At the Doctor’s — A Role-Play

Hook

Now put it all together: body parts, feelings, symptoms and advice, in one realistic conversation at the doctor’s. This is a situation where clear, simple English really matters.

Notice

Read the dialogue:

  • Receptionist: Good morning. Do you have an appointment?
  • Patient: Yes, at ten o’clock. My name is Leo Rossi.
  • Doctor: Hello, Leo. Come in. What’s wrong?
  • Patient: I don’t feel well. I have a headache and a sore throat.
  • Doctor: When did it start?
  • Patient: Two days ago.
  • Doctor: Do you have a temperature? — Patient: Yes, a little.
  • Doctor: It’s a cold. You should rest and drink lots of water. Take this medicine three times a day. You shouldn’t go to work today.
  • Patient: Thank you, doctor.

Which questions does the doctor ask?

Rule

The doctor says…The patient says…
What’s wrong? / What’s the problem?I don’t feel well. / I have a… / My… hurts.
When did it start?Yesterday. / Two days ago.
Do you have a temperature?Yes, a little. / No, I don’t.
You should… / You shouldn’t…Should I…? / How often should I take it?
Take this twice a day.Thank you, doctor.

At the reception: I’d like to make an appointment, please. · Can I see a doctor today?

Watch Out

  • ✗ I am not feel well. → ✓ I don’t feel well.
  • ✗ It started before two days. → ✓ It started two days ago.
  • ✗ How many times I take it? → ✓ How often should I take it?

Practice

  1. What does the doctor ask first?
  2. Which phrase means “I am sick”?
  3. Complete: “Do you ___ a temperature?”
  4. Give one piece of advice with should.
  5. Answer “When did it start?” (three days)
  6. Ask how often to take medicine.
  7. Ask for an appointment at reception.
  8. What does “twice a day” mean?
Show the answers
  1. What’s wrong? / What’s the problem?
  2. I don’t feel well.
  3. have
  4. You should rest. (any sensible advice)
  5. Three days ago.
  6. How often should I take it?
  7. I’d like to make an appointment, please.
  8. two times every day

Your Turn

Write your own doctor’s visit dialogue of 8–10 lines with a different problem (a cough, a stomachache, a back pain). Include a time expression and two pieces of advice. Act it out with a friend or alone.

Connect

Practise saying health phrases clearly with our Pronunciation Practice.

Try Pronunciation Practice →

Build doctor’s-visit questions in the right order with our Sentence Builder.

Try our Sentence Builder →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Interaction: I can take part in a simple conversation about health, if the other person helps.

Azizul Hakim
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