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The Story of Jack Ma

A complete B1 classroom lesson with the EnglishDrills nine-colour lesson sequence.

B150–60 minutesBiography & perseverancePrintable
Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.
Teacher Answers
1 Lesson Goals
Jack Ma at the World Internet Conference

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • understand the main ideas and key details in The Story of Jack Ma.
  • learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
  • use the lesson language in speaking or writing.
Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.
2 Reading
Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas.

Jack Ma is a Chinese businessperson best known as a co-founder of Alibaba, an internet company that grew from a small start-up into a major international business. Before entering business, Ma studied English and worked as a teacher. He has often spoken publicly about experiencing rejection and failure before finding success. In the 1990s, he became interested in the internet and later worked with a group of people to create an online marketplace. The company expanded as internet use and online shopping grew. Ma’s story is often discussed because it shows that a career can develop through unexpected stages. It also raises useful questions about entrepreneurship, risk, teamwork and persistence.
3 Vocabulary
Words: co-founder · start-up · rejection · entrepreneurship · persistence

Write a short meaning or example for each word.

co-founder –

start-up –

rejection –

entrepreneurship –

persistence –

4 Check Your Understanding

1. What company is Jack Ma known for helping to found?

2. What job did he have before business?

3. What interested him in the 1990s?

4. Why is his story often discussed?

5. What qualities are connected with his story?

5 Language Focus

Choose past simple or present perfect.

1. Ma (work) as a teacher before entering business.

2. Alibaba (grow) into an international company.

3. He (become) interested in the internet in the 1990s.

4. His story (inspire) many discussions about persistence.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher. You will hear the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. What did he study?

2. What was one early job?

3. Which company did he help create?

4. What quality is emphasised?

Speak

Discuss with a partner.

• Can failure help people learn?
• What makes a good entrepreneur?
• When is persistence useful, and when should a plan change?

The Story of Jack Ma — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

In pairs, invent a simple business idea that solves an everyday problem. You have 3 minutes to prepare a 30-second pitch: problem, solution and why people would use it.

Write

Write 100–120 words about a person who showed persistence after a setback.

8 Puzzle or Game
Memory Challenge

Close or cover the Vocabulary panel. In 45 seconds, write as many lesson words as you can remember. Then check your spelling.

Score: ____ words remembered correctly.

Use your best word in a sentence.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
Final challenge: The Story of Jack Ma

Plan: Note your strongest idea, 3 useful words or phrases, and one supporting detail from the lesson.

Respond: Write a short paragraph of 6–8 sentences, or prepare a 45-second spoken response, showing what you learned.

Reflect: Underline the part of your response that best shows your progress.