50-minute English Lesson
In this ESL listening plan, an old story about a wise teacher who uses an elephant to demonstrate an important life lesson.

Read the story
The Elephant and Blind People
Long ago, some students were having a heated discussion about god, religion and truth. Nobody could agree on anything. Each person thought their idea was right and the others were wrong.
Like many discussions about religion, few people were interested in listening to others. Instead, each person wanted to be heard. Soon the discussion became a shouting match.
Finally, one person suggested an idea. She said, “Let’s talk to the old professor. He is very wise. Perhaps he can settle this argument and tell us what god is.”
Everyone agreed and they walked to the teacher’s house.
The old teacher welcomed the students into his home and listened to their questions. After careful consideration, he made a rather strange request. He asked the group to go outside, find a large elephant and three blind people and then bring them back to his home.
The group was a little confused, but they did as the old teacher asked.
The following day, the elephant and three blind people were standing in the front yard of his home. The old teacher asked the blind people to do one thing: find out what the elephant looked like.
Each person touched one part of the elephant and made a statement.
The first person touched the leg and said, “I know what it is. It’s a tree.”
The second person felt the tail and said with confidence, “No, you’re wrong. It’s a long piece of string.”
The third person put her hand on the animal’s stomach and declared, “I’m certain that all of you are wrong. I know what it is. It’s a wall.”
The old teacher listened and then spoke. “Each person believes they know the truth, yet everyone has a different description of the elephant. Who has the correct answer?”
Listen without reading
ESL listening plan
Audio
Here is the listening file for this lesson.
Audio file: 2:00 min
Story length: 295 words

English listening lesson: Gap Fill
Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.
Long ago, some students were having a _________ discussion about god, religion and truth. Nobody could _________ on anything. Each person thought their idea was right and the others were wrong.
Like many discussions about religion, few people were _________ ____ listening to others. Instead, each person wanted to be heard. Soon the discussion became a _________ ____ .
Finally, one person suggested ____ _________ . She said, “Let’s talk to the old professor. He is very wise. Perhaps he can settle this _________ and tell us what god is.”
Everyone agreed and they _________ to the teacher’s house.
The old teacher welcomed the students into his home and _________ ____ their questions. After careful consideration, he made a rather strange _________ . He asked the group to go outside, find a large elephant and three blind people and then _________ ____ back to his home.
The group was a little _________ , but they did as the old teacher asked.
The following day, the elephant and three blind people were standing in the front _________ of his home. The old teacher asked the blind people to do one thing: find out what the elephant _________ ____ .
Each person touched one part of the elephant and made a _________ .
The first person touched the leg and said, “I know what it is. It’s a ________ .”
The second person felt the tail and said with confidence, “No, you’re wrong. It’s a long piece of ________ .”
The third person put her hand on the animal’s _________ and declared, “I’m certain that all of you are wrong. I know what it is. It’s a wall.”
The old teacher listened and then _________ . “Each person believes they know the truth, yet everyone has a different _________ of the elephant. Who has the correct answer?”
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the ESL listening story.
- What did the students want to learn?
- What did they decide to do?
- What was the teacher’s suggestion?
- What did each blind person conclude?
- Where they right or wrong?
- Does the ESL listening story teach us a message?
Synonym match
Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.
1. heated discussion 2. settle this argument 3. strange 4. declare 5. confused | a. resolve b. puzzled c. loud debate d. unexpected e. state |
ESL listening activity anagrams
Move the letters. Make a word from the ESL listening activity.
- OGILIREN
- TTESEL
- UTRQEES
- NDECIFNOCE
- TICENRA
- EODHCUT
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- old / and / teacher / spoke / then / the / listened
- person / part / elephant / and / one / touched / statement / the / made / each / of / a
- careful / made / strange / after / rather / consideration / a / request / he
- a / soon / shouting / became / discussion / match / the
- can / argument / tell / he / settle / god / is / what / this / perhaps / and / us
Another ESL listening story
Another free ESL listening lesson plan? Try this free English lesson about a woman who teaches her husband the importance of commitment.
Reading and taking notes
ESL listening plan
Did you like this ESL listening story based on an old Buddhist koran? Click here to read 10 crazy facts about elephants.
- Scan the article.
- Take notes.
- 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.
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.