Stories for the intermediate level. Stories in English

Hello my beloved readers!

Have you ever wondered how to force yourself to listen and read more at the very beginning of learning a language? After all, it seems as if it is so difficult, and difficult, and uninteresting ... and you can come up with a couple of hundred more excuses!

Today I will share a method that helps my students a lot. I will give you stories in English for beginners (by the way, I have begun to form - please)!

I have prepared for you short and very interesting stories with parallel translation. This practice at the beginning of language learning helps to quickly and also absorb the structure of the language as a whole.

Story 1

Sudden rain.

Sudden rain.

It was definitely going to rain. The sky turned into gray and there was no sun at all. It was already a noon.

It was definitely going to rain. The sky turned gray and there was no sun at all. It was already noon.

Mary was standing at the corner of the street talking to Jane. Both of them were holding shopping bags in their hands.

Mary was standing on the corner of the street talking to Jane. They were holding shopping bags.

Mary and Jane started to discuss the weather.

-Do you like rain? - Mary asked.

-Yes, actually I do. - Answered Jane. - When it rains, I sit on the porch and drink tea. Rain is quite refreshing and allows you to think about everything. And you?

Mary and Jane began to discuss the weather.

Do you like rain? Mary asked.

Yes, I actually like it,” Jane replied. - When it rains, I sit on the porch and drink tea. The rain is very refreshing and allows you to think about everything. And you?

-Well, I love when it rains during the summer. But I can't stand rainy weather in winter.

I love when it rains in summer. But I can't stand rainy weather in winter.

They were talking when a sudden stroke of thunder interrupted them. The heavy rain was about to start. Jane noticed that Mary didn't have an umbrella. She decided to invite her for a cup of tea and continue their conversation sitting on her porch.

-I have no objections. At least, we can spend more time talking about your journey to the USA.

They were talking when a sudden clap of thunder interrupted them. It was about to start raining heavily. Jane noticed that Mary didn't have an umbrella. She decided to invite her for a cup of tea and continue their conversation while sitting on the porch.

I do not mind. At least we can spend more time chatting about your trip to the USA.

At the initial stage of learning, it is very important that the stories are adapted exactly to your level. These stories are just that. So try another exciting story with translation and audio.

Story 2

A Book Shop Robbery.

Bookstore robbery.

Sandy was on her way to work. Being the owner of a book shop was her dream. She loved books and the smell of recently published ones.

Sandy was on her way to work. Being the owner of a bookstore was her dream. She loved books and the smell of newly published books.

When she got to the shop she noticed that there was something wrong with the door. It was open. She remembered closing it last night. So there was only one explanation - she was robbed.

When she reached the store, she noticed that something was wrong with the door. She was open. She remembered closing it last night. So there was only one explanation - she was robbed.

Entering the shop she realized that the place was turned upside down. All the books were on the floor. She checked the till and thanked herself for taking all the money to the bank last night so there was nothing to steal.

Upon entering the store, she realized that everything had been turned upside down. All books were on the floor. She checked the cash register and thanked herself for taking all the money to the bank last night, so there was nothing to steal.

She was upset but the relief of the thought that nothing was stolen calmed her down.

-I need to set an alarm system, -thought Sandy and started placing books on the bookshelves.

She was upset, but the relief that nothing had been stolen calmed her down.

We need to install an alarm, Sandy thought, and began to arrange books on the bookshelves.

If you want to not only learn to read, but also perceive texts by ear, then I suggest listening to these stories. I recommend that you first read the story several times, then read and listen at the same time, and not the last stage just listen.

2. A Book Shop Robbery

Now you can find hundreds of stories online that will help you quickly master the initial steps of the English language. They can be read, listened to, downloaded on the road and all this is completely free. Don't be lazy and spend 20 minutes a day.

And if you do not know what to learn, then subscribe to my newsletter, where I will constantly give you new materials and ideas for learning, as well as replenish your piggy bank with new stories for different levels.

Remember that the most important thing on the way to good English is practice.

See you again, my dears.

Friends, you already know that learning English is divided into levels: elementary, basic, intermediate, professional, etc. Each of these levels gives a person certain knowledge of the English language, corresponding to this level of education. Therefore, each level has its own requirements and its own degree of difficulty in learning the language.

Today we will pay attention to reading in English at the Intermediate stage or the average, intermediate level. What books, what texts are suitable for those who study English at the Pre Intermediate, Intermediate Upper Intermediate level, what can you read to improve your knowledge of the English language and enrich your vocabulary?

Reading skills at pre-threshold, intermediate and advanced levels have significant advantages over previous levels. At these stages of training, you have a good understanding of the literature of these levels. You are able to read and understand articles on the Internet, in newspapers and magazines. You can start reading simple literature in the original, understand the meaning and main idea of ​​the material read.

Let's start with reading at the Pre-Intermediate level. Since this is a pre-threshold level, that is, a stage up to the intermediate level, here texts and books almost do not differ from reading at a basic level. What can be read at the Pre level? Pay attention to the following authors and their works:

• David A. Hill
• Isaac Asimov "I, Robot"
• Jack London "Call of the Wild"
• Stephen Colbourn "Robin Hood"
• David Morrison

Since the Intermediate level is an average, intermediate level of language learning, texts and books in English should be of medium complexity. This means that the reader must capture the main meaning, the essence of the story or the book as a whole, despite the fact that he still encounters unfamiliar words.

Short stories and short stories are perfect for reading at an intermediate level. If you want your reading to be not only useful, but also exciting, then we bring to your attention:

• Humorous stories O'Henry (O "Henry)
• Ray Bradbury stories
• Detective stories by Sara Paretsky
• The famous stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson by Arthur Conan Doyle

And finally, books in English at the Upper level. This stage of learning is more difficult than the previous one, therefore, the reading will be the same:

• Herman Melville "Moby Dick"
• Peter Abrahams Mine Boy
• Alan Maley "A Tangled Web"
• Margaret Johnson Jungle Love
• John Stainbeck "Of Mice and Men"
• Margaret Johnson

These three levels are somewhat similar, but they also have significant differences. The Pre stage prepares us to learn English at an intermediate level; the intermediate level itself equips us with the base for the Upper level, and so on. Accordingly, the reading goes in ascending order.

How to read with benefit?

• Get a notebook or notebook in which you will write down all the words you do not know.
• Pay attention to the context in which a particular word is used.
• Translate the words in writing.
• Make up phrases, sentences, a short story with them.
• Use new words in short dialogues.
• Make a written outline of the passage you read.
• Retell the passage aloud in English.
• Work in this order with each chapter or passage you read.

Thus, your reading will be productive, and very soon you will achieve good results in working with English vocabulary.

When learning English, it is important to pay attention to various aspects of the activity: reading, translating, learning vocabulary, listening, speaking. Despite the fact that you should constantly alternate classes, it is extremely important to pay attention to English texts of various levels of difficulty.

So, we propose to figure out what texts are in English:

If you have just started learning a foreign language, read the texts that you have previously read in Russian. Pay attention to short stories or fairy tales. You can also listen to adapted books in English: in this case, you can train your hearing aid and hone your listening comprehension. Where can I find texts for beginners? Check out the British Council website where you can read the same text written for different levels of language proficiency. You can find out your level.

Finding somewhere affordable to live in Britain is hard. Some parts of the country are cheaper than others, of course, but the cost of renting a home is horrendous, especially in London and the South. Normally, the only answer is to share a house or a flat: you get a room of your own, but you have to share the kitchen and bathroom. In cities like Oxford and Cambridge, where rooms are scarce, prices will make your eyes water: more than £500 a month. In London, they’re even higher – not far off £700.

Oxford already seemed expensive when I lived there, and that was almost 40 years ago. When I started work after university, my room cost £40 a month – almost 15 per cent of my salary. With today’s rents in Oxford, you’d need to earn £40,000 a year if you didn’t want to spend more than 15 per cent on your room. But when you finish university, starting salaries are usually between £20,000 and £30,000.

Apart from the cost, shared flats and houses are often in poor condition. Landlords are slow to spend their profits on repairs. I was fairly lucky with mine. The house I lived in was scruffy, but the landlord took action when needed - like the time the bathroom ceiling fell in. I'd just run a bath and had returned to my room to get something, when I heard a loud crash. I went back to find the bathtub full of wet plaster. I had the ceiling repaired and took the bill to my landlord.

Show translation

Show translation

Finding affordable housing in the UK is a tricky business. Of course, some parts of the country are cheaper than others, but the cost of renting a house is horrendous, especially in London and the south. Usually the only solution is to share a house or apartment: you get your own room, but you need to share the same kitchen or bathroom. In cities like Oxford or Cambridge, where there aren't enough rooms, the prices will make your eyes water: over £500 a month. In London, prices are even higher - around £700.

Oxford seemed more expensive when I lived there, which was almost 40 years ago. When I started working at the university, my room cost £40 a month - almost 15% of my salary. With today's rental prices, you need to be earning 40,000 a year if you don't want to spend more than 15% of your income on your room. But when you graduate from university, starting salaries usually range from £20,000 to £30,000.

In addition to housing costs, shared rooms or houses are often in poor condition. Owners are reluctant to spend their income on repairs. I am lucky with my owner. The house I lived in was in a state of disrepair, but the owner stepped in when needed, like when the ceiling collapsed. I was about to take a bath and went to my room to get something when I heard a loud crash. I returned to find the bathroom full of plaster. The roof was repaired, and I took the bill to my master.

For continuing (Pre-intermediate - Intermediate)

Reading English texts is not only an opportunity to enrich yourself with new knowledge, but also to get an idea of ​​the structure of an English sentence, slang expressions and, in general, modern speech. After all, it often happens that when studying a language at school, we have no idea that some words are already used in completely different meanings, while others are completely born before our eyes and replenish the English dictionary with new lexical units that did not exist before. Scientists note that in 5-7 years there will be such professions that we know nothing about today. Below you can find the literary text. Pay attention to sentence structure and vocabulary.

Are you ready for this, Amy?” David asked his daughter. The girl finished tying the laces of her old walking boots, looked up and nodded slowly. “I think so.” They walked along a lane out of the village until they reached a gently winding path that led to the river. After crossing a wooden bridge, they followed the line of the riverbank, where tall trees kept the hot sun off their heads. David listened to the chatter of the fast-flowing river. The last time they had come this way, he had listened to a chattering stream of words from his daughter, who had told him about endless adventures and the scandals of friends and classmates. Today, as they had crossed the bridge, a little gray and yellow bird had caught her eye. Amy's face had brightened, and the start of a story almost reached her lips, but then she remained silent. The path became steeper, leaving the river and splitting into two parts as they came closer to Kinder Reservoir. Looking at his map, David pointed to the route that climbed above the reservoir. They followed it to the start of a narrow valley, where another steep path ran beside a fast-moving stream. As they climbed higher, Amy began to notice the changing landscape. The stream was a series of little waterfalls that fell through green ferns and purple heather.

Show translation

Show translation

"Are you ready for this, Amy?" David asked his daughter. The girl finished tying her old shoe laces, looked up and nodded slowly. "I think yes". They walked along the narrow path out of the village until they reached a calm winding path leading to the river. After crossing the wooden bridge, they walked along the riverbank, where tall trees kept the hot sun over their heads. David heard the murmur of a fast-flowing river. The last time they came here, he heard an unceasing stream of words from his daughter, who told him about the endless adventures and scandals of friends and classmates. Today, when they crossed the bridge, she noticed a small gray-yellow bird. Amy's face filled with joy, and she almost began her story, but said nothing. The path became steeper, leaving the river behind and splitting in two as they approached the Kinder reservoir. Looking at his map, David pointed to a route that skirted the reservoir. They followed him to the beginning of a narrow valley, where another steep path ran beside a swift stream. As they climbed higher, Amy began to notice the changing landscape. The stream was part of small waterfalls that tumbled through green ferns and purple heather.

Intermediate-Upper-intermediate

When people ask me how I learned to speak German, I tell them it was simple: I met a German man at the Oktoberfest, married him, and stayed in Munich for 20 years. But there's a bit of a backstory, too. In 1973, my friend Sally and I decided to quit our jobs and travel through Europe. We boarded a plane in early September, determined to stay abroad as long as possible - stretching our money by hitchhiking and staying in youth hostels. Over the next eight months, we covered a lot of ground, from Greece and Turkey to Finland, managing to limit our costs to an average of $5 a day. It all started in Luxembourg, when we walked to the edge of town and stuck out our thumbs. It wasn't long before a group of US soldiers on motorcycles stopped. They were on their way to a wine festival on the Moselle River and were thrilled to have female companionship.

As 24-year-old American girls with backpacks, Sally and I rarely had to wait long for a ride. And although we often couldn't understand the drivers, it didn't matter. Wherever they were going was fine with us. Other than our plans to visit the Oktoberfest in Munich, we had absolutely no itinerary. The advantage of this easygoing lifestyle was that we visited many villages that were far off the beaten path.

Show translation

Show translation

When people ask me how I learned to speak German, I tell them that it was simple: I met a German at Oktoberfest, married him and stayed in Munich for 20 years. But there is also a backstory. In 1973, my friend Sally and I decided to quit our jobs and travel around Europe. In early September, we boarded a plane, determined to stay abroad as long as possible, saving our money by hitchhiking and staying in youth hostels. Over the next eight months, we traveled from Greece and Turkey to Finland, intending to cut our costs down to an average of $5 a day. It all started in Luxembourg when we were out of town and gave a thumbs up. It wasn't long before a group of American soldiers on motorcycles stopped. They were on their way to a wine festival on the Moselle River and were delighted with the sorority. As 24-year-old American girls with backpacks, Sally and I rarely had to wait for a ride. And although we often couldn't understand the drivers, it didn't matter. Wherever they went, we were fine. Apart from our plans to visit the Oktoberfest in Munich, we had absolutely no itinerary. The advantage of this quiet lifestyle was that we visited many villages that were far off the beaten track.

For advanced (Advanced)

Recently, I've been flying quite a lot - for the usual reasons, like holidays, weddings, milestone birthdays and, sadly, the odd funeral. Since I live in Perth, Western Australia - a very isolated state capital – a flight to the east coast means at least four hours in the air for me. To put that into a European perspective, a flight to Sydney is about the same as flying from Dublin to Istanbul. Then there's the time difference of two to three hours, so that a whole day is lost crossing the country. When I'm sky-high, I'm captive to what I call "cardboard-box cuisine". Recent experiences with our major carriers Qantas and Virgin suggest that there may be more flavor in the box itself than its contents.

Sure, Australian airlines have a long tradition of offering free food and drinks, including beer and wine, especially on longer flights. And flying is relatively inexpensive in economy class. Even on the good airlines, I can usually get to and from Sydney for less than A$700. Budget carriers will cost you half of that. Back to airline food, though. On a flight to Perth some weeks ago, I was given a “Chinese chicken salad” for my evening meal. In the box, I found a mound of dry purple cabbage and a dozen small pieces of equally dry chicken. There was no dressing, so the only parts of this meal I could eat were two cracker biscuits and a piece of cheese that came on the side. I washed them down with a tiny bottle of red wine and thought, “This meal isn’t free: it’s worthless.” Some time later, I wandered down to the flight attendants’ quarters at the back of the plane to see if I could get some more cheese and crackers and another small bottle of wine. The staff were helpful, but what surprised me were the meals they were eating, including a steaming plate of grilled pork medallions in cream sauce with rice and fresh vegetables.

Show translation

Show translation

I've been flying quite a lot lately - for the usual reasons like vacations, weddings, anniversaries and, unfortunately, funerals. Since I live in Perth, Western Australia, a very remote state capital, flying to the east coast means at least four hours in the air for me. If we draw parallels with Europe, a flight to Sydney takes about the same time as from Dublin to Istanbul. In addition, there is a time difference of two or three hours, so a whole day is lost when crossing the country. When I'm high in the sky, I become a prisoner of what I call "food from a cardboard box." Recent experiences with major food supplier Qantas and Virgin suggest that there may be more smell in the box than what's inside. Of course, Australian Airlines has a long tradition of serving free food and drink, including beer and wine, especially on long flights. Flying in economy class is relatively inexpensive. Even with good airlines, I can get there from Sydney for less than AU$700. Budget carriers will cost half the price. However, back to the food on board. On a flight to Perth a few weeks ago, I was served "Chinese Chicken Salad" for dinner. In the box I found a pile of dry cauliflower and a dozen small pieces of the same dry chicken. There was no sauce, so all I could eat was two crackers and a piece of cheese. I washed them down with a small bottle of red wine and thought, "This food isn't free, but it's disgusting." After a while, I walked to the back of the plane to see the flight attendants to make sure I could ask for some more cheese, crackers, and a small bottle of wine. The staff were helpful, but what surprised me the most was the food they ate, including steaming plates of grilled pork medallions in a cream sauce with rice and fresh vegetables.

Download ready-made texts

Ready-made texts in English can be found on specialized sites or in magazines and. Please note that tasks often go to the text to consolidate the material, and new vocabulary is highlighted in a different color.

There is a myth that only English speakers can read original books. But today you will be convinced that even a beginner is able to master a literary work and understand its meaning (especially if these are adapted books in English for beginners). In addition, you can always click on an unfamiliar word and see its translation.

Why is it so important to read books at an elementary level?

• First, reading books guarantees a deeper immersion in the language than texts from textbooks.
• Secondly, this is a huge plus for self-esteem and motivation, which is very important for further language learning.
• And, finally, this is one of the easiest and most interesting activities, if the appropriate literature is selected.

That's why we found for you the best adapted versions of foreign works(just follow the links). All books have been rewritten by professional linguists and significantly reduced: the average volume of a simplified version is about 10-20 pages, which is quite realistic to read in one evening.

A story about the friendship of two smart mice from France and Great Britain, who are concerned about the fate of Shakespeare's cultural heritage. This book uses direct speech a lot, which means you won't have problems speaking English in the future.

by Mark Twain (beginner - 7 pages) It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard about the thrilling adventures of Tom Sawyer. And reading about them in the original is even more fun. The vocabulary of the story is suitable even for those who "yesterday" began to learn English.

by Sally M. Stockton (elementary - 6 pages) An ageless tale of a brave archer who fights for justice. After reading the book, you can watch one of the many film adaptations.

by Andrew Mathews (elementary - 6 pages) A beautiful story about a teenage girl, Susie, living in the shadow of her more attractive friend Donna. Susie hates her freckles and thinks they make her look ugly. Find out how the story ends and whether Susie's attitude towards herself will change.

by John Escott (elementary - 8 pages) In our selection there was a place for a story about ghosts. The author has a very bright style of narration, so it is difficult to break away from the story. So, you can easily master 8 pages in one go.

by Mark Twain (elementary - 9 pages) Another work of Mark Twain in our selection will delight you with the story of Huckleberry Finn. A great chance to remember your childhood. The adapted version of this children's book is a real boon for the beginner!

More than ten pages - success! Simple books in English for beginners

by Peter Benchley (elementary - 12 pages) An adapted version of the famous "Jaws" - a novel about a great white shark attacking vacationers in a resort town (brrr, horror!). The long, common sentences may make the book difficult for the elementary level, but we believe that 12 pages is no problem for you.

by Lewis Carroll (elementary - 13 pages) A wonderful opportunity to once again be in Wonderland and learn the names of the characters in English. The book is read very quickly and easily - tested on my own experience in elementary school.

by Jack London (elementary - 15 pages) A heartbreaking story about the life of a dog during the gold rush. The book focuses on the relationship between man and animals. In my opinion, this work is one of the best in our selection in terms of plot and style of writing.

by Roger Lancelyn Green (elementary - 16 pages) A great opportunity to get acquainted with the exploits of King Arthur and the famous knights of the round table. Welcome to the era of the English Middle Ages.

For those who are serious. Reading books in English for beginners

The second story by Arthur Conan Doyle, dedicated to the investigations of Sherlock Holmes. In the simplified version of the work, the beauty of the story and the mystery of this detective story are perfectly preserved.

by Elizabeth Gaskell (pre-intermediate - 51 pages) The novel "North and South" describes the confrontation between manufacturers and aristocrats during the industrial revolution in England. The book will appeal not only to fans of the romantic classics performed by Jane Austen, but also to those who like historical works.

Books in English with translation for beginners

In this section you can read or download simple, short and easy texts in English for beginners. Materials include short stories, articles, excerpts from well-known works or short stories in English for beginners. These texts will be useful, first of all, for those who are at the initial stage of learning and have a small vocabulary, although they may be of interest to more advanced students. Approximate level of presented stories from beginner to elementary. Simple stories and beginner-level stories will be an excellent source of vocabulary building, especially when reading without a dictionary using semantic guesswork, since most of the words in the text are quite simple and will most likely be familiar to you. Reading light articles and stories will allow you to develop and consolidate the vocabulary of the most frequently used words in everyday speech, the so-called "minilex" consisting of about 400-500 popular words.

You can read your favorite stories in English at an entry level on our website, print materials directly from the browser "Ctrl + P" or save to your computer using the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + S" for further work with the text.

The more you read, the faster your vocabulary builds up, as reading is the most natural, efficient and enjoyable way to build up your vocabulary. At the initial stage, short and easy texts for reading in English are suitable, as well as specially adapted books of 1-3 difficulty levels (starter, beginner, elementary).
You just read the story, trying to guess the meaning of all unfamiliar words. If the level of the work is chosen correctly, then there will not be too many such words, and you will be able to fully understand the meaning of what you read. A good option for reading would also be easy texts in English for beginners with translation into Russian. The advantage of this option is that there is no need to consult a dictionary. But in this case, one should not abuse the translation and mainly use a semantic guess, and only then watch the Russian version.

This section presents mainly fiction for reading. And if you didn’t find what you were looking for, then perhaps you need to turn to the section of the site where are presented, as well as essays in English. Or a collection of topics for reading and memorizing to your computer.
The collection includes simple texts in English for beginners on various topics and will be a great helper for language learners. Only 400 topics from stories about yourself, family and your hobbies, to biographies of prominent people in the history of mankind and the traditions of the inhabitants of English-speaking countries.
If easy texts for beginners in English seem too simple to you, that is, when reading there will be no unfamiliar words or there will be too few of them, then you can safely move on to stories and stories of an average level of complexity or adapted books of an intermediate level.

Download and read short easy stories in English :

English legend