Asking for and giving directions in English | Learn English with Andres

Summary

In this informative video, Andres Herrera teaches viewers essential phrases for asking and understanding directions, crucial for those without a GPS or phone battery. He introduces basic questions like 'how do I get to...?' and 'where's the...?', and guides through common directional instructions such as turning right or left, going straight, and crossing the street. The lesson culminates with a practical example of navigating to the Eiffel Tower and St Michel Coffee Shop, offering a hands-on approach to finding one's way.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The speaker, Andres Herrera, introduces himself and the topic of the video, which is teaching how to ask for directions.
• 📱 Despite the common use of GPS on phones, the lesson is relevant, especially in situations like a phone battery running out.
• 💐 The scenario presented involves needing to buy flowers and asking for directions to a destination for a date.
• 👨‍🏫 The video includes a recorded class teaching specific phrases for asking about locations, such as 'how do I get to...?' and 'where's the...?'.
• 🚦 Key phrases for directions are highlighted, including 'turn right', 'turn left', 'go straight', and 'go along'.
• 🗺️ Directions are given as an example to navigate from a red spot to the Eiffel Tower, using the phrases taught.
• 📍 The example directions include landmarks and distances to help visualize the route, such as 'go past the parking lot' and 'for about 30 meters'.
• 🤔 The video encourages viewers to pause and try to figure out the directions themselves before revealing the correct route.
• 🏢 Another example of asking for directions is given, this time to St Michel Coffee Shop, with a clear set of instructions.
• 📚 The lesson emphasizes the importance of learning to ask for and understand directions in various real-life situations.
• 👍 The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe for more lessons, indicating the value of the content provided.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is teaching viewers how to ask for directions.

Why does the speaker mention GPS on phones?

The speaker mentions GPS on phones to contrast the traditional method of asking for directions with modern technology, but acknowledges that sometimes asking for directions is still necessary, such as when the phone's battery is dead.

What is the speaker's situation that prompts the lesson on asking for directions?

The speaker's phone has run out of battery and he has a date with a girl of his dreams, which prompts the need to know how to ask for directions.

What is the first sentence the speaker suggests using to ask for directions?

The first sentence suggested is 'how do I get to...?'

Can you provide an example of using the first suggested sentence?

Examples include 'how do I get to the station?' or 'how do I get to the pharmacy?'

What is the second type of question the speaker recommends for asking about a location?

The second type of question is 'where's the...?'

Can you give examples of the second type of question for asking about a location?

Examples are 'where's the police station?' or 'where's the supermarket?'

What are some phrases one might hear when receiving directions?

Some phrases include 'turn right', 'turn left', 'go straight', 'go along', and 'go across the street'.

How does the speaker guide viewers to imagine they are going from the red spot to the Eiffel Tower?

The speaker instructs viewers to stop the video and try to figure out the right directions to get to the Eiffel Tower from the red spot.

What is the final set of directions given in the script to reach the Eiffel Tower?

The directions are to go straight until reaching the corner, then turn left, go past the parking lot, take the first turn on the right, go along for about 30 meters, and the Eiffel Tower will be on the left.

What is the additional scenario provided at the end of the script?

The additional scenario involves asking for directions to St Michel Coffee Shop, with the response including turning left on the corner, then right, and going for three blocks to find the shop on the left.

What does the speaker encourage viewers to do at the end of the lesson?

The speaker encourages viewers to like the lesson and subscribe for more content.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Learning to Ask for Directions

Andres Herrera introduces the video's purpose, which is to teach viewers how to ask for directions. He humorously acknowledges the reliance on GPS and sets a personal context by mentioning a date with a girl of his dreams. Andres faces a common problem—his phone battery is dead, and he needs to find his way without it. He reassures the audience that he has recorded a class to help them navigate this situation.

Keywords

💡Directions

Directions refer to the route or course along which someone or something is to proceed. In the context of the video, it is the main theme as the instructor, Andres Herrera, is teaching viewers how to ask for directions, which is crucial when one's phone battery is dead and GPS is unavailable. An example from the script is when the instructor says, 'Today I’m going to teach you how to ask for the location of a place.'

💡GPS

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information. In the script, it is mentioned as a modern convenience that people rely on for navigation, but the instructor highlights the importance of knowing how to ask for directions manually, as illustrated when the character's phone runs out of battery.

💡Date

A date typically refers to a social outing or event between two people who are romantically interested in each other. In the video script, the character has a date with 'the girl of my dreams,' which adds a personal and urgent context to the need for knowing how to ask for directions, as being late or lost could jeopardize the meeting.

💡Battery

A battery is a device that stores electrical energy and is used as a power source for various electronic devices. In the script, the character's phone battery running out is the catalyst for the lesson, emphasizing the importance of not solely relying on technology for navigation.

💡Class

A class is a group of students who are taught together. In the script, the class is the setting for the lesson on asking for directions. The instructor mentions recording the class, which is the content being shared with the viewers.

💡Location

Location refers to a particular place or position. The video's theme revolves around identifying and asking for locations, such as 'how do I get to the station?' or 'where's the police station?', which are examples provided in the script to demonstrate the phrases one might use when seeking directions.

💡Phrases

Phrases are groups of words that work together to convey a particular meaning. In the context of the video, the instructor teaches specific phrases for giving directions, such as 'turn right', 'turn left', 'go straight', and 'go along', which are essential for understanding and providing directions.

💡Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark in Paris, France. In the script, it is used as a hypothetical destination to demonstrate how to give directions from a starting point to a well-known location, showing the practical application of the phrases taught in the lesson.

💡Corner

A corner is the point where two edges or sides meet, typically at a right angle. In the script, the corner is mentioned as a landmark when giving directions, such as 'Go straight on until you get to the corner, then turn left.', which helps the person asking for directions to navigate their way.

💡Parking Lot

A parking lot is a paved area used for parking vehicles. In the script, it is mentioned as a landmark to pass by when following directions, such as 'Go past the parking lot, then take the first turn on the right.', which serves as a reference point for navigation.

💡Subscribe

To subscribe typically means to sign up or register to receive something, such as a service or content. In the script, the instructor encourages viewers to subscribe, which implies that the lesson is part of a series or channel that viewers can follow for more content.

Highlights

Introduction to the lesson on asking for directions

Challenge of asking for directions without GPS

Situation of needing directions for a date

Offering help to someone in need of directions

Recording of a class on asking for the location of a place

Teaching the first sentence to ask for directions: 'how do I get to...?'

Examples of using 'how do I get to...?' for the station and pharmacy

Second sentence to ask for directions: 'where's the...?'

Examples of using 'where's the...?' for police station and supermarket

Common phrases to listen for when receiving directions

Instruction on turning right when given directions

Instruction on turning left when given directions

Guidance on going straight or along a road

Imagining a scenario to get to the Eiffel Tower using directions

Providing step-by-step directions to the Eiffel Tower

Asking for directions to St Michel Coffee Shop

Giving specific directions to St Michel Coffee Shop

Encouraging subscribers and ending the lesson

Transcripts

Hello, everyone.

My name is Andres Herrera,

and today I’m going to teach you how to ask for directions.

Where are you going?

Directions, that’s useless.

That’s why we’ve got GPS on our phones.

And I have a date with a girl of my life.

You shouldn’t stay.

How can I help you?

I need some flowers.

What’s going on?

I don’t know how to ask

for directions and I have a date with the girl of my dreams,

and my phone has run out of battery.

Don’t worry.

I recorded the class this morning.

Have a look at it.

Today I’m going to teach you

how to ask for the location of a place.

The first sentence we’re going to use is

how do I get to…?

How do I get to…?

For example, how do I get to the station?

Or how do I get to the pharmacy?

The second is where’s the…?

For example, where’s the police station?

Or where’s the supermarket?

Okay guys, now,

when people are going to give you directions,

you’re going to hear the following phrases.

The first one is turn right.

Turn right.

The next one is turn left.

Repeat, turn left.

The next one is go straight or go along.

Go along this road, or go along this street.

Go across the street.

Repeat, go across the street.

Okay guys, so now let’s imagine

that we want to go from the red spot

to the Eiffel Tower.

Stop the video and try to figure out the right directions to get

to our destination.

Now, let’s start giving directions.

Go straight on until you get to the corner,

then turn left.

Go along this road and go past the parking lot,

then take the first turn on the right.

Go along this road for about 30 metres,

and the Eiffel Tower is on your left.

Thank you.

Bye.

Excuse me, Miss.

How can I get to St Michel Coffee Shop?

Of course.

Go along this road,

on the corner, turn left, then turn right.

That’s St Michel Street.

Go along this street for about three blocks,

and St Michel Coffee Shop is on the left.

I hope you like this lesson, and don’t forget to subscribe.

Bye.