🎙️A Real English Conversation about Driving | Real English Conversations Podcast For Global Professionals

Summary

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Episode Overview

Episode Title: 🎙️A Real English Conversation about Driving
Host: Curtis Davies with co-host Amy
Podcast: Real English Conversations Podcast – Real English for Global Professionals
Date: August 30, 2018

This episode focuses on real-life experiences and cultural contexts surrounding driving in North America, particularly Canada. Curtis and Amy share personal stories that illuminate the process of getting a driver’s license, adjusting to driving culture, dealing with traffic laws, and the freedom that driving brings. The episode also explores how these everyday experiences relate to building functional English vocabulary for professionals, concluding with practical tips on learning and activating new vocabulary effectively.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Learning to Drive in North America

• Structure of Licensing:

  • Canada employs a graduated licensing program where learners start by studying a rulebook and passing a written exam ([01:26]).
  • After passing, learners receive a permit allowing supervised driving, progressing through restricted phases before earning a full license ([02:41], [03:03]).
  • The U.S. has variations of this system.

• Learning Experiences:

  • Curtis learned to drive via driving school, and specifically mentions learning during winter ([03:12]).
  • Amy was taught by her grandfather, sharing the benefits of practicing with a patient family member ([03:28]).

“It takes a long time when you're learning how to drive initially, there's a lot of things that are happening all at the same time, and it's difficult to process all of that information.”
— Amy [04:03]

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2. The Freedom of Driving

• Limited Public Transit:
  • Driving is essential for convenience due to limited bus systems and long waiting times in many North American cities ([05:18]-[05:37]).
• Road Trips:
  • Curtis and Amy highlight the cultural significance of road trips—traveling by car, often for hours or days, stopping wherever you like for exploration ([06:13]-[06:59]).

“You get to see a lot more scenery and things like that. So it can be fun in that way, too.”
— Curtis [06:53]

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3. Traffic Laws, Tickets, and Memorable Fines

• Speeding Fines:
  • Amy shares how getting a speeding ticket while on a restricted (novice) license was a strong motivation to take her final road test quickly, after learning that fines can lead to license suspension ([07:13]-[08:44]).

“If they process that fine and realize that you don't have your Class 5 license, they'll actually take it away for a certain period of time, like you lose your license.”
— Amy [08:04]

• Tailgating an Ambulance:
  • Curtis recounts being pulled over for tailgating an ambulance, unknowingly sandwiched between the emergency vehicle and an unmarked police car ([08:50]-[09:46]).
  • He receives a stern warning but not a ticket.

“It was a ghost car or an unmarked car...he turned on his lights…he was really mad. But I got lucky on that one, too. Even though he was mad, he didn't give me a ticket.”
— Curtis [09:41]-[10:07]

• Distracted Driving (Cell Phones):
  • Discussion on the rise of laws against talking or texting while driving ([10:29]-[12:51]).
  • Amy tells how she was finally ticketed for using her phone—a “karma” moment after years as a delivery driver using text-based communication.

“Moral of the story, don't drive distracted. Even if it's not a law in your country, it's very, very dangerous.”
— Amy [12:51]

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4. Real English Tip: How to Learn and Activate Vocabulary

• Memorization Isn’t Enough:
  • Rote memorization doesn’t translate to effective use in conversation ([13:32]-[15:52]).
  • Vocabulary acquisition is an ongoing process from beginner through advanced.

“That process does not involve listening to any of those words, and it doesn't involve using any of those words while you're speaking.”
— Amy [14:07]

• Active Usage for Stronger Recall:
  • When you realize you need a word while speaking, look it up and use it immediately, then repeat in another context ([16:13]-[17:35]).
  • This method forges stronger connections, makes new terms “active vocabulary,” and vastly enhances recall and usability.

“I can guarantee you if you put that word into your list of flashcards and you look at it the next day, you're going to know that word.”
— Amy [17:16]

• Practical Advice:
  • Don’t just study; force yourself to use new words actively and in speech for lasting fluency.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 04:03 | “It takes a long time when you're learning how to drive initially, there's a lot of things that are happening all at the same time, and it's difficult to process all of that information.” | Amy | | 06:53 | “You get to see a lot more scenery and things like that. So it can be fun in that way, too.” | Curtis | | 08:04 | “If they process that fine and realize that you don't have your Class 5 license, they'll actually take it away for a certain period of time, like you lose your license.” | Amy | | 09:41–10:07 | “It was a ghost car or an unmarked car...he turned on his lights…he was really mad. But I got lucky on that one, too. Even though he was mad, he didn't give me a ticket.” | Curtis | | 12:51 | “Moral of the story, don't drive distracted. Even if it's not a law in your country, it's very, very dangerous.” | Amy | | 14:07 | “That process does not involve listening to any of those words, and it doesn't involve using any of those words while you're speaking.” | Amy | | 17:16 | “I can guarantee you if you put that word into your list of flashcards and you look at it the next day, you're going to know that word.” | Amy |

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:12 – Opening: Licensing process in Canada
• 03:12 – Stories: How Curtis and Amy learned to drive
• 04:27 – Emotional impact: First time driving on your own
• 05:14–06:59 – Value of driving: Public transit vs. car; road trips explained
• 07:13–10:29 – Fines, law enforcement, driving errors
• 10:29–12:51 – Distracted driving, modern traffic laws, cell phone anecdotes
• 12:51–17:35 – Real English Tip: Activating new vocabulary in speech

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a relatable, engaging discussion about the practicalities and cultural aspects of driving in North America, providing intermediate to advanced English learners with authentic insight into both the language and the lifestyle. The hosts’ direct, story-based approach not only supports language development, but also demonstrates how to move from passive memorization to confident, real-world communication.

For more tips and practice, listeners are encouraged to check out the courses and resources at realenglishconversations.com.

Transcript

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[Amy]

in this conversation we're going to be talking about what it's like to drive in North America. And for the Real English tip, we've got some great advice about how you can learn vocabulary faster and be able to use it in your speaking a lot easier.

[Curtis]

This is the Real English Conversations podcast

[Amy]

where you'll find the lessons in it. Advice you need to be able to confidently use your English in the real world.

[Curtis]

Hi everybody, it's Curtis and I'm here with Amy from Real English Conversations and we're going to talk about driving in Canada and North America. And it all starts with getting your learner's license, right, Amy?

[Amy]

Yeah, definitely. In order to be on the road behind the wheel of a vehicle, you've got to have a license. And the first thing that you do is you. Actually, at least in Canada, we do things in a very specific way. We have something called a graduated licensing program. I'm sure that the United States does it differently, but you pick up this book and it has all the rules of the road.

[Curtis]

Yeah. And you have to study it because you have to write a written test or, or something like that.

[Amy]

Yeah. It's been a long time, right, Curtis?

[Curtis]

It's been a very long time for me. Yeah.

[Amy]

So yeah, you have to go in. There's a test that makes sure that obviously you've studied the book, you know, about the rules of making a right hand turn, for example, when you need to yield, when you need to stop, all of those sort of things.

[Curtis]

Parallel parking.

[Amy]

Yep. And then if you pass the test, they give you a license, which you're able to drive a vehicle under the supervision of someone who has a proper license.

[Curtis]

Right.

[Amy]

Anyway, we have in Canada, there's a phase where after you've had your Training with whoever is teaching you. You come back and you get another license which has restrictions for a year or so until you pass your final exam and you're able to drive without all of the rul.

[Curtis]

Is that your novice license?

[Amy]

Yeah, we call it the novice license period or something. I'm not sure the exact terminology. So who taught you how to drive?

[Curtis]

I had a driving instructor, so I learned from a driving school, and I learned in the wintertime.

[Amy]

Ah, so your parents didn't want to teach you?

[Curtis]

I think they were a little bit scared

[Amy]

for me. My grandpa actually taught me because of course, he was retired and he had time and he had a small car that he could take me out and we would drive around. I think we had to do 30 hours or something like that of practice before I was able to take my first driving test.

[Curtis]

Right.

[Amy]

So that was really good. It was nice spending time with him. And of course, he was patient and I didn't have to learn from a professional.

[Curtis]

Probably didn't take you very long to. You learn things really quickly, don't you?

[Amy]

It took me time. It was. I mean, it takes a long time when you're learning how to drive initially, there's a lot of things that are happening all at the same time, and it's difficult to process all of that information. It takes practice before you start being able to observe things confidently and feel comfortable. So, yeah, I definitely was nervous when I took my test.

[Curtis]

So after you go through all the exams and you reach that exciting point of getting your official license, what does it feel like when you're on the road for the first time? Is it exciting? Were you excited?

[Amy]

I think I was excited that I had passed the test and that I didn't have to worry about any of these extra rules that, you know, might affect me not being. We call it a Class 5 driver. That's like a normal driver's license. So I think for me, that that's more what it was about. But driving and being able to have a car sure gives you a lot of freedom. Especially. Especially in the city that we were living in.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

Like, what's the bus system like? Is it good?

[Curtis]

No, it's not very good. It's. Yeah.

[Amy]

Like, it's okay.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

You know, it's safe. Everything. You know, the bus routes go all over the city, and they arrive at a certain time at the bus stops,

[Curtis]

but the timing and the schedules, it's. It's not very good.

[Amy]

There's a lot of waiting.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

So by having your own car and a driver's license. What does it help you to do?

[Curtis]

It helps you to be able to get to work on time. It helps you to be able to get from point A to point B quicker.

[Amy]

Yeah. Without having to be restricted to a certain schedule. You. You know that a bus has, for example. And I know for us, we really enjoy taking road trips.

[Curtis]

Oh, yeah.

[Amy]

So what are road trips?

[Curtis]

Like little vacations, I guess you could say. But you drive a certain distance, like two or three hours, sometimes further.

[Amy]

Like, some people go on road trips that are like, you know, you could go on a road trip to California, for example, and maybe it's 30 hours,

[Curtis]

but yeah, you can go across the country.

[Amy]

You wouldn't do that in one day. You'd take breaks. But the point is that you're traveling by a car, you know, it's not like you're taking a bus or a plane or something. You're able to stop whenever you see something cool.

[Curtis]

Yeah, you get to see a lot more scenery and things like that. So it can be fun in that way, too.

[Amy]

Yeah, definitely. Now, one part about driving and actually, I remember it was during a road trip. Have you ever got a ticket? Yes, we've both had tickets.

[Curtis]

Yeah, speeding tickets. This is where, you know you're going faster than the posted speed limit.

[Amy]

Yeah, there's like a special speed limit, and it changes depending on whether you're in the city or on the highway or something like that.

[Curtis]

You're only allowed to go a certain speed. And if you go over that and there's a police officer waiting, he will pull you over and he will give you a ticket with a very hefty fine if you're going really, really fast.

[Amy]

Yeah, exactly. And I remember for me, this was actually the thing that motivated me to finally get rid of that novice driver's license. And I got my first speed ticket when I had that license. And the rules are actually if you get a fine during that period and they have time to process it, like, it takes a few weeks for them to process it. But if they process that fine and realize that you don't have your Class 5 license, they'll actually take it away for a certain period of time, like you lose your license.

[Curtis]

Wow.

[Amy]

So anyway, I went in to go pay my ticket, and the lady at the counter explained this to me, and she's like, so I would suggest you walk over there and book your road test before you lose your license. And luckily I was able to do that and I got my license and everything was fine.

[Curtis]

You got lucky.

[Amy]

Yeah. What about you. What have you been pulled over for?

[Curtis]

I've been pulled over for tailgating an ambulance.

[Amy]

Oh, my God. I didn't think that was the story he was gonna pick.

[Curtis]

Now, this is a very, very bad thing to do. I don't recommend you doing this.

[Amy]

Okay. What's tailgating?

[Curtis]

Tailgating is following somebody too close. So usually you have to leave a car length in between the car in front of you and your car. And I, at that point, had a

[Amy]

very, very bad habit of driving way too close.

[Curtis]

Right. And in between. Or I was in between the emergency ambulance vehicle in front of me and a police car behind me, but I didn't know it was a police car because it didn't have the lights.

[Amy]

Oh, it was a ghost car.

[Curtis]

It was a ghost car or an unmarked car.

[Amy]

Yeah, an unmarked car.

[Curtis]

And right away, he turned on his lights that were on his dashboard and in the front of his car and his siren, and he was mad. He was really mad. But I got lucky on that one, too. Even though he was mad, he didn't give me a ticket.

[Amy]

Yeah, sometimes they let you off. They let you off the hook or. I don't know, they give you. What is it? A warning.

[Curtis]

A warning?

[Amy]

Yeah, they give you a warning. Don't do it again. Oh, yeah, it's a written warning, you know, and it goes on record that you've been warned about this, but they don't actually give you a fine.

[Curtis]

Yeah, he kept track of it for sure.

[Amy]

Yeah. Yeah. I had last year, actually, it had been a really long time since I had got a ticket. And we have, like. I believe most countries in the world are starting to implement traffic laws associated with talking on your cell phone. Talking or texting on your cell phone.

[Curtis]

Right.

[Amy]

And Curtis and I, we had delivery business for years and years and years, and most of the communication was done through text messaging and stuff like that. And, I mean, we were distracted drivers and unfortunately had nothing happen to us, although I don't recommend it and would never do it again. But we definitely, you know, had a lot of text messages and sending messages while we were driving.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

So I don't know if it was, like, karma or something like that, but of course, I never got caught. All the years that we were doing deliveries and stuff. Never got caught texting and driving or being on my phone while I was driving. But this one day, I was late. I was coming from just the next town over from where we live. I had just finished with some friends out at the lake, and I was late, and I called Curtis to let him know, hey, can you get this stuff ready? We're gonna go down to someone else's house. And I'm running behind.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

And I couldn't find my Bluetooth. And that's the hands free device, right.

[Curtis]

It goes in your ear so you

[Amy]

don't have to touch your cell phone. You can just make a phone call. And, you know, it's. It's really, really good. And I always have it. I use it every single day during my delivery shift. Whenever I'm in my car, I never, ever talk on my cell phone. And I didn't have it. So I picked up the phone because it was kind of like a side road, and I didn't think it was going to be a big deal. And sure enough, the sneaky cop comes flying up the road, and he saw me. And I thought, oh, no, I was on my phone. He caught me, he kept driving. And then all of a sudden, a minute or two later, here he was behind me, lights on.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

And I got a ticket. So, anyway, moral of the story, don't drive distracted. Even if it's not a law in your country, it's very, very dangerous.

[Curtis]

Yeah. And this is the English conversation tip. So for the real English tip today, we're going to talk about vocabular. Some of the ways you can build it, not just build it quickly, but to understand it and to use it while you're speaking. And what are some of those ways we can do that, Amy?

[Amy]

Well, this is actually a really important thing because without knowing the most common vocabulary within English, you're going to have a difficult time understanding native speakers. It's going to be difficult to understand things that you read, and it's also going to be difficult to say whatever you want to say.

[Curtis]

Yes.

[Amy]

So really, vocabulary continues to be an important part of your English development all the way from beginner to upper advanced.

[Curtis]

Exactly.

[Amy]

Of course, upper advanced, you're using words now that aren't the most common. You're using words that are more detailed. So a lot of times, the way that vocabulary is taught to you is by memorization. And this is the technique that you're supposed to use. They give you a list of words, the teacher gives you a list of words, they send you home, you memorize them, and then you come back to class the next day and you write a test. And what's really interesting about that is that process does not involve listening to any of those words, and it doesn't involve using any of those words while you're speaking.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

So what happens when you memorize a list of words, Curtis, and then you want to use it with your friend the next day?

[Curtis]

Usually if I have a list of words in my flashcard deck and I try to memorize them, I can't recall them the next time I want to use them. So it's really hard for me to remember them when I go to speak with my friend.

[Amy]

Yeah. And I mean, if you've been studying those words maybe for a couple weeks or something like that, and you really, really know them well, you might be able to use them within your speaking. But for the most part, if you've studied 20 or 30 words all at the same time, and you've never heard those words, and really you don't know how they sound very well, especially with English. English spelling and how it sounds said are completely different.

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

So you need to hear these words in order to have that association or connection with it. Right?

[Curtis]

Yeah.

[Amy]

So although you can pass a test with writing and you can do maybe multiple choice and select the correct vocabulary and do all of that stuff in the real world for the actual skills that you're going to need to understand native speakers and to be able to use them while you're speaking, this method of memorization is not very useful.

[Curtis]

No.

[Amy]

So I'm actually going to talk about how you can not only improve your speaking skills, but you can learn vocabulary faster. And this is actually one of the tips that I give in our speaking course that we have available on our website.

[Curtis]

That's right.

[Amy]

So basically, when you are speaking about something and you realize you don't know a word in that moment, and you look it up because obviously you need it.

[Curtis]

Yes.

[Amy]

A word. You need a good one to learn. Okay, step one. Learn the most common words, and you look it up, and then right away you use it to finish explaining whatever you want to say.

[Curtis]

Right.

[Amy]

Obviously, you can't do this in a live conversation with someone. I'm talking about techniques that we have within our course that you can do when you're not practicing with a native speaker. Or maybe you don't have a native speaker to practice with.

[Curtis]

Right.

[Amy]

But you're trying to complete an assignment where you explain something and you realize that you need this word, so you use it right away. And then maybe you try explaining whatever it is you're explaining again, and you actually have an opportunity to use that word again. Now you've used it twice like you've realized you needed it. You looked up that word. You looked at it, you listened to how it sounded and then you used it a couple times. I can guarantee you if you put that word into your list of flashcards and you look at it the next day, you're going to know that word.

[Curtis]

You're going to remember that word.

[Amy]

And if you don't know it right away, really, really well, just seeing it that one time is going to be enough to really make a strong connection to that word. And now you're not needing to spend all this time studying your list of words because you're actually learning it a lot faster. And what's more important is that you've actually used it few times, so now it's an active word in your vocabulary and you'll be able to use it in future conversations, right? So anyway, if you want to get more tips like this so that you can learn faster and start speaking better in less time, you need to come to our website, realenglishconversations.com of course, you can sign up for our email list to get some of our free email lessons that we send out. But if you're serious about taking your English to the next level, make sure that you check out our courses, because the stuff that I'm sharing with you is just a very small amount of the amazing tips, activities and techniques that you're going to get as a member of these courses.