Using Canva to Storyboard Simple Listening Tasks

Canva is a useful tool for creating simple, visual listening activities for language students. With one worksheet template and a few picture prompts, teachers can quickly create listening materials for almost any topic and level.

This tutorial shows how to use Canva to storyboard a basic A1/A2 listening task about vehicles.

Teaching Goal

The goal is to create a simple listening activity using images as prompts. Students look at pictures, identify the vocabulary, and then listen for information connected to each image.

In the example activity, students look at different vehicles and listen to match each vehicle with a country.

Why Use Canva?

• It is easy to create visual worksheets.
• Images help lower-level students understand the topic.
• Teachers can reuse the same template many times.
• The worksheet can also become a storyboard for recording audio.
• The same design can be adapted for different levels.

Step 1: Create a Simple Worksheet

Start with an A4 worksheet in Canva. Add nine images connected to one topic.

In the tutorial example, the topic is vehicles.

Example Vocabulary

• car
• train
• plane
• bus
• ferry
• taxi
• scooter
• motorcycle
• bike

Students first name each vehicle. Then they listen and match the vehicle with the country mentioned in the audio.

Step 2: Duplicate the Worksheet

After creating the worksheet, click the Duplicate Page button in Canva. This creates a second version of the same worksheet.

The first page is for students. The second page is for the teacher.

Step 3: Turn the Copy into a Storyboard

On the teacher version, add small visual prompts to help guide your recording.

In the example, the teacher adds country flags next to the vehicles:

• American flag
• Thai flag
• Japanese flag

These prompts tell the teacher what to mention while recording the listening activity.

This turns the worksheet into a simple storyboard. The teacher does not need a full script. The images and flags guide the recording.

Important Principle: Do Not Script Everything

For this type of listening activity, it is better not to write a full script first. Instead, use the storyboard as a prompt and speak naturally.

This creates listening material that is:

• More natural
• More flexible
• Faster to produce
• Better for extended listening practice
• Easier to adapt to different levels

The goal is guided extemporaneous speech. The teacher speaks naturally, but the visual prompts keep the content organized.

Step 4: Adjust the Language for A1/A2 Students

For lower-level students, the teacher should model simple language.

Tips for A1/A2 Listening

• Use short sentences.
• Repeat key words often.
• Use simple vocabulary.
• Pause slightly between ideas.
• Use clear topic words such as car, train, bus, and bike.
• Keep the structure predictable.

For example, instead of saying a long complex sentence, the teacher can say:

I drive a car in America. I do not drive a car in Japan. I do not drive a car in Thailand.

This gives students repeated exposure to useful language patterns.

Step 5: Record the Listening

Teachers can record the audio with any tool.

• Audacity
• Amadeus Pro
• A phone voice recorder
• Any basic audio recording app

The tool is not the most important part. The key is to use the visual storyboard to guide your speaking.

Example Listening Script Style

The teacher might record something like this:

Hello. In this listening lesson, I will talk about vehicles. I am from America, but now I live in Japan. Every year, I visit Thailand. I know about cars, trains, planes, buses, ferries, taxis, scooters, motorcycles, and bikes in Japan, Thailand, and America.

First, cars. I drive a car in America. I do not drive a car in Japan. I do not drive a car in Thailand.

In Thailand, I take the train. In Japan, I also take the train. Japan has fast trains. The fast trains are called bullet trains.

The language is simple, repeated, and easy for lower-level students to follow.

Step 6: Use the Worksheet with Students

Students can complete the activity in several ways.

Option 1: In Class

1. Give students the worksheet.
2. Play the audio.
3. Students listen and match the vehicles with the countries.
4. Students compare answers with a partner.
5. Review as a class.

Option 2: Homework

1. Email students the worksheet.
2. Send the audio file.
3. Students listen on their phone or computer.
4. Students complete the worksheet.
5. Students discuss their answers in the next class.

Step 7: Extend the Activity

After students finish listening, the worksheet can become a speaking prompt.

Follow-Up Speaking Questions

• What vehicles do you use in your country?
• Do you take the train often?
• Do you ride a bike?
• Are taxis expensive in your city?
• What is the best way to travel where you live?

This turns one listening worksheet into a listening, vocabulary, and speaking activity.

Optional Follow-Up: Create a Noticing Activity

After recording the listening, teachers can make a transcript and use it for a noticing activity.

Students can look for:

• Repeated vocabulary
• Simple present tense verbs
• Country names
• Transportation phrases
• Useful sentence patterns

Why This Method Works

• The images give students context before listening.
• The storyboard helps the teacher speak naturally.
• The repeated vocabulary supports lower-level learners.
• The activity can be made quickly.
• The same template can be reused for many topics.
• The task can be adapted for beginner or advanced students.

Reusable Canva Template Ideas

• Vehicles
• Food
• Daily routines
• Jobs
• Places in town
• Household items
• Sports
• Clothing
• Animals
• Weekend activities

Final Thoughts

Canva makes it easy to create visual listening tasks. By using a worksheet as a storyboard, teachers can quickly record natural listening material for their students.

For A1/A2 students, keep the language simple, repeat key words, and use short sentences. Once the basic template is created, the same idea can be reused again and again for different topics and levels.