Course: English for Health Workers 9: English for Allied Health Staff. Folder: Part 1: The Laboratory.
About 25 to 35 minutes.
Goal
Check the patient’s name and date of birth, explain what you will do, give short instructions, and label samples correctly.
Follow your laboratory’s protocols. Check who the patient is with open questions (for example, What is your full name?), and label the sample in front of the patient. Never guess. If something is not clear, stop and ask.
Key words
Listen to each word. Say it two times. Then read the example.
| Word | Simple meaning | Example sentence | Kinyarwanda |
|---|---|---|---|
| sample | a small amount of blood, urine or other material for the lab | We need a blood sample. | igipimo |
| blood test | a test of your blood in the lab | The doctor asked for a blood test. | gupima amaraso |
| label | a small paper with the patient’s name on it | I’m putting the label on the tube now. | ikirango |
| date of birth | the day you were born | What is your date of birth? | itariki y’amavuko |
| make a fist | close your hand tightly | Please make a fist. | gufumbata |
| needle | a thin sharp metal tool | You’ll feel a small needle. | urushinge |
| sleeve | the part of a shirt on your arm | Can you roll up your sleeve, please? | ukuboko k’umwenda |
| urine sample | a small amount of urine for the lab | Please give a urine sample in this cup. | igipimo cy’inkari |
| container | a small cup or box with a lid | Please close the container well. | agakombe gafite umupfundikizo |
| press | push down with your finger | Press here for one minute, please. | gukanda |
UNVERIFIED Kinyarwanda: the Kinyarwanda column is AI translation, not checked by a native speaker.
- 🔊 (slow) sample. … We need a blood sample.
- 🔊 (slow) blood test. … The doctor asked for a blood test.
- 🔊 (slow) label. … I’m putting the label on the tube now.
- 🔊 (slow) date of birth. … What is your date of birth?
- 🔊 (slow) make a fist. … Please make a fist.
- 🔊 (slow) needle. … You’ll feel a small needle.
- 🔊 (slow) sleeve. … Can you roll up your sleeve, please?
- 🔊 (slow) urine sample. … Please give a urine sample in this cup.
- 🔊 (slow) container. … Please close the container well.
- 🔊 (slow) press. … Press here for one minute, please.
Useful phrases
Listen and repeat each phrase three times. Then say it without looking.
- Good morning. I’m Samuel from the laboratory. 🔊 (slow)
- What is your full name, please? 🔊 (slow)
- And what is your date of birth? 🔊 (slow)
- The doctor asked for a blood test. Is that OK? 🔊 (slow)
- Please roll up your sleeve and make a fist. 🔊 (slow)
- You’ll feel a small needle. Relax your hand now. 🔊 (slow)
- Press here for one minute, please. 🔊 (slow)
- I’m putting your name on the label now. 🔊 (slow)
- Please give a urine sample in this container and close the lid. 🔊 (slow)
Dialogues at work
Listen to each dialogue two times. Then read it aloud with a partner. Change roles.
Dialogue 1: Name and date of birth
Samuel checks who Mama Uwase is before a blood test.
- Samuel: Good morning. I’m Samuel from the laboratory. What is your full name, please?
- Mama Uwase: Uwase Marie.
- Samuel: Thank you. And what is your date of birth?
- Mama Uwase: The twelfth of March, nineteen eighty-five.
- Samuel: Thank you. That’s the same as the form.
Dialogue 2: Make a fist
Samuel takes a blood sample from Mama Uwase.
- Samuel: Please roll up your sleeve and make a fist.
- Mama Uwase: Will it hurt?
- Samuel: You’ll feel a small needle. It’s quick. Relax your hand now.
- Mama Uwase: OK.
- Samuel: All done. Press here for one minute, please.
Dialogue 3: A urine sample
Josiane explains a urine sample to Mr Habimana.
- Josiane: Mr Habimana, the doctor needs a urine sample. Please use this container.
- Mr Habimana: Where is the toilet?
- Josiane: On the left. Please close the lid well and bring it back to me.
- Mr Habimana: OK. Do I write my name on it?
- Josiane: No, I’ll put the label on it in front of you.
Dialogue 4: The name is different
Josiane finds a problem with a form from the ward.
- Josiane: Jean-Paul, the name on this form is different from the name on the patient’s card.
- Jean-Paul: Oh. Which one is different?
- Josiane: The surname. I can’t take the sample until we check.
- Jean-Paul: Good. I’ll check with the ward now and call you back.
Pronunciation
These sounds are hard for many Kinyarwanda speakers. Listen, then copy.
Dates of birth
Say the day, then the month, then the year: the TWELFTH of MARCH, nineteen eighty-FIVE. Say th at the end of the day clearly.
Tip for this lesson: Day + of + month + year.
Drill: listen and repeat.
the first of May … the twelfth of March … nineteen eighty-five … two thousand and ten
Fist and first
Fist has a short i and no r: fist. First has an er sound: first. Keep the st at the end of both.
Tip for this lesson: Fist: short i. First: er.
Drill: listen and repeat.
fist … make a fist … first … first, roll up your sleeve
Say it at work
- Ask open questions: What is your full name? Don’t ask Are you Marie?
- Check the name and date of birth against the form before you start.
- Label every sample in front of the patient. If anything is different, stop and check.
Listening practice
Before the blood test.
Listen to clip en-health9-L1-26. Do not read the script first. Listen two times, then answer. Tap Show answer to check.
- What is the patient’s name?
Show answer
Habimana Jean.
- What is his date of birth?
Show answer
The fifth of June, 1970.
- Which sleeve does he roll up?
Show answer
His left sleeve.
- How long does he press?
Show answer
For one minute.
Speaking role-play
- Partner A is a lab technician. Partner B is a patient. A introduces himself or herself, checks the full name and date of birth, and gives instructions for a blood test.
- Partner A finds that the name on the form is different. A explains politely to Partner B (a nurse) and asks B to check.
Quick check
Tap an answer.
1. To check who the patient is, you ask:
- Are you Marie?
- What is your full name, please?
- You are the patient, yes?
- Sit down.
Show answer
B) What is your full name, please? Open question.
2. "Make a fist" means:
- open your hand
- close your hand tightly
- lift your arm
- stand up
Show answer
B) close your hand tightly. Close the hand.
3. You label the sample:
- later, in the office
- before you see the patient
- in front of the patient
- never
Show answer
C) in front of the patient. In front of the patient.
4. The name on the form is different. You:
- take the sample anyway
- change the name
- guess
- stop and check
Show answer
D) stop and check. Never guess.
5. After the needle, you say:
- Press here for one minute, please.
- Go home now.
- Make a fist again.
- Stand up fast.
Show answer
A) Press here for one minute, please. Press.
Common mistakes
| Do not say | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| What is your full name, please? | Open questions are safer. | |
| I’m putting your name on the label now. (in front of the patient) | Follow your lab protocol. | |
| Please make a fist. | Use please and a. | |
| I can’t take the sample until we check. | Safety first. |
You can do it when…
- ☐ I can check a patient’s full name and date of birth.
- ☐ I can give short instructions for a blood or urine sample.
- ☐ I can stop and check when information is different.
Listening script (read only after you answer)
- Samuel: Good afternoon. I’m Samuel from the lab. What is your full name, please?
- Mr Habimana: Habimana Jean.
- Samuel: And your date of birth?
- Mr Habimana: The fifth of June, nineteen seventy.
- Samuel: Thank you. Please roll up your left sleeve and make a fist.
- Samuel: All done. Press here for one minute. I’m putting your name on the label now.