Goal+Setting

//What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. **Zig Ziglar** //
 * //“I want to learn English” is a noble goal; however, students have difficulties in getting beyond that phrase to articulate the why and how and envisioning where better English can lead them. What do you do to help students formulate and track the progress toward achievement of their learning goals in your class? //**

Written by Ronna Magy for the textbook series she edited, //Futures:// []

**Submitted by Kristi Reyes**

If not the first day of class, then sometime during the first week, I like to introduce the idea of goal setting and having students consider why they are taking the class (other than to simply "learn English") and make some concrete goals for the term. One site has a great page for this is English Club's How to Learn English (see [] ). There are tips for students, which I modify and make into a listening and note-taking exercise, as well as a learning contract you could have students fill out and a learning agenda they could follow to make sure they are taking steps toward fulfilling their goals.

Throughout the term (one or more times per week), I have students mark their attendance and test scores on a personal progress tracker sheet. Here is what else is done at the school where I teach: []

Finally, at the end of a term (or school year), I have used this lesson plan, for students to reflect on the past year and discuss the upcoming year: This sample lesson plan that uses the sites [|VOA Special English] and [|ManyThings.org] on the topic of New Year Celebrations and Traditions, featuring the broadcast of interviews [|"The New Year Begins With Some Resolutions: Making New Year’s resolutions is a common American tradition."] As a follow up, students can research, write, and present to the class about New Year's traditions in their countries or another country or can write about their own New Year’s Resolutions.