
Learn how the parts of the Alberta (and Canadian) health care system fit together
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Week of Dec. 15/25
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The lesson includes interactive vocabulary activities, a short video, and reflection questions to…
Keep readingLesson plan overview
| Task | To learn more about the health care professionals who are part of the Alberta health care system work together (and how to access their help). |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Learn the difference between “who” (for people) and “what for things.” Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students understand how to access the services of various health professionals in Alberta (and Canada). Students understand more about the Alberta health care system. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students understand the roles of different health care professionals in Alberta (and Canada generally). Students understand the best way to access healthcare for particular issues, e.g., avoiding the emergency room for minor complaints. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn about the Alberta health care system.
- What do you know about how to access health care in Alberta?
- What are the names of some of the health professionals?
Skill-building activities
FEATURED CONTENT
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Find the match*
- Vocabulary flashcards and other activities* (Do Flashcards/List/Matching.)
- ESL Directions: Accessing the healthcare system* 🎥
Skill-using tasks
- Listening activity* 🔊
- Gap fill*
- Comprehension questions* (Split worksheet activity. You can manually adjust the width of each column.)
- Category activity*
Assessment/review tasks
- Vocabulary quiz*
- Vocabulary wheel* (Ask students to answer questions in full sentences, if possible.)
Reflection questions
- What are three words or phrases that you learned today?
- Do you have a family doctor?
- Do you know how to get a family doctor?
- Have you needed a doctor in Canada?
- Have you gone to a pharmacist for help with a health problem?
- If you live in Edmonton, did you know about the East Edmonton Health Centre?
- Have you been in hospital in Canada?
- How is the Canadian health care system different from the health care system in your home country?
- Helpful Alberta health-care links to share with your students in Edmonton or the rest of Alberta:
- Find a physician: https://search.cpsa.ca/
- Health Link (811): https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/service.aspx?Id=1001957&facilityId=1011654
- Pharmacy care clinics, e.g., Shopper’s Drug Mart: https://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/pharmacist-clinic?province=AB
- Edmonton hospitals: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/results.aspx?type=facility&id=3&locationCity=Edmonton&radius=50
- Emergency room wait times: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/waittimes/waittimes.aspx
- East Edmonton Health Clinic: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/facility.aspx?id=3834#contentStart
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Keep readingHEALTH YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click on the small right arrow at the top of this video to watch the videos or go to the YouTube Health Playlist.

HEALTH WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Health” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
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ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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