Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
Estoy Enfermo/a (I'm Sick): Symptoms and Illnesses
Learn vocabulary for common symptoms and illnesses (e.g., dolor de cabeza, fiebre, resfriado).
What you'll learn
- Identify at least 8 common Spanish vocabulary words and phrases related to illnesses and symptoms (e.g., *fiebre, dolor de cabeza, estornudar*) from a list of 10, demonstrating comprehension through accurate matching with their English equivalents.
- Explain the meaning of five different Spanish phrases used to describe symptoms (e.g., *Me duele la garganta, Tengo tos*) in a short written paragraph, demonstrating understanding by correctly translating each phrase and providing a context in which it might be used.
- Apply learned vocabulary and grammatical structures to create a short dialogue (5-7 sentences) in Spanish between a patient and a doctor, accurately describing symptoms and asking for medical advice, as assessed by a rubric focusing on grammatical accuracy, vocabulary usage, and comprehensibility.
- Translate five provided sentences from English to Spanish relating to symptoms and illnesses using appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures with at least 80% accuracy.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify and use at least 15 Spanish vocabulary words for common symptoms and illnesses.
Correctly use the verbs 'tener', 'estar', and 'doler' to describe how they feel.
Ask and answer questions about health and well-being, such as '¿Cómo te sientes?' and '¿Qué te pasa?'.
Correctly structure sentences using the verb 'doler' with indirect object pronouns (e.g., 'Me duele la cabeza').
Form simple recommendations using the present subjunctive mood (e.g., 'El médico recomienda que descanses.').
Describe a health scenario using multiple complex sentences.
¡Ay, no me siento bien! 🤧 Ever wondered how to tell a friend, a host family, or a doctor in a Spanish-speaking country that you...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
El SíntomaA physical or mental feature that indicates a condition of disease; a symptom.La fiebre y la tos son síntomas de la gripe. (Fever and a cough are symptoms of the flu.)
La EnfermedadA specific illness or sickness that affects the body or mind.El resfriado común es una enfermedad muy frecuente. (The common cold is a very frequent illness.)
El DolorA physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury; pain.Tengo un dolor fuerte en el estómago. (I have a strong pain in my stomach.)
La FiebreAn abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering and a headache.Si tienes más de 38 grados Celsius, tienes fiebre. (If you are over 38 degrees Celsius, you have a fever.)
La RecetaA prescription; an instruction written by a medical practitioner...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
Using 'Tener' for Symptoms
Tener (conjugado) + [sustantivo del síntoma]
Use the verb 'tener' (to have) to describe many common symptoms that are nouns. For example, 'tener fiebre' (to have a fever), 'tener tos' (to have a cough), 'tener un resfriado' (to have a cold).
Using 'Doler' for Pain
[Pronombre de objeto indirecto] + duele/duelen + [parte del cuerpo singular/plural]
Use the verb 'doler' (to hurt) like 'gustar'. It requires an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) to indicate who is in pain. Use 'duele' for a single body part and 'duelen' for multiple body parts. The body part is the subject of the sentence.
Using 'Estar' for Conditions
Estar...
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Challenging
Lee el párrafo: "Luisa se despertó con escalofríos. Le dolían los músculos y tenía 38.5°C de temperatura. Su padre, al verla, le dijo: 'Es imperativo que guardes cama hoy y que bebas mucha agua'." ¿Qué recomendación específica recibió Luisa de su padre?
A.Le recomendó que fuera al hospital inmediatamente.
B.Le dijo que tenía que tomar una medicina para el dolor.
C.Le aconsejó que se abrigara bien para los escalofríos.
D.Le indicó que debía permanecer en cama e hidratarse bien.
Challenging
PACIENTE: "Doctora, me siento fatal. Tengo náuseas, me duele la cabeza y no tengo energía". ¿Cuál sería la respuesta más completa y gramaticalmente correcta de la doctora?
A.Entiendo. Es posible que tienes un virus. Recomiendo que descansas y que bebes mucho té.
B.Comprendo. Para esos síntomas, es importante que descanses y que bebas muchos líquidos. Evita la comida pesada.
C.Te duele la cabeza porque estás enfermo. Sugiero que duermes más y comes menos.
D.Para tus síntomas, es necesario que vayas a la farmacia y compras lo que quieres.
Challenging
Analiza la siguiente frase compleja y encuentra el error gramatical principal: "Mi hermana está congestionada, le duelen los oídos, y el doctor le sugiere que ella necesita tomar un antibiótico."
A.El verbo 'estar' es incorrecto; debería ser 'ser'.
B.La forma 'le duelen' es incorrecta para 'los oídos'.
C.El verbo 'sugiere' no es apropiado en este contexto.
D.El verbo 'necesita' debería estar en modo subjuntivo ('necesite').
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Estoy Enfermo/a (I'm Sick): Symptoms and Illnesses"?
Estoy Enfermo/a (I'm Sick): Symptoms and Illnesses is a Grade 9 Spanish lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Estoy Enfermo/a (I'm Sick): Symptoms and Illnesses?
You'll be able to: Identify at least 8 common Spanish vocabulary words and phrases related to illnesses and symptoms (e.g., *fiebre, dolor de cabeza, estornudar*) from a list of 10, demonstrating comprehension through accurate matching with their….
Is "Estoy Enfermo/a (I'm Sick): Symptoms and Illnesses" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Estoy Enfermo/a (I'm Sick): Symptoms and Illnesses?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.