📙 Part 2: Describe a plan in your life that is not related to work or study

This episode's vocabulary

Pan out (phrasal verb) - to develop in a particular way or in a successful way.

Pick up (phrasal verb) - to learn a new skill or language by practising it rather than being taught it.

Basics (plural noun) - the simplest and most important facts, ideas, or things connected with something.

Practical (adj.) - relating to experience, real situations, or actions rather than ideas or imagination.

To evade (verb) - to avoid or escape from someone or something.

Self-awareness (noun) - good knowledge and judgment about yourself.

Brush up on sth (phrasal verb) - to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten.

With flying colors (idiom) - if you do something such as pass an exam with flying colors, you do it very successfully.

Systematic (adj.)- according to an agreed set of methods or organized plan.

Methodical (adj.) - done in a very ordered, careful way.

Haphazard (adj.) - not having an obvious order or plan.

Relieved (adj.) - happy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended.

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Questions and Answers

M: Describe a plan in your life that is not related to work or studies. Rory is going to say what it is about why he makes it, what he needs to do first, and he's going to explain how he would feel. Roro, Rory, Ruru. Are you ready?

R: Yes.

M: Yes, bring it on.

R: I'm thinking about learning how to drive properly when I get back to Scotland. I used to think, well, I used to take driving lessons when I was younger. But it didn't quite pan out as well as my parents or I had hoped, since there was, well, there was so much else going on. And I used to think that it wasn't the most serious thing in the world. I picked up the basics, and I passed my theory tests. But the practical was always the part where I struggled the most and it sort of evaded me in terms of getting any results. Well, at least any positive results like passing. But I'd quite like to try again, since, well, now I have the time and money to do so. And I've got the self-awareness of how I learn things. So I think that's developed enough that I'll do better. Um, of course, before I actually get behind the wheel, I plan to do a lot of revision and brush up on some of the things that I've never been clear on, like how to check your oil levels, for example, or what the necessity of that is. Um, and there must be a few new things since I last drove a car, which will be in both parts of the test. So I should be aware of them too. So once I revise, learn the new bits and pieces, and do my theory test in that order, and in combination with regular lessons, I'll be ready for the final practical part, which I hope to pass with flying colors. I think I might take this sort of more systematic, methodical, and less haphazard approach to it than the, well, the last time I tried. I'll be able to get my license. Most people have a party when they pass their test. But that's usually when they're younger. In my case, I think I'll just be relieved that I managed to do it, and, well, it will be a case of just moving on to the next thing, for example. But yeah, I think it is quite important as I get older and as my parents and all the other people in my family get older too, it will be quite useful for them. As well as being useful for me if I have to drive for work.

M: Will you do it anytime soon?

R: Um, I'm hoping by the end of the summer, but we'll need to see what my progress is like elsewhere.

M: Thank you, Rory!

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