“Super El Niño” and the threat of extreme weather

This ESL worksheet explores the global impact of El Niño and extreme weather events, helping students develop essential climate-related vocabulary while practising grammar structures used to express possibility, prediction, and likelihood. . This is a current events–based ESL worksheet, as a strong “super” El Niño is currently forming, with its global weather impacts expected to become more pronounced towards the end of 2026 and into 2027. It is most suitable for B1–B2 level learners and is ideal for lessons on environmental issues and climate change.

Speaking: Lead-in and Discussion
The lesson begins with guided discussion questions about extreme weather events, climate change, and their effects around the world. Students activate prior knowledge and share personal experiences of unusual or extreme weather in their own countries.

Vocabulary: Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Students learn and practise key vocabulary related to climate and environmental systems, including terms such as flood, drought, wildfire, heat wave, tropical storm, climate pattern, food security, and global food supply. They also match words and expressions to definitions and complete verb collocations used to describe environmental impact (e.g. damage crops, boost temperatures, intensify heat waves, suppress storms, reshape weather patterns).

Grammar: Expressing Possibility and Prediction
The worksheet introduces a range of grammatical structures used to talk about future likelihood and uncertainty, including modal verbs (might, may, could, can’t), reporting verbs (suggest, predict, tend to), and fixed expressions (it is likely that…, there is a risk that…, chances are that…). Students practise combining subjects, verbs, and outcomes to form meaningful predictions about climate and its effects.

Listening: Super El Niño and Global Weather Impacts
Students watch a video titled “How ‘super’ El Niño could bring chaos to the world’s weather” and complete comprehension tasks based on key information, including forecasts, temperature anomalies, historical El Niño events, and regional impacts. They also answer detailed questions about consequences such as flooding, droughts, wildfires, and effects on agriculture, food prices, and global supply chains.

Speaking: Post-Listening Discussion
Students reflect on the causes and consequences of El Niño, discuss whether it is becoming more dangerous or simply more reported, and evaluate which regions of the world are most vulnerable to extreme weather. They also consider how governments can prepare for climate-related risks.

For more speaking practice, you can use the printable conversation cards.