This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz.
Learning notes:
Examples of phrases you can use when talking about getting organised:
- I need to get my act together.
- I’m planning ahead, so things don’t get out of hand.
- I’ve started setting reminders, so I don’t forget stuff.
- I need to manage my time better.
- I need to sort myself out.
- I need to pull myself together.
- I need to keep on top of my tasks.
- I need to stay on top of things.
Colloquial expressions:
To be juggling a lot means to have a lot of things that they have to to manage at the same time and are trying to keep everything under control, just like a juggler has to keep a lot of balls in the air without dropping any.
To stay on top of things means to keep control of everything that you have to do so that nothing gets forgotten or out of control.
Vocabulary:
To plan ahead is to organise everything in advance to make sure you keep everything under control.
To fall behind is to fail to keeping up with the things you have to do.
A deadline is a date or time by which you must finish a task or project.
Learning focus:
In the dialogue Claire uses two different tenses to talk about the present.
She uses the present continuous (am + verb + ing) to talk about what she is actually doing at the moment., because using this tenses emphasises that it is something new now.
- I’m planning ahead now
But when Allan and Claire talk about things that are generally true or regular actions, with no special emphasis that they are have just started, she uses the present simple (verb).
- I break big tasks into smaller steps, and tick them off as I go.
- I need to sort myself out.
- I need to keep on top of my tasks.
- I really need to get my act together.
- I need to pull myself together
- I need to stay on top of things.
Transcript:
(Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript)
SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia.
When you open your diary or calendar, what do you see? Is it filled with meetings, events and things to do? Or is it blank… just waiting for you to add something?
My name’s Josipa, and at the start of this week, I told myself it was time to get organised. So, in this episode, we’ll practise everyday English phrases that you can use when you’re trying to plan ahead, stay on top of things, or get your act together.
But what do these phrases actually mean? You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out! First, let’s hear how Allan and Claire talk about getting organised.
Allan
I really need to get my act together. This week’s been a mess.
Claire
I know. I’m planning ahead now so things don’t get out of hand next week.
Allan
I’ve started setting reminders, so I don’t forget stuff. Hopefully it’ll help me manage my time better.
Claire
Same here, especially with deadlines. I put in in my calendar, break big tasks into smaller steps, and tick them off as I go.
Phew! Allan and Claire are definitely juggling a lot.
When someone says they’re “juggling a lot,” it means they have many a lot of different things to manage at the same time, and they’re trying to keep everything under control without dropping anything.
For example, Allan could say...
I’ve been juggling a lot at work and at home.
This means he’s been managing a lot of different responsibilities at the same time, both at wotk and at home. Now, let’s hear what Allan said at the start of our dialogue:
I really need to get my act together. This week’s been a mess.
This is a common, informal phrase you can use with your friends and family. We use this phrase when we realise we need to get organised, focus, and take control of things.
You could also say,
- I need to sort myself out.
- I need to pull myself together.
And that would mean the same thing as saying, “ I really need to get my act together.” We usually use these phrases when life, work, or daily tasks feel messy or out of control. Then Claire said,
I’m planning ahead now so things don’t get out of hand.
Claire is planning ahead, which means she’s organising her responsibilities in advance to make sure things don’t get out of hand.
I get easily stressed when things become too difficult or messy - in other words, when things get out of hand.
Are you someone who likes planning ahead? I am, because if I don’t plan ahead, I fall behind. You can say that you’re falling behind when you’re not keeping up with your tasks, work or responsibilities.
For example, if Claire hasn’t finished her work on time, she could say,
I’m falling behind on my reports. I need to sort myself out.
Next, we had Allan:
I’ve started setting reminders, so I don’t forget stuff.
When you set reminders, you’re just making little alerts or notes on your phone, computer, or calendar to help you remember things you need to do.
Allan started setting reminders because he said.
I need to manage my time better.
You can manage lots of things. You might manage people or manage your money. But I think that managing your own time can be the hardest thing to do. You could also say,
- I need to keep on top of my tasks.
- I need to stay on top of things.
When you stay/keep on top of things, you keep control of your tasks, work, or responsibilities so nothing gets forgotten or out of control. It’s about managing your time and tasks regularly and staying organised.
At the end of the dialogue, Claire said.
I need to manage my time better...especially with deadlines.
A deadline is a date or time by which you must finish a task or project. If you don’t finish.. You’re dead! Well maybe not really…. I don't like missing a deadline, it stresses me out, and then I start falling behind with my work.
Maybe I can keep on top of my tasks using some of the things that Claire is planning to do,
I put it in my calendar, break big tasks into smaller steps, and tick them off as I go.
What do you think of Claire’s system for staying organised? I like that it’s simple.
First, she writes down her tasks in her calendar. Then...
I break big tasks into smaller steps.
This means that she splits a big task into smaller, more achievable steps. Here - steps just means small tasks.’ Claire also said,
I tick my tasks off as I go.
This means she crosses tasks off her list of things to do once she has done them. I like ticking my tasks off as I go, too. It helps me see my progress and that keeps me motivated.
Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant.
