Describing pain in a second language can feel scary, especially when you’re worried about your health. Practising a clear doctor‑visit dialogue before you travel means less stress in the waiting room and more accurate care. Use this scenario to rehearse key questions, useful vocabulary, and quick drills you can finish in minutes.

Context

• Setting: Walk‑in medical clinic or doctor’s office
• Goal: Explain symptoms, understand diagnosis, get treatment instructions
• Typical Length: 4–6 minutes
• Tone: Calm, clear, detailed

Sample Dialogue

Doctor: Good morning. What seems to be the problem?
Patient: I’ve had a sharp pain in my lower back for three days.
Doctor: On a scale of one to ten, how severe is the pain?
Patient: Around seven. It gets worse when I bend over.
Doctor: Any other symptoms? Fever, nausea?
Patient: No fever, but I feel a bit dizzy in the mornings.
Doctor: I’d like to run a quick physical exam. Please lie down here…
Doctor: It looks like a muscle strain. I’ll prescribe an anti‑inflammatory and recommend rest. Take one tablet twice a day after meals.
Patient: Thank you, doctor. Can I take this with the medication I’m already on?
Doctor: Yes, but avoid alcohol while using these tablets. If the pain doesn’t improve in five days, schedule a follow‑up appointment.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Symptoms — signs of illness (e.g., pain, fever)
Prescription — medicine ordered by a doctor
Over‑the‑counter — medicine you can buy without a prescription
Dosage — amount and frequency of medicine
Follow‑up appointment — second visit to check progress
Allergic reaction — negative response to medication

Quick Practice Drills

1. Symptom Sprint (2 min) — List five symptoms in 30 seconds; describe where and how it hurts.
2. Clarification Loop (3 min) — Partner (or AI) gives instructions; paraphrase them back to confirm understanding.
3. Role‑Swap (2 min) — Be the doctor: ask severity, duration, and give one instruction about dosage.