TEACHER’S GUIDE Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.

How To Keep New Year’s Resolutions (B2)

Preview
Part 1. Discussion questions about New Year’s resolutions. Answers will vary.
Part 2. Discussion about the example New Year’s resolutions. Answers will vary.
Part 3. Predictions about the information about New Year’s resolutions. Answers will vary. Actual
answers (from the video):
(1) 45% (2) 8%
Part 4. Questions about the vocabulary terms & New Year’s resolutions. Answers may vary
slightly. Teacher’s answers for the definitions:
(1) to employ the buddy system: to make a system with a friend in which you support or
help each other achieve a goal
(2) to slip up / to mess up: to make a small or slight mistake or fail to achieve something
successfully
(3) shame: a painful feeling of regret, guilt, or sadness. It is connected with negative
self-evaluation after doing or failing to do something.

Viewing Activity
Part 1. Prediction check. Answers will vary.
Part 2. Missing words/phrases that fit the tips from the video.
(1) Keep your resolutions simple.
(2) Keep your resolutions specific.
(3) Employ the buddy system and share your goals with your friends or family.
(4) Don’t be afraid to slip up.
Part 3. Short Answers.
(1) The 3 reasons we have a hard time keeping resolutions is because there are often too
many, they are too vague, and they are often way too difficult.
(2) If you slip up, you should practice self-forgiveness, and you should avoid practicing
guilt or shame, because using these emotions to motivate yourself will backfire and it will
become a vicious cycle.
(3) Katie’s extra tip is that you don’t need a new year in order to make a new resolution.

Post-Viewing 1
Part 1. Discussion question. Answers will vary.
Part 2. CCQ Discussion. Teacher’s answers for vocabulary words:

(1) vague: unclear or not specific
(2) to backfire: If a plan or action backfires, it has the opposite effect (a negative effect)
(3) self-efficacy: self-esteem or a person’s belief in their ability to complete a task or
achieve a goal
(4) to hit a bump in the road: to make a small mistake in a plan, or to hit a small
obstacle or setback when trying to achieve something
TEACHER’S GUIDE Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
How To Keep New Year’s Resolutions (B2)

Post-Viewing 1 (continued)
Part 3. Answers to the questions about the quote from the video.
(1) This sentence refers to the future.
(2) The reporter uses “gonna” in this case because the usage of “gonna” often refers to
making future plans, goals, etc.
(3) “I’m gonna...” is the shorter form of “I’m going to....”. People use “I’m gonna...” instead
of “I’m going to...” in informal situations or in colloquial speech.

Post-Viewing 2
New Year’s Resolutions Tasks. Answers will vary. If the lesson is one-to-one, take one of the
roles. Give students each a few minutes to prepare.

Optional Bonus Activity

Part 1. Situations about quitting smoking as a resolution (matching activity).
(1) c (2) d (3) a (4) b (5) f (6) e
Part 2. Answers will vary.

Quiz & Review

Part 1. Questions. Refer to Viewing Activity.
Part 2. Vocabulary words/phrases.
(1) shame / backfire
(2) hit a bump
(3) self-efficacy
Part 3. Questions about the grammar usage. Refer to Post-Viewing 1, Part 3.
Part 4. Student’s New Year’s resolutions using “gonna”. Answers will vary. Correct students’
mistakes.