One day of fighting that ended Napoleon's wars forever.
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These are the new words. Do the four short tasks out loud, then click Reveal to check.
Match each word (1–6) to its meaning (A–F). Say it out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = B (a battle) · 2 = D (an army) · 3 = C (a soldier)
4 = E (a hill) · 5 = F (a gun/cannon) · 6 = A (mud)
Read the situation. Say the missing word, then reveal.
Say the opposite word, then reveal.
Read the meaning. Say the word, then reveal.
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Napoleon was the emperor of France. For many years, his armies won battle after battle across Europe. But then he lost, and in 1814 his enemies sent him away. They exiled him to a small island called Elba. People thought the long wars were over.
But in the spring of 1815, Napoleon escaped from the island. He went back to France. The king sent soldiers to stop him — but the soldiers loved Napoleon, so they joined him instead! In a few weeks, he was the emperor of France again.
The other countries of Europe were afraid. Two big armies got ready to fight him near Brussels, in a place we now call Belgium. One army had British, Dutch and German soldiers. Their leader was the Duke of Wellington. The other army was from Prussia (part of Germany today). Its leader was the old general Blücher. Napoleon knew one thing: he must beat the two armies before they came together.
1. Where did Napoleon's enemies send him in 1814?
2. Who were the two leaders getting ready to fight Napoleon?
1. They exiled him to a small island called Elba.
2. The Duke of Wellington (British, Dutch and German army) and the general Blücher (the Prussian army).
The big battle was on 18 June 1815, near a village called Waterloo. In the night, heavy rain fell. In the morning, the ground was thick mud. Napoleon could not move his big guns in the mud, so he waited. He started the attack late, near midday. This waiting was a big mistake — but he did not know it yet.
Wellington put his army on a hill. His soldiers fought all day. Napoleon's guns fired again and again. Then his soldiers on horses attacked the hill, many times. But Wellington's men made big squares and did not run. They were tired, but they did not lose the hill.
Far away, Blücher and his Prussian soldiers were coming to help. The mud was very bad, but they did not stop. In the afternoon, the first Prussian soldiers arrived. Now Napoleon had to fight two armies at the same time. Slowly, the battle began to turn against him.
1. Why did Napoleon start the attack late?
2. Who arrived in the afternoon to help Wellington?
1. The ground was thick mud after the rain, so he could not move his big guns. He waited until near midday.
2. Blücher and his Prussian soldiers arrived to help Wellington.
In the evening, Napoleon knew he did not have much time. So he tried one last big attack. He sent his best soldiers — the Imperial Guard — up the hill. These soldiers almost never lost. But Wellington's men were hiding. When the Guard came close, they stood up and fired. The Guard could not go on. They stopped, and then they went back.
The French soldiers saw this and were shocked. "The Guard is going back!" At the same time, the Prussians pushed hard on the other side. Wellington waved his army forward. Now the French army ran away in the dark. Napoleon had lost.
Many, many soldiers died that day, on both sides. It was a very sad thing. But the battle was important: it ended Napoleon's wars for ever. His enemies exiled him again — this time to Saint Helena, a small island far out in the sea. He died there six years later. After Waterloo, Europe had peace for a long time. Today, "to meet your Waterloo" means to have your last, big defeat.
1. What happened to Napoleon's best soldiers, the Imperial Guard?
2. What happened to Napoleon after the battle?
1. They attacked the hill, but Wellington's hidden men stood up and fired. The Guard stopped and went back. This shocked the French army.
2. He lost, and his enemies exiled him again — to the island of Saint Helena, far out in the sea. He died there six years later.
When you tell a story, you tell things in order. English has easy words to show the order of events.
Complete each sentence with first, then, after that or finally.
1. , Napoleon escaped from the island of Elba. (the beginning)
2. , he went back to France and became emperor again. (the next thing)
3. , the two big armies got ready near Brussels. (after the next thing)
4. , Napoleon lost the battle and never came back. (the last thing)
1. First
2. Then (or Next)
3. After that
4. Finally (or In the end)
These things happened on the day of the battle. Write the right order word (first / then / after that / finally) at the start of each line.
1. , in the morning, the ground was thick mud.
2. , near midday, Napoleon started his attack.
3. , in the afternoon, the Prussians arrived to help.
4. , in the evening, the French army ran away.
1. First
2. Then
3. After that
4. Finally
Fill each gap with first, then, after that or finally. Read it out loud when you finish.
, Napoleon sent his best soldiers up the hill. , Wellington's men stood up and fired. , the best soldiers stopped and went back. , the whole French army ran away.
First · Then · After that · Finally
Use these words to show the order of events, from the beginning to the end.
There is a real podcast about the Battle of Waterloo. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. About 50 minutes. Open the show on Spotify and search "Short History Of The Battle Of Waterloo" to find the episode.
Open on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of the Battle of Waterloo in your own words. Use these steps: Napoleon comes back from the island → two armies get ready → the rain and the mud → the long day of fighting → the Prussians arrive to help → the last attack and the French run away → Napoleon is sent away again.
Use the order words — first, then, after that, finally — and some of the key words (battle, army, soldier, hill, gun, mud, win, lose, attack, run away).
Napoleon lost partly because of the rain and mud, and because the Prussians came to help. Do you think he lost because of bad luck, or because Wellington was a better leader? Say what you think and why.
Tell a short story of your own. Use first, then, after that, finally to show the order.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: