NAATI CCL French practice dialogues with audio and model answers

Full sample with model answersHealth · 12 segments

Managing New Angina Symptoms

Press play on any segment to hear it at exam speed. Each segment has a model interpretation and the points an examiner checks.

1. 1 · Doctor · English

   Mr Bertrand, thanks for coming in today. Can you tell me more about the chest tightness you've had this week, and when it first began?

   Model interpretation · French

   Monsieur Bertrand, merci d'être venu aujourd'hui. Pouvez-vous m'en dire plus sur cette oppression dans la poitrine que vous avez eue cette semaine, et quand elle a commencé ?

   What an examiner checks (5)

   • addresses Mr Bertrand, thanks him for coming in
   • symptom: chest tightness
   • timeframe: this week
   • question: tell me more about it
   • question: when did it first begin

   Easy to miss: There are two questions here (describe it AND when it began); dropping the 'when it first began' part loses a key point.

2. 2 · Patient · French

   Ça a commencé lundi, docteur. J'ai senti une pression dans la poitrine en montant les escaliers, et ça a duré environ cinq minutes avant de disparaître.

   Model interpretation · English

   It started on Monday, doctor. I felt a pressure in my chest while climbing the stairs, and it lasted about five minutes before it went away.

   What an examiner checks (5)

   • onset: Monday
   • symptom: pressure in the chest
   • trigger: climbing the stairs
   • duration: about five minutes
   • then it disappeared / went away

   Easy to miss: Keep 'about five minutes' and 'Monday' exact; don't turn 'en montant les escaliers' into 'walking' or 'exercising'.

3. 3 · Doctor · English

   Does the pain settle down when you rest, or does it stay the same even after you stop moving?

   Model interpretation · French

   Est-ce que la douleur se calme quand vous vous reposez, ou est-ce qu'elle reste la même même après que vous avez arrêté de bouger ?

   What an examiner checks (3)

   • question: does the pain settle down when you rest
   • question: or does it stay the same
   • condition: even after you stop moving

   Easy to miss: This is an either/or question; render both alternatives as a question, not as a statement.

4. 4 · Patient · French

   Oui, si je m'arrête et que je m'assois, la douleur diminue en quelques minutes, mais si je continue à marcher, elle revient assez vite.

   Model interpretation · English

   Yes, if I stop and sit down, the pain eases within a few minutes, but if I keep walking, it comes back fairly quickly.

   What an examiner checks (5)

   • yes
   • condition: if I stop and sit down
   • pain decreases within a few minutes
   • condition: if I keep walking
   • pain comes back fairly quickly

   Easy to miss: Two conditional halves with opposite outcomes; don't merge them or drop 'within a few minutes' / 'fairly quickly'.

5. 5 · Doctor · English

   That pattern points to angina — your heart isn't getting enough blood when it's under strain. We'll start you on a spray called GTN.

   Model interpretation · French

   Ce schéma fait penser à de l'angine de poitrine : votre cœur ne reçoit pas assez de sang quand il est sollicité. On va vous mettre sous un spray qui s'appelle le GTN.

   What an examiner checks (5)

   • pattern points to angina
   • explanation: heart isn't getting enough blood
   • condition: when the heart is under strain
   • we'll start you on a spray
   • spray called GTN

   Easy to miss: 'Angina' is 'angine de poitrine' in French; plain 'angine' means a throat infection.

6. 6 · Patient · French

   D'accord, docteur. Comment dois-je utiliser ce spray, et est-ce qu'il y a des effets secondaires que je dois surveiller ?

   Model interpretation · English

   All right, doctor. How should I use this spray, and are there any side effects I need to watch out for?

   What an examiner checks (4)

   • agreement: all right / okay
   • question: how do I use the spray
   • question: are there side effects
   • condition: that I should watch out for

   Easy to miss: Two separate questions; interpreters often render only the second and drop 'how should I use it'.

7. 7 · Doctor · English

   Spray it under your tongue as soon as the pain starts. It can cause a mild headache, but that usually passes within a few minutes.

   Model interpretation · French

   Vaporisez-le sous la langue dès que la douleur commence. Il peut provoquer un léger mal de tête, mais ça passe généralement en quelques minutes.

   What an examiner checks (5)

   • spray it under your tongue
   • timing: as soon as the pain starts
   • side effect: mild headache
   • headache usually passes
   • duration: within a few minutes

   Easy to miss: 'Under your tongue' (sublingual) is a safety-critical instruction; 'mild' headache and 'usually' passes must both survive.

8. 8 · Patient · French

   Et si la douleur ne disparaît pas après avoir utilisé le spray, qu'est-ce que je dois faire, docteur ?

   Model interpretation · English

   And if the pain doesn't go away after I've used the spray, what should I do, doctor?

   What an examiner checks (3)

   • condition: if the pain does not disappear
   • after using the spray
   • question: what should I do

   Easy to miss: Keep the negation 'ne disparaît pas' — the question is about the pain NOT going away.

9. 9 · Doctor · English

   If the pain doesn't ease within five minutes after two sprays, call triple zero straight away — that could mean a heart attack.

   Model interpretation · French

   Si la douleur ne diminue pas dans les cinq minutes après deux pulvérisations, appelez tout de suite le triple zéro : ça pourrait être une crise cardiaque.

   What an examiner checks (5)

   • condition: if pain doesn't ease
   • timeframe: within five minutes
   • after two sprays
   • action: call triple zero (000) straight away
   • reason: could mean a heart attack

   Easy to miss: Two numbers here — five minutes AND two sprays — plus 'triple zero' must stay as Australia's emergency number, not be converted to another country's.

10. 10 · Patient · French

    Je comprends. Est-ce que je dois consulter un cardiologue, et est-ce que je peux continuer à conduire en attendant ?

    Model interpretation · English

    I understand. Do I need to see a cardiologist, and can I keep driving in the meantime?

    What an examiner checks (4)

    • I understand
    • question: should I see a cardiologist
    • question: can I continue driving
    • timeframe: in the meantime / while waiting

    Easy to miss: Two questions; 'en attendant' (in the meantime) sets up the driving restriction in the next segment, don't drop it.

11. 11 · Doctor · English

    I'm referring you to the cardiology clinic at Liverpool Hospital. Please don't drive until they've assessed you, especially if the pain returns.

    Model interpretation · French

    Je vous adresse à la clinique de cardiologie de l'hôpital de Liverpool. Ne conduisez pas tant qu'ils ne vous ont pas examiné, surtout si la douleur revient.

    What an examiner checks (5)

    • referral to cardiology clinic
    • location: Liverpool Hospital
    • instruction: do not drive
    • condition: until they've assessed you
    • especially if the pain returns

    Easy to miss: 'Don't drive until assessed' is a prohibition with a condition; softening it to 'you shouldn't really drive' or losing 'until' changes the advice.

12. 12 · Patient · French

    Merci, docteur. Je vais suivre vos conseils et j'emporterai toujours le spray avec moi, au cas où.

    Model interpretation · English

    Thank you, doctor. I'll follow your advice, and I'll always carry the spray with me, just in case.

    What an examiner checks (4)

    • thanks the doctor
    • will follow the advice
    • will always carry the spray
    • just in case

    Easy to miss: Keep 'always' and 'just in case' (au cas où) — small words, but both are information points.

Interpret it out loud: your first two full dialogues are marked free.