What Are Your Plans? — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Introduction

A: Today we’re talking about the future — your plans for next week, next year, and someday.

B: Listen for I’m going to…, I’m thinking of …-ing, I’m hoping to…, It’s still up in the air, in five years, and to save up for…. We’ll learn six more phrases along the way.

A: First, plans you’ve decided. Then hopes and maybes, and then the big future. After that, two short scenes and a practice where you answer out loud.

B: You can practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

A: So let’s start with the easy part — the plans you’re sure about.

Plans you’ve decided

B: Someone asks, “What are you doing this weekend?” And you already know. The most common answer is: I’m going to…. “I’m going to visit my parents.”

A: “I’m going to clean my apartment.” Not very exciting, but true.

B: Very true. “Going to” means you decided before you spoke. The plan is already in your head.

A: What about “will”? “I will visit my parents.”

B: Good question. “Will” often works for a decision you make right now, while you’re talking. Your phone rings: “I’ll get it!” Or someone says, “It’s cold in here,” and you say, “I’ll close the window.”

A: So “I’ll” — I just decided. “I’m going to” — I decided before.

B: That’s a good simple rule. One more use: “going to” is also for things you can see coming. “Look at those clouds — it’s going to rain.”

A: So it’s for plans, and for things that are clearly about to happen.

B: Exactly. And in fast speech, you’ll hear “gonna”: “I’m gonna visit my parents.” Understand it, but write “going to.”

A: Okay. Now, sometimes my plan is a little more organized. Not just “I’m going to rest” — I’m actually preparing.

B: Then you can say: I’m planning to…. “I’m planning to move in the spring.”

A: Is it different from “I’m going to”?

B: A little. “Planning” sounds like you’re working on it — thinking about dates, money, details. “I’m planning to take a course in January.” “We’re planning to paint the kitchen.”

A: And if it’s with a time and a place — like a dinner with a friend on Friday at seven?

B: Then English often uses the present continuous: “I’m meeting Sam on Friday.” “We’re having dinner at seven.” It’s in your calendar, so it sounds fixed.

A: “I’m meeting Sam.” Present tense, future meaning.

B: Exactly. Now, the opposite situation: you have an idea, but you haven’t decided. Then you say: I’m thinking of …-ing. “I’m thinking of changing jobs.”

A: Why “-ing”?

B: Because after “of,” English uses the “-ing” form. “I’m thinking of buying a bike.” “I’m thinking of learning Spanish.” Not “thinking of to buy.”

A: And “I’m thinking about buying a bike”?

B: Also very common. Both are fine, and here they mean almost the same.

A: So “I’m thinking of” — it’s an idea, not a decision yet.

B: Right. It’s a nice phrase, because it invites the other person to give an opinion: “I’m thinking of moving to the city.” “Really? Why?”

Hopes and maybes

A: Now, what about things I want, but I can’t control?

B: Then you use: I’m hoping to…. “I’m hoping to get a promotion this year.”

A: Because it’s not my decision. My boss decides.

B: Exactly. “I’m hoping to see you at the party.” “We’re hoping to buy a house next year.” It’s softer than “I’m going to” — it shows you want it, but you’re not sure.

A: And “I hope to”? Without “-ing”?

B: It’s correct too, and very common. Both express a hope. “I’m hoping to” can put a little more focus on what you want right now.

A: Often I want to add a condition. Like, “if the weather is good,” “if my boss says yes.”

B: There’s a short, very useful phrase for that: if everything goes well. “If everything goes well, we’ll move in June.”

A: Notice the grammar: “if everything goes well” — present tense — and then “we’ll move.”

B: Good point. After “if,” we use the present, even for the future. Not “if everything will go well.” Same with “when”: “When I finish the course, I’ll look for a new job.”

A: You may also hear “if all goes well” — same meaning.

B: Yes. And sometimes, you really don’t know. The plan isn’t decided at all. Then: It’s still up in the air.

A: Like a ball in the air — we don’t know where it’s going to land.

B: That’s the picture. “Are you going to Italy or Spain this summer?” “It’s still up in the air.” It’s from today’s short video, too — two friends trying to choose.

A: Can I use it for work?

B: Sure. “The date of the meeting is still up in the air.” “Our budget for next year is up in the air.” It means “not decided yet.”

A: And when someone asks me about a plan, and I just don’t want to promise anything?

B: Then the perfect answer is two words: We’ll see.

A: “Are you coming to the party?” “We’ll see.”

B: Yes. It means “I don’t know yet — maybe.” But it can sound like a polite way to avoid saying no. Imagine: “Can we get a dog?” “We’ll see.”

A: So if I really am undecided, I can give a reason: “We’ll see — it depends on work.”

B: Exactly. And “up in the air” usually describes the plan itself; “we’ll see” is a short answer to a question.

A: Quick tip before we look further ahead. If you want these phrases ready next time someone asks about your plans, save them in Recursio — it brings them back right before you forget.

The big future

B: Now let’s go further. Not next weekend — years from now. The classic job interview question: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

A: In five years. Is that “after five years”?

B: Good question. “In five years” means five years from now. “In five years, I’m hoping to have my own business.” “The train leaves in five minutes” — same idea.

A: So “in” plus time — counting from today.

B: Yes. “In five years” is the clear way to count forward from now. “After five years” focuses on the end of a five-year period: “After five years of saving, I hope to buy a house.” You can use that about the future too, but it needs a period you’re counting through.

A: Okay, what about “in the long run”? I hear it a lot.

B: In the long run means “over a long time” — when you look at the final result, not just today. “It’s expensive now, but in the long run, it saves money.”

A: Like a good pair of shoes.

B: Perfect example. Cheap shoes break in six months. Good shoes cost more, but in the long run, they’re cheaper. You’ll also hear the opposite: “in the short term” — “In the short term, it’s hard. In the long run, it’s worth it.”

A: And when I have a dream, but no date at all?

B: Then: someday. “Someday, I’m going to live by the sea.”

A: One word or two?

B: For a future dream like this, write “someday” as one word. “Some day” as two words can mean an unspecified day: “Let’s meet some day next week.” You’ll also hear “one day”: “One day, I’ll visit Japan.”

A: “Someday” sounds a little like a dream.

B: It does. That’s why it’s nice — it’s a plan without pressure. But if you want the dream to happen, you need the next phrase: to set a goal.

A: “I set a goal to run five kilometers by the summer.” That’s about three miles.

B: Good. “Set” is the natural verb. You “set a goal,” you “reach a goal” or “achieve a goal.” Not “make a goal.” And in soccer — football in British English — you score a goal.

A: Ha. So for a goal in a game, I say “score a goal.”

B: Right. For a personal plan, set a goal, work toward it, reach it.

A: Many goals need money. A trip, a car, a new laptop.

B: Then you save up for something — you put money away, little by little, until you have enough.

A: “I’m saving up for a new bike.”

B: Perfect. “Save up” focuses on the goal at the end. “We’re saving up for a trip to Japan.” “She saved up for two years to buy a car.”

A: And just “save money”?

B: That’s general. “I’m trying to save money.” But “save up for” always has a target — “for” what?

Coffee with a friend

A: Let’s hear it in a real conversation. It’s October, and we meet for coffee. We haven’t talked in a while.

B: Okay. I’m already at the table.

A: Hey! Sorry I’m late. So, what’s new? Any plans for the winter?

B: Actually, yes. I’m thinking of taking a course in graphic design.

A: Really? That’s great. Online or in person?

B: Online, probably. I’m planning to start in January, if everything goes well.

A: Do you have time for a class with your current job?

B: I’ll study in the evenings. It’s only two nights a week, and I can try the first month before I decide whether to continue.

A: Nice. And then what? A new job?

B: Maybe. I’m hoping to work as a freelancer someday. Whether I’ll do that full-time is still up in the air.

A: That makes sense. You can learn the skills first and decide about work later. In the long run, it could give you more choices.

B: I hope so. What about you? Still saving up for that trip?

A: Yes! I’m going to Portugal in May. I already bought the tickets.

B: Wow. So that’s decided.

A: Totally decided. And I set a goal — I’m going to learn a hundred words in Portuguese before the trip.

B: A hundred words before May? In five years, maybe you’ll be having whole conversations in Portuguese.

A: We’ll see. For now, I just want to order coffee without pointing at the menu.

B: That’s a good first goal. Tell me how it goes when you get back.

A plan for the weekend

A: I will — with photos. Okay, let’s do one more short scene.

B: We’re coworkers, it’s Friday afternoon, and I ask about your weekend.

A: Okay. I’m packing my bag.

B: Any big plans for the weekend?

A: Not really. I’m going to sleep. A lot.

B: Ha. That’s a great plan. Are you going to Jen’s barbecue on Sunday?

A: I’m not sure. It depends on the weather.

B: The weather report says rain, but it could change by Sunday.

A: Then it’s still up in the air. If it rains, maybe we could meet for coffee instead. What about you?

B: I’m meeting my sister on Saturday. We’re thinking of getting an apartment together, so we’re going to look at a few places.

A: Together? You’re moving in with your sister?

B: Maybe. Rent is so expensive. In the long run, it might be cheaper to share. But we haven’t decided where, or even when we’d move.

A: So Saturday is just a first look. Well, I’m hoping to see you at the barbecue.

B: Me too. If it doesn’t rain.

A: We’ll see.

B: That’s fair. Jen asked for a head count, so I’ll tell her you haven’t decided.

A: Thanks. If the forecast improves, I’ll send her a message tomorrow.

B: Fair enough. See you Monday — and tell me if you make it to the barbecue.

Practice

A: Now it’s your turn. You’ll hear a situation. Answer out loud in the pause, then listen to our answer. First one: you decided last week to visit your grandmother on Sunday. What do you tell a friend who asks about your weekend?

B: I’m going to visit my grandmother.

A: “Going to” — you decided before you spoke.

B: You have an idea about buying a car, but you haven’t decided. What do you tell a friend?

A: I’m thinking of buying a car.

B: After “of,” the “-ing” form.

A: A coworker asks, “Are you going to the conference in March?” You don’t know yet — nothing is decided. What do you say?

B: It’s still up in the air.

A: “Up in the air” — not decided yet. Or, if you don’t want to promise anything: “We’ll see.”

B: You want to move to a bigger apartment next year, but your finances aren’t settled yet. How do you say it with a hopeful condition?

A: If everything goes well, I’m going to move next year.

B: Present after “if”: “if everything goes well,” not “will go.”

A: You’re putting money away every month for a new laptop. What do you tell a friend?

B: I’m saving up for a new laptop.

A: “Save up for” — money with a target.

B: In a job interview, they ask about your future. How do you say you hope to be leading a team five years from now?

A: In five years, I’m hoping to lead a team.

B: “In five years” — counted from today. “Hoping” — you want it, but it’s not only your decision.

Outro

A: Now you can tell someone which future plans are decided, which are hopes, and which are still up in the air.

B: Today’s twelve: I’m going to…, I’m planning to…, I’m thinking of …-ing, I’m hoping to…, if everything goes well, It’s still up in the air, We’ll see, in five years, in the long run, someday, to set a goal, and to save up for….

A: On Friday, we’re talking about holidays and celebrations — just in time for the end of October.

B: Until then, open the link below and practice today’s phrases in Recursio.

A: See you in the next one.