A universal set that will always help you find the right path in a foreign country
Even in the age of modern technologies, when almost every traveler is “armed” with various gadgets with Google / Yandex and other maps, getting lost in an unfamiliar country is still elementary. Yes, even in your own country it is sometimes difficult to find the right address, but here you can at least follow the signs and signs, or, in extreme cases, ask passers-by. But what if all the signs are in a foreign language and it is not possible to understand them? We suggest memorizing or saving for the future a selection of the most simple and necessary English words and expressions, so that at any time you can definitely get from point A to point B.
If you really do not know where to go, then you can ask someone from the local. With the help of these five phrases, you can find out the location of any city object and point of interest:
- Do you know where is the …? - You do not know where …?
- Could you tell me how to get to the …? - Can you tell me how to get to …?
- I'm looking for this address. - I'm looking for this address..
- How far is the…? - How far is it to…?
- Can you show me on the map? - Can you show me on the map?
An important addition: remember to be polite. In Russian, the words “thank you” and “please” are used much less frequently than in English. So remember to add a polite request to your question, such as “Could you tell me how to get to the Big Ban please?”. And ideally, you also need to smile: foreigners already often consider Russians to be gloomy and rude. But this is not because we are poorly educated. It's just that, say, a Russian smile with the corners of the mouth by foreigners is not considered a smile at all. So they think the Russians are gloomy.
Destination
It is useful to know the names of the main urban infrastructure facilities. Even if you are not going to visit famous museums or cathedrals, they can serve as an excellent reference point for you.
- square - area;
- street - street;
- airport - airport;
- train station - railway station;
- bus station - bus station;
- cathedral - cathedral;
- church - church;
- fortress - fortress;
- palace - palace;
- convent - monastery;
- gallery - gallery;
- theater - theater;
- museum - museum;
- roundabout - roundabout.
Where did you send me?
Let's say you asked. And how now to understand what they answered you and where in general to go further? Arm yourself with universal speech patterns, they will help to capture the essence of the answers:
- It's this way - this is here;
- It's that way - this is there;
- you're going the wrong way - you are going in the wrong direction;
- take this road - follow this road;
- turn left - turn left;
- turn right - turn right;
- go straight ahead - go straight;
- take the first turn on the left - turn left at the first turn;
- take the second turn on the right - turn right at the second turn;
- turn left at the crossroads - turn right at the crossroads;
- continue straight ahead - keep going (go) straight ahead;
- continue past the post office / bank / shopping center - pass (drive) past the post office / bank / shopping center;
- you'll pass a park on your left - there will be a park on the left;
- keep going for another … - go more;
- two hundred yards - two hundred yards (1 yard ≈ 0.9 m);
- hundred meters - one hundred meters;
- half-mile - half a mile (1 mile ≈ 1.6 km);
- kilometer - kilometer;
- It'll be … - it will be;
- on your left - left;
- on your right - right;
- straight ahead of you - right in front of you.
