How to ask for and give

directions

Following are some of the useful phrases you may need to ask for or give directions?

Excuse me. I’m lost. Please tell me how to go to……….

Turn left at……….

Go along………..

Take the first turn……….

Thank you for your help……….

GIVING DIRECTIONS

When you want to give directions to someone who may need to get to a certain place, make sure that you know the directions .

When you want to give directions, you need to mention the location of a place and the landmarks surrounding it clearly.

Go/walk straight on.

Go/walk down this way.

Go/walk up this road.

Go/walk through the intersection (crossroads).

At the first intersection, turn right/left.

Take the first turn to your left.

Take the second turn to your..

Take the first turn to your right.

Take the second turn to your…

At the T junction, turn left/right.

Go past the roundabout/ Pass the roundabout.

Turn left at the roundabout/turn right at the roundabout.

At the traffic lights, go right/take the right.

Go left/ take the left/turn right/left.

At the Fork, go left/ go right/ take the right

turn right/left.

Other expressions/Suggestions

Take a train/BTS Sky train/travel by a train.

Take a taxi/travel by a taxi.

Take a bus/ travel by a bus/van.

Take a *‘Tuk Tuk’/travel by a “Tuk Tuk”.

Take a flight/ travel by air.

Take a motorcycle taxi.

Take a canal boat/express boat.

* Tuk Tuk is a small van modified to transport people.

Other landmarks

Overhead/fly over

Bridge –

Km Post -

Light post – tunnel – clock tower – an apartment – subway (underground)- sky train – temple- church – mosque – railway crossing – bus station – port – jungle- river – reservoir – lagoon – mountain – hill – golf court – dam - fountain

Telling the location

The bank is next to the police station.

The bank is opposite the hospital./ across from ……..

Robinson is on (…………) street/road.

Robinson is on the Rose road next to the McDonalds.

It is in the corner of this road.

It is near the market.

It is on the hill/ on the top of the hill.

It is at the bottom of the hill.

It is on the third floor.

Other expressions you will need:

Walk/ go along this road until you come to an intersection.

Don’t turn anywhere, walk straight.

If you are not sure, please ask someone, anybody will help you.

Why don’t you take a taxi? It is far from here. You can’t walk.

It’s a ten minute walk from here to the Tesco.

It’s a two hour journey by train/plane/bus etc.

Suggestions you can make to someone regarding the modes of travel.

Let’s go by a taxi/a car/ bus/train etc.

You had better take a taxi opposite the market.

It is better if you take a taxi.

Why don’t you take a flight from Hatyai to Phuket.

It is easy to take a bus from here.

How to ask for directions: Excuse me

Could you please tell me where the hospital is?

Do you know where the hospital is?

Do you have any idea where the hospital is?

Can you tell me where the hospital is?

Could you tell me how to get to the bank?

Do you know where I can buy a computer?

Do you know where I can get my car repaired?

Where’s the bank, please? (This is a direct question)

How to inquire about the distance?

How far is it from here?

How long does it take to go to Bangkok from Hatyai by plane?

How long will it take……………………………?

In the following conversation, a visitor to a city is asking for directions. Study the conversation. The visitor repeats some key words (landmarks and turns) to show that he/she is following the instructions and that he understands them.

Visitor: Excuse me…

Resident: Yes…

V: Could you please tell me the way to the Bangkok bank in Hatyai?

R: Bangkok bank.. Hm. Go up this way, pass the roundabout and take the first left.

That’s Thamannoviti road.

V: Up this way, I pass the roundabout and take the

first left.

R: Walk about 50 meters. The bank is in the corner of

this street.

V: Thank you very much.

R: Have a nice day.

Role Play

Situation: A foreigner arrives at Hatyai/your city.

Roles : A: A foreigner B: A resident of Hatyai/your city

You are a foreigner who has just arrived at Hatyai/(your city) and you meet B at the railway station/bus station.

First, Introduce yourself to B.

B also introduces himself to A.

B can ask some questions from A to get to know more about A.

A should answer B’s questions and B is also free to ask any questions from A.

Next, A tells B that he/she wants to go to a nearby bank and asks directions for it.

B gives directions (At this time, B uses appropriate gestures).

A repeats the directions to show that he/she understands the directions.

Finally, A should thank B and leave the place.

B also says goodbye to A.

The role play ends.

Instructions: The conversation between A and B should be natural.

All utterances should be clear and audible.

If A wishes, he can use a real map of Hatyai city/ or your own city.