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Lesson Info

Post Type
Social Post
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
Wife Says "No" to Staying Home
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/2026-01-24-wife-says-no-to-staying-at-home/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Comment Tone Check Read comments and identify the tone.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: What disagreement do you think appears in this post?

a) A husband wants his wife to move closer to his parents.

b) A couple disagrees about how much money to save.

c) A husband suggests his wife should stay home.

Angry woman pointing and yelling in a bright living room, one hand on her hip, wearing a gray tank top, beige cardigan, and jeans.
Marcus made his wife angry.

Ask: (1) What are some examples of housework? (2) Do you cook your own meals? If not, who does?

VOCAB LIST

Expecting (v.) ā€” Waiting for a baby to be born.
Offended (adj.) ā€” Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.
Dropout (n.) ā€” A person who leaves school before finishing.
Servant (n.) ā€” A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.
Receptionist (n.) ā€” A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.
Dinner (n.) ā€” The main meal in the evening.
Housework (n.) ā€” Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.
Hated (v.) ā€” Disliked very much.

Reading

My wife and I are expecting our first baby. I am 29, and she is 25. I have a good job and make about $180,000 a year.

My wife is a college dropout. She works as a receptionist at a bakery company. She has worked there for three years. She earns about $18 per hour.

My wife already does most of the housework. While I am at work, she cleans the house and cooks dinner. She chooses to do this. I never ask her to do everything. I try to help, but the work is usually done before I get home.

Last night at dinner, she was talking about her job. She said she hated it. I suggested that maybe she could be a stay-at-home mom. She already does the housework, and she will be a mother soon.

She looked offended. She told me she would never stay home all day to be my "servant." She was angry at me for suggesting it.

I thought I was being helpful. Am I wrong?

Wife Says "No" to Staying Home

Level 3 Social

Warm-up ā†’ Read & Listen ā†’ Check Understanding ā†’ Language ā†’ Use It

Angry woman pointing and yelling in a bright living room, one hand on her hip, wearing a gray tank top, beige cardigan, and jeans.
Marcus made his wife angry.
Marcus @nudadsoon

My wife and I are expecting our first baby. I am 29, and she is 25. I have a good job and make about $180,000 a year.

My wife is a college dropout. She works as a receptionist at a bakery company. She has worked there for three years. She earns about $18 per hour.

My wife already does most of the housework. While I am at work, she cleans the house and cooks dinner. She chooses to do this. I never ask her to do everything. I try to help, but the work is usually done before I get home.

Last night at dinner, she was talking about her job. She said she hated it. I suggested that maybe she could be a stay-at-home mom. She already does the housework, and she will be a mother soon.

She looked offended. She told me she would never stay home all day to be my "servant." She was angry at me for suggesting it.

I thought I was being helpful. Am I wrong?

likes Ā· 3 comments

Comment Tone Check

Comment Tone Check

Choose the tone that best matches each comment.

  • DirectDad

    I think you made a mistake. You should not tell your wife what to do. That was not a good idea.

    Supportive Critical Neutral Worried

    Critical
  • GentleAdvice

    I think you meant well. It sounds like you wanted to help your family. Maybe talk to her again and explain your feelings.

    Supportive Critical Neutral Worried

    Supportive
  • ConcernedFriend

    What about your relationship? This could become a big problem if you don't talk about it soon.

    Supportive Critical Neutral Worried

    Worried

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:09  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

My wife and I are (1) our first baby. I am 29, and she is 25. I have a good job and make about $180,000 a year.

My wife is a college dropout. She works as a (2) at a bakery company. She has worked there for three years. She earns about $18 per hour.

My wife already does most of the (3) . While I am at work, she cleans the house and cooks (4) . She chooses to do this. I never ask her to do everything. I try to help, but the work is usually done before I get home.

Last night at dinner, she was talking about her job. She said she (5) it. I suggested that maybe she could be a stay-at-home mom. She already does the housework, and she will be a mother soon.

She looked (6) . She told me she would never stay home all day to be my "servant." She was angry at me for suggesting it.

I thought I was being helpful. Am I wrong?

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Marcus earns more money than his wife.
    Marcus earns about $180,000 a year while his wife earns about $18 per hour as a receptionist.
  • Marcus's wife finished college.
    The text says she is a college dropout, which means she did not finish.
  • Marcus always asks his wife to clean the house.
    Marcus says he never asks her to do everything. She chooses to do the housework.
  • Marcus's wife was happy with his suggestion.
    She looked offended and was angry at Marcus for suggesting it.

True or False

1. Marcus earns more money than his wife. TRUEFALSE True

2. Marcus's wife finished college. TRUEFALSE False

3. Marcus always asks his wife to clean the house. TRUEFALSE False

4. Marcus's wife was happy with his suggestion. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • At dinner, his wife said she hated her job.
  • His wife became angry and said she would not be his "servant."
  • Marcus and his wife found out they were expecting their first baby.
  • Marcus suggested she could be a stay-at-home mom.
  • His wife started working as a receptionist at a bakery company.
  1. His wife started working as a receptionist at a bakery company.
  2. Marcus and his wife found out they were expecting their first baby.
  3. At dinner, his wife said she hated her job.
  4. Marcus suggested she could be a stay-at-home mom.
  5. His wife became angry and said she would not be his "servant."

Multiple Choice

1. How much does Marcus earn per year?

   a) About $18 per hour

   b) About $180,000Correct

   c) About $25,000

   d) The text does not say

2. Where does Marcus's wife work?

   a) At a hospital

   b) At a school

   c) At a bakery companyCorrect

   d) At home

3. Why is the housework usually done before Marcus gets home?

   a) Marcus asks his wife to finish early

   b) His wife hires someone to help

   c) His wife chooses to do it while he is at workCorrect

   d) Marcus works from home

4. What word did Marcus's wife use to describe being a stay-at-home mom?

   a) Helper

   b) Partner

   c) Mother

   d) ServantCorrect

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Expectingf) Waiting for a baby to be born.

2. Dropoute) A person who leaves school before finishing.

3. Receptionistd) A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.

4. Houseworkc) Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.

5. Offendedb) Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.

6. Servanta) A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.

a) A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.

b) Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.

c) Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.

d) A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.

e) A person who leaves school before finishing.

f) Waiting for a baby to be born.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Marcus thought he was being helpful. his wife felt insulted by the suggestion.

    For example, / But, / So, / Also,

    Marcus thought he was being helpful. But, his wife felt insulted by the suggestion.

  2. Marcus says his wife already does most of the housework. she cleans the house and cooks dinner while he is at work.

    But, / I think, / For example, / Also,

    Marcus says his wife already does most of the housework. For example, she cleans the house and cooks dinner while he is at work.

  3. They are expecting a baby soon. it is important for them to talk about work and childcare plans.

    To me, / For example, / Also, / So,

    They are expecting a baby soon. So, it is important for them to talk about work and childcare plans.

Discussion Questions

  1. Did Marcus make a good suggestion? Why or why not?
  2. Why did his wife feel offended? Can you understand her reaction?
  3. What advice would you give Marcus?
  4. Did your parents both work? Or did one of them stay home?
  5. Do you think it is better for one parent to stay home with a baby?
  6. Is one income enough, or do most families need two incomes?
  7. How can couples share housework fairly?
  8. What are the benefits and challenges of being a stay-at-home parent?

Answers Wife Says "No" to Staying Home / Level 3

Think Ahead: c

Tone:

  1. Critical
  2. Supportive
  3. Worried

Listening: (1) expecting, (2) receptionist, (3) housework, (4) dinner, (5) hated, (6) offended

True or False:

  1. True. Marcus earns about $180,000 a year while his wife earns about $18 per hour as a receptionist.
  2. False. The text says she is a college dropout, which means she did not finish.
  3. False. Marcus says he never asks her to do everything. She chooses to do the housework.
  4. False. She looked offended and was angry at Marcus for suggesting it.

Multiple Choice: b, c, c, d

Put Events in Order:

  1. His wife started working as a receptionist at a bakery company.
  2. Marcus and his wife found out they were expecting their first baby.
  3. At dinner, his wife said she hated her job.
  4. Marcus suggested she could be a stay-at-home mom.
  5. His wife became angry and said she would not be his "servant."

Vocabulary:

  1. Expecting: Waiting for a baby to be born.
  2. Dropout: A person who leaves school before finishing.
  3. Receptionist: A person who answers phones and greets visitors at a business.
  1. Housework: Cleaning, cooking, and other jobs done at home.
  2. Offended: Feeling hurt or angry because of something someone said or did.
  3. Servant: A person who works in another person's home doing cleaning and cooking.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Contrast. 2) Example. 3) Result.

  1. But,
  2. For example,
  3. So,

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