50-minute English Lesson
Online listening activities for beginner students like this one help ELL students improve their language skills. In this story, we talk about the history of the computer mouse.

Read the story
Online Listening Activities for bginner Students: COMPUTER MOUSE
A computer mouse is a small box. Its purpose is to move a line on a screen and help users do work and play games. Where did the mouse come from?
The story of the mouse begins in 1967.
The first mouse looked like a large block of wood with a red button on top. In 1973, a company called Xerox improved the mouse. It was small, light and easy to use.
Six years later, Steve Jobs visited Xerox. He saw a special computer with advanced technology and software. This machine used a mouse to touch small images on the screen. The images opened files and programs.
Steve loved it. It was easy to use but expensive. He directed his team to make a computer with those features. It should have a nice design and sell for a low price.
In 1984, Apple released a home computer called the Macintosh. People loved using the mouse. Soon, many companies were making computers with a mouse.
Some people say Steve took the idea from Xerox. Maybe that’s true. It’s also true he saw an idea and made it better. He also made it less expensive. The first mouse cost $300. Apple made it for $15.
The story of the mouse teaches us about business. We often need a new idea to be successful. Some people, like Steve, take an old idea and improve it. Then they tell a story. The story usually tells people that their lives will be better with this machine.
Steve Jobs did not make anything new. But, he was a good storyteller. And telling a good story is an important business skill.
Listen without reading
ONLINE LISTENING ACTIVITIES FOR beginner STUDENTS: mouse story
Audio
Here is the listening file for this lesson.
Audio file: 2:15 min
Story length: 257 words

English listening lesson: Gap Fill
Listen again to the ESL story and fill in the blanks.
A computer mouse is a small __________ . Its purpose is to move a line on a __________ and help users do work and play __________ . Where did the mouse come from?
The story of the mouse begins in __________ .
The first mouse looked like a large __________ of wood with a red button on top. In __________ , a company called Xerox __________ the mouse. It was small, __________ and easy to use.
Six years later, Steve Jobs __________ Xerox. He saw a __________ computer with advanced technology and software. This machine used a mouse to __________ small images on the screen. The images __________ files and programs.
Steve loved it. It was easy to use but __________ . He directed his team to make a computer with those __________ . It should have a nice design and sell for a __________ price.
In __________ , Apple released a home computer called the Macintosh. People loved using the mouse. Soon, many __________ were making __________ with a mouse.
Some people say Steve took the __________ from Xerox. Maybe that’s true. It’s also true he saw an __________ and made it better. He also made it less __________ . The first mouse cost $300. Apple made it for $ __________ .
The story of the mouse __________ us about business. We often need a new idea to be __________ . Some people, like Steve, take an old idea and __________ it. Then they tell a story. The story __________ tells people that their lives will be __________ with this machine.
Steve Jobs did not make __________ new. But, he was a good __________ . And telling a good story is an __________ business skill.
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the ESL Listening story for beginner students.
- What kind of story is this?
- Summarize the evolution of the computer mouse.
- Inventions often start with a problem. What was the problem in this story?
- What are the pros and cons of a mouse?
- Do you think Steve Jobs stole the idea of a mouse?
- What piece of technology would you like to improve?
Synonym match
MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.
1. screen 2. advanced 3. features 4. design 5. special | a. groundbreaking b. style c. monitor d. characteristic e. unique |
ESL listening activity: anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL Listening STORY.
- PVEEXEINS
- RMEVIOP
- KCBOL
- IAMHCEN
- TNRTAPIMO
- WOASTRFE
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- about / of / the / mouse / story / teaches / us / The / business
- with / like / looked / button / top / a / first / block / of / The / a / mouse / on / red / wood / large
- machine / The / their / tells / be / lives / with / better / that / usually / will / story / people / this
- and / should / design / price / sell / for / It / have / a / low / nice / a
- This / on / a / machine / the / small / mouse / touch / to / used / images / screen
Another ESL listening story
Try another free online English listening practice story. Listen and learn how the iPod got started.
Watch a video and take notes
Did you like this English Listening Practice story about the computer mouse? Watch a video – it’s a Japanese TV commercial for a computer mouse – and take notes about what you see.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list with at least seven facts.
Get the worksheet
ESL Listening materials
Want to print out these online listening activities for beginner students? Click to download the PDF worksheet.
Click to see the answers for this online listening activities for students activity.
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.
The TV commercial isn’t available anymore on Youtube.
Hey thanks for the note. I updated the link.
here is the link, a well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YvgUouPio0&ab_channel=BestofBestAdvertisementCommerical
Thank you very much!
A very nice and informative lesson with great tasks. Thank you tons!
Hello,
Is it normal not to have access to the PDF anymore for any lessons?
Thank you!
Sorry about that. I migrated the site to a new hosting service. Some of the links got messed up. I’ll fix that this month.