IELTS SPEAKING CLASS

TOPIC: NATURAL DISASTER

USEFUL WORDS/PHRASES OR IDIOMS ABOUT THE TOPIC.
In the IELTS exams, students are required to have a wide enough
vocabulary to discuss topics at length and make meaning clear
despite inappropriacies. Therefore, helping students to extend their
lexical resources is necessary. Here are some vocabularies and
phrases about the topic that teachers can explain to students and
give them chances to practice using words and phrases in their
discussions.

Arson: Malicious burning to destroy property

Avalanche: A slide of large masses of snow, ice, and

mud down a mountain

Blizzard: A storm with widespread snowfall accompanied

by strong winds

Dam: A barrier constructed to contain the flow of

water

Drought: A shortage of rainfall or lack of rainfall for

a long time.

Earthquake: Vibration from underground movement along a

fault plane

Fault: An imperfection in an object or machine

Flood/Inundate: The rising of a body of water and its

overflowing onto land

Force: Influence that results in motion, stress, etc.

when applied
Forest: A large, densely wooded area filled with trees
and plants

Forest fire: An uncontrolled fire in a wooded area

Hurricane: A severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy

rains and winds

Lava: Rock that in its molten form issues from volcanos

Magma: Molten rock in the earth's crust

Thunderstorm: A storm resulting from strong rising air

currents

Tornado: A violently destructive windstorm occurring

over land

Tsunami: A cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea

wave

Tremor: An involuntary vibration, as if from illness or

fear

Casualty: Someone injured or killed in an accident

Damage: The occurrence of a change for the worse

Shelter: Covering that provides protection from the

weather

Rescue: Free from harm or evil

Destruction: An event that completely ruins something

Famine: Extreme scarcity of food

PART I:
Students answer questions about themselves related to the topic:
1. What do you understand by natural disaster?
2. How many types of natural disaster can you name?
Which is the worst?
3. What are the causes of natural disaster in your country?
4. Which country has the most natural disaster in Asia?
5. Which natural disaster have you experienced?

PART II:
Students will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes to think
about what they are going to say. They can make some notes to help them
if they wish.
Describe a natural disaster that is common in your country.
You should say:

What the disaster is

What cause it

The effects of the natural disaster on nature

And explain what can be done to control the disaster

PART III
Students have a longer discussion on the topic. The examiner will
ask them further questions connected to the topic in part 2.

1. How can human carelessness cause natural disaster?

2. What are the effects of natural disasters on the lives of people
and the economy?
3. What will you do in situation of natural disaster in your city?
4. Why do you think natural disasters always seem to affect poor
people the most?
5. If you had a power to stop natural disasters that had happened
in the past, which one would you choose? Why?
6. Are there ways we can prepare ourselves in advance to cope
with natural disasters?