Horses and a Life Lesson: Advanced English

50-minute English Lesson

In this advanced English class listening lesson, ELL students learn how a horse can teach useful life lessons.

Read the story

Advanced English listening lesson

This is an old story from China. It’s a story about how people respond to good or bad events.

Long ago, a boy and his father lived on a tiny farm. They had one horse. One day, the horse ran away.

An old woman said to the father, “I feel terrible about this bad news.”

The father listened, thought for a moment and replied, “How do you know this isn’t good news?”

One month later, the horse returned to the farm with another horse. The new horse was big and powerful. Villagers stopped by to have a look. The old woman said, “You have two animals. You must be so glad.”

The father listened carefully and asked, “Can you be sure this isn’t a bad thing?”

Later that week, the son was riding the new horse. He fell off and broke his leg. The boy recovered, but his leg was not strong.

People stopped by the farm with gifts and good wishes, but the father wasn’t sad. He said, “Are you sure this isn’t good news?”

Some people thought the father was strange.

One year later, there was a war in China. Young men from every village were forced to become soldiers. The father’s son didn’t join the army because of his bad leg.

The war ended eventually. Many men from the village were killed. The son lived for a long time with his two horses.

This story teaches us a lesson. When good or bad things occur, we shouldn’t feel overly happy or unhappy. We should accept the things we cannot change and live the best life we can.

Listen without reading

Advanced English Class: wisdom from a horse

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the advanced English class story and fill in the blanks.

This is an old story from China. It’s a story about how people __________ to good or bad events.

Long ago, a boy and his father lived on a __________ farm. They had one horse. One day, the horse ran __________ .

An old __________ said to the father, “I feel __________ about this bad news.”

The father __________ , thought for a moment and __________ , “How do you know this isn’t good news?”

One month later, the horse __________ to the farm with another horse. The new horse was big and __________ . Villagers stopped by to have a look. The old woman said, “You have two __________ . You must be so glad.”

The father listened __________ and asked, “Can you be sure this isn’t a bad thing?”

Later that week, the son was __________ the new horse. He fell off and __________ his leg. The boy recovered, but his leg was not __________ .

People __________ by the farm with gifts and good __________ , but the father wasn’t sad. He said, “Are you sure this isn’t good news?”

Some people thought the father was __________ .

One year later, there was a __________ in China. Young men from every __________ were forced to become soldiers. The father’s son didn’t __________ the army because of his bad leg.

The war ended __________ . Many men from the village were killed. The son lived for a __________ time with his two horses.

This story teaches us a __________ . When good or bad things occur, we shouldn’t feel __________ happy or unhappy. We should __________ the things we cannot change and live the __________ life we can.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the advanced English class story.

1. Where does the story take place?
2. Why did other people think the father was strange?
3. Retell the story about the horse.
4. What are the pros and cons of the father’s attitude?
5. What message does the story teach?
6. Do you agree with the message?

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. VOERDRECE
2. DTEILNSE
3. ACTEPC
4. LIEGLVA
5. SMIAALN
6. ETMNOM

Writing practice

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

1. time / son / The / for / his / with / a / two / long / horses / lived
2. the / horse / away / day / ran / One
3. occur / we / things / When / shouldn’t / or / or / bad / unhappy / overly / happy / good / feel
4. from / every / village / become / were / soldiers / forced / to / men / Young
5. how / events / to / or / respond / people / a / It’s / bad / good / about / story

Another English class lesson activity

Ready for some more wisdom? In this critical listening lesson, learn how clouds are created in the sky.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this listening and reading lesson? Here is another version of the horse story told by Alan Watts, an amazing storyteller. Click to watch the video and practise your note-taking skills.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list of at least five facts.

Get the worksheet

Advanced lesson worksheet

Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.