English, baby!

SiCKO

Date: Dec 12 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Documentary film maker Micheal Moore had to keep a lot of the details of his newest movie, Sicko, under wraps until it was released. After Bowling for Columbine, a film that attacks America’s gun laws, and Fahrenheit 9/11, a movie that goes after the Bush administration, when pharmaceutical companies found out Moore’s next topic was privatized health care, they locked their doors and hid.

Nonetheless, Moore was able to deliver a powerful documentary that shows that the United States is one of the worst places in the world to get sick. If you can’t pay for it, you probably won’t get the help you need like you would in many other countries in the world. Listen to Amanda and Devan talk about Sicko and health care.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Devan

Amanda: So I finally saw Sicko, Michael Moore’s documentary on universal health care...

Devan: How was it?

Amanda: Very disturbing. It basically shows how every other country in the world like Cuba and United Kingdom and France and Canada all use universal health care but we can’t get on board for whatever reason.

Devan: Why is that? We can every other country figure out a plan for everybody to be covered but us?

Amanda: Absolutely! I’m not sure what it is. A lot of the people are afraid that with universal health care the quality of care won’t be up to par, but that’s not the truth. It’s just a paranoia of not getting the quality.

Devan: Yeah, I talked to someone who saw that movie and they said there’s a part where they interview a doctor, I believe it was in England or France…

Amanda: Possibly, yeah.

Devan: ...and they were asking him how much money he makes and he lives completely comfortably just not like completely filthy rich like American doctors.

Amanda: Exactly.

Devan: And so if every American doctor was willing to just lower their income but still live very comfortably we could have that sort of health care program here.

Amanda: And that’s what’s so sad. It focused on HMOs and how the United States health care system is all about profit and everywhere else is all about care, so…

Devan: Do you think that any of the candidates running for president that are promising universal health care will come through if they actually get elected?

Amanda: Well, the Democrats are, but we’ll see.

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Discussion

Amanda says that Sicko was a good film. It’s disturbing, but it’s meant to be. It shows how even countries like Cuba which are generally not as advanced as the US have better health care systems.

Devan wonders why the US can’t get it together to have health care for everyone. Amanda says that a lot of people are convinced that private hospitals are better,but that Moore’s research shows that that’s just not true.

Plus, a lot of people are making a lot of money off of health care in the US. Devan says that if a few people took a pay cut, there could be care for everyone. Sicko shows that the US is the only country that places profit before people its health care system.

Most of the candidates running for president from the Democratic Party are promising health care reform. But it remains to be seen if they’ll come through.

How is health care in your country? Some people think that Sicko made the health care system in their country look better than it actually is. Was your country featured in Sicko? Do you think it was represented accurately?

Comments

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miffoo

Slovakia

I live in Slovakia and we have universal health care system. People don't pay for examinations with doctor or when stay in hospital.Private and state hospital got health care everyone people in the state.

miffoo

Slovakia

sweetmarins

Nigeria

HEY SICKO, UR DOING A GOOD JOB, PLS CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT AFRICAN HEALTH CARE.

crayz_banderas

Turkey

hello

victor25

Moldova, Republic Of

American system is so scary which is based only on profits. It shows how greedy is American society. After knowing more about American system and politics, the US is the last place on earth where I would like to live.

glen490189718

China

so cool…...................

............

xuefenbunny

China

it seems that many people have much to say on the subject.i don' see the documentary film,so i dont know about the condition in US.

as for china, it's obvious that we don't build up a blameless health care system.most poor people ,especially in rural area ,can hardly get good care when they are sick because of lack of money,plus that no matter the public hospital or the private hospital charge sky-high which beyond the people's ability .most of them turn to private clinic,most of which don't even get a license.thus the health care became the rich's club.

we are looking forward to the government's solution.

Corby

China

Finaly I saw Sicko,

"We live in the world of 'we', not 'me'." , what Micheal Moore said in the movie, is impessive, if everyone knows it, the world will be much better and more beautiful.

nryman

Turkey

IN MY COUNTRY SUPLEMENTARY MATERIALSIN EASY TO USE HOSPITAL AND THE OTHER MEDICAL PLACE.MUCH OF THE MATERIAL IS SUPPLIED IN THE STANDARD ...

xgd1986

China

oh,it is really.I think that you said is wrong.

THINKNICE

China

In China,in my opinion ,it has already a very good Health Care System.Most people has solve food and medicine problems.Now the goverment is implementing more policies and campaign to solve the public’s mental needs.MAYBE it’s not very covered in all sides now.It just needs time and new ,powerful policies to realize this dream.

oldli

China

I agreewith you

nilza

India

yes it soud good to hear about universal health care but some time attenddent there are so rude that u will get more sick then your original condition

i would prefered to go to private one rather then these free care centre not because of good treatment but in order to get rid of ill treatment by staff there

buinhu

Viet Nam

Vietnam, my country. govement hospital is free form 70-100% persence but if you come to this hospital you will be treated by the bad medicine and bad survice. For example, my friend was broken his leg by football. He was brought to the goverment hopital with the insurance card and he had to wait for 2 day for operation after recovering he can not walk as common people. I meant he is disabled

sandraaa

China

medical treatment is very bad in china even today. so when we are young ,we should deposite our money into bank in case when we are old and sick, we can use it.

844187338

China

i lived in a small town of CHINA ;i think the care system of countryside has been improved greatly

babylearn

Viet Nam

Hi! Are you come from Vietnam? I am, too. How do you do? Where do you live now? I want to make friend with you! I am Bin, 23 year old. I am a student in Technology university of Ha Noi Viet Nam. I am simple, feelings. I like sport, music, dance… Nice to meet you! I hope, we'll be best friends in future. Have a nice day .

babylearn

Viet Nam

susanking

China

i have just download this movie but not watch it yet.

there are so many problem in the health care system of my country. only a few private hospitals exsit in china. may be after more private hospitals are allowed, the competation between all the hospital can develope the quality of health care service.

SAN

South Korea

South Korea has kind of universal health care system. We pay some part of our wages every month based on how much money we make to keep our medical insurance run by our government. So far, it seems like universal health care system, but we also have to pay 30% of whole cost when we go to see a doctor. If someone dosen't have any capability to make money such as little orphans and physically or mentally chanllenged people, Korean government pays for their medication 100%. As Amanda pointed out, the quality of health care has been issued for a long time in Korea as well. So, some rich people seem willing to have privatized health care system to get better care. Some of them even go to the USA to get what they think better.