-students-getting-more-serious.html

Quality of higher education still poor, admits Education Minister

Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan answered nearly 40 questions on the question and answer session on November 24. However, Luan’s presentation did not satisfy National Assembly deputies.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/15767/quality-of-higher-education-still-poor–admits-education-minister.html

——————————————————————————————————-

Health

 

When will hospitals not be overloaded?

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien did not say when the overload at hospitals will end, but she told National Assembly deputies that the Ministry of Health would submit a plan to the government next year.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/15601/when-will-hospitals-not-be-overloaded-.html

Coffee may protect against endometrial cancer: study

Long-term coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk for endometrial cancer, according to a study published online Tuesday in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/15712/coffee-may-protect-against-endometrial-cancer–study.html

 

Fruit of the vine

Nutritionists view grapes as nature’s gift to all, especially to people who don’t want to be old before their time. They supply energy, vitamins, minerals in addition to many other benefits.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111121-Fruit-of-the-vine.aspx

——————————————————————————————————-