I'm Going to Travel!
Going to — future plans & intentions. Leo announces Café Colibri — finishing his degree in June, signing the lease next month, opening his own coffee shop.
📖 Reading: Leo's Big Plans
Leo has been thinking about the future a lot lately.
"I'm going to finish my business degree next June," he tells Maya over coffee. "And after that, I'm going to open my own café."
"That's exciting! Where?" asks Maya.
"Right here in this neighbourhood. I've already found a small space. I'm going to sign the lease next month."
"Wow! What are you going to call it?"
"Café Colibri — that means hummingbird in Spanish. My grandmother's nickname."
"That's beautiful," says Maya. "Are you going to cook Mexican food?"
"I'm going to have a small menu — coffee, pastries, and a few Mexican dishes. I'm not going to make it complicated."
"Are you nervous?" asks Maya.
"Terrified," laughs Leo. "But I'm not going to let fear stop me. My grandmother always said: 'The hummingbird doesn't stop to think — it just flies!'"
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lease | A legal agreement to rent a property for a period of time | n. — He's going to sign the lease next month. |
| hummingbird | A tiny, fast-moving bird known for hovering in place | n. — Colibri means hummingbird in Spanish. |
| nickname | An informal name used instead of the real name | n. — It was his grandmother's nickname. |
| pastry | A sweet baked food made from flour and fat | n. — The menu will include pastries. |
| complicated | Having many parts; difficult to understand | adj. — He's not going to make it complicated. |
| terrified | Extremely frightened | adj. — He says he's terrified but excited. |
| neighbourhood | The area around where you live | n. — He wants a café in the neighbourhood. |
| intention | A plan or aim you have decided on | n. — Going to expresses intention. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
going to + verb (plan) | I'm going to open a café. / She's going to travel. |
not going to + verb | I'm not going to make it complicated. |
to sign | He's going to sign the lease next month. |
to let (allow) | I'm not going to let fear stop me. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Going To — Form | |
Positive | I am going to open a café. / She is going to travel. |
Contracted | I'm going to... / He's going to... / They're going to... |
Negative | I'm not going to... / He isn't going to... / They aren't going to... |
Question | Are you going to...? / Is she going to...? / What are they going to do? |
Short answer | Yes, I am. / No, he isn't. / Yes, they are. |
Going To vs. Will (Introduction)
📚 Going To vs. Will (Introduction) | |
Going to = plan/intention | I'm going to open a café next year. (decided plan) |
Will = prediction (no plan) | I think English will be useful in my career. |
Will = spontaneous decision | "I'll have a coffee, please." (deciding now) |
Future Time Expressions
📚 Future Time Expressions | |
next + time period | next week / next month / next summer / next year |
this + time period | this weekend / this afternoon / this evening |
in + time period | in two weeks / in three months / in a year |
soon / later | I'm going to call her soon. / I'll do it later. |
🎭 Dialogue: What Are Your Plans?
Maya asks Leo about his recent focus — he reveals his plan to open Café Colibri.
Leo, you seem very focused lately. What are you planning?
I'm going to open Café Colibri! I found a space in the neighbourhood.
That's amazing! When are you going to sign the lease?
Next month. And I'm going to finish my degree in June.
Are you going to hire staff?
Yes — I'm going to hire two people to start. Maybe Priya for weekends!
She's going to love that. What about the menu?
Coffee, pastries, and a few Mexican dishes. Simple but good.
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
When is Leo going to finish his degree?
What is Leo going to do after he finishes his degree?
What is he going to name his café?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Leo ___ a café after he finishes his degree. (open)
I ___ the menu complicated. (not / make)
Question form: ___ you
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: You have made 3 big plans for the next year. Share them with your partner.
- Student B: Ask questions about each plan. Use: When are you going to…? Why are you going to…? Are you going to…?
- Then swap. Discuss which plans you think are the most exciting.