2. Grammar
B1.22.1 Grammar
Values of "se"
Key verb
Cortarse (to cut oneself)
Key verb
Adelgazar (to lose weight)
3. Exercises
Exercise 1: Writing correspondence
Instruction: Write a reply to the following message appropriate to the situation
Email: You receive an email from the emergency department of the hospital where you were last night and you must reply to provide more information about your condition and your medical history.
Asunto: Información sobre su visita a urgencias
Estimado/a señor/a,
Anoche acudió a urgencias por mareos y dolor de estómago. El médico de guardia nos ha pedido más datos para completar su historial médico y seguir su evolución.
Por favor, respóndanos por este medio e indíquenos:
- si hoy se siente mejor o peor,
- si ha tenido reacciones alérgicas antes,
- si toma alguna medicación actualmente.
Si empeora, le recomendamos ir de urgencias de nuevo.
Atentamente,
Laura Martínez
Administración — Servicio de Urgencias
Hospital Central
Subject: Information about your visit to the emergency department
Dear Sir/Madam,
You attended the emergency department last night for dizziness and stomach pain. The on‑call doctor has requested further details to complete your medical record and monitor your progress.
Please reply to this message and let us know:
- whether you feel better or worse today,
- whether you have had allergic reactions in the past,
- whether you are currently taking any medication.
If your condition worsens, we recommend that you return to the emergency department.
Sincerely,
Laura Martínez
Administration — Emergency Department
Central Hospital
Understand the text:
-
¿Qué información solicita el hospital sobre el estado actual del paciente?
(What information does the hospital request about the patient’s current condition?)
-
¿Qué aconseja el hospital si el paciente empeora?
(What does the hospital advise if the patient’s condition worsens?)
Useful phrases:
-
Les escribo para informarles de que…
(I am writing to inform you that…)
-
Hoy me encuentro…
(Today I feel…)
-
Normalmente no/tomo…
(Normally I don’t / I take…)
Les escribo para informarles de que hoy me encuentro un poco mejor, aunque todavía tengo algo de mareo y poco apetito. Desde que salí de urgencias no he vomitado.
No he tenido nunca una reacción alérgica grave. Hace años noté la piel algo roja con un antibiótico, pero no fue importante. Actualmente solo tomo un medicamento para la tensión por la mañana.
Si empeoro, volveré a ir de urgencias como indican.
Muchas gracias por su atención.
Atentamente,
[Tu nombre]
Dear Ms. Martínez:
I am writing to inform you that today I feel a little better, although I still have some dizziness and little appetite. Since I left the emergency department I have not vomited.
I have never had a serious allergic reaction. Years ago my skin became slightly red after taking an antibiotic, but it was not serious. I currently take only one medication for blood pressure in the morning.
If I get worse, I will return to the emergency department as you recommend.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Writing exercise
Instruction: Write 8 to 10 lines explaining a real or imaginary visit to an emergency department and how the care you or another person received went.
Useful expressions:
Fui a urgencias porque… / Me atendieron primero / tuve que esperar porque… / El personal sanitario me explicó que… / En mi opinión, el servicio de urgencias fue…