Who Made the Rubik’s Cube? Teach ESL Listening

50-minute English Lesson

Teach ESL listening with a story about a popular toy that started out as a classroom tool in Hungary.

Who Made the Rubik's Cube? Teach ESL Listening story
A toy played around the world

Read the story

Teach ESL Listening: Rubik’s Cube

Everyone knows the Rubik’s Cube. It’s the game with six sides and small moving blocks. But, did you know it started as a tool to teach students?

The history of the Rubik’s Cube begins in 1974 in Hungary.

A 29-year old teacher made the cube. He used it to help students understand shapes. His name was Erno Rubik.

After turning many times, each side of his cube had a mix of colours. Erno tried to turn the blocks and match the colours. It wasn’t easy. His students tried, too. Everyone enjoyed playing with it. That’s when Erno had an idea. It was a fun game. Maybe he could sell it.

Selling was not easy. Hungary at this time was part of the Soviet Union. People were not free to leave the country or start a business. He needed help.

A few years later, a businessman saw a cube inside a coffee shop. He liked it. He met Erno and they made a contract. The man would find a company to sell it. In 1979, he showed the cube to Tom Kremer. Tom worked in the game business and thought the cube had great potential.

Tom showed it to a game company. They purchased one million cubes. By 2009, 350 million cubes had been sold.

The story of the cube teaches us about business. Sometimes we have a great idea, but we don’t know it. It’s important to keep an open mind because our first idea may not always be right.

Listen without reading

Teach ESL Listening: Rubik’s Cube story

Audio

Here is the listening file for this lesson.

Listening level: 2
Audio file: 1:46 min
Story length: 276 words
Teach ESL Listening story about the Rubik's cube
Erno Rubik in 2014, the inventor (public domain image)
[quiz-cat id=”7779″]

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the esl story again and fill in the blanks.

Everyone __________ the Rubik’s Cube. It’s the game with six __________ and small moving __________ . But, did you know it started as a __________ to teach students?

The history of the Rubik’s Cube begins in __________ in Hungary.

A 29-year old __________ made the cube. He used it to help students __________ shapes. His name was Erno Rubik.

After __________ many times, each side of his cube had a __________ of colours. Erno tried to turn the blocks and __________ the colours. It wasn’t easy. His students tried, too. Everyone __________ playing with it. That’s when Erno had _______ __________ . It was a fun game. Maybe he could __________ it.

Selling was not __________ . Hungary at this time was __________ of the Soviet Union. People were not free to __________ the country or start a __________ . He needed help.

A few years later, a businessman saw a cube inside a __________ shop. He liked it. He met Erno and they made a __________ . The man would find a __________ to sell it. In 1979, he showed the cube to Tom Kremer. Tom worked in the __________ business and thought the cube had great __________ .

Tom __________ it to a game company. They __________ one million cubes. By 2009, __________ million cubes had been __________ .

The story of the cube __________ us about business. Sometimes we have a __________ idea, but we don’t know it. It’s __________ to keep an open mind because our first idea may not __________ be right.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about Teach ESL Listening story.

  1. What kind of story is this?
  2. What problem lead to the idea of a cube?
  3. Summarize the evolution of the Rubik’s cube.
  4. It took a long time to produce and sell the cube. Why?
  5. Why, do you think, the Rubik’s cube is so popular?
  6. Do you like games? What’s your favourite?

Synonym match

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

1. turning 
2. shape
3. understand 
4. start 
5. purchased 
a. open
b. learn
c. twisting
d. acquired
e. form

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE Teach ESL Listening STORY.

  1. SKOCLB
  2. HTGIR
  3. YEDNEJO
  4. SAESHP
  5. CATTRNCO
  6. LINAPTEOT

Writing practice

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

  1. used / it / understand / He / to / shapes / students / help
  2. about / us / of / story / business / The / teaches / the / cube
  3. to / find / sell / would / a / The / company / it / man
  4. blocks / the / match / and / the / Erno / to / turn / colours / tried
  5. It’s / the / blocks / and / with / game / small / moving / sides / six

Another ESL listening story

Try this free online ESL class about a famous invention. Learn how Kickstarter changed the way new ideas and inventions get funding.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this Teach ESL Listening lesson about the Rubik’s Cube? Watch the video about the Rubik’s cube and take notes.

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Take notes.
  3. Make a list with at least six facts.

Get the worksheet

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

Click to see the answers for this online ESL class about the Rubik's cube.

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