Author: Mohammad Hamad

Session 6 – Pre-Procedure Instructions & Consent

Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Listening + Speaking
Theme: Pre-procedure instructions & informed consent
Real-life Scenario: Doctor/nurse preparing a patient before a procedure

New Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

✅ Listen for key points in consent/pre-procedure instructions (OET Listening A/B style).

✅ Recognise and use modals of necessity (must, should, need to) in spoken communication.

✅ Paraphrase medical terms into layman’s language while speaking to patients.

✅ Practise role-play of giving instructions, checking understanding, and explaining risks.

Reviewed Objectives

✅ Symptom description (S1).

✅ Giving advice with modals/imperatives (S2).

✅ Explaining medical terms in simple English (S3).

✅ Note-taking and clarity (S4).

✅ Empathetic communication & signposting (S5).

Word	Simple definition	Example (doctor → patient)
consent	agreement before a procedure	“I need your consent before we start.”
sedation	medicine to help relax/sleep during	“You will get light sedation so you feel calm.”
fasting	not eating or drinking for some time	“You must fast for 6 hours before the test.”
anaesthesia	medicine to block pain or make you sleep	“The anaesthesia will stop you from feeling pain.”
complication	unexpected medical problem	“Bleeding is a possible complication, but it’s rare.”
risk	chance of harm	“There is a small risk of infection.”
recovery	time to heal after treatment	“Recovery usually takes a few days.”
preparation	steps to get ready	“Preparation includes not eating after midnight.”
restriction	a limit on activity	“There will be movement restrictions after surgery.”
sterile	completely clean and germ-free	“We use sterile equipment to avoid infection.”

Recap:

Before surgery, what instructions do patients usually get?

Read this consent form. What happens if a patient doesn’t follow instructions?

Listening Model (from OET Part A sample – post-op consultation).

Listen to the audio of a doctor explaining procedures and giving instructions, and answer these questions:

In which parts did the doctor use signposting?
In which parts did the doctor use paraphrasing?
What are the 4 main points that the doctor discussed?

Listen again and fill in the blanks

Preparation

Patient must follow (1) ________ for at least 6 hours before the procedure.
Means: no (2) ________ or (3) ________ after midnight (if morning appointment).

Sedation

Patient will receive (4) ________ to feel calm and sleepy.
Must not (5) ________ afterwards.
Needs a (6) ________ or friend to take her home.

Risks/Complications

Small risk of (7) ________ or (8) ________.
These are (9) ________, but explained for patient’s awareness.

Recovery

Recovery is usually (10) ________.
Patient should (11) ________ at home and avoid (12) ________ activities.
A (13) ________ will include follow-up instructions.
Phone number given if patient has (14) ________.

Summary

Must fast, will have light sedation, small risk of complications, recovery normally quick.

Answers

Paraphrase the following sentences using layman’s language:

One important point is fasting.
You will receive light sedation.
There might be some complications.
Recovery is usually quick

Doctor’s Role Card

Setting: Outpatient clinic
Patient: Coming for an endoscopy procedure with sedation

Your tasks:

✅ Obtain consent by explaining clearly what will happen.
✅ Explain preparation: patient must follow fasting rules (no food/drink for 6 hrs).
✅ Explain sedation: light medicine to relax, can’t drive after.
✅ Mention possible risk/complication (small chance of bleeding or infection).
✅ Reassure about recovery: usually quick, patient should rest at home.
✅ Give care plan: follow-up instructions and phone number to call.
✅ Use modals (must, should, may) and at least 5 glossary words (consent, fasting, sedation, risk, recovery, care plan, sterile, etc.).
✅ Check understanding, invite questions, and paraphrase medical terms.

Can-do Checklist

✅ Did you check patient understanding?

✅ Did you use modals correctly?

✅ Did you explain glossary words in patient-friendly English?

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

Record a shadow reading of the video in the (Instruct and Model) section.

Record your answer to the question in the (Independent Practice) section.

August 30, 2025

Session 5 – Pain Assessment (Post-Surgery)

Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Listening + Speaking
Theme: Post-surgery pain assessment
Real-life Scenario: A doctor/nurse assessing a patient’s pain after an operation

Objectives (new)

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

✅ Ask questions about pain severity, frequency, and quality using comparatives/superlatives (e.g., milder, more severe, the worst).
✅ Recognise and use common pain descriptors (dull, sharp, throbbing, stabbing, burning, excruciating).
✅ Conduct a structured pain assessment using follow-up questions (location, onset, duration, impact).
✅ Use OET-style empathetic communication (signposting, reassurance).

(Reviewed Objectives: Symptom description from Session 1, lifestyle advice from Session 2, signposting and reassuring from Session 3, note-writing and passive voice from Session 4.)

Word	Definition (doctor-to-patient)	Example (from lesson)
dull	pain that is not sharp, more like an ache	“Is it a dull ache or sharp pain?”
sharp	sudden, clear pain	“The pain feels sharp when you move?”
throbbing	pain that comes in pulses	“You may feel a throbbing pain after surgery.”
stabbing	pain like being poked with a knife	“She described a stabbing pain in the wound.”
burning	hot, fiery pain	“The patient reports a burning sensation.”
excruciating	extremely severe pain	“The pain was excruciating after movement.”

Recap:

What signposting language can you use?

“First, let me explain what the test showed …”
“What this means for you is that …”
“The good news is that …”
“It’s not dangerous, just some swelling.”

Last time, we practised writing hospital notes. What information do doctors/nurses need before they write them?

symptoms, pain, actions

Watch

Listen to the following audio of a nurse asking a patient about post-op pain (OET test audio).
What types of words did the patient use to describe pain? How did the doctor respond?

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxC70oTD793DEnn6DnItQjw7NHnbRC_Nd2?si=9wNPJDeL_GMRIWBX

Listening Model (from OET Part A sample – post-op consultation).

Listen to the audio of a patient describing pain after surgery, and complete a short note-filling task (severity, location, duration).

Listen to the consultation between a

doctor and a postsurgery patient on the

ward. Complete the patient chart with

severity, location, duration.

Good morning, Mrs. Lewis. You’ve been in

the surgical ward for 3 days now. How

are you feeling today?

Honestly, doctor, the pain is still

there. It feels sharp when I move, but

at rest, it’s more of a dull ache.

I see. Would you say the sharp pain is

more severe than before or a little

milder now?

It’s definitely more severe when I try

to stand up. Yesterday it was moderate,

but today I’d call it severe. At night,

it was almost excruciating.

I’m sorry to hear that. Can you describe

the frequency of the pain? Is it

constant or does it come and go?

It’s mostly constant, but sometimes it feels

throbbing, almost like a heartbeat in

the wound. Once or twice, I had a sudden

stabbing feeling when I coughed. And do

you feel any burning sensation?

Yes, occasionally it feels burning,

especially around the stitches.

Thank you for explaining that. I can see

some swelling, but the lump is benign,

so there’s no sign of infection or

anything dangerous. The note has already

been written in your observation chart.

That’s a relief.

You also mentioned stiffness in your

leg. Is it worse than before?

Yes, the stiffness is worse than

yesterday.

Okay, I’ll update your care plan. First,

let me explain what this means. The pain

is unpleasant, but it’s normal at this

stage after surgery. The good news is

that with physiootherapy and medication,

it should gradually improve. What this

means for you is that we’ll continue

monitoring your pain closely and adjust

the treatment if necessary.

Thank you, doctor.

You’re welcome. We’ll meet again

tomorrow to check your progress.

Grammar/Functional Focus:

Comparatives/superlatives: “Is the pain getting worse or better?” / “Is this the most severe pain you’ve had?”
Follow-up questions: “Can you tell me when it started?”, “Does it stay constant or does it come and go?”

Patient Notes – Mrs. Lewis

Background

On surgical (1) _______ for 3 days
Reports pain after operation

Pain description

At rest: feels (2) _______ ache
On movement: feels (3) _______ pain
Severity yesterday: (4) _______
Severity today: (5) _______
At night: (6) _______ pain

Frequency/Quality

Pain is mostly (7) _______
Sometimes feels (8) _______
Sudden (9) _______ pain when coughing
Occasional (10) _______ sensation near stitches

Other symptoms

Some (11) _______ observed, but lump is (12) _______
Reports increased (13) _______ in leg

Plan

Pain is unpleasant but normal at this stage
Progress will be (14) _______
Physiotherapy and medication to continue

Teacher’s Answer Key

ward
dull
sharp
moderate
severe
excruciating
constant
throbbing
stabbing
burning
swelling
benign
stiffness
monitored

Role-play (Doctor–Patient)

Location: “Where exactly is the pain?”
Severity: “On a scale of 1–10, how bad is it?”
Frequency: “Does it come and go or is it constant?”
Type: “Is it sharp, dull, or burning?”

Listening

Listen to another short patient extract (OET Part A/B) and complete a pain chart (severity, frequency, quality). Then, write 3 follow-up questions you would ask this patient.

Can-do Checklist

✅Use at least 3 pain descriptors.

✅Ask 1 comparative/superlative question.

✅Show empathy (“I understand this must be difficult…”).

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

Record a shadow reading of the video in the (Instruct and Model) section.

Record your answer to the question in the (Independent Practice) section.

August 26, 2025

Session 4 – Hospital Instructions & Notes
Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Reading + Writing
Theme: Ward instructions & care plans
Real-life Scenario: A nurse preparing handover notes at the end of a hospital shift
Objectives (new)

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

✅ Read and extract info from ward instructions and hospital memos (OET Reading Part B style).

✅ Write a clear, structured nursing/doctor handover note using passive voice.

Objectives (reviewed)

✅ Use imperatives and modals to give advice (Session 2).

✅ Explain medical information in simple, patient-friendly language (Session 3).

✅ Describe symptoms using terms like chronic, persistent, and acute (Session 1).
ward – hospital area where patients stay
Example: The patient was kept in the surgical ward overnight.

shift – work period for hospital staff
Example: Vital signs were recorded during the night shift.

admission – when a patient enters hospital
Example: She was admitted yesterday for observation.

discharge – when a patient leaves hospital
Example: The discharge papers were prepared by the doctor.

observation chart – sheet for recording vital signs
Example: The blood pressure was written on the observation chart.

mobility – ability to move/walk
Example: Reduced mobility was noted in the care plan.

referral form – paper sent to another doctor/service
Example: A referral form was completed for physiotherapy.

care plan – written plan for patient’s treatment
Example: Daily physio sessions were included in the care plan.

vital signs – key body measures (BP, pulse, temp)
Example: The vital signs were checked every 4 hours.

Recap: What can you now do after Sessions 1–3?

Describe symptoms, give lifestyle advice, and explain tests.

How does the staff receive instructions in a hospital?
Reading

Check the following hospital notice. Who writes this? Who reads it? What type of language is used?

Hospital Notice: Vital Signs Monitoring and Escalation

Scope: All inpatient wards
Effective: Immediately

Frequency
Vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation where applicable) must be recorded at least every four (4) hours unless a doctor has documented a different schedule in the care plan.

Documentation
All readings must be entered clearly and legibly on the Observation Chart, with date, time, and staff signature/ID for each set.

Abnormal Readings
If any parameter is outside the normal range, recheck within 15 minutes. If the abnormality persists or the patient’s condition deteriorates, notify the responsible doctor immediately and escalate via the early warning system (MEWS/NEWS as per hospital policy).

Oxygen/Interventions
If oxygen therapy or other interventions are started, document the indication, settings, and patient response on the Observation Chart and in the nursing notes.

Handover
Highlight significant changes and any pending reviews during shift handover.

Accountability: Nurse-in-charge of shift
Reviewed by: Infection Control & Patient Safety Committee (annual review)

Read this handover note. Highlight imperative verbs: Monitor, Record, Refer, Discharge. Note and circle key terms.

Nursing Handover Note – Ward 3B
Patient: Mr. John Smith, 67 yrs (admitted with pneumonia)
Date/Time: 22 Aug 2025, 07:00 hrs

Observations: Temp 37.8°C, BP 138/84, HR 92, SpO₂ 95% RA

Plan: Monitor vital signs every 4 hrs and record on obs chart.

If temp ≥ 38.5°C or SpO₂ ≤ 92%, notify MO immediately.

Patient mobilising with assistance; maintain IV antibiotics as charted.

Discharge planning: referral form sent to physiotherapy; awaiting review.

RN Signature: ____________________

Writing

Example handover: “Patient admitted at 07:00, stable vital signs, mobility limited, referral to physio sent. Discharge planned for tomorrow.”

Structure: Admission → Current status → Actions → Next steps.
Read and answer

If a patient’s vital signs fall outside the normal range, staff must:
A. notify the next shift staff.
B. record them on the observation chart and monitor closely.
C. repeat the measurement, document it, and notify the doctor.

Ward Observation Policy

All admitted patients must have their vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure) checked and recorded on the observation chart every four hours unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
If any results are abnormal, staff should repeat the measurement within 15 minutes. If the abnormality persists, the responsible doctor must be notified immediately.
Failure to report significant changes in a patient’s condition during your shift may delay treatment and compromise patient safety.

Read the following case and write a handover note

Ward: 2A – Medical
Patient: Mrs. Helen Brown, 72 yrs
Admission: 21 Aug 2025, 15:00 hrs – admitted with chronic heart failure
Observation Chart:

Temp 36.9°C, BP 150/90, HR 88, SpO₂ 94% on RA
Mobility: Needs walking frame, short distances only
Care Plan:

Monitor vital signs every 4 hrs

Low-salt diet, fluid restriction

Continue prescribed medications (diuretics)
Referral: Cardiology team review requested
Discharge: Expected in 2–3 days, home with community nurse follow-up

Complete the handover note

Patient ….. yesterday with …….. Current ……… stable. Mobility limited, walking frame required. …… includes fluid restriction, low-salt diet, and 4-hourly observations. ………. to cardiology sent; awaiting review. ………… in 2–3 days.
Read the case

Ward: 5C – Surgical
Patient: Mr. Daniel Lee, 54 yrs
Admission: 23 Aug 2025, 10:30 hrs – admitted for benign prostate enlargement
Observation Chart: Temp 37.1°C, BP 132/80, HR 84, SpO₂ 97% RA
Mobility: Independent, walks unassisted
Care Plan:

Monitor vital signs 4-hourly

Encourage oral fluids

Pain management with paracetamol as charted
Referral: Urology follow-up arranged
Discharge: Planned for tomorrow morning if stable

Write a handover note:

…………………………………………………………….
Can-do Checklist

☑ Used passive voice to highlight the object.

☑ Wrote a short, clear handover note.

☑ Recycled at least 5 glossary words.

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.
Write a handover note for every case in the lesson.
August 22, 2025

Session 3 – Explaining Medical Tests and Communication

Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Listening + Speaking
Theme: Explaining diagnostic tests/results – ultrasound
Real-life Scenario: Doctor explains test results (ultrasound, blood tests) to a patient, using patient-friendly language and reassurance.

Objectives (new)

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

✅Identify key details from patient consultations about diagnostic tests (Listening).
✅Paraphrase medical terms into patient-friendly language (Speaking).
✅Use signposting and reassurance when explaining results to patients.
✅Answer patient questions clearly and empathetically.

Concept	Definition	Example	Translation
signposting phrase	words doctors use to explain information clearly and guide patients	First, let me explain what the test showed …	عبارات إرشادية
Image	Video	Audio
—	—	—

Recap Session 1 and 2:

How can you give advice to patients.
How can you describe the severity and frequency of a symptom?

Have you ever had a medical test explained to you? How did you feel about it?

What do you think a doctor might say to a patient about this test?

fake_blood_test_anemia

Listening Input – listen for test references

You hear a general practitioner talking

to a patient called Mrs. Lewis who has

recently undergone an ultrasound and

some blood tests. For questions 1

through 12, complete the notes with a

word or short phrase that you hear.

Good morning, Mrs. Lewis. Let’s go over

the results of the tests you had last

week.

Yes, doctor. I’ve been worried about

what they might show.

First, let me explain what the test

showed. The ultrasound found a small

abnormal lump in your lower abdomen. The

good news is that it is benign, not

malignant. So, it’s not cancer, and it’s

not dangerous.

That’s a relief.

What this means for you is that we’ll

monitor it closely, but there’s no

immediate need for surgery. I’ll give

you a referral to a specialist just so

we can double check and be absolutely

sure.

Okay. Thank you. We also did a blood

count and a cholesterol test. The blood

count was normal, but your cholesterol

is higher than it should be. Having high

cholesterol can lead to severe heart

disease. Combined with your sedentary

lifestyle and family history, it

increases the chance of problems later

on.

I see. Is that serious?

Not right now, but it’s important to act

early. I recommend reviewing your

dietary intake. For example, try

reducing portion sizes of fatty foods

and increasing your hydration. You

should do moderate exercise such as a

30inut walk every day. This will reduce

stiffness in your joints and lower

inflammation.

I think I can manage that.

Excellent. You should also avoid smoking

if you do, and you can try cutting down

on alcohol consumption. These changes

along with the referral will help keep

everything under control.

Thank you for explaining it so clearly.

You’re welcome. The good news is that

nothing here is life-threatening. And

with some small lifestyle changes, you

can improve your health significantly.

We’ll meet again after the specialist

Paraphrasing

“Your cholesterol levels are high” → “There is too much fat in your blood.”
“The inflammation is benign” → “It’s not dangerous, just some swelling.”

Signposting phrases

“First, let me explain what the test showed …”
“What this means for you is that …”
“The good news is that …”

Listening task: Patient: Mrs Lewis

Test Results
• Ultrasound showed a small (1) ______ lump
• Doctor reassures it is (2) ______, not malignant
• Doctor provides a (3) ______ to confirm with a specialist

Blood Tests
• (4) ______ test normal
• (5) ______ test high
• High cholesterol can (6) ______ heart disease

Lifestyle Factors
• Patient has a (7) ______ lifestyle
• Family history adds to the (8) ______

Advice Given
• Review (9) ______ intake and reduce portion sizes
• Increase (10) ______ and do moderate exercise
• Exercise helps reduce (11) ______ in joints and lower inflammation
• Doctor also advises cutting down on (12) ______ consumption

Answers

abnormal
benign
referral
blood count
cholesterol
lead to (severe)
sedentary lifestyle
chance of problems
dietary
hydration
stiffness
alcohol

Speaking role-play (with prompts):

Explain ultrasound results to a patient
- First, let me explain …
- The ultrasound showed …
- The good news is that …
- What that means for you is that …
- The blood test showed that …
Respond to the questions:
- Is it dangerous?
- Do I need surgery?

Quick Checklist – Did you:

✅ Use paraphrasing terms
✅ Reassure the patient
✅ Use new glossary words

Explain the test result

You should:
✅Explain in patient-friendly words.
✅Use at least one signposting phrase.
✅Reassure the patient.

fake_blood_test_anemia

Can-do Checklist

✅Correct paraphrasing
✅Reassurance + empathy
✅Clear structure with signposting

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

Record a shadow reading of the video in the (Instruct and Model) section.

Record your answer to the question in the (Independent Practice) section.

August 20, 2025

Session 2 – Lifestyle Factors: Patient Forms & Advice

Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Reading & Writing
Theme: Lifestyle factors – identifying risks & giving recommendations
Real-life Scenario: A GP reviewing a patient form and writing lifestyle advice

Objectives (new)

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

Write notes about lifestyle-related risk factors using gerunds
Write clear lifestyle recommendations using imperatives and modal verbs.
Use patient-friendly vocabulary to advise on diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

Objectives (reviewed from Session 1):

Describe symptoms using severity (mild, moderate, severe/acute) and frequency (intermittent, constant/persistent, chronic) vocabulary.
Ask about frequency (How often, how many times a day/week).

Concept	Definition	Example	Translation
smoking cessation	stopping smoking	We recommend smoking cessation support groups.	الإقلاع عن التدخين
Image	Video	Audio
	—
sedentary lifestyle	sitting too much, not active	Working at a desk all day leads to a sedentary lifestyle.	أسلوب حياة خامل
Image	Video	Audio
	—
risk factor	something that increases chance of illness	Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease.	عامل خطر
Image	Video	Audio
	—
portion	the amount of food served at one time	Try to reduce your portion size at dinner.	حصة طعام
Image	Video	Audio
	—
moderate exercise	safe, regular physical activity	Walking 30 minutes a day is moderate exercise.	تمارين معتدلة
Image	Video	Audio
	—
hydration	keeping the body supplied with water	Good hydration helps kidney health.	ترطيب الجسم
Image	Video	Audio
	—
dietary intake	the food and drinks a person usually has	His dietary intake includes too much sugar.	المدخول الغذائي
Image	Video	Audio
	—
alcohol consumption	how much alcohol someone drinks	Her alcohol consumption is higher than safe limits.	استهلاك الكحول
Image	Video	Audio
	—

Recap Session 1:

How do you ask about frequency?
How can you describe the severity and frequency of a symptom?

Last time, we asked about and described symptoms. Today, we’ll look at lifestyle factors that affect health and how doctors give advice.

What lifestyle questions do doctors usually ask?

patient lifestyle questionnaire

Reading Input – Patient Lifestyle Form

Scan the following lifestyle questionnaire and look for key risk factors.

patient lifestyle questionnaire – smith

Doctor notes identifying key risk factors

Physical activity: sits 12 hours a day → sedentary lifestyle
Sleep routine: persistent late bedtime → fatigue and weakness
Diet: lots of snacks → overweight and obesity
Diet: poor dietary intake → underweight
Smoking: 10 cigarettes/day → severe lung diseases

Write a note about the risk to the patient

Sitting 12 hours a day constantly can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and severe stiffness.
Sleeping late persistently can lead to moderate fatigue and weakness.
Eating large portions and lots of snacks can lead to obesity.
Smoking can lead to chronic lung diseases and dehydration.

Pronunciation focus:

sedentary (/ˈsed.ən.tər.i/) → stress on sed
portion (/ˈpɔːr.ʃən/)
hydration (/haɪˈdreɪ.ʃən/)

Grammar & Functional Language – Giving Advice (polite vs direct)

Imperatives:
- Eat more vegetables.
- Avoid snacks.
- It’s important to ______.
Modals:
- You should reduce alcohol.
- You must stop smoking.
- You could try walking after work.

Take one factor from the doctor notes and write advice:

Sitting 12 hours a day can lead to a sedentary lifestyle. You should do moderate exercise.
Sleeping late can lead to fatigue and weakness. You could try sleeping early and reducing screen time before bedtime.

Read a second patient form and highlight risk factors

patient lifestyle questionnaire – fiona

Fill in a chart in your notebook

Lifestyle Factor → Risk → Advice

Transform chart notes into recommendations

______ can lead to (severity) (risk). You should ______.
______ can lead to (severity) (risk). It’s important to ______.
______ can lead to (severity) (risk). Try to ______.

Example:

No exercise → sedentary lifestyle → do moderate exercise

Written recommendation:
Not exercising can lead to persistent stiffness. You should do moderate exercise at least 3 times per week.

Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) giving lifestyle advice to the patients (Fiona Packer and Simon Smith). Must include:

at least 4 glossary terms (new/reviewed)
at least 3 imperatives/modals
at least 3 gerunds

Example Paragraph

Your lifestyle shows several risk factors. Smoking can lead to severe lung disease. You must stop smoking and try smoking cessation support. Drinking alcohol can lead to severe health problems. Reduce alcohol consumption to safe limits.

Can-do Checklist

☐ Use gerunds to begin sentences.
☐ Write advice using modals and imperatives.
☐ Write a 4-line paragraph about risk factors and advice.
☐ Choose patient-friendly words.
☐ Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes.

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

August 16, 2025

Session 1 – Patient History & Symptom Description

Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
Duration: 50 minutes
Skills: Listening & Speaking
Theme: Patient consultations – history taking
Real-life Scenario: GP with new patient reporting multiple symptoms

New Skills

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

✅Form and use history-taking questions to elicit relevant patient information.
✅Describe symptoms accurately using severity (e.g., mild, severe) and frequency (e.g., intermittent, persistent) language.
✅Identify key details from patient consultation recordings (OET-style Part A listening).

Concept	Definition	Example	Translation
tingling	slight prickling feeling	“There’s tingling in my calves.”	وخز
Image	Video	Audio
	—
swelling	enlargement of a body part due to fluid	“There is swelling around the knee joint.”	تورم
Image	Video	Audio
	—
stiffness	difficulty moving a joint	“I wake up with stiffness in my neck.”	تيبس
Image	Video	Audio
	—
radiating pain	pain spreading from one area to another	“The pain is radiating down my leg.”	ألم ممتد
Image	Video	Audio
	—
persistent	not going away	“The swelling is persistent despite treatment.”	مستمر
Image	Video	Audio
	—
onset	the start of a symptom	“The onset was about a month ago.”	بداية
Image	Video	Audio
	—
nausea	feeling you might vomit	“I had nausea after the medication.”	غثيان
Image	Video	Audio
	—
intermittent	happening sometimes, not all the time	“The pain is intermittent—it comes and goes.”	متقطع
Image	Video	Audio
	—
chronic	lasting a long time	“I’ve had chronic back pain for over a year.”	مزمن
Image	Video	Audio
	—
acute	sudden and severe	“It started as acute pain after lifting a suitcase.”	حاد
Image	Video	Audio
	—

Watch a short video clip of a doctor asking history-taking questions. Was this a good history taking? Why?

Today we’ll try to do a better job as a practitioner.

Display & Elicit Meaning

Which of these describe when a symptom started?”
onset, acute, chronic
Which describe how often a symptom occurs?
persistent, intermittent
Which describe type/location of pain?
radiating pain, stiffness, swelling, tingling
Which describe other sensations?
nausea, intermittent, onset

Grammar & Functional Language for History-Taking

When questions (onset)
- “When did the pain start?” (Past simple)
- “How long have you had it?” (Present perfect)
Frequency questions
- “How often do you get the symptoms?”
- “Are they constant or intermittent?”
Severity questions
- “On a scale from 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?”
- “Would you say it’s mild, moderate, or severe?”
Type/Spread questions
- “Does the pain stay in one place or does it radiate?”
- “Where exactly do you feel the tingling?”

Medical History Form

Pronunciation Focus

Stress patterns:
- acute (/əˈkjuːt/) → stress on 2nd syllable
- chronic (/ˈkrɒn.ɪk/) → stress on 1st syllable
- persistent (/pəˈsɪs.tənt/) → stress on 2nd syllable
Practice intonation for empathy in history-taking:
- Falling tone for factual questions (“When did it start?”)
- Rising tone for showing interest/concern (“Does it hurt a lot?”)

Listening Model (OET )

You will hear a doctor taking a history. Listen for when the symptoms started, how severe they are, and any related issues.

First Listening: Listen and look for the following:

Background
Symptoms (onset, severity, frequency)
Associated symptoms
Lifestyle/diet factors
Treatments tried

Listen to the following consultation and

answer the question form in the

description of the video.

Good morning, Mrs. Lewis. I understand

you’ve been experiencing some symptoms.

Could you tell me your main concern

today?

Morning, doctor. Yes. I’ve had this

lower back pain for about 2 weeks now,

and it’s really bothering me.

I see. When did the pain start exactly?

The onset was after I lifted a heavy box

at work. It started suddenly. I’d say it

was quite acute at first.

Is the pain constant or intermittent?

It’s mostly persistent. It’s there all

the time, but sometimes it gets worse in

the evenings.

And on a scale from 1 to 10, how severe

is the pain?

Around seven most of the time, but it

spikes to 9 when I bend over.

Does the pain stay in one place, or does

it radiate elsewhere?

Pause after “After meals, I’ve always tended to get heartburn…”
Here the patient is giving history. This is past simple (‘I’ve always tended to…’) combined with present perfect for ongoing condition.”

Second listening: Now listen again and fill in the blanks

Controlled Dialogue Modelling

Teacher plays doctor, student plays patient:

Doctor: “When did the nausea start?” / “How long have you had it?”(onset) 
Patient: “About a year ago, after my symptoms got worse.”
Doctor: “Is it constant or intermittent?” / “How often do you get the symptoms?” (Frequency)
Patient: “It’s unpredictable — some days worse than others.”
Doctor: “On a scale from 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?” / “Would you say it’s mild, moderate, or severe?” (Severity)
Patient: “It’s unpredictable — some days worse than others.”
Doctor: “Does the pain stay in one place or does it radiate?” / “Where exactly do you feel the tingling?” (Type/Spread)
Patient: “It’s unpredictable — some days worse than others.”

Watch the interactive video and answer the questions

Tip: OET often uses synonyms instead of repeating glossary words exactly — this is key for test success.

Conduct a full patient history. Use glossary terms, correct grammar, and empathetic intonation.

Role-play Card 1

Case 1: Migraine & Neck Stiffness
38-year-old office worker.
Main Complaint: Leg tingling.
Onset: Chronic, after a car accident.
Frequency: Intermittent, about 4 times in the last week.
Associated Symptoms: Nausea, acute headaches.
Lifestyle/Diet: Drinks 4 cups of coffee/day, skips breakfast.
Treatment Tried: Took ibuprofen, minimal relief.

Role-play Card 2

Case 2: Lower Back Pain Radiating to Leg
You are a warehouse worker.
Main Complaint: Lower back pain radiating to right leg.
Onset: 2 weeks ago after lifting heavy box.
Frequency: Persistent, worse at night.
Associated Symptoms: Stiffness in right foot, occasional swelling.
Lifestyle/Diet: Works long shifts, no regular exercise.
Treatment Tried: Used heat pad, temporary relief.

Checklist

Category 1 – Linguistic (Max: 5 points)

☐ Used at least 5 glossary words correctly.
☐ Asked clear and grammatically correct questions.
☐ Spoke fluently without long pauses.
☐ Pronounced medical terms clearly.
☐ Used correct tense for onset and duration.

Category 2 – Clinical Communication (Max: 5 points)

☐ Started consultation politely and professionally.
☐ Asked follow-up questions to clarify patient’s answers.
☐ Showed empathy (tone of voice, supportive words).
☐ Summarised key points back to the patient.
☐ Describe symptoms accurately using severity (e.g., mild, severe) and frequency (e.g., intermittent, persistent) language..

🎥 Record your answers to the questions in the interactive video.

📤 Keep trying (Role-play Card 2) until you get a full check list.

🎥 Record a shadow reading of the video in the (warm-up) section.

August 15, 2025

Describe Materials

New Skills

✅ Use the materials to describe objects.
✅ Use the new structures:
It’s a (material) (object).
It’s a (material) (object) that I use to ….

Reviewed Skills

✅ Describe patterns
✅ Ask yes / no questions.

Concept	Definition	Example	Translation
wool	a soft material from sheep	My sweater is made of wool.	صوف
Image	Video	Audio
	—
wooden	made of wood	The chair is wooden.	خشبي
Image	Video	Audio
	—
silver	a shiny grey metal	He gave her a silver necklace.	فضة
Image	Video	Audio
	—
purpose	the reason something is used	The purpose of this tool is to cut.	غرض
Image	Video	Audio
	—
material	what something is made of	This dress is made of soft material.	مادة
Image	Video	Audio
	—
leather	a strong material from animal skin	He bought a leather belt.	جلد
Image	Video	Audio
	—
golden	gold-colored	She is wearing a golden ring.	ذهبي
Image	Video	Audio
	—

Look at each shape and answer the questions

What’s this object?
What is it made of?
What do you use it for?

🎲 Let’s play a memory game

Watch the video and write a list of nouns and adjectives

Welcome to the beginner podcast produced

by Read for More Academy. In this

episode, you’ll hear two friends playing

the game The Mystery Object.

Listen and complete the tasks in the

lesson you find in the description.

Hey Ben, I will hold something in my

hand. You have to guess what it is.

Ooh, I love this game.

Okay. Is it expensive or cheap?

It’s a cheap thing that you buy at the

supermarket.

H. What does it look like?

It’s a round glass object with a metal

lid.

So, it’s a round inexpensive glass

object that I buy at the supermarket.

All right. What do you use it for?

I hold food in it. Sometimes jam,

sometimes olives. What is it made of?

It’s made of glass and metal.

H I think I’m getting close. How much

does it cost?

About $1.

Can I put it in my pocket?

Only if you have a big pocket.

Okay. Okay. It’s a round small glass and

metal object that I buy at the

supermarket for $1. I think I know what

it is. Is it a jar?

Yes, a jar of strawberry jam.

You see, I’m a genius. Genius of the

kitchen,

Write the list of nouns and adjectives in your notebook.

Click to reveal the table

Nouns (n.)	Adjectives (adj.)
gold	gold / golden
wood	wooden
wool	woolen

Let’s make an advanced sentence

The form is:

It’s a (material) (object) that I use to (verb).

It’s a gold watch that I use to tell the time.

It’s a plastic board that I use to teach English.

Describe each object

Watch the 3D tour and answer the questions

What did you learn?

Can you use the material of an object?
Can you use the new structure:
It’s a (material) (object) that I use to (verb)?

🎥 Describe elements in your room around you 

📤 Send the video to your teacher for feedback.

August 8, 2025

Describe Shapes

New Skills

✅ Use the shapes to describe objects.
✅ Use the new structure:
It’s a (shape) (object) with (material) (object).

Reviewed Skills

✅ Use materials to describe objects.
✅ Ask wh-questions.

Concept	Definition	Example	Translation
triangular	shaped like a triangle	This triangular table has three sides.	مثلث الشكل
Image	Video	Audio
	—
triangle	a shape with three sides	The triangle has three sides.	مثلث
Image	Video	Audio
	—
square	a shape with four equal sides	This window is square.	مربع
Image	Video	Audio
	—
round	shaped like a circle	The round ring is made of gold.	دائري
Image	Video	Audio
	—
rim	the edge of something round	This watch has a golden rim.	حافة
Image	Video	Audio
	—
rectangular	shaped like a rectangle	The phone has a rectangular screen.	مستطيل الشكل
Image	Video	Audio
	—
rectangle	a shape with four sides	The phone screen looks like a rectangle.	مستطيل
Image	Video	Audio
	—
circle	a round shape with no corners	The ring looks like a circle.	دائرة
Image	Video	Audio
	—
band	thin strip used to hold something	This watch has a leather band.	حزام
Image	Video	Audio
	—

Look at each shape and answer the questions

What’s this shape?
What objects in your room look like it?
Repeat the following sentence:
This … looks like a ….

🎲 Let’s play a memory game

Watch the video and write a list of nouns and adjectives

Welcome to the beginner podcast produced

by Read for More Academy. In this

episode, you’ll hear two friends playing

the game The Mystery Object.

Listen and complete the tasks in the

lesson you find in the description.

Hey Ben, I will hold something in my

hand. You have to guess what it is.

Ooh, I love this game.

Okay. Is it expensive or cheap?

It’s a cheap thing that you buy at the

supermarket.

H. What does it look like?

It’s a round glass object with a metal

lid.

So, it’s a round inexpensive glass

object that I buy at the supermarket.

All right. What do you use it for?

I hold food in it. Sometimes jam,

sometimes olives. What is it made of?

It’s made of glass and metal.

H I think I’m getting close. How much

does it cost?

About $1.

Can I put it in my pocket?

Only if you have a big pocket.

Okay. Okay. It’s a round small glass and

metal object that I buy at the

supermarket for $1. I think I know what

it is. Is it a jar?

Yes, a jar of strawberry jam.

You see, I’m a genius. Genius of the

kitchen,

Write the list of nouns and adjectives in your notebook.

Click to reveal the table

Nouns (n.)	Adjectives (adj.)
rectangle	rectangular
triangle	triangular
square	square
circle	round

Sentence Structure

Describe each object

Watch the 3D tour and answer the questions

What did you learn?

Can you use the shapes to describe objects?
Can you use the new structure:
It’s a (shape) (object) with (material) (object)?

🎥 Describe elements in your room around you 

📤 Send the video to your teacher for feedback.

August 6, 2025

Time Management
Watch the video and perform the shadow reading:
Live Interpretation Practice
- Interpret the first 5 minutes consecutively
- Interpret the last 5 minutes simultaneously
Listen to the following and perform consecutive interpretation

Part 1: Time Blocking and Saying No

Part 2: Time Blocking and Saying No
July 19, 2025
Describing Places
Listen to these interviews and answer the questions
Now it’s time to join Emma as she meets four people on the streets of London.

Their names are Milly, Paul, Mariska and Katie.

Emma asks them:

Where are you from?

What’s it like there?

What do you like about it?
Here we are on the streets of London

It’s an international city full of

people from all over the world so let’s

go meet some of them. Hi Millie, nice to

meet you. Nice to—now whereabouts are you

from? East Grinstead in West Sussex

probably about 50 minutes south of

London. And what’s it like there? I guess

it’s kind of a countryside town, so a lot

different than London—um, quite green and

nice. I like it. So what do you like the

most about it? Um, I think you go down the

High Street and everyone kind of tends

to know one another, and it’s kind of

homely. You feel safe there and

everyone’s friendly. Hello, what’s your

name? Hi, I’m Paul. Hi Paul, nice to meet

you. And whereabouts do you come from? I

come from London just down the river

here. What is it like? The best way I can

answer that is tell you what I’m going

to do today. I’m going to go and, uh, meet

a friend, have a coffee. Then we’re going

to go and see a play at the Globe

Theater. And then afterwards, there’ll be

plenty of places open, so we’ll find

somewhere for a late supper. What is it

you like most about London? I think there

are so many things that go on in the

city—so many different people and types

of people who live here. It’s just

exciting and wonderful. Hello, what’s your

name? Hello, my name is Marisa. Marisa, nice

to meet you. Where are you from? I’m from

Holland. What’s Holland like? Holland is a

small country, very flat, with beaches.

What do you like about Holland? Um, I like

uh, the place where I live. It’s a little

town near the beach, and I like the sun

and the qui—quiet. It’s really quiet. My

name is Katie. Hello, nice to meet you. And

where are you from? I’m from Canada.

Canada? Wow! What is it like there? It’s

really cold there. What do you like about

it? I like how big it

is. So now you’ve met some of the people

in London. See you next

time.
Which person is from Holland?

Why does Milly like living in East Grinstead?

Why does Paul like living in London?

Which country was described as ‘cold’?

Which country was described as ‘small’?

What word does Milly use to describe East Grinstead?
July 12, 2025

Author: Mohammad Hamad

Session 6 – Pre-Procedure Instructions & Consent

❕Session Info

🎯 Objectives

New Objectives

Reviewed Objectives

📚 Glossary Words

🎬 Warm-up

📝 Instruct & Model

Listening Model (from OET Part A sample – post-op consultation).

✍️ Guided Practice

Paraphrase the following sentences using layman’s language:

🕹️ Independent Practice

Doctor’s Role Card

✅ Wrap-Up

Can-do Checklist

📝 Assignment

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

Session 5 – Pain Assessment (Post-Surgery)

❕Session Info

🎯 Objectives

Objectives (new)

📚 Glossary Words

🎬 Warm-up

📝 Instruct & Model

Listening Model (from OET Part A sample – post-op consultation).

Grammar/Functional Focus:

Patient Notes – Mrs. Lewis

Teacher’s Answer Key

✍️ Guided Practice

Role-play (Doctor–Patient)

🕹️ Independent Practice

Listening

✅ Wrap-Up

Can-do Checklist

📝 Assignment

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

Session 4 – Hospital Instructions & Notes

❕Session Info

🎯 Objectives

Objectives (new)

📚 Glossary Words

🎬 Warm-up

📝 Instruct & Model

Reading

Writing

✍️ Guided Practice

Read and answer

Read the following case and write a handover note

Complete the handover note

🕹️ Independent Practice

Read the case

Write a handover note:

✅ Wrap-Up

Can-do Checklist

📝 Assignment

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

Session 3 – Explaining Medical Tests and Communication

❕Session Info

🎯 Objectives

Objectives (new)

📚 Glossary Words

🎬 Warm-up

📝 Instruct & Model

Listening Input – listen for test references

Paraphrasing

Signposting phrases

✍️ Guided Practice

Listening task: Patient: Mrs Lewis

Speaking role-play (with prompts):

🕹️ Independent Practice

Explain the test result

✅ Wrap-Up

Can-do Checklist

📝 Assignment

📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

🎥 Describe elements in your room around you 