Describe unhealthy habits and their health consequences using academic vocabulary
P1Lesson 4 of 12◇ Core language
Unhealthy Habits — Smoking, Alcohol and Risk Behaviours
العادات غَير الصِّحِّيَّة — التَّدخين والكُحول والسُّلوكِيَّات الخَطِرة
Healthy Lifestyles · Health and wellbeing
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Learning Objectives
Focus on these outcomes rather than trying to memorise everything at once.
Use conditional sentences (Type 1) to express health risks and consequences
Write a balanced health risk paragraph (80–90 words) without moralising
Revision plan
- 8 minWarm-upHealth statistics — the numbers
- 15 minStep 1Health risk vocabulary and consequence verbs
- 20 minStep 2Balanced health risk paragraph (80–90 words)
- 7 minStep 3Health advice role play
- 10 minPlenaryOne factual sentence per student
Exam connection: Listening: academic health texts, conditional sentences in speech, medical passives (Paper 1 all formats) | Reading: nutrition article, mental health report, healthcare opinion piece (Paper 2 R1–R4, Q5 cross-text) | Writing: health article/email — Paper 4 Q3 asks for about 130–140 words (stretch: extend to 150 for extra practice) | Speaking: health centre role play + two topic conversations. Useful structures here include conditional sentences and medical passives.
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Vocabulary
Tap each card to reveal the meaning, category and example.
Three-step recall
- Say the Arabic aloud.
- Cover the meaning and recall it.
- Use six items in your own spoken or written sentences.
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Quizzes
Use the two short checks. Errors show you what to revise next.
Quiz 1 — Meaning check
0 / 61. What does مُخَدِّرات mean?
2. What does السَّرَطان mean?
3. What does أَمراض القَلب mean?
4. What does يَزيد من خُطورة mean?
5. What does يُوصف بِأَنَّه mean?
6. What does إِدمان mean?
Quiz 2 — Match Arabic and English
العربية
English
Matched: 0 / 6
Stretch challenge
Choose three matched items and combine them into one accurate sentence or short exchange.
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Grammar
Read the rule, notice the pattern and then produce your own examples.
Core rule / strategy
يُقلِع عَن (Form IV: gives up — root ق-ل-ع): قرَّر أَن يُقلِع عن التدخين. يُلحِق الضرر بـ (Form IV compound: causes harm to — root ل-ح-ق): التدخين يُلحِق الضرر بالرئتَين والقلب. Conditional Type 1 for health risks: إِذا استمرَّ في التدخين، سيُعاني من أمراض القلب. Passive academic register: يُوصف بأنَّه.. (is described as..) — impersonal passive. Balanced language note: this lesson addresses sensitive topics (smoking, alcohol, drugs) in an informational, non-preachy register appropriate for Cambridge IGCSE Topic Area A (health and body).
Notice the pattern
- التَّدخين يُلحِق الضَّرر بالرِّئتَين.
- الكُحول يُضَعِّف جِهاز المَناعة.
- المُخَدِّرات خَطِرة على الصِّحَّة.
- الإِدمان مَشكلة صِحِّيَّة ونَفسِيَّة.
Accuracy checklist
- Check the subject and verb or noun/adjective agreement.
- Check gender, number and tense or time frame.
- Use the lesson structure in a complete, meaningful sentence.
- Read the sentence aloud and correct anything that sounds incomplete.
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Skills Practice
Practise listening, reading, speaking and writing with the same lesson language.
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Listening
Listen for time, place or person. Listen twice: first for the overall meaning, then for evidence.
🎧 Recorded audio coming soon — use the device voice for listening practice now. Keep the transcript hidden for your first two listens.
التَّدخين يُلحِق الضَّرر بالرِّئتَين. الكُحول يُضَعِّف جِهاز المَناعة. المُخَدِّرات خَطِرة على الصِّحَّة. الإِدمان مَشكلة صِحِّيَّة ونَفسِيَّة. يَحتاج المُدمِن إلى دَعم.
- What is the main topic or situation?
- Who, where or when is mentioned?
- Write one supporting detail.
Check your listening
A successful answer identifies the main topic, at least three accurate words and one relevant detail. Replay once, then reveal the transcript only if you still need support.
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Reading
Underline known words before answering.
يُمَثِّل التدخين من الأسباب الرئيسية لأمراض القلب في العالم العربي. يُلحِق الضرر بـ.
- What is the main idea or situation?
- Choose one phrase and explain what it means in this context.
- Find one example that shows the lesson language or grammar in use.
- What extra detail could you add to make the text more complete?
Reading support
Start with names, numbers, repeated words, connectors and familiar verb patterns. You do not need to translate every word.
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Speaking
Build your answer, then ask a follow-up question.
- Give a clear view about health or lifestyle using the lesson focus. Support it with a reason and an example.
- Use at least three useful items from this lesson and one complete sentence with the target grammar.
- Add one reason, detail or example instead of giving only a short answer.
Useful frame:في رَأيي.. لِأَنَّ.. أَيضاً.. وَمِن جِهَةٍ أُخرى..
Working alone? Record yourself for 30–60 seconds, listen back once, and improve one pronunciation, grammar or fluency point.
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Writing
Plan, write, check and improve.
Task: Write a focused response about health or lifestyle using the lesson focus, a reason and a supporting detail. Target: 80–100 words, extending to 130–140 words for an extended exam-style task.
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Activities
Complete the activities in order, or choose the one that addresses your weakest area.
Independent revision: if an activity mentions a partner, cards, a picture or classroom equipment, use paper/notes on your device and complete both sides yourself. For speaking, record your answer and listen back once.
Warm-up8 min
Health statistics — the numbers
Study 3–4 WHO/health statistics about the Arab world: smoking rates in Arab countries (above global average in several countries), rising rates of non-communicable diseases. Ask: "What do these numbers tell us? How would you present them in Arabic?" you attempt one statistical sentence using يُمَثِّل (from D4): "يُمَثِّل التدخين من الأسباب الرئيسية لأمراض القلب في العالم العربي." This factual, statistical framing establishes the lesson's academic (not moralistic) tone.
Step 115 min
Health risk vocabulary and consequence verbs
Present health risk vocabulary. Focus: يُضَعِّف (weakens), يُلحِق الضرر بـ (causes harm to), يَزيد من خُطورة (increases the risk of). Write 6 factual sentences about health risks: "التدخين يُلحِق الضرر بالرئتَين ويَزيد من خُطورة الإصابة بالسرطان. الكحول يُضَعِّف جهاز المناعة." Deliberately factual, not judgmental. Then: يُقلِع عن vs يَتوقَّف عن — both mean "give up" but يُقلِع عن is more formal and decisive: "قرَّر أَن يُقلِع عن التدخين نهائياً." you practise both verbs in sentences.
Step 220 min
Balanced health risk paragraph (80–90 words)
Task: Write an informational paragraph about one health risk (smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, or screen addiction) for a school health magazine. Must be balanced and factual — not preachy. Structure: P1 (scope of the problem — statistics + passive يُوصف بأنَّه): "يُوصف التدخين بأنَّه من أخطر العادات على الصحة." P2 (health consequences — يُلحِق، يُضَعِّف، يَزيد من + conditional): "إِذا استمرَّ الشخص في التدخين، سيَزيد خطر الإصابة بأمراض القلب." P3 (solutions/options — يُقلِع عن، يتوقَّف عن، يَسعى إلى): "يمكن للمدخن أَن يُقلِع عن التدخين بمساعدة الأطباء والدعم النفسي." Focus: is the register factual and formal? Are the consequences stated as facts not opinions?
Step 37 min
Health advice role play
Pairs: one student plays a health counsellor (مُرشِد صحي)، one plays a client seeking help to quit a habit. 4 exchanges using conditional sentences (إِذا توقَّفتَ عن X، سـ..) and يُقلِع عن/يتوقَّف عن. your partner listens — checking conditional Type 1 accuracy in spontaneous speech.
Plenary10 min
One factual sentence per student
Rapid round: say ONE factual Arabic sentence about a health risk using one of today's vocabulary items. No repetition. your partner keeps a class tally of which vocabulary items have been used. Final count: how many different health risk terms used across the class? You add health risk vocabulary to vocabulary books.
Useful to have
Things you can make or find to help you revise this lesson:
- Health risk vocabulary reference
- Health statistics infographic (WHO data on Arab world)
- Balanced risk paragraph writing frame
- Role play: health advice scenario
Stretch challenge
If you already speak some Arabic at home: write an Islamic health ethics essay (100+ words) on the concept of حِفظ النفس (preservation of the self/life) as one of the five مقاصد الشريعة (objectives of Islamic law) — and how this Islamic principle aligns with modern health science on avoiding harm. Formal academic Arabic throughout.
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Plenary
Finish with a quick check and one clear next step.
Key takeaways
- Describe unhealthy habits and their health consequences using academic vocabulary
- Use conditional sentences (Type 1) to express health risks and consequences
- Write a balanced health risk paragraph (80–90 words) without moralising
- Grammar focus: يُقلِع عَن (Form IV: gives up — root ق-ل-ع): قرَّر أَن يُقلِع عن التدخين. يُلحِق الضرر بـ (Form IV compound: causes harm to — root ل-ح-ق): التدخين يُلحِق الضرر بالرئتَين والقلب. Conditional Type 1 for health risks: إِذا استمرَّ في التدخين، سيُعاني من أمراض القلب. Passive academic register: يُوصف بأنَّه.. (is described as..) — impersonal passive. Balanced language note: this lesson addresses sensitive topics (smoking, alcohol, drugs) in an informational, non-preachy register appropriate for Cambridge IGCSE Topic Area A (health and body).
Final check
Health risk vocabulary sentences (check يُلحِق/يُضَعِّف accuracy). Balanced health risk paragraph (check factual register, conditional Type 1). Role play (partner observation).
Optional follow-up
Write a health information leaflet (70–80 words) on one risk behaviour: describe it factually, give 2–3 health consequences using يُلحِق/يُضَعِّف/يَزيد من، include 2 conditional sentences (إِذا + present → سـ), and end with practical advice for those who want to change using يُقلِع عن and يتوقَّف عن.
Confidence check
How secure do you feel after this lesson?
Remember: quick revision works best when you revisit weak vocabulary and correct errors, not when you try to complete everything in one sitting.