Topic 1: Many parents today are considering sending their children to summer retreats at
pagodas. Discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of participating in these retreats, and
present your own perspective on the issue.
1. Bigger Theme of the Topic
At its core, this topic addresses the intersection of tradition, spirituality, and modern
parenting. It reflects broader themes such as:
● Cultural preservation vs. contemporary lifestyles – How spiritual retreats
maintain cultural and religious values in an increasingly secular, fast-paced society.
● Child development and holistic education – Exploring non-academic
environments that nurture emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and moral growth.
● Parental expectations and societal pressures – Balancing academic success with
moral grounding and mental well-being.
● Spirituality as a coping mechanism – How retreats offer children tools to handle
stress, peer pressure, and digital distractions.
2. Vocabulary – Synonyms and Related Terms
● Parents → caregivers, guardians, custodians
● Children → Young individuals / young people, adolescents, the
Phân biệt một số vocab chỉ “young people”:
Young people → neutral and common (“Young people are influenced by media trends.”)
The youth → collective, formal (“The youth are increasingly focused on digital careers.”)
The young -> collective, formal
The young ✅ Hợp lý khi đang nói đến nhóm người trẻ (trẻ em, thiếu niên) – tức những
con người cụ thể mà cha mẹ gửi đi trại hè. (Parents believe summer retreats benefit the
young, teaching them self-control and gratitude.)
The youth: Dùng được nhưng thường mang nghĩa thế hệ thanh thiếu niên nói chung
(mang tính xã hội, trừu tượng), không nhấn vào các cá nhân cụ thế. (Summer retreats play
an important role in shaping the youth of our nation.)
Adolescents → formal, refers to teenagers (“Adolescents face peer pressure in
schools.”)
Juveniles → formal, often legal/criminology context (“The law applies differently to
juveniles.”)
Minors → legal/technical term (“The policy restricts access for minors under 18.”)
● Summer retreats → spiritual camps, monastic / məˈnæstɪk/ programs,
mindfulness residencies
● Pagodas → Buddhist temples, monastic sanctuaries, religious institutions
● Potential benefits → advantages, merits, virtues, gains
● Drawbacks → disadvantages, limitations, downsides, pitfalls
● Participating → enrolling, attending, engaging in
● Perspective → stance, viewpoint, outlook, standpoint
3. Body Paragraph Ideas (Outline)
A. Benefits of Summer Retreats at Pagodas
Point 1: Detox from modern distractions/ mental healthbenefits: Time away from
gadgets and social media helps children reconnect with nature and themselves.
Meditation and mindfulness practices can reduce anxiety, improve focus, and
counterbalance the overstimulation of technology.
Point 2: Spiritual and moral enrichment: Exposure to Buddhist teachings fosters
compassion, gratitude, patience, and discipline. Such qualities/ virtues transcend
religious boundaries and contribute to holistic character building/ character
formation/personality development. Attending summer retreats at pagodas provides
a structured environment for moral and spiritual development, which is often
underrepresented in mainstream education.
(Character formation → emphasizes the process of shaping one’s
character and moral qualities.
Personality development → emphasizes the growth of individuality and
social skills.
Character building → emphasizes the cultivation and strengthening of
character through experiential learning.)
B. Potential Drawbacks
Point 1: Psychological discomfort: Young children may find monastic routines
restrictive or challenging to adapt to. Monastic schedules—often involving early
morning prayers, extended meditation sessions, and dietary restrictions—can be
excessively rigid for children who are used to a more flexible, stimulating
environment. These Strict routines and limited autonomy may lead to emotional
distress, feelings of isolation, frustration or resistance rather than helping young
children to gain spiritual insight.
While summer retreats at pagodas aim to nurture personal growth, they may
inadvertently impose psychological strain on young participants, particularly those
unaccustomed to monastic discipline.
Point 2: Risk of indoctrination: Concerns about imposing strict religious ideologies
at a young age.
indoctrination
/ɪnˌdɒktrɪˈneɪʃn/
[uncountable] (disapproving)
1. the act or process of forcing somebody to accept a particular belief or set of beliefs and not
allowing them to consider any others
One of the more contentious criticisms of sending children to summer retreats at
pagodas is the potential for indoctrination, where spiritual education inadvertently
evolves into rigid ideological imprinting.
At a young age, children are cognitively impressionable and may absorb religious
narratives uncritically. Intensive exposure to monastic teachings without
opportunities for questioning can hinder the development of independent reasoning
and open-mindedness.
C. Personal Stance
● Argue for a middle-ground approach/ balanced approach: Short-term,
voluntary retreats can complement, not replace, conventional education.
● Emphasize informed parental decision-making: Programs should be age-
appropriate, non-coercive /kəʊˈɜːsɪv/, and inclusive.
