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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Use "going to" for intentions and plans
✓
Use Present Continuous for fixed arrangements
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Distinguish between plans, intentions, and scheduled events
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Communicate effectively about future work activities
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Key for this lesson

Going to = personal intention/plan decided before. Present Continuous = fixed arrangement with others (time/place confirmed). Ask: "Is it in my calendar with others?" If yes, use Present Continuous.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Going to

Intentions & Plans

Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

Use for: Personal intentions, plans decided before speaking, predictions based on evidence

I've decided I'm planning next week soon
Present Continuous

Fixed Arrangements

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Use for: Scheduled appointments, confirmed meetings, arrangements with other people

on Monday at 3pm tomorrow this afternoon
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The Calendar Test

Present Continuous = in the calendar with time/place/people. "I'm meeting the client at 2pm." Going to = intention but not confirmed. "I'm going to call the client this week."

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Going to (Intentions)

📋Project plans: "I'm going to launch a pilot next month."
🎯Goals: "We're going to expand into new markets."
💡Ideas: "I'm going to propose a new approach."
📈Predictions: "Sales are going to increase."

Present Continuous (Arrangements)

📅Meetings: "I'm meeting the client on Tuesday at 10am."
✈️Travel: "She's flying to Berlin tomorrow."
🤝Appointments: "We're having lunch with the investors."
📞Calls: "I'm calling HR at 3pm."
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
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Correct Professional Usage

✓
"I'm going to review the budget this week." (intention)

Personal plan, not scheduled yet

✓
"We're meeting the suppliers on Friday at 2pm." (arrangement)

Fixed appointment in calendar

✓
"She's presenting the Q3 results tomorrow morning."

Scheduled presentation

✓
"They're going to restructure the department."

Decided intention, details not fixed

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Common Business Mistakes

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"I will meet the client at 3pm tomorrow." (scheduled)

Use: "I'm meeting the client..." (fixed arrangement)

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"I'm having a career change." (intention)

Use: "I'm going to have a career change." (not fixed yet)

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"I go to the conference next week."

Use: "I'm going to the conference..." (arrangement)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to Sarah and Mark discussing project plans and arrangements:

🎵Audio: Project Planning Discussion
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Characters:

Sarah Chen: Project Manager, Innovatech Solutions

Mark Riley: Team Lead, Innovatech Solutions

(Sound of office ambiance, keyboard typing)

Sarah: Hi Mark, do you have a moment? I wanted to confirm our next steps for the Alpha project.

Mark: Sure, Sarah. What's on your mind?

Sarah: Well, I was thinking about the user testing phase. I'm going to finalize the participant list by the end of today. I've already contacted the main focus group.

Mark: Okay, good. And what about the testing schedule itself? When are we planning to start that?

Sarah: That's what I wanted to discuss. I'm going to propose we start user testing on the 15th of next month. Does that sound feasible from your end?

Mark: The 15th... let me see. (Sound of shuffling papers) We are actually having our major system upgrade that week, from the 14th to the 18th. It's going to be quite intensive, and most of the development team will be fully occupied.

Sarah: Oh, I didn't realize. That's a conflict. So, we can't start testing then. What's your revised plan?

Mark: I'll need to check with IT, but I think we're looking at starting user testing the week after the upgrade. So, perhaps around the 22nd? I'm going to speak to the IT manager this afternoon to confirm.

Sarah: The 22nd... yes, that should work. It gives us a bit more time to polish the prototype anyway. So, to be clear, you are meeting the IT manager today to confirm the 22nd as the start date for testing?

Mark: That's right. I'll send you an email confirmation once it's official. I'm also going to brief my team about the revised schedule tomorrow morning during our stand-up.

Sarah: Perfect. And I'll adjust the project timeline accordingly. I'm going to inform the stakeholders about the slight delay as well. It's just a minor adjustment.

Mark: Exactly. It's better to avoid clashes. On a different note, are you free for lunch next Tuesday? I was thinking we could grab a bite near the office.

Sarah: Lunch next Tuesday? Yes, I think I am. Let me quickly check my calendar... (Pause) Yes, I'm free. What time?

Mark: Around 12:30?

Sarah: Sounds good. See you then.

Mark: Great. Talk soon, Sarah.

Vocabulary:

Prototype: An early model or sample of a product.

Stakeholders: People who have an interest or concern in something (e.g., a project).

Stand-up: A short, daily meeting in agile development.

Question 1: What is Sarah going to do by the end of today?

💡 Hint: Listen for "I'm going to..."

Question 2: Why can't they start user testing on the 15th?

💡 Hint: Listen for "We are actually having..."

Question 3: What arrangement is confirmed for next Tuesday?

💡 Hint: Listen for "lunch next Tuesday"

Question 4: Complete: "Mark is _______ the IT manager this afternoon to confirm the new testing start date."

💡 Hint: This is a fixed arrangement - use Present Continuous
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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes

Choose the correct form for each situation:

1

Calendar shows: "Meeting with investors, 3pm, Conference Room B"

AI'm meeting the investors at 3pm.
BI'm going to meet the investors at 3pm.
2

You've decided to learn Python, but haven't enrolled in a course yet:

AI'm learning Python.
BI'm going to learn Python.
3

You have a confirmed flight ticket for tomorrow morning:

AI'm flying to London tomorrow.
BI'm going to fly to London tomorrow.
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Choose "going to" or Present Continuous

1.

I _______ (have) lunch with the CEO tomorrow at 1pm. (confirmed in calendar)

💡 Hint: Confirmed appointment = Present Continuous
2.

We _______ (hire) more staff next year. (decision made, no dates yet)

💡 Hint: Intention without fixed details = going to
3.

She _______ (present) the strategy at 10am on Monday. (meeting scheduled)

💡 Hint: Specific time scheduled = Present Continuous
4.

I _______ (improve) my Excel skills. (personal goal)

💡 Hint: Personal intention = going to
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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Practice distinguishing between intentions and fixed arrangements.

📅 Task 1: Your Schedule (Controlled - 1 min)

Describe your real schedule using Present Continuous:

  • "Tomorrow I'm meeting... at..."
  • "On [day], I'm having..."
  • "This week I'm attending..."
🎯 Task 2: Your Goals (Guided - 2 min)

Describe your intentions using "going to":

  • "I'm going to improve my... this year."
  • "Our team is going to..."
  • "I'm going to start..."
🔄 Task 3: Discussion (Free - 1 min)

Discuss your plans for the next month mixing both forms.

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Summary: Plans vs Arrangements

Going to: Intentions, decided plans (not in calendar)
Present Continuous: Fixed arrangements (in calendar with time/place)

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