A very quick ESL listening comprehension activity with five questions based on a video less than two minutes long. This ESL video quiz contains a rephrasing task, two multiple choice questions, a True or False and an open-ended question.

The fun storytelling makes it an excellent lead in to a weather-themed class or one about natural disasters. I can also picture it in a lesson about the  things that old people know/can do versus the skills and strength of youngsters. Let me know in the comments if you have other lesson ideas about using this ESL video activity.

Although the speaker's speech is fast, the accompanying visuals make it possible to comprehend even for those ESL learners who are used to American or other English accents.

I would deem this ESL video lesson appropriate starting from  Intermediate (B1) up to Upper-intermediate (B2) level (above that, I don't think it constitutes much of a challenge). It's a simple story and comprehension is aided by visuals throughout the video, so if you have lower level students, just click the Copy & edit button and simplify the language in the questions, and you will be able to use it also with pre-intermediate students of English as a second language.

“If the cuckoo don’t crow, then you know there’s wind coming…” A man named Brian from the town of Melton, England recollects in a radio program how his mom was the woman who predicted the October 1987 hurricane in England and famously phoned the BBC, but was told not to be "so daft" (=silly). The story is recounted by Brian to Nick Pandolfi during a live phone-in.

If The Cuckoo Don’t Crow - Hurricane Predictor - Listening

if-the-cuckoo-dont-crow-hurricane-predictor-listening

Let's do English ESL deep listening: focus on meaning. A very quick ESL listening comprehension activity with five questions based on a video less than two minu…