Lily asks
Where do you hope to be a year from 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
A year from now? I hope I'm a bit more settled. Right now work's quite busy, and my evenings just disappear. So I'd like to have a better routine, cooking proper dinners and going to bed earlier. I also want to save up for a holiday, maybe somewhere warm in the spring. Nothing big. I just want to feel calmer and have a bit more time for my friends and family. I'd also like to visit my nan more often. She's always asking when I'm coming. That'd be really nice.
Phrases to borrow
a better routine
/ə ˈbetə ruːˈtiːn/
a healthier or more organised daily pattern
I need a better routine in the mornings.
save up (for something)
/ˈseɪv ʌp (fə ˈsʌmθɪŋ)/
keep money so you can buy something later
I'm saving up for a new bike.
Natural
Lily's voice note
A year from now? I hope I'm a bit more settled. Work's busy at the moment, and my evenings just disappear. So I'd like to get back into cooking proper dinners and going to bed earlier. I also want to save up for a holiday, somewhere warm in the spring. And I'd love more time for friends and family, maybe have people round for dinner and visit my nan more often. She's always asking when I'm coming. Nothing big. I just want to feel more on top of things.
Phrases to borrow
get back into something
/ˈɡet ˈbæk ˈɪntə ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
start doing a hobby again after a break
I want to get back into reading this year.
have people round
/hæv ˈpiːpl ˈraʊnd/
invite friends to your home
We're having people round for dinner on Saturday.
on top of things
/ɒn ˈtɒp əv ˈθɪŋz/
in control of your work and life
I like to make lists so I feel on top of things.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
A year from now, I'd love to feel a bit more settled. At the moment work's hectic, and my evenings just vanish. I'd like to get into a rhythm, cooking proper dinners and getting to bed at a sensible hour. I'm also going to put some money aside for a holiday, somewhere warm in the spring. Mostly, though, I want to make time for friends and family, especially my nan. She's always asking when I'm coming, and I keep putting it off. If I manage that, it'll have been a good year.
Phrases to borrow
get into a rhythm
/ɡet ˈɪntə ə ˈrɪðəm/
start doing things in a regular, comfortable way
It took a few weeks to get into a rhythm at the new job.
put money aside
/ˈpʊt ˈmʌni əˈsaɪd/
save some money for later
I try to put some money aside every month.
make time for someone
/ˈmeɪk ˈtaɪm fə ˈsʌmwʌn/
find time in a busy life for someone or something
However busy I am, I make time for a walk.
put something off
/ˈpʊt ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈɒf/
decide to do something later instead of now
I've been putting off this phone call all week.
Your turn: answer Lily
Where do you hope to be a year from now?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Dreams & goals
get back into something
start doing a hobby again after a break
“I want to get back into reading this year.”
heytardy