Everyday Echoes · Role Play · A2/B1 · 50 min

Asking for Directions

You are in a new city. It is beautiful — but you are lost. Your phone is dead. Time to stop a friendly person and find your way.

This is the easier version. Want the harder one? → Full B2/C1 version →

The Scene 🎬

You are in a new city. It is your first day here. The streets are small and pretty, and there is coffee everywhere. You love it. But there is one problem: you are lost.

You wanted to see the old cathedral. Your phone had a map, but then the map stopped — "no signal" — and then your phone died. Now you don't know the way. Every street looks the same.

A person is walking near you. They live here. They know every street. This is your chance: stop them, say hello, and ask for help. It is easy when you are polite.

Warm up — talk for one minute

  1. Do you like new cities? Is it fun to get lost, or not fun for you?
  2. When you are lost, do you ask a person, or do you look at your phone? Why?

Who's who

You
The Traveller 🧭

New in the city. Your phone is dead. You are friendly, and you are happy to ask people for help.

The other person
The Local 🏘️

They live here. They know every street. Kind and friendly — they are happy to help you find the way.

Next: learn the phrases you need in the next tab. Then see them in a real conversation. It is OK to speak slowly. It is OK to say "sorry, again please?" People are happy to help you.

Useful Phrases 🧰

Here are the phrases for this conversation. Read each one and say it out loud once. Choose the ones you like. Keep this page open when you practise.

The shape of this conversation
1 · Stop someone2 · Ask the way3 · Too fast4 · Check and thank
It's a map, not a script. Real talk can skip steps or go back.
Cover it later, when you want to test yourself.

When you're the traveller

🚶 Stop someone
"Excuse me, can you help me, please?"
"Excuse me, sorry to bother you."
🗺 Ask the way
"I am lost."
"How do I get there?"
🔁 Too fast
"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
💛 Check and thank
"Is that right?"
"Thank you so much! You helped me a lot."

When you're the local

"Where do you want to go?"
"Go straight on."
"Turn left at the bank."
"It is about five minutes on foot."

When something changes

"Is it far?"
"You can take the bus."
"Do you have a map?"

When you need help

"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
"Do you mean…?"
"How do you say … in English?"

Speed round 🎯

Draw a card. Say what you would say, out loud. Then look at one answer.

Press the button to start.

Try a few more rounds with the toolkit covered. When it feels easy, you are ready.

The Conversation 💬

Read it out loud, one person each, then change. Find the phrases from your toolkit. Listen for the polite words.

YouExcuse me, sorry to bother you. Can you help me, please? I am lost.
LocalOf course! No problem. Where do you want to go?
YouI want to go to the old cathedral. Where is it, please?
LocalAh, the cathedral! It's easy. Go straight on, then take the second street on the left, and it's next to the big park.
YouSorry, that was a little fast. Can you say that again, please?
LocalYes, of course! Go straight on. Then take the second street on the left. The cathedral is next to the park.
YouCan you speak more slowly, please? My English is not very good.
LocalNo problem. Go… straight… on. Then… the second left. The cathedral is by the park.
YouSo, straight on, then the second left, and it's by the park. Is that right?
LocalYes, that's right! The second left — not the first one.
YouThank you. Is it near? How do I get there — can I walk?
LocalIt's very near. Five minutes. Yes, you can walk!
YouThank you so much! You helped me a lot.
LocalYou're welcome! Have a nice day.

From memory — don't look up!

1. Where does the traveller want to go?

2. The local says "take the left". Which one — the first left, or the second left?

3. Is the cathedral near or far? Does the traveller take a bus, or walk?

1. The traveller wants to go to the old cathedral.
2. The second left — not the first one.
3. It is very near — only five minutes. The traveller can walk (on foot).

Your Turn 🎭

No script this time. You have a real talk with a real person. You have a goal.

1 · Warm up your voice 🎤

Say each sentence out loud. Use your own words in the gaps.

  1. Stop someone. Excuse me, can you ___?
  2. Ask the way. How do I get to ___?
  3. Too fast. Can you ___, please?
  4. Check and thank. Is that ___?

2 · The scene 🎬

Pick a situation. Your partner plays the other person.

Your card
Where
The situation
You have
You want
Your ruleAsk them to repeat if you are not sure.
Who you're talking to

🏆 Know exactly how to get there.

⏱ 3:00
Twist deck

🎲 Something changes

Start the scene. After a minute, draw a card. What it says just happened.

Nothing has changed yet.

3 · Swap seats 🔁

Now you are the other person. Your partner takes your old part.

Your card
WhereOn the street
Your goalGive directions, then check they understood
Your partnerPlays the traveller now

Draw another twist if you like.

4 · Afterwards ✅

Tick what you did, in either seat.

Phrases I want to use next time

Go again

⚡ Same situation, one more time

Do it again. Draw a twist before you start. Try to do it faster this time.

The Echo 🕰️

About 750 years ago, a young man from Venice named Marco Polo left home. He went east — a very, very long way. He had no phone, no map, no GPS. He had only the stars in the sky and the help of kind strangers.

He walked over deserts and big mountains. He saw cities that no one in his country knew. Every day, he had to stop people, ask the way, and understand the answer — just like you did today.

Your cathedral is five minutes away. His journey was many years and thousands of miles. Same idea — ask, listen, understand — but a much bigger trip!

🐫 Want the full story of Marco Polo? (Easy version)Open →

Two questions to talk about

  1. Today we have a phone that always knows where we are. Is this good, or do we lose something when we never ask people the way?
  2. Marco Polo had to trust strangers, again and again. Is it easy for you to trust a stranger's help? When is it not a good idea?