Write a "social" letter to a friend from abroad who is coming to visit you in Tampere. You will not be able to meet your friend on arrival, due to an exam you must take (or some other reason). So, the letter should give directions so s/he can proceed to your home in Tampere where you will meet later. Have your friend walk or take public transportation. Keep the following points in mind, and refer to the model directions letter and example letter [PDF]:

1. Orientation. From point of entry in Tampere, make sure your friend starts in the right direction: give reference points for right, left, forwards & backwards. Summarize the method you are proposing for him/her to get where he/she's going, and about how long it will take (how far in blocks, kilometers, etc; plus how far it normally takes in minutes or hours).

2. Write your directions in short, clear segments, using street names, numbers of blocks/street crossings, names of prominent stores or other landmarks as a continuing orientation that he/she is in the right place, doing the right thing.

3. If there are Finnish expressions that might be useful (things to be said to bus drivers, landladies, train attendants, etc.) it may be useful to print these clearly on a separate piece of paper that your friend can show the paper to the person.

4. If using the bus, give instructions for finding the bus stops (and distinctions between city and private bus stops) and how to "stop" the bus. Also what door to enter and exit from, how to pay the driver, whether anything needs to be said, etc. If the bus trip is a long one (for example from Keskustori to Hervanta) refer to some of the prominent landmarks which will be visible from the bus along the way.

5. Make sure your address is clearly given at least once, and also telephone numbers, in case something goes wrong, so there is a number at which you or a helper might be reached. If there are any special people to whom your friend might turn for help, if necessary, these should also be mentioned.

6. In addition to the written directions, it is often useful to enclose a printed tourist map, or sometimes a small handwritten map on which you trace the route, or certain details of it. This is particularly useful if your directions involve unusual turns, short-cuts, etc.

7. Use a variety of transitional words or phrases to connect your directions, including then, next, after this, following this, when you have done that, thereafter, finally, and so on.

8. Conditional verb tenses are useful in letters such as these, e.g. "After you cross the street, you should be at the corner of Hämeenkatu and Rautatienkatu," or "when you look up, you should see the train platform sign in front of you." It is risky to say "you will see a large H&M sign just ahead" — a lot can change between the time you write the directions and the time the person arrives to start using them.

9. Remember that there are differences in directions terminology between SBE and SAE. Use words your friend will understand correctly! Examples include: sidewalk/pavement, underpass/subway, block/crossing, apartment/flat, pedestrian crossing/zebra crossing, second floor/first floor, bus/coach, etc.

10. Remember also that English has different words for many instances where the Finnish word "talo" might be used. In particular, distinguish between "houses" and "buildings" (a "house" or "row house" or "terraced house," but an "apartment building," "tall building," etc.).

11. Avoid word repetitions such as "in front of you you should see a tall block of flats" or "just ahead you will see two two story buildings" and potentially confusing combinations of words like "you should turn left right after the next crossing.'

12. Double-check carefully in your final revision that your directions are accurate: it is easy to get confused when writing different sequences of "turn left, then turn right, and then left again," etc. Also, when describing two or more different bus routes that would get the person to the same final destination, make sure you have the correct bus number with the route you have described.