Author: Ariel Goodbody
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The Three Goats
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Genre: Children’sSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Annoying, Drown, Eldest, Flow, Goat, Greedy, Middle child, Narrow, One by one, Silly, TrollWord Count: 1232Original Author: Fairy TalesThree goats live happily in a field eating grass. But one day, there’s no more grass. They decide to cross a bridge to another field. But when they try to cross, a monster jumps out, and he wants to eat them!
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Simon’s New Job
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Genre: ComedySetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Chase, Control, Deodorant, Put the heating on, Scream, Smell, Stick to, Still, Sweat, Tear (pulling)Word Count: 1033Original Author: Ariel GoodbodySimon gets a new job, but everything goes wrong. He doesn’t wear enough deodorant and smells at work. He tries walking, taking the bus, the train, a taxi, but he always gets there too early or too late. One day, it all becomes too much…
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How to Learn a Language
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Genre: OtherSetting: OtherNew Vocabulary: Abstract, Affective filter, Bibliography, Cognate, Comprehensible input, Conscious, Controversial, Criticise, Data, Figure out, Hypothesis, Innate, Make a deal, Memorise, Monitor, Negative emotions, Output, Panic, Researcher, Second language acquisition, Spark an interest, State (say), Subconscious, TheoryWord Count: 5130Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyIn this episode, I explain the theory behind second language acquisition, or the way that we learn languages and how best to study languages. I introduce Stephen Krashen’s Theory of Comprehensible Input and discuss the five hypotheses that make it up, and then explain how I used this theory when creating Easy Stories in English.
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The Piper of Hamelin (Beginner)
Rats come to the town of Hamelin, three times as big as normal rats. The townspeople don’t know what to do. But then a piper comes to town and says he can get rid of the rats with his music. The only problem? The price! But when the mayor refuses to pay him, the piper…
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The Elephant and the Hare (Intermediate)
An elephant is travelling to meet his family, bringing delicious honey as a gift. He stops to give a hare a ride over the river, but the hare smells the honey and can’t resist just having a taste…
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The King’s New Clothes (Beginner)
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Genre: PhilosophicalSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Council, Knight (verb), Lie, Naked, Outfit, Parade, Pretend, Stupid, Wardrobe, WeaverWord Count: 1439Original Author: Hans Christian AndersenThere is a king who loves only his clothes. One day, two brothers come to town and say that they can make magic clothes for the king. If you are stupid or bad at your job, you can’t see the clothes. But what happens when the king can’t see them?
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The Voice of Reason
In a small town, the people look after each other. When someone is hungry, the others give them food. But one day, the Voice of Reason comes to town and changes everything.
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Four Windows
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Genre: PhilosophicalSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Aerosol can, Distort, Moral (story), Mundane, Pristine, Quirk, Rut, Scrub, Sleep in, WarfareWord Count: 1609Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyTwo people live in buildings next to each other: a clean man and a messy woman. Each day, they look through the window into the other’s flat and imagine what their life is like. But in the end, only one person knows the truth…
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Eyes, Teeth and Toenails
Ken finally has his holiday. But his eyes hurt! Maybe watching TV will help. Lisa loves brushing her teeth – she does it EVERYWHERE. But what will happen when she goes to the dentist? Vladimir has beautiful, long toenails… but does his boss agree?
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Interview with Alastair about Pioneers of the Continuum
Recently, I worked with Alastair Budge on Pioneers of the Continuum, an eight-part audio drama featuring your favourite ESL podcasters as narrators. Today, we talk about Pioneers of the Continuum and Alastair’s other work. Alastair also hosts the English Learning for Curious Minds podcast, where you can learn about history and inspiring stories in accessible…