Lesson 24

Goals and Dreams

Objective: I will learn to describe future plans and goals.

Personal Study

Prepare for your conversation group by completing activities A through E.

Study the Principle of Learning: Press Forward

With God’s help, I can press forward even when I face obstacles.

The prophet Lehi in the Book of Mormon had a dream that taught us how to press forward. He saw many people walking along a path to a beautiful tree with delicious fruit. The fruit was the love of God. Their journey along the path was difficult because a “mist of darkness” hid the path (1 Nephi 8:23). Fortunately, there was a “rod of iron” they could hold onto to stay on the path (1 Nephi 8:24). The rod of iron is the word of God, which includes the scriptures. Here is what Lehi said about their journey:

“They did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came … and partook of the fruit of the tree” (1 Nephi 8:30).

The people made it to the tree because they kept holding onto the handrail and kept walking forward, trusting in God. They didn’t get distracted or discouraged when darkness came. You are working hard to learn English. Sometimes you are tired and don’t feel like studying. Sometimes there are other things that need your attention and time. You have found ways to study anyway. Don’t stop now. You can continue to gain an education as you press forward with hope in Jesus Christ.

Ponder

• What are your “mists of darkness” in learning English?

• How can you press forward even when studying is difficult?

Memorize Vocabulary

Learn the meaning and pronunciation of each word before your conversation group.

I hope to …
I plan to …
I want to …
I would like to …
After I …
When I …

Nouns

goal/goals
plan/plans

Verbs

become a teacher
buy a house
finish school
get a job
get married
go to college
move to New York City
retire
save money
study chemistry
travel

Times

in the future
next year
three years from now

Practice Pattern 1

Practice using the patterns until you can confidently ask and answer questions. You can replace the underlined words with words in the “Memorize Vocabulary” section.

Q: What are your future (noun)?A: I hope to (verb).

Questions

Answers

Examples

Q: What are your future goals?A: I hope to finish school.

Q: What are your future plans?A: I want to move to another country and become a teacher.

Q: What do you plan to do next year?A: I plan to go to college and study chemistry.

Q: What do you plan to do three years from now?A: I would like to get a good job and save money.

Practice Pattern 2

Practice using the patterns until you can confidently ask and answer questions. Try noticing these patterns during your daily practice.

Q: What do you plan to do when you (verb)?A: When I (verb), I plan to (verb).

Questions

Answers

Examples

Q: What do you plan to do when you finish school?A: When I finish school, I plan to get a job.

Q: What do you plan to do after you retire?A: After I retire, I would like to travel.

Use the Patterns

Write four questions you can ask someone. Write an answer to each question. Read them aloud.

Additional Activities

Complete the lesson activities and assessments online at englishconnect.org/learner/resources or in the EnglishConnect 2 Workbook.

Act in Faith to Practice English Daily

Continue to practice English daily. Use your “Personal Study Tracker.” Review your study goal and evaluate your efforts.

Conversation Group

Discuss the Principle of Learning: Press Forward

(20–30 minutes)

• Read the principle of learning for this lesson aloud.

• Discuss the questions.

Activity 1: Practice the Patterns

(10–15 minutes)

Review the vocabulary list with a partner.

Practice pattern 1 with a partner:

• Practice asking questions.

• Practice answering questions.

• Practice a conversation using the patterns.

Repeat for pattern 2.

Activity 2: Create Your Own Sentences

(10–15 minutes)

Role-play. Partner B is the person in the picture. Partner A asks questions about the person’s future plans. Be creative! Switch roles.

Example

• A: What are your future goals?

• B: I hope to finish school.

• A: What do you plan to do after you finish school?

• B: After I finish school, I plan to become a doctor.

• A: What do you plan to do when you become a doctor?

• B: When I become a doctor, I would like to travel.

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Activity 3: Create Your Own Conversations

(15–20 minutes)

Ask and answer questions about what you want, hope, and plan to do in the future. Talk about one year from now, five years from now, and ten years from now. Say as much as you can. Take turns.

New Vocabulary

have children
in one year
one year from now
work for a company

Example

• A: What do you hope to do in one year?

• B: I hope to work for a good company and get married.

• A: What do you want to do ten years from now?

• B: In ten years, I would like to have children. I also want to buy a house.

Evaluate

(5–10 minutes)

Evaluate your progress on the objectives and your efforts to practice English daily.

Evaluate Your Progress

I can:

• Ask about others’ goals and plans for the future.

  

• Talk about my goals and plans for the future.

  

Evaluate Your Efforts

Evaluate your efforts to:

1. Study the principle of learning.

2. Memorize Vocabulary.

3. Practice the patterns.

4. Practice daily.

Set a goal. Consider the study suggestions in the “Personal Study Tracker.”

Share your goal with a partner.

Act in Faith to Practice English Daily

“Brothers and sisters, in this Church, we believe in the divine potential of all of God’s children and in our ability to become something more in Christ. In the Lord’s timing, it is not where we start but where we are headed that matters most” (Clark G. Gilbert, “Becoming More in Christ: The Parable of the Slope,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 19).