Original Author: Ariel Goodbody
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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 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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Eileen
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Genre: HorrorSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Acid, Bruise, Bully, Climate change, Come up with, Disguise, Disprove, Exponential, Hack, PrecociousWord Count: 1449Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyWith every month that passes, Eileen gets cleverer. The kids at school hate her, and her parents are afraid of her. There’s something not… human about this child. This story covers my feelings about AI (artificial intelligence). I talk a lot about an episode of another podcast, Your Undivided Attention, which explains the dangers and…
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Saint George and the Dragon
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Genre: Myths & LegendsSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Collar, Desert, Dew, Dragon, Kingdom, Knight, Pass out, Saint, Scratch, Tame, Well (water)Word Count: 1662Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyDownload this episode as a PDF. Transcript Welcome to Easy Stories in English, the podcast that will take your English from OK to Good, and from Good to Great. I am Ariel Goodbody, your host for this show. Today’s story is for pre-intermediate learners. The name of the story is Saint George and the Dragon.…
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The Pancake Man
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Genre: DramaSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: At first, Connect (person), Flip, Frying pan, Giant, Grave, Lift weights, Pancake, Run (business), Sick of something, SpaceWord Count: 1194Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyFrancis’s mother dies, and his father gets very sad. One day, Francis’s father starts making pancakes. Francis loves the pancakes, so his dad makes bigger and bigger pancakes. But maybe they’re too big…
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The Labyrinth
A woman keeps ending up in bad relationships. A businessman works so hard he has heart problems. A young man killed his friend by drunk driving and now he can’t stop drinking. All three of them are lost. All three of them go to drive. They go to the place where all roads lead: the…
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The Hunt
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: FutureNew Vocabulary: Baptise, Belly, Cave in (willpower), Crush, Curl up, Epiphany, Holy water, Hunter-gatherer, Intended recipient, Rock bottom, Transition, Whiskers, WombWord Count: 2568Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyYou have nowhere else to go. Beth left. Kai attacked. Faruq crashed. You hid. So one day, you go to that place you’ve heard about, where you can buy a certain drug. It’s a crazy idea, but maybe you’ll feel less lonely. Your cat is your only friend left, after all.
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The Perfect Pet
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Genre: HorrorSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Allergy, Bite, Blood, Butcher, Covered in, Guinea pig, Lock, Mean (unkind), Named after, Pee, Scratch, SocialWord Count: 1424Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyRory has always wanted a pet, but his parents don’t like animals. When Rory finishes university, he decides to get a pet. First, he gets a dog, but then things start going wrong…