Lesson 10: Letter to My Future Self

Write a letter to yourself to read one year from now. Include your current interests and future goals.

• Materials: Paper or digital document
• Focus: Present and future tenses, expressing hopes and plans
• Example: “Dear Future Me, I am currently 14 years old and studying English. By the time you read this, I hope I will be much better at speaking…”
• Extension: Set a calendar reminder to read the letter in one year.

Lesson 10: Letter to My Future Self

Overview

This reflective and forward-looking lesson helps you develop your English writing skills by composing a personal letter to your future self. By writing about your current life and future hopes, you’ll practice using present and future tenses, expressing thoughts and emotions, and creating a meaningful time capsule of your English abilities that you can revisit later.

Learning Objectives

• Practice present tense to describe current situation
• Use future tenses to express hopes, plans, and predictions
• Develop personal expression skills in written English
• Learn letter format and conventions
• Build vocabulary related to goals, aspirations, and personal growth
• Create a meaningful document to measure future language progress

Materials Needed

• Paper or notebook (special stationery optional)
• Pen or pencil
• Dictionary or online translation tool
• Envelope
• Calendar or reminder app
• Optional: Decorative materials (stickers, colored pens)
• Optional: Digital document if you prefer typing

Preparation (15 minutes)

1. Think about when your future self will read this letter:
   • 6 months from now?
   • 1 year from now?
   • At the end of your school year?
   • After graduation?
2. Create a vocabulary reference page with these categories:
   • Present situation words: currently, nowadays, at the moment, these days, now
   • Future expressions: in the future, one day, someday, by the time you read this, by next year
   • Goal-setting language: hope, plan, dream, aim, expect, wish, achieve, accomplish
   • Personal growth words: improve, develop, learn, progress, change, grow, overcome
3. Make notes about topics you might want to include:
   • Current English abilities and challenges
   • Personal achievements you’re proud of
   • Current interests and activities
   • Goals and dreams for the future
   • Questions you want to ask your future self

Letter Writing Activity (45 minutes)

Part 1: Planning Your Letter (10 minutes)

1. Decide on the time frame – when will your future self read this letter?
2. Consider what aspects of your life you want to document:
   • Your current English level and learning journey
   • Your current age, grade in school, or life situation
   • Things that are important to you right now
   • Current challenges you’re facing
   • People who are significant in your life
3. Think about what you want to ask or tell your future self:
   • Goals you hope to have achieved
   • Changes you expect to see
   • Questions about how things turned out
   • Advice or encouragement for your future self

Part 2: Writing the Letter (25 minutes)

1. Start with a proper letter format:
   • Today’s date at the top
   • Greeting: “Dear Future [Your Name],”
2. Write your letter, including:
   • Introduction explaining why you’re writing
   • Description of your current life (using present tense)
   • Your thoughts about the future (using future tenses)
   • Questions for your future self
   • Closing message and sign-off
3. Focus on using:
   • Present simple for facts about your current life
   • “Will” for predictions about the future
   • “Going to” for plans and intentions
   • “Hope to” and “want to” for goals and wishes

Part 3: Reflection and Delivery (10 minutes)

1. Read through your letter and check for:
   • Spelling and grammar errors
   • Clear expression of your thoughts
   • Mixture of present and future tenses
2. Place your letter in an envelope and seal it
3. Write on the envelope:
   • “Letter to My Future Self”
   • Your name
   • “Do not open until [future date]”
4. Store the letter in a safe place OR give it to a trusted person to return to you on the specified date
5. Set a calendar reminder on your phone or computer for the date when you can open it

Example Letter Structure

Digital Alternative

If you prefer a digital approach, you can:

• Use a future email service like FutureMe.org to send an email to your future self
• Create a password-protected document and set a calendar reminder to open it
• Use a time capsule app designed for this purpose

Extension Activities

1. Video Message: Record a video message to accompany your written letter.
2. Current Favorites List: Create a list of your current favorites (songs, movies, foods, etc.) to include with your letter.
3. English Goals Timeline: Create a timeline of specific English learning goals you hope to achieve by the time you read the letter.
4. Photo Inclusion: Add a current photo of yourself to see how you’ve changed.
5. Mini Time Capsule: Place small meaningful items along with your letter in a box to open later.

Grammar Focus: Future Tenses

Practice using these different ways to talk about the future:

• Will + verb: For predictions – “I will be in college by then.”
• Going to + verb: For plans – “I am going to improve my vocabulary.”
• Present continuous for future: For arrangements – “I am meeting my English tutor next week.”
• Future perfect: For completed future actions – “By next year, I will have learned 500 new words.”
• Hope to/Want to + verb: For aspirations – “I hope to speak English fluently.”

Self-Assessment Checklist

After writing your letter, check if you included:

• Correct letter format with date and greeting
• Present tense descriptions of your current situation
• Future tense expressions about your hopes and plans
• Personal thoughts and feelings
• Questions for your future self
• Clear organization with paragraphs
• Proper closing and signature

When You Open Your Letter

When the time comes to open your letter:

1. Read it carefully and notice your past writing style
2. Write a response to your past self, noting what has changed and what has stayed the same
3. Reflect on your English progress by comparing your current writing with the letter
4. Consider writing a new letter to your future self for another time period

Tips for a Meaningful Letter

• Be honest and authentic – this is just for you
• Include specific details about your life now, not just generalities
• Don’t worry about making predictions that might not come true
• Focus on your hopes more than your fears
• Write as if you’re talking to a friend – keep it conversational
• Include some humor and personality

Remember that this letter serves two important purposes: improving your English skills now and creating a valuable personal document that will help you see your progress in the future. The more thoughtful and detailed your letter is, the more meaningful it will be when you eventually read it!