asking and giving direction

INTRODUCTION

Background

            English as a foreign language consists of four skills namely: writing, listening, reading, and speaking. These four skills are usually considered as integrated system because they support each other. To most people, speaking is the most difficult part in learning a foreign language because it is usage sense involves the manifestation either of the phonological system or the grammatical system of the language.

Learner are often hesitate to speak because they are afraid of pronouncing the words correctly or they feel really shy about talking in front of the other because they don’t know how to speak correctly. For example if they want to give some advice for their friend, they must know the rule or the correct phrase for giving advice. It also works when we asking for or giving expression of direction, we must know how to asking for direction and giving direction with correct way, word and phrase. Asking and giving direction is really important. Asking and giving direction always happen in our daily life whatever it’s on purpose or spontaneous. So how we can express the asking and giving direction if we don’t know the correct words and phrase to expressing of asking and giving direction. Because of that reason, the writer make a thesis with title “Asking and Giving of Direction” to help the learner for expressing surprise correctly.

ASKING FOR AND GIVING DIRECTIONS

A.   Asking and Giving Direction?

Not everyone knows where they are going and may need help with directions from time to time. Directions may be needed to get to a nearby town, or directions to the newest mall in town or directions to the nearest rest room in a large building. Where ever you are going the expression below can be used when asking for directions.

How do i get to …?

What's the best way to …?

Where is …?

Go straight on (until you come to …).

Turn back./go back.

Turn left/right (into …-street).

Go along …

Cross …

Take the first/second road on the left/right

It's on the left/right.

Straight on

Opposite

Near

Next to

Between

At the end (of)

On/at the corner

Behind

In front of

(just) around the corner

Traffic lights

Crossroads, junction

Signpost

B.   Asking Directions

Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to ...?
The bus station
Excuse me, do you know where the ... Is?
Post office
I'm sorry, I don't know
Sorry, I'm not from around here
I'm looking for ...
This address
Are we on the right road for ...?
Brighton
Is this the right way for ...?
Do you have a map?
Can you show me on the map?

C.   Giving Directions

It's this way
It's that way
You're going the wrong way
You're going in the wrong direction
Take this road
Go down there
Take the first on the left
Take the second on the right
Turn right at the crossroads
Continue straight ahead for about a mile (one mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers)
Continue past the fire station
You'll pass a supermarket on your left
Keep going for another ...
Hundred yards (about 91 meters)
Two hundred meter
Half mile (about 800 meters)
Kilometer
It'll be ...
On your left
On your right
Straight ahead of you

D.   How far is it?

How far is it?
How far is it to ...?
The airport
How far is it to ... From here?
The beach
Is it far?
Is it a long way?
It's ...
Not far
Quite close
Quite a long way
A long way on foot
A long way to walk
About a mile from here (one mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers)

E.   Giving Directions To Drivers

Follow the signs for ...
The town centre
Birmingham
Continue straight on past some traffic lights
At the second set of traffic lights, turn left
Go over the roundabout
Take the second exit at the roundabout
Turn right at the t-junction
Go under the bridge
Go over the bridge
You'll cross some railway lines

CLOSING

A. Conclusion

            Asking direction means a conversation that we always use when we want to ask someone where are we or where is the place that we want to go.

            Asking for directions is important, but it's also easy to become confused when listening to someone giving directions. This is true even in your own native language, so you can imagine how important it is to pay careful attention when listening to someone provide directions in English! Here are a few suggestions and tips to help you remember the directions as someone gives them to you.

For example:

·         What's the best way to …?

·         I'm looking for ...

·         Can you show me on the map?

Giving direction means a conversation that we always use it when someone ask to you the direction or what road that they should take to go to the place they want to go.

            Giving street directions is really very easy when you remember to follow these points. When giving directions you are actually giving two sets of instructions.

·         In the first set- "Go To" - you are telling the listener what street to go to or how far to go.

·         In the second set- "Then", you are telling the listener what to do when they get there. (turn right/left, go straight, on the left, etc.)

            “How far is it?” is relate when we ask direction. When we have already know where is the place that we want to go, we sometimes or need to know how far that place or can we get there just on walk or not.

For example:

·         How far is it to ... From here?

·         Is it a long way?

·         Quite a long way

Giving direction to drivers and someone who take a walk are a bit different. Sometimes we need to show the driver the location of traffic light or traffict sign and even the name of the street.

For example:

·         Go over the roundabout

·         Take the second exit at the roundabout

B.  Advices

            After we experienced our speaking assignment to make a thesis, we have some advices as follow:

1.    For learner. To improve our ability in speaking, we must always train ourselves more and read some references.

2.    For next assignment. Before we’re being given an assignment, I think that the lecturer should give us a specific explanation about our assignment.