Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a sensation
    • ex. The young singer became an online sensation after her video became popular.
  2. adjacent
    • ex. We wanted seats together. Luckily, two adjacent seats were free.
  3. a fixture
    • ex. The tall clock tower has been a fixture at the train station for many years.
  4. flock to (somewhere)
    • ex. Shoppers flock to the mall when there is a big sale.
  5. a highlight
    • ex. For many visitors, the boat ride is the highlight of the tour.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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A restaurant in central Thailand has become an internet sensation because of its unique dining experience. Pa Jit restaurant, located in Nakhon Pathom province, was flooded when an adjacent river broke its banks. Because of this, customers now sit with their feet in the water while eating. Live fish swim around the tables while families enjoy lunch with their children. The staff also walk in rubber boots to serve hot dishes.

According to owner Pornkamol Prangprempree, Pa Jit has been a riverside fixture for more than 30 years. When the restaurant flooded four years ago, she worried about losing customers. But one visitor posted photos online, and soon people began to flock to the restaurant. As a result, profits increased from 10,000 to 20,000 baht (about ¥48,000 to ¥96,000) per day. Visitors enjoy seeing the fish. And for many people, the nature experience is the highlight of the restaurant.

Though Pa Jit benefits from the flood, many areas of Thailand have been damaged. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that over 480,000 people in 13 provinces, mostly in the north and central regions, were affected.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.
Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Unique Restaurants

  • Customers at Pa Jit restaurant sit with their feet in the water while eating. Would you like to try this unique dining experience? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What unique or unusual restaurant have you visited? Discuss.
  • If you could open or create a unique restaurant, what kind of restaurant would it be? Why? Discuss.

Flooding and Weather

  • How common are floods now in your country? (ex. once a year, once a month)? Discuss.
  • How do you think floods affect people’s daily lives? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can communities help each other after a flood? Discuss.