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Lesson 185 of 240

New here? This is lesson 185 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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My goals in English

Ana is at the studio with Marcus. He wants the library plan in plain words, not a long meeting.

You will name a main goal, say a skill you want to get better at, and talk about what comes next.

You will also say you are working on it, you hope to get there someday, or you have not decided yet.

Marcus asks short questions. Keep your answers short too.

By the end of this lesson

Name a main goal, say a skill you want to get better at, and talk about what comes next.

  • My main goal is to ___.The most important thing I want to achieve is this.
  • I want to get better at ___.I want to improve this skill.
  • What are you hoping to do next?What is your next aim?
  • I'm working on it.This is what I am practicing now.
  • I hope to get there someday.I want to reach that aim in the future.
  • I haven't decided yet, but I'm interested.I have no final plan, but I like the idea.

Scene — the whiteboard is blank

Same week at the studio downtown. Ana sits at a long desk with plants and a blank whiteboard.

Marcus walks over with a rolled set of drawings under one arm. He wants the library plan in three sentences.

The diner and the quiet jukebox can wait. This is a work talk about aims.

Ana sits at the plant-lined desk as Marcus approaches with rolled drawings under one arm.

Learn — name a goal

Six lines help you name a goal, a skill, and what you hope to do next.

You will also practice I'm working on it and I haven't decided yet.

  1. Ana considers the main goal she wants to achieve.

    My main goal is to ___.

    The most important thing I want to achieve is this.

    When to use it: Use this to name the most important thing you want.

    After the word to, say the thing you want to do.

  2. Ana rehearses the skill she wants to improve beside the whiteboard.

    I want to get better at ___.

    I want to improve this skill.

    When to use it: Use this when you want to improve a skill.

    After at, name the skill, often with an -ing form.

    Say it: The stress is on bet in better.

  3. Marcus asks Ana about her next aim while she listens across the desk.

    What are you hoping to do next?

    What is your next aim?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn someone's next aim.

    Hoping is the -ing form. This question asks about someone's next plan in a gentle way.

    Say it: Are and you can link.

  4. Ana weighs the idea of taking on a larger part of the library plan.

    I'm working on it.

    This is what I am practicing now.

    When to use it: Say this when that aim is what you practice now.

    I'm is one piece. “I'm working on it” says you are doing it now.

  5. Marcus turns from the windows to ask what skill Ana is practising now.

    I hope to get there someday.

    I want to reach that aim in the future.

    When to use it: Use this for an aim you want later, not now.

    Get there means reach the aim, not a place.

    Say it: The stress is on some in someday.

  6. Ana practises her explanation of the plan while Marcus offers encouragement.

    I haven't decided yet, but I'm interested.

    I have no final plan, but I like the idea.

    When to use it: Say this when you like an idea but have no plan yet.

    Haven't is one piece, and it means you still have no plan.

Story — plain words

Watch Ana tell Marcus her main goal at the studio. He wants plain words, not a long speech.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The studio is quiet. Rolled drawings sit on the long desk. Marcus looks at Ana.
  2. MarcusSo. Tell me your main goal for this library work.He asks Ana to name the most important thing she wants.
  3. AnaMy main goal is to explain the library plan in plain words.The most important thing she wants is to say the plan in easy English.
  4. MarcusGood. I hate long meetings. Keep it short.He likes that, and he wants a short talk.
  5. AnaI want to get better at explaining things in plain words.She wants to improve this skill.
  6. He sets the drawings down. The whiteboard stays blank.
  7. MarcusThat makes sense. What are you hoping to do next? Want a bigger part of the project?He accepts her idea, then asks her next aim and if she wants a larger share.
  8. AnaI haven't decided yet, but I'm interested. Maybe a bigger part of the project.She has no next plan yet, but she likes the bigger-part idea.
  9. MarcusThat's fair. Are you working on the plain words now?He says it is okay she has no plan yet, then asks about the skill.
  10. AnaI'm working on it.This is what she is practicing now.
  11. MarcusGood idea. In simple words, start with the plan.He likes that, then tells her to begin with the main idea.
  12. AnaI hope to get there someday.She wants to reach that aim in the future.
  13. MarcusYou will. Three sentences. That's the whole job.He tells her she can do it, and he wants it short.

Practice — goal or next step

Ten short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    I'm working on it.

  3. What do you say?

    You tell Marcus you want to improve a skill at work.

  4. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Would you be interested in taking on a bigger part of the project?

    He asks if you want a larger share of the work.

    And you reply with:

  5. Fill the gap

    I have no final plan, but I like the idea.

    I ____ decided yet, but I'm interested.

  6. Build the line

    This is what I am practicing now.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Match the pairs

    English

    My main goal is to ___.Drop the Simple English here
    I want to get better at ___.Drop the Simple English here
    I hope to get there someday.Drop the Simple English here
    I haven't decided yet, but I'm interested.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  8. What do you say?

    Marcus just explained why short meetings help. You agree his idea is clear.

  9. True or false?

    This line tells you to begin with a long speech.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — say your aim

Now you're Ana in a short meeting with Marcus. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusTell me your main goal.He asks you to name the most important thing you want.
  2. Ana (you)Name the most important thing you want to achieve.

    My main goal is to ___.

    The most important thing I want to achieve is this.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
My main goal is to ___.The most important thing I want to achieve is this.
I want to get better at ___.I want to improve this skill.
What are you hoping to do next?What is your next aim?
I'm working on it.This is what I am practicing now.
I hope to get there someday.I want to reach that aim in the future.
I haven't decided yet, but I'm interested.I have no final plan, but I like the idea.
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