Mastering Directions in English IS KEY to Travel Success

English Learning Podcast

Want to confidently ask for directions in English? In this episode of the English Learning Podcast, we teach you the most useful phrases and vocabulary to help you find your way in any English-speaking country. Perfect for beginners and travelers!   In this video, you’ll learn:   -  Common questions to ask for directions (e.g., “How can I get to…?”, “Where is the nearest…?”)  -  Essential vocabulary for giving and understanding directions  -  Real-life conversation examples and pronunciation tips   Whether you’re exploring a new city, traveling abroad, or improving your English for daily life, this lesson is your roadmap to better communication. Listen, practice, and boost your English speaking confidence!   🔔 Subscribe for daily English lessons and practical conversations.   #english #englishlearning #englishpodcast #askfordirections #englishconversation #englishspeaking #learnenglish   Welcome to Official English Podcast on Dailymotion!   We're dedicated to helping you master English through daily, authentic conversations and practical lessons. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your fluency, join us for your daily English fix!    **For more in-depth content, exclusive series, and to explore our full library, visit our main channel on YouTube:**  ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@officialEnglishLearningPodcast   #EnglishLearning #LearnEnglish #EnglishPodcast #ESL #EFL #DailyEnglish #EnglishConversation #EnglishLearningPodcast

Transcript

00:00Narrator. Hello, and a very warm welcome back to the English Learning Podcast Beginner Series.

00:11I'm so glad you're joining us today for a truly essential and practical topic,

00:16asking for directions. We've all been there, haven't we? That moment when you're in an

00:21unfamiliar place, maybe a new city, and you need to find something, a specific shop,

00:26a famous landmark, or even just your hotel. But you're not quite sure how to ask for help in

00:31English. It can feel a little intimidating, but don't worry. With the right phrases and a little

00:36practice, you'll be navigating new places with confidence. Today we're going beyond simply

00:42listing words. We're going to dive into real-life scenarios helping you understand not just what to

00:47say, but how to say it politely and effectively, and even what to do if you don't quite understand

00:53the answer. This isn't just about vocabulary. It's about building the confidence to interact,

00:59to overcome that moment of hesitation, and to truly connect with people to find your way.

01:05Understanding how to ask for directions is a fundamental skill that opens up so many possibilities,

01:11whether you're traveling, exploring a new town, or just trying to get around your own city using

01:15English. You'll hear a natural and engaging conversation between two friends, Leo and Chloe,

01:22as they navigate a new neighborhood in a city they're visiting. Listen closely as they encounter

01:27various situations, use different phrases to ask for help, and even practice clarifying directions they

01:34don't quite understand. By actively listening to their discussion and the phrases they use,

01:39you'll not only enhance your English comprehension but also gain a powerful toolkit of practical

01:45vocabulary and expressions. These will help you confidently ask for directions, understand the

01:50responses, and ultimately find your way without feeling lost. So, settle in, listen attentively,

01:57and let's explore the art of finding your way together.

02:00Yo, Chloe hold on a second. I'm starting to think my map app has completely given up on us.

02:06This street looks completely unfamiliar. Are you sure we're still heading towards the old market?

02:11Chloe, you know Leo I was just about to say the same thing.

02:15I thought that big red building was supposed to be a landmark, but I don't see it anywhere.

02:20My phone signal is really spotty too. Maybe we should just ask someone. It's definitely faster

02:26than wandering aimlessly. Leo, good idea. Let's find someone who looks like they know the area.

02:32Ah, there's a gentleman over there who seems to live around here. Let's try him.

02:37Excuse me, sir? Person 1. Yes? Can I help you?

02:41Leo. Yes, could you tell me how to get to the old city market, please? We're trying to find the main

02:47entrance. Person 1. The old city market? Of course. It's not far from here. Go straight down this street.

02:56It's called Elm Street. For about two blocks. You'll pass a small cafe on your left and then a hardware

03:02store on your right. After the hardware store you'll come to a major intersection. Turn left at the traffic

03:09lights there. You'll then see the market entrance directly across from a large old clock tower.

03:15You can't miss it. Chloe. Okay so, go straight down Elm Street past the cafe and hardware store,

03:21then turn left at the traffic lights at the intersection, and the market is across from

03:26the clock tower. Did I get that right, Leo? Leo, sounds about right, Chloe. Thank you so much,

03:32sir. We really appreciate it. Person 1. You're very welcome. Enjoy the market. Chloe, that was great.

03:40He gave us some really clear instructions. I noticed he mentioned two blocks. When people say

03:46blocks, how long is that usually? Is it a set distance? Leo, that's a good question. It's not

03:53an exact measurement like a meter or a foot. A block usually refers to the distance between two

03:59intersecting streets. So if someone says, go two blocks, it means walk past two streets that cross

04:06the one you're on. It varies in length depending on the city, but it usually gives you a good sense

04:11of the distance. Chloe, that makes sense. It's like a rough guide. So, now that we know how to get there,

04:18what if we wanted to know how long it would take? Let's pretend we're looking for the main train station

04:23for instance. Excuse me. Person 2. Hello. What can I do for you? Chloe, hi. Could you tell me how to get

04:31to the central train station from here, please? And also, how long will it take to get there if we're

04:36walking? Person 2, the central train station. Hmm. From here it's a bit of a walk. It's about a 20-minute

04:43walk. Maybe a little more if you take your time. You need to go straight ahead on this road. It's called

04:49Park Avenue for quite a long stretch, maybe seven or eight blocks. You'll cross a bridge and then

04:55you'll see a large park on your left. Keep going. The station is just past the park on the right-hand

05:01side. It's a very big building, quite modern. Leo, okay so go straight ahead on Park Avenue,

05:07cross the bridge past the park and it's about a 20-minute walk. That's good to know. Thank you

05:12very much. Person 2. No problem. Good luck. Chloe. Wow, 20 minutes is a bit much if we're in a hurry.

05:20What if we wanted to know if there's public transport available? Leo, another excellent point.

05:27Sometimes walking isn't ideal. Stry. Excuse me. Person 3. Yes? How can I help you? Leo, hi. We're

05:36trying to get to the art gallery. Is there a bus that goes to the art gallery? Person 3. The main

05:42art gallery? Yes, there is. You can take bus number 42. The bus stop is just around the corner on your

05:49right past the newsstand. It comes every 10 minutes. Chloe, excellent. Bus number 42 just around the

05:57corner past the newsstand. That's super helpful. Thank you so much. Person 3. You're welcome. Leo,

06:04see Chloe? Knowing about public transport options is really useful. But what if the directions are a bit

06:10complicated or the person speaks very quickly and we don't fully understand? How do we ask for

06:16clarification? Chloe, that's a crucial one. I always worry about that. Let's try it. Excuse me.

06:24Person 4. Hi there. Chloe. Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could you say that again, please?

06:31We're looking for the public library. Person 4. Oh, the library. Go down this street,

06:37King Street and take the second right. Not the first but the second. Then walk past the large

06:43church on your left. The library is on your right, directly opposite a small park with a playground.

06:49Leo. Take the second right, walk past the large church opposite a small park. Thank you. I think

06:56we've got it this time. Person 4. Good. Chloe, that was great. It's important to be polite but firm when

07:04you don't understand. What if we only need a specific landmark to guide us? Sometimes I just

07:10need one big thing to look for. Leo, right? Like if we were trying to find that famous pizza place.

07:16Excuse me. Person 5. Yes? Leo, hi. We're looking for Pizza Heaven Restaurant. Is there a landmark near

07:24the restaurant we should look for? Person 5. Pizza Heaven. Delicious. Yes there is. The restaurant is

07:32opposite a big fountain in the town square. It's a very famous fountain with statues. You can't miss it.

07:39Chloe. Opposite a big fountain. Got it. That sounds easy to spot. Thank you so much. Person 5. You're

07:47welcome. Enjoy your pizza. Leo. We're practically becoming local experts now, Chloe. But what if we

07:54were driving and needed directions for a car? The language might be a bit different. Chloe. Good point.

08:00The terms for driving can be different. Let's try that scenario. Excuse me. Person 6. Hi. Chloe,

08:08hi. We're driving and we're trying to get to the main highway, Highway 101. How do I get to the highway

08:14from here? Person 6. Okay for the highway. From here you need to follow this road. It's a fairly busy

08:21road, Queens Road, for about 5 miles. You'll go through several sets of traffic lights. Then you'll see a

08:28large sign for Highway 101. You need to take the exit that says Highway 101 North. It's a bit of a drive

08:36but the signs are clear. Leo. Follow this road. Take the exit for Highway 101 North. Perfect. That's

08:45very clear. Thank you for your help. Person 6. No problem at all. Drive safely. Chloe, that was very

08:53helpful. It's good to know phrases like follow this road and take the exit. Now what if we're already

08:59walking somewhere and we just want to confirm we're on the right path? Leo. Right to avoid going

09:05completely out of our way. Excuse me. Person 7. Yes? Can I assist you? Leo. Excuse me, is this the right

09:14way to the National Museum? We've been walking for a bit. Person 7. Oh no, I'm afraid it's not. You're

09:22actually going in the wrong direction. The National Museum is the other way. You need to turn around

09:27now and go back about 3 blocks, past the big supermarket. Then you'll see a pedestrian bridge.

09:33Go over that bridge and the museum will be directly in front of you. Chloe, oh wow. So, turn around,

09:39go back 3 blocks and go over the pedestrian bridge. Thank you so much for saving us from walking even

09:45further. Person 7. High pleasure. Happens all the time in this neighborhood. Leo, phew. Close call

09:52there. It's really important to know how to ask if you're on the right track. And what about asking

09:58about distance again but maybe for a very specific further away place like the airport? Chloe, let's

10:03give it a go. Excuse me. Person 8. Hi there. Chloe, how long will it take to get to the airport by taxi?

10:11We have a flight later. Person 8. The airport? Okay, by taxi, it'll take about 45 minutes to an hour,

10:19depending heavily on the traffic at this time of day. If you hit rush hour, it could be longer.

10:25Leo? Okay, 45 minutes to an hour. Good to know, thank you. We'll plan accordingly. Person 8,

10:31you're welcome. Safe travels. Chloe, I feel so much more confident about asking for directions now.

10:38But sometimes I struggle with understanding the spelling of street names or specific places.

10:44Leo. That's a really common issue, especially with foreign names or complex spellings.

10:49It's totally okay to ask. Let's try it. Excuse me. Person 9. Yes? Leo. We're looking for a small shop

10:58called The Curious Emporium on a street called Farnsworth Avenue. Could you spell Farnsworth

11:04Avenue for me, please? Person 9. Of course. It's Farnsworth Avenue. It's a bit tricky. Chloe,

11:12Farnsworth. Got it. Thank you for spelling that out. That helps so much. Person 9. My pleasure.

11:20Hope you find it. Leo. That was incredibly helpful, Chloe. And I feel like we've covered so many different

11:27scenarios today, from getting to a market to finding a highway and even asking about spelling.

11:32It really shows how many different ways you can ask for and clarify directions.

11:37Chloe, absolutely. It's not just about the words. It's about the confidence to use them.

11:43And remembering to be polite goes a long way. This has been a really great practice session. Thanks,

11:48Leo. Leo, my pleasure, Chloe. Now let's see if we can actually find that old city market with all

11:54this new knowledge. Narrator. That was a truly insightful and practical conversation between Leo and Chloe.

12:01exploring the diverse and often challenging journey of asking for directions. They demonstrated how to

12:08use a variety of essential phrases, handle different distances and modes of transport,

12:13and most importantly, how to clarify when they didn't fully understand.

12:18Now let's quickly recap some of the key vocabulary and phrases they used.

12:22As you listen, think about how you might incorporate these into your own interactions when you need to

12:27find your way. Key vocabulary and phrases recap. Could you tell me how to get to? This is the most

12:34polite and common way to start when asking for directions. How far is it? Use this to inquire

12:40about the distance to your destination. How long will it take? Ask this to understand the estimated travel

12:47time. Go straight slash go straight ahead. Continue moving forward without turning. Turn left slash turn

12:55right. Change your direction to the left or right. Or at the corner. The point where two streets meet at

13:01an angle. Or at the intersection. The place where two or more roads cross each other. Across from.

13:08Directly opposite something on the other side of a street or space. A next to slash just passed.

13:15Very close to something slash immediately after something. A landmark. A recognizable feature like a famous

13:22building, statue or fountain that helps you identify your location. Take the exit for a highway use

13:29specifically when driving to leave a main road for a specific destination. Turn around slash go back.

13:36To change direction and return the way you came. Sorry I didn't quite catch that. Could you say that again

13:42please? A polite way to ask for repetition and clarification. Could you spell that street name for me please?

13:50Use this when you need help with the spelling of a name or word.

13:54Narrator. As you heard from Leo and Chloe, asking for directions doesn't have to be a source of stress.

14:01By using these phrases and practicing your pronunciation, you'll be able to navigate any

14:06English speaking place with much more confidence. Remember to be polite, speak clearly, and don't be

14:12afraid to ask for clarification if needed. People are generally happy to help.

14:17Thank you for joining the English learning podcast today. Keep practicing these phrases and soon

14:23you'll be a master of finding your way, opening up even more opportunities for communication in

14:28English. We'll be back soon with more engaging conversations to support your English journey.

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