ESL WORKSHEET - Spain hit by floods

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

SPAIN HIT BY DEADLIEST FLOODS

IN DECADES

LinguaHouse

Nov. 3, 2024

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Environment and Nature; Emergency Services; Breaking News; Health and Well-being; People and Places; Challenges; Politics; Seasons; Speaking; Vocabulary Lesson; Article Based; Video Talk; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 11/03/2024

This breaking news lesson (written only in British English) looks at the recent events in Spain, where severe flooding has had a devastating effect. A video report gives an overview of what has unfolded, and requires students to answer a series of questions. This is followed by a short task based around adverse weather collocations. The reading comprehension focuses on the aftermath of the floods and how different groups have been affected. There is then a discussion section, and an optional extension in the form of an essay. (by Joey Vaughan-Birch)

NOTE: This lesson covers the recent floods in Spain and their impact, which some students might find distressing.

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/watch the video in British English.

AUDIO/VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Narrator: Spain is reeling from its worst flooding in decades. Heavy rain that would normally fall in a year came down in just a few hours in the southern and eastern areas of the country. The storm has so far killed at least 200 people, mainly in the Valencia region, while many more are still missing.
Passing showers quickly transformed into a ferocious storm, flooding towns and roads, and making rivers burst their banks. Spain often sees rain in autumn, but this year’s downpour was unprecedented. Some areas just west of Valencia city received more than 40 centimeters in a single day.
Emergency workers are fighting to rescue those who are trapped, with operations taking place to locate bodies and clear debris. Five hundred soldiers have joined the operations in the Valencia region, bringing the total number across the country to 1,700. The Spanish government sent emergency alerts asking people to stay indoors, but many believe not enough was done to prepare for the natural disaster.
Some shared their anger on social media, claiming that they received the emergency alert in the middle of the storm. The last serious floods occurred in 1957, when 81 people lost their lives. While Spain has experienced significant storms in recent years, nothing comes close to the adverse weather of the past few days.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/spain-hit-by-deadliest-floods-in-decades. Accessed on November 11, 2024. © 2008–2024 LinguaHouse.com. All rights reserved.