Lost in a New City: Asking for Directions

Ben, I have a question for you.

Have you ever been really lost in a new city?

Oh, yes. Last month, in a little town by a lake.

I was completely lost in the old town.

Ha! That's easy to do. All the little streets look the same.

Welcome to English Easy Steps, everyone. I'm Anna.

And I'm Ben. Today we're talking about asking for directions.

You'll learn simple phrases to ask the way, and to understand the answer.

So, Ben, what happened? How did you get lost?

Well, I wanted to find a famous coffee shop near the lake.

But my phone battery was dead, so I couldn't use the map.

Oh no. So you had to ask people.

Exactly. But at first, I didn't know what to say.

Okay, let's start with step one. Always begin with "Excuse me."

Right. It's polite, and people stop to listen.

Then you can say, "How do I get to the lake?"

"How do I get to" is my favorite phrase. It works for everything.

Yes! How do I get to the station? How do I get to the hospital?

So I asked a woman, "Excuse me, how do I get to the lake?"

And what did she say?

She smiled and said, "Go straight, then turn left."

Perfect. Two very useful phrases there.

"Go straight" means don't turn. Just keep walking the same way.

And "turn left" is easy. But I always mix up left and right!

Ha, me too. Here's a tip. Hold up your left hand.

Your thumb and first finger make an L. L is for left.

Oh, that's clever. I'll remember that next time.

So, did you find the coffee shop?

Not yet. I went straight, I turned left, and then… more little streets.

So you asked again?

Yes. This time I asked a young man selling fruit on the corner.

Nice, "on the corner." That's the place where two streets meet.

He said, "The coffee shop is across from the bookshop."

"Across from" is a great one. It means on the other side of the street.

For example, my house is across from a small park.

And then I asked my most important question.

Let me guess. "Is it far?"

Yes! "Is it far from here?" Because my feet were really tired.

Ha. And was it far?

No. He said, "It's only five minutes. It's within walking distance."

"Walking distance" means you can walk there. You don't need a taxi.

Exactly. Five minutes later, I was drinking my coffee.

A cappuccino, I hope?

Of course! It was hot and creamy. It was worth the walk.

Now, here's something many learners say by mistake.

They say, "Where is the way to the lake?"

People will understand you, but it sounds a bit strange.

It's more natural to say, "How do I get to the lake?"

Or simply, "Where's the lake?" Short and easy.

One more tip. If people speak too fast, ask them to slow down.

Yes, just say, "Sorry, could you say that again, more slowly?"

And always say thank you at the end. People love that.

Okay, quick recap time!

If you get lost, start with "Excuse me."

Then ask, "How do I get to the station?"

Listen for "go straight," "turn left," and "turn right."

The place might be on the corner, or across from a shop.

And ask, "Is it far from here?" Maybe it's within walking distance.

Now, a question for you.

Think of a place near your home.

How do you get there from your front door?

Try to say it in English. Go straight, turn left… you can do it!

You can find the transcript and vocabulary on our website.

Thanks for listening, and see you next time!

Bye for now!