Content Warning: This conversation deals with hospitalization, serious injury, and death
| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | Hospital Care | Man – Woman | 02:43 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What are some common reasons why people have to be hospitalized? How long do people need to stay in the hospital for these medical conditions? What things do you look for when choosing a hospital for your care?
Idioms
“break down” = lose emotional control and often cry
“The family broke down when they heard the tragic news.”
“under the weather” = feeling tired or sick
“Grandma was really under the weather for about a week, but she’s feeling better now.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:
- broadside (adverb): directly from the side
– A truck hit us broadside at a stoplight, but fortunately, no one was seriously injured. - burst (verb): begin or break open suddenly
– The water balloon burst when I put too much water in it. - bystander (noun): a person who is nearby
– Several bystanders saw the accident and pulled the injured man from the car. - injury (noun): harm or damage to part of your body
– Several people were involved in several accidents this morning, but their injuries were minor. - third-degree (adjective): very serious
– My son suffered third-degree burns in the house fire, but he eventually recovered. - settle down (verb): become calm and relaxed
– Did your wife settle down once you got to the hospital? - get distracted (by something) (verb): unable to concentrate and pay attention
– Why didn’t you finish your homework? Did you get distracted while you were watching the soccer game? - jump to conclusions (verb): make a judgment or decision too quickly before you review all of the facts
– Hey. Don’t jump to conclusions! We don’t know why the accident happened, and you shouldn’t say that Ryan was drinking when the accident happened. - recover (verb): get better or become healthy after an illness or injury
– How long do you think it will take for Amber to recover from her illness? - rough (adjective): somewhat difficult to deal with
– Being sick during your vacation can be rough. It isn’t a fun way to spend your time off. - make it (verb): survive or live
– Unfortunately, her father didn’t make it through the difficult operation.
Post-Listening Exercise
Describe a time when you or a family member was hospitalized. Answer these questions:
- Why were you hospitalized?
- How long were you in the hospital?
- What kind of tests or procedures were done as part of your care?
- Did you have a private room, or did you share a room with other patients?
- How would you describe your overall experience?
Online Investigation
Find a hospital near you and find information about the following:
- What questions should you ask before you are admitted for a major operation?
- What hospital ratings does the hospital have?
- Does the hospital specialize in any particular medical procedures? If so, what are they?
- What special services does the hospital provide (e.g., physical therapy, hearing aids, nutrition services, etc.)?