Driving Test

1. What kinds of different tests do you know?

2. Are you good at taking tests? Describe a time when you had an excellent/terrible result.

3. What UK cities do you know? Which ones are famous for their academic rigour?

4. When driving, which do you prefer: a roundabout, a set of traffic lights, or a give way junction?

5. What are the advantages/disadvantages of travelling on rural roads?

6. Where did you pass your driving test? Was it easy/difficult? Did you pass first time? Did you choose a particular test centre? Why? Did you pass at first attempt?

Read article here: Driving Test Reading

7. What is your reaction? Does a pass rate of 86.5% in Gairloch surprise you or not?

8. Are candidates right to look for towns/cities where variable standards might get them an easier test/exam? Is that something you would do yourself? What is Kenny Tallach's attitude to people who "parachute" themselves into Gairloch village?

9. What makes someone a good driving instructor? How would you describe Kenny Tallach?

10. Who taught you how to drive? What vehicle did you use?

11. What is the best strategy for passing the driving test?

12. Are there towns/cities/regions in your country where it is easier to get a pass?

13. Should driving licences bear the name of the test centre where the test was taken?

14. Where in your country/rest of the world would I be most likely to succeed in obtaining a language degree, or a vocational qualification which would allow me to have a career?

15. Are you thinking of doing any professional development/training that involves tests?

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Situation

You are a driving instructor in ................ Your town/city/ region has an extremely high driving-test pass rate. You believe it is because of your skills as an instructor - your professionalism, and your teaching ability. Take a phone call from a potential candidate (your teacher). He wishes to take his driving test in your area.

..........

Discuss quotes

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”

 – Winston Churchill

"I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand."

--- Leonardo da Vinci

"Mistakes are their own instructors."

--- Horace

Student Handout PDF: Driving Test

Speeding

1. Do you drive?

2. Have you ever been stopped for speeding? Or do you know anyone else who has been? What was the outcome?

3. What is the best way of avoiding a speeding ticket/fine?

4. A police officer pulls you over for speeding (you were doing 33 in a 30mph zone) - what do you say? What good/bad things could you say? How useful are humour, sarcasm, defiance, acquiescence in avoiding a speeding ticket?

Watch video here: Speeding

Read script here: Speeding Script

5. What is your reaction? Is this a realistic response to this situation?

6. I could see this working with some UK policemen/women, but not all. Would the techniques in the video work in your country?

7.Grade the following responses in terms of their usefulness for avoiding a speeding fine after the event:

a) Call the officer at work, and arrange a meeting with him.

b) Write a letter to the officer.

c) Repeat calls/letters to the judge/prosecutor presiding over your case.

d) Follow all court guidelines.

e) Ask for an alternative punishment.

f) Your own solution.

8. Speeding is becoming more and more socially unacceptable in the UK. What's the situation in your country?

9. UK traffic police usually have a good reputation amongst the public. What is the perception of them in your country?

10. They say that justice is blind. What are your feelings about that?

11. How often does the good guy win?

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Situation

You've been pulled over for exceeding the speed limit. Using the techniques seen in this lesson, try to avoid being ticketed. Your teacher will play the role of traffic policeman/woman.

..........

Discuss quotes

“Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.”

― Dan Rather

"You can't talk your way out of problems you behave yourself into."

--- Stephen Covey

“You catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar."

--- Proverb

Student Handout PDF: Speeding

Photo: Kindelmedia