Jessica wants to work in the medical profession. She explains in detail.
Script
Todd: OK. Jessica, we’re back. We’re gonna talk about your future. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Jessica: Well, I want to be a physician’s assistant.
Todd: OK. What is a physician’s assistant?
Jessica: Well, normally when you go into the doctor’s office, you wouldn’t usually get– well you would get your doctor all they do is check, give you check-ups or you know maybe take out stitches or something, not surgery.
You just go in and do the little things. So the doctor does not have to do them.
Todd: Oh, OK. So that is what you want to do?
Jessica: Yeah.
Todd: OK.
Jessica: And make lots of money.
Todd: You want to make lots of money?
Jessica: OK. Nothing wrong with that.
Todd: How do you become a physician’s assistant. I can’t even say it.
Jessica: It’s a lot of schooling. You have like six years, four or six years of college and you obviously take like nursing and other kinds of classes like that, and then you do like two or four years at like a hospital as a..
Todd: Like an assistant, or..
Jessica: Like you’re actually doing the work.
Todd: Oh, an intern.
Jessica: An intern, yeah! An internship for two or four years at a hospital.
Todd: Then, that’s it. You finish.
Jessica: And then you hopefully go on and maybe have your own little doctor’s place and open that up or something.
Todd: Well, best wishes on becoming a physician’s assistant. I’m sure you’ll make a good one.
Jessica: Thank you.
Vocab
Learn vocabulary from the lesson!
grow up
What do you want to be when you grow up?
We ‘grow up’ when we change from being children to being adults. So the example question is asking what occupation you want as an adult. Notice the following:
- When I grow up I want to live in California.
- Growing up is fun but not always easy.
physician’s assistant
I want to be a physician’s assistant.
A ‘physician’s assistant’ is a middle level medical assistant who works to help licensed medical doctors do small medical tasks. Notice the following:
- He will graduate as a physician’s assistant in a few months.
- You will be examined by a physician’s assistant.
check-up
They give you check-ups when you go to a doctor’s office.
A ‘check-up’ is a medical appointment where the doctor reviews your health. They usually check your weight, height, ears, throat, etc. Notice the following:
- You will need to come back for a check-up in a few weeks.
- I have a medical check-up tomorrow.
take out (stitches)
A physician’s assistant does take out stitches, but not surgery.
‘Take out’ is a phrasal verb that means remove. Stitches are pieces of string used to close a big cut on the skin. Notice the following:
- The dentist had to take out a few teeth.
- When are they going to take out your stitches?
intern
You spend two years at a hospital as an intern.
An ‘intern’ is a person working as an assistant or trainee in a hospital setting to get experience. Notice the following:
- Do you have any intern positions?
- She worked as an intern during the summer before she graduated.
Quiz
Answer the following questions about the interview.
1) What does she want to be? 
a) Physician’s assistant b) Physician c) Nurse
2) Where does a physician’s assistant do?
a) Help doctors b) Surgery c) Appointments
3) How long does the schooling take?
a) 4 to 6 weeks b) 4 to 6 months c) 4 to 6 years
4) Where is the internship?
a) College b) Doctor’s office c) Hospital
5) Where would she like to work eventually?
a) Clinic b) Hospital c) Doctor’s office
Show answers
1) What does she want to be?
a) Physician’s assistant b) Physician c) Nurse
2) Where does a physician’s assistant do?
a) Help doctors b) Surgery c) Appointments
3) How long does the schooling take?
a) 4 to 6 weeks b) 4 to 6 months c) 4 to 6 years
4) Where is the internship?
a) College b) Doctor’s office c) Hospital
5) Where would she like to work eventually?
a) Clinic b) Hospital c) Doctor’s office