Initial Icebreaker and General Interest
Two peers casually start a conversation, expressing general interest in each other's current work or studies and gently steering towards future plans. This is where basic questions like 'What have you been up to?' or 'Thinking about your next steps?' come into play.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
long time no see
This is a casual greeting used when meeting someone after a long absence. It's informal and friendly, like saying '好久不见' in Chinese.
up to
In 'What have you been up to?', it means 'doing' or 'busy with'. It's a common way to ask about recent activities in informal conversations.
keep my head above water
This idiom means barely managing or surviving, especially with work or money. Use it to describe struggling but getting by.
swamped
It means very busy or overwhelmed with work. It's informal and useful for talking about a heavy workload.
career change
Switching to a different job or field. It's a key phrase when discussing future job plans.
in the long run
Means over a long period in the future. Use it when talking about long-term goals or outcomes.
on the horizon
Means coming soon in the future. It's a metaphorical way to describe upcoming plans or events.
leaning towards
Means tending to prefer or choose something. Use it to express a slight preference for an idea or option.
open doors
Means create new opportunities. In 'open a lot of doors', it's about how something can lead to more chances in career or life.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
What have you been up to recently?
This is a casual icebreaker question to ask about someone's recent activities. It's useful for starting informal conversations with friends or peers. The present perfect continuous tense ('have been up to') shows ongoing actions up to now.
I've mostly been busy with work, just trying to keep my head above water.
This sentence shares current challenges in a relatable way. It's great for responding to questions about your life. Note the idiom 'keep my head above water' for barely managing, and the present perfect for recent ongoing situations.
It got me thinking about the future, you know? Like, what's next?
Use this to transition from present talk to future plans. 'You know?' makes it conversational and seeking agreement. 'What's next?' is a simple way to ask about future steps, common in casual chats.
Are you thinking of a career change, or just moving up in your current field?
This is an open-ended question to explore someone's career goals. It uses alternatives ('or') to give options. Useful for steering conversations towards aspirations; 'moving up' means advancing in position.
I'm trying to figure out what I really want to achieve in the long run.
Expresses uncertainty about long-term goals. 'Figure out' means to understand or decide. This sentence is practical for sharing personal reflections; the infinitive 'to achieve' shows purpose.
Do you have any big plans on the horizon?
Asks about future intentions politely. 'On the horizon' implies soon-to-come plans. It's a natural way to inquire about ambitions in friendly discussions.
I'm definitely looking into opportunities that align more with my passion for sustainable technology.
Describes searching for jobs that match interests. 'Looking into' means investigating; 'align with' means match well. Useful for talking about career passions; gerund 'exploring' shows ongoing action.
I feel like it could open a lot of doors.
Expresses how a choice might create future benefits. 'I feel like' is informal for opinions; modal 'could' shows possibility. Great for discussing career advantages.