50-minute English Lesson
In this English lesson story, a man goes to school but learns a lesson from his wife.
Learn English: read the story
Halfway
Long ago, a man was married to a beautiful and smart woman. They loved each other very much.
While walking home one day, the man saw some money on the road. He picked it up. He thought about buying his wife a present.
At home, he gave the money to his wife. She wasn’t happy. She asked, “Why did you take that? Does a good man take something that’s not his?”
The man listened and thought for a moment. She was right. He went outside and put the money on the road just where he found it.
A few months later, he decided to attend school. He wanted to study with a great teacher. However, the school was far away. He couldn’t see his wife for a long time. One day, he decided to go home for a visit.
When he got home, he saw his wife. She was making a shirt. She looked at him and asked, “Why did you come home?”
The man said he missed her.
She wasn’t pleased. She got some scissors, held up the shirt and cut it in half.
She explained, “If something is stopped before it’s finished, you’ll never do anything good. Look at this shirt. It was almost done. Now it’s of no use. That’s like you leaving school. You must finish what you start.”
The man listened and thought for a moment. The following day, he went back to school and didn’t leave until he had finished many great things.
Listen without reading
English lesson story
Audio
Here is the listening file for this lesson.
Audio file: 1:50 min
Story length: 249 words
Learn English: Gap Fill
Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.
Long ago, a man was married to a beautiful and smart woman. They loved ________ other very much.
While walking home one day, the man saw some money on the road. He ________ _____ _______ . He thought about buying his wife a ________ .
At home, he gave the money to his wife. She wasn’t ________ . She asked, “Why did you take that? Does a good man take something that’s not his?”
The man listened and thought ________ ______ ______ . She was right. He went outside and put the money on the road just where he ________ ______ .
A few months later, he decided to ________ ________ . He wanted to study with a great teacher. However, the school was far away. He couldn’t see his wife ______ ____ ______ ______ . One day, he decided to go home for a visit.
When he got home, he saw his wife. She was making a ________ . She looked at him and asked, “Why did you come home?”
The man said he ________ _____ .
She wasn’t pleased. She got some scissors, held up the shirt and cut it _____ ________ .
She explained, “If something is stopped before it’s finished, you’ll never do anything good. Look at this shirt. It was ________ done. Now it’s of ______ ______ . That’s like you leaving school. You must ________ what you start.”
The man listened and thought for a moment. The ________ day, he went back to school and didn’t leave until he had finished many great things.
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the story.
- What kind of story is this?
- Why did the man give he money to his wife?
- Why did she refuse the money?
- Why did she cut the shirt in half?
- How would you describe the woman’s character?
- Does this ESL listening story have a message? What is it?
Synonym match
Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.
| 1. present 2. finish 3. pleased 4. see 5. following | a. complete b. content c. visit d. gift e. next |
Anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ENGLISH lesson.
- ESPTENR
- SALMOT
- HISNFIDE
- SDLEPEA
- SIESMD
- ESNILTED
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- was / a / making / she / shirt
- each / very / other / they / loved / much
- it / she / half / up / held / in / scissors / got / some / shirt / the / cut / and
- something / good / not / take / that’s / a / man / does / his
- road / went / just / and / on / he / where / outside / the / put / the / he / found / money / it
Another ESL listening story
Ready to learn English with another free online listening lesson? Try this free English lesson that explains why the sky is blue.
Watch a video and take notes
Did you like this English by Listening story? Learn more English by watching this video that shows us how shirts are made.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list of at least eight facts.
Get the worksheet
Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.
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.
OMG, Thank you so much, so much. My students love the work. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Thanks for the kind words.