Plans For Saturday? - Transcript
Tim: Hi, Jill.
Jill: Hey, Tim. What’s up. Are you at work?
Tim: No, I finished my shift about an hour ago. The reason I’m calling is because I wanted to see if you had any plans for Saturday night?
Jill: Well, I’m meeting my cousin for lunch. And after that I have a few errands to run. But I should be free in the evening. Why?
Tim: Well, it’s my birthday, and I was thinking about having a get-together at my place.
Jill: That sounds great! What time?
Tim: I was thinking around 7:30.Does that work for you?
Jill: 7:30 is perfect. Is there anything I should bring?
Tim: Just some drinks. I’ll provide the snacks.
Jill: Great. I’ll see you on Saturday!
How to Make Plans in English
Being able to make friends and have relationships is one of the greatest rewards of learning another language. Not only will you get lots of extra language practice, you will also learn about cultures and experience meaningful human connections.
A big part of building relationships is spending time together. To do this you will need to make plans. Some special language skills are required to successfully make plans. Here is an explanation of some of them.
Listening Skills
Advice: You will need to listen carefully to what others are saying when you are trying to make plans. They will likely suggest dates and times as well as locations. If they are unable to meet, they will likely want to explain or give reasons. Good listening skills will enhance your ability to understand and respond appropriately.
Tips: Watch TV and movies. The characters you see will often be making plans to meet or do something together. Pay careful attention to these, and practice them later.
Speaking Skills
Advice: You will need to be familiar with dates, days and times to make plans in English. You will also need to explain the details of locations that may be unfamiliar to others. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are part of the learning process. Practice expressing your plans, asking questions, and confirming details.
Tips: Take out a calendar and look at the things you are doing this month. Practice inviting a friend along to each of them. For example, if you are planning to go to the museum, think about how you might ask someone to join you. Once you are comfortable, try asking someone for real. It will be a great learning experience.
Vocabulary
Advice: Study some essential vocabulary related to making plans, such as days of the week, time expressions, and common verbs. Use flashcards or language learning apps to reinforce your memory.
Tips: Create scenarios or dialogues in which you plan various activities. This will help you become more familiar with the vocabulary and make it easier to use in real conversations.
Reading Skills
Advice: These days people often make plans using email or text messages. Pay attention to the structure of sentences and common phrases used in planning situations. This will improve your ability to express plans in writing.
Tips: Look through your old text messages on your phone. Can you find any examples of when people invited you to do something? How did they express themselves. Following the examples of others can make you English more natural.
Cultural Awareness
Advice: Watch local movies, TV shows, or travel blogs to gain insights into cultural expectations around making plans. This will help you navigate social situations more effectively.
Tips: Ask a fellow learner or someone you are close to about the dos and don’ts of making plans in English. Be aware that the way of making plans in your own culture might be different different. Also understand that not all English cultures are the same when it comes to making plans.
Conclusion
Remember, practice is the key to developing new language skills. Immerse yourself in the language as much as possible, and celebrate your progress along the way. Making plans in another language can be challenging, but it’s also a rewarding way to enhance your overall language skill.
