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. What do you usually do for New Year's Eve?
2. Do you usually make a list of your New Year's Resolutions?
3. What are your resolutions usually about?
4. What are some resolutions that will never be on your list?
5. Why do people make so many plans during this time of the year?
6. Are those plans always executed? Why?
7. Why do some people wait for the next year to start on their projects or plans?
8. Which resolutions do you think are the most common?
9. What resolution do you make every year and never accomplish?
10. Is the time around the new year a moment of transition? Why?

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.

DT   girth

DT   bit

DT   lazy

DT   regardless

DT   resolution

DT   remind

DT   fail

DT   utterly

DT   plan

DT   whim

DT   crap

DT   forethought

DT   achievable

DT   chunk

DT   reward

DT   track

DT   recognize

DT   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. From us to you.

Writing practice

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

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