The Other Side of the River: English by Listening

50-minute English Lesson

In this English by Listening lesson, a young monk gets lost walking in the countryside. He asks an older monk for help and gets a surprising answer.

Read the story

The Other Side of the River

Late one morning, a young monk was walking in the country. As he walked, he thought a lot about himself. He thought about his problems and how he could be happy in the future.

After a few hours, he came to a river. He had to get to the other side in order to go home.

He looked at the river. The water was moving very fast. He asked himself, “How can I get to the other side?”

He decided to take a rest and think about his situation. After a couple of hours, the young boy finally decided to give up. It seemed like there was no way to get across the river.

He would have to go home by taking the long way. That would be another four hour walk.

Just then, he saw an old teacher on the other side of the river. The young boy called to the old man and asked, “Teacher, could you please tell me how I can get to the other side of the river?”

The old man thought for a moment, laughed a little and answered, “My young boy, that’s easy. You are on the other side of the river.”

Listen without reading

True or false

Read the sentences. Choose the correct answer.

1. The boy was walking in the city. T or F
2. The boy wanted to walk four more hours. T or F
3. The young monk was walking after lunch. T or F
4. The river was fast and deep. T or F
5. The old teacher told the boy how to go home. T or F

English by listening: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

Late one _________ , a young monk was walking in the   _________ . As he walked, he thought a lot about himself. He _________ about his problems and how he could be happy in the _________   .

After a few hours, he came to a _________   . He had to get to the   _________  side in order to go home.

He looked at the river. The water was _________  very fast. He asked himself, “How can I get to the other side?”

He decided to take a _________  and think about his situation. After    ___ ____ __   hours, the young boy finally decided to give up. It seemed like there was no way to get _________ the river.

He would have to go home by taking the _______ way. That would be another   _____ ____ walk.

Just then, he saw __ _____ _______ on the other side of the river. The young boy called to the old man and asked, “Teacher, could you please tell me how I can get to  ____ ____ ___ of the river?”
The old man thought for a moment, _______ a little and answered, “My young boy, that’s _______   . You are on the other side of the river.”

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the story.

1. Where was the boy going?
2. Who did he meet?
3. Why was the boy walking alone?
4. What do you think the boy decided to do?
5. What did the old teacher say to the boy?
6. The title of this ESL listening story is The Other Side of the River. What do you think that means?

Synonym match

Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.

Anagrams

Move the letters. Make a word from the English listening story.

1. ACRETEH
2. DHEAUGL
3. RTHANEO
4. ONMINGR
5. MVONIG
6. OANUIITST

Writing practice

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

1. country / was / walking / morning, / young / monk / Late / in / one / the / a
2. he / came / a / after / to / river / a / few / hours
3. and / to / his / think / situation / he / take / a / decided / about / rest
4. walk / another / that / be / hour / four / would
5. to / other / how / I / side / the / get / can

Another ESL listening story

Try this free English by listening lesson called The Empty Pot. It’s about a boy who learns the value of honesty from a flower.

Reading and note taking

Did you like this English by Listening story based on an old Buddhist koran? Click here to read 10 Short Zen Stories.

1. Pick a story.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list with least six facts.

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