English Listening Practice: Wind Energy Basics

50-minute English Lesson

This English Listening Practice lesson talks about the pros and cons of wind energy.

Read the story

English listening practice: Wind Energy story

Is there an energy problem? Some people think so. Using oil is bad because it makes dirty air.

In addition, there might not be much oil in 30 years. One possible answer is energy from wind.

How does wind power work?

Special machines change wind into electricity. They are called wind turbines. These big, heavy machines can weigh 300 tonnes and stand 130 meters. Sometimes you can see a large group of turbines in the countryside or near the sea. That is called a wind farm.

Many wind turbines have three long sticks called blades. When the wind moves, the blades turn.

When blades turn, they move a special stick called a shaft. The shaft turns a generator which makes electricity.

One large turbine can produce enough power for about 300 homes for a year. That number depends on the size of the turbine and amount of wind.

Not everyone thinks wind turbines are good. Turbines make a lot of sound and kill a lot of birds. They also cost a lot of money. One big turbine costs about 4 million dollars. Wind turbines don’t save money. Often, people in a city with a wind farm pay more for electricity, not less.

There is one serious problem. Wind power cannot replace other energy, like coal or oil. That is because wind power does not always work. When the wind stops, there is no electricity. That means a city needs another way to make power. Cities that buy wind power have to purchase another source of energy.

Wind power seems like a good idea, but today the cost is high and its benefits are limited.

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English listening practice for Beginners: wind power

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen again to the English Listening Practice story and fill in the blanks.

Is there an __________ problem? Some people think so. Using __________ is bad because it makes __________ air.

In addition, there might not be much oil in __________ years. One __________ answer is energy from wind.

How does wind power work?

Special __________ change wind into electricity. They are __________ wind turbines. These big, heavy machines can weigh __________ tonnes and stand 130 meters. Sometimes you can see a large group of turbines in the __________ or near the sea. That is called a wind __________ .

Many wind turbines have three long sticks called __________ . When the wind __________ , the blades turn.

When blades turn, they move a __________ stick called a shaft. The shaft turns a generator which makes __________ .

One large turbine can produce __________ power for about __________ homes for a year. That number depends on the size of the turbine and __________ of wind.

Not __________ thinks wind turbines are good. Turbines make a lot of __________ and kill a lot of birds. They also cost a lot of __________ . One big turbine costs about _______ __________ dollars. Wind turbines don’t save money. Often, people in a city with a wind farm __________ more for electricity, not less.

There is one __________ problem. Wind power cannot __________ other energy, like coal or oil. That is because wind power does not __________ work. When the wind stops, there is no electricity. That means a city needs __________ way to make power. Cities that __________ wind power have to purchase another __________ of energy.

Wind power __________ like a good idea, but today the cost is high and its __________ are limited.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the ESL Listening Activities for Beginners story.

1. What kind of story is this?
2. What is wind energy?
3. How much does a turbine cost?
4. What are the pros and cons of wind power?
5. Why, do you think, wind energy is so popular?
6. What are some other forms renewable energy?

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL Listening STORY.

1. LEDBAS
2. TIEYLCITECR
3. RNSUETIB
4. URESIOS
5. NISEEFBT
6. SRCEOU

Writing practice

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

1. power / purchase / wind / energy / to / have / source / of / Cities / that / buy / another
2. Using / air / it / dirty / because / is / makes / oil / bad
3. costs / big / dollars / turbine / about / million / 4 / One
4. When / wind / blades / the / moves / the / turn
5. for / One / large / about / year / 300 / turbine / a / homes / enough / for / power / can / produce

Another ESL listening story

Try this free online English Listening Practice story about another piece of technology. Learn how the famous Bic pen got started.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this English Listening Practice story about wind energy? Watch the video – it shows how to build a wind turbine – and take notes about what you see and read.

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

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ESL Listening materials

Want to print out these ESL listening activities for new language learners? Click to download the PDF worksheet.

Click to see the answers for this online ESL listening class about wind power.