New here? This is lesson 186 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Small steps in English
Ana is at the studio with a short plan for the library. The work is moving, but the page is still too long.
Marcus wants a plan in three sentences. He asks what she is working toward, and what is hard.
By the end, you'll report progress, name the hard part, ask about goals, and set a small next step.
You'll also say it may take a while, without giving up.
By the end of this lesson
Report progress, name what is hard, and set a small next goal.
- I'm making progress with ___.I'm slowly getting better at this.
- The hardest part is ___.The most difficult piece of this is this.
- How are you going to achieve that?What's your plan for reaching that goal?
- What goals are you working toward?What are you trying to achieve right now?
- I'm setting small goals.I'm making little targets I can reach.
- It may take a while, but I think I can do it.It won't be fast, but I believe I can succeed.
Scene — the short plan
Same downtown studio, same long desk. Ana has the short plan open. Marcus walks over with a rolled set of drawings under one arm.
The whiteboard stays blank. The library floor plan is done, but the lighting notes still run long.
Learn — progress and small goals
Six lines help you talk about progress, the hard part, your goals, and a small next step.
You'll also ask how someone will reach a goal and say the work may take time.
I'm making progress with ___.
I'm slowly getting better at this.
When to use it: Say this when the work is moving, even if it is slow.
The -ing form shows the work is happening now.
Say it: Stress the first part of progress.
The hardest part is ___.
The most difficult piece of this is this.
When to use it: Use this to name the piece that is most difficult.
Say the difficult piece after is.
How are you going to achieve that?
What's your plan for reaching that goal?
When to use it: Ask this when you want someone's plan for a goal.
You will hear gonna, but say going to.
Say it: The word to can sound like tuh.
What goals are you working toward?
What are you trying to achieve right now?
When to use it: Ask this to learn the targets someone has now.
Toward means in the direction of those goals.
I'm setting small goals.
I'm making little targets I can reach.
When to use it: Say this when you choose little targets you can reach.
The -ing form shows this is what you are doing now.
It may take a while, but I think I can do it.
It won't be fast, but I believe I can succeed.
When to use it: Say this when the work is slow, but you still believe you can finish.
May here means you are not sure about the time.
Story — cutting it down
Watch Ana report progress on the short plan. Marcus keeps the talk on small goals and asks what is hardest.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Afternoon light on the long desk. Ana's short plan is still too long.
MarcusHow's the short plan going?He asks if the short plan is moving.
AnaI'm making progress with the short plan.The short plan is moving forward.- MarcusThe lighting is still in progress, I mean.The lighting work has started, but it is not finished.
- AnaYeah. The hardest part is cutting it down.The most difficult piece is making the plan shorter.
- Marcus taps the blank whiteboard. He wants three sentences, not a long page.
- MarcusHow are you going to achieve that?What's your plan for reaching that goal?
- AnaI'm setting small goals.I'm making little targets I can reach.
- MarcusWhat goals are you working toward?What are you trying to achieve right now?
- AnaOne page, then the lighting notes.First she will finish one page, then the lighting notes.
- MarcusGood idea.I like that suggestion.
- AnaIt may take a while, but I think I can do it.It won't be fast, but I believe I can succeed.
- MarcusFine. We'll look on Friday.He accepts the time and will check on Friday.
Practice — the next small step
Ten quick exercises help you use these lines in a short work check-in. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay short, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
The hardest part is ___.Drop the Simple English hereHow are you going to achieve that?Drop the Simple English hereWhat goals are you working toward?Drop the Simple English hereI'm setting small goals.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
You sit down for a check-in. You want to know their current targets.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
How are you going to achieve that?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'm slowly getting better at this.
I'm making ____ with ___.
Build the line
Build the line
I'm making little targets I can reach.
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Marcus says:
Pick the reply
Do you think you can finish this?
He asks if you believe you can complete the work.
And you reply with:
True or false?
True or false?
This line means the lighting work is finished.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ana says she will finish one page this week. You like that plan.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — say it at the desk
Now you're Ana at the studio. 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.
- MarcusHow's the short plan going?He asks if the short plan is moving.
- Ana (you)Tell him the short plan is moving forward, even if slowly.
Tell him the short plan is moving forward, even if slowly.
I'm making progress with ___.
I'm slowly getting better at this.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| I'm making progress with ___. | I'm slowly getting better at this. | |
| The hardest part is ___. | The most difficult piece of this is this. | |
| How are you going to achieve that? | What's your plan for reaching that goal? | |
| What goals are you working toward? | What are you trying to achieve right now? | |
| I'm setting small goals. | I'm making little targets I can reach. | |
| It may take a while, but I think I can do it. | It won't be fast, but I believe I can succeed. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your small goals ready for the next meeting.
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