Everyday Dialogues

Filling Out
an Application
In this lesson, you will learn some useful vocabulary
and expressions for filling out applications. You
may need to fill out applications at a doctor’s
office, a government office, or a school.

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. What is an application?

2. W
 hat types of application forms do people
fill out when they move to a new area?

3. W
 hy is it important to read carefully
and write clearly on an application form?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. driver’s license a) a card that allows you to borrow books

2. birth certificate b) the card you need to drive a car
3. identification c) the paper that shows your date and place of birth
4. proof d) a card that has your name and a picture of you (the short form is ID)
5. library card e) in a way that is easy to read
6. immigrant f) something that shows that what you say or write is true
7. counter g) a high table/shelf that you can walk up to
8. estimate h) a person who moved from another country
9. clearly i) assigned, specific to someone or something
10. designated j) an approximate guess

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Dialogue Reading
Read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns
being each character. Practice your intonation and pronunciation.
Circle any new words or phrases that you need to practice.

Clerk: What can I do for you today?

New Resident: I need to apply for a health card.

Clerk: Did you bring two pieces of ID?

New Resident: Yes. I have my driver’s license and my birth certificate.

Clerk: Great. Do you have a proof of address with you?

New Resident: Um...I have a bill for my hydro.

That will do. Have a seat and fill out these forms.
Clerk:
Please print clearly. Do you need a pen?

New Resident: Yes, please. Should I bring this back to you when I’m done?

Clerk: No. Here is your number. When your number is called, go to the designated counter.

New Resident: Okay. How long is the wait?

Clerk: The estimated wait is about half an hour.

New Resident: That’s not too bad.

It’s not too busy today.

Clerk:
If you have any questions about the form, please let me know.

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Practice
Work with your partner. Role-play the dialogue on page 2,
substituting the different expressions below. Then switch roles.

1. What can I do for you today? 6. Do you need a pen?

• How can I help you? • Do you have something to write with?

• What brings you in today? • Would you like to borrow my pen?

2. I need to apply for a health card. 7. How long is the wait?

• I need a new driver’s license. • Do you know how long it will take?
• I lost my library card. • Do you know when they’ll call my number?
• I need to renew my health card.
• I’m here to get a driver’s license. 8. That’s not too bad.

• That’s acceptable.
3. Did you bring two pieces of ID?
• That’s not too long.
• Do you have some identification? • That’s fine.
• Which two pieces of ID did you bring?
9. If you have any questions about
4. I have my driver’s license the form, please let me know.
and my birth certificate.
• If you have any questions, just ask.
• I brought my birth certificate and my passport. • Let me know if you need me.
• I have a photocopy of my ID. • Holler if you need me.
• I can show you my visa and my student card.

5. Do you have a proof of address with you?

• I need something that

shows your current address.
• Do you have a piece of mail?
• Do you have something with your address on it?

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Listening Practice
Listen to the recording of the dialogue from page 2. Fill in the missing
words as you listen. Listen again. Now look back at page 2 and check your
work. Did you fill in the correct words? Did you spell everything correctly?

Clerk: What can I do for you today?

New Resident: I need            for a health card.

Clerk: Did you bring two pieces of ID?

New Resident: Yes, I have my driver’s license and my            .

Clerk: Great. Do you have a proof of address with you?

New Resident: Um...I have a            for my hydro.

           . Have a seat and fill out these forms.

Clerk:
Please print clearly. Do you need a pen?

New Resident: Yes, please. Should I bring this back to you when I’m done?

No. Here is your number. When your number is called,

Clerk:
go to the designated            .

New Resident: Okay. How long is            ?

Clerk: The            wait is about half an hour.

New Resident: That’s not too bad.

It’s not            today.

Clerk:
If you have any questions about the form, please let me know.

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Write Your Own Dialogue

Work with a partner. Write a dialogue about filling out an application
using phrases from page 3. Your dialogue can take place at a library, a
government office, a school, a doctor’s office, or any other type of office
that you can think of. Practice and present the dialogue to your class.

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Review

Task 1 Task 2

LISTEN & ANSWER WRITING CLEARLY

Listen to the conversation and answer the questions. Demonstrate your ability to print
Your teacher will tell you if you have to write or say the answers. personal information clearly in
English. Use a blue or black pen.
1. What type of form is the new resident filling out? On a blank piece of paper, write
your full name, mailing address,
date of birth, and nationality.
Proofread your information
and submit it to your teacher.
2. How does the resident confirm her identification?

3. How does the resident confirm her new address?

4. How will the applicant know when it’s time to speak to a service agent?

5. How long is the wait?

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Low Int – Int

In this lesson, students learn vocabulary and expressions to use TIME: 1.5 hours
when speaking to someone about filling out an application form.
TAGS:  application, apply, fill out, form,
Try this lesson with our Writing in English lesson, How to Fill Out
forms, ID, moving, resident, office
a Form: https://esllibrary.com/courses/74/lessons/2239

Pre-Reading Write Your Own Dialogue

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS Encourage your students to use vocabulary from the model.

Discuss as a class or in small groups. Answers will vary.

Review (Assessment Tasks)
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
The following tasks can be used for assessment purposes
1. b 3. d 5. a 7. g 9. e and/or review practice. You can save all of the tasks until
2. c 4. f 6. h 8. j 10. i the end or assess your students throughout the lesson.

Dialogue Reading TASK 1

Play the audio from this lesson. Then assign the questions. You
Give your students time to read the dialogue in pairs.
can decide if you want your students to say or write the answers.

Practice 1. T he new resident is filling out an application for a health card.

2. T he resident confirmed her identification by

Have your students read the dialogue again and bringing in her driver’s license and birth certificate.

practice subbing in some of the different expressions. 3. T he resident confirmed her new
address by bringing in a hydro bill.

Listening Practice 4. T he applicant will know it’s time to speak to a

service agent when she hears her number called.
5. T he wait is approximately half an hour.
Have students complete the dialogue by listening
to the recording or by having two students read
(continued on the next page...)
the completed dialogue from page 2.

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

Answer Key cont.

Review (Assessment Tasks) cont.

TASK 2

Check that the information is spelled properly and the letters are
easy to read. You could also ask students to submit their papers
to a partner who can try to reproduce the information perfectly.
Check that each student does the following:

• Spells personal information correctly.

• Follows instructions (uses a blue or black pen, prints).
• Uses legible printing.

SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the words License

and Practice. Most other English-speaking countries spell
these words this way: Licence and Practise (when used as
a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a challenge
for your students to find these words in the lesson and see
if they know the alternate spellings.

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 Filling Out an Application
Everyday Dialogues

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