Appropriate Target Language - Giving & asking for directions

[talon39]

I must create a lesson plan to teach students how to give, ask for, and understand directions.

Length: 45 minutes
Level of Students: Elementary (A2)
Previous Knowledge: Students are familiar with prepositions of place and common locations in a town.

Which of the following language points would be appropriate for these students and practical to teach in the time alloted? What should be the Target Language for this lesson?

Giving directions:

It's next to the ***
It's across from ***
It's on the corner of *** and ***
It's on *** Street/Road/Avenue
It's opposite the ***
It's at ***
It's in the ***
It's just past ****
It's that way.
Go down *** to ***
Turn left on ***
Turn right on ***
Go N/S/E/W on the ***

Asking for directions:

Can you tell me where the *** is?
I don't know where the *** is.
Can you tell me how to get to the ***?
Which way is the ***?
Which way to the ***?

Are there any language points I have missed? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Lucy]

Hello,

You seem to have pretty much covered everything that is needed. As for target language, you express it well yourself: "how to give, ask for, and understand directions".

I suggest you adapt some of the language; I would keep the questions simple for a number of reasons:

the language of directions is not easy and students will need time to master (or mistress) it. So go easy where you can.

Also, and I know this from personal experience of learning German, it's very easy to ask the question "where's the post office?" but it's a lot more difficult to understand the answer. I think your focus in the lesson should be on the directions and not the questions.

I suggest you cover just 2 questions:

Can you tell me where the *** is?
Where is the *** please?

As for the language of giving directions:

the following are essential:

It's next to the ***
It's across from ***
It's on the corner of *** and ***
It's on *** Street/Road/Avenue
It's opposite the ***
Turn left on ***
Turn right on ***
Go N/S/E/W on the ***

the following can be taught depending on the material you are using to practise the language (ie, if students will need to say these things):

It's at ***
It's in the ***
It's just past ****

I suggest you leave out the following;

It's that way.
Go down *** to ***

Finally, I suggest you revise briefly at the beginning of the lesson prepositions of place and locations in the town just to check to what extent students know this language.

Lucy

[talon39]

Thank you for you guidance Lucy.
What problems should I anticipate the students will have with this lesson?

[Lucy]

I think the students might have the following problems:

Pronunciation of opposite;
omisson of “to” in the phrase “it’s next to”;
omisson of “from” in the phrase “it’s across from”;

If you choose to teach: It's at *** and It's in the ***; the students might confuse the prepositions at and in.


Best wishes,

Lucy