Directions & getting around — Unit 22, Beginner English
Ask for and give simple directions — go straight, turn left, opposite, on foot.
Reading: Pedro's Walk to Work
My name is Pedro. I live in a small flat near the city centre. Every morning, I walk to my office. It is not far — only about fifteen minutes **on foot**.
To get to my office, I leave my flat and **go straight** down Market Street for five minutes. Then I **turn right** at the big post office and walk for two more minutes. My office building is **on the corner** of King Street and Bridge Road. It is a tall, grey building. There is a bank **next to** my office and a small café **opposite**. I buy my morning coffee at that café every day.
Sometimes I need to go to the supermarket after work. I **turn left** at the café and walk for three more minutes. The supermarket is **opposite** the park. It is easy to find.
My city has many useful places. There is a hospital, a library, a bus station, and a museum. The library is **next to** the park, and the museum is **opposite** the library, on Green Avenue. Visitors often stop me on the street and ask, "**Excuse me**, **how do I get to** the museum?" I always help them with a smile. I say: "**Go straight** to the park, then **turn right**. The museum is on your left, just two minutes away."
I love my city. It is not too big and not too small. Everything is close. Most places are only ten to fifteen minutes **on foot**, so I walk almost everywhere and I never need a car.
Vocabulary from this unit
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me | polite way to start | Excuse me, where is the station? |
| How do I get to…? | ask for directions | How do I get to the museum? |
| Is it far? | ask about distance | Is it far from here? |
| on foot | walking | It's ten minutes on foot. |
| Thank you | say thanks | Thank you very much! |
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| go straight | continue forward | Go straight for two minutes. |
| turn left | go to the left | Turn left at the bank. |
| turn right | go to the right | Turn right after the park. |
| opposite | on the other side | The shop is opposite the café. |
| next to | beside | The bank is next to the library. |
| on the corner | where two streets meet | The café is on the corner. |
This is the free sample from this unit. The full unit adds 1 more reading passage, comprehension questions with an answer key, the listening exercises, flashcards for the vocabulary above, and a speaking task — with your progress tracked so the next unit unlocks when you are ready for it.
Common questions
What level is this unit?
Beginner — roughly CEFR A0–A1. If you are not sure of your level, the course places you with a short diagnostic before you start rather than making you guess.
Do I need to pay to use this?
The reading passage and vocabulary on this page are free to read. The rest of the unit — the remaining passages, the exercises, the listening, the answer key and the progress tracking — is part of the paid General English course.
Is this British or American English?
British English spelling and vocabulary, which is what most learners in Azerbaijan are taught and what IELTS expects, though both are accepted in the exam.