English speaking lesson · Health & Wellbeing
Pharmacy & symptoms
You're at a pharmacy counter, explaining how you've been feeling to get the right medicine. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A pharmacy counter · you talk to the pharmacist
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Explain your symptoms, answer a few questions, get a recommendation, and buy the medicine. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Hi there — how can I help you today?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the pharmacist.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Explain your symptom
Say hello, and explain your main symptom.
“Hi — I've got a really bad headache.”
- 02
Give more detail
Say how long you've had it, or mention another symptom.
“It's been about two days, and my throat's a bit sore too.”
- 03
Mention any allergies
Say if you're taking anything else, or have any allergies.
“No, I'm not taking anything else, and I'm not allergic to anything.”
- 04
Get a recommendation
Check the recommendation sounds right for you.
“Okay, that sounds good — I'll try it.”
- 05
Pay for it
Say how you'd like to pay, and finish politely.
“By card, please. Thanks!”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the pharmacist.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- headache
- a pain in your head
- “I've got a headache.”
- sore
- painful, uncomfortable
- “My throat's a bit sore.”
- throat
- the inside of your neck used for swallowing
- “My throat hurts a little.”
- tablet
- a small, solid piece of medicine
- “Could I have a tablet, please?”
- syrup
- a thick, sweet liquid medicine
- “Is there a syrup for coughs?”
- allergic
- having a bad reaction to something
- “I'm not allergic to anything.”
- tired
- needing rest, low on energy
- “I've been feeling tired too.”
- much
- used to ask the price
- “How much is it?”
- please
- a polite word when you ask for something
- “A packet, please.”
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks for your help.”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- condition
- a health issue you have
- “It's a fairly common condition.”
- dose
- an amount of medicine to take
- “What's the right dose for me?”
- ingredient
- one part of what makes up a medicine
- “What's the main ingredient?”
- drowsy
- feeling sleepy
- “Does this make you drowsy?”
- relief
- a lessening of pain or discomfort
- “I just need some relief from this.”
- allergy
- a bad reaction to something
- “I don't have any allergy that I know of.”
- recommend
- to suggest something as good
- “What would you recommend?”
- effective
- producing the result you want
- “Is this pretty effective?”
- receipt
- the printed proof of payment
- “Could I get a receipt?”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I really appreciate the advice.”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- antihistamine
- medicine that treats allergy symptoms
- “Would an antihistamine help here?”
- decongestant
- medicine that clears a blocked nose
- “Is there a good decongestant?”
- interaction
- an effect between two medicines
- “Any interaction with what I'm taking?”
- reaction
- a bad response to something
- “I've had a reaction to that before.”
- potency
- the strength of a medicine
- “What's the potency of this one?”
- formulation
- the specific form a medicine is made in
- “Is there a gentler formulation?”
- generic
- a version without a brand name
- “Is there a generic version?”
- soothe
- to make pain or discomfort feel better
- “This should soothe the irritation.”
- consult
- to ask a professional for advice
- “Should I consult a doctor as well?”
- efficacy
- how well something works
- “What's the efficacy like for this?”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- potent
- very strong in its effect
- “That's a fairly potent one.”
- alleviate
- to make suffering less severe
- “This should alleviate the symptoms.”
- palliative
- relieving symptoms without curing
- “It's more palliative than curative.”
- contraindication
- a reason not to use a treatment
- “Any contraindication I should know about?”
- stave
- to keep something away, as in 'stave off'
- “This should stave off the worst of it.”
- lozenge
- a small tablet dissolved slowly in the mouth
- “A lozenge might help the throat.”
- curative
- able to cure an illness
- “It's not curative, just symptomatic relief.”
- brand
- a specific named product line
- “Is there a brand you'd suggest?”
- topical
- applied to the surface of the skin
- “Would a topical treatment work better?”
- dissolve
- to break down gradually in liquid
- “Let it dissolve slowly.”
More Health & Wellbeing lessons
- Doctor's appointment
- Booking a doctor's appointment
- Dentist appointment
- Eye test
- Physiotherapy session
- Blood test
- Vaccination
- Personal trainer session
- Therapist check-in