Everyday English: Plans & Problems
Everyday English: Plans and Problems
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Everyday English: Plans and Problems
Open the lesson by linking the topic to daily life: making arrangements, solving small problems, and talking about people. Keep the introduction brief and practical.
Today’s goal
I can understand and use 6 common English expressions in realistic everyday situations.
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One word or phrase about making plans or solving problems
Use this as a quick activation after the lesson goal. Accept everyday ideas such as friends, time, homework, stress, travel, money, plans, or problems, then link them to the six expressions.
Making plans in real life
Every day, we make plans and solve small problems.
We talk about:
time and deadlines
friends and teamwork
problems and solutions
things we need or don’t have
This slide sets the context before teaching the expressions. Briefly connect the lesson topic to familiar situations such as school work, shopping, travel, or meeting friends.
A project conversation
“Hey, we need to figure out how to finish this project. We’ve run out of time, and we can’t put off the deadline. I’m looking forward to finishing it, but we need to deal with a few problems first. At least we all get along with each other!”
Use the dialogue as the main context for meaning. Do not explain everything at once; let students notice the expressions in a realistic situation first.
What the situation tells us
The speakers are working on a project.
From the context, we can understand that:
they have a time problem
the deadline cannot move
there are still problems to solve
the group has a friendly relationship
Guide students towards the meanings through context: run out of time, cannot put off the deadline, need to deal with problems, and get along with each other.
Six useful expressions
figure out - understand or find a solution
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run out of - have no more of something
-
put off - postpone until later
-
look forward to - feel excited about something in the future
-
get along with - have a friendly relationship with someone
-
deal with - take action to manage a problem or situation
The body must stay readable, so pause clearly between items when presenting. Reuse the exact wording of the meanings during explanation.
Why these expressions matter
These expressions are common in spoken and everyday English.
They help us talk about:
solving problems
changing plans
future feelings
relationships with other people
Keep this as a short bridge into form. Emphasise that these are useful chunks, not just single words.
Which expression means postpone until later?
deal with
put off
figure out
run out of
Checks meaning from the project conversation and definition slides. Distractors are the other target expressions students may confuse at first reading.
Complete the project idea
In the project conversation, the group needs to figure out how to finish the work. They have run out of time, but they still get along with each other.
All answers come directly from the context students have just seen. After checking, briefly ask why each phrase fits this position.
Meaning and form
Examples:
I can’t figure out this question.
We’ve run out of milk.
Let’s put off the meeting until Friday.
I’m looking forward to seeing you.
I get along with my classmates.
She knows how to deal with difficult customers.
Read each model clearly and keep attention on the expression as a unit. Students should notice both meaning and how the expression fits into a sentence.
Patterns after each expression
look forward to + noun or verb-ing
get along with + person
deal with + noun
Expression + pattern
figure out + noun / pronoun
run out of + noun
put off + noun or verb-ing
Expression + pattern
Point out that 'to' in 'look forward to' is a preposition here, so it can be followed by a noun or verb-ing: 'seeing you', not 'see you'.
Common examples
figure out the answer
run out of money
put off homework
look forward to the weekend
get along with my brother
deal with a problem
Keep examples simple and familiar. You can quickly check understanding by asking for one more example from students for any item if needed.
Pronunciation and stress
Say the expressions as natural chunks:
FIGure out
run OUT of
put OFF
look FORward to
get aLONG with
DEAL with
Some words link together in fast speech.
Model and drill naturally. Draw attention to connected speech, especially in 'run out of' and 'look forward to'. Individual repetition can follow if time allows.
Everyday use
These expressions often appear in:
school and work
family and friends
shopping and travel
planning and problem-solving
Use this slide to reinforce that the vocabulary belongs to real communication, not only classroom exercises.
Which pattern is correct?
look forward to + verb-ing
look forward to + verb
get along with + thing
run out of + person
Targets the key form point that 'to' in 'look forward to' is a preposition. The other options reflect likely form mistakes from the pattern slide.
Complete the examples
We have run out of money, so we may put off the trip. I am still looking forward to the weekend with my friends.
This checks both meaning and form in familiar everyday contexts already shown in the deck: money, trips, and future plans.
Choose the right expression
We need to __ why the computer isn't working.
We've __ sugar, so we need to buy some.
Can we __ the meeting until Monday?
I'm really __ my holiday next week.
I __ my new colleagues very well.
He needs to learn how to __ stress at work.
Let students complete the sentences before any feedback. The six options are: figure out, run out of, put off, look forward to, get along with, deal with.
Correct answers
figure out
run out of
put off
looking forward to
get along with
deal with
Check not only the answers but also why each one fits. Highlight that sentence 4 needs 'looking forward to' to match 'I'm'.
Why each answer fits
figure out = find the answer
run out of = have none left
put off = move to a later time
looking forward to = feel excited about the future
get along with = have a good relationship
deal with = manage a problem
Use this slide to reinforce meaning after form-focused practice. Keep the pace quick so the lesson can move into a more realistic situation.
Weekend trip situation
You and your friend are organising a weekend trip.
You have:
a limited budget
one friend with a problem
several decisions to make
possible unexpected problems
Set up the freer-use context clearly. Students should imagine a realistic conversation where these expressions would sound natural.
Useful ideas for the trip
You might talk about:
how to figure out the budget
what you might run out of
what you need to put off
what you are looking forward to
Keep attention on meaning in context. Encourage natural use of the chunks rather than reading a list word for word.
Working well together
You can also talk about:
how to get along with everyone
how to deal with unexpected problems
Good planning includes both people and practical problems.
This completes the speaking context by including the two expressions connected to relationships and problem management.
From practice to real use
In a real conversation, these expressions help you:
explain a problem
suggest a new plan
talk about feelings
describe relationships
manage difficulties clearly
Use this as a summary before feedback. It closes the communicative stage by showing the function of the vocabulary in real life.
In the trip task, what should students try to use?
two expressions
three expressions
four expressions
all six always
Links directly to the freer speaking requirement in the trip situation. Remind students that natural use matters more than forcing every phrase.
What problem might you deal with on the trip?
Expected elements: students should mention one realistic planning problem from the trip context, such as money, time, transport, or a friend's problem, and use one target expression appropriately.
What is one thing you learned today?
Reflection only. Invite short answers about vocabulary, meanings, patterns, or using expressions in real situations.
What helped you understand best today?
Reflection only. Students may mention the dialogue, examples, patterns, drilling, controlled practice, or pair speaking.
Glossary
figure out - to understand or find a solution to something
run out of - to have no more of something
put off - to postpone something until later
look forward to - to feel excited about something in the future
get along with - to have a friendly relationship with someone
deal with - to take action to manage a problem or situation
Answer key for the controlled practice: 1 figure out, 2 run out of, 3 put off, 4 looking forward to, 5 get along with, 6 deal with. If time remains, ask for one original sentence per student using any target expression.
