Shadowing Practice: How to Talk to Your Doctor in English | Easy Medical Words for Beginners ｜Easy English Conversation - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Enjoy English Talks, where every conversation helps you learn.
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I'm Judy.
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Hello, Judy.
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Hello, everyone.
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I'm Jake.
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How are you today, Judy?
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I am good today, thank you.
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But yesterday I was not so good.
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I had a headache, a very bad headache.
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Oh no, a headache?
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Are you okay now?
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Yes, I'm fine now.
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I took some medicine and I rested, but I almost went to the doctor.
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The doctor?
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That is interesting, because I have a problem with doctors.
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A problem?
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What do you mean?
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When I feel sick, I don't know what to say in English.
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I don't know the right words.
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At the doctor, I just point at my body and say, here, pain.
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Here, pain.
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That works, but today I will teach you much better words.
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Better words for the doctor?
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Yes, please.
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Today we are going to the doctor, in English, from making a plan to see the doctor, all the way to getting your medicine.
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From making a plan to getting my medicine, let's go.
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But first, we have a small request.
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Yes, if you like our podcast, please click the like button.
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Please subscribe to enjoy English talks.
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And share this episode with your friends and family.
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Thank you, it helps us so much.
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We love our listeners.
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Okay, now let's start.
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So Jake, picture this.
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You wake up one morning.
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Your throat hurts.
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Your head hurts.
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You feel terrible.
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What do you do first?
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Um, I call the doctor.
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Yes, you call the doctor.
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And when you call, you make an appointment.
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A -P -P -O -I -N -T -M -E -N -T.
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Appointment.
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Appointment.
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What does appointment mean?
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An appointment is a time you plan to see the doctor.
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You call the doctor's office and they give you a day and a time.
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Like, your appointment is at 3 o 'clock on Tuesday.
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So, an appointment is like a meeting with the doctor.
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doctor, you choose a time and you go at that time.
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I make an appointment, then I go, what do I say when I call?
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You can say, "Hello, I would like to make an appointment please." Hello, I would like to make an appointment please.
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That is clear and simple.
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And the person on the phone will say, "When would you like to come in?" and you tell them what day or time is good for you.
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When would you like to come in?
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"Today please, I feel terrible." Yes, if you feel very bad, you can say, "Is there anything available today?" That means,
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"Do you have a time for me today?" "Is there anything available today?" I will remember that sentence.
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And sometimes the doctor is busy.
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They might say, "The first available appointment is tomorrow at 10 :00 a .m." Tomorrow?
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But I am sick now.
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I know, but you can also go to Urgent Care.
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Urgent Care is a place for people who need a doctor right away, no appointment needed.
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Urgent care for when I cannot wait.
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Good to know.
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And when you arrive at the doctor's office, you go to the front desk and you say, I have an appointment at 3 o 'clock.
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My name is Jake.
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I have an appointment at 3 o 'clock.
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My name is Jake.
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Then I sit and wait?
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Yes.
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You sit in the waiting room and you wait until the doctor calls your name.
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The waiting room.
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I am very good at waiting.
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I do it every day on the bus.
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You walk in, the doctor says, "Hello, how are you feeling today?" and then they ask, "What are your symptoms?" Symptoms?
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What is a symptom?
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A symptom is what you feel when you are sick.
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It's how your body tells you something is wrong.
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S -Y -M -P -T -O -M.
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Symptom.
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So a symptom is like a sign from my body?
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Feeling very tired is a symptom.
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These are all symptoms.
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So when the doctor asks, "What are your symptoms?" I tell them what I feel?
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Exactly.
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You describe what is wrong.
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My head hurts.
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I have a cough.
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I feel very tired.
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These are all ways to describe your symptoms.
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My head hurts.
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I have a cough.
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I feel very tired.
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These are all symptoms.
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Yes, and you can also put them together in one sentence.
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My symptoms are a headache and a cough.
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My symptoms are a headache and a cough.
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That is a very clear sentence.
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to know your symptoms so they can help you.
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The more you can describe, the better.
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But sometimes I feel sick and I don't know the English word for it.
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That's okay.
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Just describe what you feel.
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You don't need the perfect word.
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My stomach feels bad.
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My body is hot.
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I feel cold and tired.
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Descriptions work very well.
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Just describe what I feel.
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That makes me feel less nervous.
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Good.
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Because the doctor is there to help you, not to test your English.
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Not to test my English.
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I like that.
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Now, let me teach you a very common symptom.
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Fever.
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F -E -V -E -R.
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Fever.
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Fever.
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What does fever mean?
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A fever is when your body temperature is higher than normal.
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Your body feels very hot.
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Sometimes you also feel cold at the same time.
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That is a fever.
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So a fever means my body is too hot.
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Yes.
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When you are healthy, your body temperature is about 37 degrees.
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When you have a fever, it goes up 38, 39, sometimes even 40.
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40 degrees.
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That is very high and very scary.
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It is.
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If your fever is very high, you should see a doctor right away.
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How do I know if I have a fever?
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measures your body temperature.
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You put it in your mouth or under your arm.
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And if the number is above 37?
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Usually above 38 means you have a fever.
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A small fever is normal when you are sick, but a high fever, call the doctor.
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What do I say to the doctor about my fever?
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You can say, I have a fever, or my temperature is 38 .5.
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Very simple.
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I have a fever, my temperature is 38 .5. and clear.
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And the doctor might ask, "When did the fever start?" and you say,
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"It started yesterday," or, "It started two days ago." When did the fever start?
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It started yesterday.
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I can say that.
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See?
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You're getting very good at this.
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Now, another very useful word.
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Sore.
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S -O -R -E.
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Sore.
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Sore.
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What does sore mean?
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Sore means painful, hurting.
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When something is sore, it hurts.
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So sore means pain.
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Yes, but we use sore in a special way.
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We put it before the body part.
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That means my throat hurts.
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Exactly.
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When you swallow food or water and it hurts, that is a sore throat.
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Very common when you have a cold.
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I have a sore throat.
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My throat is sore.
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Can I say it both ways?
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Yes, both are correct.
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I have a sore throat or my throat is sore.
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Same meaning.
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What about other body parts?
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You can say, I have a sore back.
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That means your back hurts.
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Or my legs are sore, maybe after exercise.
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My legs are sore after I run.
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I run for five minutes and my legs are sore for three days.
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Five minutes of running, three days of sore legs.
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Very honest and very real.
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Very honest and very real.
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And at the doctor, you can point at the place and say, it is sore here.
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clear.
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It is sore here.
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Even if I don't know the English word for the body part, I can point and say sore here.
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Exactly.
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And here are the most useful ones.
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Sore throat, sore stomach, sore back, sore head.
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These are the ones you will use most often.
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Sore throat, sore stomach, sore back, sore head.
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One word before the body part.
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Easy.
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You got it.
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Sore is a very useful word at the doctor's office.
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A superstar word.
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The doctor knows what is wrong.
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What happens next?
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Um, the doctor gives me medicine?
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Almost.
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First, the doctor writes something for you.
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A prescription.
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P -R -E -S -C -R -I -P -T -I -O -N.
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Prescription.
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Prescription.
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That is a long word.
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What does it mean?
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A prescription is a paper from the doctor, or sometimes it is on the computer.
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It tells the medicine store what medicine to give you.
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The doctor writes it.
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You tell it take it to the store, and the store gives you the right medicine.
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So a prescription is like a note from the doctor.
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Yes, a note that says what medicine you need and how much to take.
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What does the doctor say when they give me a prescription?
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The doctor might say, I'm going to write you a prescription, or here's a prescription for some medicine.
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I'm going to write you a prescription.
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That means the doctor is helping me get better.
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Yes, and the prescription will say things like, times a day or take one pill in the morning
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and one at night two times a day one in the morning one at night
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and the doctor will tell you how many days take this for five days
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or take this for seven days and what
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if I feel better after three days can I stop no very important finish all the medicine even
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if you feel better after three days the medicine needs time to work If you stop too early,
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you might get sick again.
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I don't want that.
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I will finish everything.
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Good.
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Now you have your prescription in your hand.
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Where do you go next?
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To the medicine store?
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Close.
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We call it a pharmacy.
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P -H -A -R -M -A -C -Y.
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Pharmacy.
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Pharmacy?
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The place where I buy medicine?
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Yes.
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A pharmacy is a store that sells medicine.
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Some pharmacies are inside supermarkets or big
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street you take your prescription to the pharmacy
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and they give you your medicine i take my prescription to the pharmacy they read the doctor's note
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and they give me my medicine exactly
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and the person who works at the pharmacy is called a
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pharmacist they know a lot about medicine you can ask them
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questions what kind of questions like how do i take this medicine or can i take this
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I don't want to fall asleep at work.
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No, you don't want that.
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And the pharmacist will tell you, "Some medicines make you sleepy.
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Some don't.
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Always ask." I will ask, "Will this make me sleepy?" Very important question.
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And at the pharmacy, you can also buy some things without a prescription, like cough drops or vitamins.
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You just take them and pay.
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Some things, no prescription.
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Stronger medicines, I need a prescription.
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Got it.
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You are becoming a doctor, Jake.
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Dr. Jake, I like the sound of that.
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Now we know six words.
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Let me say them one more time.
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Appointment, symptom, fever, sore, prescription, pharmacy.
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Six words for the doctor.
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I remember all of them.
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Good.
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Now let's practice.
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I'm the doctor, you are the patient.
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The patient is the person who visits the doctor.
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Ready?
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Ready.
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I am feeling very sick today.
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Good.
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You walk into my office.
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Welcome, Jake.
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Please sit down.
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How are you feeling today?
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Not very good, doctor.
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I feel sick.
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I'm sorry to hear that.
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What are your symptoms?
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Um, I have a sore throat and I think I have a fever.
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My temperature was 38 .2 this morning.
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When did these symptoms start?
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They started about two days ago.
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First my throat was a little sore, then yesterday I started to feel hot and tired.
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Does anything else hurt?
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A little headache and sometimes I cough.
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Okay, let me look at your throat.
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Open your mouth and say "ah".
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Ah.
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Your throat is red.
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It looks like you have a cold.
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Nothing too serious.
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Don't worry.
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Just a cold.
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That is good news.
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I was worried.
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Take this medicine two times a day for five days, once in the morning and once at night.
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Take it with food and drink a lot of water.
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Two times a day, five days, with food, lots of water.
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And get lots of rest.
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Sleep is the best medicine.
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Sleep is the best medicine.
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I will sleep a lot.
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Take this prescription to the pharmacy.
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They will give you the medicine.
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Thank you, doctor.
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I will go to the pharmacy now.
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appointment another appointment in five days thank you doctor and done
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that was a complete doctor visit in English you did everything
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Jake I made an appointment I described my symptoms I told the doctor about my fever
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and my sore throat the doctor gave me a prescription
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and now I go to the pharmacy all six words in one visit all six words one doctor visit
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and you sounded very natural their language can feel scary.
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It is scary.
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You feel sick, and then you have to speak in English.
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But you don't need perfect English.
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You just need a few key words.
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Appointment, symptom, fever, sore, prescription, pharmacy.
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With these six words, you can get through a doctor visit.
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Six words.
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And I feel so much more ready now.
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And remember, if you don't know a word, just describe it.
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hurts this part hurts the doctor will understand the doctor will understand they hear things like this every day
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and most doctors are very patient with you patient doctors are patient with patients
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that is a fun sentence it is
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and one last tip before you go write down your symptoms
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on your phone simple notes sore throat fever two days if you're nervous just read your notes write before I go.
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That is a very smart tip.
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Okay, let's review.
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Yes, let's see what we learned.
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Today we went to the doctor and we learned six important words.
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Yes.
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First, appointment, a time to see the doctor, and symptom, what you feel when you are sick.
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Good.
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Then fever, when your body temperature is too high, and sore, when a body part hurts.
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Then prescription, a note from the doctor for your medicine, and finally pharmacy, the store where you buy your medicine.
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Six words, one doctor visit, and one very brave patient.
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A very brave patient named Jake.
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Perfect.
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You remembered everything.
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I learned a lot today.
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Thank you so much for listening to Enjoy English Talks.
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Yes, thank you everyone.
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It was fun.
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Please subscribe to Enjoy English Talks.
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Give this episode a like.
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And share it with a friend.
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Now, we have a question for you today.
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Yes, please leave a comment below.
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Tell us, what do you do when you feel sick?
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Do you go to the doctor or do you rest at home?
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We would love to read your answers.
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See you next time.
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Bye, everyone.
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Keep practicing your English.
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice essential English conversation skills that are particularly helpful when talking to a doctor. You will learn how to describe common ailments, make appointments, and communicate your symptoms effectively. By focusing on conversation from making a plan to seeing the doctor, you will gain confidence in handling medical discussions in English. This lesson is perfect for beginners aiming to enhance their English speaking practice in a real-world context.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Appointment - A scheduled time to meet with the doctor.
- Headache - Pain in the head, a common complaint.
- Medicine - A treatment for illness, often in pill or liquid form.
- Sick - Feeling ill or unwell.
- Symptoms - Physical or mental signs of an illness.
- Throat hurts - Discomfort in the throat, often associated with colds or infections.
- Call the doctor - The action of contacting a physician for help.
Practice Tips
To improve your speaking skills using this lesson, consider using the shadowing technique. This method involves listening to the conversation in the video and repeating it aloud to practice pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Since the dialogue is conversational and relatively slow-paced, this is an excellent opportunity for IELTS speaking practice as well.
Start by watching the video without pausing, allowing yourself to absorb how the words and phrases are used. Then, replay the segments where common medical phrases are introduced. Focus on mimicking Judy and Jake's expressions to enhance your emotional connection to the language. You can also utilize shadowspeak by recording yourself as you repeat what they say. This will enable you to hear your speech patterns and notice areas for improvement.
Finally, practice with a friend or language partner. Use the vocabulary you learned in dynamic conversations about health and wellness. The more you engage in these practical dialogues, the more natural your English speaking practice will feel. Don’t forget, you can find more tips and lessons to learn English with YouTube to support your journey in mastering the language.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.