Talking About Health and Appointments
1. Warm-up Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner:
- How often do you visit a doctor?
- What do you usually do when you feel sick?
- Do you prefer to go to a clinic or see a doctor online? Why?
2. Listening: At the Doctor's Office
Listen to the audio and fill in the missing words from the transcript.
I sick yesterday, so I the doctor. I had a bad and a . The receptionist gave me an for this morning. The doctor was very . She my throat and to my chest. She told me to and drink a lot of . Now I feel a little better.
3. Key Vocabulary: Health Symptoms and Actions
Match the words with their definitions by writing the correct word in the blank.
2. To push air out of your lungs suddenly and noisily:
3. A formal arrangement to meet someone at a specific time:
4. A person who works in an office or hospital, answering phones and greeting visitors:
5. The front part of your body between your neck and stomach:
6. The front part of the neck, inside which are the food and air passages:
4. Grammar Focus: Simple Past Tense
We use the Simple Past Tense to talk about actions that started and finished in the past. It's very common when describing events, like what happened when you were sick.
Structure: Subject + Verb (past form)
Examples:
- Regular verbs: I called the doctor. She checked my throat.
- Irregular verbs: I felt sick. I had a headache. The receptionist gave me an appointment.
Complete the sentences with the Simple Past form of the verbs in parentheses:
2. My friend me to ask about my health.
3. I a high fever last night.
4. The doctor to my chest carefully.
5. She me to take some medicine.
6. We an appointment for next week.
7. He a lot of water when he was sick.
8. They all weekend because of the flu.
5. Reading: My Unexpected Trip to the Doctor
Read the blog post and fill in the blanks with words from the box.
My Unexpected Trip to the Doctor
Last Monday, I woke up feeling very and had a terrible . I knew I needed to see a doctor. So, I my local to make an .
The receptionist was very helpful and found a slot for me that afternoon. When I arrived, the doctor me and said I had a common cold. She prescribed some and told me to rest a lot and drink plenty of warm liquids. I started taking the medicine right away, and by Wednesday, I felt much ! It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re sick!
6. Speaking Practice: Health Habits
Discuss these questions with a partner or in a small group:
- What are some good habits for staying healthy?
- What do you do to relax when you are stressed?
- Describe a time you felt very sick. What were your symptoms and what did you do?
- Is it easy to get a doctor's appointment in your country?