50-minute English Lesson
In this adult ESL lesson plan, ELL students learn about the life of Nikola Tesla and some of his inventions that changed modern life.
Read the story
Adult ESL Lesson Plan: Tesla
Here’s a question. Who made the radio, neon lights and the laser?
One man. Nikola Tesla. He’s not a famous inventor like Edison. But, his work changed the world.
Tesla was born in Serbia in 1856 and died in 1943 in New York City. In 1884, he moved to America and worked for Thomas Edison. He left after a year because Edison did not pay him. Tesla quit and started his own company.
Tesla was very intelligent. He spoke 8 languages. He could read a book and remember everything in it. He was also good at thinking up new ideas.
Sometimes he imagined things that were not possible. For example, he said wireless phones would be used in the future. Today, we call that a mobile phone.
Sometimes, he imagined things and built them. His most important idea was AC electricity. That’s the power we use in our homes and offices.
When Tesla first made AC, there was a problem with Edison. He wanted to sell DC electricity. AC was better because it moves long distances without losing much power. AC was also cheaper. If a city wanted DC, they needed many power stations because it loses power when it moves long distances.
Tesla had some strange habits. He was always washing his hands. He did not like to shake hands with people and he loved number 3. He would walk around a building 3 times before going in.
This great scientist made more than 200 things. Many of these machines are still used today. Sadly, he was not good at business and died a poor man.
That’s different from Edison. He made things that people wanted and he made money.
Tesla’s life shows us that it’s good to be intelligent. It’s also important to be good at business.
Listen without reading
About Tesla: Adult ESL Lesson story
Audio
Here is the listening file for this lesson.
Audio file: 2:10 min
Story length: 293 words
Adult ESL Lesson Plan: Gap Fill
Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.
Here’s a __________ . Who made the radio, neon lights and the laser?
One man. Nikola Tesla. He’s not a famous __________ like Edison. But, his work __________ the world.
Tesla was born in Serbia in __________ and died in __________ in New York City. In 1884, he moved to America and __________ ________ Thomas Edison. He left after a year because Edison did not pay him. Tesla __________ and started his own company.
Tesla was very __________ . He spoke 8 languages. He could read a book and __________ everything in it. He was also good at __________ up new ideas.
Sometimes he __________ things that were not possible. For example, he said wireless phones would be used in the __________ . Today, we call that a __________ phone.
Sometimes, he imagined things and __________ them. His most important idea was AC __________ . That’s the power we use in our homes and __________ .
When Tesla __________ made AC, there was a problem with Edison. He wanted to sell DC electricity. AC was better because it moves long __________ without losing much power. AC was also __________ . If a city wanted DC, they needed many power __________ because it loses power when it moves long distances.
Tesla had some strange __________ . He was always __________ his hands. He did not like to shake hands with people and he __________ number 3. He would walk around a __________ 3 times before going in.
This great scientist made more than __________ things. Many of these __________ are still used today. Sadly, he was not good at business and died a __________ man.
That’s different from Edison. He made __________ that people wanted and he made money.
Tesla’s life shows us that it’s good to be __________ . It’s also important to be __________ _______ business.
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the esl story.
- What kind of story is this?
- Tesla was an eccentric. Can you give examples from the story.
- Compare and contrast Edison and Tesla.
- Summarize Tesla’s life and achievements in a few sentences.
- How is our life better because of Tesla?
- Can you guess why an electric car company picked the name Tesla?
Synonym match
MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.
1. intelligent 2. imagine 3. cheap 4. habits 5. leave | a. dream up b. economical c. brilliant d. quit e. manners |
ESL listening activity: anagrams
MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.
- NIRVOETN
- OYMPCNA
- RMMEREEB
- NAMDGIIE
- NCSTIETIS
- CTIIRELYCET
Writing practice
Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- Tesla’s / us / life / intelligent / good / that / shows / to / it’s / be
- Sometimes / imagined / he / possible / were / things / that / not /
- not / and / did / he / 3 / number / with / like / to / shake / He / loved / people / hands
- moves / distances / much / AC / long / power / without / losing / better / because / was / it
- read / it / in / and / everything / a / could / remember / book / He
Another ESL listening story
Try this free English activities lesson about the blue sky. Learn why the sky isn’t really blue at all.
Watch a video and take notes
Did you like this ESL activities lesson about Tesla? Click to watch a short video about the Tesla car company and practice your note-taking skills. The video is about two minutes.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list of at least seven facts.
Get the worksheet
ESL lesson plan worksheet
Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the Tesla lesson PDF worksheet.
Click to see the answers for this ESL activities listening and reading lesson.
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 image of Nikola Tesla used in this listening lesson is in the public domain because of its age.