At the chemist

Listen to a conversation at a chemist's to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Chemist: Hello, can I help?

Customer: Yes, my wife sent me here. I, erm, need something for a sore throat … and I can't stop coughing. It really hurts.

Chemist: Do you have a headache too?

Customer: Not really, no.

Chemist: Well, we have this syrup. And these lozenges.

Customer: Which is better?

Chemist: They're both good. The syrup is more expensive.

Customer: Oh, well … I'll take the lozenges, then. How many do I take?

Chemist: Just one.

Customer: Sorry, I'm sorry. Er, how often should I take it?

Chemist: Just one every four to six hours. Take it before mealtimes. Are you allergic to any medicine?

Customer: No.

Chemist: Then you'll be fine with this.

Customer: Can I get some antibiotics too?

Chemist: I'm afraid you need a prescription for that.

Customer: Ah.

Chemist: You know, you should really see a doctor if that cough continues.

Customer: Thanks. I know.

Chemist: Anything else?

Customer: No, thanks.

Chemist: That'll be £7.49 then, please.

Task 1

Exercise

Task 2

Exercise

Discussion

How often do you get a cough or a cold? What do you recommend?

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Language level

B1 Intermediate

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When I get sick I really suffer. I don´t usually go with a doctor because I prefer to use syrup instead lozenges.

I rarely get a cough or a cold, but despite that I have a cold, I don't like to go to the doctor, because I wouldn't like to eat medicines not at all. When I suffer of cough or headache and feeling dizzy, I have to go to doctor and I aske from them prescribed an ampoule or more than one. Personally, I think we can cure for it ourselves by some fruits like lemmon, orange and hot water. Additionally, you can rest at the home.

I often go to a pharmacy to buy some pills or something! But I have a cousin who's a doctor and he's always telling me that I can't self-medicate because that can give me more problems. When I was a kid I spent a lot of days in the hospital because I couldn't breathe.

Generally I have seldom a cough luckily. Always I'm careful to not do go around when I sweat. And also we should pay attention that we are not in the side effects of staying between two opened windows. If we eat ice cream or drink a milk, absolutely we should drink a water.

I get a cough or a cold once or two times a year, so I'm almost always fine. And I eat healthy foods, exercise a little, and sleep 7~8 hours every day to keep my physical condition. So if you don't want to get a cold, I recommend you to live a healthy and good life.

I'm lucky that rare when I get sick and get a cough or a cold. most likely due to the weather in my country.

When I was a child, I usually had sore throat every summer time, and sometimes I experienced cough and cold every fall and winter. But I hadn't taken any medicine for that until I came to university. I usually ate onions for sore throat and got hot water for cough. Even if I had could, I usually preferred to take traditional medicines which was very helpful. After I came to university I couldn't find traditional medicines, so I had to take tablets or even sometimes I had to see a doctor and took medicines which he/she prescribed me. Now, I usually get sore throat in the summer or could and cough in the spring or fall. I usually take paracetamol, but sometimes I should see a doctor. I think we should avoid from taking medicines if it is possible. I hope your healthy for ever. Thanks, Tayyebi

This year I spent the winter in the desert the wether there is warm so i never got a cough or a sore throat , as specialist in this area I want to give an advice to every one have a cough or any illness that he should see a doctor and dont use the self medicine.

I often get flu at least once in a year, especially in winter or raining season, normally I had some symptoms about cough, fever, runny nose, thus, I will take sick leave to rest more in-home and drink as much as water I can, keep myself warm, drink vitamin c, but if the cough and fever continue I will see a doctor, so this way I can overcome the flu.

Good morning, I usually get a sore throat when I sweat in the wind, it happened about once a year. But I’ve finally learned this thing and so I can just avoid it. It’s important for me swimming in the sea during the winter, cold water helps me to be better.