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Discussing Cataract Surgery Options
Ophthalmologist (speaking English) and Patient (speaking Greek) talk through “Discussing Cataract Surgery Options”. You interpret both ways — English into Greek, and Greek into English — one segment at a time, exactly as in the CCL test.
Practise this dialogue with AI marking →Read it first if you like, then practise it cold: the recording plays one segment, you interpret, the next segment plays. Marking shows, segment by segment, what you kept, left out or changed.
Full transcript with model answers
Under each segment: a model interpretation, the information points an examiner checks, and the easiest thing to miss. Try the segment yourself first, then open it. The model is one good way to say it; other wordings that keep every point score just as well.
Mr. Alexiou, could you describe what changes you've noticed in your eyesight over the past few months, especially with night driving?
Model answer and marking points
Κύριε Αλεξίου, θα μπορούσατε να μου περιγράψετε τι αλλαγές έχετε παρατηρήσει στην όρασή σας τους τελευταίους μήνες, ιδίως όταν οδηγείτε τη νύχτα;
What an examiner checks here:
- addresses Mr Alexiou by name
- question: describe changes noticed in eyesight
- timeframe: over the past few months
- especially with night driving
Easy to miss: Keep it as an open question and keep 'especially with night driving' rather than just 'driving'.
Τα τελευταία τρία μήνες η όρασή μου έχει θολώσει πολύ, ειδικά το βράδυ, και με ενοχλούν πολύ τα φώτα των αυτοκινήτων.
Model answer and marking points
Over the last three months my vision has become very blurry, especially at night, and the headlights of cars bother me a lot.
What an examiner checks here:
- last three months
- vision has become very blurred
- especially at night / in the evening
- car headlights bother him a lot
Easy to miss: The number is three months, not 'a few months' as in the question.
Your examination shows early cataracts developing in both eyes. Surgery remains the only permanent treatment, though we could monitor things a little longer if you prefer.
Model answer and marking points
Η εξέτασή σας δείχνει ότι αναπτύσσεται καταρράκτης σε αρχικό στάδιο και στα δύο μάτια. Η χειρουργική επέμβαση παραμένει η μόνη μόνιμη θεραπεία, αν και θα μπορούσαμε να παρακολουθούμε την κατάσταση λίγο ακόμα, αν το προτιμάτε.
What an examiner checks here:
- examination shows early cataracts
- in both eyes
- surgery is the only permanent treatment
- alternative: monitor a little longer
- if the patient prefers
Easy to miss: 'Early' cataracts in 'both' eyes, and surgery is the only 'permanent' treatment, not the only option.
Πόσο καιρό θα χρειαστεί να περιμένω για το χειρουργείο, γιατρέ;
Model answer and marking points
How long will I have to wait for the surgery, doctor?
What an examiner checks here:
- question: how long is the wait
- for the surgery
- addresses doctor
Easy to miss: Keep it a question about waiting time, not about the length of the operation.
We can schedule your surgery at Box Hill Hospital; the current waiting list runs about six weeks, and you'll receive a confirmation letter beforehand.
Model answer and marking points
Μπορούμε να προγραμματίσουμε την επέμβασή σας στο Νοσοκομείο Box Hill. Η λίστα αναμονής αυτή τη στιγμή είναι περίπου έξι εβδομάδες και θα λάβετε επιστολή επιβεβαίωσης εκ των προτέρων.
What an examiner checks here:
- surgery can be scheduled at Box Hill Hospital
- current waiting list about six weeks
- patient will receive a confirmation letter
- letter comes beforehand
Easy to miss: Six weeks, approximate, and the confirmation arrives by letter before the date.
Θα μπορώ να οδηγήσω αμέσως μετά το χειρουργείο ή πρέπει να περιμένω;
Model answer and marking points
Will I be able to drive straight after the surgery, or do I have to wait?
What an examiner checks here:
- question: can he drive immediately after surgery
- or must he wait
Easy to miss: Keep both halves of the either/or question.
You must not drive for at least twenty-four hours afterwards, and you'll need to use antibiotic eye drops four times daily for the following two weeks.
Model answer and marking points
Δεν πρέπει να οδηγήσετε για τουλάχιστον είκοσι τέσσερις ώρες μετά, και θα χρειαστεί να βάζετε αντιβιοτικές οφθαλμικές σταγόνες τέσσερις φορές την ημέρα για τις επόμενες δύο εβδομάδες.
What an examiner checks here:
- must not drive
- for at least 24 hours afterwards
- antibiotic eye drops
- four times daily
- for the following two weeks
Easy to miss: Three numbers in one segment: 24 hours, four times a day, two weeks, and 'at least' must survive.
Θα μου κάνετε γενική νάρκωση; Φοβάμαι λίγο γιατί έχω πρόβλημα με την καρδιά μου.
Model answer and marking points
Will you give me a general anaesthetic? I'm a bit scared because I have a problem with my heart.
What an examiner checks here:
- question: will it be general anaesthesia
- patient is a bit scared
- reason: has a heart problem
Easy to miss: Keep the fear and its cause (heart problem); do not drop 'a bit'.
There's no need for general anaesthesia here; we simply use local anaesthetic eye drops, and the entire procedure itself takes only about fifteen minutes.
Model answer and marking points
Δεν χρειάζεται γενική αναισθησία εδώ. Χρησιμοποιούμε απλώς σταγόνες τοπικής αναισθησίας στα μάτια, και η ίδια η επέμβαση διαρκεί μόνο περίπου δεκαπέντε λεπτά.
What an examiner checks here:
- no need for general anaesthesia
- local anaesthetic eye drops only
- the procedure itself takes about fifteen minutes
Easy to miss: The negation: no general anaesthesia, local anaesthetic drops instead; fifteen minutes, not fifty.
Θα καλύψει η ιδιωτική μου ασφάλιση το κόστος, ή θα πρέπει να πληρώσω εγώ;
Model answer and marking points
Will my private insurance cover the cost, or will I have to pay myself?
What an examiner checks here:
- question: will private insurance cover the cost
- or will he have to pay himself
Easy to miss: It is an either/or question; do not turn it into a statement that insurance covers it.
If you hold private health insurance, most of the surgical cost should be covered; otherwise, you're welcome to join the public hospital waiting list instead.
Model answer and marking points
Αν έχετε ιδιωτική ασφάλιση υγείας, το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του κόστους της επέμβασης θα πρέπει να καλύπτεται. Διαφορετικά, μπορείτε κάλλιστα να μπείτε στη λίστα αναμονής του δημόσιου νοσοκομείου.
What an examiner checks here:
- condition: if he holds private health insurance
- most of the surgical cost should be covered
- otherwise: option to join public hospital waiting list
Easy to miss: 'Most' of the cost, not all, and 'should be' covered, not a guarantee.
Έχω ιδιωτική ασφάλιση, οπότε είμαι εντάξει. Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ, γιατρέ, θα κανονίσω το χειρουργείο.
Model answer and marking points
I have private insurance, so I'm fine. Thank you very much, doctor, I'll arrange the surgery.
What an examiner checks here:
- he has private insurance
- so he is fine / covered
- thanks the doctor
- will arrange the surgery
Easy to miss: Keep the decision at the end: he will go ahead and arrange the surgery.
Terms in this dialogue that cost marks
CCL is marked on information transferred. These Australian terms have no direct word in most test languages — get one wrong and the segment's information is gone.
- Waiting listΠείτε «λίστα αναμονής».
- Private health insuranceΠες 'ιδιωτική ασφάλιση υγείας', εξηγώντας εν συντομία ότι είναι ξεχωριστή από το Medicare.
- Public hospitalΛέγεται «δημόσιο νοσοκομείο».
Practise it
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How the test works
Practice dialogue written to the CCL specification (two speakers, segments of 35 words or fewer, about 300 words). It is a practice text, not a NAATI test paper, and the AI score is this site's estimate, not a NAATI result. All Greek dialogues · All languages