A Test of Values – You Make the Call
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ReadOasis Step 2 Jordan stood in line waiting for the doors to open. He felt nervous, but ready. Today's test would decide his future. If he passed, he would enter Canada's best university. If he failed, he didn't know what he would do. Suddenly, somebody touched Jordan on the... Read more
How to Avoid Stupid Cultural Mistakes!
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ReadOasis Step 2 On his first meeting in Korea, Earl came late. But he entered the meeting room with a big smile on his face. And there stood Mr. Kim. For a few long seconds, the room filled up with an uneasy silence. Then Earl gave Mr. Kim a... Read more
Enjoy Your Freedom — Remember Juneteenth
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ReadOasis Step 3 Solomon Northup enjoyed his freedom. He owned land. He read great books. He played music on the violin. One day, two men approached Solomon. They offered him a job to play music in New York. Solomon accepted the work. He didn't know that it was a... Read more
Words for Breaking Stereotypes
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ReadOasis Step 2 When Steve met Mariko in Tokyo, he was in for a surprise. She shook his hand. She smiled. She spoke with confidence in a big voice. And she gave clear and strong opinions. They ate lunch at a sushi place. Mariko smiled and said, "I hate... Read more
Write with Classic Style
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ReadOasis Step 3 Regarding writing, maybe you have heard your teacher say, "Don't use 'I' in academic writing." Is this correct? Do academic writers always avoid "I?" Maybe you have even heard this: "If you use 'I' then you are being selfish!" Is that right? The following answers may... Read more
5 Stages of Culture Blues
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ReadOasis Step 3 Corey loved Japan. But not today. The honeymoon was over. He had enjoyed sushi, ramen, temples, and gardens. But today, he was tired. He tried to speak Japanese. But the words didn't come out. He missed his family and friends. He missed home. Corey started to... Read more
The Magic of Hidden Culture
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ReadOasis Step 2 On his first day in Spain, Harry got lost in Madrid. He thought: "These streets aren't like home in Toronto." 500-year-old buildings. Gray stone streets. Red meat hanging in shop windows. The smell of fresh bread. The sound of a guitar in the park. "So, this... Read more
Cultural Quest — 10 Key Questions
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ReadOasis Step 2 The alarm sounded. "Beep, beep, beep!" The morning sun shone into Zoe's room. As she opened her eyes, she saw her plane ticket. Tokyo. "Oh my," she said to herself. "The day is here! I'm really going." Today, Zoe will fly for the first time. And... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Gary stood in front of the class. He looked at all his students. He opened his mouth to speak. But the students didn't listen. They talked to each other. He started speaking again. "Today, I want to talk about The Old Man and the Sea. Do... Read more
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
ReadOasis Step 1Cana Short Hello there. My name is Benjamin Franklin, and I'm 17 years old. I work at a printing shop here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But I have only been here for a few weeks. Before coming to Philadelphia, I lived in Boston, Massachusetts. That's where I was... Read more
Indian Princess: Pocahontas (Step 2)
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ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) John watched the river flow. The water was green and blue and full of fish. He looked at the leaves on the trees and tall grass. They were moving softly in the quiet wind. This was a beautiful and wild place. But suddenly John heard... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Mr. Jones stood in front of his English class. The students looked sleepy and bored, so Mr. Jones decided to open with an interesting story. He told the students a famous joke, and here is what happened… The Joke. Two older couples ate dinner together. After... Read more
One day, Johnny Cash took the stage. He smiled wide. His black clothes shined. He said, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." He picked up his guitar. He began to sing. His voice was deep, like a river's flow. The song was about a man. The man was in prison. The... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Sue closed the car door. She looked down at her feet. And she started to cry. Tears flowed down her face. Jim said, "What's the matter?" As she cried, Sue said, "You hurt my feelings. You made a joke about me. And you did it in... Read more
Jumping Over Death, Evel Knievel
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ReadOasis Step 1 The people felt real fear. They watched Robert. He sat on his bike. The sound was loud. "POP! CRACK! VROOM!" The bike started to move. Faster and faster, he rode. The bike hit the ramp. Robert jumped high. He flew through a wall of water! Down... Read more
ReadOasis Step 1 Mao smiles big. She jumps high. She spins fast three times. She lands on one foot. "Wow!" The crowd cheers! It was the 2010 Olympics. Mao Asada made history. She did an amazing jump. It's called the "triple axel." And she stands as the first woman... Read more
Stevie, The Musical Wonder
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ReadOasis Step 3 The announcer opens the envelope. He looks down at the card, then smiles. "And the winner is, Stevie Wonder!" The crowd cheers and cheers. Their happiness fills the room. It was the 1989 Academy Awards. Stevie Wonder just won "Best Original Song." The song was "I... Read more
The Trouble with Ken’s Horse
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ReadOasis Step 2 Ken walked on the green grass behind his house. He looked up and saw Bella, his beautiful horse. Bella's coat shone bright in the afternoon sun. Ken touched Bella's face. "Hi girl," he said. And then Ken held up a shiny, red apple. Bella wanted to... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Tim opened the door and left his house. The sky was red, almost dark. But, Tim wanted to walk in the forest. As he walked, he saw something under a tree. It was a book! He saw gold letters on the cover. Tim read them aloud:... Read more