Make a Paper Bookmark: Listen and Follow Simple Instructions

Get ready

Make a simple bookmark while you practise English instructions. You need a long rectangle of paper, a pencil and a book. No cutting is needed. Allow about 20 minutes. Listen once for the task, then replay and pause after each instruction.

Six useful verbs

Take: pick something up. Put: move something to a place. Fold: bend paper so one part lies over another. Press: push down gently. Draw: make a picture with a pencil. Write: make words or letters.

Try the actions with your hands. Say take, put, fold, press, draw and write. For fold, bring one long edge of the paper to the other long edge. This makes a narrow strip.

The picture sequence

1 Take a long piece of paper. 2 Fold it from one long side to the other. 3 Press the long fold. 4 Draw a star at the top. 5 Write your name under the star. 6 Put the bookmark between two pages of a book. The numbered picture shows the same sequence.

Listen 1: make the bookmark

Listen without reading the transcript first, if you can. What do you make? On your second listen, follow the actions. Pause whenever you need more time. The recording and full transcript appear with the audio player.

Listen and learn

Listen 1: Make the bookmark

Open audio separately

Read the transcript

Teacher: Let's make a paper bookmark.

Teacher: First, take a long piece of paper.

Teacher: Put it on the table.

Teacher: Then fold the paper in half, from one long side to the other.

Teacher: Press the fold with your hand.

Teacher: Next, draw a small star at the top.

Teacher: Finally, write your name under the star.

Listen 2: check and use it

Listen for two things you must not do. Then put the finished bookmark in your book. The recording and full transcript appear with the audio player. You can replay either recording as often as you need.

Listen and learn

Listen 2: Check and use it

Open audio separately

Read the transcript

Teacher: Check your bookmark, please.

Teacher: Is the star at the top?

Teacher: Good.

Teacher: Don't write your name over the star.

Teacher: Write it under the star.

Teacher: Now open your book.

Teacher: Put the bookmark between two pages.

Teacher: Don't fold the pages of the book.

Teacher: Let's close the book gently.

Teacher: Your bookmark is ready to use.

Ten listening and language checks

Questions 1–5 use Listen 1. Questions 6–10 use Listen 2. The written sequence and full transcripts support you if you cannot use audio.

Write three instructions

Your turn · self-review

Your mini instruction card

Write three instructions for your own bookmark. These are open answers for self-check, not automatic grading.

Practice only. Your writing stays on this page; it is not submitted or saved.

1. 1Write a first step with take.
   Model answer and explanation

   First, take a long piece of paper.

2. 2Write a middle step with draw.
   Model answer and explanation

   Next, draw a small star at the top.

3. 3Write a final step with put.
   Model answer and explanation

   Finally, put the bookmark between two pages.

Self-check: Does each instruction start with a base verb after the sequence word? Does it say what to use or where to put something? Are my three steps in a sensible order? Show a partner the card and see whether they can follow it.

Listening strategy

If one word is difficult, pause and look at the matching action. Replay that sentence, then say it quietly while doing the action. On the final listen, keep the transcript closed if possible. Success means following the instruction safely and accurately, not understanding every word immediately.