Asking and Giving Directions

Lead-in

(2008 Olympic Games tourists

traffic rules

signs asking and giving directions)

As the 2008 Olympic Games will be hold in Beijing, all the residents in Beijing
should have one of the basic qualities, the ability of communicating with tourists in
English. The topic asking and giving directions is common and crucial in daily life.
In Beijing, the government advocated the public to learn and practice English.
According to the investigation, the majority of people have mastered simple
expressions of asking and giving directions. During the 2008 Olympic Games, the
residents in Beijing will be volunteers to guide and giving directions for foreigners
and travelers from other countries.
However, if you were a stranger or lost in Beijing or other countries, how could
you get your directions and who should ask for help first? At first, I suggest you first
ask the police for directions if there they are nearer. If there is no policeman, you can
require the couples with their children or the old to provide help, because they ought
to be the local men. Usually the conversation beginning like this " Excuse me or
Where is the..." Then describe the place you want to go. After you know the
directions, you must say Thank You to appreciate the person who tells you the
directions. Since this topic is very important, in this unit well learn some expressions
about asking and giving directions.

Questions:
1. What do you say in English to ask and give directions?
2. If you were in a strange city and had difficulties in finding some place, how could
you ask for help? And what can you say?

Key Words and phrases

1. Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College
n. a name of one academic college
e.g. Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College is a developing college.

2. bus stop
n. regular stopping-place for a bus
e.g. What is the next bus stop?

3. department store
n. big shop for selling goods
e.g. Department store lies in the city center.

4. crossroads
n. place where two roads meet and cross
e.g. We came to a crossroads.

5. get off
v. leave a place or start a journey
e.g. Let's get out of here fast

6. familiar
adj. know sth clearly
e.g. Im unfamiliar with the roads here

7. passer-by
n. person who is going past sb/sth
e.g. I am not a passer-by.

8. traffic lights
n. stoplight
e.g. Be sure to cross with care at all traffic lights

9. catch your drift

v. get the main idea
e.g. Can you catch your drift?

Pair work
1.You should observe pictures and describe the contents of pictures in English
words.

2. Filling in key words or phrases.

(1) I speak so slowly this time. Could you _________?
(2) I am not a native of Rizhao, so Im not ___with the environment here.
(3)You can take 101 bus and _____ at the department store.

Conversation
Script: The first conversation takes place between Jack and passers-by.

Jack

passers-by

bus stop

Rizhao Vocational College

J: Excuse me, Sir. Could you tell me how to get to the Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational
College?
P: You can take by bus 101.
J: Where is the nearest bus stop?
P: You can get on at the department store. Do you know where the department store is?
J: Yes. I have been there before. It lies at the crossroads. How long will it take for me to get
there?
P: About half an hour.

J: It is far from here. By the way, which bus stop should I get off?
P: You can get off at the Rizhao Vocational College, and then you can ask some
passers-by because I am not familiar with it.
J: Thanks a lot.
P: It is my pleasure.
Script: After arriving at the Rizhao Vocational College, Jack will ask for directions from
Wang Ping.

Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College

Jack
Wang ping
J
: Excuse me, Miss. Could you tell me where Shandong Foreign Languages
Vocational College is?
W : Yeah, go straight on this street, turn left at the traffic lights, and then you will see
the sign Shanhai Road. You can go on walking along the Shanhai Road and you
will find the gate of college at the right of road. You cant miss it.
J : Yes. I guess I catch your drift. Its so kind of you.
W : Youre welcome. Good luck for you.
J : Thank you. The same to you. Goodbye.
W : Bye.

Practice
1. Pattern drills
(1) Excuse me, Sir/Madam.
(2) Could you tell me where the police station is?
How to get to the police station?
(3) Go straight across/ to/through the crossroad.
Go straight down/ahead
(4) Then turn right/turn to the right.
(5) It is opposite/behind/beside Xinhua Bookstore.
(6) How far is it from here?
How long does it take?
Is it far from here?
(7) It will take you 10 minutes to walk.
Its about 15 minutes walk.
(8)Youll find it/You cant miss it.

Practice
After reading the conversation, you should complete the following blanks.
Emma : . Is there a Police Station near here
Mary Ah...police station and then you turn right at some traffic
lights. Theres a big church on the corner.
4

Emma
Mary
Emma
Mary
Emma
Mary
Emma
Mary

Ah...
And the police station is _____ the church. ______________.
How long does it take?
Its within walking distance. Its _______________.
Ah... OK... OK.
Is that clear
I think so. Thanks...bye...
: Bye.

2. Retell

Role Play
Make a role play with your partners based on the following clues.
Excuse me, Sir. the department store? go along opposite to Xinhua
Bookstore. How far? 15-minute ride find it Its very kind of you. Youre
welcome.

3. Discussion
(1)

Script: During the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, many tourists will visit Beijing.

Question: If you were a volunteer, what could you do to help foreigners find the
destination as soon as possible, such as Bus Stop, the Forbidden City, etc.
(2)

Script: Nowadays, traffic accidents happen every day and many people lose their lives.

Question: Do you think what lead to the traffic accidents?

4. Group Work
Situation 1: Observing the below map carefully, you are standing at the
restaurant, how to get to Police Station?

Script: Making up a dialogue to find the way to the Police Station.

Situation 2: You meet up with a freshman at the gate of college, and you will tell
him where the students dormitories are.
Script: Making up a dialogue to help the freshman to find the students
dormitories.
Situation 3: You will look through the following four pictures, and try to make up
a dialogue according to pictures and arrows. If you get off the train


(Beijing Railway Station)

(Subway station)

(Iiananmen Square)

(the Forbidden City)

Script: According to the pictures to make up a dialogue about traveling places of

interest in Beijing.

Additional Reading
Situational dialogue 1:
Script: This conversation takes place on the highway

Highway
traffic lights
railway station
A: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the railway station?
B: Sure. Its quite far from here. Dont worry. Its not difficult to get there.
A: I think Im going in the wrong direction, arent I?
B: Yes. First, you need to turn around and pass four traffic lights further up this road?
A: Yes, I do. They are about two miles away, right?
B: Thats right. Drive back to the first traffic light and turn right. Remember that we
are coming from this direction.
B: Oh yes! Then we drive to the No.11 motorway.
A: How far is that?
B: Its only seven miles. We turn left to join the No.12 motorway and drive south.
Then you just go straight on until you see the station ahead of you. You cant miss
7

it.
A: How long will it take?
B: About 10 minutes if you arent caught in traffic jam.
A: OK.I got it. It is so nice of you to help me!
B: Youre welcome.

Situational dialogue 2:
Script: Dale drives his car to the Palace Museum and Nancy gives his directions.

find

Dale

Palace Museum

Dale
Nancy
Dale
Nancy

: Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to the Palace Museum?
: You can take Bus 5. The driver will tell you where to get off.
: Yes, but I'm driving my own car.
: Oh, then you drive along this street, turn right at the third crossroad, then
take the first left. Keep straight on until you see a road sign that says
"Palace Museum", and then you follow the sign. It will direct you to the
Palace Museum.
Dale : Drive along this street, turn right, turn left, keep straight, and then I'll see the
road sign?
Nancy : That's right.
Dale
: Are you sure that I won't bump into any one-way streets?
Nancy : Well... I don't think you will....I don't see any car around here. Where is your
car?
Dale
: I parked it over there. You see?
Nancy : Oh, no. You'd better move it before a policeman sees you parking there.
Dale
: Why? I don't see any "No Parking" signs.
Nancy : But you're parking in a bus zone.
Dale
: Here comes a policeman. I'd better run....Thank you, miss....Oh, by the way,
how long will it take for me to get to the museum?
Nancy : About half an hour.
Dale
: Thanks again. You've been very helpful.
Nancy : Hurry up, or you'll get a ticket.
Pair work
8

1. Practice the following dialogues and ask some groups to show their role play.
2. Work in groups to make up a situational dialogue and pay attention to the
expressions for asking the way and giving directions that you have just learned.