Talking about health can feel stressful—even in your first language. Now imagine trying to explain a headache, describe symptoms, or talk to a doctor… in English.

That’s exactly why I created this Health & Body Taboo card set—to help learners practice essential vocabulary in a fun, low-pressure way.

Why this topic matters

Health-related English is one of the most useful real-life skills. Whether you’re travelling abroad, visiting a doctor, describing symptoms, or helping someone in an emergency… you need the right words—and confidence to use them.

Why Taboo works so well

The Taboo game is one of the most effective speaking activities because it:

• encourages active recall (not just passive recognition),
• forces students to explain ideas in different ways,
• builds fluency and confidence,
• and creates a lot of laughter (which helps memory!).

Instead of simply saying “headache”, students might say:

“It’s when your head hurts, often because of stress or noise…”

That’s real communication.

What’s inside this set?

This Taboo set focuses on practical, everyday language, including:

• Body parts (e.g. ankle, throat, lungs)
• Symptoms (e.g. fever, rash, dizziness)
• Illnesses (e.g. flu, infection, allergy)
• Doctor’s appointments (e.g. prescription, appointment, examination)
• Other useful health-related vocabulary

How to use these cards in class

Here are a few simple ideas:

1. Classic Taboo
Students describe the word without using the forbidden words. Their partner guesses.

2. Timed Challenge
Set a 1-minute timer—how many words can they guess?

3. Team Competition
Divide the class into teams and keep score.

4. Doctor Role-play Extension
After the game, students use the same vocabulary in a short role-play:

• patient + doctor
• describing symptoms
• giving advice

Happy teaching & learning!

Psst… If you’re looking for other body and health related resources, check here!

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