English course

Lesson 105 of 240

New here? This is lesson 105 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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At the clinic in English

Ana has a cold. She walks into Dr. Okafor's clinic across from the drugstore on Larch Street.

A nurse waits at the front desk. Ana starts a long health report. The nurse stops her, kindly.

By the end, you'll sign in, say which doctor you came for, and ask if you can walk in.

You'll also ask if the doctor is running late, and say you have a three o'clock.

By the end of this lesson

Sign in at the clinic and answer the nurse.

  • I need to sign in.You must put your name on the list at the desk.
  • I'm here to see Dr. Okafor.You say which doctor you came for.
  • Where do I sign in?Ask where to put your name at the clinic.
  • Is the doctor running late?you ask if the doctor is behind schedule
  • I have a three o'clock.You have a visit at three.
  • Can I walk in?Ask if you can see the doctor without a booking.

Scene — the clinic door

Same Larch Street, across from the drugstore. Ana pushes the clinic door. Pale walls, a high exam couch down the hall, and a small desk.

A nurse looks up. Dr. Okafor is with a patient. The waiting chairs are almost empty.

Ana pushes open the clinic door as Dr. Okafor tends to a patient beside the high exam couch down the hall.

Learn — sign in at the desk

Six short lines cover signing in at the clinic and naming your doctor.

You'll also ask about a late doctor, a three o'clock visit, and coming with no booking.

  1. Ana writes her name on the clinic sign-in list at the small desk.

    I need to sign in.

    You must put your name on the list at the desk.

    When to use it: Say this at the clinic desk when you arrive.

    Sign in means you put your name on the list.

    Say it: Sign and in can link.

  2. Ana points down the hallway toward Dr. Okafor to identify the doctor she came to see.

    I'm here to see Dr. Okafor.

    You say which doctor you came for.

    When to use it: Say this so the nurse knows which doctor you came for.

    I'm is I am, said as one piece.

    Say it: Say to as "tuh" before see.

  3. Ana gestures toward the blank list on the desk to ask where to put her name.

    Where do I sign in?

    Ask where to put your name at the clinic.

    When to use it: Ask this when you cannot see the list.

    Keep where at the start of this question.

  4. Ana checks her blank watch while glancing toward the hallway for her scheduled visit.

    Is the doctor running late?

    you ask if the doctor is behind schedule

    When to use it: Ask this if you have waited past your visit time.

    Running late uses the -ing form to mean behind schedule.

    Say it: The stress is on late.

  5. Ana holds out a blank appointment card at the desk as she confirms her visit time.

    I have a three o'clock.

    You have a visit at three.

    When to use it: Say this to tell the nurse your visit time.

    A three o'clock means a visit at three.

    Say it: The stress is on clock.

  6. Murray enters the clinic and gestures toward the desk to ask about seeing the doctor without a booking.

    Can I walk in?

    Ask if you can see the doctor without a booking.

    When to use it: Ask this if you came with no booking.

    Walk in means come with no booking, as one piece.

    Say it: Walk and in can link.

Story — the nurse waits

Watch Ana at the clinic desk. She starts a long health report. The nurse stops her, kindly.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Ana stands at the small clinic desk. The nurse looks up from a screen.
  2. StaffHi. Can I help you?a friendly hello and an offer to help
  3. AnaExcuse me. I need to sign in.She gets attention, then says she must put her name on the list.
  4. StaffSure. Who are you here to see?She asks which doctor Ana came for.
  5. AnaI'm here to see Dr. Okafor. Where do I sign in?She names her doctor, then asks where to put her name.
  6. StaffRight here. Do you have a time?She shows the list and asks about the visit time.
  7. AnaI have a three o'clock. My throat hurts a lot.She gives her visit time, then starts a health report.
  8. StaffThe doctor will ask that. Have a seat.She wants a short sign-in now, then Ana can sit.
  9. AnaIs the doctor running late?you ask if the doctor is behind schedule
  10. StaffJust a few minutes. You can wait.The doctor is a little behind, not long.
  11. The door opens. Murray fills the frame, peacoat and all.
  12. MurrayWell, can I walk in?Ask if you can see the doctor without a booking.
  13. StaffName on the list first, please.He must put his name on the list before a visit.

Practice — name, time, and walk in

Ten short tasks check the clinic lines. You'll listen, build, fill a gap, and pick a reply.

Work through them one at a time.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    I need to sign in.Drop the Simple English here
    I'm here to see Dr. Okafor.Drop the Simple English here
    Where do I sign in?Drop the Simple English here
    Can I walk in?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    The nurse looks at you and waits. Name the doctor you came for.

  4. What does it mean?

    Is the doctor running late?

  5. Fill the gap

    You have a visit at three.

    I have a three ____.

  6. Build the line

    Ask where to put your name at the clinic.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    What time is your visit?

    She asks the time of your visit.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You came to the clinic with no booking. Ask if that is okay.

    Can I walk ____?

  9. What do you say?

    The nurse is looking at a screen and does not see you. Get her attention.

  10. True or false?

    This line asks you to write your name.

Say it — say it at the desk

Now you're Ana at the clinic desk. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. StaffHi. How can I help you?a friendly hello and an offer to help
  2. Ana (you)Tell her you must put your name on the list.

    I need to sign in.

    You must put your name on the list at the desk.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I need to sign in.You must put your name on the list at the desk.
I'm here to see Dr. Okafor.You say which doctor you came for.
Where do I sign in?Ask where to put your name at the clinic.
Is the doctor running late?you ask if the doctor is behind schedule
I have a three o'clock.You have a visit at three.
Can I walk in?Ask if you can see the doctor without a booking.
Next: lesson 106Telling the doctor

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these clinic lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your clinic lines ready for the desk.

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