What to Say at the Doctor's Office When You Don't Feel Well | English Speaking Practice

How to Talk to a Doctor in English — Describe Symptoms Clearly & Naturally

Do you panic when a doctor asks, “What brings you in today?”
You know exactly how you feel in your language — but in English, the words disappear. You point, gesture, say “I am not good,” and hope the doctor understands. This is scary, confusing, and can even prevent you from getting the help you need. You are NOT alone — medical English is difficult for every learner.

In today’s Simply Talk English lesson, Alex and Emma teach you exactly how to describe symptoms clearly, answer common doctor questions, talk about pain, duration, severity, body parts, allergies, medications, injuries, and medical history. You’ll also learn essential phrases, real dialogues, and the mistakes that cause misunderstandings at the doctor’s office.

This lesson can genuinely help you communicate during an emergency — with clarity and confidence.

⭐ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why medical English is so difficult
• How to describe symptoms using natural patterns
• Words for pain: sharp, dull, throbbing, stabbing
• How to talk about fever, nausea, dizziness, congestion, exhaustion
• Vocabulary for body parts and injuries
• How to explain when symptoms started and how severe they are
• How to answer common doctor questions
• How to talk about allergies, medications, and medical conditions
• Example dialogues for real-life situations
• Common mistakes — and how to avoid them
• A challenge to practice describing your symptoms

🎯 Perfect for:

• Beginners and intermediate learners
• Travelers, immigrants, students, international workers
• Anyone who needs English for emergencies or medical visits
• Real-life, practical communication

🧠 How to use this lesson

• Practice describing symptoms out loud
• Use clear structures (“I have…”, “I am experiencing…”, “It started…”)
• Be specific about pain, duration, and body parts
• Write your symptom sentence in the comments
• Rewatch the review when needed

💬 Practice with us!

Write one sentence describing a symptom using today’s vocabulary.
Example: “I have been experiencing a throbbing headache for two days.”
We read every comment!

👍 If you enjoyed this lesson:

• Like the video
• Subscribe for weekly real-life English lessons
• Share with someone learning English

🔖 Hashtags

#LearnEnglish #EnglishPodcast #MedicalEnglish
#EnglishSpeakingPractice #SpeakEnglishNaturally #SimplyTalkEnglish #ESL