Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 2 > Lesson 12
< Previous Lesson | Next Lesson >
By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to give directions around a city using train, bus, car, and walking directions.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to give someone directions using the following strategy:
1) state how to get there
2) state how to recognize the destination
3) state how long it will take to get there
e.g.
Go straight three blocks and turn left at the gas station. Then make a right onto 18th Avenue and follow that street for 3 blocks. When you get to the subway station, go down the stairs and buy a ticket to Central. Take the Green line bound for Chatswood 5 stops and get off at Hornsby. Go out of the station and turn left. My place should be on your right. It's the big house with the red roof. It should take about 30 minutes door to door.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to use the imperative e.g. Don't turn left.
- The student should be able to sequence commands e.g. After that, turn right.
- The student should be able to express expectations e.g. It should be on your left
- The student should be able to connect commands using "and" e.g. Go straight and turn left.
- The student should be able to name some common landmarks in a city e.g. Turn left at the church.
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: Sometimes people gesture left or right with their hands when giving directions. Note: Your left hand can make a natural "L" shape with your thumb and index finger. It's an easy way to remember if you or the student get confused.
Register: When asking someone we don't know for directions, we usually use a polite register.
Social rules: If sometimes asks "How do I" you don't need to include "please" in your instructions.
Cultural references: Sometimes people say "What you want to do is" before giving directions. This is sometimes pronounced "whacha wanna do is" in casual speech.
Track #29
To get to the bank, go straight 2 blocks. Turn left, then go straight 3
blocks and turn left again. It’s on the right. You can’t miss it.
Track #30
Sure. I know where the station is. Go straight about 1 block, then turn
left when you see the bookstore. It should be in front of you.
Track #31
Go across this bridge, then just follow this road all the way to the
beach. It should only take about 20 minutes.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of places in a city, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) a church (n)
2) a factory (n)
3) an embassy (n)
4) a fire station (n)
5) a police station (n)
6) a library (n)
7) the town hall (n)
8) a planetarium (n)
9) a monument (n)
10) a parking lot (n)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★★★
Type:
Realia practice
Purpose:
To allow the student to practice giving accurate directions
Method:
Pull up Google maps and choose two random locations. Then have the student give directions using the authentic information from Google maps.
“Naruhodo” Point
A mile is 1.6 kilometers
Extra questions you might like to ask in the lesson
Asking for directions
- How do I get to XXX?
- Where is XXX?
- Do you know where XXX is?
- Could you tell me where XXX is?
Offering help
- Where do you want to go?
- Can I give you a hand looking for something?
Confirming understanding
- OK?
- You got all that?
- So, you know how to get there?
A speaking hint you might like to use
Explaining what something looks like
It's common to explain what something looks like when you use it to give directions
> Feel free to use this speaking hint in the “Let’s Practice” / “Let’s Speak” sections of the lesson
e.g. Turn left at the bank. It's this big white building with a clock on it. You can't miss it.
Let’s start
Top line (L>R)
Go out of / go up / go down
Bottom line (L>R)
Go into / go across / go through / go past / go under
Let’s try
Track #29
They are going to the bank. They need to make two turns.
Track #30
They are going to the station. They need to make one turn.
Track #31
They are going to the beach. They don’t need to make any turns.
Let’s practice
Note: you can use any directions for the places below
E.g. Bridge = go over the bridge / turn left at the bridge / go under the bridge. Any of these answers are OK.
Directions
from: my hotel
to: the airport (arrivals gate)
Walking
Hotel > Main street > Bridge > Church> Italian restaurant > Stairs > Subway
Subway
Blue Line to Union Station > Green Line to International Terminal 2
Walking
Tunnel > Food court > 3rd floor > Arrivals
Expected outcome
A) Excuse me. How do I get to the airport? I need to meet my friend at the arrivals gate.
B) OK, what you want to do first is, go out of the hotel, then go down main street. Go over the bridge, go past the church, then turn right at the Italian restaurant. After that, go down the stairs and get on the subway. Take the Blue line to Union Station, then take the Green line to International Terminal two. Go out of the station, then walk through the tunnel. When you exit the tunnel, you’ll see the food court. Turn right at the food court and go up to the 3rd floor. You should be able to see the arrivals gate.
Great. Thanks.
Let’s speak
Inviting someone to a party and giving directions
A) Hi Sam. Do you have any plans for Friday?
B) No, I’m free why?
A) I’m having a BBQ. Would you like to come?
B) Sure. What time?
A) Everyone is meeting around 12:00.
B) Great. And where is it?
A) We are having the BBQ in the park near my house.
B) I’m sorry, I don’t know where that is. Can you give me directions?
A) Sure. Just go to my place, then turn left and go past the school. After that you’ll see a small side street, go down that street, go past the 7/11 then you should see the park right in front of you.
B) OK. Great. Got it.