50-minute English Lesson
Easy adult ESL lesson plans, like this one, help adult students enjoy learning English. This lesson has many activities based on an old Korean fable.

Read the story
Easy adult ESL lesson plan: A Korean Fable
This is a story about a foolish man.
Years ago, Mr. Lee lived in a village. He liked to play games with his friends. Sometimes he won money and sometimes he lost.
One night, he won a lot of money. He was happy, but he had a problem. He thought someone might take his money. He decided to look for a place that nobody would find.
He walked to some land behind a school. He made a hole in the ground next to a large rock. Then he put the money in the hole and covered it with leaves.
Later that night, he thought about the money. “What will I do if someone takes my money?” he asked himself.
The next day, he returned to the school and wrote a note. He put the note near the rock. It said, “There’s no money here.”
Mr. Kim, an old man from the village, was watching Mr. Lee. He wanted the money. Early next morning, he walked to the rock and read the note.
Mr. Kim took the money. Then he wrote a note and put it down close to the rock. The note said, “Mr. Kim didn’t take the money.”
Listen without reading
Easy adult ESL lesson plans: korean story
Audio
Audio file: 1:16 min
Story length: 199 words

English listening lesson: Gap Fill
Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.
This is a story about a __________ man.
Years ago, Mr. Lee lived in a __________ . He liked to play __________ with his friends. Sometimes he won money and sometimes he __________ .
One __________ , he won a lot of money. He was __________ , but he had a problem. He thought someone might __________ his money. He decided to look for a place that nobody __________ find.
He walked to some land __________ a school. He made a __________ in the ground next to a large rock. Then he put the money in the hole and __________ it with leaves.
Later that night, he __________ about the money. “What will I do if someone __________ my money?” he asked himself.
The next day, he __________ to the school and wrote a __________ . He put the note near the rock. It said, “There’s no money __________ .”
Mr. Kim, an __________ man from the village, was __________ Mr. Lee. He wanted the money. Early next morning, he walked to the __________ and read the note.
Mr. Kim __________ the money. Then he wrote a note and put it down __________ to the rock. The note said, “Mr. Kim __________ take the money.”
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the esl story.
- What kind of story is this?
- Retell the story from the perspective of the rock.
- How can we explain Mr. Lee’s behaviour?
- Does this fable teach a lesson? Do you agree with the message?
- Compare and contrast Mr. Lee and Mr. Kim.
- Why did Mr. Kim leave a note next to the rock?
Synonym match
MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.
1. village 2. foolish 3. note 4. find 5. took | a. discover b. hamlet c. unwise d. stole e. message |
ESL listening activity: anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.
- OENMY
- RBPOEML
- GEIALLV
- EAVLSE
- EDUENTRR
- SHELFIM
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- note / put / near / the / the / rock / He
- with / games / play / He / his / friends / liked / to
- hole / in / and / money / it / covered / leaves / with / Then / the / put / he / the
- from / Kim / watching / Mr / Mr / old / an / village / Lee / was / the / man
- find / a / look / He / would / for / that / to / decided / nobody / place
Another ESL listening story
Easy adult ESL lesson plans
Here’s another lesson plan for adults. Try this free English lesson about wind power. Learn how wind power has some good points and bad points.
Watch and take notes
Did you like this ESL listening lesson based on an old Korean story? Watch a TV commercial – it’s about a soft drink and idiots – and take notes.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list of at least seven facts.
Get the worksheet
Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the Korean fable PDF worksheet.
Click to see the answers for this ESL listening story about a foolish man.
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.