About This Lesson
Use Setting Measurable Professional Growth Goals to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
現在の役割における、より明確な成長目標を設定したいです。
gen-ZAI no yah-koo-WAH-ree nee oh-KEH-roo, yoh-ree may-KAH-koo-nah say-CHOH mok-oo-HYOH oh seh-TAY she-TAI dess. I want to set clearer professional growth goals for my current role.
B
まず、強みを一つと弱みを一つ見つけてください。
MAH-zoo, tsoo-YOH-mee oh ee-TSOO-tsoo toh yoh-wah-MEE oh ee-TSOO-tsoo mee-tsoo-keh-teh koo-dah-SAI. Start by identifying one strength and one weakness.
A
私の強みは仕事を整理することですが、考えを発表することは避けがちです。
wah-TAH-shee no tsoo-YOH-mee wah shee-GOH-toh oh say-REE soo-roo koh-TOH dess gah, kahn-gah-EH oh hah-PYOH soo-roo koh-TOH wah sah-kay-GAH-chee dess. My strength is organizing tasks, but I tend to avoid presenting ideas.
B
それなら、発表のスキルは伸ばすとよい分野でしょう。
soh-reh-NAH-rah, hah-PYOH no soo-kee-roo wah noh-bah-SOO toh yoh-ee boon-YAH deh-SHOH. Then presentation skills would be a useful area to develop.
A
メンターをお願いするべきですか、それともチームミーティングで練習するべきですか。
men-TAH oh oh-neh-GAI soo-roo BEH-kee dess kah, soh-reh-toh-MOH CHEE-moo mee-TEE-ngoo deh ren-SHOO soo-roo BEH-kee dess kah. Should I ask for a mentor or practice during team meetings?
B
どちらも役に立つと思いますが、まず測定できる目標を一つ選びましょう。
doh-chee-rah moh YAH-koo nee TAH-tsoo toh oh-MOH-ee-mahss gah, MAH-zoo soh-koo-TAY dee-KEE-roo moh-koo-HYOH oh ee-TSOO-tsoo eh-rah-bee-mah-SHOH. Both could help, but choose one measurable goal first.
A
最初の目標は、近いうちにチームミーティングで短い報告をすることです。
sai-SHOH no moh-koo-HYOH wah chee-KAI oo-CHEE nee CHEE-moo mee-TEE-ngoo deh TAHN-kai hoh-KOH-koo oh soo-roo koh-TOH dess. My first goal will be to give a short update in a team meeting soon.
B
それなら、後で評価できるくらい具体的です。
soh-reh-NAH-rah, ah-TOH deh hyoh-KAH dee-KEE-roo koo-RAI goo-TAI-teh-kee dess. That is specific enough to evaluate later.
A
自信だけでなく、分かりやすさについてもフィードバックがほしいです。
shee-SHIN dah-keh deh-NAH-koo, wah-kah-REE yah-SAH nee tsoo-ee-teh moh FEE-doh-bahk-koo gah hoh-SHEE dess. I also want feedback on clarity, not just confidence.
B
明確な基準があると、成長目標はより具体的で実行しやすくなります。
may-KAH-koo-nah kee-JOON gah ah-ROO toh, say-CHOH mok-oo-HYOH wah yoh-ree goo-TAI-teh-kee deh jeek-KOH shee-YAH-soo-koo nah-ree-mahss. Clear criteria make professional growth goals more concrete and practical.Word by Word
現在
現在 means “current” or “present” here and describes the role the speaker has now. It commonly appears before の to modify a noun, as in 現在の役割. A learner could use it when discussing their present job, situation, or schedule.
の
の links 現在 to 役割, making 現在の役割 mean “the current role.” This particle commonly connects a noun or noun-like phrase to a following noun. Use the same pattern when one noun describes another noun.
役割
役割 means “role” in 現在の役割, referring to the position or responsibilities someone has at work. It is used before の when relating that role to another noun or phrase. Use it when describing someone’s role in a team, project, or organization.
における
における means “in” or “regarding” in 現在の役割における成長目標, so the goals concern growth within the current role. The whole construction における combines に with おける and places a noun before another noun to show the relevant context. A learner can use it in formal descriptions such as a project における課題, meaning “issues in a project.”
より
より means “more” or “comparatively” in より明確な成長目標, showing that the goals should be clearer than before. It comes before the adjective or description being increased. Use it with descriptions such as より具体的な目標, “a more specific goal.”
明確
明確 means “clear” or “well-defined” in より明確な成長目標. Here it describes a goal whose content is easy to understand and identify. It commonly comes before な when modifying a noun, as in 明確な基準.
な
な links 明確 to 成長目標 in 明確な成長目標, allowing 明確 to describe the noun as “clear.” This form follows a な-adjective before a noun. Use the same pattern with a noun such as 明確な基準, “clear criteria.”
成長
成長 means “growth” in 成長目標, referring to improvement in the speaker’s professional abilities. It combines with 目標 to form a goal related to growth. Use it in work or learning contexts when discussing progress over time.
目標
目標 means “goal” or “target” in 成長目標, referring to an intended result of professional improvement. It commonly follows the area being improved, as in 成長目標. Use it when setting a result that can later be checked or evaluated.
を
を marks 成長目標 as the object of 設定したい in 成長目標を設定したいです. It shows what the speaker wants to set. Use it before an action verb when naming the thing affected by that action.
設定
設定 means “setting” or “establishing” in 目標を設定したいです, referring to deliberately choosing and defining a goal. It is commonly used with を and a goal, plan, or standard. Use 目標を設定する when talking about setting a goal.
したい
したい expresses the speaker’s desire to do the action 設定する in 設定したいです, meaning “want to set.” It is formed from する with たい and takes を for the thing the speaker wants to act on. Use it to state a personal wish, such as 目標を設定したい.
です
です gives the statement 設定したいです a polite ending, making the speaker’s wish suitable for a professional conversation. Here it follows したい rather than naming a separate object. Use it to express a polite statement to a colleague, customer, or other interlocutor.
まず
まず means “first” or “to begin with” in まず、強みを一つと弱みを一つ見つけてください. It places the requested action at the beginning of a sequence. Use it when giving the first step in advice, instructions, or a plan.
強み
強み means “strength” in 強みを一つ, referring to an ability or quality that someone performs well. It takes を here because it is what the listener should identify. Use it when discussing a person’s professional or personal abilities.
と
と connects 強みを一つ and 弱みを一つ in 強みを一つと弱みを一つ, meaning “and” between the two items. Here it joins nouns or noun phrases in a list. Use it to connect two items that are being considered together.
弱み
弱み means “weakness” in 弱みを一つ, referring to an ability or area that needs improvement. Like 強み, it takes を when it is the thing being identified. Use it in a self-assessment or feedback discussion.
見つけ
見つけ is the form of 見つける used in 見つけてください, meaning “find” or “identify.” It connects to てください to make a polite request. Use it before てください when asking someone to identify or locate something.
て
て connects 見つけ to ください in 見つけてください, forming a polite request to “please identify.” Here it is part of the request construction rather than an independent action. Use verbてください to ask someone politely to carry out an action.
ください
ください makes 見つけてください a polite request, meaning “please identify it” in this dialogue. It follows a verb in the て-form. Use it when giving a courteous instruction or request to another person.
私
私 means “I” in 私の強み, and with の it indicates that the strength belongs to the speaker. It is a common, neutral way to refer to oneself in this professional conversation. Use it before の when describing something associated with yourself.
は
は marks 私の強み as the topic in 私の強みは仕事を整理することです. The sentence then gives information about that topic. Use it to introduce what you are discussing or to set up a comparison or contrast.
仕事
仕事 means “work” in 仕事を整理すること, referring here to work-related tasks that the speaker organizes. It takes を because it is the object of 整理する. Use it when talking about duties, jobs, or work in general.
整理
整理 means “organizing” in 仕事を整理すること, describing the process of arranging or managing work tasks. It combines with する to make an action. Use 仕事を整理する when describing the organization of work.
する
する means “do” or “carry out” in 整理する, creating the verb “organize” from 整理. Here it is followed by こと to turn the action into something that can be described as a strength. Use noun＋する for many actions expressed with Sino-Japanese nouns.
こと
こと turns 整理する into the noun-like phrase 整理すること, “organizing work” or “the act of organizing work.” This lets the action be described as the speaker’s strength. Use verb plain form＋こと when talking about an action as a skill, activity, or fact.
が
が marks 考えを発表すること as the action the speaker tends to avoid in 考えを発表することは避けがちです. In this sentence, it appears inside a contrast with the topic introduced by は. Use が to identify the subject or item being described in a clause.
考え
考え means “idea” or “thought” in 考えを発表する, referring to ideas the speaker wants to present. It takes を because it is what is presented. Use it when discussing someone’s opinion, proposal, or idea.
発表
発表 means “presenting” in 考えを発表する, referring to communicating an idea to other people. It combines with する to form the action of presenting. Use 考えを発表する when talking about presenting ideas in a meeting or other group setting.
避けがち
避けがち means “tend to avoid” in 考えを発表することは避けがちです, describing a recurring tendency rather than one single avoidance. It attaches to the action being avoided, here 考えを発表すること. Use it when describing a habit that happens relatively often, such as speaking less in meetings.
それなら
それなら means “in that case” or “then” in それなら、発表のスキルは伸ばすとよい分野でしょう. The whole expression combines それ, referring to the situation just described, with なら, which presents a conclusion based on that situation. Use it when responding to new information and giving a related suggestion.
スキル
スキル means “skill” in 発表のスキル, referring to ability in presenting. It is a loanword commonly used in professional or educational contexts. Use it before の when specifying the area of skill, such as communicationスキル.
伸ばす
伸ばす means “develop” or “improve” in 発表のスキルは伸ばすとよい, referring to making a skill stronger through practice. The pattern 伸ばすとよい gives advice about what would be beneficial to improve. Use it with abilities or skills that can be developed.
よい
よい means “good” or “advisable” in 伸ばすとよい, so the sentence recommends developing presentation skills. It follows と in this advice pattern. Use verb＋とよい when suggesting an action that would be beneficial.
分野
分野 means “area” or “field” in 伸ばすとよい分野, referring to presentation skills as an area for development. It follows the description of what kind of area this is. Use it when dividing work, study, or expertise into particular fields.
でしょう
でしょう makes 分野でしょう a cautious professional judgment, meaning the area “would be” useful to develop. It softens the statement instead of presenting it as an absolute command. Use it when making a considered suggestion or prediction.
メンター
メンター means “mentor” in メンターをお願いする, referring to an experienced person whose guidance the speaker may request. It takes を because the speaker is asking for a mentor. Use it in workplace or learning discussions about receiving ongoing guidance.
お願い
お願い means “request” in メンターをお願いする, where it refers to asking someone to serve as a mentor. The expression お願いする is a polite way to make a request. Use it when requesting help, support, or a role from another person.
べき
べき expresses what someone should or ought to do in お願いするべきですか, asking whether requesting a mentor is the appropriate action. It follows the plain form of a verb and is followed here by ですか to make a question. Use verb＋べきか to ask for advice about the proper action.
か
か marks お願いするべきですか as a question, asking whether the speaker should request a mentor. It appears at the end of the polite question. Use it to turn a statement into a direct question.
それとも
それとも means “or” in メンターをお願いするべきですか、それともチームミーティングで練習するべきですか, linking the second alternative to the first question. The whole expression combines それ with とも and is used when presenting alternatives in a question. Use it between two possible actions when asking which one is preferable.
チームミーティング
チームミーティング means “team meeting” in チームミーティングで練習する, referring to the workplace meeting where practice could take place. It is followed by で to mark the setting of the action. Use it when discussing activities that happen during a team meeting.
で
で marks チームミーティング as the setting where 練習する takes place in チームミーティングで練習する. It identifies the place or situation of an action. Use it after a location or event when saying where an activity occurs.
練習
練習 means “practice” in チームミーティングで練習する, referring to practicing presentation skills during a meeting. It combines with する to form the action “to practice.” Use it with a skill or activity that someone wants to improve.
どちら
どちら means “which one” in どちらも役に立つ, referring to the two alternatives just mentioned. With も, it can mean that both alternatives apply. Use it when choosing between two options in a polite conversation.
も
も means “both” in どちらも役に立つ, adding the meaning that each of the two options could help. It follows どちら and applies to both alternatives. Use it after an option word when saying that every option in the relevant set has the same property.
役に立つ
役に立つ means “to be useful” or “to help” in どちらも役に立つ, describing both options as beneficial. The whole expression combines 役, に, and 立つ, and the meaning is the complete expression rather than one component alone. Use it with a person, thing, or action that provides practical help.
思い
思い is the form used in 思います, meaning “think” in どちらも役に立つと思います. It introduces the speaker’s opinion about the usefulness of both options. The common reusable pattern is 〜と思います, used to state an opinion politely.
ます
ます gives 思います its polite verb ending, so the opinion is expressed respectfully in this workplace conversation. Here it follows 思い, the form used before ます. Use this ending when making a polite statement with a verb.
測定
測定 means “measurement” in 測定できる目標, describing a goal whose result can be measured. It combines with できる to express measurable ability or possibility. Use it when discussing results that can be checked using a clear measure.
できる
できる means “can” or “be possible” in 測定できる目標, meaning that the goal can be measured. It follows the noun-like form 測定 and comes before the noun it describes. Use noun＋できる when saying that an action or process is possible.
選び
選び is the form of 選ぶ used in 選びましょう, meaning “choose.” It connects to ましょう to make a proposal to choose one measurable goal. Use it before ましょう when suggesting that the group take an action together.
ましょう
ましょう makes 選びましょう a polite proposal meaning “let’s choose.” It invites the other person to participate in the action. Use verb stem＋ましょう when proposing a shared action in a meeting or conversation.
最初
最初 means “first” or “initial” in 最初の目標, identifying the goal the speaker will work on before other goals. It comes before の to modify 目標. Use it when ordering goals, steps, or events.
近いうち
近いうち means “soon” or “in the near future” in 近いうちにチームミーティングで, indicating that the update will happen relatively soon. It commonly takes に when marking the time of an event. Use it when referring to an upcoming but not precisely dated occasion.
に
に marks 近いうち as the time when the update will happen in 近いうちにチームミーティングで報告をする. It identifies the time relation of the action. Use it after a time expression when saying when something will occur.
短い
短い means “short” in 短い報告, describing an update that will not take much time or contain much material. It comes directly before the noun 報告. Use it to describe the length or duration of an event, message, or report.
報告
報告 means “report” or “update” in 短い報告をする, referring to the short work-related update the speaker plans to give. It takes を because it is the object of する. Use 報告をする when giving information about work, progress, or results.
後
後 means “after” or “later” in 後で評価できる, referring to a later time when the goal can be evaluated. It is followed by で to form a time expression. Use 後で when saying that an action will happen later.
評価
評価 means “evaluation” or “assessment” in 評価できる, referring to checking the goal afterward. It combines with できる to say that evaluation is possible. Use it when assessing performance, progress, or results against a standard.
くらい
くらい means “to the extent that” in specific enough to evaluate later, expressed as 評価できるくらい具体的です. It indicates the degree of 具体的, showing that the goal has enough specificity for later evaluation. Use it after a clause when describing the extent or degree of a quality.
具体的
具体的 means “specific” or “concrete” in 評価できるくらい具体的です, describing a goal with enough detail to be evaluated. It is followed by です here rather than directly modifying a noun. Use it when saying that a plan, target, or explanation contains clear details.
自信
自信 means “confidence” in 自信だけでなく, referring to confidence during presentation. It is followed by だけでなく because confidence is one aspect, but not the only aspect, the speaker wants feedback on. Use it when discussing confidence in a skill or performance.
だけ
だけ means “only” in 自信だけでなく, limiting the first item to confidence before the sentence adds another item. With でなく, the pattern means “not only confidence.” Use noun＋だけでなく to add another relevant item or quality.
なく
なく is the form used in でなく in 自信だけでなく, completing the pattern “not only confidence.” It connects the limitation marked by だけ with the additional item 分かりやすさ. Use だけでなく when saying that something applies in addition to another thing.
分かりやすさ
分かりやすさ means “clarity” or “ease of understanding” in 分かりやすさについて, referring to how easily other people can understand the presentation. It is the noun form used as the subject of feedback. Use it when discussing whether an explanation, message, or presentation is easy to follow.
について
について means “about” or “regarding” in 分かりやすさについてフィードバック, showing the topic of the requested feedback. The whole construction について combines に with ついて and follows the topic being discussed. Use noun＋について when asking or speaking about a particular subject.
フィードバック
フィードバック means “feedback” in 分かりやすさについてフィードバックがほしいです, referring to comments that can help assess or improve the presentation. It is marked by が because it is what the speaker wants. Use it when requesting comments on performance, quality, or progress.
ほしい
ほしい means “want” or “would like” in フィードバックがほしいです, expressing the speaker’s desire to receive feedback. The desired thing is marked by が here. Use noun＋がほしいです when politely saying that you would like to have something.
基準
基準 means “criteria” or “standard” in 明確な基準, referring to clear points used to judge a professional growth goal. It is modified by 明確な and later serves as the cause of making goals more concrete. Use it when defining how performance or progress will be judged.
ある
ある means “exist” or “be present” in 明確な基準があると, meaning that clear criteria exist. The pattern があると presents the existence of something as the condition for the result that follows. Use it when explaining that having a resource, rule, or condition leads to an outcome.
実行
実行 means “carrying out” or “putting into practice” in 実行しやすく, referring to how practical the growth goals are to follow. It combines with しやすい to describe something easy to carry out. Use it when discussing plans, tasks, or goals that need to be put into action.
しやすく
しやすく is the form used in 実行しやすくなります, meaning “easy to carry out” and describing the goals as practical to implement. It follows 実行する and connects to なります, which expresses a change into that condition. Use verb stem＋しやすい when saying that an action is easy to do.
なり
なり is the form used in なります, meaning “become” in 実行しやすくなります. Together, 実行しやすくなります means that the goals become easier to carry out when clear criteria exist. Use adjective＋くなる to describe a change into a new state.
Grammar Points
～たいです
成長目標を設定したいです。
say-CHOH mok-oo-HYOH oh seh-TAY she-TAI dess.I want to set a professional growth goal.
Attach ～たい to a verb stem to politely express what you want to do.
～べきですか
メンターにお願いするべきですか。
men-TAH nee oh-neh-GAI soo-roo BEH-kee dess kah.Should I ask a mentor?
～べきですか asks whether the speaker ought to do something and is often used to seek advice.
Japanese Vocabulary
まず
adv
MAH-zoo
first; to begin with
強み
noun
tsoo-YOH-mee
strength
見つけてください
verb
mee-tsoo-keh-teh koo-dah-SAI
please find; please identify
現在
noun
gen-ZAI
current; present
考え
noun
kahn-gah-EH
idea; thought
弱み
noun
yoh-wah-MEE
weakness
成長目標
noun
say-CHOH mok-oo-HYOH
professional growth goal
整理すること
phrase
say-REE soo-roo koh-TOH
organizing; arranging
設定したい
verb
seh-TAY she-TAI
want to set
発表すること
phrase
hah-PYOH soo-roo koh-TOH
presenting
明確な
adj
may-KAH-koo-nah
clear
役割
noun
yah-koo-WAH-ree
role
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
professional growth goal
Show Answer
成長目標want to set
Show Answer
設定したいplease find; please identify
Show Answer
見つけてくださいpresenting