IELTS Speaking Lesson about Health - Part 1
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Health is a common topic in IELTS Speaking and could appear in any part of the test. It covers many aspects, but in this lesson, we will look at the vocabulary and idioms you need to talk about everyday health, fitness, and general well-being.
Check out the related live lessons on similar topics via the links below:
In Part 1 you may be asked about
- Keeping fit
- Physical exercise
- Sport
- Food
In Part 2 and 3, you may be asked about
- Physical and mental health
- Disease and sickness
- Medicine
- Health care
- Diet and nutrition
Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking vocabulary: Health
- Health (n.)
- Healthy (adj.)
- Healthily (adv.)
Here are some common spoken greetings in British English:
- How are you?
- How are you doing?
- How’s it going?
For close family and friends, a possible follow up question is:
- How’s your health?
Possible answers to this question are the following:
I am in good health
I’m alive and kicking
I’m as fit as a fiddle
I’m perfectly healthy
Likewise talking about other members of your family, you may say,
She’s enjoying good health
He is in poor heath
He looks like death warmed up = looks very sick
If you are feeling very fit and healthy you can say,
I am fighting fit
I’m in top form
I am in great shape
I’ve never felt better
Common Collocations with Health
- We need to look after our mental health
- We need to maintain our physical health
- Lead a healthy lifestyle
- Eat a healthy diet
- She is fit and healthy
IELTS Speaking topic: How do you stay fit and healthy?
- I stay in shape by working out
- I maintain my health by eating a healthy diet
- I keep healthy by taking medicine and taking supplements
- By eating a vegetarian diet – a plant-based diet – a vegan diet
- I make a point of doing yoga or doing meditation
- Mostly by just keeping active
- I do my morning walks daily
- I make it a point (=to make sure) to hit the gym on a daily basis
IELTS Speaking topic: Health and fitness
Fill in the gaps in these phrases:
- _____ of shape
- Be fighting ______
- To _____ out
- Physical and ______ health
- _________ up the energy
- Get ______ into shape
Click arrow to open/close answers
- Out of shape (=not fit)
- Be fighting fit (=in great shape)
- To work out (= to do exercise)
- Physical and mental health
- Muster up the energy (=build up)
- Get back into shape
You are going to listen to a passage about health and fitness.
Click arrow to open/close script
Listening: Full Tape Script
Lately, I have not done any physical activity and I feel totally out of shape.
I used to be fighting fit.
I was a regular down the gym, working out three times a week, like clockwork, but nowadays, I have got out of the habit.
I know it’s important to look after your physical health, as that also affects your mental health, right?
The thing is, I just can’t muster up the energy to do any exercise. I’m in a bit of a rut. (=in a bad situation)
Maybe I should join a club or something to get back into shape.
I was thinking about a walking club. Going hiking with a group of people seems like a good idea.
It might motivate me to keep going, I can meet some new friends and I will get lots of fresh air to boot. (= In addition / an added bonus)
It sounds like a plan!
IELTS Speaking topic: Health and disease
Find some interesting articles about health below.
These will give you lots of ideas to talk about, as well as the language you need to discuss these topics confidently to boot.
Healthline is a research-backed website run by professionals and a good source of health information
https://www.healthline.com/health-news
Family Doctor has articles with advice about everyday family health
https://familydoctor.org/prevention-and-wellness/
Most news websites have a health section like this one, and tend to have articles about topical and trending health subjects, often for easy reading.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness
Phrasal verbs
Here are a number of phrasal verbs that are commonly used to talk about falling ill and recovering from illnesses.
I don’t feel well, I think am COMING DOWN with a cold.
Come down with an illness = to begin to have it
I have had this cough for 5 days now, I just can’t SHAKE / FIGHT it OFF.
Shake off an illness = to get rid of it
Take this medicine, it should help FIGHT / SHAKE OFF your cold.
Fight off an illness = to (try to) get rid of it
I am feeling much better now, I think I have GOT / GOTTEN OVER my sickness.
Get over an illness = to recover from it
IELTS Speaking idioms about health
The following mean to feel unwell
I feel as sick as a dog =very sick
I am feeling under the weather today
I feel a bit out of sorts today, but I am not sure why = a little sick
The following mean to feel well (after a sickness)
- To feel as right as rain
I was sick last night, but now I feel as right as rain
- To be back on my feet
I was off work last week with a cold but now I am back on my feet
- To be on the mend
I had the flu last week, but I’m on the mend this week.
Watch this shorts video to listen to these 3 idioms about health
A clean bill of health = A confirmation that you are fit and healthy
The doctor gave me a clean bill of health
Just what the doctor ordered! = That is just what I needed!
This holiday is just what the doctor ordered!
More Free Lessons
If you liked this lesson, leave a comment below!
There are more lessons you can follow in the links below too.
SINGING in IELTS Speaking. Vocabulary and collocations to talk about singing.
HABIT in IELTS Speaking. Vocabulary and idioms you need to describe your habits easily.
ENVIRONMENT in IELTS Speaking. Learn different ways to protect our environment and discuss it with idioms and vocabulary in this lesson.
