A2Everyday EnglishTravel EnglishSpeaking Guide

Asking for Directions in English: A2 Conversation Guide

Learn how to ask for and give directions in English with this A2 conversation guide. Practise useful phrases for getting around a town or city, understanding directions, and asking for help when you're lost.

About This Directions Guide

Asking for directions is one of the most useful English skills for travelling. Whether you're looking for a train station, hotel, restaurant, or another landmark, knowing how to ask for help can make travelling much easier.

The full Synomilo conversation follows Emma as she asks a shop clerk for directions to the train station. The conversation introduces simple phrases for explaining where you are, describing turns, and identifying landmarks.

The language is designed for A2 learners, with practical expressions that can be used in real situations.

Guide focus
  • Asking someone for directions politely
  • Understanding basic directions
  • Using landmarks to describe locations
  • Using common travel and location vocabulary

Before the Conversation

Begin by asking learners how they usually find their way around an unfamiliar city.

Option A

Use Google Maps or another navigation app

Option B

Ask someone nearby for help

Option C

Try to work it out yourself

Useful warm-up questions include:

  • Have you ever been lost in another city?
  • Is it easy for you to ask strangers for help?
  • Do you usually use a map when travelling?
  • What landmarks do you know near your home?
Warm-up challenge

Ask learners to explain how to get from their home to a nearby shop, school, station, or other familiar place.

Key Directions Vocabulary

Word or phraseMeaning
lostUnable to find your way or unsure where you are.
around the cornerVery close, usually just beyond the corner of a street.
traffic lightsLights that control traffic at a road intersection.
straight aheadMoving directly forward without turning.
turn rightChange direction towards the right.
bridgeA structure that allows people or vehicles to cross over a river, road, or other obstacle.
blockThe distance between two streets in a town or city.
clock towerA tall structure with a large clock that can be used as a landmark.

Useful Expressions From the Conversation

These expressions are useful when asking for help, describing your location, or following directions.

I've lost my way

A natural way to say that you don't know where you are or how to get somewhere.

Just around the corner

Very close and not far away.

Walking forever

An informal expression used to exaggerate how long a journey feels.

Point me in the right direction

To give someone information about which way they should go.

Keep an eye out for

To watch carefully for something that you expect to see.

No worries

A friendly way of saying that something is not a problem.

Asking for Directions Conversation Preview

Emma is trying to find the train station when she asks a shop clerk for help.

Emma:

Excuse me, could you help me, please?

Shop Clerk:

Hello, yes of course! What do you need?

Emma:

I'm trying to find the train station, but I think I've lost my way.

Shop Clerk:

No worries. You're actually just around the corner. It's across the bridge, not far from here.

The full conversation continues with the shop clerk explaining the route using traffic lights, a park, a bridge, and a clock tower as landmarks.

Directions Conversation Comprehension Questions

Ask learners to answer these questions after reading or listening to the complete conversation.

  1. What is Emma trying to find?
  2. Who does Emma ask for help?
  3. Where does the shop clerk say the train station is?
  4. What should Emma do when she reaches the traffic lights?
  5. What will Emma see on her left?
  6. What does Emma need to cross?
  7. What landmark is next to the train station?
  8. What coffee shop should Emma look out for?

Directions Discussion Questions

Use these questions to move beyond the conversation and get learners talking about travel and navigation.

  1. Do you usually use a map when you travel?
  2. What do you do when you get lost?
  3. Is it easy for you to ask strangers for help?
  4. Would you rather use Google Maps or ask someone for directions?
  5. Have you ever been completely lost in a new city?
  6. What landmarks are useful for giving directions in your town?
  7. How would you explain the way to your home to a visitor?
  8. What is the most useful phrase for asking for directions?

Practise the Full Directions Conversation

Open the full conversation in Synomilo to practise asking for and giving directions in context, explore useful vocabulary, and build confidence with everyday English.

Language Focus: Asking for Directions

There are several simple ways to ask someone for directions. Encourage learners to use polite phrases when speaking to someone they don't know.

Could you help me?

A polite way to get someone's attention before asking for information.

Which way should I go?

A natural question when you want someone to explain which direction to take.

How do I get to...?

One of the most common ways to ask how to reach a place.

Is it far from here?

A useful follow-up question when you want to know how long the journey will take.

Useful direction words

Go straight · turn left · turn right · cross the bridge · on your left · on your right · next to · across from · around the corner

Speaking Activity: Give Me Directions

Put learners into pairs. One learner needs to find a location and the other learner must give directions.

Person A
  • You are visiting a new city.
  • You are looking for the train station.
  • You don't know the area.
  • Ask at least three questions.
Person B
  • You know the area well.
  • Give clear directions.
  • Use at least two landmarks.
  • Check that the other person understands.

Learners should include each of the following in their conversation:

  1. Ask someone where a train station is.
  2. Explain that you are lost.
  3. Give directions using 'go straight ahead'.
  4. Tell someone when to turn left or right.
  5. Use a landmark to help someone find their destination.
  6. Check that the other person understands your directions.

Common Mistakes When Giving Directions

Giving too many instructions at once

Give one or two directions at a time so the listener can follow the route.

Forgetting landmarks

Places such as shops, parks, bridges, and traffic lights can make directions much easier to understand.

Using unclear language

Words such as "there" or "that way" can be confusing. Try to give a clear direction instead.

Not checking understanding

Ask if the other person understands or let them repeat the instructions back to you.

Independent Practice

Ask learners to choose a familiar place near their home and write simple directions from their home to that location.

They should include:

  • At least two turns
  • One landmark
  • One phrase using "next to" or "across from"
  • One distance expression
  • A polite opening question

Once finished, they should try to give the directions without looking at their notes.

Teaching Tip

Directions become much easier to practise when learners have a visual map. Draw a simple street with a few shops, a park, a bridge, and traffic lights. Give each learner a different destination and have them ask each other for directions.