Courses | ReadOasis

$80,000 for One Song

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Music Step 2B Protected Step 2 Stories Tech 0

ReadOasis Step 2 The room is dark. You are alone. You are drinking a coke and downloading some songs from the Internet. Then you hear a crash. Your heart stops as you hear a man shout. "This is the police!" You catch your breath and say, "What?" Then another... Read more

The Longest Railway

A3-Beginner++Biz Biz Step 2B BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Protected Step 2 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 2 VOA Learning English reports that China has paid for the longest railway in the world. It's 13,000 kilometers long! The longest railway in the world is now open. In December, a train carrying products from China arrived in Spain’s capital, Madrid. The railway is one of the most recent transportation projects that China has finan... Please login to read the rest of the story, or join ReadOasis today! Read more

A Musical Money-Making Machine

B2-Intermediate+Biz BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Music Step 3A Protected Step 3 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 3 Carrie Underwood by Eva Rinaldi (Creative Commons) Carrie was a country girl from Checotah, Oklahoma. She lived on a farm, and in the mornings, she would help her father feed the cows. Carrie loved to sing. She started singing at church when she was 3 years... Read more

Bill Gates: A Model for Business?

A3-Beginner++Biz Biz Step 2B BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Protected Step 2 Stories 1

By Tek Smith ReadOasis Step 2 As a young man, Bill Gates had the idea to make a company. In 1975, he left Harvard University, and he started Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen. By 2007, Microsoft employed 78,000 people in 105 countries. Today about 90% of the world’s... Read more

Making Work Fun: The Levity Effect (Step 2)

A3-Beginner++Biz Biz Step 2B BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Protected Step 2 Stories Top Picks 1

ReadOasis Step 2 A manager at a company was interviewing a job candidate. The manager said, “We need a very responsible person for this job. We need someone who can take charge.” The candidate’s eyes lit up, and he answered with great confidence. “Sir, your search ends here! I’m... Read more

A Wee (Wii) Gaming Machine

B1-Intermediate Biz Biz Step 2A BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Protected Step 2 Stories Tech 1

ReadOasis Step 2 Nintendo makes video games and gaming machines. It is one of the largest gaming companies in the world. Nintendo's popularity took off in 2006 with the release of the Nintendo Wii. The portable Nintendo DS is also extremely popular. In 2007, the company had an income... Read more

I See You — Avatar

A3-Beginner++Arts BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Movies Step 2B Protected Step 2 Stories 1

ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Your name is Jake. You are a soldier. Since you lost the feeling in your legs, life has been awkward. But you got used to it. And when your brother died, your heart stopped feeling some, too. "Get used to it," you think. But... Read more

Master of Words: Bob Dylan

A3-Beginner++Arts BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Music Step 2A Protected Step 2 Stories Story

ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) It was January 1961. In the cold north of Minnesota, a young man of 19 years packed his bags. He was going to New York City. By car, the trip would take over 18 hours. And he was travelling by his thumb. In other... Read more

Paul Desmond and Take Five

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Music Step 3B Protected Step 3 Stories 2

ReadOasis Step 3 By Maria Sonora “I would also like to thank my father, who discouraged me from playing the violin.” These are the words of Paul Desmond. He is one of the most popular musicians to come out of the West Coast cool jazz scene. Surely, he liked... Read more

Fred Astaire, Dancer Extraordinaire

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Movies Step 2B Protected Step 3 Stories 1

ReadOasis Step 3 "Some people seem to think that good dancers are born, but all the good dancers I have known are taught or trained." -- Fred Astaire It was a dark time. In 1929, the American economy crashed. Many people lost all their money. Almost half the banks... Read more

Awarding Excellence: The Pulitzer Prize

Arts B2-Intermediate+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Music Step 3B Protected Step 3 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 3 The Color Purple is a book about a black woman named Celie. The story tells of her life and struggles, as she grew up in the Southern United States during the 1930s. The book was written by Alice Walker. And the movie version was directed by... Read more

JK Rowling and Harry Potter (Step 2)

A3-Beginner++Arts BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Movies Step 2B Protected Step 2 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 2 After finishing university in 1983, JK Rowling was living in London. She worked for the human rights group Amnesty International. But in 1990, she decided to move to Manchester. After spending a weekend looking for an apartment, she took the train back to London. It was... Read more

A Force for Good in Music

Arts B3-Intermediate++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Music Step 3A Protected Step 3 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) U2 in Concert It was a cool winter night in January 2002 in New York. The city that never sleeps was wide-awake and full of movement. Even in the cold, you could feel the energy of arts, entertainment, culture, and money. That week, top... Read more

ET and Intelligent Life

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Movies Step 2A Protected Sciences Step 2 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 2 The film ET warmed the hearts of millions of children and adults. It was funny and exciting. And it told a hopeful story about love and friendship. In one scene, ET points his finger to the sky. And he says, "ET phone home." This simple phrase... Read more

Babe: A Good Mannered Pig

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Movies Step 2A Protected Step 2 Stories 3

ReadOasis Step 2 Babe is a young pig who wants to become a sheep dog. He is separated from his family, and he finds himself on a strange farm. Babe becomes confused and lonely. But a friendly sheep dog takes care of him. And Babe slowly adjusts to his... Read more

Isaac Albéniz, Genius of Spanish Music

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Music Step 2B Protected Step 2 Stories 1

By Maria Sonora ReadOasis Step 2 Isaac Albéniz (May 29, 1860 - May 18, 1909) was a genius of Spanish music. He gave his first concert when he was four years old. And at the young age of nine, he began his concert career. By age 15, he had... Read more

Get Down to Business in English

B1-Intermediate Biz Biz Step 2B BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Protected Step 2 Stories Top Picks 1

ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) A Big Decision As usual, the boss spoke clearly and in short sentences. “Okay, it’s decided. This meeting is over. You all know what to do.” One by one, the managers closed their notebooks and stood up. There were no jokes and no laughter.... Read more

The Birth of Levi’s Jeans

A3-Beginner++Biz Biz Step 2A BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Protected Step 2 Stories 2

ReadOasis Step 2 Rivets By Rohit Gowaikar (Creative Commons) Levi Strauss was born in Germany in 1829. At 18, he joined his brothers in America. They had a dry goods business in New York City. At that time, many people were moving to California in search of gold. Levi... Read more

Stairway to Heaven

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Music Step 3B Protected Step 3 Stories 0

By Douglas Forster ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) “And we’re back. I’m Jim Ladd, and you’re listening to KMET. We’re the south’s number one station for the rock and roll music you need for your soul. Before the break, I announced that I would be accepting requests. And boy,... Read more

Crazy for Basketball

BNC Levels Courses Protected Sports Step 2A Step 2 Stories Styles 0

ReadOasis Step 2 Just 17 seconds remained on the clock. The noise was overpowering. 61,612 basketball fans packed the Louisiana Superdome. Georgetown University was playing the University of North Carolina. North Carolina was behind by just one point. The ball was passed to Michael Jordan. He jumped up and... Read more