Warm-up
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: Planning. First, go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
| follow through | to complete an action or process; to fulfill a promise or commitment e.g. I do my best to follow through on plans. |
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| flexible | willing to change or to try different things e.g. I’m fairly flexible with my plans. |
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| to catch up | to acquire the latest information e.g. Tomorrow, I’m planning to learn more about my new job so that I can catch up on the knowledge I am missing. |
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| from now | [time] after this moment e.g. Three weeks from now = In three weeks. e.g. I can move into a new place three weeks from now. |
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| do someone’s best | to do something as well, skillfully, or accurately as one can e.g. I do my best to follow through on plans. |
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| to overcommit | to agree to do too many things e.g. I think it is better to avoid overcommitting, or saying “yes” to too many things! |
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| up to a point | used to indicate that a statement is partly but not completely true e.g. I am flexible about making plans, up to a point. |
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| heads up | a warning that something may or may not happen e.g. I prefer to get a heads up as soon as possible when things change. |
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| develop (thought/plan) | to create something over a period of time e.g. If I didn’t develop a smart plan to research and view my options, I would never actually find a new place |
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| put in some effort | to seriously attempt to do something e.g. I have to put in some effort to make that dream a reality |
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Conversation
Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.
- What are you planning to do tomorrow? What about next week?
- Do you usually follow through on your plans?
- Are you flexible about making plans?
- Name your biggest life goal. What’s your plan to achieve it?
- Do you have a 5-year plan? 10-year? 20-year?
- Is family planning important?
- Should parents help their children plan their time?
- Name one or more positive sides to planning.
- Name one or more negative sides to planning.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery expressed this idea: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Do you agree? What are the differences between goals, plans, and wishes?
Wrap-up
Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.
