Whether you are preparing for the OET exam or you have it booked already in the coming few weeks. I want to challenge you with the idea of thinking like an actor/actress during your role-play. I want you to not just think like a doctor/nurse, but also at the same time, think like an actor/actress.
During the speaking role-play, you can never be sure how the interlocutor is going to respond. They are English teachers playing the role of patients or carers. Preparation is the key to all kinds of unexpected responses. Including emotional and aggressive reactions. That is quite common in real-life situations in hospitals. Usually, many doctors and nurses can be too overwhelmed to come up with a response. But here’s how your ‘acting skills’ might save you below.
Think about how you would act when facing this situation in real life. You can then improvise a well-balanced argument, explanation, and piece of advice based on the situation. This can really help patients and take them from that aggressive, anxious worried state to a feeling of calm. This enables your patients to handle their feelings towards the condition/disease. Or whatever they might be going through more effectively.
We will delve deeper into the actor/actress concept and start being more creative. For example, there was a previous OET medicine role play card for doctors about asthma. A boy called Matthew had just been diagnosed with asthma. The parent becomes emotionally unstable after finding out Matthew’s condition. And they were in denial, and extremely worried. They think that Matthew was going to have these debilitating effects forever. Your job in this role-play is to empathise with them. You need to show understanding, try to make them feel reassured and put them in a place of calm.
On the actor/actress theme, you could say something like: “I understand your situation. My brother was diagnosed like Matthew a few days prior, he/she was also worried stressed. I just want to let you know that he/she was able to cope with it and I understand what you’re going through. I know how you’re feeling right now.” You are introducing new information that was not in the roleplay card to achieve your task of calming them down. And this is especially useful when dealing with emotionally unstable patients/carers.
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4 thoughts on “Think like an actor/actress to get a grade B”
Good sir. Really this video is more helpful for me.
How can I join your class
Good sir. Really this video is more helpful for me.
How can I join your class
Thanks Alex for your concern. Yes these things r helpful. Dr
Thanks Alex for your concern. Yes these things r helpful. Dr