When you really want to achieve something you have to make a deliberate effort to do it. Once you are ready to make that commitment it will be easier for you to make that effort to learn and improve your methods.

That is why achieving your goals is so fulfilling. You know that you have made the effort and that you did your best and this will really fill you with joy. Achieving something that you had to put an effort to is so rewarding!

Consider learning a new language e.g. French

You need to do a CAF to identify all the factors you need to consider before starting to learn the language. Leave nothing out: What do I need to have? How?... questions you need to consider

Do you already own some knowledge on the subject or is it totally new to you?

Do you have enough time to dedicate to learning the language?

Will you be in contact with the language? How? Penfriends ?e-mail friends? TV?

Can you get help? Or do you intend to do it on your own?

Are you going to study it at school or private tuition?

What will be the costs? Will your parents afford the expenses (books, tuition…)?

Do any of your friends or relatives have used books you can buy second hand?

How do you intend to use the knowledge you will learn? e.g. for your future work

Now, learning French includes a broad spectrum of things it is very vast so you need to specify exactly what you intend to achieve by studying French. Use the AGO tool to come up with your objectives. It is always better to aim at specific targets before you start. Don’t aim too high i.e. don’t plan to speak French fluently in a month. So be realistic in your objectives

These could be your Aims Goals Objectives:

My aim is to learn basic French to help me understand the language when I go to France. My objective is to learn key phrases that I will need when communicating in French.

My aim is that of keeping in contact with the French world – I will try and watch a French TV programme everyday. I will find a French penfriend and write to him/her on a regular basis. I will buy the necessary books to help me study French grammar. I will take it seriously and continue studying it to obtain certification. I will ask a French teacher at school to direct me. I will consider choosing French as an option at school. Ultimately my goal is to be able to communicate in French; that will be helpful in my future job

Marylyn Mifsud

Thinking Skills teacher