English Conversation for Healthcare

Advanced 1
Anis Balti
Lesson 1
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 Instructor introduction
• Instructor name: Anis Balti
• Contact: anis.balti@mcgill.ca
• About me:
• Education
• Experience
• Hobbies

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 Today’s Plan

1. Student introductions
2. Course structure & learning plan
3. Vocabulary & expressions
4. Class wrap-up

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 Course structure & learning plan
• 16-hour conversation course:
– Wednesdays (2 hours / lesson)
– From Sep. 19 to Nov. 21(8 lessons)
• Assessment:
– Classwork (40%)
– Rehearsed oral (30%)
– Final evaluation (30%)

Let’s make this a great course together!

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 In this course you will learn to:
1. Give bad news
2. Indicate and describe the severity of problems
3. Explain and justify a change or adaptation related to client care
4. Respond to client concerns about practical workplace dilemmas
5. Comfort and reassure a person in physical, emotional, and/or
psychological distress
6. Use a variety of strategies to establish and maintain appropriate
boundaries with clients
7. Contribute to a discussion in a small formal group with clients
and family members

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 Student introductions
Let’s get to know each other!

• Introduce yourself
– What is your name?
– What part of Quebec are you from?
– What is your occupation?
– How long have you been working in your current position?
– What did you do before that?
– Why are you taking this class?

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 Today’s learning objective
By the end of today’s class, you will be able to
give bad news.

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 Warm-up discussion
• Think about these questions and discuss:
– Do you find it difficult to give bad news?
– When did you last give some bad news?
– What was the bad news?
– What do you say when you have to give bad news?

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 Language for giving bad news
1. I (we) regret to inform you that…
2. It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that…
3. I’m afraid…
… I have some bad news.
… the test came back positive.
4. I have to tell you…
5. I have some bad news.

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 Language for giving bad news
(…continued)
1. It appears to be the case that…
2. It would appear that…
3. There’s no easy way to say this…
4. Despite our best efforts…
5. I’m sorry to tell you that…
6. I’m sorry to have to tell you that…

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 Let’s practice!
• Take turns role-playing the following scenario
with a partner. Try to use as many of the
expressions for giving bad news as possible.

Donna, 38, is pregnant with her first child. She

conceived through IVF after several miscarriages.
You have to explain to her that she must be
hospitalized for 2 months before the end of her
pregnancy.

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 Let’s practice!
• Take turns role-playing the following scenario
with a partner. Try to use as many of the
expressions for giving bad news as possible.

Richard has been your client since he finished detox

treatment at an in-patient facility last year. Richard is
determined to get his life on track after many years of
addiction. You recently helped him complete an
application for housing assistance, but now have to tell
him that he will have to wait more than a year to get
housed.

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 Scenario discussion & feedback
• Think about and share your experience of the
role-play activity:
– How was your role play? Funny? Interesting?
Difficult?
– Did you use the new vocabulary and expressions?
– Which expressions were particularly helpful?
– Do you have any other comments or questions?

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 Corrections
• After class, you can download the class notes
from MyCourses

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 Wrap-up
We’re almost finished for today!

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 Today’s learning objective
By the end of today’s class, you will be able to
give bad news.

• Do you feel confident about this skill?

• How will you practice this skill?

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 Congratulations!
• Congratulations on finishing your first
Advanced 1 conversation class!
• How are you feeling now?
• Do you have any questions, comments, or
feedback?
• You can also email me during the week if you
have any questions about our course.
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 Goodbye!
Enjoy the rest of your week
& see you next time!

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