role play a visit to the doctor

Lanternfish ESL

ESL Visiting a Doctor Roleplay

This is an oral communication activity in which students practise describing symptoms to a doctor.

A Visit to the Doctor Roleplay

Introduction.

The purpose of these materials is to get the students to practice visiting a doctor and communicating in English. This is a fairly simple role-play intended for false beginners (or perhaps even beginners). In short, students will go to the doctor, describe their ailment, get a prescription, and get some advice. Doctors will listen to ailments, ask a few questions and then prescribe medicine and give some advice.

Resources to Download

Doctor's activity sheet, patients activity sheet, ailment cards, treatment cards, activity description.

The class is divided into two groups: Doctors and Patients. Doctors are given the Doctor's Activity Sheet and the Treatment Cards . Patients are given the Patients Activity Sheet and three Ailment Cards .

For each ailment, the patients will visit two doctors and get some advice and a prescription. There is a fair amount of vocabulary for this exercise so it might be wise to have the students prep for class with some worksheets or exercises. If you are in an ESL setting it might also be a good idea to have the main terms translated. Also, the ailment and treatment cards are in MS Word format so you can edit them to whatever sickness you want.

Further Study and Related Resources

Practice English Online

• Lesson Plans

Going to the Doctor: ESL Lesson Plan [Free Download]

• Posted by by ESL Questions About
• 12 months ago

Table of Contents

Introduction

Health is a universal concern and navigating healthcare can be one of the most important yet challenging experiences in a new language or country. Understanding and effectively communicating health needs in English is a vital skill for English learners, particularly for those living in English-speaking environments.

This lesson plan, “Going to the Doctor,” is designed specifically to assist English as a Second Language (ESL) students in developing the vocabulary and communication skills necessary to interact effectively with healthcare professionals. By exploring the different steps involved in a typical doctor’s visit and introducing key health-related vocabulary , this lesson aims to familiarize students with the healthcare process and provide them with the confidence to express health concerns and understand medical advice in English.

Through a series of well-structured activities including dialogue practice, role-play scenarios, and an interactive quiz, students will be engaged in the learning process, putting into practice what they’ve learned, and making the lesson’s content relevant and memorable.

By the end of this lesson, students will be well-equipped to handle a visit to the doctor in English, fostering their overall language competence and confidence.

Students will be able to understand and use medical and health vocabulary, converse effectively with healthcare professionals, and comprehend the purpose and process of a doctor’s appointment.

Approximately 60 minutes.

• Whiteboard & markers
• Handout with dialogues and vocabulary
• Role-play scenarios cards
• Images or flashcards related to the topic

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Vocabulary introduction.

Introduce the necessary vocabulary to the students. Use images or flashcards to explain words related to health and doctor visits. Vocabulary might include:

• Appointment
• Prescription
• Examination

Check comprehension by asking students to match the words with images or descriptions.

Presentation (15 minutes)

Purpose of visiting a doctor.

Explain the reasons people visit doctors: preventative care, diagnosing and treating illness, managing chronic conditions, etc. Discuss the importance of regular check-ups and vaccinations.

The Process of a Doctor’s Visit

Explain the steps typically involved in a doctor’s visit:

• Making an appointment
• Checking in at the reception
• Describing symptoms to the nurse or doctor
• Examination by the doctor
• Receiving a diagnosis or treatment plan
• Collecting a prescription, if necessary

Practice (20 minutes)

Dialogue practice.

Provide a handout with dialogues illustrating a typical interaction between a patient and a doctor. Read through the dialogues as a class, clarifying any difficult phrases or expressions.

Dialogue might include useful phrases like:

• “I would like to make an appointment.”
• “What seems to be the problem?”
• “I’ve been feeling sick for a few days.”
• “It hurts when I…”
• “You need to take this medication twice a day.”

Split the class into pairs and have them practice the dialogue, swapping roles halfway through.

Role-play Activity

Prepare role-play scenario cards describing different health issues (e.g., a cold, a sprained ankle, a stomachache). Split students into pairs and distribute the role-play cards. One student in each pair will play the patient and the other the doctor. The ‘patient’ will explain their ‘symptoms’, and the ‘doctor’ will ‘diagnose’ the issue and provide advice or ‘prescription’. Encourage students to use the vocabulary and phrases they’ve learned.

Production (10 minutes)

Interactive quiz.

Prepare a quiz based on the lesson’s content to reinforce students’ understanding of the vocabulary and the process of going to the doctor. Questions might include:

• “What should you say when making an appointment?”
• “What is a prescription?”
• “What might a doctor say when examining a patient?”

Students can work in groups to answer the questions.

Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

End the lesson by encouraging students to share their experiences of going to the doctor in their home country and compare them with what they’ve learned about the process in English-speaking countries. Ask them to reflect on the new vocabulary they’ve learned, and how it might help them in real-life situations.

In this lesson, students have the opportunity to build their medical vocabulary, understand the purpose and process of visiting a doctor, and practice their conversational skills in a relevant context. By integrating interactive and engaging activities, this lesson supports learners in becoming more comfortable and confident when going to the doctor in English-speaking environments.

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Description

The purpose of these materials is to get the students to practice visiting a doctor and communicating in English. This is a fairly simple role-play intended for false beginners (or perhaps even beginners). In short, students will go to the doctor, describe their ailment, get a prescription, and get some advice. Doctors will listen to ailments, ask a few questions and then prescribe medicine and give some advice.

Web-based Resource

Access the lesson plan and worksheets at: https://bogglesworldesl.com/doctor_roleplay.htm

Content Provider

Lanternfish : Activities, worksheets, and flashcards for the ESL and TEFL Teacher.

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Visiting the doctor.

Level: Elementary (A1-A2)

Type of English: General English

Tags: health and wellbeing health and illness visiting the doctor/dentist/vet Situation based

Publication date: 21/01/2015

In this dialogue-aided lesson plan, students learn how to describe a number of typical medical ailments, symptoms and treatments. The lesson includes two simple doctor-patient dialogues. A basic knowledge of the present simple, present continuous and past simple tenses is assumed.

Visiting-the-doctor-Ex3

It is greate lesson plan! Thank you very much!

Very nice lesson. I recommend.

Very easy and nice lesson, thank you

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Student worksheet

Teacher lesson plan

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In this dialogue-aided lesson plan, students learn how to describe a number of typical medical issues, symptoms, and treatments. The lesson includes two simple doctor-patient dialogues. A basic knowledge of the simple present, present continuous, and simple past tenses are assumed.

Dialog-1-Visiting-the-doctor.mp3

COURSE PLANS

This comprehensive course plan covers the full range of language needs – listening, role play, vocabulary development.

Worksheets in English for Work and Life course plan

Type of English: Business English Level: Elementary (A1-A2)

Type of English: General English Level: Elementary (A1-A2)

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Doctor Themed Imaginative Role Play

Posted in back to school , early childhood development , fine motor , literacy , preschool play ideas , toddler play ideas on may 17, 2017.

Imaginative Role Play is an important part of early childhood development. As children engage in imaginative and dramatic play, they are developing a range of skills including oral language, cooperation and problem solving. Today I’d like to share a really engaging doctor themed imaginative play corner that I set up for my toddler!

My daughter has been very interested in anything and everything related to going to the doctors lately. I decided to design a range of doctor themed printables so that I could set up a beautiful doctor’s surgery for her to play in at home!

First up is the reception area complete with an appointment book and patient details forms and folders! This is a great way to get your Little Learners to begin making marks or writing authentically. After sorting through my bookshelf, I decorated the waiting room and reception with some information books about the body.

I created a patient appointment book using a manilla folder and then I just stuck some patient appointment printables inside ready for the receptionist to write in! The little medicine bottles were so easy to make using some containers I already had around the house. The medicine labels from my Doctor Dramatic Play Set were easy to print and then attach with clear adhesive contact! You could also add beads for medicine but I also have a baby who eats alllllll the things so I decided to leave them empty.

After a trip to our local dollar shop, I was able to fill some baskets with bandages, bandaids and some medical equipment. My beautiful wooden doctors set is from Little Wooden Toybox – aren’t the little tools gorgeous? They also came with a bandage, bandaids and a very sweet little nurses hat!

We also added some cotton buds, make up pads and cotton balls to some clear plastic containers for the doctor’s consult room. They looked so cute!

Finally, I set up my light panel from Modern Teaching Aides . In my Doctors Dramatic Play Set, you’ll actually find some real X-Ray photos which you can print onto thin paper and use like real X-Rays on a light table! My toddler loved trying to work out what part of the body she was looking at.

This packet provides lots of authentic opportunities to read and write as well! I’ve created a range of black line masters suitable for early writers which are also complimented by simple clip art to encourage even the earliest of readers and writers.

As you can see, this was pretty easy to set up using the printables in my Doctor Themed Dramatic Play Set . I added a few bits and pieces from around the house or the dollar store and it was ready to play with! If you’d like to grab this set for your imaginative play area, you can click the button below!

About the author

Casey is an early years teacher turned homeschooling mum of three who passionate about helping other parents create a play-filled home. She loves adventure days outside in nature and loves a good sensory tub. You can follow Casey on Instagram right here.

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Language for… visiting the doctor

By Tim Bowen

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In this lesson, students will learn the necessary vocabulary for visiting the doctor.

Language for... visiting the doctor - Worksheet

Language for... visiting the doctor - teacher's notes, language for... visiting the doctor - transcript, language for... visiting the doctor - track 1, language for... visiting the doctor - track 2.

• everyday vocabulary
• Intermediate
• language for
• Lesson Plan / Teacher's Notes
• macmillan dictionary
• Pre-Intermediate
• Printable Worksheet
• Study Skills
• Up to 30 mins
• Up to 45 mins
• Up to 60 mins
• Upper-Intermediate

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New 'Doctor Who' star Ncuti Gatwa feels 'sad' for critics of show's diversity

Eric Deggans

"It warms my heart to know that little Black kids out there will be like, 'Oh, I can be The Doctor,'" Ncuti Gatwa says. "It feels like a huge, lovely responsibility." Disney hide caption

"It warms my heart to know that little Black kids out there will be like, 'Oh, I can be The Doctor,'" Ncuti Gatwa says. "It feels like a huge, lovely responsibility."

It's the question I most wanted to ask Ncuti Gatwa, the new star of Britain's science fiction TV institution, Doctor Who .

Exactly who is The Doctor this time?

That's because the show's lead character, The Doctor, is a time-traveling alien who has lived for thousands of years, occasionally "regenerating" into a new form. In practical terms, that means the show can change up its star every so often, allowing a new actor to develop a different interpretation of a character that has been around since the show's 1963 debut.

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Tv's new doctor who has an old connection to the series.

Gatwa is playing the 15th Doctor – a guy given to wearing bright clothing, with an excitable manner and a dazzling smile, full of enthusiasm and emotion in a way we haven't always seen in previous versions of the character.

"He's coming in hot ... he's a little bit cocky, my Doctor," Gatwa admits over a video conference call. "He loves to connect, but there's only so far that he will let you connect with him, despite his love of people and other things."

Resetting a science fiction TV classic

The new episodes, which are a bigger reset for Doctor Who than usual, are funded by Disney+, which has resulted in a more expansive and expensively produced version of the series. This gives the show the ability to carefully explain its backstory for viewers who might be tuning in for the first time — simplifying loads of tangled stories with a telling exchange between The Doctor and the human woman who joins him on his new adventures, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).

Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa appear as Ruby Sunday and The Doctor on Doctor Who . Disney hide caption

Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa appear as Ruby Sunday and The Doctor on Doctor Who .

"I was adopted, and the planet that took me in ... they were kinda posh," Gatwa's Doctor tells Ruby, explaining that he is the last surviving Time Lord after a genocide. "They used titles like The Doctor or The Bishop ... Say 'Doctor' for 1,000 years and it becomes my name."

Right away, the show sets up an important, promising explanation for The Doctor's wanderlust and his hesitancy to talk about his history: He's avoiding the emotional weight of some serious tragedies.

"There's a huge trauma there from the genocide that he came from," Gatwa says. "And he's sort of immortal and is cursed with this plight of always traveling with a human companion and he loses them constantly. He's had a lot of death and a lot of loss in his life, and he also feels responsible for that as well."

Mirroring the star's real life journey

The Doctor's backstory has a poignant symmetry with Gatwa's real life story. Born in Rwanda, he came to Scotland as child when his family fled genocide and civil war in 1994. Now taking on the role of The Doctor, Gatwa is the first Black man and the first person born outside the United Kingdom to play the character.

'Doctor Who' has its first Black lead. Will the show contend with race?

Doctor Who has often reflected current times through its casting. In the 1970s, when James Bond was big, Jon Pertwee played a dashing Doctor; Matt Smith was a twentysomething Doctor for Millennials in 2010 and Jodie Whittaker became the show's first female lead in 2018.

For Gatwa, casting a nonwhite person as the show's lead sends an important message: anyone, finally, can be The Doctor.

"It's about time," he says. "The character is a shape-shifting alien. It can be anyone. So for there to only have been one representation of the character, I think is just quite limiting. ... Who wouldn't want to see themselves in the shoes of The Doctor?"

Can 'Doctor Who' be too woke?

But not everyone has agreed. Some Doctor Who fans have complained about the show growing too "woke" by featuring a transgender character in its 60th anniversary specials last year and through casting Gatwa, who is also the first openly queer man to play The Doctor. (Of course, such complaints overlook the fact that Doctor Who has had LGBTQ+ characters and politically charged storylines for a while.)

The show's new episodes – crafted by Russell T. Davies, the showrunner who reinvented the series in 2005 and who is also openly gay – reflect queer culture in offhand but notable ways. For example, one episode includes a nonbinary adversary for The Doctor called Maestro who corrects a person that uses "him" instead of their correct pronoun.

Jinkx Monsoon, winner of Ru Paul's Drag Race , plays Maestro on Doctor Who . James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studio hide caption

Jinkx Monsoon, winner of Ru Paul's Drag Race , plays Maestro on Doctor Who .

The star says he's processing it all by focusing on the love he's gotten from fans, which he says outweighs the hate. He's also careful to point out that he's not the only actor to be the target of racism and that others have it worse; non-white actors like The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey and Obi-Wan Kenobi co-star Moses Ingram face racism plus misogyny.

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"I don't want to diminish racial aggression at all," he adds. "But for me, personally, I find it fascinating that it matters so much to these people. ... You are going to limit yourselves from a show that ... you claim to love ... because you don't like something about someone's appearance or their race. It's just ... really sad for them."

Gatwa, now 31, made a splash playing gay teen Eric Effiong on the critically acclaimed Netflix series Sex Education . He's since appeared in the Barbie movie and Masters of the Air on Apple TV+, and is slated to star in a revival later this year of Oscar Wilde's 1895 play The Importance of Being Earnest at London's National Theatre.

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On Doctor Who , he brings an effervescence and enthusiasm that is almost palpable. In one episode, he leads Ruby into an adventure to help a crew of "Space Babies" running an orbiting station above the Earth; in another, they visit 1960s-era London to walk along Abbey Road and watch The Beatles work on new material.

Through it all, the show manages a deft balancing act, both nodding to the program's roots as a kids' show (particularly evident when the true villain of the "Space Babies" episode is revealed) and offering storylines appealing to adult viewers who have watched for decades.

Gatwa says wide diversity on a show with such a long legacy on British TV is important.

"It's ... tricky, because you want to celebrate the win [for inclusion] and you do celebrate the win, because this signifies progress," he says. "But let's not stop here. There's lots more to go. And this should have happened a little while ago, as well."

Even in the world of a Time Lord, it seems, progress takes time. "But ... it warms my heart to know that little Black kids out there will be like, 'Oh, I can be The Doctor,'" Gatwa says. "It feels like a huge, lovely responsibility."

• Health Care

How to Advocate for Yourself at Doctor’s Visits, According to Doctors

W ith a limited amount of allotted time and a pressing health matter to discuss, a trip to the doctor’s office can sometimes feel like a high-stakes event. Even the most routine visits can leave you feeling dissatisfied if there’s a communication barrier, too many items on the agenda, or a personality clash.

Research shows that people who are able to vocalize their medical needs tend to be happier with their health care experiences and are even more likely to see improvements in symptoms and other important outcomes. So how can patients become better advocates for themselves and help take charge of their health in the process? We asked physicians for their best tips and strategic advice to help ensure your next doctor’s appointment goes as smoothly as possible.

Write down your concerns before the visit 

Dr. Michael Albert, chief of internal medicine with Johns Hopkins Community Physicians in Odenton, Md., says he understands what patients can be up against when they go to see their doctor. First, there’s the inherent power balance between doctor and patient, which he says is slowly changing as medical schools begin to focus more on patient-centered care, but remains a problem. And he’s heard more than his share of stories over the years of physicians who appear to lack empathy when a patient raises concerns. “We know we need to do better as physicians,” Albert says.

Some of that disconnect comes down to time pressures, which can make physicians feel rushed to find a “fix” for their patients, rather than validating their feelings, Albert says. 

Read More : Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills: U.S. Health Care Is Causing Patient Burnout

To counteract that, he advises all patients to write a list of their concerns in order of urgency to help ensure that their voice is heard in the appointment. It doesn’t need to be an exhaustive narrative; in fact, being brief is key to keeping the appointment on track. But people who come prepared with a note highlighting main points they want to discuss often make better use of their limited time with the doctor. “Then we can really dig into the things that are most important,” he says.

By the time patients reach sub-specialist Dr. Kathryn Mills, they’ve usually already interacted with numerous physicians and other care providers. Mills, a gynecologic oncologist and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Chicago Medicine, says it can be confusing and overwhelming for patients to navigate the system, which is why she encourages them to write down their questions in advance.

“It is hard, when you get in that moment, to remember everything that you wanted to have addressed,” says Mills.

Send a portal message the day before

When a concise written list won’t suffice—such as when a patient wants to provide contextual information about a complicated injury—Albert says sending an electronic message through a patient portal the day before an appointment can help prepare the doctor. Some insurance plans have begun paying doctors for responding to portal messages, which incentivizes doctors to communicate with patients.

Just don’t expect doctors to respond to complex questions through portal communication, Albert says. Those issues are best addressed in person.

Craft an “opening statement”

Doctors always face time constraints and are usually juggling multiple demands, Albert says. To help foster a strong relationship, he often advises patients to start their appointments with a brief opening statement that highlights their reason for coming in while acknowledging the doctor’s hectic schedule.

And the little things, such as showing up on time and making sure your paperwork is filled out, can go a long way toward building the provider-patient relationship, Mills says. When patients are on time and prepared, doctors are better able to stick to their schedule and spend the appointment focused on the issues at hand.

Google your symptoms—yes, really

Doctors rarely advise patients to fall down a rabbit hole online. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do research. The best patient is the informed patient, according to Dr. Benita Petri-Pickstone, a family physician in Gahanna, Ohio and clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. She says a vital aspect of self-advocacy is for patients to take an active role in their health, which means doing their research ahead of time so they can ask informed questions. Be proactive, raise any concerns with your doctor, and don’t hesitate to ask a multitude of questions, she says.

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“The patient who tends to get the better care is usually one that is more vocal and asks informed questions about things based on what they’ve read and based on symptoms that they are feeling,” Petri-Pickstone says.

Bring someone to your appointment

In situations where people may not be able to advocate for themselves, such as seniors who are experiencing a cognitive decline, Petri-Pickstone encourages them to bring along a trusted friend or family member. “I’m always open to having spouses and children come in with the patient to help give a good history so I can find out the total picture about what’s happening,” she says. 

Seek a second opinion

When patients are experiencing doubt or appear to be uneasy, Mills encourages them to seek a second opinion. Mills often sees patients who are coming to her for one,  and she believes it’s a critical step people can take to advocate for themselves and ensure they are getting the right care. 

She says that sometimes, patients don’t want to tell her they are in her office to seek a second opinion because they’re afraid it will color her opinion. But Mills says she believes it better serves patients if they are transparent and speak about the specific concerns that prompted them to seek the advice of another physician. “It sets the stage in a different way,” she says.

Don’t hesitate to find new care

Sometimes, the relationship between a doctor and patient just isn’t the right fit, Albert says. If someone has tried everything and the doctor is impossible to understand or just doesn’t listen, it might be time to seek another provider, he says. “They should select somebody who they feel more comfortable with,” he says.

The ideal doctor-patient relationship will vary depending on a person’s needs. But in general, people should be able to have a back-and-forth discussion with their physician and feel like their concerns are being heard and addressed, Albert says. If people feel like their doctor is going to listen, it becomes much easier for them to advocate for what they need.

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Doctor Who confirms next Susan Twist role and new cast for 73 Yards

Twist is playing The Hiker in the fourth episode of season 14.

• James Hibbs
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As Doctor Who fans wait for this week's highly anticipated episode, the Steven Moffat-penned Boom , the cast list has now been revealed for next week's instalment, 73 Yards .

The fourth episode in the season will see the Doctor and Ruby landing on the Welsh coast and embarking on "the strangest journey of their lives".

Meanwhile, the episode synopsis says that "in a rain-lashed pub, the locals sit in fear of ancient legends coming to life".

Leading the episode's guest cast, as had already been announced, is Aneurin Barnard ( Peaky Blinders ) as politician Roger ap Gwilliam.

He will be joined by Siân Phillips ( Good Omens ) as Enid Meadows, Maxine Evans ( Call the Midwife ) as Lowri Palin, Hilary Hobson as The Woman, Sion Pritchard (Mammoth) as Joshua Steele, Gwion Morris Jones ( The Winter King ) as Ifor Jones, Elan Davies as Thin Lucy and Glyn Pritchard ( Andor ) as Eddie Jones.

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Meanwhile, Susan Twist will also be back in her next mysterious role, this time playing a character simply referred to in the credits as "Hiker".

Twist has previously appeared in other small roles in recent episodes Wild Blue Yonder, The Church on Ruby Road, Space Babies and The Devil's Chord, and is also set to have a role in Boom.

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Back in March 2023, showrunner Russell T Davies raved about 73 Yards , telling Michael Ball on Radio 2: "I watched episode 4 last night and I think it's one of the greatest things I've ever made in my life so I'm very, very happy with it. It's looking so good Michael, I love it."

Beyond 73 Yards, there are four more episodes of the current Doctor Who season left to air – Dot and Bubble, Rogue, The Legend of Ruby Sunday and Empire of Death.

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MCU: Characters Henry Cavill Could Play

• Henry Cavill has signed on to appear in the MCU, sparking fan speculation on which character he might be playing.
• Potential MCU roles for Cavill include Marvel's answer to Superman, Hyperion, as well as Wolverine or Captain Britain.
• Another possibility is Doctor Doom or The Beyonder, two iconic Marvel characters that could showcase Cavill's range as an actor.

Henry Cavill is most known to superhero fans as the actor who played Clark Kent/Superman in Warner Bros DC Universe. He played the character in Man of Steel, Batman V Superman , both cuts of Justice League , and even showed up again in the post credit scene of Black Adam. The studio is ready to move on from this series, though, and David Corenswet has been recast in the role of Superman for James Gunn's rebooted DCU.

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It isn't all doom and gloom for the actor, though, as recent reports have revealed that H enry Cavill has already signed on to appear as someone in the MCU. There are loads of characters in the Marvel universe that Cavill could be playing, but some are far more likely than others.

Marvel's Answer To Superman

• Comic Debut: The Avengers #69 (1969)

Superman has been one of the most successful and popular characters in fiction ever since his first appearance in Action Comics #1 . This superpowered alien has remained a prominent figure in pop culture for nearly a century, and that is why Warner Bros cast someone as talented as Henry Cavill to play the character on screen.

With his flight, superspeed, superstrength, heat vision, frost breath, and general good nature, Superman is the ultimate superhero. That is why many other creators have paid homage to this character in other forms of media. Marvel have included many characters like Superman in their universe, but the most well-known is Hyperion . This alien has all the powers of Superman, but was instead raised by the American government instead of a loving family. Henry Cavill no doubt has experience playing a character as powerful as this, but it wouldn't really let him stretch his creative muscles again.

The Most Popular Mutant

• Comics Debut: The Incredible Hulk #181 (1974)

Wolverine has been played by Hugh Jackman on the big screen since 2000, and he is set to reprise the role again one last time in 2024's Deadpool and Wolverine . As a result, the MCU will be in search of someone else to play the character in their franchise, and Henry Cavill wouldn't be a bad choice.

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Henry Cavill has proven in his past roles that he is able to bulk up enough to play Wolverine on screen, and his appearance on The Witcher show has also shown he can handle acting as a gruff loner. However, Marvel may decide to cast a new actor who looks more like the comic-accurate version of the mutant. Sadly, that would make Cavill a bit too tall to play a comic-accurate version of Wolverine.

Captain Britain

The super soldier from the uk.

• Comic Debut: Captain Britain #1 (1976)

There were a lot of comic book fans who thought that Henry Cavill would be a great casting choice for Captain Britain before it was revealed that the actor was coming over to the MCU. A British soldier, Brian Braddock, also took the super soldier serum to give him strength like Captain America . Naturally, this character is a well-built individual with a strong moral compass, two things that Henry Cavill has pulled off very well in his career before.

The story hints left in Falcon and The Winter Soldier , and the continuation of this story in Captain America: Brave New World, seem to hint that fans will be seeing more super soldiers in the MCU going forward. As a result, the inclusion of a character like Captain Britain in the franchise seems more likely in the future. However, this character isn't popular enough yet to warrant a series of his own, so casting Henry Cavill in the role may be seen as wasting such a huge star.

Doctor Doom

Marvel's biggest villain.

• Comic Debut: The Fantastic Four #5 (1962)

The door for Doctor Doom to enter the MCU is now well and truly open. The franchise is currently in search of a new big bad, and a new Fantastic Four movie is coming in 2025. Therefore, this evil dictator from Latveria could fit nicely into the MCU , only the studio is yet to announce who is playing the hugely popular villain.

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There is a good chance that Doctor Doom will not appear in the next Fantastic Four movie, and that he is going to be saved as a later threat in this version of the Marvel universe. However, casting Henry Cavill as this iconic villain would get fans excited about the future of the franchise again. The role would give Cavill a chance to flex his muscles by playing an evil character, as most fans only know him as a stalwart hero. That said, Doom is a big part, a role that would need Henry Cavill to commit to a lengthy contract. As of writing, there is no evidence to suggest that Cavill would make this move again in his career.

The Beyonder

A potential villain for secret wars.

• Comic Debut: Secret Wars #1 (1984)

The sixth Avengers movie to be released in the MCU is currently titled Avengers: Secret Wars. As a result, many fans can expect this movie to follow the story of the same name from the comics quite closely. In this series, many heroes and villains in the Marvel universe are kidnapped by a cosmic being, The Beyonder, and forced to fight on a planet called Battleworld to see which side proves victorious. If this is the story that Marvel Studios wants to adapt, then they will need someone to play The Beyonder.

Henry Cavill is charming enough, and has the acting range to play such a large villainous role. This character will essentially act as the new Thanos in the series, and so getting a big name like Cavill on board would certainly get people excited. Also, this role would not require Henry Cavill to sign a lengthy contract, and it is an obscure comic character that the actor could make his own.

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Church has role to play in fight against corruption, UJ panel hears

The church has an important role to play in the fight against corruption in the country. 

This is according to three speakers at a discussion hosted by the University of Johannesburg on Thursday. 

The panelists were asked what is the role of churches in a country with high levels of corruption, and why do so many churches have corrupt leaders. 

Rev Prof Maria Frahm-Arp, of the department of religious studies at the university, described different types of corruption in churches, including churches asking congregants to donate the bulk of their earnings with a promise God will bless them with miracles.  

“What is misleading is that you need to give all you have, and who is becoming wealthy in this process, the pastor who has his own plane,” she said. 

She said there were also nebulous forms of corruption where some rites of the church are free, but priests charge for services such as baptisms and money does not go to church coffers. 

“There is borrowing of money from the church but money somehow never gets back.” 

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She said just over 30 years ago, churches were at the forefront of fighting corruption but today they are quiet in the fight. 

Prof Mookgo Kgatle, acting chair of the department of Christianity, spirituality, church history and missiology at Unisa, said things would have been better in 2024 if the country had fought against corruption since the dawn of democracy. 

“We have people still living in shacks, people living on the streets, many social ills. If we had dealt with corruption, we would have addressed the problems. Corruption is an impediment to prosperity of the nation,” Kgatle said. 

He said there were "new prophetic churches”, which adopted neo-liberal economic policies of capitalism where "the pastor is up there and the congregation is down there”. 

“We see a pastor collecting and receiving donations and administering donations himself and buying luxuries from church money.” 

Bonginkosi Moyo-Bango, communications director at the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, said despite problems facing the church, there was no other institution that can play the same role in being a voice against corruption.  

“Maybe the church can still be a catalyst to create movement of accountability and moral regeneration,” Moyo-Bango said. 

She said there were many problems that were not named and spoken of in church. These included financial mismanagement. She said this was because material exhibitionism had become a definition of success and opulence and glamour had crept into church. 

“For these things we need money, we want to get money at whatever costs. This leads to improper use of church resources.”

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Moyo-Bango said another issue was nepotism and favouritism.  

“Some churches have become family dynasties, where the father leaves his position to his son and all positions are occupied by relatives.” 

She said issues of sexual misconduct and abuse were also swept under the carpet. Voices who wanted to report were silenced and told not to bring shame to the church. In some cases they are bought off. 

Moyo-Bango said there was also a lack of transparency and accountability about decision-making processes in some churches, and this was a fertile ground for corruption to fester. 

However, she said there was a remnant of those who fight corruption and who will promote integrity in their churches.  

“There are many who feel powerless to address it. Others are too afraid to address it because they worry about their ‘own smallanyana skeletons’.” 

Moyo-Bango said church leaders were challenging corruption in the public space. 

She said the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, and Methodist Church leaders, including presiding bishop Pumla Mzimande, were among those who had spoken out against corruption within church spaces and open society at large. 

Moyo-Bango said before the church speaks out, it should make sure its house is clean.  

Frahm-Arp said: “Churches need to think about the extraordinary power we had together when we fought against apartheid. We can still stand together and speak against corruption.” 

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Join the California tourism industry in celebrating California Tourism Month

By Caroline Beteta 05/06/2024

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Our industry’s remarkable recovery was accompanied by the creation of an additional 64,900 jobs in 2023, bringing the total number of California hospitality workers to 1.15 million. Moreover, the tax revenue generated by visitors reached $12.7 billion, funding vital local services for all Californians.

Our Travel Matters website  has been updated with the latest numbers to demonstrate travel and tourism's economic impact on the state. The site reaches decision-makers at state and local levels to highlight how travel is critical for California.

California was the host state for IPW, the largest international travel trade show on U.S. soil. Visit California and 43 partners pulled out all the stops with the California Plaza activation outside the Los Angeles Convention Center. It was an experiential display of the state’s abundant offerings that put The Ultimate Playground front and center for the more than 5,700 trade show attendees. Hosting IPW is expected to generate $5.5 billion in future travel spending. 

As part of California Tourism Month, we encourage residents to travel in-state in May to discover how they can play throughout the state. As partners, you, too, can promote travel to California. With the governor’s announcement today, I encourage you to share the news with your communities: California travel spending is back!

Here's how:

• Adapt the official toolkit to spread the word online and with the media.
• Participate yourself by traveling, shopping, and dining locally. Your tourism dollars play a crucial role in helping businesses. Share your experiences on social media using the #CATourism tag to contribute to promoting California's tourism industry.
• From May 19-25, join U.S. Travel’s National Travel and Tourism Week with an additional #NTTW24 tag.
• Contact your local representatives to let them know how critical the tourism industry is to California’s economy. Cite the above numbers to reinforce how vital tourism spending is, especially when it creates jobs, increases tax revenues and supports local businesses.

Together, as a unified California tourism industry, we will continue to amplify the benefits of travel to the Golden State.

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Simu Liu says he tried not to make his evil AI robot role in ‘Atlas’ too ‘menacing’

If he was going to play an artificial intelligent villain, he didn’t want it to be too evil — just threatening enough, said actor Simu Liu.

In his new role in Netflix’s “Atlas,” Liu plays a rogue murderous robot named Harlan who is being hunted by a disillusioned analyst Atlas Shepherd, played by Jennifer Lopez — with whom he shares a chilling past.

Liu, known for his heroic role in Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” told NBC News that playing a robot villain with an AI consciousness required unique prep work. 

“I didn’t want Harlan to sound overtly menacing,” said Liu. “Harlan is supposed to be the first AI android ever built, and I just kind of feel like his programming is such that they would have wanted his voice to have sounded very soothing and very friendly.”

“I also think it’s maybe more creepy when he’s saying some of his more evil lines, like, ‘I want to rid the world of humanity, I want to cleanse the earth with nuclear fire,’ almost with a smile,” he added.

To make Harlan “disembodied and not human,” Liu wore blue contact lenses and donned a futuristic haircut. The actor joked his girlfriend had a different reaction upon viewing the film.

“She was like, ‘You look like you could be on ‘Jersey Shore.’”

Liu added the film warns of the potential dangers of placing too much trust in machines, especially during an age where AI advancement seems exponential. 

“I think when you become overreliant on AI, it really kind of takes away the magic of humanity and human innovation and engineering,” Liu told NBC News. “It’s weird thinking that in 20 years’ time, maybe there are people that will be born that will not know how to drive cars anymore.” 

Tony Lee is a producer for Stay Tuned and NBC News.