Lesson:Happy New Year! Make a Plan!

Conversation

Answer the following questions. You might be asked to write them down or answer them out-loud.

1. Do you make many new plans at New Year's Time?
2. Do you usually do the New Year's resolution? What usually are your resolutions about?
3. Why do people make so many plans during this time?
4. Are these plans always executed? Why?
5. Why do some people wait for the next year to start off their projects or plans?
6. Which resolutions do you think are the most commons among the people?
7. What a resolution do you make every year and never get to accomplish?
8. Is New Year Time a moment of transition? Why?
9. Do you like New Year holidays? Why?
10. Do you think resolutions are excuses to make people feel better for the things they haven’t done along the past year?

Vocabulary

Look at the vocabulary below. Take time to explore the links for their definitions in English and their translations to Portuguese. When you are done, make a sentence with each word. Ask your teacher if you should write them down or say them out loud.

• d | t - girth
• d | t - bit
• d | t - lazy
• d | t - regardless
• d | t - resolution
• d | t - remind
• d | t - fail
• d | t - utterly
• d | t - plan
• d | t - whim
• d | t - crap
• d | t - forethought
• d | t - achievable
• d | t - chunk
• d | t - reward
• d | t - track
• d | t - recognize
• d | t - wish

Video

Watch the following video but DON'T read the transcript yet.

After watching the video do this listening exercise.

Reading practice

Read the following transcript then do the associated reading comprehension exercise.

ExpandTranscript:

--->>> Two, one Happy New Year! It´s our one holiday where we celebrate the passage of time which makes people stop and think, how do I want next year to be different than this year? Maybe you´re feeling a little girthy or a bit too lazy. Or maybe this is the year you finally find that new job. Regardless of what your New Year´s resolution is, we want to remind you, you will probably fail. Yep. Eighty percent of New Year´s resolutions completely and utterly fail. That´s because people don’t understand the difference between a New Year´s resolution and a New Year´s plan. You see, resolutions can be made on a whim. Your resolution will probably make you feel like crap for the first couple of weeks and without a plan to get yourself through, you´re destined to fail. A plan takes forethought. A plan means you´re serious. A plan breaks up your resolution in small achievable chunks and has many rewards along the way. A plan is tracked in a journal and a plan recognizes that there´s nothing magical about January 1st. people who make plans are twice as likely to achieve their resolution. So we wish you a Happy New Year. May all your plans come true. Form us to you.

Writing practice

Write a couple of paragraphs about a year which you made a resolution and suceeded. Make sure to use words you learned from the text and try to make it as long as you can.

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