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Talking about your Health

Talking about your health with should and shouldn’t.

1. Warm up
Complete the following.

1. On your own, tick/check the things you want to do.

lose weight get more sleep drink less soda

do more exercise eat more vegetables eat fewer sweets

2. Tell your partner the things you do and don’t want to do with “I want to... ” and “I don’t want to... ”

2. Vocabulary
A. Read the health problems and match them to the pictures.

1. ______ I have a headache. I have a sore head. 4. ______ I have a cough.

2. ______ I have a stomachache. I have a sore stomach. 5. ______ I have a sore throat.

3. ______ I have a fever. I have a high temperature. 6. ______ I have a runny nose.

a. c. e.

b. d. f.

B. Match the verbs in the box with the objects to make verb noun collocations about health.

clean touch avoid

wear throw away wash

a. a mask d. surfaces

b. your hands often e. used tissues

c. sick people f. don’t your eyes, nose, or mouth

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 C. Match the pictures to the phrases in Part 2B.

1. ______ 3. ______ 5. ______

2. ______ 4. ______ 6. ______

3. Giving Advice
A. Read sentences a-c and circle the alternatives to complete rules 1 and 2.

Subject Modal verb Main verb Object

a. I have a stomachache.

b. You should take medicine.

c. You shouldn’t eat spicy food.

1. Use should to talk about something that is: a good idea / necessary

2. Use shouldn’t to talk about something that is: not necessary / a bad idea

B. Read problems 1-4 and write some advice using should and shouldn’t.

skip lunch leave your house see a doctor eat something

wash your hands go to work sleep more go to bed late

1. I’m very tired today. 3. I feel sick.

You should

You shouldn’t

2. I’m very hungry. 4. I’m worried about COVID-19.

C. Tell your partner a problem about your health or life. Your partner will give you advice.

e.g. I have a sore back! I have no money!

You should lie down. You should get a job.

You shouldn’t move too much. You shouldn’t go out this weekend.

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 Talking about your Health
Level: Beginner: A1
Elementary: A2
Updated: Jun 22, 2022
Language: Function: Giving advice or recommendations.
Forms: Modal and auxiliary verbs. Present tense. Verb noun collocations.
Teaching time: 60 minutes.
Overview: Students will be able to talk about their health and symptoms in the present simple tense. Verb noun collocations
relating to health are introduced. Students also practice giving advice using modal verbs should and shouldn’t.
This can be used to talk about Coronavirus (COVID-19).

1. WARM UP 3. GIVING ADVICE

A warm up activity helps set the mood for the topic/lesson and A. In pairs, students read example sentences (a-c) then circle the
is a good opportunity to assess students’ ability to generate correct alternative to complete the rules. Answer any questions
language as well as elicit target vocabulary used in the lesson. If that arise and discuss using the modal verbs ‘should’ and
students struggle to engage with their partners, ask questions ‘shouldn’t’ if necessary.
to encourage participation. Allow a few minutes for students to
complete the warm up activity and continue the conversation if 1. Use should to talk about something that is: a good idea
interesting. 2. Use shouldn’t to talk about something that is: a bad idea
Students can share what they learned about their partners using
B. Read the verb noun collocations in the box and have students
the 3rd person, “He/She wants to... ” and “He/She doesn’t want
repeat after you. Individually, students write advice, one should
to... ”
and one shouldn’t, for each health problem. Students can check
their answers by taking turns telling their partner a problem and
2. VOCABULARY reading the advice they wrote.
A. Read the sentences to students to model the pronunciation 1. I’m very tired today!
of words like stomachache and cough. Individually or in pairs, You should sleep more.
students read the health problems and match them to pictures You shouldn’t go to bed late.
a-f. Answer any questions that arise. Students can compare
2. I’m very hungry!
their matches with a partner and discuss any differences or
You should eat something.
check answers as a class.
You shouldn’t skip lunch.
1. e. I have a headache. I have a sore head.
3. I feel sick!
2. f. I have a stomachache. I have a sore stomach. You should see a doctor.
3. c. I have a fever. I have a high temperature. You shouldn’t go to work.

4. a. I have a cough. 4. I’m worried about COVID-19.

You should wash your hands often.
5. b. I have a sore throat. You shouldn’t leave your house.
6. d. I have a runny nose.
C. Read the examples with students. In pairs or as a class, students
B. Individually, students match the verbs in the box to the objects say a problem related to their health or life. Other students
to make verb noun collocations about health. Students reply with some advice using should and shouldn’t. Encourage
can compare their answers with a partner and discuss any students to continue the conversation if it is interesting.
differences or check answers with the class.
a. wear a mask
b. wash your hands often
c. avoid sick people
d. clean surfaces
e. throw away used tissues
f. don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth

C. In pairs, students match pictures 1-6 to the collocations in Part

2B. Check answers with the class.

1. b. wash your hands often

2. d. clean surfaces
3. c. avoid sick people
4. e. throw away used tissues
5. a. wear a mask
6. f. don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth

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