TESOL/Talking to a doctor

What seems to be the problem?

Key sentences

Doctor Sick or injured person
What seems to be the problem? I have a bad (problem).
I hurt my (body part).
Doctor Sick or injured person
How did this happen?
How long have you felt this way?
I was (activity) when I hurt myself.
Since (time).
Doctor Sick or injured person
Do you have (problem) ?
Do you feel (feeling) ?
Yes, I do.
No, I don't.
Doctor Sick or injured person
I recommend that you (do something). Thank you, I will.

Drills

Say these sentences without looking.

I have a bad (problem).
problem sentence
headache I have a bad headache.
stomachache I have a bad stomachache.
fever I have a bad fever.
rash I have a bad rash.
I was (activity) when I hurt myself.
activity sentence
playing tennis I was playing tennis when I hurt myself.
cooking I was cooking when I hurt myself.
moving something heavy I was moving something heavy when I hurt myself.
fighting I was fighting when I hurt myself.
Do you have (problem) ?
problem sentence
a fever Do you have a fever ?
sore muscles Do you have sore muscles ?
a stiff neck Do you have a stiff neck ?
trouble swallowing Do you have trouble swallowing ?
I recommend that you (do something).
do something sentence
rest I recommend that you rest.
drink lots of fluids I recommend that you drink lots of fluids.
take this medicine I recommend that you take this medicine.
stay home I recommend that you stay home.

Example

Practice this conversation.

Doctor Sick or injured person
What seems to be the problem? I have a bad (headache).
Doctor Sick or injured person
How did this happen? I was (playing tennis) when I hurt myself.
Doctor Sick or injured person
Do you have (a fever) ? Yes, I do.
Doctor Sick or injured person
I recommend that you (rest). Thank you, I will.

Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.

Exercise

Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.

Doctor Sick or injured person

What seems to be the problem?

I have a bad ... .

Doctor Sick or injured person
How did this happen? I was ... when I hurt myself.
Doctor Sick or injured person
Do you have ... ? Yes, I do.
Doctor Sick or injured person
I recommend that you .... Thank you, I will.

Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.

Practice

Doctor Sick or injured person
Imagine you are a doctor. Ask your partner what is wrong and give advice. Imagine you are sick or injured. Answer your partner's questions.

Further study


  Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language.