In this workshop, you will practice speaking about future jobs and career goals in Japanese. You will learn how to say what you want to be, how to say what you are aiming for, and how to ask someone about their future plans. The lesson uses short, clear examples so you can repeat them and build confidence. You will also practice listening and choosing the correct reply. By the end, you should be able to take part in a simple conversation about career goals.
Talking About What You Want to Be
To say what you want to be in the future, use a simple pattern. For example, «医者になりたいです。» means "I want to be a doctor." The word for "doctor" comes before the phrase that shows desire. Another example is «将来、看護師になりたいです。», which means "In the future, I want to be a nurse." Notice that the time word "in the future" comes at the beginning. You can change the job word to talk about other professions, but in this lesson we practice with the examples given. Repeat each line slowly, then a little faster. Pay attention to the ending, which shows want or intention.
Asking About Future Plans
To ask someone what they want to be in the future, use the question in «将来、何になりたいですか。», which means "What do you want to be in the future?" When you answer, you can give a simple job word, or you can add a reason. For example, «医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。» means "I want to be a doctor. For that, I am studying at medical school." This answer gives both the goal and the action. Practice asking and answering with a partner. One person asks the question, and the other answers with a job and a reason if possible.
Talking About Career Aims and Encouragement
You can also talk about career aims that are not just job names. For example, «昇進を目指しています。» means "I am aiming for a promotion." This pattern shows a goal you are working toward. Another example is «来年、転職するつもりです。», which means "I intend to change jobs next year." Here, the time word "next year" comes before the verb phrase. When someone shares their goal, you can respond with encouragement. «すごいですね。私は昇進を目指しています。» means "That's great. I am aiming for a promotion." This reply shows interest and shares your own goal. «いいですね。お互い頑張りましょう。» means "That's nice. Let's both do our best." This is a friendly way to encourage each other. Practice these lines in a short exchange.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
医者になりたいです。
I want to be a doctor.
Isha ni naritai desu.
将来、看護師になりたいです。
In the future, I want to be a nurse.
Shōrai, kangoshi ni naritai desu.
昇進を目指しています。
I am aiming for a promotion.
Shōshin o mezashite imasu.
来年、転職するつもりです。
I intend to change jobs next year.
Rainen, tenshoku suru tsumori desu.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
将来、何になりたいですか。
What do you want to be in the future?医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。
I want to be a doctor. For that, I am studying at medical school.すごいですね。私は昇進を目指しています。
That's great. I am aiming for a promotion.いいですね。お互い頑張りましょう。
That's nice. Let's both do our best.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Answer About Future Jobs
Imagine you are talking with a classmate about future jobs. You will ask the question from «将来、何になりたいですか。» and then answer with a job and a reason using «医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。».
Your task: First, say the question from «将来、何になりたいですか。» out loud. Then, imagine your partner answers with «医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。». After that, switch roles: your partner asks the question, and you answer with «医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。». Repeat the exchange two times.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Correct Response
Imagine someone says «昇進を目指しています。», which means "I am aiming for a promotion." You need to choose a suitable reply from the options below. The options are based on lines from the recordings.
Your task: Read or listen to «昇進を目指しています。». Then choose the best reply: (A) «すごいですね。私は昇進を目指しています。» or (B) «いいですね。お互い頑張りましょう。». Say your chosen reply out loud. Then explain in English why you chose it.
Recall and Role-Play: Career Goals Conversation
Imagine a short conversation between two people. One person asks about future plans, and the other answers and then shares their own goal. You will use lines from the recordings.
Your task: First, play the role of the person asking. Say the question from «将来、何になりたいですか。». Then, play the role of the person answering. Say «医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。». After that, respond with «すごいですね。私は昇進を目指しています。». Finally, end with «いいですね。お互い頑張りましょう。». Say the whole conversation out loud from memory if you can. If you forget a line, look back at the recordings and try again.
Common questions
How can I practice these lines if I am studying alone?
You can practice alone by reading each line out loud and then covering the text to test your memory. You can also record yourself saying the lines and listen back to check your pronunciation. Another idea is to imagine both sides of a conversation and say both roles yourself. For example, say the question from «将来、何になりたいですか。», then answer with «医者になりたいです。そのために、医学部で勉強しています。», then respond with «すごいですね。私は昇進を目指しています。», and finish with «いいですね。お互い頑張りましょう。». Repeat until you feel comfortable.
What should I focus on when speaking these Japanese lines?
Focus on clear pronunciation and natural rhythm. Start by saying each line slowly, then gradually increase your speed. Pay attention to the endings of sentences, because they show whether you are asking a question or making a statement. For example, «将来、何になりたいですか。» is a question, so make sure your voice shows that you are asking. «医者になりたいです。» is a statement, so your intonation should stay flat or fall. Practice in short bursts and repeat often.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: discuss career goalsChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Japanese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr