The Magic Tea Cup: English Listening Lesson

50-minute English Lesson

This English listening lesson is about a wise teacher who uses a cup of green tea to teach an arrogant man.

Read the story

The Tea Cup

Long ago, there was a great teacher. He was famous in all the nearby villages for his wise instructions and gentle teaching methods.

Many people came to visit him. They wanted to learn. They were seeking answers to important questions.

The great teacher was also kind and generous. He talked to almost everyone who visited his home.

One late afternoon on a cool fall day, a stranger came to the teacher’s house. He was a rich and powerful man. He wore expensive clothes made from the finest material. He told the monk that he wanted to be wise. He wanted to learn. He wanted the teacher to open his mind.

The man did not speak like a student in search of knowledge. His words and tone sounded like a person who enjoyed commanding other people.

The great teacher welcomed the man into his home. He suggested they drink tea together. The two men sat on the floor. A few minutes later, a young monk brought in a pot of warm green tea and two small cups.

The teacher picked up the pot and poured tea into the man’s cup. He poured and poured and poured some more. He didn’t stop. Eventually, the tea flowed out of the cup and onto the table. Some of the tea landed on the man’s fancy clothes.

The man was surprised and angered by the teacher’s unusual behavior. He asked, “What are you doing? Stop pouring. Can’t you see the cup is full?”

The great teacher stopped pouring. He turned his head, looked at the man and said, “Your mind is like this cup. Nothing new can be added because it is so full of opinions. Come back to me when your mind is empty.”

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English Listening Lesson

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

LISTEN TO THE STORY AGAIN AND FILL IN THE BLANKS.

Long ago, there was a great teacher. He was _________ in all the nearby villages for his wise instructions and gentle teaching methods.

Many people came to visit him. They wanted to learn. They were _________ answers to important questions.

The great teacher was also kind and _________ . He talked to almost everyone who visited his home.

One late afternoon on a _________ fall day, a stranger came to the teacher’s house. He was a rich and powerful man. He wore _________ clothes made from the finest material. He told the monk that he wanted to be wise. He wanted to learn. He wanted the teacher to open his mind.

The man did not speak like a student _________ _____ _____ knowledge. His words and tone sounded like a person who _________ commanding other people.

The great teacher welcomed the man into his home. He _________ they drink tea together. The two men _______ _______ the floor. A few minutes later, a young monk brought in a pot of _________ green tea and two small cups.

The teacher _______ _______ the pot and poured tea into the man’s cup. He poured and poured and poured some more. He didn’t stop. Eventually, the tea _________ _______ of the cup and onto the table. Some of the tea landed on the man’s fancy clothes.

The man was _________ and angered by the teacher’s unusual behavior. He asked, “What are you doing? Stop pouring. Can’t you see the cup is full?”

The great teacher _________ pouring. He turned his head, looked at the man and said, “Your mind is like this cup. Nothing new _________ ______ _______ because it is so full of opinions. Come back to me when your mind is empty.”

ESL discussion questions

TALK ABOUT THE english LISTENING story.

1. Who visited the teacher in the story?
2. What did the visitor want?
3. The teacher listened to the visitor. What do you think the teacher learned about that person?
4. Why did the teacher pour so much tea into the cup?
5. Does the ESL listening story teach us a message?

Synonym match

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

English listening lesson anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ENGLISH LISTENING lesson.

1. CAYFN
2. SINNOPIO
3. ERNRAGTS
4. RLIETAMA
5. NJEYEOD
6. AVLEILG

Writing practice

WRITE THE FIVE SENTENCES. PUT THE WORDS IN THE CORRECT ORDER.

1. to / his / who / visited / almost / everyone / talked / he / home
2. of / speak / not / a / in / search / knowledge / like / student / did / the / man
3. cup / man’s / picked / pot / tea / into / the / poured / the / up / and / the / teacher
4. people / many / to / him / visit / came
5. he / head / your / the / this / man / mind / cup / his / turned / is / like / looked / said / and / at

Another ESL listening story

Another free English listening lesson? Try this free English lesson about Amazon and how the company got started.

Watch a short video and take notes

Did you like this English listening lesson based on tea? Click here to watch a YouTube video and learn about Matcha, a Japanese green tea.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. 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.

Click to see the answers.