Lily asks
What is a goal you are working towards right now?
How to build your answer
Opinion: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Your viewAnswer straight away. “Honestly, I think…”
- 2One reasonYour main reason, not five.
- 3An exampleFrom your own life.
- 4The other sideShow you see it. “That said…”
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
I'm learning to swim properly. I can swim a bit, but only with my head up, like a dog! So I'm taking lessons on Wednesday evenings at the pool near work. It's really hard. I drink half the pool every week. The teacher is very patient with me, thank goodness. But I'm getting better. Last week I swam two whole lengths without stopping. My goal is to swim in the sea next summer, on holiday with my brother Sam. Wish me luck!
Phrases to borrow
take lessons
/ˈteɪk ˈlesənz/
have regular classes with a teacher to learn something
I'm taking guitar lessons on Saturdays.
get better
/ˈɡet ˈbetə/
improve, become more skilled
My cooking is slowly getting better.
wish me luck
/ˈwɪʃ mi ˈlʌk/
said before you try something difficult
I've got my driving test tomorrow. Wish me luck!
Natural
Lily's voice note
I'm learning to swim properly. I can only swim with my head out of the water, so I decided to give it a go and book lessons. Every Wednesday evening I go to the pool near work. It's hard, and I swallow loads of water, but the teacher's really patient. Last week I swam two whole lengths without stopping, so I think I'm on track. I've still got a long way to go, though. My goal is to swim in the sea next summer, on holiday with my brother Sam.
Phrases to borrow
give it a go
/ɡɪv ɪt ə ˈɡəʊ/
try something, often for the first time
I'd never cooked curry before, but I thought I'd give it a go.
on track
/ɒn ˈtræk/
making the right progress to reach a goal
We're on track to finish the project by Friday.
have a long way to go
/ˈhæv ə ˈlɒŋ ˈweɪ tə ˈɡəʊ/
need to do a lot more before you reach your goal
My Spanish is better, but I've still got a long way to go.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
I'm finally learning to swim properly. For years I've done this panicky doggy paddle with my head held up, so every Wednesday evening I'm at the pool near work, feeling very out of my depth, ha. I swallow half the pool most weeks, but my teacher's endlessly patient, and I'm slowly building up my confidence. Last week I swam two whole lengths without stopping, and I felt on top of the world. The real goal is the sea next summer, on holiday with my brother Sam. I'm not letting him have the last laugh.
Phrases to borrow
be out of your depth
/biː ˈaʊt əv jɔː ˈdepθ/
in a situation that is too difficult for you
In my first week at the new job I felt completely out of my depth.
/ˈbɪld ˈʌp/
increase something slowly over time
Start with short walks and build up to longer ones.
on top of the world
/ɒn ˈtɒp əv ðə ˈwɜːld/
extremely happy and proud
When I passed my exam, I felt on top of the world.
have the last laugh
/hæv ðə ˈlɑːst ˈlɑːf/
win or succeed in the end after people laughed at you
They laughed at my tiny garden, but I had the last laugh when the tomatoes came.
Your turn: answer Lily
What is a goal you are working towards right now?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Dreams & goals
give it a go
try something, often for the first time
“I'd never cooked curry before, but I thought I'd give it a go.”
heytardy