Lesson 27 - The great view

🧭 LESSON 3 — The Great City Escape

Level: A2+ English

Mission: Escape the confusing city and find your destination!

Main goal: Give complete directions, ask for clarification and solve navigation problems.

Language focus:

• Sequencing: First, then, after that, finally.
• Checking directions: Do you mean...? Is it...?
• Asking for repetition: Could you repeat that, please?
• Giving advice: You should take a taxi. You can walk.

1. Warm-up: Would you survive in this city? 🏙️

Imagine you are in a strange city. You have no internet, your phone battery is dead, and you need to find your hotel.

1. What would you do first?
2. Would you ask a police officer, a tourist or a shop assistant for directions?
3. What would you do if someone gave you directions you couldn't understand?
4. Would you trust someone who said, “Just follow that dog”?
5. What is more difficult: understanding directions or giving directions?
6. Have you ever given someone directions and then realised you were wrong?
7. What is the strangest thing that could happen while you were looking for a hotel?

🎲 Warm-up game: Three directions, one lie

Student A gives three statements about places in their city. Two are true and one is false.

• The library is opposite the park.
• The supermarket is next to the cinema.
• The railway station is behind the swimming pool.

Student B guesses which statement is false and asks follow-up questions.

Useful question: “Are you sure the railway station is behind the swimming pool?”

2. Vocabulary 📚

Study these words and phrases. Then test your memory in the interactive exercises below.

Word / phrase	IPA	Ukrainian	Example
map	/mæp/	карта	Can you show me the way on the map?
get lost	/ɡet lɒst/	заблукати	We got lost in the old town.
find your way	/faɪnd jɔː weɪ/	знайти дорогу	It's difficult to find your way here.
ask for help	/ɑːsk fə help/	попросити допомоги	Don't be afraid to ask for help.
repeat	/rɪˈpiːt/	повторити	Could you repeat that, please?
slowly	/ˈsləʊli/	повільно	Could you speak more slowly?
understand	/ˌʌndəˈstænd/	розуміти	I don't understand these directions.
check	/tʃek/	перевірити	Let's check the map.
route	/ruːt/	маршрут	What's the quickest route to the airport?
shortcut	/ˈʃɔːtkʌt/	коротший шлях	There's a shortcut through the park.
roundabout	/ˈraʊndəbaʊt/	кільцева розв'язка	Take the second exit at the roundabout.
exit	/ˈeksɪt/	виїзд, вихід	Take the first exit.
entrance	/ˈentrəns/	вхід	The entrance is behind the building.
at the end	/æt ði end/	у кінці	The hotel is at the end of the road.
first	/fɜːst/	спочатку, перший	First, go straight ahead.
then	/ðen/	потім	Then turn left at the bank.
after that	/ˈɑːftə ðæt/	після цього	After that, cross the bridge.
finally	/ˈfaɪnəli/	нарешті	Finally, you'll see the museum.
on foot	/ɒn fʊt/	пішки	It's ten minutes away on foot.
by taxi	/baɪ ˈtæksi/	на таксі	You can get there by taxi.
city centre	/ˌsɪti ˈsentə/	центр міста	How do I get to the city centre?
square	/skweə/	площа	The hotel is near the main square.
bridge	/brɪdʒ/	міст	Cross the bridge and turn right.
police station	/pəˈliːs ˌsteɪʃən/	поліцейська дільниця	Is there a police station near here?
town hall	/taʊn hɔːl/	міська ратуша	The town hall is in the main square.
shopping centre	/ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˌsentə/	торговельний центр	The shopping centre is opposite the station.

🎯 Test 1 — Vocabulary challenge

Choose the correct answer.

1. What does “get lost” mean?

Find a shortcut. Be unable to find the right way. Arrive early.

2. What is a roundabout?

A circular road junction. A pedestrian bridge. A railway platform.

3. Which word means “коротший шлях”?

Route. Entrance. Shortcut.

4. “Could you speak more slowly?” asks someone to…

Give a different address. Speak at a slower speed. Stop talking.

5. What does “on foot” mean?

Walking. By bus. By taxi.

6. Where can you usually find the town hall?

Inside an airport. At a bus stop. In a town or city's public centre.

3. Useful language: When you don't understand 🗣️

Expression	Ukrainian translation
Could you repeat that, please?	Не могли б ви повторити, будь ласка?
Could you speak more slowly?	Не могли б ви говорити повільніше?
Do you mean the first street or the second street?	Ви маєте на увазі першу чи другу вулицю?
Is it far from here?	Це далеко звідси?
Can I walk there?	Я можу дійти туди пішки?
Could you show me on the map?	Не могли б ви показати мені на карті?
So, I turn right at the bank, correct?	Отже, я повертаю праворуч біля банку, правильно?
Thank you for your patience.	Дякую за ваше терпіння.

Remember these four useful language patterns:

• Sequencing: First..., then..., after that..., finally...
• Checking: Do you mean the first street? Is it opposite the bank?
• Repetition: Could you repeat that, please?
• Advice: You should take a taxi. You can walk there in ten minutes.

Speaking tip: Repeat the most important information to check that you understood correctly.

💬 Test 2 — What should you say?

Choose the most natural expression for each situation.

1. You didn't hear the directions. What do you say?

Is it far from here? You should take a taxi. Could you repeat that, please?

2. You aren't sure which street the person means.

Do you mean the first street or the second street? Finally, turn right. Thank you for your patience.

3. You want someone to point out a route on your map.

Can I take the second exit? Could you show me on the map? You should cross the bridge.

4. You want to check that you understood correctly.

Could you speak more slowly? What's the quickest route? So, I turn right at the bank, correct?

5. You want to recommend a faster way to travel across town.

You should take a taxi. Could you repeat that? Do you mean the station?

6. You want to know whether the destination is a long way away.

Could you show me on the map? Is it far from here? After that, turn left.

4. Reading: The Tourist, the Police Officer and the Invisible Bridge 🍫

Emily was visiting a city called Funnyville. She had one important mission: find the famous Chocolate Museum.

Unfortunately, Emily had a terrible sense of direction.

She looked at her map and walked into the city centre. After ten minutes, she realised she was standing in front of the police station.

“Excuse me,” she said to a police officer. “How do I get to the Chocolate Museum?”

The officer looked at her map.

“First, go straight along this street. Then cross the bridge and take the second exit at the roundabout. After that, turn left at the shopping centre.”

Emily nodded confidently.

“Great! Could you repeat that, please?”

The officer repeated the directions more slowly.

Emily thanked him and started walking.

After twenty minutes, she arrived at a roundabout. There were five exits.

Emily looked at the road signs. One said City Centre. Another said Airport. A third said Chocolate Factory.

“Chocolate Factory?” Emily thought. “That sounds even better!”

She took the exit.

After ten minutes, she arrived at a huge chocolate factory. A man in a white uniform was standing outside.

“Excuse me,” Emily said. “Is this the Chocolate Museum?”

“No,” the man replied. “This is a chocolate factory.”

“Can I visit?”

“Not today. We are making chocolate for a very important customer.”

“Who?”

“The police station.”

Emily looked confused.

“Why does the police station need so much chocolate?”

The man smiled.

“They ordered it for their annual chocolate festival.”

Emily checked her map again. She realised she had forgotten to cross the bridge.

She walked back to the roundabout and took another exit. Finally, she reached the Chocolate Museum.

At the entrance, a sign said: “Free chocolate for visitors who arrive before 12:00.”

Emily looked at her watch. It was 12:01.

She knocked on the door. A museum worker opened it.

“Sorry,” he said. “The free chocolate is finished.”

Emily sighed.

“Can you tell me the way to the chocolate factory?”

The worker pointed across the street.

“It's just opposite.”

Emily smiled.

“Excellent! This time, I'm going to the right place!”

📖 Test 3 — Reading comprehension

1. What was Emily trying to find?

The police station. The Chocolate Museum. The airport.

2. Who gave Emily directions?

A police officer. A bus driver. A museum visitor.

3. Which exit did Emily choose first?

The Airport exit. The City Centre exit. The Chocolate Factory exit.

4. Why did Emily arrive at the wrong place?

The police officer gave her no directions. She followed the wrong exit and forgot to cross the bridge. The museum had moved to the airport.

5. Why couldn't Emily get free chocolate?

She arrived at 12:01, after the deadline. She had no ticket. The museum was closed for the day.

6. Where was the chocolate factory in relation to the museum?

Behind the museum. At the end of the road. Opposite the museum.

7. What does “a terrible sense of direction” mean?

The person gives excellent directions. The person often has difficulty finding places. The person doesn't like maps.

🔢 Test 4 — Put the directions in order

You're at the police station and want to reach the museum. Put each instruction in the correct order from 1 to 4.

Turn left at the shopping centre.

Choose the orderStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4

Go straight along the street.

Choose the orderStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4

Finally, arrive at the Chocolate Museum.

Choose the orderStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4

Then cross the bridge and take the second exit at the roundabout.

Choose the orderStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4

5. Grammar and language detective 🔍

Sequencing words help the listener follow the route:

First, go straight ahead. Then turn left. After that, cross the bridge. Finally, you'll see the museum.

Checking: “Do you mean the first exit?” “Is it opposite the station?”

Asking for repetition: “Could you repeat that, please?”

Giving advice: “You should take a taxi if you're in a hurry.” “You can walk; it's only five minutes away.”

✏️ Test 5 — Choose the correct expression

1. ______, go straight ahead. ______, turn left at the bank.

First / Then Finally / First Behind / Between

2. You want to check which exit to take. You say…

You should take a taxi. Could you speak more slowly? Do you mean the second exit?

3. You want to suggest walking to a nearby café.

You should walking there. You can walk there. You can to walk there.

4. Choose the correct phrase.

After that, cross the bridge. After that cross to the bridge it. After, that crossing bridge.

5. You didn't understand the speaker. What is polite?

Speak again! You repeat. Could you repeat that, please?

6. Choose the best final sequencing word: “First, cross the bridge. Then turn right. After that, walk past the bank. ______, you'll see the hotel.”

Behind Finally Between

7. Which sentence gives advice?

You should take a taxi. Is it near the square? Could you repeat that?

6. Speaking: The Great City Escape 🗺️

Mission: Find the secret café

Work in pairs. Student A is a tourist. Student B is a local guide. The tourist needs to find a secret café before it closes.

🎒 Student A — Tourist card

You are at the police station. You want to find the secret café.

Ask these questions:

• How do I get there?
• Is it far?
• Can I walk there?
• Could you repeat the directions?

Ask for clarification if you don't understand.

🧭 Student B — Local guide card

The café is:

• Behind the town hall.
• Near the main square.
• Opposite the entrance to the shopping centre.

Give directions using at least five expressions from this lesson.

Add one funny problem: the tourist follows a dog, takes the wrong exit or crosses the wrong bridge.

🎭 Test 6 — Solve the navigation problems

Choose the best response in each situation.

1. A tourist asks how to get to the city centre. You know it is a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride. What is the best answer?

I don't understand you. You can walk in about 20 minutes, or you should take a taxi if you're in a hurry. Finally, opposite the bridge.

2. Your friend says, “Take the second exit.” You aren't sure which exit they mean.

Do you mean the second exit at the roundabout? You should take a taxi. Finally, go home.

3. A local speaks too quickly.

You should cross the bridge. Is it opposite the station? Could you speak more slowly, please?

4. You reach a bridge, but your directions didn't mention a bridge. What should you do?

Cross it immediately without checking. Check your map or ask someone to clarify the route. Follow a random person.

5. You want to confirm the final turn.

So, I turn left after the bridge, correct? I don't like bridges. Could you take a taxi?

7. Speaking: Give directions to a stranger 🌍

Situation 1 — The lost tourist

A tourist is standing in front of the railway station. They want to find the city centre. Give clear, sequenced directions and explain how far it is.

Situation 2 — The birthday party

Your friend is at the shopping centre. They need to get to your house but have never visited your neighbourhood. Give directions and check they understand.

Situation 3 — The emergency

You need to find the nearest pharmacy. Ask a police officer for help. Ask them to repeat the directions if necessary.

Situation 4 — The wrong exit

Your friend took the wrong exit at a roundabout. Explain how to get back to the correct road.

Situation 5 — The mystery place

Student A describes a secret location. Student B follows the directions and guesses the place. Use at least four sequencing expressions.

8. Final speaking project: My city tour 🎤

Prepare a short city tour for a tourist.

Your tour must include:

• At least five places in the city.
• At least eight direction expressions.
• Two landmarks.
• One distance expression.
• One funny or unexpected event.
• At least one question checking that the tourist understands.

Show an example beginning

“Welcome to my city! First, we are going to the main square. Go straight along this street and turn left at the traffic lights. The square is opposite the town hall. Then we'll walk past the shopping centre. After that, cross the bridge. Finally, you'll see the museum on your right. It's about ten minutes away on foot. Do you understand the directions, or would you like me to repeat them?”

Present your tour to the class. Your classmates should listen and ask two questions.

🏆 Test 7 — The Great City Escape final quiz

Complete all ten questions to see your score.

1. Which word usually begins a set of directions?

Finally. First. Behind.

2. Which phrase asks someone to repeat information?

You should take a taxi. Is it far from here? Could you repeat that, please?

3. What does “take the second exit” usually refer to?

Choosing the second exit at a junction or roundabout. Entering the second building. Taking the second bus.

4. Choose the correct sentence.

You should to take a taxi. You should take a taxi. You should taking a taxi.

5. You want to confirm a direction. What do you say?

Speak faster, please. Finally, thank you. So, I turn right at the bank, correct?

6. Choose the correct sequence.

First, go straight. Then turn left. After that, cross the bridge. Finally, you'll see the hotel. Finally, go straight. First, arrive. Behind, cross the bridge. Between, go straight. Entrance, turn left. Map, finally.

7. What should you do if you don't understand the route?

Pretend you understand. Ask for repetition or clarification. Choose a random street.

8. Which phrase gives advice?

Do you mean the first street? Could you repeat that? You should take a taxi.

9. What does “opposite the station” mean?

Across from the station. Behind the station. Inside the station.

10. Which is the most polite request?

Repeat it now! Could you show me on the map, please? You show map.

9. Homework 📝

Write a short dialogue between a tourist and a local person.

Your dialogue must include:

1. A tourist asking for directions.
2. A local person giving at least five instructions.
3. The tourist asking for clarification or repetition.
4. A funny mistake or misunderstanding.
5. A successful ending.

Check your homework before submitting

• Did you use First, then, after that and finally?
• Did you include Could you repeat that, please?
• Did you include Do you mean...? or Is it...?
• Did you use You should... or You can...?
• Did the tourist eventually find the destination?

🔁 Vocabulary review: Lessons 1–3

Choose the correct answer to revise all three lessons.

1. “Turn left” means…

Keep walking straight. Walk past the destination. Change direction to the left.

2. What is the difference between “opposite” and “next to”?

Opposite means across from; next to means beside. They always mean exactly the same thing. Opposite means behind.

3. How do you ask someone to speak more slowly?

Where is the station? Could you speak more slowly, please? Take the first street.

4. What is a pharmacy?

A place where you can buy medicine. A place where trains stop. A place where you park a car.

5. How do you say “пішки” in English?

By taxi. By roundabout. On foot.

🎉 Congratulations, City Navigator!

You've practised giving complete directions, sequencing instructions, asking for clarification and solving navigation problems.

Final speaking challenge: Explain how to get to a place in your city without using the words “left”, “right” or “straight”. Can your partner guess the destination?