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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I don't get sick so often but when I do I just drink some tee and watch some videos.

In winter, I mostly get cough after the long flu. Most of the time, I avoid use medicine. Instead of that, I try to use natural things that my older family members know. For example, grape molasses is solution to it. I hate to cough in public places because I have to keep going school. And when I have continuous cough, I kind a feel uncomfortable during the lecture.

Frequently I don't get a cough or cold so I have a very well defences or inmune system stronger. When you feel some flue symptons there are different homemade remedies such as drinking honey with orange juice or drinking juice with guayaba, oranges, onions and honey because its has good amount of vitamin C. However if the symptons are constantly is better going to the doctor.

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.

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.

I rarely get sick, sometimes I just get a cold. Tamires Cristina de Lima

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.