Directions & city navigation — Unit 25, Pre-intermediate to Intermediate English
Give detailed routes, use landmarks, and ask politely in a city.
Reading: Lost in the Old Quarter
I arrived in the city centre feeling completely disoriented. A kind shopkeeper noticed my confused expression and offered help without being asked. He explained that the famous clock tower was the most useful **landmark** for orientation — it was visible from almost every corner of the historic district. His first piece of advice was to **head towards** the river, which runs along the southern edge of the old quarter.
Following his guidance, I walked three **blocks** along the main street, passing a pharmacy and a small café on my left. At the next **intersection**, I turned right as instructed. He had told me to **go past** the old church without stopping, because the entrance I needed was further along the road. Although the route felt long, he had assured me the gallery was **within walking distance** — no more than twelve minutes from the city centre.
When I reached the first **roundabout**, I hesitated because there were three exits and no clear signs. I stopped another pedestrian and politely asked, "**Could you tell me how to get to** the city gallery from here?" She smiled and pointed left, saying, "Take the second exit, then cross at the **pedestrian crossing**, and the gallery entrance is on your right. **You can't miss it** — it has a large orange door."
I followed her directions carefully and arrived at the gallery in under ten minutes. Looking back, I realised that using a clear **landmark** as a reference point had made navigation far simpler. The clock tower remained visible for most of the route, so I could correct my direction whenever I felt uncertain. City navigation is not about memorising every street name — it is about reading the environment, counting **blocks**, and asking confidently when you are unsure. Good **landmarks**, clear **intersections**, and polite questions are everything a traveller truly needs.
There was one more lesson waiting for me, and it came on the way back.
I decided not to ask anybody. I had the clock tower and I had counted the **blocks**. Twenty minutes later I was standing at a **roundabout** I had never seen, on the wrong side of the river.
What had gone wrong is worth knowing. Going out, I had used the tower as something ahead of me. Coming back, it was behind me, and I had not adjusted. A **landmark** only works if you know which side of it you are on.
The second mistake was worse. Two of the streets I had crossed were narrow lanes rather than roads, and I had not counted them at all.
I eventually asked a man at a bus stop. He walked with me to the corner and pointed. **You can't miss it**, he said — and this time it was true.
Vocabulary from this unit
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| landmark | a famous, easy-to-see place | Turn at the clock tower — it's a landmark. |
| block | street section between crossings | Walk two blocks and turn right. |
| intersection | where roads cross | The café is at the next intersection. |
| roundabout | circular road junction | Take the second exit at the roundabout. |
| pedestrian crossing | place to cross safely | Cross at the pedestrian crossing. |
| within walking distance | close enough to walk | The hotel is within walking distance. |
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Could you tell me how to get to…? | polite request | Could you tell me how to get to the stadium? |
| Which way is…? | ask direction | Which way is the town hall? |
| You can't miss it | very easy to find | It's huge — you can't miss it. |
| Go past… | continue beyond | Go past the bank and turn left. |
| It's about a ten-minute walk | give time | It's about a ten-minute walk. |
| head towards… | go in the direction of | Head towards the river. |
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?
Pre-intermediate to Intermediate — roughly CEFR A2–B1. 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.