What to Say When Someone Asks "What Are Your Plans?" | English Speaking Practice

How to Answer “What Are Your Plans?” in Any Situation (Sound Natural Every Time)

Do you freeze when someone asks “What are your plans?”
If your mind goes blank, if you panic, or if you give a boring answer that kills the conversation, you are NOT alone. This question is one of the most common in English — and also one of the most confusing. It can mean your plans for today, this weekend, next month, or even your entire future. No wonder learners struggle!

In today’s Simply Talk English lesson, Alex and Emma show you exactly how to understand the context, choose the right structure, and give a natural answer every time. You’ll learn the phrases native speakers use for short-term, long-term, casual, flexible, and professional plans — and how to avoid the mistakes that make learners sound unnatural or confusing.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll know how to answer this question smoothly, confidently, and clearly in any real-life situation.

⭐ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “What are your plans?” is so confusing
• How to understand what the person is really asking
• Phrases for today, tonight, and the weekend
• Phrases for flexible plans (“I might…”, “I’m thinking about…”)
• Phrases for long-term goals (“I’m planning to…”, “My goal is to…”)
• How to talk about career plans professionally
• How to give interesting answers with details
• How to end your answer with a question to keep the conversation going
• The most common mistakes and how to avoid them
• A speaking challenge to help you practice today

🎯 Perfect for:

• Beginners and intermediate learners
• Anyone who freezes when talking about future plans
• Learners who want natural conversation skills
• Students preparing for interviews, networking, or social events
• Daily speaking and confidence practice

🧠 How to use this lesson

• Use structures correctly: “I’m going to…”, “I might…”, “I’m planning to…”
• Add one or two interesting details
• End with a follow-up question
• Practice the challenge out loud
• Write your answer in the comments for feedback

💬 Practice with us!

Write in the comments:
What are your plans — for today, this weekend, or your future?
Use the structures from the lesson — we read every comment!

👍 If you enjoyed this lesson:

• Like the video
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• Share this with a friend learning English

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