LESSON 1: DIRECTIONS

To begin to deepen in the subject of travelling, we are going to start learning very useful expressions to give indications to arrive at a place. Sometimes, whether we are in the city where we live or go on vacation, we find ourselves in situations where people ask us where something is.At that time, it is useful to know some of these expressions:

Do you know where the … is? (¿Sabe dónde está …?)  

I’m looking for… (Estoy buscando…).

Examples:

-Excuse me, do you know where the Hotel Hilton is? (Perdone, ¿sabe dónde está el hotel Hilton?)

-Excuse me, I’m looking for this address. (Perdone, estoy buscando esta dirección.)

How far is it? (¿A qué distancia está?) 

How far is it to…? (¿A qué distancia está …?) 

How far is it to… from here? (¿A qué distancia está… de aquí?)

Example:

- How far is the Rodin Museum from the hotel? (¿A qué distancia está el Museo Rodin del hotel?)

If you want to know if you are going in the right direction, you can ask to someone:

Am I on the right on the right road for…? (¿Estoy en la carretera correcta para ir a…?) 

Is this the right way for…? (¿Este es el camino correcto para ir a…?)

GENERAL INDICATIONS.

• It’s this/that way. (Es por aquí / allí)

• You are going the wrong way / in the wrong direction. (No vas bien / Vas por la dirección equivocada).

• Take this road (Coge esta carretera)

• Take the first / second on the left / right (Coge la primera / segunda a la izquierda / derecha)

• Go down there (Bájate hasta allí)

• Continue straight ahead for about a mile (Sigue todo recto durante una milla aproximadamente)

• Continue past the petrol station. (Sigue más allá de la gasolinera).

• You’ll pass a bakery on your right. (Pasarás una panadería a tu derecha).

• Keep going for another… 50 metres (Continua unos … 50 metros).

• It’ll be on your left / on your right / straight ahead of you. (Estará a tu izquierda / derecha / justo enfrente).

• Walk straight until...: (Camine derecho hasta....)

• Turn left / turn right: gire a la izquierda / gire a la derecha.

• It’s on the left / it’s on the right: está a la izquierda / está a la derecha.

• Take the second on the left / on the right: tome la segunda girando a la izquierda / girando a la derecha.

• Ahead: adelante.

• Go straight ahead: vaya derecho hacia adelante.

• Go straight on this street: vaya derecho por esta calle.

Oh! And don't forget to say "excuse me" when you are going to ask something.

Now... Let's practise!

Dictation. First, listen to the dictation a first time to understand what it says, then listen to it for the second time and write them down. And finally, listen to the dictation for the third time to review your mistakes. Then check the solutions at the end of the post.

DICTATION: GIVING DIRECTIONS

Transcript: 

A.

Go straight on. Then take the first left on to Green Street. Walk past the library and it’s the building next to the library on the left. 

B.

Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights. You will see a shop on the right. Go past that and it’s on the right next to the shop. 

C.

Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights and go straight on until you get to the roundabout. At the roundabout turn left. Go past the theatre. It’s the building next to the theatre, opposite the hospital. 

D.

Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights and take the second right on to King’s Road. Go past the bookshop. It’s the building next to the bookshop opposite the café.

Finally, I want to share with you a picture of my trip to Cologne. Enjoy it!

See you in the next lesson!