Asking for/Giving Directions

By Paul Chen

Outline

Starting Questions
Sample Conversations

Vocabulary
Useful Expressions

(1)
(2)

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Activity
Discussion Questions
Reference

Starting Questions
Have you ever got lost ( ) and had
the experience of asking others for
directions?
As a FJU student, do you know the
location of each college (restaurant,
library, etc) very clearly? Can you pick
up ( ) any and describe where it
is?

Sample Conversation
(1)
(In the front gate of FJU,)
A: Excuse me, sir. I just come to Fu-Jen for the
first time. Would you mind telling me how I
can get to College of Foreign Languages?
B: Sure. First, keep going along the main road
till you walk past the first roundabout. Next,
turn left and you will see a group of benches
in circular shape on your left. Then, youll
find the FLC just on your right.
A: Thank you so much!
B: Youre welcome.

Sample Conversation
(2)
(Alex got lost in a countryside.)
A: Pardon me, madam. Im wondering if you
know how to get to the nearest gas station.
My gas is running out.
B: Oh, let me think. First, keep driving west for
about 1 km. Youll see a 7-11 on your left.
Then, make a left turn at the second
crossroad after you go past the 7-11. Soon
you will find a gas station on your right. Its
rather noticeable. You cant miss it!
A: Thanks so much!
B: Not at all.

Vocabulary

for the first time

College of Foreign
Languages (CFL)

along

past
roundabout
a group of
bench
get lost

countryside
gas station
run out
crossroad
noticeable

Useful Expressions (1):

east
west
south
north
ahead/front
behind/back
left
right

up
down
inside
outside
around
along
past
across
straight

Useful Expressions (2):

first (second, third, etc.)

next
after that
then
now
afterward
finally

From Say it Naturally

Useful Expressions (3):

/
take a (left) ( )
go

walk
look
drive
stop
head for
turn + ( )

get on/off /
continue
keep V-ing (going,
driving, etc.) From Say it Naturally

Useful Expressions (4):

near
between
next to/beside

in front of
behind

across from

adjacent to
to the left/right

on the opposite side of

(the street from)

around the corner from

on your left/right(-hand
side) /
on the corner (of)

on (street name)

From Say it Naturally

Useful Expressions (5):

block
crossroad
roundabout
intersection
overpass
underground passage
traffic light
billboard

Useful Expressions (6):

library
bank
stationery store
post office
police station
parking garage

hospital
gas station
hotel
convenience store
motel

restaurant
department store
park

For more frequently asked locations, please

check CEWeb Daily Conversation.

Activity

1.
2.
3.

There are two pictures in the following

two slides.
The red spot indicates where you are
right now.
The blue arrow indicates the direction
youre heading.
The location circled by the red rectangle
indicates your destination ( ).
Youre lost now and trying to asking
others for directions.

Discussion Questions
Are you or is any of your friends a
person without any sense of direction
( )? If so, did anything funny
happen due to ( ) his/her
disorientation ( )?
Have you ever had the experience of
asking the wrong person for directions
and got even lost/confused? How did
you feel about that and how did you
cope with ( ) that?

Reference
Wall, Allie Patricia. Say it Naturally:
Verbal Strategies for Authentic
Communication. 2nd ed.
Picture 1: from English in Action 3
Picture 2: from English Conversation in
Taiwan (Intermediate)