50-minute English Lesson
Articles ESL for adults like this one helps ESL students improve their English listening and speaking skills. This lesson talks about the history of blue jeans.
Read the story
Articles ESL: JEANS
People around the world like jeans. They look good and feel good.
Where did jeans come from? The history of jeans begins in the 1850s.
One man from Germany owned a store in California. He sold pants to men looking for gold. At that time, lots of people moved to California. They wanted to find gold.
The work was hard. They broke lots of rocks and moved lots of water. They needed strong pants.
The man from Germany made good pants. People liked them because they lasted a long time and did not cost a lot of money.
In the 1860s, he made some changes. He made them from blue denim. Later, he made them stronger. He used a special pin that did not break.
Today, we call them Levis jeans. The man from Germany was Levis Strauss.
People around the world saw jeans in American films. In the 1930s, the people in cowboy films wore jeans. Lots of people started to know about jeans.
In the 1950s, young people liked to wear them. Older people did not like jeans. Some schools did not let students come in if they were wearing jeans.
Today, people of all ages wear jeans when they work, study and play. And it’s all thanks to a man from Germany who made pants 150 years ago.
Listen without reading
Articles ESL: JEANS story
Audio
Here is the listening file for this lesson.
Audio file: 1:47 min
Story length: 217 words
English listening lesson: Gap Fill
Listen to the Articles ESL story again and fill in the blanks.
People __________ the world like jeans. They look good and __________ good.
Where did jeans come from? The history of jeans begins in the __________ .
One man from __________ owned a store in California. He sold pants to men looking for __________ . At that time, lots of __________ moved to California. They __________ to find gold.
The work was __________ . They broke lots of __________ and moved lots of __________ . They needed __________ pants.
The man from Germany made __________ pants. People liked them because they __________ a long time and did not __________ a lot of money.
In the __________ , he made some __________ . He made them from __________ denim. Later, he made them __________ . He used a special pin that did not __________ .
Today, we call them Levis __________ . The man from Germany was Levis Strauss.
People around the world __________ jeans in American films. In the __________ , the people in __________ films wore jeans. Lots of people __________ to know about jeans.
In the __________ , young people liked to __________ them. Older people did not __________ jeans. Some schools did not let students come in if they were __________ jeans.
Today, people of all _________ wear jeans when they __________ , study and __________ . And it’s all thanks to a man from Germany who made pants __________ years ago.
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the Articles ESL story .
- Do you have a favorite kind of blue jeans?
- Summarize evolution of blue jeans.
- What are the pros and cons of jeans?
- Retell the story of jeans from the perspective of a high school principal in the 1950s.
- Compare and contrast the two types of pants.
- How did Levis’ invention change fashion?
Synonym match
MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.
| 1. strong 2. special 3. broke 4. find 5. changes | a. discover b. long-lasting c. adjustments d. unique e. crushed |
ESL listening activity: anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.
- TANPS
- ESEUACB
- ESTALD
- ANSHTK
- OCWYBO
- TSSNDTEU
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- He / for / pants / gold / men / looking / to / sold
- long / did / and / lot / People / liked / lasted / a / of / not / them / they / a / time / because / cost / money
- Older / people / not / like / did / jeans
- lots / rocks / of / moved / and / of / broke / They / lots / water
- not / in / schools / come / were / wearing / let / jeans / students / if / did / Some / they
Another ESL listening story for adults
Here is another ESL article. This English article teaches us how Post It Notes were invented.
Watch a video and take notes
Did you like this free online English lesson about jeans? Try this short video activity – it’s a TV commercial for a brand of jeans called Lee – and take notes.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list with at least six facts.
Get the worksheet
Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet for the blue jeans article.
Click to see the answers for this ESL article for adults about jeans.
Copyright Notice
This text and audio file are copyrighted. They may be used for non-commercial educational purposes. They may not be used or adapted for any commercial purpose.
I wear Jeans all the time. They are very cosy, cool, and if you wear them with a wite blouse and with cowboy boots, you Will be on top of the world. Mr. Lewis Strauss was a genius.
Thank you for the nice topic.
I like the jeans, they are my favorites.