Making a doctor's appointment: essential phrases and vocabulary

A2
90 min
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1

Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.

  1. What do you usually do when you feel sick?
  2. How do you make a doctor's appointment in your country?
  3. Who do you talk to for advice when you are not feeling well?
2

Feeling Under the Weather

Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.

3

Answer these questions about the dialogue in your own words.

01How is Marco feeling at the beginning of the dialogue?
Sample answerHe is feeling sick, or 'under the weather'.
02What are Marco's symptoms?
Sample answerHe has a bad cough, a sore throat, and he feels tired.
03What advice does Emma give Marco?
Sample answerShe tells him to call the clinic to make an appointment.
04What phrase does Emma teach Marco to use on the phone?
Sample answerShe teaches him to say, 'Hello, I'd like to make an appointment, please.'
4

Key vocabulary for health and appointments

Vocabulary
These expressions will help you speak more naturally when you visit a doctor.
Examples
Make an appointment — to arrange a time to see a doctor or other professional.
This is the most common phrase. For example: 'I need to make an appointment to see Dr. Smith.'
Feel under the weather — to feel a little sick, but not seriously ill.
This is a polite and common idiom. You can say, 'I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.'
Come down with something — to start to get a common illness, like a cold or the flu.
Use this phrasal verb when you first feel sick. For example: 'I think I'm coming down with a cold.'
Have a check-up — to have a general health examination with a doctor.
You have a check-up when you are not sick, just to make sure you are healthy. For example: 'I have a check-up every year.'
Painkiller — a type of medicine that reduces or stops pain.
This is a useful word at the pharmacy. For example: 'Do you have any painkillers for a headache?'
5

Health vocabulary

Match the words with their meanings.

Drag or click to match
Definitions
6

Grammar: Making polite requests with 'I'd like to...'

Grammar
When we want something, we can use 'I'd like to...'. It is a polite and friendly way to make a request, and it's much better than saying 'I want to...'. We often use it when talking on the phone or in formal places like a doctor's office.
Examples
Hello, I'd like to make an appointment, please.
This is a polite way to ask for an appointment.
I'd like to speak to the nurse about my test results.
We use 'I'd like to' + a base verb (make, speak, ask).
I want a new prescription.
This is very direct. It's better to say: 'I'd like to get a new prescription.'
Key points
  • 'I'd like to...' is the polite form of 'I want to...'
  • 'I'd' is the short form of 'I would'
  • Always use a base verb after 'I'd like to' (e.g., to go, to see, to ask)
7

Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.

Word bank
01I need to call the clinic to make an for next Tuesday.
02A sore throat and a high temperature are common of the flu.
03My head hurts a lot, so I'm going to take a .
04The doctor gave me a for some medicine, and I need to take it to the pharmacy.
05I go to the doctor for a general every year to make sure I am healthy.
8

Calling the doctor's office

Read the text about what to do when you feel sick.

Fill in each blank with the correct word or phrase from the word bank.

Word bank
When you under the weather, it's a good idea to call your doctor. You can speak to the receptionist to an appointment for that day. Tell them you think you might be starting to with something, like the flu. The doctor might give you a to understand your symptoms. If you have a bad headache, they might tell you to take a .
9

Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.

  1. In your country, is it easy to make an appointment for a check-up, or do you usually wait a long time?
  2. When you feel under the weather, is it better to see a doctor right away, or should you rest at home first?
  3. Some people only make an appointment when they are very sick. Is it important to have a check-up every year, even if you feel healthy? Why?