Pharmacy English
Buying Medicine & Understanding Labels
🎯 Lesson Goal
- Learn key vocabulary for symptoms and medicine.
- Practice asking for and understanding medicine instructions (dosage).
- Use should for advice and polite questions.
📖 Vocabulary Building
Symptoms (The Problem)
- A headache / A fever
- A cough / A sore throat
- Stomachache
- Allergies
Medicine (The Solution)
- Painkillers (Pills like Aspirin)
- Cough syrup (Liquid medicine)
- Prescription (Doctor’s note)
- Ointment (Cream for skin)
Key Terms:
Pharmacist (the worker) •
Dosage (how much to take) •
Over-the-counter (no prescription needed).
✅ Grammar Focus
- Polite Questions: “Can I get something for a cold?”
- Giving Advice (Should): “You should take one pill daily.”
📦 Reading the Label (Dosage)
When the pharmacist explains how to take medicine, listen for these phrases:
| Instruction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “Take one pill…” | Twice a day / Every 4 hours |
| “Take it…” | With food / On an empty stomach |
| “For external use only” | Do not swallow (for skin only) |
💬 Conversation Practice
Pharmacist: Hello! How can I help you today?
Customer: Hi. I have a sore throat. Do I need a prescription for medicine?
Pharmacist: No, this syrup is over-the-counter. You should take 10ml twice a day.
Customer: Does it have side effects?
Pharmacist: It might make you feel drowsy (sleepy).
Activities
1. Role-Play Task
Student A is the customer (describe a symptom). Student B is the pharmacist (give medicine and dosage advice).
Example 1:
A: I have a headache.
B: You should take these pills. One every 8 hours.Example 2:
A: I have a bad cough.
B: You should take this syrup. 10ml three times a day.
2. Practice Writing
Write a short dialogue (4–5 lines). Include 3 vocabulary words and one piece of advice using “should.”
Unit 2 Complete!
Incredible work! You’ve mastered the vocabulary and grammar of Unit 2.
Make sure to review your notes on Fashion, Shopping, and Quantifiers before starting.