Goal Setting (Intermediate)
Updated: Sep 10
Goal Setting
What is Goal Setting? Setting goals is something we all do throughout our lives. For example, an infant sets a goal to learn how to walk: first they crawl, then they try to stand up without support, and finally, they begin to take baby steps. When they fall, adults encourage them to get back up and try again. The same process applies when we teach children how to read—starting with the alphabet and phonics, moving to short words, and eventually building full sentences.
To achieve any goal, we need a plan. Once a plan is in place, we follow it while periodically checking our progress. If we are moving in the right direction, we stick to the plan. If not, we adjust our strategy and keep moving forward. For instance, if your goal is to buy a car, you create a savings plan while researching vehicles that suit your lifestyle and budget. If you find you aren't saving fast enough, you adapt your plan—perhaps by increasing your monthly savings from $75 to $100.
We follow this exact pattern for life's major milestones: applying to college, finding a career, getting married, and beyond. Ultimately, goal setting comes down to four universal steps: set the goal, create a plan, evaluate progress, and adjust as needed.
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I. Vocabulary:
1. Crawl (verb): To move forward on hands and knees.
2. Baby steps (noun, idiom): Small, cautious steps or gradual progress made toward a larger goal.
3. Achieve (verb): To successfully reach or accomplish a goal through effort or skill.
4. Process (noun): A series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end.
5. Applies (verb): To be relevant, useful, or applicable to a particular situation or person.
6. Phonics (noun): A method of teaching reading by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters.
7. Eventually (adverb): In the end, especially after a long time or a series of events.
8. Periodically / From time to time (phrase): Happening regularly or occasionally to check status or make updates.
9. Adjust (verb): To alter or tweak something slightly to achieve a better fit or result.
10. Strategy (noun): A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
11. For instance (phrase): For example; used to introduce a specific case or illustration.
12. Lifestyle (noun): The way in which a person or group lives, including daily habits and spending choices.
13. Budget (noun): An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period.
14. Adapt (verb): To modify or adjust oneself or one's plans to new conditions or circumstances.
15. Pattern (noun): A recurring or consistent way in which something is done, organized, or happens.
16. Ultimately (adverb): In the end, at the most basic or fundamental level.
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I. Read the paragraph below and fill in each blank using the correct word from your vocabulary list
(crawl, achieve, adjust, adapt, lifestyle, ultimately).
Setting clear targets is essential if you want to [ 1 ---------- ] long-term success in life. Just as young children must [ 2 ----------- ] before they can run, we must take smaller initial steps when facing a new project. Over time, your personal circumstances and daily [ 3 ---------- ] may shift unexpectedly. When obstacles arise, you need to [ 4 -----------] your strategy rather than abandoning your target entirely. Learning how to [ 5 --------- ] to changing conditions keeps you moving forward despite setbacks. [ 6 ---------- ], remaining flexible and persistent is what allows you to reach your main destination.
II. Choose the correct option for each question based on the vocabulary definitions.
1. Which word refers to a method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with letters?
A) Phonics B) Pattern
C) Process D) Strategy
2. If someone is altering their financial plan slightly because prices went up, what are they doing?
A) Crawling B) Adjusting
C) Applying D) Eventually
3. What phrase is used to introduce a concrete example or specific instance of a topic?
A) Baby steps B) From time to time
C) For instance D) Ultimately
4. What term describes a recurring or consistent way in which something happens or is done?
A) Budget B) Strategy
C) Pattern D) Process
5. If a rule or concept is relevant and useful to a specific situation, it ______ to that situation.
A) applies B) adapts
C) achieves D) crawls
III. Read the definitions below and identify the matching vocabulary word from your list.
1. Definition: An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.
Word: ____________________
2. Definition: A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
Word: ____________________
3. Definition: Happening in the end, especially after a long time or a series of events.
Word: ____________________
4. Definition: Small, cautious steps or incremental progress made toward a larger goal.
Word: ____________________
5. Definition: A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.
Word: ____________________
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Grammar:
1: Expressing Goals & Necessity
When we talk about our targets and plans, we use specific verbs to show how important or fixed an action is:
Use want to for your desires or goals (I want to buy a house).
Use need to for necessary actions or rules (I need to check my budget).
Use plan to for specific steps you have decided to take (I plan to save $100 this week).
Choose the Correct Verb (Want to / Need to / Plan to)
Fill in the blanks with the best verb phrase from the options in parentheses.
I __________ (want to / need to) buy a car, so I am saving $100 every month.
If your plan is not working, you __________ (want to / need to) change your strategy.
They __________ (plan to / want to) register their child at a new school next Monday at 9:00 AM.
From time to time, we __________ (need to / want to) check our progress to see if we are on track.
She __________ (wants to / needs to) start her own business because she loves being independent.
2: Sequencing Words for Step-by-Step Plans
Achieving a goal happens in order over time. We use sequencing transition words to connect our steps and make our plan easy for others to follow:
Use First to introduce the very first step.
Use Next, Then, and After that to move from one step to another.
Use Eventually or Finally to describe the end result after time and effort.
Read the steps for saving money to buy a house. Choose the correct transition word for each blank: (First / Next / After that / Eventually).
__________ [ First / Next ], create a monthly budget to see how much money you can save.
__________ [ Next / Eventually ], open a separate savings account for your home fund.
__________ [ After that / First ], transfer $200 automatically into that account every payday.
__________ [ Eventually / First ], after two years of consistent saving, you will have enough for a down payment.
3: If Clauses for Problem-Solving
Plans do not always go smoothly, so we use If clauses to evaluate our progress and make decisions when conditions change:
Condition (If...): Identifies the situation or problem (If you fall down... / If you are off track...).
Result: Explains the action or solution (...try again. / ...adjust your plan.).
Match the "If" condition with the correct result.
If you fall down while learning to walk, ...
If your savings plan is too slow, ...
If you check your progress regularly, ...
If you want to start a business, ...
Options:
A) ...you need to write a business plan first.
B) ...you will know if you are moving toward your goal.
C) ...you can adjust your budget to save more each month.
D) ...adults encourage you to stand up and try again.
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Making Plans to Reach Goals
IV. Choose two or three of the goals below. Write a step-by-step plan for each goal, including how you will track your progress and adjust if needed.
Example:
Goal: Save $1,200 for an emergency fund over six months.
Step 1 (Make a Plan): Set a target to save $200 per month ($50 each week). Cut back on eating out by cooking at home on weekdays, and set up an automatic bank transfer of $50 into a savings account every Friday.
Step 2 (Track Progress): Check the savings account balance at the end of every month to make sure it has increased by $200.
Step 3 (Adjust the Plan): If an unexpected bill occurs in Month 3 and only $100 gets saved, adjust the plan by saving $250 a month for the remaining three months or selling unused items online to make up the difference.
1. Save money.
2. Register your child at a new school.
3. Redecorate your bedroom.
4. Prepare a special dinner for your family.
5. Throw a surprise birthday party for your spouse.
6. Start your own business.
7. Plan a wedding.
8. Buy a new home.
9. Immigrate to Canada.
10. Find a new job.
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