Listening and Speaking A1: At the Doctor’s Office
Visiting the doctor is an important part of taking care of your health. In this lesson, you’ll learn essential vocabulary and expressions to describe basic symptoms and communicate effectively during a medical visit. Let’s begin! 👩⚕️
👩⚕️ Vocabulary for the Doctor’s Office
Learn these key words and phrases related to medical symptoms and doctor visits.
Listen and repeat! 🗣️
👩⚕️ Medical Terms:
- 👨⚕️ Doctor – A medical professional who diagnoses and treats illnesses.
- 👩⚕️ Nurse – A healthcare provider who assists doctors and cares for patients.
- 📅 Appointment – A scheduled meeting with a healthcare provider.
- 🌡️ Fever – An elevated body temperature indicating illness.
- 🤧 Cough – A reflex action to clear the throat or airway.
- 🤕 Headache – Pain in the head or upper neck region.
- 😣 Sore throat – Discomfort or pain in the throat.
- 😷 Cold – A common viral infection with mild symptoms.
- 💊 Medicine – A substance used to treat or prevent illness.
- 📜 Prescription – A written order for medicine from a doctor.
- 🏥 Hospital – A healthcare facility for treatment and care.
- 🩺 Checkup – A routine examination of your health.
- 🔎 Symptoms – Signs that indicate you are unwell.
- 🌾 Allergy – A reaction to certain foods or environmental factors.
- 💥 Pain – Discomfort in a specific part of your body.
- 🤢 Nausea – A feeling that you might vomit.
- 💫 Dizzy – Feeling unsteady or lightheaded.
- 💉 Injection – A shot given by a doctor or nurse.
- 🩹 Bandage – A strip of material used to cover a wound.
- 🔬 Diagnosis – The identification of a disease or condition.
💬 Common Phrases and Expressions:
- “I have a fever.” – Saying that your body temperature is high.
- “I’m feeling unwell.” – A general way to say you are sick.
- “I have a headache.” – Describing pain in your head.
- “My throat hurts.” – Expressing discomfort in your throat.
- “I need to see a doctor.” – Requesting medical help.
- “Could you help me, please?” – Asking for assistance.
- “How long have you been sick?” – Asking about the duration of illness.
- “Do I need a prescription?” – Asking if you require medicine.
- “When is my next appointment?” – Confirming the date for your next visit.
- “Thank you for your help.” – Expressing gratitude after receiving care.
- “I am not feeling well.” – A way to say you are sick or unwell.
- “My stomach hurts.” – Telling the doctor about pain in your stomach.
- “I feel nauseous.” – Indicating that you feel like you might vomit.
- “I am allergic to [something].” – Informing the doctor about your allergies.
🎧 Real-Life Dialogues: At the Doctor’s Office
Here are 10 dialogues to help you practice conversations at a doctor’s office. Try practicing both roles! 🗣️
🗣️ Dialogue 1: Making an Appointment
Patient: Hello, I need to make an appointment with Dr. Smith.
Receptionist: Hello, sure. When would you like to come?
Patient: I would like to come tomorrow in the morning.
Receptionist: Tomorrow morning is available. Is 10:00 AM okay?
Patient: Yes, that is fine. Thank you.
Receptionist: You are welcome. See you tomorrow.
Receptionist: Hello, sure. When would you like to come?
Patient: I would like to come tomorrow in the morning.
Receptionist: Tomorrow morning is available. Is 10:00 AM okay?
Patient: Yes, that is fine. Thank you.
Receptionist: You are welcome. See you tomorrow.
🗣️ Dialogue 2: Describing Your Symptoms
Patient: I have a headache and a sore throat. I feel tired too.
Doctor: Do you have a fever or a cough as well?
Patient: Yes, I have a little fever and a small cough.
Doctor: How long have you felt these symptoms?
Patient: I have been sick since yesterday morning.
Doctor: I understand. Let’s check your temperature.
Doctor: Do you have a fever or a cough as well?
Patient: Yes, I have a little fever and a small cough.
Doctor: How long have you felt these symptoms?
Patient: I have been sick since yesterday morning.
Doctor: I understand. Let’s check your temperature.
🗣️ Dialogue 3: Asking for More Details
Doctor: Can you tell me more about your symptoms?
Patient: My head hurts, and my throat is sore. I also have a cough.
Doctor: Does it hurt when you swallow?
Patient: Yes, it hurts a little when I swallow.
Doctor: Thank you for telling me.
Patient: My head hurts, and my throat is sore. I also have a cough.
Doctor: Does it hurt when you swallow?
Patient: Yes, it hurts a little when I swallow.
Doctor: Thank you for telling me.
🗣️ Dialogue 4: Undergoing a Checkup
Doctor: I will check your temperature and listen to your breathing.
Patient: Okay, doctor.
Doctor: Please open your mouth and take a deep breath.
Patient: (Opens mouth and breathes deeply)
Doctor: Your temperature is a bit high. I will check your throat now.
Patient: Thank you, doctor.
Patient: Okay, doctor.
Doctor: Please open your mouth and take a deep breath.
Patient: (Opens mouth and breathes deeply)
Doctor: Your temperature is a bit high. I will check your throat now.
Patient: Thank you, doctor.
🗣️ Dialogue 5: Requesting Medicine
Patient: Do I need any medicine for my symptoms?
Doctor: Yes, I will give you medicine for your fever and pain.
Patient: How should I take the medicine?
Doctor: Take one pill every 8 hours with food.
Patient: Okay, doctor. Thank you.
Doctor: Yes, I will give you medicine for your fever and pain.
Patient: How should I take the medicine?
Doctor: Take one pill every 8 hours with food.
Patient: Okay, doctor. Thank you.
🗣️ Dialogue 6: Clarifying the Prescription
Patient: Can you explain the prescription to me?
Doctor: Of course. You need to take one pill every 8 hours after meals.
Patient: Should I take it with water?
Doctor: Yes, take it with a glass of water each time.
Patient: Thank you, doctor.
Doctor: Of course. You need to take one pill every 8 hours after meals.
Patient: Should I take it with water?
Doctor: Yes, take it with a glass of water each time.
Patient: Thank you, doctor.
🗣️ Dialogue 7: Asking About a Follow-up
Patient: Do I need to come back for another visit?
Doctor: Yes, you should come back in one week.
Patient: Will I have to take more medicine then?
Doctor: We will check your progress and decide if you need more medicine.
Patient: Okay, I understand. Thank you.
Doctor: Yes, you should come back in one week.
Patient: Will I have to take more medicine then?
Doctor: We will check your progress and decide if you need more medicine.
Patient: Okay, I understand. Thank you.
🗣️ Dialogue 8: Expressing Concern
Patient: I am very worried about my cough. It does not go away.
Doctor: I understand your concern.
Patient: Is it serious?
Doctor: It may not be very serious, but we need to do a test.
Patient: What kind of test will you do?
Doctor: We will do a simple breathing test and a throat swab.
Patient: Okay, thank you for explaining.
Doctor: I understand your concern.
Patient: Is it serious?
Doctor: It may not be very serious, but we need to do a test.
Patient: What kind of test will you do?
Doctor: We will do a simple breathing test and a throat swab.
Patient: Okay, thank you for explaining.
🗣️ Dialogue 9: Thanking the Doctor
Patient: Thank you very much for helping me today.
Doctor: You’re welcome. Please take good care of yourself.
Patient: I will rest and follow your advice.
Doctor: Good. If you feel worse, call us immediately.
Patient: I will. Thank you again.
Doctor: You’re welcome. Please take good care of yourself.
Patient: I will rest and follow your advice.
Doctor: Good. If you feel worse, call us immediately.
Patient: I will. Thank you again.
🗣️ Dialogue 10: Scheduling a Follow-up Appointment
Receptionist: Your next appointment is scheduled for next Monday at 10 AM.
Patient: Thank you. Do I need to bring any documents?
Receptionist: Just bring your insurance card and a list of any medications you are taking.
Patient: Okay, I will do that.
Receptionist: Great. See you next Monday.
Patient: Thank you. Do I need to bring any documents?
Receptionist: Just bring your insurance card and a list of any medications you are taking.
Patient: Okay, I will do that.
Receptionist: Great. See you next Monday.