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
ReadOasis Step 2 English is a global language. It is the main language in science, business, entertainment, and foreign affairs. There are about 400 million native speakers of English. And maybe one billion people speak it as a second language. English became international mainly through the economic and cultural... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Geisha are traditional female entertainers from Japan. They are skilled at various Japanese arts, such as classical music, dancing, and poetry. The word "geisha" comes from (GEI) meaning "art" and (SHA) meaning "person." Thus, in a literal sense, a geisha is an artist. In the modern... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 He was born in 1935 -- in a poor farmer's home in northeast Tibet. At age 2, he was recognized as the 14th Buddha of Compassion. Buddha's soul had again appeared in a child. And this boy was the Buddha. He was taken to a palace... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Dan Hurley is a writer. He writes best-selling books about science, and he writes popular stories for the world’s best newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Wired Magazine. In a word, he is a big success. But when... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Words are magic. Say a few words at a restaurant, and you get dinner! Say a few strong words like, “Hey stupid!” and you might get in a fight. Say the words, “I’m sorry,” and you might escape a fight. Say the words, “I love you,”... Read more
Verbal, Visual, & Vocal Communication
LevelsListen!ProtectedStep 2StoriesStylesTop Picks May 1, 2019 1
ReadOasis Step 2 What is good communication? Psychologist Albert Mehrabian researches three elements of communication: words, tone of voice, and body language. More interestingly, Mehrabian studied how people communicate feelings and attitudes. If your body language and tone of voice disagree with your words, listeners tend to believe your body... Read more
Even if we (or our students) know the benefits of reading, we may still have trouble developing a lifestyle of reading. One way we can solve this problem is to see how avid readers keep a lifestyle of reading. With this in mind, here are 21 Tips for a Lifestyle of Reading for teachers and students.
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ReadOasis Step 1 It’s Friday night, and the building is filling up with people. They have come for a prayer meeting. They have come to hear the teacher give a message. The teacher is called rabbi. As the meeting starts, the rabbi is standing in front. He looks at... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 People have been drinking green tea for about 5,000 years. Green tea came from China. And today it is produced mainly in China and Japan. Green tea is different from other kinds of tea. The leaves are not processed much. So green tea has a fresh... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Dan Hurley is an author. He writes best-selling books about science, and he writes popular stories for the world’s most prestigious newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Wired Magazine. In a word, he is a big success. But... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 What is the relationship between culture and health? The following study compares Italians, Japanese, and French with the British and Americans. First, we examine fat in the diet. The Japanese eat very little fat. The British and the Americans eat more fat than the Japanese. And... Read more
Rakugo: A Funny Side of Japan
CoursesCulture Step 3ALevelsProtectedStep 2StoriesStyles April 11, 2019 3
ReadOasis Step 2 Sakura started to cry. "No Tora-san! You can't leave again! I know that life is hard for you here. But when you leave, it's harder for me." Tora-san watched Sakura cry and wipe her tears. He felt so sorry for her, but he didn't say anything.... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Mary looked into the eyes of her new baby. "She's so beautiful," said Mary almost singing. Mary continued her song, "My goodness! I'm so happy! This is the happiest moment in my life!" And yes, it was. In fact, most couples feel the purest kind of... Read more
In this ReadOasis video, Dr. Hitoshi Nishizawa explains his research. He compared TOEIC scores for two kinds of students. Some studied for one year in English speaking countries. Others did extensive graded reading in Japan. Some of these students read more than 3 million words. And they got about... Read more
Interview with Dr. Charles Browne, Professor, Meiji Gakuin University. This is “Charles the Great,” from Meiji Gakuin University, and of course, English Central and many other places. And affectionately known as “Charlie.” We are going to ask him a couple of questions about extensive reading. first... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 In Hawaii, one gesture rules them all. Locals call it "shaka." And they use the shaka sign to say, "Hello," "How’s it going?" and "Thank you!" But shaka also shows something else. It shows the spirit of Hawaii, called "Aloha." Aloha is the Hawaiian word for... Read more
ReadOasis: So here we are with Dr. Paul Nation, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wellington, Victoria (New Zealand). And of course one of the most well-known linguists in the world. It’s an honor to have him. Just one quick question for our learners: How can extensive graded reading help... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) “A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read.” Mark Twain Mark Twain in the Tesla Science Lab Mark Twain was the funniest man in America. He went on adventures. He travelled the world. He met presidents and kings. And... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 You are on your way to work. It's rush hour, and the train is packed. People are pressed against you on all sides. The train speeds along, but you can't move. Finally, you stop; the doors open, and you push your way out. It's Shinjuku Station,... Read more