Goals and Ambitions Lesson for ESL Adults PDF

ambition (noun) uncountable ambition (noun) countable I have so much ambition She has many different in life. ambitions for her career. I am ambitious (adjective) But what is ambition? A desire to do well in lif...

ambition (noun) uncountable ambition (noun) countable I have so much ambition She has many different in life. ambitions for her career. I am ambitious (adjective) But what is ambition? A desire to do well in life, to succeed, to feel successful, to achieve goals. Do you think you’re a person with many goals in life? What’s been your main ambition in life so far? What was your dream job when you were a child? What’s your dream job now? Would you say you’re the kind of person who never gives up on their dreams?  Ambitions are our: intentions goals plans How can we express our ambitions? Here are different expressions you can use: I want to + verb. I have the ambition to improve my English skills. I’m ambitious to pass my exam with flying colours. (= do very well) I long to travel around the world. (= really want it) I strive to be fluent in English. (= try very hard) I dream of being rich. I dream about having a big house.  Ambitions can be… …short-term …long-term My cousin’s really ambitious at She’s quite ambitious: she aims work: he’s always striving to to sell 500 copies of climb the corporate ladder. her newest album. Common collocations: It’s been a lifelong ambition of mine to publish a book. Having a healthy ambition can lead to success in the long term. My daughter has a burning ambition to become a doctor. My sister’s a person of driving ambition. I broke up with Mark because he lacked ambition. I’m focusing on my personal and professional ambitions at the moment.  Oftentimes, ambitions are driven by our goals, that is, ideas for the future or a specific desired result that we envision, plan and commit to achieve. Goals are usually specific, measurable and time-bound, whereas ambitions are more of a general desire or aspiration. How many different types of goals can you think of? professional goals financial goals physical goals short/long-term goals personal goals academic goals intellectual goals  clean out build a consistent learn more my wardrobe gym routine about chemistry save more visit more money museums learn more about buy a different cuisines finish the final zero-emission project car Now discuss with a partner different examples of these types of goals. Talk about your own goals as well!  Talk with a partner and discuss the traditional notions and beliefs around ambitions, goals and success in your country. Then reflect upon alternative perspectives on personal and professional fulfillment. You have 5 minutes! 21minutes 3 4 5 minute  Match the expressions in bold in sentences 1-6 with the right definitions A-F. 1. Even though learning a foreign A. To successfully do something you language is hard, if you stick at it, D wanted to, especially said of you’ll get better and better. desired objectives and their results. 2. I’m going to release my song. Even B. Something that has turned out to be though my friends tell me it’s just a F successful. dream, I’m going to dig in my heels! 3. My brother Pete always goes to C. A hope or ambition of achieving great lengths to get what he wants, E something. and he never fails. 4. My family has taught me that I can D. To continue doing or trying to do do anything I set my mind to, so I something. C have aspirations to become a musician. 5. My friend achieved his ambition to E. To make a great or extreme effort become a press photographer. A to do something. 6. Publishing her first book was her F. To refuse to change your plans or greatest accomplishment in life. B ideas, especially when someone is trying to persuade you to do so. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. stick at it achieved set my mind to dig in his heels achievement goes to great lengths Whenever _______________ something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to _______________ whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to _______________ 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally _______________ 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always _______________ to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant _______________ 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. stick at it achieved dig in his heels achievement goes to great lengths Whenever set my mind to something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to _______________ whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to _______________ 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally _______________ 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always _______________ to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant _______________ 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. stick at it achieved achievement goes to great lengths Whenever set my mind to something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to dig in his heels whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to _______________ 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally _______________ 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always _______________ to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant _______________ 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. achieved achievement goes to great lengths Whenever set my mind to something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to dig in his heels whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to stick at it 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally _______________ 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always _______________ to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant _______________ 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. achievement goes to great lengths Whenever set my mind to something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to dig in his heels whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to stick at it 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally achieved 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always _______________ to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant _______________ 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. achievement Whenever set my mind to something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to dig in his heels whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to stick at it 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally achieved 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always goes to great lengths to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant _______________ 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work. Complete the sentences with the following expressions from the previous exercise. Whenever set my mind to something, I make sure to follow 1 through with determination and persistence. John’s known to dig in his heels whenever he strongly believes 2 in something. He’s really stubborn! Despite the numerous challenges I faced, I decided to stick at it 3 and continue working on the project until it was completed. After months of hard work and dedication, I finally achieved 4 my goal of running a marathon. My coworker always goes to great lengths to make sure her 5 presentation is flawless. I believe it’s a waste of time. Winning the championship was a significant achievement 6 for the team, after intense training and hard work.  Read the following sentences suggesting the good and bad sides of being ambitious and discuss them with a partner. Which points do you agree with? Good By and large, it’s beneficial to have a competitive spirit and always strive for success. It helps you keep on track with your goals both in the long term and the immediate future. It’s positive to go to great lengths to achieve a goal, but it shouldn’t involve hurting others. Bad If it can be negative if you carry on at all costs, even when it’s detrimental for you. It’s negative if you’re so self-centred that your success is at the expense of others. It may be negative if it’s blood, sweat and tears all the way in order to reach your goals.  Read the following calling cards of ambitious people. Are you like any of them? Lucia Rodrigo Marc Gob determined ambitious courageous accomplished competitive diligent zealous concentrated high achiever aims high disciplined set on his goals