EF1 UNIT 5

Taxi

Preparation: none

Procedure: Students work in pairs. It is best if the partners don’t know exactly where either other lives. One sits behind the other, as if they were in a taxi. They imagine that the partner in the front is a taxi driver. The driver is taking the passenger to the passenger’s house. The driver is new to the city/area and doesn’t know it very well. The passenger gives directions, just as they would in a real taxi. They can start at the school or at some well known place.
Encourage them to use landmarks such as stores (Turn right just past the convenience store), in addition to words like “this corner.”
Students who finish early change partners and continue. Extra activity (this is adapted from the Teacher’s manual but we mentioned it in the unit 2 activity above so thought we should repeat it here).

Blindfold Directions

Preparation: You will need some small, easily identifiable objects (pencils, paper clips, poker chips, etc.). You also need blindfolds for half the class. Many discount stores (dollar shops/ ¥100, 1000won, NT$30 shops, etc.) sell them in the “travel goods” area. Or just use handkerchiefs.

Procedure: Work as an entire class. If necessary, move the desks so the aisles are wide enough to move easily and safely. Place the objects (clips, chips, etc) randomly around the room. Review the phrases that the teams will need to give directions: Go straight ahead. Turn left/right. Go a little further. Stop. Bend down. To the left/right more.
Students work in pairs. One partner wears a blindfold. The other partner gives directions to the objects. The people with the blindfolds follow the directions and see how many they can pick up.

Variations:
• Specify which objects each pair is trying to find (e.g., the yellow poker chips, the blue paper clips, etc.)
• If blindfolds aren’t practical, you can just have half the students close their eyes.