Part One: Warm Up
Discuss these questions with your partner(s):
- How do you navigate when you are in an unfamiliar place? By street name? By cardinal direction (north, south, east, west)? By landmark? By following a navigation app?
- Have you ever gotten lost? Where were you? How did you get lost? How did you find your way?
- Have directions on your smartphone ever led you to the wrong place or given you bad advice? If so, what happened?
Part Two: Getting Ready to Speak
Giving Directions
Thanks to modern technology, from smartphones to car navigation systems, it’s harder to get lost these days, even in a foreign country. It still happens, though, so it is essential that you know how to give and follow directions. In this lesson, you will expand upon what you learned about giving and following directions in English 125.
Imperatives
In English, directions are often given using imperative verb forms. Some typical directions in the imperative are:
- Go straight.
- Turn right. / Turn left.
- Walk for five minutes.
- Enter the shopping mall.
- Stop when you see the convenience store.
- Ride the subway for five stations.
- Take a taxi to the party.
A very simple set of directions could say:
Go straight on Robson Street. Turn left on Burrard Street. Walk for two minutes. Stop when you see the station. Ride the train to Waterfront station.
Phrasal Verbs
When giving directions, it is common to use a variety of phrasal verbs—made with a verb and one or more particles—because the particles refine the meanings of the verb. Here are some common phrasal verbs for giving directions:
General directions
- get to = reach
- start out = begin
- go down = down a hill, or down a street away from the speaker
- go up = up a hill
- go through = enter and exit a building
- go back to = return to
- pass by* = go past
- keep to = stay on a path or route
- turn back = return
Landmarks
- make for = go toward
- look out for = take notice, be aware of
- come across* = happen to see
Trains, buses, boats
- get on = board a train, bus or boat
- get off = exit a train, bus, or boat
*Note that 'pass by' and 'come across' aren't used in the imperative. Instead, they require a stated subject and are generally used with 'will' when giving directions.
- You'll pass by a small park.
- At the end of the street, you'll come across an Italian cafe.
The same directions from above could be rewritten with phrasal verbs as follows:
Go down Robson Street and look out for the Lululemon store on the corner of Burrard Street. Turn left and go down Burrard. Walk for two minutes—you’ll pass by a donut shop on the left. Watch out for the blue sign for Burrard station. If you reach the ocean, turn back—you’ve gone too far. At Burrard station, go through the ticket gates and get on the train. Get off at the last stop, Waterfront station.
Asking for Clarification
Understanding someone else's directions can be challenging. The names of streets and landmarks are often unfamiliar and they may speak too quickly for you to follow. Here are three ways you can ask for clarification when you don’t understand what you have heard:
Could you repeat that? / Could you say that again?
These expressions are useful when you don’t understand anything that the speaker said. However, if you listen without understanding for five minutes, then ask the speaker to repeat everything, they might feel frustrated and give up on helping you. It is best to use one of these expressions after a single sentence.
How do I get to the station?
It’s easy. Just 👇 👈 👉 👆 . Got it?
Could you repeat that?
Sorry? Pardon me? What?
These expressions are used to interrupt the speaker as soon as you don't understand. For English-speakers, it is acceptable to interrupt in this situation, but you need to be careful about using an appropriate expression for the situation and your relationship with the other person. “Sorry?” and “Pardon me?” are polite and appropriate in any situation while “What?” is only appropriate in very casual situations where your relationship with the other person is close.
How do I get to the station?
It’s easy. Just 👇 👈 .
Sorry?
No problem! Just go straight for five minutes—
Oh, I see. Go straight.
Yes, go straight for five minutes and turn 👈 👉 .
Pardon me?
Turn left.
Oh, ok, turn left! Got it!
Turn right at…? You’ll see a…? Walk for…?
Similarly, instead of using “sorry?”, etc. to interrupt, you can simply repeat the last words that you heard with a rising intonation to show that you didn’t understand anything after that. This is useful because it shows the other person exactly which part you missed.
How do I get to the station?
It’s easy. Just go straight for 👇 👈
Go straight for…? (rising tone)
For five minutes. Then turn left. You’ll see it 👇 👈
You’ll see it…? (rising tone)
On your right.
OK, so, I go straight for five minutes, turn left, and then I’ll see it on my right.
That’s it!
Showing and Checking Understanding
For both the person giving and the person receiving the directions, it's important to communicate understanding. When receiving directions, you should nod your head and use small expressions such as yes, uh-huh, OK, I see, got it to show that you understand the directions. You can also repeat the directions back to show understanding. t to the station?
Go down the stairs and turn left onto 12th Avenue
Uh-huh.
Make for the tall building with the flag on the top. The bus stop is right in front of it. Get on the #28 bus.
I see. So, go down the stairs, turn right, go towards the building with the flag, and the bus stop is in front of it. Then, I get on the #28 bus. Got it!
When giving directions, you should make sure that the person you are giving the directions to understands them. Here are some expressions you can use:
- Got it?
- OK?
- Do you understand?
- (Does that) make sense?
- Right?
If they look uncertain, try to express your ideas again, either more slowly or in a different way.
Now, open the exercise and follow the instructions.
Exercise
Part Four: Speaking Practice
Next, you and your partner(s) are going to roleplay giving and receiving directions in two different situations.
Teacher’s Note
It is important that the student receiving the directions cannot see the other student's map during this activity. If you are in a classroom, you may wish to have students sit back-to-back to ensure this is the case and add an extra layer of challenge to this activity.
After the students have finished sharing the directions, have them compare the notes that they took when receiving directions to the maps to see how successfully they communicated the directions.
With a partner, decide who will be Student A and who will be Student B. Then, open your tab and follow the instructions.
1) You are a tourist in Sydney, Australia. You are at Sydney Central metro station and you want to go to Sydney Opera House. Your cell phone battery is dead and you can’t figure out how to get there using the public transit map on the wall. Ask the metro attendant at the station (your partner) how to get to the Opera House. Make notes as you listen.
Excuse me. Do you happen to know the best way to get to the Opera House?
2) You are an international student in Cape Town, South Africa. Your best friend (your partner) is visiting you from Canada. You just went to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art together, and now your friend wants to go to another tourist attraction. You can’t go with them because you have to go to class. Your friend doesn’t have cell phone data here and there’s no wifi, so they ask you to give them directions before you leave. Use the map below to tell them how to get there. Make sure that you use language from this lesson to give your directions and check to confirm that they understand.
1) You are a metro attendant at Sydney Central station. A tourist (your partner) asks you for directions. Use the map below to tell them how to get there. Make sure that you use language from this lesson to give your directions and check to confirm that they understand.
2) You are visiting your best friend (your partner) who is an international student in Cape Town, South Africa. You just went to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art together, and now you want to go to the Castle of Good Hope, but your friend can’t come because they have to go to class. You don’t have cell phone data here and there’s no wifi to look up directions. Ask your friend for directions to the Castle of Good Hope. Make notes as you listen.
Can you tell me how to get to the Castle of Good Hope before you leave?
Part Five: Your Turn
Imagine that your partner wants to visit a nice place such as a restaurant, shop, or sightseeing spot in the city or town that you are in now and has asked you to recommend a place. Use a maps app to get directions from your current location to that place. Choose somewhere that is at least 1 km away.
Now, take turns giving and receiving directions to each of your chosen places with your partner. They can use public transit, go on foot, or use more than one mode of transportation. When giving directions, use language from this lesson and don’t let your classmate get lost! Be sure to check that they understand your directions properly and clarify any misunderstandings. When you are receiving the directions, make sure you ask for clarification and show you understand. Look at the example below to help you get started.
What place do you recommend in Vancouver?
I recommend Third Beach in Stanley Park. It's quieter than the other beaches and it has a great view of the sea.
How do I get there from here?
Well, go out of the building and turn right...