Driver's License - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Driver’s License	Man – Woman – Teenage Girl	02:28

Excited person holding their new driver's licence in front of a blue car.

Pre-Listening Exercise

Many people want a driver’s license, but they might not be prepared to have one. What are some basic rules of the road you can share with inexperienced drivers to help them avoid accidents or traffic accidents? Are there traffic rules that are specific to different countries?

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and check your progress.

Everyone should have a driver’s license, even if they rarely drive.
The legal driving age should be raised to 18 in all countries.
Drivers should be retested every five years to keep their license.
A driver’s license is more important than public transportation in most cities.
People who cause accidents should lose their license permanently.
Driving tests are too easy in some countries.
Senior citizens should take special tests to maintain their licenses.
Getting a driver’s license teaches responsibility beyond driving.
Driver education should be required in high school.
It’s unfair that some people can drive without a license in certain countries.

Idioms

“be a drag” = something that is annoying
“Waiting in long lines to get your driver’s license is such a drag.”

“drive someone up the wall” = make someone angry or really upset
“Your careless driving is driving me up the wall. Slow down and think.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Multiple-Choice Questions | Gap-fill Exercise | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

What would be the possible advantages and disadvantages of allowing teenagers (between the ages of 15-18) to drive legally in your area?

Online Investigation

The laws for getting a driver’s license vary from place to place throughout the world. Search the internet and find out information on the specific laws for obtaining a license in your country and the steps to get one. At what age can you get a license? Are different types of licenses issued for driving certain vehicles including motorcycles and large trucks?

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz