Episode 10 — English at the Doctor’s Office
Beginner+ • 7:10 • 2026-02-25
Listen
Transcript (Plain Text) — click to show/hide
You're listening to Mr. English Podcast by Mr. English Podcast. Hello and welcome to the Mr. English Podcast. I'm Jessica and I'm John. Thanks for joining us today. In this episode, we're going to talk about something really useful, how to talk about your health and symptoms in English. We'll start with a conversation about going to the doctor. Then we'll learn some important vocabulary and questions you might hear. And finally, we'll practice speaking together. So, John, you said earlier that you weren't feeling so great. What happened? Yeah, I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and a headache. At first, I thought it was just from sleeping with the fan on, but then I started sneezing and felt really tired. Did you go to the doctor? I did. I went this morning. The clinic wasn't too busy, but I still had to wait about 30 minutes. What did the doctor ask you? She started by asking, "What are your symptoms?" Then she said, "When did it start, and do you have any allergies?" What did you say? I told her I had a sore throat, a runny nose, and that I'd been coughing. I also said I didn't have a fever, but my muscles felt sore, and thankfully no allergies. And what did she say? She said it was probably just a cold. No antibiotics needed. She gave me some medicine for the cough and told me to drink lots of water and rest. Did she speak clearly? Yeah, but some medical words were new to me. I had to ask her to repeat a few things more slowly. That's totally okay and super common. Let's go over some of those useful words and phrases right now. Here are some common symptoms in English. One, sore throat. It hurts when you swallow. Two, cough. A strong forced breath sound from your chest. Three, runny nose. Liquid coming out of your nose. Four, stuffy nose. Your nose is blocked. Five, fever. A high body temperature. Six, chills. When you feel cold and shaky. Seven, body aches. Muscles feel sore all over. Eight, dizzy. You feel like the room is spinning. Nine, fatigue, a more formal word for very tired. 10, nausea, feeling like you might vomit. And here are some questions a doctor might ask you. One, what are your symptoms? Two, when did it start? Three, have you taken anything for it? Four, do you have any allergies? Five, how's your appetite? Six, are you experiencing any pain? If you don't understand, try saying, "I'm sorry. Could you say that again more slowly?" Or, "What does that mean?" After I left the clinic, I went to the pharmacy to get the medicine. Oh, nice. How did that go? Pretty smoothly. The pharmacist asked, "Do you have the prescription?" And, "How many days are you taking this for?" She also explained how to take the pills. Twice a day after meals. That's helpful. And if you're not sure what the medicine is for, you can ask, "What is this for?" or "Are there any side effects?" Yeah, it's important to understand what you're taking. Here are a few polite phrases you can use at the doctor's office. One, I'm not feeling well. Two, I started feeling sick 2 days ago. Three, my symptoms are getting worse. Four, can I get something for the pain? Five. Do I need to take anything else? And remember, it's okay to take your time. You can even write your symptoms down in advance to make things easier. Let's practice some key phrases together. Repeat after us. I have a sore throat and a runny nose. I've been coughing since yesterday. I don't have a fever, but I feel tired. I started feeling sick two days ago. The doctor said I should rest and drink water. The pharmacist told me to take this after meals. Great job. Saying these out loud will help you remember them when you really need them. Before we finish, here's one more example. Let's listen to a quick conversation between John and a doctor during a checkup. Good morning. What brings you in today? Hi, I haven't been feeling well since yesterday. I have a sore throat, a headache, and I've been sneezing a lot. Okay. Do you have a fever? I'm not sure. I feel hot, but I haven't checked my temperature. Any cough or chest pain? Yes, a mild cough. No chest pain, though. How's your appetite? Not great. I haven't eaten much since yesterday. All right, I'll check your temperature and listen to your breathing. It sounds like a common cold. I'll prescribe something for the cough and sore throat. Make sure to rest, drink water, and avoid cold drinks for a few days. Thank you, doctor. You're welcome. Take care, and come back if it gets worse. That's how a real visit might go. Simple, clear, and to the point. Now you've got the phrases to explain how you feel even when you're under the weather. We'll see you next time on Mr. English Podcast.