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The Mindset Message (Step 2)

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Sciences Step 2 Stories April 2, 2020

ReadOasis Step 2 Some people say that “hard work is more important than innate intelligence.” To test this, researchers gave this message to a group of people. Then something amazing happened. Right after hearing the message, the people showed real changes in their brains. Is this true? Can a... Read more

Dear Skeptical Reader!

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Listen!Public Step 2 Stories TV Why Read Big April 2, 2020 0

ReadOasis: So this is our our second question with Dr. Richard Day. And this is from a student, and basically it’s this: What would you say to a student who doesn’t want to do ER because, let’s say, he or she wants to spend more time improving their listening... Read more

Momotaro – The Peach Boy (Step 1)

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Step 1 Stories Story April 2, 2020 2

A Story from Japan ReadOasis Step 1 (Part 1) Long ago in Japan, there lived a poor old man and woman. The old man often went to the high places to cut grass. The old woman often went to the river to wash clothes. One day, while she was... Read more

Why Read Big? Reason #1 — Ease & Enjoyment

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 1 TV Why Read Big April 1, 2020 0

The famous professor of Psychology, B.F. Skinner said, “We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love for reading”. I’m Joseph Poulshock, PhD., and I am asking the question, “Why read big?” Reason number is because of “Ease and Enjoyment”. To learn English, to learn a foreign language... Read more

Why Read Big? Reason #2 — Big Reading Works!

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 1 TV Why Read Big March 31, 2020

Time Magazine asked the famous businessman, Bill Gates if he thought reading helped him become more successful. And he said, “Yes absolutely! Every book teaches me something new or helps me see things differently.” My name is Joseph Poulshock aka Dr. Shock, and I’m asking the question, “Why Read... Read more

Why Read Big — Reason 3

Public TV Why Read Big March 30, 2020 0

Keeping Community in a Time of Social Distancing My office was moved to Tokyo. To unpack and set up the space, I had to go downtown. I didn’t want to take a crowded train, so I drove my car. To have less contact with people, I bought lunch and... Read more

Richard Wagner, Musician

Arts B2-Intermediate+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Music Step 2B Public Step 2 Stories March 30, 2020 1

ReadOasis Step 2 Richard Wagner was born on May 22, 1813. He was a famous German musician and writer. He wrote operas, or “music dramas.” Unlike many writers of opera, he wrote the words and music for all his works. Wagner’s music is known for being intense, complex, and... Read more

Why Read Big — Reason 4

Listen!Public TV Why Read Big March 29, 2020

The Dangers of March 15 (The Ides of March)

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 2 Stories Times March 24, 2020 1

ReadOasis Step 2 The leaders of Rome were not happy with Julius Caesar. He had become too powerful. Caesar had refused the title of king. But he had become ruler for life. He had even put his image on Roman coins. And this was an honor only for the... Read more

Nice and Easy Quotes About Reading

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Public Step 2 Stories March 22, 2020 1

ReadOasis Step 2 To inspire us read more, it always helps to have a good role model. When I was a boy, my father read to me before I went to bed. I can still remember the books he read to me! In this way, my father showed me... Read more

The Lord of the Rings

A3-Beginner++Arts BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Movies Step 2A Public Step 2 Stories March 21, 2020 0

ReadOasis Step 2 The One Ring was power, and the Council had it. If a man wore it, he could control the world. But the Ring’s power came from Sauron. His power — in the ring — would destroy you. And his power would destroy all goodness. The Council... Read more

How to Do Big, Easy Reading!

A1-Basic BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 1 Stories Styles March 5, 2020 1

ReadOasis Step 1 How do you do big, easy reading? Well first, what is “easy”? Here’s where people make a big mistake. They think knowing 70% or 80% of the words in a story is easy. But in just 4 pages, 80% = 200 unknown words! That’s way too... Read more

5 Amazing Facts About Reading

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Step 2 Stories Styles March 4, 2020 4

What’s the best way to improve your English? Of course, there are many ways. But big, easy reading is one of the best. And it probably has the most research and evidence to support it. What is big, easy reading? First, you read lots of books and stories. That’s... Read more

Happiness in 59 Seconds (Step 1)

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Sciences Step 1 Stories March 4, 2020

ReadOasis Step 1 (Part 1) Jim sat into a soft, red chair. He looked down, and then he started to cry. “Am I asking too much?” he said. “I just want to be happy.” Dr. Jones gave Jim a box of paper tissues. “Thank you,” said Jim as he... Read more

The Seven Habits Made Easy

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Public Step 2 Stories March 4, 2020

Max is running late. He hurries out the door of his apartment, holding a cup of coffee. Then he sees his bus. “It’s leaving!” he cries. Max starts to run, but he trips over a rock and falls. His coffee flies out of his hands and spills all over... Read more

Making Work Fun: The Levity Effect

B1-Intermediate Biz BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 3 Stories Top Picks March 4, 2020 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 responded with great enthusiasm. “Sir, your search ends here! I’m the one. In... Read more

Grow Your Mindset!

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Sciences Step 2 Stories March 4, 2020

Mike waited and waited. Was it going to be good news or bad news? Who would be in, and who would be out? Would he make the team or not? Finally, the coach put two lists on the door of the school gym. Mike looked at the list for... Read more

Drifting Cowboy: Hank Williams

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 2 Stories Top Picks March 4, 2020 0

Hank would never make it to the concert. There were too many problems. It was icy cold outside. He sat under a cover in the back of his light blue Cadillac car. He was heading to the city of Canton, Ohio, to give a big concert on New Year’s... Read more

Story Power

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Ideas Movies Step 2B Public Step 2 Stories March 4, 2020

Dorothy looked up into the sky. And she started to sing. Her soft voice rose up gently in the air. Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There’s a land that I’ve heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that... Read more

The Boy on Graves-End Road

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 2 Stories Story March 4, 2020 3

By Caty Weaver Kelly Ryan was making dinner. Her ten-year-old son Benjamin was watching television in the living room. Or, at least she thought he was. “Benny-boy, do you want black beans or red beans?” “Red beans, Mama.” Ben had come up quietly right behind her. “Don’t do that,... Read more