LinguaBoost Lab EVERYDAY ENGLISH
Catalog A2
A2 · Bella Series · Lesson 2 · Day 3 in Canada

Bella Needs Help · pharmacy, doctor, emergency

It's Bella's third day in Canada. Yesterday was wonderful — coffee, a SIM card, a long walk by the lake. But this morning she woke up with a strong headache. We follow her to Shoppers Drug Mart, then to a walk-in clinic, and finally we hear how she helps a stranger who needs to call 911.

Pharmacy Doctor 911 call "Can I…?" + "Could you…?"
💊

Key vocabulary · tap to hearDeck of 12

Today's only grammar focus · asking politely

When something is wrong, you need polite help. Three magic openings. Every scene below uses them.

Can I have…? (asking to receive) Could you…? (asking the other person) I need… (saying what you need)
"Can I have something for a headache, please?"
"Could you help me, please? I don't feel well."
"I need an ambulance. My friend is sick."
Eight emoji symptom cards with matching audio phrase cards
Health note · Canada
For a mild symptom — a headache, a cough, a runny nose — most Canadians go to a pharmacy first. Pharmacists give advice and simple medicine without a prescription. For a fever over 39 °C or pain that will not stop, go to a walk-in clinic. For chest pain, breathing trouble, or a bad fall — call 911.
0

Guess the symptomVisual warm-up

Match each emoji with the English phrase. Click an emoji-card on the left, then the matching phrase on the right.

Eight common symptoms. Click ▶ on any phrase to hear it.

Show all symptoms with translation
🤒 I have a fever · температура
🤕 I have a headache · головная боль
😷 I have a sore throat · болит горло
🤧 I'm sneezing · я чихаю
🤢 I feel nauseous · меня тошнит
😵 I feel dizzy · кружится голова
🩸 My nose is bleeding · идёт кровь из носа
🌶 I have stomach pain · болит живот
Three warm-up audio questions on a desk with notepad and mug
Health note · headaches
Adults get 2 to 3 headaches a month on average. Most are tension headaches — from stress, long screen time, or not enough water. First aid at home: a big glass of water, fresh air, and 15 minutes of rest. See a doctor the same day if a headache is very strong on one side, comes with a fever, or you cannot see well.
1

Warm-up · three short questionsSpeaking

Tap to hear · then answer in one full sentence. No rush.
What do you usually take when you have a headache?
When was the last time you went to the doctor?
If a stranger asks you for help on the street, what do you do?

Use: "I usually take…", "I went to the doctor when…", "I would help / I would ask…". Templates already in your pocket.

2

Scene 1 · at the pharmacyShoppers Drug Mart

Bella's headache won't go away. She walks into the nearest pharmacy.
💊
Bella stands at the pharmacy counter. She rubs her forehead. The pharmacist, a friendly woman, looks up and smiles. "Good morning! How can I help you?"
Step 1 · Vocabulary
Step 2 · Dialogue · read out loud (Bella → you)

Pharmacist: Good morning! How can I help you?

Bella: Hi. I have a strong headache. Can I have something for it, please?

Pharmacist: Of course. Do you prefer pills or syrup?

Bella: Pills, please. Something simple, without a prescription.

Pharmacist: Try these. One in the morning, one in the evening. Two times a day.

Bella: Could you write it down for me, please?

Pharmacist: Sure. Here you are. The cash desk is on your right.

Bella: Thank you very much.

Step 3 · Controlled drill · choose the right word
Step 4 · Your turn · use the template

You feel a little ill. Choose your own symptom.

Hi. I have ____ (a headache / a sore throat / a cough / a fever). Can I have ____ (something for it / some medicine), please? ____ (Pills / Syrup / Spray), please. Could you write down how to take them? Thank you very much.
Say it three times out loud — first reading, second smoother, third with eye contact.
Bonus · the next morning · Bella has a rash

A small extra scenario — an allergic reaction. New words: rash, itchy, allergic reaction, antihistamines.

Pharmacist: Hi again. How are you feeling today?

Bella: Better, thank you. But now I have a red rash on my arms. It's very itchy.

Pharmacist: It sounds like an allergic reaction. Did you eat anything new?

Bella: Yes, I tried some new nuts yesterday.

Pharmacist: Try these antihistamine tablets. One a day. Avoid the nuts.

Bella: Thank you. How quickly will the rash go away?

Pharmacist: In a day or two. If it spreads, see a doctor immediately.

3

Scene 2 · at the walk-in clinicDoctor's office

The headache is back the next day, plus a sore throat. Bella goes to a walk-in clinic without an appointment.
🩺
Bella sits in the doctor's office. The nurse called her name. The doctor looks at her, smiles, and asks: "Hello, what brings you in today?"
Step 1 · Vocabulary
Step 2 · Dialogue · read out loud (Bella → you)

Doctor: Hello, what brings you in today?

Bella: Hi. I have a headache and a sore throat. I don't feel well.

Doctor: When did it start?

Bella: Yesterday morning. I took some pills, but it didn't help much.

Doctor: Do you have a fever? Let me check.

Bella: I think so. I feel hot and tired.

Doctor: It looks like a small cold. Rest, drink hot tea, take these for three days.

Bella: Could you write me a prescription, please?

Doctor: Of course. Here you are. Feel better soon!

Step 3 · Controlled drill · choose the right word
Bella at the pharmacy, at a walk-in clinic, and calling 911 — with useful phrases
The whole day at a glance · tap to zoom
Step 4 · Your turn · use the template

You go to the doctor. Choose your own symptoms.

Hi. I have ____ (a headache / a sore throat / a fever / a cough). I don't feel well. It started ____ (yesterday / two days ago / this morning). Could you write me a prescription, please? Thank you very much.
Three times out loud — Elena, slow is fine. The doctor is patient.
Bella packs a travel first-aid kit — memory snowball game board with items
★

Bella packs a travel first-aid kitMemory snowball

Bella's friend is going to Vietnam. She helps her pack the first-aid kit. Click each item to add it, then say the FULL list out loud each round.

Rule: click items one by one. After each new item, repeat the WHOLE list aloud: "In our first-aid kit we have… bandages… and painkillers… and antiseptic wipes…"

In our first-aid kit we have…
click items above to start
Calling 911 in an emergency — dialogue with operator, useful phrases, and Stay calm — speak clearly checklist
4

Scene 3 · calling 911Emergency

On her way home, Bella sees an older man fall on the sidewalk. She calls 911 — the Canadian emergency number.
🚨
Bella is on Queen Street. An older man is on the ground, holding his chest. People stop, but no one acts. Bella takes her phone and calls 911.
Step 1 · Vocabulary
Step 2 · Dialogue · read out loud (Bella → you)

Operator: 911, what is your emergency?

Bella: I need an ambulance, please. There is a man on the street. He fell down.

Operator: Where are you, ma'am?

Bella: I'm on Queen Street, near the post office. The man is holding his chest.

Operator: Is he conscious? Is he breathing?

Bella: Yes, he is breathing. But he looks very weak.

Operator: Help is on the way. Could you stay with him until they arrive?

Bella: Yes, I'll stay. Please hurry.

Step 3 · Controlled drill · choose the right word
Step 4 · Your turn · use the template

You see an emergency. Call 911. Use four short sentences.

I need ____ (an ambulance / the police / the fire department), please. There is ____ (a man / a woman / a child) ____ (on the street / in the building / by the lake). I'm on ____ (___ Street, near ___). ____ (He / She) is breathing but ____ (very weak / unconscious / hurt). Please hurry.
Practice slow + clear. In emergency English, calm voice = fast help.
5

Free speaking · pick one scene and tell me about itAI Live Coach

Choose your favourite scene. Talk for about 60 seconds. The system listens.

Task: Choose one of today's scenes — pharmacy, doctor, or emergency. Tell me:

  1. Where you are ("I'm at the pharmacy", "I'm at the doctor's", "I'm on the street")
  2. What you need using Can I have…?, Could you…?, or I need…
  3. One small detail — a symptom, when it started, who is with you
  4. A polite closing ("Thank you", "Please hurry", "Feel better")

AI Live Coach

Tap Start and speak. You'll see four checkmarks turn green as you cover each point. Re-record as many times as you want. Nothing leaves your browser.

Live speech recognition is not supported in this browser. For the live experience open in Chrome or Edge on desktop. You can type your answer below.

Your four points · live

  • ✓You said WHERE you areI'm at the pharmacy / on the street / at the doctor's+1
  • ✓You used Can I…?, Could you…?, or I need…today's grammar focus+1
  • ✓One small detaila symptom / when it started / who is with you+1
  • ✓Polite closingthank you / please hurry / feel better+1
--:-- tap to start · 2:00 max
Words0
Pace · wpm--
Longest pause0s
Your score
—/ 4
Press Start. Cover all four points in about 60 seconds. Slow is fine.
Mic doesn't work? Type your answer instead
6

Word formation · noun → adj / verbGrammar in context

Make the right form from the noun in brackets. Type your answer. Check with the button.

1. This medicine relieves joints. (ache)

2. The injection was very . (pain)

3. She works in the centre downtown. (medicine)

4. He's to penicillin. (allergy)

5. The doctor prescribed three different . (medicine)

6. I take this twice a day. (medicine)

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Bonus · Bella at the doctor's again · food poisoningStomach issues

Two weeks later. Bella tried street food. Now she has stomach pain and nausea.

Doctor: Good morning, what's bothering you?

Bella: I have severe stomach pain and nausea. I also vomited twice last night.

Doctor: Did you eat anything unusual? Any fever?

Bella: I had street food yesterday. My temperature is normal.

Doctor: It could be food poisoning. Drink plenty of fluids and take these anti-nausea pills. Return if symptoms persist.

Bella: Should I follow a special diet?

Doctor: Stick to bland foods like toast and rice for 24 hours.

Your turn · describe your own stomach problem

I have ____ (stomach pain / nausea / diarrhea). I also ____ (vomited / felt dizzy) this morning. I ate ____ (street food / something unusual) yesterday. Could it be food poisoning?
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Types of doctors · who treats what?Vocabulary

Tap a doctor on the left, then their specialty on the right.
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10 types of medical facilitiesWhere to go

Match each facility on the left with its definition on the right.
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Medical vocab · 6 mini-quizzesPractice

Fill the gap with the right word. Click Check after each group.

1️⃣ Types of doctors

1. For regular checkups, you visit your .

2. If your child has a fever, take them to a .

3. A can help with acne or skin rashes.

4. People with heart problems need to see a .

5. When you have ear pain, you might need an .

6. Cancer patients receive treatment from an .

2️⃣ Medical facilities

1. For a broken arm, go to the immediately.

2. You can get vaccinated at a local .

3. Pregnant women give birth at a .

4. Minor surgeries are done at an .

5. Elderly people often live in a .

6. Soldiers receive care at a .

3️⃣ Pharmacy & medications

1. Strong medicines require a from your doctor.

2. You can buy drugs without seeing a doctor.

3. The version costs less but works the same.

4. This medicine may cause like dizziness.

5. The instructions say take one pill every 8 hours.

6. For allergies, you can take .

4️⃣ Symptoms & conditions

1. If your hurts when swallowing, you might be sick.

2. A high means your body is fighting infection.

3. She has a terrible and needs to rest.

4. After eating bad food, he had all night.

5. The child fell and has a on his arm.

6. Pollen causes a for many people.

5️⃣ First-aid kit items

1. Clean cuts with before covering them.

2. Cover small wounds with .

3. For serious bleeding, use to stop it.

4. Secure bandages with .

5. Check temperature with a .

6. Put on itchy insect bites.

6️⃣ Insurance terms

1. Some treatments need before they're covered.

2. That hospital is , so it costs more.

3. They sent a saying they won't pay the bill.

4. My is $25 for each doctor's visit.

5. We need to file an to challenge their decision.

6. The process can take several weeks.

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Travel insurance · vocab matchInsurance B2

Tap the term on the left, then the definition on the right.
12

Hospital abroad · 3 storiesReading + gap-fill

Read each story and fill the gaps. Use the buttons under each text to check.

🇯🇵 1. Anna in Japan · sushi surprise

Anna was visiting Tokyo on vacation. On her , she had dinner at a small sushi restaurant. A few hours later, her lips started , and she felt . Her friend called an , and she was taken to the nearest hospital. At the , the doctor asked if she had any known allergies. Anna said she wasn't sure, but she had never eaten before. It turned out she had an to shellfish. The doctors treated her quickly, and she stayed in the hospital for one night. Luckily, she had , so everything was covered.

🇩🇪 2. Omar in Berlin · twisted ankle

Omar was in Berlin for a student exchange program. One weekend, he played football and twisted his badly. He couldn't walk and had to go to the hospital. At reception, nobody spoke English very well, so he used a to explain what had happened. The doctor sent him for an . He had a minor and was given and painkillers. The hospital asked for his , which he luckily had with him.

🇲🇽 3. Lucia in Mexico · food poisoning

Lucia was in a small town in Mexico. One evening, she some street tacos and woke up in the night with , vomiting, and a high fever. She was taken to the local hospital by her . The hospital was clean but small, and most of the staff only spoke Spanish. Lucia used basic Spanish and hand gestures to explain her symptoms. They gave her an and some medicine. She didn't have insurance, so she had to pay in cash – about 70 dollars. She recovered quickly and learned to be more careful with .
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Insurance battles · 3 case studiesStorytelling + claim vocab

Three real-life appeal stories. Read each, fill the gaps, then discuss what you would do.

1️⃣ Maria vs. the "out-of-network" trap

"I needed , and my doctor sent me to LabCorp. When I got the bill — $1,200! — my insurance denied it because LabCorp wasn't in-network. But here's the catch: NO in my area offered this test! I called my insurer 3 times. First call: 'Sorry, rules are rules.' Second call: I . Third call: sent proof of calling 5 other labs. Result: after 3 weeks, they agreed to cover 80%! Lesson: if no in-network option exists, FIGHT — with !"

2️⃣ David's ER nightmare · "not an emergency"?

"One night I woke up with and couldn't breathe. Rushed to the ER — turned out to be , but the doctor said it could've been a heart attack. Then the bill came: $3,500. Insurance denied it, saying '.' Are you kidding?! My move: got my ER doctor to write a letter — 'Symptoms matched life-threatening conditions.' Filed an appeal with the state insurance board. Result: 2 months later — ! Lesson: doctors' notes are GOLD. Never take 'no' from a call center!"

3️⃣ Aisha's MRI saga · missing paperwork

"My ordered an MRI for my . The hospital did it, but… surprise! $2,800 denial because my doctor 'forgot' to get . How I won: called the hospital's . They admitted it was THEIR job to remind doctors. They wrote an appeal letter for me: '.' Sent it to insurance with a complaint to my state's health commissioner. Result: 6 weeks later — paid in full! Lesson: hospitals can be your . Make them work for YOU!"

💬 Discussion · pick 3 questions

  1. Have you ever had to deal with an insurance claim denial? What happened?
  2. Would you fight a denied claim, or just pay to avoid hassle? Why?
  3. Which of the three stories (Maria, David, Aisha) surprises you most? Why?
  4. Should hospitals be responsible for insurance paperwork mistakes?
  5. Is private insurance fair, or should healthcare be universal?
  6. If your $5,000 surgery was denied but appealing meant 10+ hours of paperwork — would you do it?
14

Telehealth · seeing a doctor onlineModern medicine

Bella has another sore throat. She doesn't want to leave the apartment. She books a telehealth appointment.

💻 Key vocabulary

telehealthтелемедицина
video consultationвидео-консультация
virtual visitвиртуальный приём
book an appointmentзаписаться на приём
upload a photoзагрузить фото
electronic prescriptionэлектронный рецепт
health appприложение для здоровья
symptom checkerпроверка симптомов
follow-up callповторный звонок
screen freezeзависание экрана
can you hear meслышно меня?
unmute the microphoneвключить микрофон

📞 Dialogue · Bella books and joins a virtual visit

Receptionist: Maple Health Clinic, how can I help?

Bella: Hi. I'd like to book a telehealth appointment, please. I have a sore throat and a runny nose.

Receptionist: Sure. Our next slot is in 30 minutes. We'll send you a link by text — just click it five minutes before.

Bella: Perfect. Do I need to upload anything before the visit?

Receptionist: If you have a photo of your throat, upload it through the patient app. Otherwise the doctor will ask you to show it on camera.

— 30 minutes later, video call —

Doctor: Hi Bella, can you hear me OK?

Bella: Yes, loud and clear. I think my microphone was muted at first — sorry about that.

Doctor: No problem. Can you open your mouth and tilt the camera to show me your throat?

Bella: Like this?

Doctor: Perfect. Yes, your throat looks red but not infected. I'll send an electronic prescription to your pharmacy. Take it for five days.

Bella: Thank you! Should I book a follow-up?

Doctor: Only if it gets worse or doesn't improve in a week. Feel better soon.

✅ Pros and cons · think and discuss

👍 Pros
  • No travel — save time and energy when ill
  • Quick access to a doctor (often same day)
  • Electronic prescription goes straight to your pharmacy
  • Easier for people with limited mobility
  • Lower cost than an in-person visit
👎 Cons
  • Doctor can't physically examine you (no palpation, no listening to lungs)
  • Tech problems — screen freezes, audio drops, login fails
  • Not suitable for emergencies or serious conditions
  • Some elderly patients struggle with apps and devices
  • Privacy concerns — health data online

💬 Discussion · pick 3

  1. Have you ever used telehealth (in any language)? How did it go?
  2. For which symptoms would you NEVER use a virtual visit?
  3. Do you prefer a doctor you can see in person, or is video fine for you? Why?
  4. Should telehealth visits cost less than in-person ones? Why or why not?
  5. Would you trust an AI-symptom-checker app before booking a real appointment?
  6. Some countries don't allow online prescriptions for certain medicines. Should the rules be the same everywhere?

📝 Your turn · short writing task

Imagine: you have to book a telehealth visit for a sore throat. Write 5–7 sentences: what you wrote in the app, what the doctor asked, what was prescribed, and one thing that went wrong (screen froze / microphone muted / etc).

Target: 5–7 sentences · 80–120 words words: 0
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Insurance claim · write a formal emailB1+ writing

Bella is back home in Toronto. She wants to file a claim for the German clinic visit. Help her write the email.

Scaffold: use the structure below. Replace bracketed parts with real details. Polite, formal tone.

Subject: Travel Insurance Claim · Policy [number] · Medical Expenses Abroad

Dear [Insurance Provider],

I am writing to file a claim for medical expenses I incurred during my recent trip to [country] on [date].

On [date], I visited [clinic / hospital name] because of [symptoms — sore throat, allergic reaction, etc.]. I was prescribed [medication] and paid a total of [amount in EUR / USD]. I have attached the original receipts and the doctor's note.

My policy number is [number], and the incident took place within the covered period.

Could you please confirm receipt of this claim and let me know how long the reimbursement process will take? I am happy to provide any additional documentation upon request.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Sincerely,
[Your full name]
[Phone / email]

Now write your own version using the scaffold. 120–180 words. Formal tone.

Target: 120–180 words · formal · 5 paragraphs words: 0

Bella is OK now. So are you.

Three Canadian scenes that scare almost everyone — and you have templates for all of them. Same shape: where you are, what you need, one detail, polite closing. Next lesson Bella goes to the supermarket, the swimming pool, and tries her first yoga class at the gym.