Scrooge

(0:38)  ".....and we have our very own Scrooge."
Ebenezer Scrooge-  a character from a famous story who hates Christmas

Medical Idioms

After mastering clinical knowledge, familiarizing yourself with everyday spoken English is important in preparing for each 15 minute patient encounter for the Step 2 CS.
Practicing patient exams with a native English speaking American is imperative, as along with developing an ear for the language, the teacher can give you feedback regarding your interaction with the patient and steer you in the right direction.  Tips regarding body language, physical proximity, and appropriate responses should be provided by the teacher.  For example, if a patient is angry or upset when you enter the room, it may be best to avoid physical contact (shaking the patient's hand) for the time being.  At the end of the interview if you have succeeded in calming the patient down you may then consider parting ways with a hand shake.
Also, if the patient tells you he has a "throbbing headache" will you understand what he means?

 What if the patient tells you he's been feeling "down in the dumps?"

There is a great idiom site I like to use with students with a list of medical idioms.
Along with practicing patient interviews using Kaplan medical, my video clip exercises and idiom reviews are sure to help anyone pass the Step 2 CS.

Beautiful Gifts from Japan

I’ve received a lot of wonderful gifts from my wonderful students over the years, but this takes the cake.

My beautiful student, Rie, from Japan brought with her beautifully wrapped gifts from her home country.  I am thankful beyond belief and so honored!

“Takes the cake” is an idiom meaning “is the best.”

Meeting Rie

After three years of lessons online, my student from Japan happened to come to Portugal for a business meeting!  My daughter and I drove five hours to meet her and we had a lovely time.  It was amazing to finally talk to each other face to face without a screen and ocean between us!

Immersion Solution

If you aren’t living in an English speaking country, how can you “immerse” yourself so that you can learn colloquial English, and become familiar with the culture?

Personal experience, along with talking to other people led me to a simple, but effective conclusion- television.  Moving to Portugal years ago put me in a situation where I had to learn the language quickly.  I didn’t have time to travel to take classes, and found that people would become impatient with me while I consulted my little dictionary during a conversation.  So I started watching “novelas” (soap operas).  Normally I prefer to read, but I knew I had to develop an ear for the language.  In the beginning it was difficult.  I would start watching a soap opera, and not understand anything that was being said.  But I would try to focus on positive things, and continued to “force” myself to enjoy it.  Everyday for an hour I would watch the same program.  I became familiar with the characters, and started to understand more and more as the context of the story helped to prompt my anticipation of what would happen next.   Cultural norms were introduced to me, and my pronunciation became better.

There are many television programs to choose from, and I often encourage students to choose a program that is related to what they are working towards or something they enjoy.  One of my students who passed the Step 2 CS would regularly watch “House” helping her to become familiar with an American hospital setting, as well as everyday spoken English. 

Explaining specific vocabulary and idioms, as well as asking questions relevant to clips of television programs, the exercises I have developed help students with listening/speaking skills and help increase vocabulary as well.