“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 9: Travel and Culture
Story 04: Medical Tourism
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Medical tourism
- Chronic pain
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Quality of care
- Professional and attentive
- Cultural immersion
- Practical solution
- Lack of access
- Modern and well-equipped
- Local culture
Read or Listen to the following passage:
I have had experience with medical tourism, and it was a decision that had a significant impact on my life. I had been struggling with chronic back pain for years, and the cost of medical treatments in my home country was simply too high. After doing some research, I decided to travel to Thailand to seek treatment.
The overall experience was positive, and I was surprised by the high quality of care I received. I underwent a minimally invasive spinal surgery, which had a significant impact on my pain levels and allowed me to resume my normal activities. The hospital where I received treatment was modern and well-equipped, and the staff were professional and attentive.
Aside from the medical treatment, I also had the opportunity to explore Thailand and experience the local culture. I visited temples, tried new foods, and met some friendly locals. The combination of medical treatment and cultural immersion made for a unique and memorable experience.
Overall, medical tourism was a practical solution for my medical needs, and I would recommend it to others who are facing high medical costs or lack of access to quality care in their home countries.
Comprehension Questions:
- Why did the narrator choose to seek medical treatment abroad?
- What was the narrator’s medical condition?
- What type of medical treatment did the narrator receive?
- What was the quality of care like in the hospital where the narrator received treatment?
- What other experiences did the narrator have while abroad for medical tourism?
Conversations Starters:
- Have you ever considered seeking medical treatment abroad? Why or why not?
- What are some factors that might lead someone to pursue medical tourism?
- What are some risks or challenges associated with medical tourism?
- What are some advantages or benefits of seeking medical treatment abroad?
- What is your opinion on the quality of healthcare in your own country?
- What are some challenges or issues with the healthcare system in your country?
- What are some potential solutions to improve healthcare in your country?
- Do you think healthcare should be a basic human right? Why or why not?
- What is your opinion on the cost of healthcare in your country?
- Have you ever had a positive or negative experience with healthcare in your own country? Can you describe it?
