Is the Moon Telling Us Something? Free English Listening Lesson

50-minute lesson

In this free English listening lesson, a student asks an English teacher a question. The answer is a bit surprising.

Read the story

The Finger Pointing to the Moon

Each afternoon, an English teacher enjoyed walking with his dog in the park. The teacher would throw a stick. His dog loved to run and catch it.

One day, a student from the English class joined the teacher.

The student asked many detailed questions. She wanted to know the best methods for learning English as fast as possible. The teacher listened, but didn’t speak for several minutes.

Then the teacher answered, “Try not to focus on the methods. Teaching methods are like signs on a road. They are useful because they point you in a direction that helps you understand and use the language.

However, they aren’t the most important thing for learning a language. If you really want to improve, think about your goal, which is being able to speak easily with others.”

The student said, “I really don’t understand. I thought studying words and rules was enough?”

“Look at this,” the teacher said.

The teacher raised his hand and pointed to the moon with his finger. Then he said to his dog, “Get the moon.”

“What’s the dog looking at?” the teacher asked the student.

“It’s looking at your finger,” the student replied.

The teacher said, “That’s right. My poor dog can’t look beyond my finger. He might believe it’s the moon, but he’d be wrong, of course. My finger is kind of like studying methods.

If students don’t look beyond the finger, they’ll never have an opportunity to experience the big and wonderful moon.”

Listen to the story without reading

Free English Listening Lesson

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

Each __________ , an English teacher enjoyed walking with his dog in the park. The teacher would throw a __________ . His dog loved to run and catch it.

One day, a student from the English class __________ the teacher.

The student asked many __________ questions. She wanted to know the best methods for learning English as fast as possible. The teacher listened, but didn’t speak for __________ minutes.

Then the teacher answered, “Try not to focus on the methods. Teaching methods are like __________ on a road. They are useful because they point you in a direction that helps you understand and use the language.

However, they aren’t the most important thing for __________ a language. If you really want to improve, think about your __________ , which is being able to speak easily with others.”

The student said, “I really don’t understand. I thought __________ words and rules was enough?”

“Look at this,” the teacher said.

The teacher raised his hand and __________ to the moon with his finger. Then he said to his dog, “Get the moon.”

“What’s the dog looking at?” the teacher asked the student.

“It’s looking at your __________ ,” the student replied.

The teacher said, “That’s right. My poor dog can’t look beyond my finger. He might __________ it’s the moon, but he’d be wrong, of course. My finger is kind of like studying methods.

If students don’t look __________ the finger, they’ll never have an opportunity __________ to the big and wonderful moon.”

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the story.

1. Do you have a dog (or any other pet)?
2. Who did the teacher meet in the park?
3. What did she want to learn?
4. The teacher pointed to the moon. What do you think that means?
5. Do you think the teacher’s answer was good?

Synonym match

Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.

Anagrams

Move the letters. Make a word from the English listening story.

1. NJEOID
2. EERLSVA
3. DREITCONI
4. OEHGNU
5. OTNOYUTPIRP
6. NORGW

Writing practice

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

1. the / each / with / English / park / in / an / walking / his / afternoon / teacher / enjoyed / dog
2. the / raised / his / finger / pointed / with / his / the / teacher / and / to / hand / moon
3. kind / finger / of / methods / my / like / studying / is
4. the / if / an / moon / they’ll / wonderful / and / big / don’t / finger, / look / beyond / opportunity / have / experience / students / to / the / never
5. student / it’s / the / your / finger / at / looking / replied.

Another ESL listening lesson

Ready to learn English with another free English listening lesson? Try this free English lesson about a teacher who helps students learn a lesson with an elephant and three blind people.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this free English listening lesson based on an old Buddhist story? Bruce Lee, a famous martial arts fighter and movie star, used the same story in a movie. Click here to watch the short video on YouTube.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list with at least eight facts.

Get the worksheet

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

Click to see the answers.