Read this blog post to find out how I went about preparing my latest interactive notebook packet, which is all about Prepositions, Commands and Giving and Asking for Directions. I’m going to give you tips on how I come up with my lesson plans for my ESL (ELL) students and how I prepare them for situations where they’re likely to panic.

Getting up the nerve to ask someone for directions can be terrifying for someone who hasn’t mastered the local language. And giving directions, well, let’s just say that that can be just as difficult, especially when you’re not a hundred percent sure of the answer.

Whenever I teach my ESL (ELL) students, I always like to put myself in their shoes before I come up with a lesson plan. What do they really need to learn? Which phrases and vocabulary words will be most helpful? What’s the hardest part about being in this exact situation? These are just some of the questions that I can ask myself before I actually start planning.

Let’s face it, giving directions can be difficult when speaking our mother tongue, never mind our second, third or fourth language. That’s why I have come up with some tools and strategies to help make the process easier for young minds.

When teaching we have to, of course, work on the basics and stick to the important vocabulary, but you also have to give your students a way out. A way out? Yes, a way out. Give them a few sentences and catch phrases that they can use when they start to panic. I know that it might seem counterproductive, but the truth is that it is the START of something.

Think about it…how many times have you been in a situation where someone asked you a question and you just fumbled so much that you couldn’t give them an answer? This has happened to me countless time on my journey to learning new languages. And every time that it happened I always wished (in hindsight) that I had had a few key catch phrases or polite sentences to let them know that I couldn’t help them, but that I wasn’t a complete fool either :)

In the interactive notebook packet that I’ve just made I have included many tools to help my students learn their prepositions and commands in English, but I’ve also included some lifesavers. These “lifesavers” come in the form of sentences that they can pick out when they are in a pinch or a panic and just can’t seem to find the right vocabulary words to reply with. Here’s an example:

Someone asks them for directions but they’re new to the area too… Well, I’ve come up with a few simple sentences as a reply.

Or, what if they would love to help, but they are running late?… Luckily, I’ve got some useful sentences that give them options on how to respond (both negatively and positively) when someone asks them for directions.

Did I include a map and mini dialogues so that they can practice the typical responses one should give when giving directions? Of course! I’ve got my students covered there too. I’ve even made them a mini booklet and interactive notebook pages that they can use to test their skills with a friend or on their own. To top it off, I’ve also made some PowerPoint slides that I can use with my whole class, to prepare for our upcoming tests and have fun while doing it.

I hope that this post has given you some ideas on how to start the process of building your own “Giving and Asking for Directions” lesson but if you’re in a pinch, or if you simply would like to try out my interactive notebook lesson, please make your way to my teacherspayteachers shop. Otherwise, keep truckin’ my dear teacher friend! I know it’s not always easy, but just remember to surround yourself with a positive group of individuals that help to lift up your energy level as the academic year comes closer to ending. We can all use a little bit of sunshine!

Wishing you a nice day teachers!

Sincerely,

Danielle P. Browne