Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 3 > Lesson 38
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By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to understand a doctor's diagnosis.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to give a diagnosis by following the 4 steps below:
1) state the problem
2) state the effect
3) state the cause
4) give some advice
e.g.
A) What seems to be the problem?
B) I feel sick. I have a headache and a high fever.
A) It is flu season at the moment. Does anyone you know have the flu?
B) My co-worker was coughing a lot yesterday.
A) OK. Let's do a quick test.
B) What's the diagnosis?
A) It looks like you have Type B Influenza. This is caused by coming into contact with someone who has the virus. You will feel weak for a few days. You also might experience a cough, a runny nose, muscle pain, or a sore throat. I advise you to get lots of rest. You shouldn't go to work for the next few days. Please take this medicine if you fever goes over 39 degrees. Come and see me in a week if you aren't feeling better.
B) Thank you doctor.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to state some common illnesses and injuries. e.g. hay fever
- The student should be able to give advice. e.g. You should stay home.
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: NA
Register: Doctors usually speak in a more polite register.
Social rules: NA
Cultural references: NA
Track #35
I think the reason your eyes are sore and you have a runny nose is that you are working outside near a lot of cedar trees. I think you are reacting to the pollen. You should start wearing a mask everyday Mr. Charles.
Track #36
OK, Mr. Smith, this is caused by sitting at your desk and using a computer
too much. If you continue working like this, you will start to have problems with your eyes and wrists. I recommend you take breaks every few hours and get a more ergonomic computer chair.
Track #37
Thank you for coming today Jane. You have to start eating healthy food. If you don’t stop eating junk food every day, you will gain more and more weight. I also recommend you exercise for 20 minutes a day.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of diseases, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) strep throat (n)
2) a mouth ulcer (n)
3) chickenpox (n)
4) expose (v)
5) spread (v)
6) treat (v)
7) prevent (v)
8) infected (adj)
9) vaccine (n)
10) antibiotics (n)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Let's start - Expansion
Purpose:
Teaching the student what the causes of different problems are so that they can use that information later in the lesson.
Method: Discuss with the student what could be the cause for each symptom below.
Note: 1-6 can all be caused by a cold.
1. a runny nose = cold, allergies, influenza, viral infection
2. a headache = a hangover
3. a stomachache = stress
4. a fever = bacterial infection
5. a sore throat = virus
6. a cough = an infection in the respiratory tract.
7. a broken leg = an accident
8. a sprained arm = twisting your wrist when you fall
9. a graze = falling over and landing on knees / hands
Extra questions you might like to ask in the lesson
- What do the results say?
- What's the diagnosis ?
- Is it good news or bad news?
- Do you know what's the matter with me?
Option 2:
Difficulty ★★★
Type:
Let's practice - Vocabulary introduction and speaking practice
Purpose:
To teach the student the information they need so that they can practice giving diagnose.
Method: Brainstorm some simple medical problems, e.g. mouth ulcer, chickenpox, strep throat etc. For each problem discuss its name, duration, symptoms, transmission, prevention, and treatment. Then use the information to role-play going to a doctor describing a problem and getting a diagnosis.
Name: Strep throat
Duration: Lasts 10 days
Symptoms: Common Symptoms include fever, sore throat, red tonsils, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. Symptoms typically begin one to three days after exposure and last seven to ten days.
Transmission: Via infected person's nasal secretions or saliva
Prevention: You can prevent strep throat by washing hands and not sharing eating utensils.
Treatment: There is no vaccine for the disease. Treatment with antibiotics is only recommended in those with a confirmed diagnosis
Name: Influenza
Duration: More than two weeks
Symptoms: The most common symptoms include: a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and most last less than a week. The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks.
Transmission: The virus is spread through the air from coughs or sneezes.
Prevention: You can prevent getting the flu by getting a Flu shot and wearing a surgical mask
Treatment: get plenty of rest, drink liquids, avoid alcohol and tobacco, take paracetamol to relieve fever. You can also take antivirals.
Name: Chickenpox,
Symptoms: Small, itchy blisters, Other symptoms may include fever, feeling tired, and headaches.
Duration: Symptoms usually last five to ten days.
Transmission: Chickenpox is an airborne disease which spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person.
Prevention:
The spread of chickenpox can be prevented by isolating affected individuals or by taking the vaccine. .
Treatment:
Rest, antiviral drugs, drink lots of water, calamine lotion
Name: Mouth ulcer
Symptoms: small open sore in mouth
Duration: Symptoms usually last about a week
Cause: local trauma or virus
Prevention:
Be careful not to bite your tongue and maintain good oral hygiene
Treatment:
use of an antiseptic mouthwash
Let’s start
Top left: a fever
Top middle: a cough
Top right: a sprained arm
Middle left: a runny nose
Middle middle: a stomachache
Middle right: a headache
Bottom left: a sore throat
Bottom middle: a graze
Bottom right: a broken leg
Let’s try
pollen allergy
RSI (repetitive strain injury)
obesity / diabetes
Let’s practice
Content
What happened: My co-worker coughed on me and now I feel sick
Problem: the flu
Effect: you will feel weak
Cause: coming into contact with sick people
Advice: take medicine + get lots of rest
Expected outcome
A) What seems to be the problem?
B) I feel sick. I have a headache and a high fever.
A) It is flu season at the moment. Does anyone you know have the flu?
B) My co-worker was coughing a lot yesterday.
A) OK. Let's do a quick test.
B) What's the diagnosis?
A) It looks like you have Type B Influenza. This is caused by coming into contact with someone who has the virus. You will feel weak for a few days. You also might experience a cough, a runny nose, muscle pain or a sore throat. I advise you to get lots of rest. You shouldn't go to work for the next few days. Please take this medicine if you fever goes over 39 degrees. Come and see my in a week if you aren't feeling better.
B) Thank you doctor.
Let’s speak
Similar to above role-play