Learning to Drive

Part 4: Learning to Drive

You will hear a woman, Sarah, talking about her experience learning to drive and buying her first car.

Interviewer Good afternoon Sarah. You’re going to tell us about learning to drive. How old were you when you started?

Sarah Well, I was already twenty-five, which is quite late really. Most of my friends had learned when they were eighteen. I’d always lived in the city centre and used public transport everywhere. But when I got a new job outside the city, I realised I really needed a car.

Interviewer And how did you find a driving instructor?

Sarah My sister recommended her instructor, Mark, who she said was very patient. At first, I wanted to take lessons with a big driving school because I thought it would be cheaper, but Mark’s prices were actually quite reasonable. What I liked most about him was that he was never in a hurry and always explained things clearly.

Interviewer How long did it take you to learn?

Sarah I had lessons twice a week for about four months. The hardest part for me was parking – I was terrible at it! I thought I’d never pass because of that. Mark suggested we practise in empty car parks at weekends, which really helped. I was also nervous about driving on busy roads, but that got easier with time.

Interviewer And did you pass first time?

Sarah Unfortunately, no. I failed my first test because I made a silly mistake at a roundabout – I didn’t check my mirrors properly. I was so disappointed because I thought I’d done everything else well. But Mark encouraged me to book another test immediately, and I passed the second time. The examiner even said my parking was excellent!

Interviewer What about buying your first car?

Sarah Well, my budget was quite small, so I looked at second-hand cars. My father wanted to come with me to help choose, but I decided to go alone because I wanted to make the decision myself. I found a small blue car that was three years old. It wasn’t the prettiest car, but it was reliable and perfect for my needs.

Interviewer And how has having a car changed your life?

Sarah It’s made such a difference! I can visit my parents more often now – they live about an hour away. Before, I had to take two buses and it took ages. Now I can drive there in no time. I also do my weekly shopping much more easily. The only problem is finding parking spaces in the city centre, but that’s everywhere, isn’t it?

Interviewer Any advice for other late starters?

Sarah Don’t worry about your age – it’s never too late to learn. Take your time to find a good instructor who makes you feel comfortable. And don’t give up if you fail your first test. Many people do, and it doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver.

Interviewer Thank you, Sarah.

Now listen again.

That is the end of B1 Preliminary Listening Part 4. You now have two minutes to check your answers.