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Health and the body

Goal: name the main parts of the body, explain how you feel at the doctor using 'I have a ...' and 'It hurts', understand and give simple advice with 'You should ...' and 'You shouldn't ...', and follow a short clinic conversation.

Good morning, doctor. I don't feel well — I have a bad headache and a fever.

እንደምን አደሩ ዶክተር። ደህና አይደለሁም — ከባድ ራስ ምታትና ትኩሳት አለብኝ።

My throat hurts when I swallow, and I have had a cough since yesterday.

ስውጥ ጉሮሮዬ ያመኛል፣ ከትናንት ጀምሮም ሳል አለብኝ።

You should rest at home, drink warm water, and take this medicine twice a day.

ቤትህ ማረፍ፣ ሞቅ ያለ ውሃ መጠጣት፣ እና ይህን መድሃኒት በቀን ሁለት ጊዜ መውሰድ አለብህ።

You shouldn't go to work for two days, and you should come back if the fever gets worse.

ለሁለት ቀን ወደ ስራ መሄድ የለብህም፣ ትኩሳቱም ቢከፋ መመለስ አለብህ።

slow
Key body words: 'head', 'eye', 'ear', 'nose', 'mouth', 'tooth' (plural 'teeth'), 'throat', 'arm', 'hand', 'leg', 'foot' (plural 'feet'), 'back' and 'stomach'. Useful health words: 'doctor', 'nurse', 'clinic', 'medicine', 'fever', 'cough', 'pain' and 'to rest'.

On Monday morning Almaz woke up feeling very tired. Her head was hot, her throat hurt every time she swallowed, and she had a dry cough. After breakfast she did not even want her usual cup of buna, so she decided to walk to the small clinic near the market in Addis Ababa. The nurse weighed her and then the doctor, a kind man named Kebede, asked, 'Good morning, Almaz. What's the matter, and how long have you felt like this?' Almaz answered, 'Good morning, doctor. I have a headache and a fever, and I have had a sore throat since Saturday.' Doctor Kebede looked at her throat and took her temperature. 'You have a small infection, but it is not serious,' he said. 'You should stay at home and rest for three days. You should drink a lot of warm water and take this medicine twice a day, after meals. You shouldn't drink cold drinks, and you shouldn't go back to work until the fever has gone.' Almaz thanked him, bought the medicine, and went home to rest. By Thursday she felt much better and was finally enjoying her buna again.

Recap: at the doctor, say 'I have a headache / a fever / a cough' or 'My back hurts'. Answer 'How long...?' with 'since' or 'for'. Give advice with 'You should ...' and 'You shouldn't ...', keeping the verb in its base form. Take care of your health!

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Listen and choose the advice you hear.

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You should rest at home, drink warm water, and take this medicine twice a day.