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A2

At the Doctor's Office

How to tell a doctor where it hurts, how long, and what kind of pain.

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In this lesson

  • Say where it hurts
  • Say how long, and what kind of pain
  • Ask the doctor to slow down

1 · Key words

It hurts here.Say this and point to where the pain is.My shoulder hurts. It hurts here.
sinceFrom a time in the past until now.It's been hurting since Monday.
forHow long something has happened.It's been hurting for three days.
sharpA quick, strong pain.Is the pain sharp?
dullA pain that is not strong, but stays.It's a dull pain.
comes and goesSometimes it is there, sometimes it is not.The pain comes and goes.

2 · Listen and read

Transcript

RayHi, I'm Ray.

NinaAnd I'm Nina.

RayNina, you went to the doctor last month, right?

NinaI did. And I was so nervous about the English.

RayWhat were you worried about?

NinaI didn't know how to describe the problem. I only knew the word pain.

RayThat's actually enough to start. But let me give you three things that help a lot.

NinaOkay, three things.

RayFirst: where. Point and say, it hurts here.

NinaIt hurts here. That's simple.

RaySecond: how long. Since Monday. For three days. About a week.

NinaSince, for, about. Those are easy words.

RayThird: what kind. Is it sharp, is it dull, does it come and go?

NinaComes and goes. I like that one.

RayDoctors ask those three things every time. Where, how long, what kind.

RayAnd one more thing. If you don't understand, say so.

NinaThat's the hard part!

RayTry this: Sorry, could you say that again more slowly?

NinaCould you say that again more slowly. Okay.

RayNobody will be annoyed. They want you to understand.

NinaLet's practice. You're the doctor.

RaySure. Hi, what brings you in today?

NinaHi. My shoulder hurts. It hurts here.

RayOkay. How long has it been hurting?

NinaSince last Monday. About a week.

RayIs the pain sharp, or more of a dull ache?

NinaSorry, could you say that again more slowly?

RayOf course. Is it a sharp pain, or a dull pain?

NinaDull. And it comes and goes.

RayPerfect. That's everything a doctor needs.

NinaThat was much easier than I thought.

RaySo: where it hurts, how long, what kind. And if you're lost — could you say that again more slowly?

NinaThat's it for today. See you next time.

3 · Shadow

Say each sentence out loud, five times, a little faster each time.

  1. My shoulder hurts.
  2. It hurts here.
  3. Since last Monday. About a week.
  4. It's a dull pain. It comes and goes.
  5. Sorry, could you say that again more slowly?

4 · Quiz

1. What three things does a doctor ask?

2. Nina doesn't understand the doctor. What does she say?

3. What hurts?

4. How long has it been hurting?

5. What kind of pain is it?

Your score
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