76 Going-to-the-Doctor US Student

Everyday Dialogues
Going to
the Doctor
In this lesson, you will learn useful words for
expressing health symptoms to a doctor. It’s a
good idea to practice describing your symptoms
before you go to a doctor’s office. Let’s start by
talking about your current health situation.
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions
1. Where do you go when you feel sick?
2. How do you feel right now? Do you have any aches and pains?
3. Are you comfortable talking to a doctor in English? Why or why not?
4. H
ave you suffered from a cold or flu lately?
How did you catch the cold or flu?
B. Vocabulary Preview
Match the illnesses and symptoms with the body’s reactions.
1. flu a) sore chest

2. rash b) can’t swallow
3. nauseous c) can’t walk
4. cough d) purple skin
5. sore throat e) can’t bend over
6. cut finger f) red, itchy skin
7. sprained ankle g) sneezing
8. bruise h) feeling like vomiting
9. backache i) fever and chills
10. cold j) bleeding
Copyright 2016, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( LO W I N T / V E R S I O N 4 . 0) 1
Going to the Doctor
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.
Dr. Barnes: Good morning, Mr. Perez. How are you feeling today?
Mr. Perez: I have a sore throat.
Dr. Barnes: When did it start?
Mr. Perez: Three days ago.
Dr. Barnes: Do you have any other symptoms?
Mr. Perez: I have a slight fever.
Okay. I’ll have a look at your throat.

Dr. Barnes:
I’m going to give you a prescription for an antibiotic.
Mr. Perez: How often should I take it?
Take one pill three times a day for seven days.

Dr. Barnes:
You’ll probably start to feel better in a couple of days.
Mr. Perez: Thank you, Doctor Barnes.
Going to the Doctor
Everyday Dialogues
Practice
Work with your partner. Role-play the dialogue on page 2,
substituting the different expressions below. Then switch roles.
1. How are you feeling today? 5. Do you have any other symptoms?
• What seems to be the problem? • Does anything else hurt?

• What’s bothering you? • Is anything else bothering you?
• What’s the matter?
6. I have a slight fever.
2. I have a sore throat.
• (See #2.)
• I have a terrible cough.
• I have a migraine headache. 7. I’ll have a look at your throat.
• I have a stomachache.
• Let me look at your arm.
• I have a rash on my arm.
• I’ll examine your ears.
• I have a slight fever.
• It hurts when I swallow.
8. I’m going to give you a prescription for an antibiotic.
• I have a bad cold.
• I feel nauseous. • I’ll write you a prescription for some cough syrup.
• I am vomiting. • Here’s a prescription for a painkiller.
• My skin is very itchy. • Here’s a prescription for some ointment.
• I have the chills.
9. Take one pill three times a day for seven days.
3. When did it start?
• Take the cough syrup before bedtime every night for a week.
• How long have you had it? • Use these drops twice a day for ten days.
• How long has it been bothering you? • Apply the cream to your rash twice a day until it disappears.
4. Three days ago. 10. You’ll probably start to feel better in a couple of days.
• It started last week. • You’ll probably start to feel better by the end of the week.
• I’ve had it since Monday. • You’ll probably start to feel better in three or four days.
• I’ve had it for about three days. • It will clear up in a few days.
Going to the Doctor
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?
Dr. Barnes: Good morning, Mr. Perez. How are you ?
Mr. Perez: I have .
Dr. Barnes: When ?
Mr. Perez: .
Dr. Barnes: Do you have any other ?
Mr. Perez: I have .
Okay. I’ll your throat.

Dr. Barnes:
I’m going to give you a for an .
Mr. Perez: should I take it ?
Take one pill times a day for .

Dr. Barnes:
You’ll probably start to feel better in .
Mr. Perez: .
Going to the Doctor
Everyday Dialogues
Write Your Own Dialogue

Write a dialogue with a partner using phrases from page 3.
One of you will be a doctor and the other will be a patient.
Practice and present the dialogue to your class.
Going to the Doctor
Everyday Dialogues
Review
Task 1
LISTEN & ANSWER
Listen to the conversation and answer the questions.

Your teacher will tell you if you have to write or say the answers.
1. Why did Mr. Perez go to the doctor?
2. How long has he been feeling sick?
3. Does Mr. Perez have any other symptoms? If yes, which ones?
4. What does the doctor prescribe?
5. What should happen in a few days?
Going to the Doctor
Everyday Dialogues
Review cont.
Task 2
I NEED A DOCTOR
List five problems you could have with your health.

Write (or say) them as if you are talking to a doctor.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Task 3
CALLING THE DOCTOR
Pretend to call a doctor’s office

during off-hours. Leave a message Example
on an answering machine about
Answering Machine:
why your child or spouse needs Hello. You have reached the office of Dr. Gold. Our office is now closed.
an appointment with the doctor. Please leave a detailed message after the tone and we will return
State your name and the name your call. If this is a medical emergency, please call health services
of your family member. Then at 1-800-T-H-E-B-O-D-Y.
list at least two health concerns. Message:
Make sure to leave a phone Hello. This is Connor Quinn. I’m calling about my daughter, Nicola.
number so the doctor’s office Nicola has a really sore throat. I think she may have an ear infection, too.
can call you back. She is in a lot of pain, and I think she may need some antibiotics. I’d like to
make an appointment with Doctor Quinn tomorrow if possible. Please call
me back at 222-8907. Thank you.

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Everyday Dialogues

1. Where do you go when you feel sick?

3. Are you comfortable talking to a doctor in English? Why or why not?

Match the illnesses and symptoms with the body’s reactions.

1. flu a) sore chest

Mr. Perez: I have a sore throat.

Dr. Barnes: When did it start?

Mr. Perez: Three days ago.

Dr. Barnes: Do you have any other symptoms?

Mr. Perez: I have a slight fever.

Okay. I’ll have a look at your throat.

Mr. Perez: How often should I take it?

Take one pill three times a day for seven days.

Mr. Perez: Thank you, Doctor Barnes.

• What seems to be the problem? • Does anything else hurt?

Mr. Perez: I have .

Dr. Barnes: When ?

Mr. Perez: .

Dr. Barnes: Do you have any other ?

Mr. Perez: I have .

Okay. I’ll your throat.

Mr. Perez: should I take it ?

Take one pill times a day for .

Mr. Perez: .

Write Your Own Dialogue

LISTEN & ANSWER

Listen to the conversation and answer the questions.

1. Why did Mr. Perez go to the doctor?

2. How long has he been feeling sick?

4. What does the doctor prescribe?

5. What should happen in a few days?

List five problems you could have with your health.

CALLING THE DOCTOR

Pretend to call a doctor’s office

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3. Are you comfortable talking to a doctor in English? Why or why not?