Bangkok Under Water

B1 · Intermediate48 minIn the NewsAdded 27 September 2026Lesson 13 of 13 · Free

Aims

Learn about the severe floods in Thailand's capital and talk about how cities handle extreme weather.

The lesson, stage by stage

  1. News10 min

    In the news: The story

    Read a 98-word news story: Massive Flooding Brings Bangkok to a Standstill

    Heavy rainfall has struck Bangkok, leaving large sections of the Thai capital underwater. Authorities quickly declared a citywide emergency after numerous major streets were completely submerged. The city depends on a wide network of canal waterways, but these quickly filled up and burst their banks. Bangkok's drainage system struggled to carry the huge volume of water away, halting traffic across the city. Officials released a public warning urging residents to stay indoors and keep important items upstairs. The high water continues to disrupt local businesses and shops while municipal workers try to pump the water back into rivers.

  2. Vocabulary8 min

    Vocabulary: Words in the news

    6 items

  3. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Coping with high water

    2 discussion questions

    • What would be the first thing you do if you received a flood warning for your area?
    • Why is it so dangerous for drivers when city streets are submerged?
  4. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Personal experiences with weather

    2 discussion questions

    • Have you ever experienced an emergency caused by severe weather or storms?
    • What kind of bad weather is most likely to disrupt your daily commute or plans?
  5. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Future-proof cities

    2 discussion questions

    • How can modern cities improve their drainage systems to handle heavier storms?
    • Do you think historic waterways like a canal help or hurt a city during extreme rain?

Target vocabulary

In a Tuton account these words become your student's vocabulary deck, so they come back in practice between lessons.

emergency
a sudden, dangerous situation that needs immediate action
submerged
completely covered by water or another liquid
canal
an artificial waterway built for boats or draining water
drainage
a system that removes extra water from an area
warning
a statement that tells someone about a danger
disrupt
to interrupt an activity and stop it running normally

This plan comes from the World course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.