Demander son chemin
Asking for directions is easy. Understanding the answer — given fast, by a stranger, with a word you have never met — is the real skill. You handle it with repair phrases.
Part of your national curriculum
- Speaking: Initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses
Key learning points
- • Asking
- • Understanding the answer
- • Repair phrases when you are lost
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 19 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 19
Visual introductionPicture this
Demander son chemin
Asking for directions is easy. Understanding the answer — given fast, by a stranger, with a word you have never met — is the real skill. You handle it with repair phrases.
In a nutshell
Initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 19
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Asking
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 19
Learn
Asking
Pardon, madame, où est la gare, s'il vous plaît ? Pour aller au musée, s'il vous plaît ? Est-ce qu'il y a une pharmacie près d'ici ? Always open with pardon or excusez-moi and close with s'il vous plaît.
Reset break
Part 4 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 19
Learn
Understanding the answer
Allez tout droit (go straight on), tournez à gauche / à droite (turn left / right), prenez la première rue (take the first street), continuez jusqu'aux feux (carry on to the lights), c'est en face de / à côté de / entre (opposite / next to / between).
Quick check
Part 6 of 19
Quick check
Part 7 of 19
Reset break
Part 8 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 19
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Repair phrases when you are lost
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 19
Learn
Repair phrases when you are lost
Pardon, je n'ai pas compris. Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ? Plus lentement, s'il vous plaît. C'est loin ? These four phrases mean an unexpected answer never ends the conversation — it just slows it down.
Quick check
Part 11 of 19
Reset break
Part 12 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 19
Explore the idea
Part 14 of 19
Worked example
Model role play
A: Pardon, monsieur, pour aller à la gare ? B: Allez tout droit, puis prenez la deuxième rue à droite. A: Pardon, vous pouvez répéter plus lentement ? B: Tout droit, puis la deuxième à droite. C'est à côté du parc. A: Merci beaucoup !
Challenge round
Part 15 of 19
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 16 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 19
Game · Recall cards
A stranger answers your question with a word you do not know. The best repair phrase is...
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 18 of 19
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Demander son chemin
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. A stranger answers your question with a word you do not know. The best repair phrase is...
2. What does 'J'adore la musique' mean?
3. How would you say 'I play football at the weekend'?
4. What should you say if you don't understand something in French?
Lesson round-up
Part 19 of 19
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 19 · Watch & discover
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Initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses