English for Conversation

LOST

An ESL Guide to Getting Around

CONTENTS

​OUTLINE

This lesson teaches students how to give directions in English by using a map and/or vocal challenges to let students practice and describe where buildings are located and how to get to a specific place

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES

​OUTLINE

The students should be able to:

1. Learn & know how to give and follow directions

2. Get authentic practice in asking for and giving directions

3. Learn the natural way of holding conversations with native and advanced non-native speakers through the appropriation of common use collocations

• Excuse me**

• I'm not from around here, can you help me?

• Do you know where I can find a ____

• I hope it's not far because "I'm on foot"

• "How's that"?

• I'm all ears

​sOME TARGET LANGUAGE THE SEEKER MUST USE

• Yes

• How Can I help you?**

• Sure! There's a ____

• Well it's your lucky day then

• It's a stones throw away to where you want to go

• Just go.... (directions)

​sOME TARGET LANGUAGE THE GIVER MUST USE

DEMONSTRATION

​TEACHER

At this time, the teacher will act out both the role of the TOURIST [the person looking for help] and that of the LOCAL [the person giving help]

INSTRUCTIONS

​STUDENT LEARNERS

At this time, YOU will re-enact this very same scenario in pairs of two where you are looking for directions to some place. You will use some of the words that you've learned and you will also change some of the words that you've learned. For example: instead of saying "it's close" you might say, "it's far" or "you will definitely want to drive" Anything new. YOU will also throw in a twist on your plot!

PLOT TWIST

​STUDENT LEARNERS

Example - Instead of saying: "how may I help you".... You might say, "I'm going that way, would you like to follow me?"

The board will be erased of notes and phrases. You will have to come up with your own dialogue to give directions in a natural way. Lucky for you, you were paying attention in class and have a great starting point. In real life, we do not have whiteboards and notes to pull from. GOOD LUCK !!

SCENE

hint: You will see the person who gave you directions again from earlier in the day. Make natural conversation based off of your 'plot twist cards'

​You have already went to the place you sought directions for and now the day is "coming to a close". You go to a local restaurant that has live music on this night

• Say this immediately upon "running into" your local person again [seeing someone for a second time in a day]:

"Fancy seeing you here"

​TOURIST PLOT TWIST CARD

• Respond naturally to your tourist's statement and insert this comment at some point in your conversation

"What else did you do to kill time today?"

​LOCAL'S PLOT TWIST CARD

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Have some student pairs come up in front of class and share there dialogues from the plot twist cards based upon natural conversations. Make conversation and grammatical corrections where applicable to support positive and natural student communication interactions