Teaching students how to give directions is a classic second language skill, but it can also be one of the most challenging for teachers to teach and students to learn. Directions require spatial awareness, sequencing, clarity, and perspective-taking, all at once. For ASL and other visual languages, especially, students must move beyond vocabulary memorization and truly think like a communicator.
Using maps and explicitly teaching the signer’s perspective can transform this skill from confusing to confidence-building.
When students give directions, they must:
Second language learners often default to their own point of view, forgetting that directions must be given from the signer’s perspective. In ASL, this creates an added challenge because meaning depends heavily on accurate perspective and spatial mapping. When perspective is unclear or inconsistent, confusion increases quickly for the viewer.
Maps provide a shared visual reference that lowers anxiety and increases comprehension. They:
Maps don’t need to be complex. Simple grids, town maps, school layouts, or even hand-drawn maps work beautifully.
One of the most important lessons students must learn is who the directions are for.
In ASL, students need to understand:
Model this often. Sign directions incorrectly on purpose and ask students to identify what’s confusing. Then model the corrected version. This comparison helps students see the importance of perspective rather than just hearing about it.
1. Start With Comprehension Before Production
Before asking students to give directions, let them follow directions. Have them trace routes, point to locations, or move objects on a map based on signed or spoken input. This keeps the task low-stress and the affective filter low.
2. Use Low-Stress Practice
Directions are perfect for partner or small-group activities where the focus is communication, not perfection. Consider games where accuracy matters more than grammar. Let students know there is more than one way to give directions to a location; however, there are rules.
3. Limit the Language at First
Provide a short list of required vocabulary or sentence frames so students focus on clarity instead of searching for words. Start with map skills in small chunks, working on one skill at a time, then incorporate those skills together. For example, start with a common location everyone knows “Do you know…” then try directions from a corner, then from an intersection. Later, those skills can be blended.
4. Encourage Clarification Strategies
Teach students how to ask for clarification:
5. Build in Reflection
After activities, ask students:
Reflection helps solidify learning and improves future performance. Exit tickets are an excellent way to gather this information.
Address these gently and often through modeling rather than correction alone. There are many ways to give feedback that can help improve student learning.
Try using a gamified approach to have a lower-stress environment when practicing giving direction skills. Map Scavenger Hunt has students working in partners or teams to give directions on a map using task cards. Follow My Route is a game board version of practicing map skills and giving directions in a community using streets, corners, intersections, and common places found in any city. You can also grab both of these games plus a packet of various maps to use for vocabulary teaching, testing, and more in the maps and games bundle. I would love to hear how your students do with map skills after playing the games.
Teaching directions isn’t just about maps and vocabulary; it’s about teaching students to think like communicators. When students learn to consider their audience, use space intentionally, and adjust their perspective, they gain skills that extend far beyond a single lesson.
With clear modeling, thoughtful use of maps, and low-pressure practice, giving directions can become one of the most engaging and confidence-boosting units in your second language classroom.
Have you tried the Creative ASL Teaching Curriculum? Unit 12 covers using map skills, locating businesses around the community, and giving directions.
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