English, baby!

Driver's License

Date: Jan 13 2006

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

In the U.S., each state has its own driver’s license. You are supposed to have a driver’s license for the state where you are living. Because I recently moved to Portland, Oregon, I had to apply for an Oregon driver’s license.

Listen to Kevin and I talk about the experience.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Dave

Kevin: So, ah, how was your trip to the DMV yesterday?

Dave: Well, I went to get my driver’s license and, you know, I have to establish residency in Portland. So, filled out the application, paid my fee…

Kevin: Which was?

Dave: Well, the test fee is five bucks. You pay five bucks to sit down at the computer and take the written driver’s license exam. And, I failed! I failed the driver’s license exam. I’ve been driving for thirteen years, Kevin! I failed the test.

Kevin: Well, don’t feel bad, because, and actually, I should have warned you and I didn’t. My boss, when I first moved to Portland, in 2000, I went to take the test and she said, ‘Make sure you read the book, that little manual, because otherwise you won’t pass it.’ Because there are some very ambiguous questions.

Dave: [laughs]

Kevin: Anyway, I passed it, but she didn’t, when she moved here from California. Here’s a woman, you know, with her Master’s degree, so don’t feel bad.

Dave: She failed. Yeah. Well, I was pretty upset yesterday, and, especially, because you take it in the DMV, which is a typical government office, very dismal.

Kevin: Terrible. Dark.

Dave: Yeah, not happy. A lot of glum faces.

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Discussion

I have a Japanese friend who recently got her Oregon driver’s license. She said that it has always been her dream to drive in the U.S. She often just gets in her car and drives through the mountains and along the coast. She says she loves the freedom of driving.

When you apply for a driver’s license, you have to fill out an application and then stand in a long, long line until your number is called. You pay a fee and then take a computerized, multiple-choice driver’s test. The test asks questions about driving and traffic safety rules.

Some rules of the road include:

– Pedestrians almost always have the right of way.

– It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher.

– Most states require drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts while in a car.

If you’re planning to come to the U.S., and you plan on applying for a driver’s license, check out this site for information on driving laws in each state: Department of Motor Vehicles

What are the driving laws in your country? Have you driven in the U.S. before? If so, how was it different from driving in your home country?

Comments

Staisy

Russian Federation

It seems a bit strange in our days when an adult person has no drivers license. I got it several years ago not because it was really necessary for me, but just because I did not want to be outdated.

reyhon

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hello, every body

crash001

India

I like this lesson, very nice

zainkpm

India

very nice lesson. Thanks

mimofreee

Kuwait

hello i am from lebanon but i live in kuwait,i have a lebanese driving licence but it is not working here and there are too much condition to get the kuwaity driveing licence.