ENGLISH WITH YEASIR: Spoken English

Wednesday 31 July 2013

Spoken English

When asking for directions, you can use the following phrases:

Excuse me, where is … ?
Excuse me, how can I get to… ?
Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to… ?

These are useful phrases when you are giving directions:

Go straight
Turn left
Turn right
Walk along the post office
Take the first (street) on your left/right
Walk over the bridge
Stop at the crossroads
At the traffic light turn left/right

Asking and giving 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 ...?
Ipswich

Do you have a map?
Can you show me on the map?

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 kilometres)

continue past the fire station

you'll pass a supermarket on your left

keep going for another ...
hundred yards (about 91 metres)
two hundred metres
half mile (about 800 metres)
kilometre

it'll be ...
on your left
on your right
straight ahead of you

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 kilometres)

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

Conversation Questions
Education

Ø Are foreign languages part of the curriculum of our country? If so, which languages?

Ø Are there good colleges in our country? Can you name some of them?

Ø Are women encouraged to pursue education?

Ø Do you know anyone who does not know how to read or write?

Ø Do you think teachers are paid enough in Bangladesh?

Ø Do you think your school is/was a good one? Why/why not?

Ø Do you think your teachers give too much homework?

Ø Why English is hard to learn at university level?

Ø How do you travel to school?

Ø What are some good ways to learn English?

Ø What are the qualities of a good student?

Ø What are the qualities of a good teacher?

Ø What do you study? What's your major?

Ø What was (or is) your favorite subject? Why do you like it?

Ø Why do you think people become teachers?

Ø Would you consider studying abroad?

Ø How much free time does a high school student in our country have?

Ø Do you think that most parents influence what university their child will attend?

Ø Once you graduate from a university should you stop learning?

o What are some ways a person can continue to learn?

Ø Does education guarantee a good job?

Ø Which high schools and colleges are the best in our country?

Ø Do elite universities help or harm your country?

Ø Why do students cheat during tests and exams?

Ø How do they cheat?

Ø What is your attitude towards cheating?

Ø What are the dangers of cheating?

Ø What skills separate good students from bad students?

Ø Do you think a person can become a genius, or are they just born that way?

Activity: Ask your partner the following questions and listen to him/her. If you differ from the answers given by your partner, show your logic.

Ø What do you see in the above picture?

Ø Is it a scene of acting or of reality?

Ø What might be the cause of beating the person tied with the pole?

Ø Is the person beating hard?

Ø With what he is beating?

Ø If you were the person beaten in the picture above, what would be your feeling?

Ø Do you think it is inhuman to beat one like this?

Ø Should the person beaten be sent to the police?

Ø If you see this scene anywhere, what would be your responsibility?

How is the weather today?

Instructions: Use these words to talk about today’s weather. From the following words, you will ask a question and your partner will answer to that question.

HOT:

You : It’s hot today. OR, Isn’t it hot today?

Your Partner : Oh yes, it is. /I don’t think so.

WARM:

You :_______________________________________