Driving & Transportation ESL Lesson – Vocabulary & Conversation questions

Useful Vocabulary

Instructions: Go through the vocabulary below with your students. Next, ask them to use this vocabulary in the conversation section below.

To break down – To stop functioning (often used for vehicles).

Example Sentence: “Our car broke down on the highway.”

To hold up – To cause a delay or to be delayed during travel.

Example Sentence: “The traffic jam held us up for an hour.”

To Drop Off – To let someone out of the car by stopping briefly.

Example Sentence: “I’ll drop you off at the grocery store on my way home.”

Turn around – To reverse the direction of the vehicle and head back.

Example Sentence: “We missed the exit, so we had to turn around and go back.”

Run out of – To deplete or exhaust the supply of something, such as fuel or gas.

Example Sentence: “The car ran out of gas in the middle of the highway.”

1. What is the most common mode of transportation in your country? Is it efficient and reliable?

2. How do you usually get around your city or town? Do you prefer driving or using public transportation?

3. Have you ever been on an overnight bus trip? How did you cope with the long journey?

4. Have you ever experienced a major traffic jam or transportation-related problem? How did you handle it?

5. How has transportation in your country changed over the years? Is it better or worse now?

6. Do you think self-driving cars will become a common sight in the future? Why or why not?

7. Do you have a driver’s license? If so, at what age did you get it? If not, do you plan to get one in the future?

8. In your country, what are the requirements for obtaining a driver’s license? Is the process easy or challenging?

9. Do you think the legal driving age in your country is appropriate? Should it be higher or lower?

10. Have you ever been pulled over by the police while driving? What happened?

11. Have you ever driven in a foreign country? Were there any differences or challenges compared to driving in your home country?

12. Have you ever been in a situation where traffic or an unexpected event held you up? What happened, and how did you handle it?

13. Can you think of any recent incidents or experiences where bad weather held up your plans? How did you adapt to the situation?

14. Have you ever been lost while traveling and had to turn around to find your way back? How did you handle the situation?

15. Have you ever had to turn around a negative attitude or perception towards something or someone? How did you do it?

16. Have you ever received valuable advice from someone that helped you turn your life around or make positive changes?

17. What are some common household items that people often run out of unexpectedly? How can they avoid it?

18. Tell me about a time when you ran out of patience or energy during a challenging situation.

19. Have you ever run out of ideas while brainstorming or problem-solving? How did you overcome it?

20. Have you ever experienced a vehicle breakdown while traveling? How did you handle the situation?

21. What precautions do you take to minimize the chances of a car or bike breaking down on a long journey?

22. Have you ever been on a road trip? Where did you go, and what was your favorite part of the journey?

23. What do you think are the essential items to pack for a road trip, and why are they important?

24. Have you ever tried hitchhiking during a road trip or encountered hitchhikers on your travels?

25. What are some common mistakes or challenges that new drivers often face after getting their license?

26. What advice would you give to someone who is about to take their driver’s license test for the first time?

27. Do you think it’s essential for everyone to get a driver’s license, or are there situations where it’s not necessary?