Asking and giving directions

Hello, friends!

In the lesson today you’ll revise places in town and some prepositions of place and movement.

You’ll also learn to ask for and give directions.

Walk around any town in the world and you usually find a post office, a supermarket, a school, a bank, a cinema and so on. But these places are different.

Underwater Post Office

A tourist in Brisbane, Australia, can sent a postcard from a very unusual place: an underwater post office! You buy a plastic postcard on the beach and then swim down to the post office.

The Boat Schools of Bangladesh

Twice a year, Bangladesh experiences floods which leave millions of its citizens without access to clean water, electricity, and other necessities. It becomes difficult for children to attend schools. Each boat school is solar powered and equipped with a laptop, Internet access, and a small library. The boat schools are a school and school bus at the same time. They pick their students up from docks and riversides, then dock somewhere so the class could start. After the lessons are over, the boat schools bring the students back homes.

Beach Library

Surf. Sand. Library… wait, library? Yes, you heard it right. Those are three words that usually don't go together, but there's no reason why they shouldn't. Herman Kompernas built a library on the sandy beach of the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Albena and stocked it with over 2,500 books in 10 languages.

Guests are invited to borrow the books (for free) and leave their own for others to read. This has to be the most relaxing library in the world.

Can you name other places in town?

Complete the sentences with the following words:

You can look at paintings at ………… an art gallery.

You can send a letter at ………… a post office.

You can borrow a book from ………… a library.

You can buy food at ………... a supermarket.

You can watch films at …………. a cinema.

You can see plays at ………... a theatre.

You can play tennis and football at ………... a sports centre.

You can look at old objects at ………… a museum.

You can find a police officer at …………. a police station.

You can buy medicine at ………… a pharmacy.

Next month we’re going to Seaton.

Seaton is a small seaside town in East Devon on the south coast of England. It faces onto Lyme Bay, to the west of the River Axe with red cliffs to one side and white cliffs on the other. There is also a wonderful beach stretching for about a mile, and a small harbour.

In 2016 the Seaton Jurassic visitor centre opened in the town which tells the story of the Jurassic Coast.

These are the adverts for holiday homes in Seaton. Which place is better for us, do you think? Why?

My dad has chosen a place for us to stay in Seaton. Listen to his telephone conversation. When is our holiday? What place did he choose?

·                   Hello, The Mills Holiday Homes, can I help you?

·                   Oh, hello, I’m phoning about your advert for Hill Top House. Is it available in May?

·                   Yes, it is? When would you like to stay there?

·                   From May 15^th for a week.

·                   Er, yes. Would you like to book it?

·                   Yes, please.

·                   Can I have your name, please?

·                   Yes, my name’s George Smith.

·                   And do you have an email address, Mister Smith?

·                   Yes, it’s smiths at gmail dot com ([email protected])

·                   Right. I’ll email you directions. It’s very easy to find.

·                   Thank you very much.

First, let’s revise the most common prepositions of place and movement.

Match the phrases to the pictures.

Aha, here we have an email from The Mills Holiday Homes with directions.

Let’s read it, look at the map and draw the route from You are here to our holiday home. Which number is the holiday home on the map?

Dear Mister Smith

Thank you for booking one of our holiday homes. Here are your directions.

When you come into the town you’re on Abbot Street. Go along this street, past the bus station on the right, then go over the bridge and turn right. This is East Street. Go along East Street (the river is on your right now) and turn left at the end of the street.

Then go along South Road for about 100 metres and turn right. Hill Top House is the first house on the left, next to a small car park.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.

Best wishes

Sandra Mills

Check your road. Which number is the holiday home on the map?

That’s the number 13.

Look at the map and listen. Which four places are the friends going to?

1. Go along Abbot Street and it’s on the right, next to the bus station.

2. Go along the High Street, past the station, and it’s on the left, opposite the department store.

3. Go along the High Street, past the department store, and turn right. Go along North Road and it’s on the left.

4. Go along Abbot Street and turn right by the river. That’s West Street. Go along that street for about 100 miles and it’s on the right.

So, we’re now at the bus station in Seaton. We’re asking for directions.

Put each conversation in order.

Listen and check. Find the place on the map. What numbers are they?

1. Excuse me. Is there a newsagent’s near here?

Yes, there’s one in Berry Street.

Where’s that?

Go along this road and turn right. That’s Berry Street. Go past the pub and the newsagent’s is on the right, opposite the supermarket.

2. Excuse me. Where is the police station?

It’s over there, next to the Internet café.

Oh, yes, I can see it. Thanks.

No problem.

3. Excuse me. Do you know the Park Hotel?

Yes. You go along this street, over the bridge and it’s on your left, in New Road. You can’t miss it.

How far is it?

Oh, it’s not far. Only about five minutes’ walk.

Great. Thanks a lot.

The newsagent’s is number 3. Internet café is 5 and the Park Hotel is number 9.

We use these phrases to ask for directions. Fill in the gaps.

Excuse me. Is there an Internet café near here?

How can I get there?

Could you tell me the way to the Internet café?

Where is the Internet café?

We need these phrases to give directions. Fill in the gaps.

Go along Kings Road.

Go past the Fishing Museum.

Turn left/right into Duke Street.

Take the first/second right/left.

The café is on the left/right.

It’s opposite the chemist’s.

It’s next to the bookshop.

If you can’t give directions, you say:

Sorry, I don’t know.

Sorry, I don’t live around here.

Now it’s time to practice.

Choose the places from the box. Write directions to them from You are here:

Tesco’s supermarket

The Seaton Tramway

Chemist’s

The Seaton Jurassic visitor centre

Harry: It’s important to know how to ask and give directions if you want to feel comfortable in a new city or to be helpful to the tourists in the place where you live.

Join us at videouroki.net and you’ll never got lost!