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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 8 · Starter · A1
Asking for and giving directions
Ask how to get somewhere and understand directions.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
What's a good place near here? How do you get there from here?
Key phrase 1 of 8
Excuse me, how do I get to the library?
Ask the way.
Key phrase 2 of 8
Go straight ahead.
Keep walking in the same direction.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Turn left at the lights.
'The lights' = traffic lights.
Key phrase 4 of 8
It's on your right.
Where the place is.
Key phrase 5 of 8
It's opposite the bank.
Across the street from the bank.
Key phrase 6 of 8
It's next to the post office.
Beside it.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Is it far from here?
Ask the distance.
Key phrase 8 of 8
It's about a five-minute walk.
Common way to give distance.
Conversation
Local and Hana
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Hana
Excuse me, how do I get to the library?
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Hana: Excuse me, how do I get to the library?
Local
Go straight ahead and turn left at the lights.
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Local: Go straight ahead and turn left at the lights.
Hana
Left at the lights, OK.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Hana: Left at the lights, OK.
Local
Then it's on your right, opposite the bank.
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Local: Then it's on your right, opposite the bank.
Hana
Is it far from here?
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Hana: Is it far from here?
Local
No, it's about a five-minute walk.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Local: No, it's about a five-minute walk.
Hana
Thanks so much.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Hana: Thanks so much.
Local
No worries.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Local. Student B is Hana. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Excuse me, how do I get to the station?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Is it far from here?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Turn left at the lights. Thanks!
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
'The lights' means…
- A street lamps
- B traffic lights
- C a shop
✓ B: 'Turn left at the lights' = at the traffic lights.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
'Opposite the bank' means…
- A next to the bank
- B across the street from the bank
- C inside the bank
✓ B: Opposite = facing it, on the other side.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
How do you ask about distance?
- A Is it far from here?
- B Where is it?
- C How do I get there?
✓ A: 'Is it far?' asks about distance.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
'Go straight ahead' means…
- A turn around
- B keep going the same way
- C stop
✓ B: Don't turn; keep walking.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
Which answer gives a distance?
- A It's on your right.
- B It's about a five-minute walk.
- C Turn left.
✓ B: Australians often give distance in minutes, not metres.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Australians drive on the left, so look RIGHT first when you cross the road. Many people give directions using landmarks like 'the servo' (petrol station) or 'the roundabout'.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.au
· englishcoaching.au
Teacher notes
Level: Starter · A1 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "What's a good place near here? How do you get there from here?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Local and student B is Hana. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Local is read by Josh and Hana by Mel. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Good to know in Australia
Australians drive on the left, so look RIGHT first when you cross the road. Many people give directions using landmarks like 'the servo' (petrol station) or 'the roundabout'.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Asking for and giving directions. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 8: Asking for and giving directions
Ask how to get somewhere and understand directions.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: here · library · lights · minute · office · opposite · right · straight
- Excuse me, how do I get to the ? (Ask the way)
- Go ahead. (Keep walking in the same direction)
- Turn left at the . ('The lights' = traffic lights)
- It's on your . (Where the place is)
- It's the bank. (Across the street from the bank)
- It's next to the post . (Beside it)
- Is it far from ? (Ask the distance)
- It's about a five- walk. (Common way to give distance)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Hana: Excuse me, do I get to the library?
- Local: Go straight and turn left at the lights.
- Hana: Left at lights, OK.
- Local: Then it's on your right, opposite the .
- Hana: Is it far here?
- Local: No, it's about a -minute walk.
- Hana: Thanks so .
- Local: No .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
'The lights' means…
a) street lampsb) traffic lightsc) a shop
'Opposite the bank' means…
a) next to the bankb) across the street from the bankc) inside the bank
How do you ask about distance?
a) Is it far from here?b) Where is it?c) How do I get there?
'Go straight ahead' means…
a) turn aroundb) keep going the same wayc) stop
Which answer gives a distance?
a) It's on your right.b) It's about a five-minute walk.c) Turn left.
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Excuse me, how do I get to the station?
- Is it far from here?
- Turn left at the lights. Thanks!
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/asking-for-and-giving-directions/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 8: Asking for and giving directions
A. Key phrases
- Excuse me, how do I get to the library?
- Go straight ahead.
- Turn left at the lights.
- It's on your right.
- It's opposite the bank.
- It's next to the post office.
- Is it far from here?
- It's about a five-minute walk.
B. Conversation gaps
- how
- ahead
- the
- bank
- from
- five
- much
- worries
C. Quiz
- b) traffic lights
- b) across the street from the bank
- a) Is it far from here?
- b) keep going the same way
- b) It's about a five-minute walk.
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/asking-for-and-giving-directions/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach asking for and giving directions to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Starter level, about CEFR A1. It is lesson 8 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/asking-for-and-giving-directions/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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