At the chemist

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

Task 2

Discussion

Download
Worksheet79.23 KB

Language level

Average: 4.3 (65 votes)

Submitted by Rinaa on Mon, 24/08/2020 - 23:30

Permalink
First, I tried to boost my immune system by taking enough vitamins from fruits and vegetables, I prefer to drink smoothies with berries and lemons. Rarely I get a cold or flu, and when I have it I try to manage in my own with paracetamol and much fluids, without taking antibiotics. For me antibiotics are my last remedies, they make our immune system weaker.

Submitted by Asni on Fri, 14/08/2020 - 00:44

Permalink
A few times a year. But, when I get a cold it lasts one to two weeks. I recommend to rest, take vitamin C, drink a lot of water and infusions. For me, medicines are my last remedies. I try to avoid them as much as I can.

Submitted by Tamires Cristi… on Sun, 02/08/2020 - 09:49

Permalink
I rarely get sick, sometimes I just get a cold. Tamires Cristina de Lima
Profile picture for user Hennadii

Submitted by Hennadii on Thu, 30/07/2020 - 11:55

Permalink
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".

Submitted by IKEDA on Tue, 28/07/2020 - 15:03

Permalink
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.
Profile picture for user Fredd

Submitted by Fredd on Thu, 23/07/2020 - 17:44

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

Submitted by Hn0062 on Mon, 20/07/2020 - 20:41

Permalink
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.

Submitted by martin olivares on Sat, 11/07/2020 - 05:42

Permalink
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.

Submitted by senes19 on Fri, 10/07/2020 - 10:58

Permalink
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.