Applying for a Driver’s License
Role | Dialog |
Narrator | Wendy is a Chinese citizen who will be relocating to the state of Arkansas for one year on a work assignment. Consequently, she must apply for an Arkansas drivers license. She has just arrived at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office and entered the front door. |
Receptionist | Good afternoon, may I help you? |
Wendy | Yes, I’m a Chinese citizen, and I’ll be staying in Stuttgart, Arkansas, for one year on a work assignment. Can you tell me if I need to get an Arkansas drivers license? |
Receptionist | Hm, let me check. I haven’t come across this situation before. I think we allow you to drive with your valid foreign drivers license for a certain period of time before you must apply for an Arkansas drivers license. Yes, here it is. That period is six months, but since you’ll be staying here one year, you’ll need to get one sooner or later. Would you like to wait six months or get one now? |
Wendy | Since I’m here, I may as well try to get one now. What do I have to do? |
Receptionist | You’ll need two forms of identification (ID) passport and foreign drivers license should do and you’ll need proof of car insurance. Do you have these? |
Wendy | Yes. |
Receptionist | Okay, then you’ll need to take an eye test and a written test. You can do those here. Please take a number and well call you shortly. |
Wendy | Thank you. |
Narrator | Wendy takes #88 from a number-dispensing machine and sits in the waiting area for her number to be called. |
Receptionist | (announcement on a loud speaker) Now serving Number 88 at Window Number 3. |
Narrator | Wendy proceeds to Window #3 where there is an attendant waiting. |
Window 3 | Good afternoon, how may I help you? |
Wendy | Yes, I’m a Chinese citizen, and Ill be staying in Stuttgart, Arkansas, for one year on a work assignment. I understand I’ll need to get an Arkansas drivers license during this time. |
Window 3 | Yes, that’s true, and we can help you with that. I’ll need two forms of ID. Passport and your current drivers license should do. I’ll also need to see proof of car insurance. |
Wendy | Okay, I have all of that. Here you go. (attendant does all the necessary paperwork) |
Window 3 | Okay, next you need to take an eye exam. Do you wear glasses or contacts? |
Wendy | No. |
Window 3 | Okay, step up to this vision-testing machine and look inside the viewer. Be sure to press your forehead against the head rest. Read the smallest line of text you can read. |
Wendy | Okay. Line 5: A-E-K-6-W-O-P. |
Window 3 | Perfect. You can sit down again. (updates some paperwork with the eye exam results) Okay, go over to one of those computerized testing kiosks, log in with your name and take the written driving test. It will be automatically graded. When you’re finished, come back here and see me. |
Wendy | Okay. |
Narrator | Wendy logs into a kiosk computer, takes the test and makes an 80%–a pass. She returns to Window #3. |
Wendy | I finished the test. It said I passed. |
Window 3 | Okay, take this form to the photography station over there. They’ll take your picture and give you your new Arkansas driver’s license. Congratulations! |
Narrator | Wendy proceeds over to the photo station. |
Photo Guy | Hi. May I have your form, please. (looks it over) Would you like to be an organ donor? |
Wendy | Um, should I be? |
Photo Guy | It might save someones life if you should suddenly lose yours. |
Wendy | Well, that certainly sounds like a reasonable, humane thing to do. Okay, organ donor it is! |
Photo Guy | Stand in front of that white background there, please. (Wendy does so.) Smile. (Photo Guy snaps a digital photograph with a camera machine) (a few minutes pass) Okay, here’s your new drivers license. Please check that all the information is correct. |
Wendy | (looks it over) Name, address, height, weight, hair color, eye color, date of birth, issue date, organ donor checked, Type D license — yes, it all looks good. |
Photo Guy | Okay. You’re done. Have a nice day. |
Wendy | Thanks! (Wendy leaves.) |
![]() There’s always paperwork! |
![]() Hurry up and wait in line. |
![]() Checking your eyesight. |
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This is a typical-looking driver’s license. |
![]() I did it! Yay! I’m an adult now! |
![]() Joy. Your first rush-hour traffic jam. |
![]() Uh oh. Getting your first ticket from a traffic policeman. |