Author: Ariel Goodbody
-
His Latest Experiment
—
Genre: Science FictionSetting: AncientNew Vocabulary: After-show party, Bark (dog), Calculation, Coding, Disaster, Drag (art), Earthling, Economy, Error, Flash fiction, Gender, Graduate, Heartwarming, Heaven, Lifespan, Magnesium, Move on, Pregnancy, Rounding (maths), Times (maths)Word Count: 522Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyGod is trying to make humans, but something is wrong. His calculations look right, but the humans are staying babies for fifty years. What is the problem?
-
The North Wind and the Sun (Pre-Intermediate)
—
Genre: Children’sSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Bam, Bathe, Bitter cold, Harmony, Hold tightly, Kindness, Retreat (holiday), Strength, Suffocate, Sweat, WeaklingWord Count: 862Original Author: Aesop’s FablesThe North Wind and the Sun are always arguing about what true power is. Does power come from strength, or from kindness? So the North Wind challenges the Sun to a competition to see who is right.
-
A Lucky New Year
—
Genre: ComedySetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Ashes, Choke, Clock strikes midnight, Coal, Doughnut, Good-luck charm, Lead (metal), Noodles, Pomegranate, Shortbread, Signify, SuperstitionWord Count: 2081Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyHarold has terrible luck. Bus shelters collapse on him, he makes his dates vomit, and no matter how many good-luck charms he wears, his luck won’t change. So he decides that this New Year’s Eve, he’s going to follow every tradition and superstition in the world, to see if he can change his luck around.
-
I’m Back!
Easy Stories in English is back! But there are a few changes: 1. There will only be a new episode once a fortnight (once every two weeks) 2. I am stopping teaching 3. I am going to start scripting the conversation section instead of improvising it 4. The email newsletter will just contain information about new episodes and other news 5. I am changing the content of the Patreon levels
-
I have to pause the podcast
—
Update from 04/06/2022: The podcast is returning! Listen out for an official announcement on 14th June.
-
The Very Hungry Dragon (Beginner)
—
Genre: Children’sSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Cart, Dragon, Freezer, From now on, Hug, Ignore, In one go, Jewel, Reputation, Smell, Spit out, Taste of somethingWord Count: 1290Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyShe flew down and took the roof off the cart. The people with the cart saw her and ran away. Grella laughed, and picked up the cart in her hand. She emptied it into her mouth, eating all of the jewels in one go. Grella understood now. Her mother had been right. Jewels were amazing. They made her feel wonderful inside, like there was a party inside her stomach. Grella flew off to find more…
-
The Tattoo
—
Genre: Science FictionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Anxious, Barber, Bum, Go bald, Hidden, Lie, Months in advance, Original, Remove, Shape, Shave your hair off, Tattoo, Treat someone likeWord Count: 2244Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘I know you think you don’t want it,’ said Gary’s girlfriend, Claire, ‘but just think. When you turn 18, most of your friends will have their tattoos already. People will want to see yours. Look, you can tell them that you’re getting it later, that you couldn’t book an appointment, but how long can you lie? One day, you’ll look around and think, “God, why don’t I have a tattoo? Everyone else does.” ’
-
The Flesh and Blood We Share
—
Genre: RomanceSetting: MedievalNew Vocabulary: Alley, Armour, Beast, Bladder, Choke on your own spit, Claw, Dignity, Disarm, Dragon, Flesh and blood, Penance, Prostitute, Slay, Sorcerer, TameWord Count: 4436Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyIt was the place he and Bulan had first kissed. Hale fell to his knees and threw up all his beer onto the dirt. The edges of his armour plates cut into him, and he felt like a skeleton dancing inside it, like a sorcerer had used magic on him or something. He threw up twice, then three times, and finally stopped. A bit of sick slid down his chin and neck, leaving a stain…
-
One-Eyed, Two-Eyed, Three-Eyed (Beginner)
—
Genre: Children’sSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Asleep, Awake, Dig a hole, Fringe, Goat, Hoof, Horn, Marry, Pick (fruit), Skin, Work hardWord Count: 2083Original Author: Fairy TalesSuddenly, the goat started changing. It grew long and square, and became a big white table. And on the table were all kinds of food: bread, cheeses, jams, pickles, tomatoes, olives, and so on. The girl was hungry from the work, so she ate lots and lots of food, and when she was done, she said, ‘Little goat, little goat, it’s time to go.’
-
Have You Seen This Woman?
—
Genre: Science FictionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Christian society, Doughnut, Drunk, Embarrassed, Hungover, I wish I had…, Lecture, Poetry, SurprisedWord Count: 1345Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyShe was singing. She was drunk, I think, the way she sang. Maybe she had drunk a big glass of vodka. But her singing was good. She sounded sad, but the music was good. We were all so surprised to see her there.