Authentic Task Design in English for Tourism---Asking for and

Giving Directions

Shu-Yin Cheng鄭舒尹

shuyincheng@gmail.com

Workshop on ESP Professional Development, National Cheng Kung University

PurposeTo contextualize the language use

of asking for and giving directions

To get students fully involved in class

To adapt the task for a mixed-level class

To incorporate the task with other tasks like making suggestions

Target Students and textbook

Sophomores (non-tourism relevant majors)taking “English for Tourism” at National Cheng Kung University

NCKU ESP Team (2013) ESP: English for Tourism and Hospitality 2nd edition,Bookman: Taipei.

WARM UPTapping into life experiences

When you got lost, what would you do?

How do you ask for directions? What are some expressions you have learned before?

When someone approaches you asking for directions, how do you response to the request?

Photo credit: http://www.elllo.org/Assets/images/P0401/448-Lost.jpg

The Starting Point

*Go, go, go, go,

and turn right.

Excuse me,

I am lost. Where is the train station?

That way.

*Go this way and turn to

your right hand.

Turn right at the 7-11; then

go straight. You will

find another 7-

11.

Excuse me,

I am lost. Where is the train station?

Take XXX Rd. and turn onto XXX Rd…

*Go pass the and you will find the

train station.

Room for improvementCollocations

Ways to specify distance

Use landmarks

Use transitions

Connecting to the text

The Gap

PurposeBridging the gap

Ways to give directions Street name

Nearby landmark

Bus stop / MRT / railway

What else?

Photo credit: http://www.elllo.org/Assets/images/P0401/448-Lost.jpg

DrawSomet

hing

block T-junction roundabout

/traffic circle

overpass

tunnel intersection

traffic light

fork road

Work with a partner to discuss what the following infrastructures are and draw pictures of them.

Directions

Asking for directions Giving directionsExcuse me. How do I

get to … from here?

Excuse me. What’s the best way to…?

Excuse me. Is there a hotel near here?

Excuse me. Could you tell me the way to…?

The best way to go is…

What you need to do is…

Go…, Take…, Turn…

If you take …, you’ll see…

FirstGo down this street.

Go straight (to the traffic light, till you get to the main street)

Go up the street.

Go up the escalators.

FirstGo down this street.

Go straight (to the traffic light, till you get to the main street)

Go up the street.

Go up the escalators.

Then

Turn right.

Turn left.

Take the first on the right / left (on your right/ left).

Pass the post office.

Go past the department store.

Go over the bridge.

Go through the park.

Cross the street.

Go across the square.

Is it far?

No, it isn’t very far. You can walk there in ten minutes.

Well, it is quite far. You’d better take a train.

take a train / take a bus / go by tram / go by bus

take train No. . ... / take bus No. ...

take the underground, take the metro, take the A line

get on at ...

change at ...

change to the C line (red line)

get off at ...

Prepositions of movements

Come, get, and go can be combined with prepositions such as along, at, down, out of, past, through, and up

Come out of leave, Come to reach

Go/ Head/ Walk past the station, then turn left.

Go/ Head/ Walk along here for about 5 min.

Prepositions of movements (Cont.)

Go down this road.

Head up the High Street until you reach the bank.

Turn right at the 7-11.

Walk towards the church but turn left before you reach it.

Walk to the church and cut through the churchyard.

StepsThink of the simplest route, even if it takes

a little longer.

Specify distance.

Indicate turns.

Warn them about any confusing parts of the route.

Mention which side of the street their destination will be found on.

Have them repeat the directions to you.

Let’s practice…1. How can I get to Taiwan High

Speed Rail Tainan station?

2. Where is the nearest coffee shop?

3. Could you tell me the way to train station?

You may add destinations by yourself.

Multilevel options

Turn right at the café, then left into Abbey Road, and the bank is on your right.

Asking for Directions and Giving directions

With a TWIST!

You’ll need…A set of cards. Each comes with a

“destination” printed on it.

Sample cards

Restaurant(Japanese food or American food) within walking distance

Coffee Shop

(Note: No Starbucks or City Cafe!!!) Museum

All-you-can-eat Restaurant

You’ll need…A set of cards. Each card comes

with a “destination” printed on it.

A map of the neighborhood- Indicate the starting points and some landmarks to help students locate where they are.

Instruction:Divide the class into two groups.

Group A

--- You are a first-time visitor to NCKU.Each one of you will get a paper slip

with a “destination” printed on it.Find someone to ask for suggestions

and directions. (Please apply the sentence patterns / phrases you learned.)

Instruction:Divide the class into two

groups.

Group B

--- You are a students at NCKU. You are an expert on the

neighborhoods in your area.Get ready to help visitors to find

their way.

Read the map, indicate the following locations/ stores on

your map

1. Shopping

(Clothes, electronic products, grocery)

2. Restaurants (Taiwanese, Japanese, Italian, Thai, American food, all-you-can-eat)

3. Coffee shop

4. Bakery

5. Park / Museum

6. Beverage shop

7. Copy shop

8. Gas station

Other options:Written test

Other options:Listening test

Follow GPS instructions

Photo credit: http://www.medcrunch.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/shutterstock_55172587-300x199.jpg