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12 Rules for Crossing Cultures
ReadOasis Step 3 Mo climbed up the rocky mountain. Suddenly, a rock broke off under his foot. He grabbed onto a small tree and watched the rock bounce down and down. He took a deep breath and looked up. And he saw the mountain top covered in smoke, fire,... Read more
The Happiness Class (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 In his last year of high school, Alan didn't sleep much. Instead, he studied. Sometimes he crammed for exams all night. Sometimes he drank 3 or 4 cans of energy drinks so that he could study more. And he felt the agony of overwork. He got... Read more
Born a Businessman (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 In 1966, Richard was 16 years old. He was a student, but he didn't like the way he was taught in school. He wanted to change his world, and he was going to do something about it. He decided to create a magazine that was for... Read more
The Mystery and Horror of Poe
ReadOasis Step 3 A man sits at night in his room alone. He is deeply saddened by the death of his lover. Her name was Lenore. Deep in despair, he begins to hear a tapping at the window. He looks up and opens it. And there stands a large... Read more
How to Acquire Language (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 How do humans acquire languages? The answer is remarkably simple. All people everywhere acquire languages in the same way. “We acquire languages by understanding messages.” This is called the “comprehension hypothesis,” and it was made famous by the distinguished linguist Dr. Stephen Krashen. I give this... Read more
Nature Boy — a Jazz Classic
ReadOasis Step 2 Eden felt the sunlight warm his face. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air. He stood up, walked forward, and looked down the hill. He took another deep breath and enjoyed the sight -- green trees, grand homes, and the city... Read more
A Big Idea: Critique of Pure Reason
ReadOasis Step 3 By Will Durant (Re-presented in Basic and Essential English) Kant?s Critique is not a criticism, but a critical analysis. Kant is not attacking "Pure Reason." He hopes to show its potential. He wants to praise it above knowledge that is not pure and that comes through... Read more
Are Lectures Effective? (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3 The professor stood in front of the class. He put his notes on a tall stand. The stand was in the middle of the room, and the professor could move around behind it. As he faced the class, there were many windows on his right. On... Read more
Seven Elements of Story Grammar (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) Harry glanced at his best friends Ron and Hermione. He was not smiling. He was isolated at his uncle's house for the summer. And Harry's uncle, aunt, and cousin were dreadful. Ron and Hermione stayed with their group of friends, a group that Harry didn't... Read more
Luther and the Storm (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) Creative Commons Photo by JohnBailey63 It was a cloudy day in summer. The sun's light lit up the green grass as clouds moved across the sky. The colors of the German countryside danced in the changing light. A soft, cool wind blew through the trees.... Read more
How to Attain Presentation Zen (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 PowerPoint is the most popular presentation software today. Over 400 million copies are in use. But there are problems with PowerPoint. It can cause you to simplify too much and stop you from connecting with people. To give good presentations, you need practice. Expert presenter Garr... Read more
Meaning to Live (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 Viktor had just married Tilly. She was the love of his life. He was a young doctor in Vienna, Austria. And Viktor and Tilly should have expected a bright future together. But Nazi Germany was in control of Austria, and Viktor and Tilly were Jewish. In... Read more
On the Reality of Morals
ReadOasis Step 2 All cultures have morals for good and bad behavior. And people think their morals are real. For example, "stealing is wrong." Even a thief says, "It's wrong to steal from me!" People act like they have a real basis for moral action. They argue about morals... Read more
Ten Practical Tips for Learning English
ReadOasis Step 2 English learners often ask, "How can I improve my English?" But learners often get unclear advice that is not practical. So, here's a list of 10 practical tips for learning English. These tips are specific and actionable, meaning you can act and do them easily! These... Read more
Are Lectures Effective? (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 The teacher stood in front of the class. He put his notes on a tall stand. The stand was in the middle of the room, and the teacher could move around behind it. As he faced the class, there were many windows on his right. On... Read more
The Crow
By Andrew Lang ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Once upon a time there were three Princesses. They were all young and beautiful, but the youngest, although she was not fairer than the other two, was the most charming of them all. About half a mile from the palace in... Read more
The Science of Good (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) President Clinton stood in front of the microphone. He took a breath and swallowed. Then he began his apology. He was not apologizing for being with another woman. Not yet. And he was not apologizing for a personal failure. Not this time. He was apologizing... Read more
Beyond the Freezing Point (Ayako Miura)
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) It was much later that I finally learned what a dark age it was. It?s after you know the light that you recognize darkness. You cannot know darkness when you?re in the middle of it. Ayako Miura (1922-1999) Up to the end of World War... Read more
Black History Month
ReadOasis Step 2 February is Black History Month in the US. The month honors important people and events about Africans who are spread out around the world. This tradition began in the US. The US and Canada celebrate black history in February, and the UK does so in October.... Read more
Watch Out for Dragons
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) ?It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.?  ? J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit The floor, wall, and windows began to shake violently. ?What in the world?? said John as he looked out the second floor... Read more