Choose the correct answers to the questions

1. William Osler is a medical doctor. T/F

2. He thinks drugs are the best way to treat illness. T/F

3. The author is scared of needles. T/F

4. The author's experience of acupuncture was a good one. T/F

5. An acupuncturist inserts needles in body organs. T/F

6. Henry Kissinger had his appendix removed in China T/F

7. A lot of doctors believed that acupuncture doesn't work. T/F

8. Acupuncture does work for some medical problems. T/F

9. Acupuncture is only used to treat people who are ill. T/F

10. Tony Blair uses acupuncture to relieve stress. T/F

11. The Queen of England uses alternative medicine. T/F

12. Acupuncture can be dangerous. T/F

Summarize the article using the words from the glossary

You are going to listen about “Alternative medicine”. What do you think alternative medicine?

(http://www.funkyenglish.com/page/quiz-reading-alternative-medicine)

Explain the meaning of the following words.

alternative () - adj - not the normal or established way of doing something

evidence () - noun - the facts or information that show if something is true or valid

acupuncture () - noun - a system of alternative medicine that involves inserting needles into the skin

inserting () - verb - to place or push something into something else

nausea () - noun - a feeling of sickness

chiropractic () - noun - the system of treating joint or spinal column pain

skeleton () - noun - the bones (and other material) that support the body (human, animal or plant)

spine () - noun - the backbone of the body - the column of vertebrae from the skull to the bottom of the back

homoeopathy () - noun - a system of treatment that involves giving the patient very small amounts of natural substances

diluted () - adj - a liquid made weaker or thinner by adding water (or another liquid) to it

symptoms () - noun - a physical or mental sign that indicates an illness or disease

remedy () - noun - the treatment or medicines for an illness or injury

hypnotherapy () - noun - the use of hypnosis as a type of treatment

hypnosis () - noun - a state of consciousness when a person loses control and becomes highly suggestive

trance () - noun - a semi-conscious state that can be induced by hypnosis

massage () - noun - the rubbing or kneading of parts of the body

therapy () - noun - treatment or healing of an illness or disability

heal () - verb - to cure or restore to full health

reflexology () - noun - treatment by applying pressure to the feet, ears or hands

pressure () - noun - to press on or touch something continually

Summarize the text using the words from the glossary

 

1. Talk about:

· Have you ever used any type of alternative medicine?

· Is alternative medicine common in your country?

· Do you think alternative medicine could replace scientific medicine?

· Would you like to be hypnotized?

· Have you ever had a massage?

 

Role Plays

Visiting the Doctor

Target language It started… (a week ago). I feel… (tired, hot, etc.). I had an accident when… It hurts here. I’ve got… (a sore throat, a swollen ankle). I can’t… walk / sleep Is it serious? What should I do?

 

Student A – Patient

You are a patient at your local doctor’s surgery. Choose one of the illnesses from the chart and tell the doctor the answers to these questions:

• How, when and where did it start?

• What symptoms have you got?

• Have you taken any medicine or done anything else to help?

 

Student B will try to provide the correct diagnosis. At the end tell student B if s/he was correct about the illness.

 

Target language What seems to be the problem? Does it hurt here? Is the pain getting worse? Do you have… (a cough, a temperature, a swollen ankle)? Can you… (move your hand, go near parks and flowers)? Are you allergic to anything? I think you have… You should / shouldn’t… Try (not) to…(verb)

Student B – Doctor

You are the doctor. Listen to student A, who will describe her/his symptoms.

• Ask questions using the Target language expressions.

• Tell the patient what you think the illness is.

• Give the patient some advice.

 

Try to remember without looking at the chart. At the end, student A will tell you if your diagnosis was correct.

 

Visiting the Doctor