Tsunami Damage: Learn New Words

50-minute English Lesson

In this Learn New Words lesson, ESL students learn how tsunami waves are created and why they are so powerful and dangerous.

Learn New Words a story about tsunami
A port damaged by a tsunami

Read the story

Learn New Words: Killer Waves

In 2004, a tsunami killed 283,000 people. In 2011, a tsunami hit Japan’s seashore. It killed 18,000 and destroyed a nuclear power station. What are tsunamis and where do they come from?

A tsunami is a wave with lots of energy. It’s different from regular waves, called tidal waves. Tidal waves are usually 150 meters wide. A tsunami can stretch out for 100 km.

Tidal waves move surface water. A tsunami moves surface water and water below the wave all the way down to the sea bottom.

Wind makes tidal waves. A tsunami is created when a large volume of water is moved in a short period of time. The most common cause is an undersea earthquake. It pushes a lot of water up into the air. When it falls back into the sea, a big splash is created. That splash sends out long waves.

As a tsunami moves close to land, it begins to slow down. Way out in the deep sea, a tsunami travels 700 km per hour, which is similar to a jet plane. Near land, its speed falls to 60 km per hour.

Close to land, the wave grows higher, but a huge wall of water is not common. If a tsunami reaches land, it can destroy buildings, and lift cars.

Often the first wave that hits land will pull back into the sea. It looks like the tsunami is over. Minutes or hours later, more waves hit the coastline causing more damage and death.

Let’s return to the original question: what’s a tsunami?

It’s a series of waves usually created by an undersea earthquake. It moves a lot of water below the surface. When it gets close to land, it slows down. It can destroy cities and kill. It is one of nature’s most destructive forces.

Listen without reading

Learn New Words: tsunami story

Audio

Here is the listening file for this lesson.

Listening level: 3
Audio file: 2:16 min
Story length: 285 words
Learn New Words a listening story about tsunami
Scary waves
[quiz-cat id=”7692″]

Learn New Words: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

In 2004, a tsunami killed __________ people. In 2011, a tsunami hit Japan’s __________ . It killed __________ and destroyed a nuclear power station. What are tsunamis and __________ do they come from?

A tsunami is a __________ with lots of energy. It’s different from __________ waves, called tidal waves. Tidal waves are usually __________ meters wide. A tsunami can stretch out for __________ km.

Tidal waves move __________ water. A tsunami moves surface water and water __________ the wave all the way down to the sea __________ .

Wind makes tidal waves. A tsunami is __________ when a large volume of water is moved in a __________ period of time. The most __________ cause is an undersea earthquake. It pushes a lot of water up into the air. When it __________ back into the sea, a big __________ is created. That splash sends out long waves.

As a tsunami moves __________ to land, it begins to slow down. Way out in the deep sea, a tsunami travels __________ km per hour, which is similar to a jet plane. Near land, its __________ falls to 60 km per hour.

Close to land, the wave __________ higher, but a huge wall of water is not common. If a tsunami reaches land, it can __________ buildings, and __________ cars.

Often the first wave that hits land will __________ ________ into the sea. It looks like the tsunami is over. Minutes or __________ later, more waves hit the __________ causing more damage and __________ .

Let’s return to the __________ question: what’s a tsunami?

It’s a __________ of waves usually created by an undersea __________ . It moves a lot of water below the surface. When it gets close to land, it slows down. It can __________ cities and kill. It is one of nature’s most destructive __________ .

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the esl story.

  1. What kind of story is this?
  2. What happened in 2004 and 2011?
  3. Compare and contrast a tsunami and a tidal wave.
  4. What happens when a tsunami approaches land?
  5. How you ever seen or experienced a tsunami?

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

1. destroy
2. surface 
3. volume 
4. pull back
5. huge 
a. outside
b. quantity
c. colossal
d. retreat
e. ruin

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE Learn New Words STORY.

  1. IATDL
  2. VETIRDCUETS
  3. TECONLASI
  4. LAHPSS
  5. OVEMUL
  6. NRLAEUC

Writing practice

Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

  1. water / move / surface / waves / Tidal
  2. into / falls / the / sea / it / created / big / is / a / splash / back / When
  3. lots / with / tsunami / a / A / wave / of / is / energy
  4. of / undersea / a / an / usually / waves / by / It’s / earthquake / series / created
  5. close / a / to / slow / it / land / moves / down / begins / to / tsunami / As

Another ESL listening story

Learn more New Words

Try this free English activities lesson about pizza and learn the answer to this question, Did pizza really come from Italy?

Watch a video and take notes

listen and write New Words

Did you like this ESL activities lesson about tsunamis? Click to watch a short National Geographic video about a tsunami in Japan and practice your note-taking skills. The video is about three minutes.

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Take notes.
  3. Make a list of at least seven facts.

Get the worksheet

ESL lesson plan worksheet

Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the tsunami lesson PDF worksheet.

Click to see the answers for this Learn New Words listening and reading lesson.

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