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Conversation Advance · Module 22 · Unit 106

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals

C2 Proficient Upper

Learning Objectives

In today"s class, you will talk about short-term versus long-term goals and improve your everyday vocabulary.

Discussion

Direction: Answer these questions.
  1. What is one goal you hope to achieve this month?
  2. Do you find it easier to plan for next week or next year?
  3. How do you stay motivated when working toward a distant objective?

New Words & Expressions

Direction: Listen and repeat these words with your teacher.

  • Aspiration

    noun

    /ˌæspəˈreɪʃn/

    Meaning:A hope or ambition of achieving something.

    His main aspiration is to build a home for his family.

    Real Life Tip:

    Used to describe meaningful, high-level life goals.

  • Milestone

    noun

    /ˈmaɪlstoʊn/

    Meaning:A significant stage or event in the development of something.

    Buying this apartment is a major milestone for us.

    Real Life Tip:

    Often used to measure progress in life or career.

  • Set out

    phrasal verb

    /set aʊt/

    Meaning:To start an action with a particular goal in mind.

    We set out to save enough for a down payment.

    Real Life Tip:

    Describes the beginning of a purposeful journey.

  • In the long run

    idiom

    /ɪn ðə lɔːŋ rʌn/

    Meaning:Over a long period of time.

    Saving now will pay off in the long run.

    Real Life Tip:

    A very common expression when discussing future planning.

  • Grind

    slang

    /ɡraɪnd/

    Meaning:Hard, monotonous work done to achieve a goal.

    The daily grind is worth it for our future.

    Real Life Tip:

    Refers to the persistent effort required for success.

Conversation

Direction:

  • Listen carefully as your teacher reads the conversation aloud.
  • Role-play the conversation with your teacher
Kevin and Jennifer are sitting at their kitchen table, looking at their calendar and discussing their future plans.
  • Kevin
    I feel like we are always focused on the daily grind. We should talk about our bigger aspirations.
  • Jennifer
    I agree. We set out to be more organized this year, but we got busy.
  • Kevin
    Exactly. What is our next big milestone?

Q&A

Direction: Answer the questions based on the conversation.
  1. What does Kevin think they are too focused on?
  2. What is the next milestone they want to reach?
  3. How do they plan to make their goal easier to achieve?

Exercise

Direction: Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence, then read it aloud. Each question gives you 5 Points.

  1. What is an aspiration?

  2. What is a milestone?

  3. We ____ out to finish this project.

  4. This will pay off in the long ____.

  5. worth / grind / the / is / daily

  6. set / we / goals / new

Ask Your Teacher

Direction: Ask your teacher these questions.
  1. How do you distinguish between short-term and long-term goals?
  2. What are your biggest career aspirations right now?
  3. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the daily grind?

Your Time To Speak

Direction: Answer using the language you have learned in this lesson. Talk about yourself!
  1. How do I stay focused on long-term goals?
  2. Why are milestones so important for motivation?
  3. How do I set out to start a new habit?
  4. Is it better to have many goals or just one?
  5. How do I avoid burnout during the grind?
  6. What if I change my aspirations?
  7. How do I measure my progress effectively?
  8. Is it normal to feel lost when planning for the future?
  9. How can I better prioritize my daily tasks?
  10. What is the best way to visualize my goals?
Jennifer
I think it is finding a place with more space.
  • Kevin
    That makes sense. It will be tough, but it will be worth it in the long run.
  • Jennifer
    True. We just need to break it down into smaller steps.
  • Kevin
    I can handle that. I will start looking at listings tomorrow.
  • Jennifer
    Perfect. We are making progress.