STIC - Health Care:
Workplace (Module 1)
Describing
Symptoms and Treatments 1
(Topic 3)
Content
Facilitator should review Topic 1 and Topic 2 from this
module.
This lesson contains medical terminology that may be difficult to pronounce.
The facilitator could incorporate focused pronunciation practise in this
lesson and omit some of the optional activities (or assign them as homework).
This lesson includes a long reading text. If there are strict time limits
the text could be assigned as homework the day before the delivery of
this lesson. Delivery
Make as many copies as necessary of the following handouts :
- Handout 1 Reading: Common Diseases and
Conditions (adapted from Tiersky, E.M. (1992) The Language
of Medicine in English, Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, pp. 39-44
(5 pages)
- Handout 2 Comprehension Check
- Handout 3 Vocabulary Practice
- Handout 4 Structure
- Handout 5 Categorization and Abbreviations
- Handout 6 Translating Medical Terminology
into "Ordinary" English
- Handout 7 Task
Materials needed: chart paper, markers, access to an overhead projector
or board. Methodology
Introduction
(10 minutes)
1. Write the following
questions on the board. Have participants discuss the questions in
small groups.
- What was the last illness you had? What
were its symptoms? What was the treatment?
- What prescription and non-prescription
drugs are you familiar with? What are their side effects?
Pre-Tasks
1. (45 minutes)
Distribute Handout 1. Explain to
the class that the text is about common diseases and ailments.
It deals with serious diseases as well as more common conditions.
Tell the class that they are reading first for general information
and later they will scan for specific information to complete a true/false
exercise.
2. (15 minutes)
Have the participants do the true/false
exercise in Handout 2 and then compare answers with a partner.
Take up the questions as a whole class. 3.
(25 minutes)
Handout 3 is a review of word parts
(roots, suffixes, and prefixes). Participants should work in pairs
to match the word parts with their correct meanings and to think
of an example of a medical term containing each word part or to
find an example in the text. Take up as a whole class activity
or prepare answers on OHT or chart paper. 4. (15 minutes) (optional)
Distribute Handout 4 to the class
and have them work with a partner to identify the components of each
medical term and its meaning. Take up as a class or prepare an answer
sheet on chart paper or OHT.
5. (20 minutes)
Explain to the class that categorizing
terminology is one effective way of learning new words. In the
activity in Handout 5, participants will categorize medical terms
as follows:
- Abnormal Conditions
- Diagnostic Procedures
- Treatments
- Medications
Break the class into four groups and distribute Handout 5 to each
participant. Give each group several sheets of chart paper and a
marker. Each group should decide which terms belong to which category
and write the words on chart paper. Have the whole class compare
charts to determine if each group categorized their words correctly.
6. (25-35 minutes)
Explain to the participants
that medical terminology is used primarily when health care professionals
communicate among themselves, but shouldn't be used with patients.
In order to be able to communicate effectively with patients, health
care professionals need to use layperson's language or non-medical
language. Explain that Handout 6 will give participants the opportunity
to practice "translating" terminology into "ordinary" English. They
will also translate layperson's terms into medical terms. Take up
the exercise with the whole class. Task
(30 minutes)
1. Pair the participants
and distribute Handout 7. Explain that they have a medical report
that they must first understand themselves. Participants should negotiate
the meaning of the medical terminology used in the report. Their
task is to re-phrase the report into layperson's language. Participants
could re-write the text or work through it orally.
Post-Task
(15 minutes)
Have two or three pairs read their
translation of the medical report into lay person's language in front
of the class. Downloads
All downloads are in Adobe Acrobat
PDF.
Download a print version of the above lesson plan and related
materials.
Workplace:
Topic 3 [240 KB, 23 pages]
Download the complete Facilitator's Guide and Participant's Workbook.
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