Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 49 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 10: Past and Plans

What are you going to do next year?

At the beginning of a year, many people make plans. In this lesson you talk about your plans and dreams. You use am / is / are going to + verb.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Plans

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  2. What are you going to do next weekend?
  3. Are you going to travel this year?
  4. Are you going to learn something new?
  5. What are you going to do next year?
  6. Are you going to see your friends soon?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say one sentence with the word.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. A is a list of things that you decide to do, for example for tomorrow.
  2. A promise to yourself at the start of a new year is a New Year .
  3. Work that you do for money is a .
  4. English, Spanish and Ukrainian are each a .
  5. Running and swimming are examples of .
  6. To money is to keep it and not spend it.
  7. To is to go to different places.
  8. To is to get new knowledge.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a plan is what you
  2. a resolution is a
  3. a job is work that you do for
  4. to save money = to
  5. exercise is good for your
  6. soon = in a
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about your plans.

  • I'm going to...Я збираюся...I'm going to learn English.
  • She's going to...Вона збирається...She's going to travel.
  • We're going to...Ми збираємося...We're going to move.
  • I'm not going to...Я не збираюся...I'm not going to be late.
  • He isn't going to...Він не збирається...He isn't going to work.
  • Are you going to...?Ти збираєшся...?Are you going to travel?
  • What are you going to do?Що ти збираєшся робити?What are you going to do next year?
  • Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.Так. / Ні.Are you going to learn French? Yes, I am.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

New Year plans

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What are you going to do next year?

What are you going to do next year? At the start of a new year, many people think about the future. They make a list of plans, and the plans are often called New Year resolutions. People say that this tradition is very old, but nobody knows exactly where it started.

What do people usually plan? Many people are going to do more exercise, eat healthy food, save money or learn a new language. Some people are going to change their job, move to a new city or travel to a new country. Others are going to start a hobby, for example painting or playing the guitar.

It is not easy to keep a resolution. Many people say that they start well in January, but after a few weeks it is more difficult. A good idea is to make a small plan. For example: "I'm going to study English for twenty minutes every day" is better than "I'm going to speak perfect English." You can also tell a friend about your plan, and your friend can help you.

In Ukraine, many people make a wish at midnight on New Year's Eve, when the clock strikes twelve. Then they say: "This year I'm going to do it!"

What are you going to do next year?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Many people make plans at the start of a year.
  2. New Year resolutions are always easy to keep.
  3. A small plan is a good idea.
  4. Everybody makes the same resolutions.
  5. In Ukraine, many people make a wish at midnight on New Year's Eve.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you make New Year resolutions?
  2. Is it good to tell friends about your plans?
  3. What is your dream?
  4. What do you want to learn?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Going to

Use am / is / are going to + the base verb for plans and things that you decide to do. Negative: am not / isn't / aren't going to. Use tomorrow, next week, next year, soon.

I'm going to learn English. She is going to travel. We are going to move. He isn't going to work. They aren't going to come.

Going to: questions

Put am / is / are before the person. Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, he isn't. With a question word: What are you going to do?

Are you going to travel? Yes, I am. Is she going to move? No, she isn't. What are you going to do next year? Where is he going to go?

Block 10 review

Use the grammar from this block.

was / were (L46) · Past Simple: regular and irregular verbs (L47) · Past Simple negatives and questions (L48)

Common mistakes: use am / is / are going to + the base verb. Do not drop to and do not add -ing after to. ✗ I going to travel → I am going to travel. ✗ She are going to learn French → She is going to learn French. ✗ I am going to travelling → I am going to travel.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I
    travel.
  2. She
    learn French.
  3. We
    to move.
  4. He
    going to work.
  5. you going to start a new job?
  6. Yes, I
    .
  7. What
    you going to do?
  8. They
    going to come.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I going to travel next year. →
  2. She are going to learn French. →
  3. We going to move soon. →
  4. He doesn't going to work. →
  5. Do you going to start a job? →
  6. I am going to travelling. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use going to.

  1. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  2. What are you going to do next weekend?
  3. Where are you going to travel?
  4. What are you going to learn?
  5. What is your friend going to do?
  6. What is your dream?
5

Three people and their plans, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and their plans

Three people tell about their plans. Compare them. Who is going to travel? Who is going to learn a language? What are you going to do next year?

Person 1

Olena, 28

  • Is going to learn Spanish
  • Is going to travel to Spain
  • Is going to save money
  • Isn't going to change her job
Person 2

Taras, 40

  • Is going to start a new hobby
  • Is going to do more exercise
  • Is going to move to a new flat
  • Isn't going to watch a lot of TV
Person 3

Mia, 12

  • Is going to learn the guitar
  • Is going to visit her grandmother
  • Is going to read more books
  • Isn't going to be late for school
5.2

Mini-talk: my plans

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say what you are going to do tomorrow and next weekend.
  3. Part 2: say what you are going to do next year.
  4. Part 3: say what you aren't going to do and ask your teacher one question with going to.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  2. What are you going to do next weekend?
  3. Are you going to travel this year?
  4. What are you going to learn?
  5. Are you going to start a new hobby?
  6. Are you going to save money?
  7. What is your dream?
  8. What are you going to do next year?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family is going to travel?
  2. Who is going to learn something?
  3. Who is going to move?
  4. Who is going to start a new job?
  5. Who is going to do more exercise?
  6. Who is going to visit you?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is it good to make New Year resolutions?
  2. Is it easy to keep a plan?
  3. Is it better to plan or not to plan?
  4. Is it good to have a big dream?
  5. Do you like the new year?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Talking about plans

You

Speaker

A friend (your teacher) asks about your plans:
  • say what you are going to do tomorrow
  • say what you are going to do next year
  • say what you aren't going to do
  • ask your friend a question
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use going to.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  2. What about next year?
  3. Are you going to travel?
  4. I'm going to rest.
7.2

A New Year wish

You

Speaker

It is New Year's Eve and your friend (your teacher) asks about your wishes:
  • say two plans for next year
  • say one dream
  • say what you aren't going to do
  • say Happy New Year
You do most of the talking. Use: I'm going to... · I'm not going to...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. What are your plans?
  2. What is your dream?
  3. What aren't you going to do?
  4. Happy New Year!
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

planresolutionjoblanguageexercisesavetravellearn
  1. A is a list of things that you decide to do, for example for tomorrow.
  2. A promise to yourself at the start of a new year is a New Year .
  3. Work that you do for money is a .
  4. English, Spanish and Ukrainian are each a .
  5. Running and swimming are examples of .
  6. To money is to keep it and not spend it.
  7. To is to go to different places.
  8. To is to get new knowledge.
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. I travel.
  2. She learn English.
  3. We to move.
  4. He going to work.
  5. you going to start a job?
  6. Yes, I .
  7. What you going to do?
  8. They going to come.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I am going to travel.
  2. I going to travel.
  3. She is going to learn French.
  4. She are going to learn French.
  5. Are you going to travel?
  6. Do you going to travel?
  7. He isn't going to work.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I'm going
  2. She's going
  3. We're going
  4. I'm not
  5. He isn't
  6. Are you
  7. What are you

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.