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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Unfortunately, I get a cold every year. It's hard to avoid that in our climate. We have quite cold autumn - November, first of all, with its rains, winds, and even early snow. Our winters are often changeable. Today it can be cold and snowy, but tomorrow the sun is shining and all the snow becomes slush. As a result, your feet are wet and you meet a cold. I frequently have a rheum in winter so my pockets full of paper napkins and lozenges for sore throat. That's why I love summer so much and hate our autumn, winter, and even spring with its "April weather".

I have a cold about twice a year. I get sick easily when the season changes. On the other hand, I rarely have flu. I think that it's better to have enough meals, take some medicine, and sleep well to recover from cold.

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