stories with audio

Seven Elements of Story Grammar (Step 2)

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Protected Step 2 Stories March 31, 2020 1

ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Harry looked at his best friends Ron and Hermione. He was not smiling. He was alone at his uncle’s house for the summer. And Harry's uncle, aunt, and cousin were mean. Ron and Hermione stayed with their group of friends, a group that Harry... Read more

The 300

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 3 Stories Times March 22, 2020

ReadOasis Step 3 All the cities of Greece were in grave danger. A vast army, led by the great King of Persia, was coming from the east. It was moving along the sea, and in a few days, this army would be ready to attack. The King of Persia... Read more

The Gift of the Magi

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 2 Stories Story Top Picks March 22, 2020 0

By O. Henry ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. These pennies were saved one and two at a time. To save this money, she had to fight with the vegetable man, the meat man,... Read more

Newton’s Apple

B2-Intermediate+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Sciences Step 3 Stories March 18, 2020 2

ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) A light wind blew through the garden and shook the trees. From one tree, an apple fell and hit the ground. Isaac heard the sound, and it disturbed his thoughts. At the time, he was walking in his mother’s garden, and the apple had... Read more

The Drama of Darwin (Step 2)

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Sciences Step 2 Stories March 9, 2020

ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Little Anne Darwin was her father's pride and joy, and she loved her father with a special kindness. But in 1849, Anne became sick with a high fever. Her father tried long and hard to help her. But Anne didn’t get better, and she... Read more

Sincerely, Thomas Edison

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Invention Step 2A Protected Step 2 Stories Times March 8, 2020 1

By Cana Short ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) An amazing thing happened this morning! I was walking down the street when I noticed a crowd gathered outside a local brokerage firm. People nearby told me that an important machine had broken down. The manager of the firm was in... Read more

Exercise and Live Longer

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Sciences Step 2 Stories March 8, 2020

ReadOasis Step 2 You are sitting in a nice restaurant. You are about to enjoy an expensive meal with a friend. But then a man sitting at the table next to you starts smoking. To make matters worse, he blows smoke in your face. Why? He doesn't want to... Read more

Joan of Arc: Heroine

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 2 Stories Times March 8, 2020 1

ReadOasis Step 2 Joan of Arc is a national heroine of France. She was born to a poor family in eastern France during the Hundred Years War. This war was actually a series of wars between 1337 and 1453. During this violent period, English kings tried to control France.... Read more

Moving to Think (Step 4)

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Step 4 Stories March 7, 2020 1

By Cielo Vera ReadOasis Step 4 Gillian Lynne could not sit still. She was eight years old now, and her teachers were concerned about her performance at school. Perhaps she had a learning disorder. (Today a psychologist might say that she had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, but that... Read more

Easy Jokes for English Learners

A1-Basic BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 1 Stories Story March 7, 2020

ReadOasis Step 1 Teacher: How much is 3 x 3? Student: The answer is 9. Teacher: That’s pretty good. Student: Pretty good?! It’s perfect. Teacher: What do you call a person who keeps talking when people are not interested? Student: A teacher. Father: You should get a job. Son:... 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

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

Sticky Communication

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Public Step 2 Stories February 28, 2020 1

The bell rang. Jim’s things were already in his red book bag, which looked brown under the white lights of the classroom. Zip! Zip! He closed the bag. He stood up and let out a sigh, “Ahhhh.” It was loud enough that other students and the teacher noticed. Jim... Read more

Be a Starter: Poke the Box

A3-Beginner++Biz BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 3 Stories Top Picks February 24, 2020 0

ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. Pablo Picasso, Artist. It is a basic secret of success. To get skill, we need to do new things. Depending on the task, doing something... Read more

Slumdog Millionaire

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Movies Step 2A Protected Step 2 Stories February 18, 2020 0

ReadOasis Step 2 The film Slumdog Millionaire is about an 18-year-old boy from Mumbai, India. He comes from a poor part of the city. And he wins a large cash prize on a TV game show. But after he wins, he is arrested by the police. The police think... Read more

Habit Power (Step 3)

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Sciences Step 3 Stories Top Picks February 18, 2020 0

ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Will walked into the large office area and looked around. He was carrying a cup of coffee, and he spilled some on his hand. “Ouch!” he said. “That’s hot!” He looked around, but all the other workers were busy. They didn't even notice him. He walked... Read more

Try, Try Again Tamerlane

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 3 Stories Times February 18, 2020

ReadOasis Step 3 There was once a famous ruler named Tamerlane. He ruled over the land, which today we call Persia. Tamerlane wanted to become the master of the whole world, just like Alexander the Great. Because of his ambition, Tamerlane raised up a great army. He made war... Read more