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Giving Directions- Free and Controlled Speaking

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Fun creating a town, office, etc through giving directions game, with useful vocabulary for describing places.

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Lesson Plan Content:


Giving directions free and controlled speaking

Place the “N” card on the table or floor, preferably really facing North, and the “Start” or “Entrance” card near the bottom or left of the table or floor.

N

Start

(Main) entrance

Choose one card and ask your partner where to put it on the table or floor (or on pieces of paper representing different floors inside a building). They can give directions and/ or positions, e.g. “Go straight for five seconds. Turn right. Go straight one centimetre” and/ or “It’s opposite the house”. Silly places (“The school is under the hospital” etc) are also OK. To make you speak and listen more, you aren’t allowed to use gestures. If anything isn’t clear, please repeat and/ or explain in a different way. If your partner says “in”, fold the other piece of paper and put it around that card. Blank spaces and blank cards mean you can write your choice of place on the card before you ask.

Change roles and do the same again with different cards. Continue asking about positions and placing cards in the places that are said until all the cards are finished, until there is no more space on the table, or until your teacher stops the game.

 

Variations

If your teacher gives you the list of key words or useful phrases, cross them off each time that you use them, and try to use at least one new one each time. If you are playing for points, you get one point for each new thing on the list that you use.

Instead of placing the cards, it is also possible to draw and/ or write the names of things on the board and/ or paper.

You can also ask for a recommendation, then ask for directions to that place.

 

More controlled giving directions speaking

After you finish, give instructions to one of those places and see if your partner can understand which you are describing.

 

Useful phrases for asking for and giving directions

Tick off phrases below as you use them, trying to use at least one new one each time.

Starting the conversation

Excuse me. (Can you help me?)

Sorry to disturb you. (I’m a bit lost.) (Do you work here?)

Asking for directions

Is there a/an … (around/ near) here?

Do you know the way to…?

Do you know how to get to…?

Do you know where… is/ are?

Can you tell me where… is/ are?

Could you tell me the way to…?

I’m trying to find/ I’m looking for…

Can you recommend…?

Giving directions

It takes (about) … seconds (on foot/ by taxi/ by car).

It is (about)… seconds/ centimetres/ millimetres (North/ South/…)

Go towards/ Head towards…l  Go straight (on/ ahead) – Go back (… minutes/… metres).

Go past/ Pass…

Go along…

Go across/ Cross…

Go through…

Go around…

Go over…

Turn left (and left again)/ Take the… street/ corridor/ turning/ door on the left

It’s the first/ second/ third/…th (turning/ door) on your right.

It’s downstairs/ Go down the stairs. – It’s upstairs/ Go up the stairs.

You will see it/ a… next to/ in front of/ opposite/ behind/… you.

It’s (just/ right) next to/ beside/ by…

It’s (directly) opposite…

It’s (just/ right) in front of… – It’s (just/ right) behind…

It’s on/ above/ over… – It’s below/ under/ beneath…

It’s near/ close to…

It’s between… and…

It’s on (the corner of) … Street/ Road/ Avenue/…. (and…)

It’s on this/ the next/ the first/ second / third/ fourth/ …th floor.

You will see…

Checking/ Clarifying/ Confirming

Sorry, can you say that again (a little more slowly)?

Sorry, did you say…?/ Sorry, do you mean…?

Can I check that back?

Ending giving directions/ Ending conversations

Okay, got it (now), thanks.

(That’s very clear.) Thanks for your help.

(You’re welcome./ No problem.) Have a good day.


Key words for asking for and giving directions

If your teacher tells you to, cross off the words below as you use them, trying to use at least one new thing each time, with one point for each if you are scoring points.

  • … (centi)metres
  • … and… again
  • … seconds/ minutes
  • above/ over
  • along
  • around
  • behind
  • between
  • close to/ near
  • corner
  • cross/ across
  • down
  • east
  • far
  • first…
  • from here
  • get to
  • how
  • in
  • (right) in front of you
  • it takes
  • keep…
  • left
  • (right) next to/ by
  • north (east/ west)
  • on the…/ on your…
  • opposite
  • pass/ past
  • right
  • second…
  • south (…)
  • straight (ahead/ on)
  • take the
  • the end
  • through
  • towards
  • turn
  • under/ below
  • until
  • up
  • way
  • west
  • you will see


Outdoors vocabulary cards with basic vocabulary in bold

 

art gallery/ museum/ The ______________ Museum

 

 

ATM/ cash machine/ cashpoint

 

 

bank/ ______________ Bank

 

 

bar/ pub

 

 

barber(‘s)/ hairdresser’s/ hair salon

 

 

beach/ _____________ Beach

 

bookshop

 

 

bus station/ coach station

  

 

bus stop (for…)

 

 

café/ coffee shop

 

 

Chinese restaurant

 

 

cinema/ movie theater

 

 

clinic/ _________ Clinic

 

 

convenience store

 

 

department store

 

 

Green Road

 

 

gym/ sports centre

 

 

hospital/ ______________ Hospital

 

hotel/ ______________ Hotel

 

Indian restaurant/ curry house

 

Japanese restaurant

 

 

library/ _______________ Library

 

music shop

 

 

park/ ________________ Park

 

pet shop/ ________ Pets

 

 

phone booth/ phone box/ public telephone

 

post box

 

 

post office

 

 

shopping centre/ shopping mall

 

sport shop

 

 

(train) station

 

 

supermarket

 

 

(outdoor/ indoor) pool/ swimming pool

 

(public) toilet

 

 

toy shop

 

 

somewhere I can _____________________

 

 

_________________ Alley

 

 

amusement arcade/ video arcade

 

animal hospital/ vet’s

 

 

_________________ Flats/ ____________ Apartments

 

aquarium

 

 

B&B/ bed and breakfast

 

 

bureau de change

 

 

campsite

 

 

canal/ ________________ Canal

 

castle/ ________________ Castle

 

chemist’s/ pharmacy

 

 

church/ cathedral/ _______________ Church

 

concert hall/ opera house

 

 

club/ nightclub/ disco

 

 

college/ university/ ______________ University

 

(zebra/ pedestrian) crossing

 

 

dry cleaner’s

 

 

estate agent/ real estate agent/ realtor

 

___________________ Hill

 

 

hostel/ youth hostel

 

 

kindergarten/ nursery school/ _____ Kindergarten

 

lake/ pond/ ____________ Lake/ __________ Pond

 

launderette/ laundromat

 

 

London Road

 

 

Main Street

 

 

flea market/ ________________ Market

 

antiques market/ _______________ Market

 

farmers’ market/ _______________ Market

 

 

Sunday market/ _______________ Market

 

mountain/ _____________ Mountain

 

off license/ liquor store

 

 

_______________ Building

 

 

pet salon

 

 

petrol station/ gas station

 

 

police box/ police station

 

 

(ferry) port

 

 

river/ ________________ River

 

riverfront/ waterside

 

 

roundabout/ traffic circle

 

 

primary school/ elementary school

 

 

secondary school/ high school

 

the statue of ____________________

 

sea/ seaside

 

 

shrine/ temple/ _________ Shrine/ _________ Temple

 

smoking area

 

 

souvenir shop

 

 

underground station/ tube station/ subway station

 

(conveyor belt) sushi bar

 

 

taxi rank

 

 

theatre/ ____________ Theatre

 

theme park/ amusement park

 

(baseball/ football/ …) stadium/ ground/

 

tram stop/ streetcar stop

 

 

zoo/ __________________ Zoo

         


Places in an office building vocabulary cards

 

______________

Limited/ Ltd

 

 

_______________ Associates

 

_______________ Corp

 

_______________

Japan

 

______________ PLC

 

 

_______________

Inc.

 

________________

Corporation

 

________________

Partners

 

ATM/ cash machine/ cashpoint

 

balcony

 

 

bin/ garbage can/ trashcan

 

board room

 

 

building management office

 

caretaker/ janitor

 

 

cloakroom

 

cleaners

 

 

café/ coffee shop

 

 

cafeteria/ canteen

 

 

car park/ parking lot

 

 

cigarette machine

 

 

clinic/ (doctor’s) surgery

 

convenience store

 

 

courtyard

 

 

disabled toilet

 

 

drinks machine

 

 

elevator hall

 

 

emergency exit

 

 

emergency staircase

 

escalator to the mezzanine

 

express elevator

 

 

fire extinguisher

 

 

first aid kit

 

 

(sunken/ rooftop) garden

 

lift/ elevator

 

 

locker room/ changing room

 

locker(s)

 

 

lost property office

 

 

meeting room

 

 

Mr ____________’s office

 

Ms ____________’s office

 

night entrance/ out of hours entrance

 

(jobs/ residents’) noticeboard

 

parking space

 

 

patio

 

 

phone box/ public telephone

 

post box

 

 

rear entrance/ back entrance

 

reception (desk)/ front desk

 

sculpture/ statue

 

 

security gate/ security barrier

 

security guards’ office

 

smoking area/ smoking room

 

mop (and bucket)

 

 

somewhere I can sit

 

 

somewhere I can charge my phone

 

somewhere I can buy ____________

 

 

 

somewhere I can get _____________

 

somewhere I can ________________

 

somewhere I can get rid of ________

 

staff room

 

 

stairs to the basement

 

taxi rank

 

 

teleconference room

 

 

terrace

 

 

the _____________ department

 

the _____________

division

 

toilet/ rest-/ powder-/ bathroom

 

vending machine

 

 

water fountain

 

 

wheelchair ramp

 

 

wifi hotspot

 

 

somewhere I can leave___________

 


Things and places in an office vocabulary

 

a/ the cable for…

 

 

the assistant/ vice…

 

(recycling) bin/ trashcan

 

(extra) chairs

 

coffee

 

 

coffee machine

 

control panel (for the lighting /…)

 

copy machine/ photocopier

 

the (extension) cord (for…)

 

creamer

 

 

…’s cubicle

 

(my/ your/…’s) desk

 

 

drawing pins/ thumbtacks

 

drinks machine

 

 

fire extinguisher

 

the button to turn off…/ to…

 

glue (stick)/ Pritt stick

 

the head of…

 

hole punch

 

 

hoover/ vacuum cleaner

 

kettle

 

 

kitchen (area)

 

 

(printable/ sticky) labels

 

(spare/ LED) light bulbs

 

(radio) mic/ microphone

 

(…) noticeboard

 

 

changing rooms

 

lockers/ locker room

 

the CEO’s office/ …’s office

 

…’s PA/ secretary

 

 

(photocopy/ scrap/ A4/ A3) paper

 

paperclips

 

(highlighter/ ballpoint) pens

 

pencil sharpener

 

 

the person who deals with…

 

a/ the place where I can hang…

 

a/ the place where I can keep…

 

a/ the place where I can…

 

the place where…

 

 

Post Its/ Post It notes

 

projector

 

 

rubber band(s)

 

 

(a pair of) scissors

 

 

(Sello/ Scotch) tape

 

(book) shelves

 

 

(paper/ document) shredder

 

sink

 

first aid kit

 

socket/ electrical outlet

 

(date) stamp

 

 

stapler/ staples

 

storeroom/ supply room

 

(ring) binders

 

 

… charger(s)

 

correction fluid/ Tippex/ Whiteout

 

(paper) cups/ mugs

 

digital voice recorders

 

(top/ middle/ bottom) drawer

 

(A4/ brown) envelopes

 

fax (machine)

 

 

the… files

 

 

(clear) folders

 

franking machine

 

guillotine

 

headsets

 

 

the hot desks

 

ink pads

 

laptops

 

the person in charge of…

 

the person responsible for…

 

the person who…

 

 

petty cash

 

the… section/ division/ department

 

server

 

 

the stationery cupboard

 

sugar/ sweetener

 

the switch for…

 

 

tablets/ iPads

 

tea(bags)

 

tea towels

 

teaspoons

 

 

(wo)(men’s) toilet/ bathroom

 

toilet rolls/ toilet paper

 

toner

 

umbrella rack

 

 

vending machine

 

washing up liquid/ detergent

 

water cooler/ water dispenser

 

(red/ blue/…) whiteboard pens

 

mop (and bucket)

 

board room

 

(tele/video) conference room

 

(main/ night/ staff) entrance

 

elevator (hall)

 

 

meeting room

 

intercom

 

lost property office

 

 

dry cleaner’s

 

 

table tennis table/ ping pong table

 

foosball table/ table football

 

heater

 

 

IT support (person/ section)

 

fan

 

safe/ lockable drawer

 

East entrance

 

 

beanbags

 

chillout area

 

laminator

 

deliveries (entrance)

 

 

warehouse

 

pigeon holes

 

suggestions box

 

Places in a home vocabulary

 

airing cupboard

 

 

attic/ loft

 

 

bedding

 

(recycling) bin/ trashcan/ garbage can

 

blankets

 

 

bowl(s)

 

 

clean…

 

 

cable for…/ cord for…

 

cup(s)

 

 

desk

 

 

dining room

 

extra…

 

first aid box

 

 

band aids/ plasters

 

(chest) freezer

 

fridge/ refrigerator

 

 

fruit

 

glass

 

ice (cubes)

 

 

jam

 

kitchen roll

 

(desk) lamp

 

 

light bulb(s)

 

living room

 

 

master bedroom

 

 

milk

 

mirror

 

my/ your/…’s (bed)room

 

 

my…

 

 

napkin(s)/ serviette(s)

 

pillow(s)

 

 

pillow case(s)

 

place where I can find…

 

place where I can hang…

 

 

place where I can keep…

 

place where I can put…

 

place where I can throw away/ dispose of…

 

place where I can…

 

 

(side/ dinner) plate(s)

 

(kitchen/ dinner/ carving) knife/ knives

 

remote control (for…)

 

 

(top/ bottom) sheet(s)

 

soap/ shampoo/ shower gel

 

 

sink/ washbasin

 

 

socket/ (electrical) outlet

 

spare bedroom/ guest room

 

 

spare…

 

(tea/ dessert/ serving/ soup) spoon

 

switch for…

 

 

(kitchen/ living room/ coffee) table

 

toilet

 

toilet roll/ toilet paper

 

 

vegetables

 

utility room

 

wardrobe

 

 

washing machine

 

washing up liquid/ detergent

 

cling film/ Saran wrap

 

 

(shopping/ plastic/ carrier/ rubbish) bags

 

tea towels

 

 

Natural places vocabulary/ Countryside vocabulary

 

cliff

 

 

mountain/ peak

 

 

mountain range

 

hill

 

 

desert

 

river

 

stream

 

 

beach/ coastline

 

wood/ forest

 

pond/ lake

 

 

plain

 

valley

 

plateau

 

 

village

 

 

farm

 

farmhouse

 

 

barn

 

meadow

 

bay/ (natural) harbour

 

 

estuary

 

gulf

 

ocean

 

 

(natural/ hot) spring

 

island

 

lagoon

 

 

waterfall

 

sea

 

cave

 

 

field

 

national park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Phrases for asking for and giving directions brainstorming

Without looking above, brainstorm suitable phrases into the gaps below.

Useful language for starting the conversation

 

 

 

 

 

Useful language for asking for directions

 

 

 

 

 

Useful language for giving directions (and positions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Useful phrases for checking/ clarifying

 

 

 

 

 

Useful phrases for ending giving directions conversations

 

 

 

 

 

Use the key words below to help with the task above.

Useful language for starting the conversation

  • help
  • disturb
  • lost

Useful language for asking for directions

  • here
  • anywhere
  • know
  • tell

Useful language for giving directions

  • takes
  • seconds
  • head
  • go
  • turn
  • left
  • second
  • stairs
  • see
  • it’s
  • floor

Useful phrases for checking/ clarifying

  • again
  • did
  • do
  • check

Useful phrases for ending giving directions conversations

  • got
  • clear
  • good

 

Check with the list of suggested phrases, then brainstorm more.

Compare your ideas for (slightly or very) different phrases as a class.

 

 

Places vocabulary

Test each other on similar words on the cards (divided by /).

Choose a category such as “shops” and see how many suitable words your partner can come up with.

First of all without looking at the cards, brainstorm suitable words into the categories below. Many words can go in more than one place, and many words not on the cards are also possible. 

Places to eat and drink

 

 

 

Places connected to animals

 

 

 

Places to stay/ sleep/ live

 

 

 

Places related to your appearance

 

 

 

Places related to travel/ journeys

 

 

 

Places related to health and fitness

 

 

 

Places related to law and order

 

 

 

Places related to religion

 

 

 

Places related to education

 

 

 


Sightseeing spots/ Photo spots

 

 

 

Natural places/ Green spaces

 

 

 

Nightlife

 

 

 

Places related to the arts

 

 

 

Other places to spend your free time/ Entertainment spots

 

 

 

Other places to buy things

 

 

 

Names of streets

 

 

 

Places related to money

 

 

 

Places related to communications

 

 

 

Find suitable words on the cards, then brainstorm more.

Compare your extra ideas as a class.

Do the same for places inside buildings with the following page.

 

Places in a building vocabulary brainstorming

The final word of the names of companies

 

 

 

People and places connected to cleanliness/ hygiene

 

 

 

Places related to health and safety

 

 

 

Places connected to food and drink

 

 

 

Places to leave things/ Places where things are kept

 

 

 

Places outside a building

 

 

 

Places related to getting to other places

 

 

 

Places related to communication

 

 

 

Building staff/ Places where the building’s staff work

 

 

 

Technology/ Machines

 

 

 

Places related to rest and relaxation

 

 

 

 

 

Blank places cards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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