Asking for Directions

Hook: Giving directions is only half the skill — you also need to ask for them politely.

Notice: “Excuse me, where is the bank?” “How do I get to the station?” “Is there a pharmacy near here?” “Sorry, could you repeat that?”

The rule

Start politely with “Excuse me”. Ask with “Where is…?”, “How do I get to…?”, or “Is there a… near here?” If you don’t understand, it’s fine to say “Sorry, could you repeat that?” or “Could you speak more slowly, please?” — this is a real, useful CEFR A1 skill, not a weakness.

Dialogue practice

A: Excuse me, where is the post office?
B: Go straight on and turn left. It’s next to the bank.
A: Thank you!

Practice

  1. Write the missing line: “___, where is the station?” (Answer: Excuse me)
  2. “How do I ___ to the hospital?” (Answer: get)
  3. Practice the dialogue above with a partner, then write your own version for a different place.

This lesson supports: “I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase” (Spoken Interaction) — a direct CEFR A1 descriptor.

Azizul Hakim