Celebrities Lose their Home in L.A. Wildfires

 

BBC news reports that Mel Gibson, Jeff Bridges and other LA celebrities lose their homes to wildfires. This story contains simple vocabulary, content and syntax, so it can be recommended for B2 students. Here is a lesson plan which includes reading, listening and speaking tasks for B2 learners and above who will encounter words like: wildfire, to rage, a sibling, to toast, devastation, Pacific Palisades, a burnt-out [house], to acknowledge, to burn down, and whatnot, to turn it off, to make do, heiress, heartbreak, indescribable, a beachfront [home], ash, a statement, hazard, to be under threat, to raise a child, a hit [show], gossip, [fire] to take over, a blaze, a livable [house], to grieve, a razed [property], to grab, to flee, a gnarly [situation], a fellow [actor], to pledge [money] to [fire] relief, smouldering [ruins], [to start] from scratch, a heavy heart, [on the] bluffs,a devastating [scene], [wind] to howl. 

Below, you can watch a TV report on YouTube, by Inside Edition, titled "Billy Crystal Heartbroken After Home Burned Down in LA Fire" (02':57") with a listening and speaking task which can be recommeded for B2 students and above, with interesting expressions like: a smoldering [house], to raise [children], to come to terms with, charred, wreckage, the shell [of his car], to flee/ fled, numb, to be gutted, a bearded dragon, to ravage [a neighbourhood], to make it, to be on fire, concrete, foundation, [to feel] fortunate, by sheer [luck].

For further background information to the story, students (and teachers) can read Sarah Lentz' article,  "L.A. Wildfires 2025: The Human, Environmental, and Financial Impact", which is more complex (C1 level), and was published by BAM, a media company for real estate professionals, on January 9th.