Crafts building, repairing, making practical objects.
Social Work helping people, counseling, solving family or social problems.
Arts music, design, painting, theater, fashion, creative work.
Discussion: Were you surprised by your result? Which career would you never choose? Why?
Photo Story: A Change in Career Direction
Story summary
A student is speaking with a doctor about her future. She once planned to study engineering, but she is no longer sure. She has developed an interest in health and medicine. The doctor asks questions, gives advice, and suggests considering physical therapy because it helps people and uses practical skills.
Key communication goal
When you explain changed plans, include three parts:
Old plan + reason for change + new possibility
Example: I was going to study engineering, but my interests changed. Now I’m thinking about health care.
Comprehension Check
1. What is the main topic of the conversation?
2. What was the student originally planning to study?
3. What new field is she interested in?
4. Why does the doctor mention physical therapy?
5. Which sentence best describes the student’s situation?
Focus on Language: Useful Expressions
These expressions help you talk naturally about decisions and changing plans.
🤔
make up one’s minddecide after thinking
🧠
keep something in mindremember something while deciding
💭
be on one’s mindbe something you are thinking about
✅
settle onchoose or make a final decision
🔄
change one’s minddecide to do something different
🗣️
pick someone’s brainask someone for ideas or advice
Match the expression with the meaning
Expression Practice
1. “I can’t decide between business and medicine.” = I can’t ________.
2. “Please remember this advice when you choose your major.” = Please ________.
3. “I need to ask my teacher for advice and ideas.” = I need to ________.
4. “I finally chose nursing.” = I finally ________ nursing.
5. “My future job is something I think about every day.” = My future job is ________.
Conversation Model: A Change in Plans
Listen to the conversation, read the model, and notice how the speaker explains an old plan and the reason it changed.
Listen and read
A: So what are you doing these days?
B: Well, I’m in dental school.
A: No kidding! I thought you had other plans.
B: That’s right. I was going to be an artist, but I changed my mind.
A: How come?
B: Well, it’s hard to make a living as a painter!
Conversation Check
1. What is speaker B doing these days?
2. What was speaker B going to be before changing plans?
3. Why did speaker B change the plan?
Grammar: Talking About Changed Plans
Use these structures when a past intention did not happen or when someone reported a future plan from the past.
Purpose
Structure
Examples
Past plan that changed
was / were going to + base verb
I was going to study art, but I changed my mind. They were going to move abroad, but they didn’t.
Question about a past plan
Was / Were + subject + going to + base verb?
Were you going to become a doctor? What were they going to do?
Reported past intention
thought / believed / said + would + base verb
She thought she would be a lawyer, but she didn’t pass the exam. He said he would study medicine.
Common mistake: Do not use would alone for a direct past plan. Say: I was going to be a doctor, not I would be a doctor.
Grammar Check
1. Choose the correct sentence.
2. “They / going to / travel / but / cancel”
3. Which sentence reports a past intention correctly?
4. Choose the correct question.
5. “He said: ‘I’m going to become a dentist.’” Report it.
Vocabulary: Reasons for Changing Plans
Use these reasons to explain why a person did not continue with an old plan.
🎸 My tastes changed
I liked one thing before, but now I prefer something different.
💰 Too hard to make a living
The job may not provide enough money or stability.
📝 I didn’t pass the exam
A test result stopped or delayed the plan.
👪 My family talked me out of it
Family persuaded me not to do it.
🔄 I changed my mind
I decided to do something else.
Vocabulary Check
1. I wanted to be a singer, but now I prefer science. My ________ changed.
2. He wanted to be an actor, but he learned it can be difficult to earn enough money. It may be hard to ________.
3. She wanted to be a lawyer, but she failed the entrance test. She ________.
4. His parents convinced him not to become a firefighter. They ________ it.
5. I planned to study architecture, but now I want computer science. I ________.
Before Practice: Extra Listening and Grammar Check
Complete these two focused tasks before the final practice. You will get instant correction after each answer.
C. Vocabulary / Grammar Practice
Choose the best completed sentence. Each correct answer uses would + base verb and a clear reason for changing plans.
1. Laura thought / be / a doctor, but ...
2. I thought / become / an astronaut, but ...
3. We were sure / Bill and Stella / get / a divorce, but ...
4. Joe always believed / become / a writer, but ...
D. Listen and Answer
Listen first. Then choose the answer that correctly explains the old plan and the reason it changed.
1. What was her old plan?
2. Why did she change her plan?
3. Complete the idea: He was going to ________ Jessica, but he didn’t.
4. Which answer gives a correct reason for a changed plan?
Practice: Lesson Mastery
Answer all questions. You will get instant feedback after each choice and a final score.
