Discussion topic · Speaking
Personal goals & ambitions
Dreams, plans and the futures we're chasing. It's a topic every student has a stake in — so let's get them talking about what's next.
Warm-up · ask three
- What's one thing you'd love to achieve this year?
- If you could be brilliant at one new skill tomorrow, what would it be?
- Who inspires you the most, and why?
Where are you headed?
Let's talk
Discussion questions
Project the generator and let it cold-call a question. Filter by level, then give a student 60 seconds to talk. Browse the full decks below.
Random question generator
Press “New question” to put one on the board.
Deck 1
Your goals
- What's one goal you really want to achieve this year?A2
- What's a short-term goal you're working on right now?A2
- How will you feel when you finally achieve it?A2
- Do you have a big, long-term dream? What is it?B1
- What steps are you taking to get there?B1
Deck 2
What drives you
- Who inspires you to chase your ambitions?A2
- Is there a goal you've had since you were a child?A2
- What motivates you most — satisfaction, money, recognition, something else?B1
- What does success actually mean to you?B1
- Would you rather be successful or happy, if you had to choose?B2–C1
Deck 3
Setbacks & focus
- How do you deal with failure or setbacks?B1
- How do you stay motivated when a goal feels far away?B1
- Have you ever given up on a goal? Do you regret it?B1
- What's the hardest part of sticking to a goal?B1
- How do you balance your goals with everything else in life?B2–C1
Deck 4
Sharing dreams
- Do your friends and family support your ambitions?A2
- Do you write your goals down, or just keep them in your head?A2
- Do you tell people your goals, or keep them private? Why?B1
- How do you feel when someone close achieves something big?B1
- Is it better to aim realistically, or to dream impossibly big?B2–C1
Deck 5
Big questions
- Is it ever too late to start something new?B1
- Is ambition always a good thing?B2–C1
- Can a person be too ambitious?B2–C1
- Do you need a plan, or is it fine to see where life takes you?B2–C1
- Should schools teach students how to set goals?B2–C1
Talk for longer
Useful language
Give students the words to talk about dreams and plans. Pre-teach a handful, then challenge them to slip three into the discussion or the game.
Sentence starters
Scaffolding for A2–B1 — finish the sentence about you.
Talking about goals
Plans & steps
Staying motivated
After a setback
Words & phrases
Collocations to upgrade B1–C1 speaking.
to decide on something to aim for
"I set myself a goal every January."
to make steady progress to an aim
"I'm working towards a promotion."
to stop trying
"Don't give up so easily."
to keep doing it despite difficulty
"It's hard to stick to a plan."
an important stage you reach
"Finishing was a big milestone."
to finally bring a good result
"All the hard work paid off."
something that helps you progress
"This job is a stepping stone."
Describing-yourself word bank
Quick words to talk about drive and character.
Model dialogue
Omar & Lena, big plans
Read it together, notice the highlighted phrases, then act it out — and finally build a plan of your own.
First week back after the holidays. Two friends are comparing resolutions.
So, any big goals for this year?
Actually, yeah. I've set myself a goal — I want to run a half-marathon.
Seriously? You hated running last year.
I know! But I've been working towards it slowly. Three runs a week.
Respect. I always set goals and then give up by February.
The trick is starting small. If you aim too high, you quit.
True. Maybe I'll aim lower then — like actually finishing a book.
That counts! It's a stepping stone. What's the real dream, though?
Honestly? I want to start my own business one day.
Now that's ambitious. What's stopping you?
Fear, mostly. And money.
Everyone starts somewhere. Stick to small steps and it'll pay off.
You're annoyingly wise today.
It's the running. Clears the head.
Now build a plan together
Student A · the dreamer
You think big
Aim for the stars. You believe the only limits are the ones people put on themselves — go bold or go home.
Student B · the realist
You think in steps
Big dreams need a plan. You break everything into small, doable steps and ask the practical questions.
Your mission
- Choose one big, exciting goal you'd both love to reach.
- Break it into three realistic steps.
- Decide what might go wrong — and how you'd handle it.
- Present your plan to the class in 60 seconds — use at least three phrases from the Useful language section.
Classroom game
Bucket List Bingo
Everyone gets up and mingles. Find a classmate who has done — or really wants to do — what's in a square, ask a follow-up question, then mark it. Four in a row wins.
How to play: Project one board for the class, or print a copy per student. Players must speak to a different classmate for each square — "Have you ever…?" / "Would you like to…?" — and add one follow-up before marking it. First to a full row, column or diagonal shouts Bingo!
Wind down & write
Choose your writing task
Pick one prompt to finish in class or as homework. Every option keeps students reflecting on where they're headed.
01
Write about a goal you achieved that you're proud of. How did you do it, and what did you learn?
02
Describe a goal you've set for the future and the steps you'll take to reach it.
03
If you could achieve any goal with no risk of failure, what would it be — and why?
04
Write about a person you admire for their ambition. What have they achieved?
05
Describe a time you had to change or give up a goal. What happened, and how did it feel?
Exit ticket · 60 seconds
Before you leave
Quick round-the-room close: each student answers in one sentence. A fast way to turn talk into action.
"Tell the class one small step you'll take this week towards a goal."