英語で道案内して、TOEICスコアアップ!【ポストコロナ、インバウンド復活】
くむ(@c_moon_wfh)です。
コロナ明けで規制が緩み、円安が進んでいることもあって、日本に来る外国人観光客のみなさんが増えてきています。
街で向こうから声をかけられることもあるでしょうし、道に迷って困ってる感じの外国人観光客を見つけたら、勇気を出して話しかけたりしてみましょう!
(その方が英語圏から来た、もしくは英語を話す場合を想定しています)
TOEICには道案内に関するテーマが頻出しますよね。
特に、リスニングパート2~4で登場する傾向があります。
なので、実際に英語で道案内した経験値があれば、TOEICでも劇的スコアアップが期待できます!
道順を英語で伝えるコツ
英語で道案内をするのは、慣れないうちはなかなか大変なことです。
でも、ちょっとしたコツとヒントがあれば、目的地まで自信を持って案内することができます!
安心してください!
1. 文脈(コンテキスト)
道案内を始める前に、相手が何を求めているのかを理解することが大切です。
その人が探しているのは最速のルートなのか、景色の良いルートなのか、階段の少ないルートなのか。
文脈を知ることで、その人のニーズに合わせた指示を出すことができます。
Before you go rattlin’ off directions, you wanna suss out what the person’s actually after. Are they after the quickest way, summat with a bit of scenery, or a route without a load of stairs? Once you’ve got that sorted, you can tailor what you tell ‘em to what they actually need.
会話例
Tourist: Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the station?
Guide: Of course. Are you in a hurry, or would you like a route with a nice view along the way?
Tourist: Actually, my leg’s a bit sore — something with fewer stairs would be great.
Guide: In that case, I’ll show you the route with a lift.
2. わかりやすく、簡潔に
道案内のときにあまりに詳しく説明しすぎると、聞き手が混乱してしまうこともあります。 簡潔で要点を押さえた案内を心がけましょう。
If you go on too long with the details, you’ll only end up confusin’ the poor soul. Keep it short, keep it to the point — that’s all folk need.
会話例
Tourist: How do I get to the gallery?
Guide: Go straight, then turn left at the second lights.
3. ランドマークを活用
聞き手が迷わないようにするためには、ランドマークが効果的です。
銅像や建物など特徴的なランドマークを用いて、聞き手を誘導するようにしましょう。
Landmarks are your best mate here — nowt keeps folk from gettin’ lost like a good statue or a proper distinctive buildin’ to aim for.
会話例
Tourist: Where’s the museum?
Guide: Turn right at the statue of the soldier, and the museum is on your left.
4. カーディナル・ディレクション(東西南北)
北、南、東、西の方角を使うことで、聞き手が自分の方向を確認しやすくなります。
ただし人によってはこのカーディナル・ディレクション(基幹方位)に馴染みがない場合もあるので、このテクニックは慎重に使ってください。
Usin’ north, south, east and west helps folk get their bearings straight off. Mind you, not everyone’s comfy with compass talk, so go careful with this one.
会話例
Tourist: Could you tell me the way to the town hall?
Guide: Go two blocks north, then turn right, and it will be on your left.
Tourist: I’m not very good with directions like north…
Guide: No problem — just keep walking toward that clock tower over there.
5. 専門用語は避ける
道案内をするときは聞き手が理解できないような専門用語や、ややこしい表現を使わないようにしましょう。
Don’t go chuckin’ fancy words about that the other person won’t have a clue on — keep the lingo plain and simple.
会話例
Tourist: I need to get to the other side of the road.
Guide: There’s a bridge just there — cross that and you’ll be sorted.
6. 繰り返して確認する
最後に念のため、相手に理解できたかどうか聞いてみましょう。
そうすることで正しい情報を確認することができ、迷う確率は大幅に減ります。
Last but not least, just double-check they’ve got it. That way you know they’ve understood proper, and there’s a lot less chance of ‘em endin’ up lost.
会話例
Guide: So, go straight, turn left at the second lights, and you’ll see the museum. Does that make sense?
Tourist: Yes — straight ahead, then left at the second lights.
Guide: Spot on. If you get stuck, just ask again.
まとめ
英語で道案内するのは慣れないうちは特に難しいことですが、以上のヒントを参考にすれば、明確かつ簡潔な案内ができることでしょう。
聞き手の状況に合わせ、目印や方角を使い、専門用語は避け、最後に確認する。
日本が好きな外国人観光客を楽しく道案内できるように、ぜひ参考にしてください。
ばっちり道案内できたら、きっとTOEICスコアアップもできて一石二鳥!
♱⋰ ⋱✮⋰ ⋱♱⋰ ⋱✮⋰ ⋱♱⋰ ⋱✮⋰ ⋱♱⋰⋱✮⋰⋱
Tips for Giving Directions in English
Are you often asked for directions in English but struggle to give clear and concise directions? Giving directions can be a daunting task, especially in a foreign language. However, with a few tips and tricks, you can confidently guide anyone from the station to the museum.
Context
Before starting, it’s essential to understand the context in which you are giving directions. Is the person looking for the fastest route, the most scenic route, or the route with the fewest stairs? Knowing the context will help you tailor your instructions to the person’s needs.
For instance, if someone wants to take the fastest route, you should provide clear and direct instructions. On the other hand, if someone wants to take the most scenic route, you should focus on landmarks and interesting sights along the way. Moreover, if someone has mobility issues and wants to take the route with the fewest stairs, you should consider providing additional instructions for accessing elevators or escalators. By understanding the person’s needs, you can provide clear and useful directions that meet their requirements.
Be Concise
When giving directions, it’s easy to go into too much detail, which can confuse the listener. Try to keep your directions concise and to the point. For example, instead of saying, “Go straight, and then turn left at the second set of traffic lights,” you could say, “Go straight, and turn left at the second lights.”
Use Landmarks
Landmarks are an excellent way to ensure that the listener doesn’t get lost. Try to use distinctive landmarks, such as statues or buildings, to guide the listener. For example, “Turn right at the statue of the soldier, and the museum will be on your left.”
Use Cardinal Directions
Using cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) can help the listener orient themselves. For example, “Go north for two blocks, turn right, and the museum will be on your left.” However, be mindful that some people may not be familiar with cardinal directions, so use this technique cautiously.
Avoid Jargon
When giving directions, avoid using technical terms or jargon that the listener may not understand. For example, instead of saying, “Take the overpass to get to the other side of the road,” say, “Take the bridge to cross the road.”
Repeat and Confirm
After giving directions, repeat them and ask the listener to confirm that they understand. This will ensure that they have the correct information and won’t get lost.
Conclusion
Giving directions can be a challenging task, but by following these tips, you can give clear and concise instructions in English. Remember to tailor your directions to the listener’s context, use landmarks and cardinal directions, avoid jargon, and repeat and confirm your instructions. With these tips, you can help anyone get from the station to the museum without getting lost.
♱⋰ ⋱✮⋰ ⋱♱⋰ ⋱✮⋰ ⋱♱⋰ ⋱✮⋰ ⋱♱⋰⋱✮⋰⋱
最後までお読みいただきありがとうございました。
この記事があなたのお役に立ちましたら幸いです!






