british council learn english opinion essay

An opinion essay

Look at the essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then do the other exercises.

Preparation

Check your understanding: multiple selection

Check your writing: matching - useful words and phrases.

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IELTS practice Academic Writing test - Task 2

How to approach academic writing task 2.

In the actual IELTS Academic Writing test, you will have one hour to complete the two questions or tasks: 20 minutes for the first task and 40 minutes for the second. So, you should expect to spend a little longer on practice Task 2 than you did on practice Task 1.

While you shouldn’t put yourself under too much pressure when practicing, it’s a good idea to set a timer or alert, so you can keep a track of your progress and how close you are to the time limit.

An easy reminder…

Q: How long should I spend on IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: We suggest 40 minutes.

Q: How many words for IELTS Writing Task 2?

A: 250 words is about the right length, but don’t be afraid to go a little over.

Q: Should I be formal or conversational in style?

A: You should write in a formal style, suited to an academic environment.

Task 2 - Write about the following topic:

You should give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your response.

What should I do next?

Once you’ve finished, you can download the model answer for Writing Task 2 and see how your work compares.

Remember, you don’t have to agree with the opinion expressed in the model answer; this Task 2 sample is a guide to illustrate the style, content, level of detail, structure, length and so on. A good way to improve is to spend some time reflecting on how your answer compares to the model answer - and keep practicing, of course.

If you want to see an example of an actual answer sheet for the IELTS Academic Writing test (‘on paper’ version), you can download a sample copy below.

• IELTS practice Academic Writing test - Task 1

• Teaching secondary
• Intermediate B1

Improving paragraph writing

This activity can be used with students of English and also trainee teachers. It is a way to make your opinion or discursive essay writing lessons more interesting and learner-centred.

The activity focuses on mistakes made at paragraph level in a text. I have tried this with my university students and they have found it useful.

• First, ask your students to provide sample paragraphs (introduction, body paragraphs, or conclusion), or choose paragraphs from their last essay that they wrote for the class.
• Second, study these samples carefully and try to give comments on two or three problems within one paragraph.
• Next, design a handout in which there is a copy of the paragraph with a table including two columns, comments and examples. Leave the "examples" column blank. Put your comments for the chosen paragraphs in the comments column. For example, 'Wrong word - register' or 'use a conjunction here' or 'spelling' or 'poor topic sentence'…
• In class give out the handouts and ask students to work in pairs to find examples to support the comments made by the teacher.

This activity aims to help students and trainee teachers to recognise their own problems with paragraph construction and to identify errors, which improves their own re-drafting skills.

It also helps them to practise the (teacher's) skill of giving comments and examples.

This making columns and…

This making columns and giving handouts to comment about teacher I will definitely apply it.

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I think this method is a little bit difficult for my students but I will try to perform it

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How to write an essay in English

By ielts expert, 29 june 2023 - 16:00.

Many students say writing is the worst part of their English, but it’s often just a case of confidence. With practice, and the tips in this post, you can gain the confidence you need to maximise your English and really show it off. This post will look at the three stages of writing - planning, writing the text and reading it back.

If you are preparing for an exam, please be aware that for the latest information on exam format you should always go straight to the source – IELTS website . You can practice free online IELTS Academic Writing tests or General Training Writing tests . You can also practice writing your answer by downloading an IELTS Writing Answer Sheet .

Planning is an integral part of your writing. You might say “I don’t plan”, but somewhere in your subconscious, you do! By raising your awareness of your own planning process you can improve enormously. As a teacher, I see many students who plan and many who don’t. In general, the students that plan produce much better work, so if you are in the “no plan” camp, you should at least experiment with some of the ideas coming up.

Planning 1: Address the question

If you are writing for a class assignment or an exam, it is crucial that you address the question given. Adequate planning (five minutes is better than nothing) will keep you on track. 

Start by breaking the question down into its parts. There will usually be two or three aspects to the question. You want not only to cover all aspects of the question, but also make it obvious to your teacher or the examiner that you have done so, and the best way to demonstrate this is to give each aspect its own paragraph.

Planning 2: Brainstorm vocabulary as well as ideas

Once you have identified your paragraphs, think about what vocabulary you have at your disposal. Perhaps you would like to write one paragraph from a particular angle, but when you start planning you might find there are holes in your vocabulary and you are better able to write from a different angle. Choose ideas which best overlap with what you can clearly state in English.

Planning 3: Write chunks of language

Even with all the vocabulary in the world, some ideas are complex to express in writing. Causality, speculation and hypothetical scenarios are all abstract concepts which make it more challenging to say exactly what you want, but these are also an opportunity to push your English ability to the max and show your grammatical range. 

Sound out in your head how you will make your arguments, and when you get stuck, try writing this part down in your plan. It might be a whole sentence of just a clause. This will help you decide if you have enough English ability to get across a really impressive idea, or if you need to simplify your thoughts in order to remain clear to the reader.

Writing the text 1: Use your plan!

I have seen many students write logical, competent plans that address the question, only to go off on a random tangent when they start writing! 

Of course, you might change some things as you go along, for example if you have a new idea, but keeping an eye on your plan will prevent you from getting distracted and bring you back to the question you must answer. It will also keep you aware of how you are doing for word count and time.

Writing the text 2: Write your introduction last

You should at least consider this idea. The purpose of an introduction is to tell the reader what they are going to read, so how can you write the introduction when you haven’t written the content yet?

Introductions are fiddly to write on a blank canvas, but much easier when we already have the content written in front of us.

If you are writing on paper, it is still possible to write the introduction last - you just need to leave a few lines for it.

Writing the text 3: Make sure your introduction and conclusion match

Your introduction and conclusion should also match the content of your main body paragraphs. This might seem obvious, but I wish I had a euro for every time I have seen an introduction passionately in favour of something followed by body paragraphs and a conclusion that were passionately against.

This problem can be avoided by writing your conclusion last, as suggested above. It will also be avoided by planning, and thinking a little more deeply how you feel about the question before you start. When I say a little more deeply, I’m talking about a minute or so, not hours.

Writing the text 4: Use linkers

Linkers are often misunderstood as simply a way of showing “formal English” but in fact, we use linkers all the time, even when chatting with friends. We use them in speech and in writing to indicate “I’m going to add to what was just said,”  “I’m going to contradict what was just said,” and generally to help the listener or reader understand where we are going next.

After writing the text

This is another area where many students are very reluctant - you need to read what you wrote! 

Check for spelling errors, missing third person s, capital letters, whatever errors you are prone to make… and if you don’t know what errors you are prone to make, it’s because you aren’t checking your writing, so you need to start today! You can be the expert on your own writing strengths and weaknesses, and this will just make you better and better.

Moreover, you should read back your text because it’s enjoyable to see how skillfully you put your ideas down and how convincing your arguments are. You did it! Well done! Enjoy the moment with some positivity!

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British Council

Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth Essay Collection

Essay collection: these essays explore heritage’s relationship to sustainable development from a variety of different perspectives, through case studies, concepts and practical approaches.

Difficult Conversations

Essay collection: this series looks at how the arts enable reparative engagement with legacies of trauma and conflict.

Crossing Points: UK-Australia / New Zealand / Pacific

Essay collection: islands in the stream – the UK’s relations with Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region explored.

Exploring the Public Realm: In the city, everyone is an artist

September 2018: Shrirya Malhotra writes about working with collective Partizaning in Moscow and the differences between being a public artist and an activist in Moscow and Delhi.

Exploring the Public Realm: My House is Your House - How Music Venues Enrich Life in a City Where Strangers Meet

September 2018: Dave Haslam examines how music venues provide spaces for new encounters.

Reflections on building inclusive and sustainable peace

September 2018: This collection of essays captures the discussions, reflections and recommendations from the 2018 Peace and Beyond Conference in Belfast.

Exploring the Public Realm: How can artistic and cultural participation affect individual and collective experience in the public realm and the city?

Research series: Diba Salem looks at Dubai, its architecture and what is ‘public’ in the middle east.

Exploring the Public Realm: A teenage takeover of libraries

September 2018: This essay explores libraries and youth takeovers in three cities in the North of the UK, with youth challenging who owns ‘public’ – if interior – space.

Crossing Points: UK-Poland

Essay collection: as Poland celebrates 100 years since the restoration of its independence, the British Council publishes a book of essays of the Anglo-Polish relationship.

Crossing Points: UK-Germany

Essay collection: the new British Council collection of essays, ‘Crossing Points’, has been written by eight authors for the ‘UK/Germany 2018’ season.

British Council Worldwide

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• Hong Kong, SAR of China
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• Myanmar (Burma)
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British Council English Online review: Are these English classes worth it?

British Council has helped over 80 million students globally to learn English over the past 80 years. In 2020 it launched English Online, a platform offering live online English classes alongside premium learning materials.

It’s not the cheapest way to access online English classes, but it’s touted as one of the best and is used by over 45,000 students worldwide.

If you’re considering signing up, this detailed British Council English Online review will cover:

• British Council English Online pricing, credit system, and discounts
• The different course options and what’s included at each level
• How easy it is to book lessons and use the platform
• Who the teachers are
• How British Council helps you learn English online
• Criticisms of the platform
• Alternative ways to learn English with online classes

We hope this helps you decide whether British Council’s English Online course is right for you.

Key takeaways

• British Council English Online offers a versatile learning environment with live classes, premium resources, and study paths themed by topic.
• The courses support a broad range of learner goals and styles , serving a global audience from diverse backgrounds.
• The platform is known for its expert course content and personalized teaching methods.
• Choose from self-study or live online classes (group or private) with flexible pricing according to your budget and learning preferences.
• Specialist courses for business English and IELTS test preparation are available.
• Online classes to suit your schedule, 24/7
• Learn at your own pace
• Combine private and group lessons
• Highly qualified English tutors
• Pause your subscription if needed
• Free 7-day trial with some packages
• Limited number of tutors
• More expensive than language apps
• Requires self-motivation
• Only British English

What is British Council English Online?

English Online is the name of British Council’s online English course platform.

With a monthly subscription, students can access private and group classes as well as supplemental learning materials. Thanks to it being an online platform with teachers all over the world, you can take classes at any time of day, 24/7.

English Online classes cover a wide range of topics aimed at improving your English for use in everyday life, work, travel, and more.

Progress is measured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

British Council’s background in education

British Council was founded by the British government in 1934 as the “British Committee for Relations with Other Countries”. The name changed to British Council in 1936, and in 1938 the organization opened its first overseas offices in Romania, Egypt, Portugal, and Poland.

The original mission of British Council was to improve cultural relations overseas and promote a wider knowledge of Britain and the English language abroad, and it still retains these values today through cultural activities and education centers.

In 1980, British Council partnered with Cambridge English to launch the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which today is one of the most widely recognized English assessments.

English Online is a relatively new addition; this online platform was launched in 2020 as a response to people wanting to learn online during the pandemic.

Although it uses modern technology, you can be assured that British Council brings decades of teaching experience and high pedagogical standards to its English courses .

Who can benefit from British Council courses?

The British Council’s English Online courses cater to a wide spectrum of learners. They’re especially suitable for students who:

• Value live tuition
• Would prefer to learn British English
• Want flexible and convenient learning options
• Are preparing for an IELTS test
• Want to focus on learning English for business

The classes are not suitable for people who want to learn American English or who have a very low budget, although there is a self-study course option with no live classes for just $10/month.

British Council English Online course overview

There are three types of course available with English Online:

• Self-study: Online exercises but no live classes
• Silver/Gold/Platinum: Live group or private classes with additional online materials
• IELTS Coach: A 3-month package with group or private classes aimed at improving your IELTS score

We’ll come back to the IELTS Coach option later; for now we’ll focus on the first two options.

British Council’s self-study program gives you access to online learning materials from six themes, plus four Live25 sessions per month.

Live25 sessions are 25-minute webinars that focus on grammar and pronunciation. The webinars are taught live by British Council teachers and are included in every English Online package . You can interact and answer questions via the chat box but you don’t get to speak to the teacher directly.

The Silver, Gold, and Platinum packages give you access to all this plus live online classes with an English teacher. You can choose group classes, private classes, or a combination of both. The number of classes you can attend each month depends on your package, which brings us on to…

British Council English Online prices and credits

English Online pricing can be a little tricky to understand as the platform operates a credit-based system for classes.

• A 55-minute group class (maximum 10 students) = 1 credit
• A 25-minute private class = 2 credits

Here are the different packages and the number of class credits they include:

British Council often runs promotions and discounts for these packages, so check here for current offers.

Now, let’s explain what the class credit system means in practice.

With the Silver plan, you can spend your 5 monthly credits in any of the following ways:

• 5 group classes
• 1 private and 3 group classes
• 1 group and 2 private classes

The Gold plan, which includes 10 monthly credits, can give you:

• 10 group classes
• 5 private classes
• 3 private and 4 group classes, etc.

And with the Platinum plan, which includes 15 monthly credits, you can take:

• 15 group classes
• 1 group and 7 private classes
• 5 private and 5 group classes, etc.

With all plans, you have the option to purchase extra class credits each month if you want to attend additional classes.

Group vs private classes

Group classes last 55 minutes, compared to 25 minutes for private classes. Although you get double the teaching time with a group class, you have to share that time with other students. You may end up having more speaking practice and teacher feedback in a 25-minute private class than in a 55-minute group class.

However, group classes allow you to interact with a global community of English learners, so you can listen to different accents, learn new words, and feel more connected in your learning journey.

The other big difference is the class materials. Group classes are based on the course themes, with 54-84 lesson topics per English level. In a private class, you can either select from the topic list or you can discuss anything you like with your private teacher – from tricky grammar to recent news events to general conversation practice.

Fortunately, you have full control over how you spend your credits each month. This means you can try out different teachers and class types until you find a combination that suits you.

Other benefits

The Platinum plan includes access to extra business English classes and lesson materials. These classes are only available on the Silver and Gold plans if you pay annually, rather than monthly.

Finally, there’s a free 7-day trial period , with 2 class credits included, if you sign up for the Gold or Platinum plans. Whichever package you choose, you are free to cancel anytime.

IELTS Coach

British Council is one of the co-owners of IELTS , so the organization knows a thing or two about how to help you achieve your target score.

Your IELTS Coach experience begins with a personal needs analysis (costing two class credits) which helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses and create a learning plan. The course teachers have a thorough knowledge of the IELTS test and will be able to give you personalized advice and help.

The IELTS Coach packages use the same class credits system as the regular classes, but you pay a single fee for a three-month subscription.

There are three packages, the only difference being the price and the number of credits included:

Again, there are often discounts available, and you can check here for current promotions.

These courses are suitable for anyone taking the IELTS test for the first time, but also for anyone retaking the test to achieve a higher score.

During your lessons, you’ll get the chance to do practice speaking tests and writing tutorials so you feel fully prepared for test day.

The learning experience: Course content and teaching methods

We’ve explained how much British Council’s English Online platform costs and the different plans available, so now let’s look at what you get when you sign up .

English Online classes are designed by English experts, building on British Council’s 80+ years of education experience. The teachers on the platform are all highly qualified professionals, experienced at teaching English online to people all around the world. It’s the quality of the teaching that sets British Council apart from similar services.

The platform provides a comprehensive suite of learning activities, including:

• A free placement test
• Exercises for listening, reading, and writing skills
• Interactive grammar and pronunciation lessons
• Vocabulary exercises
• Audio and video materials with real-life application scenarios
• Live classes to build English speaking confidence (except the self-study package)
• A certificate of attendance that updates as you complete lessons

You can access some of this content for free by going to this page and clicking on the ‘Explore our online platform’ button. Once you are registered, go to the ‘Extra Study’ section for free video lessons and grammar tests.

Lessons are grouped into ‘Themes’, like modules on a particular topic. One theme consists of six lessons, each of which has a corresponding class and some preparatory materials.

Lesson topics include:

• Avoiding awkward silences
• Making travel arrangements
• Work-life balance
• Presenting information formally
• Writing a restaurant review

At the end of each theme, you have the option to complete an assessment, which consists of a 30-minute online test followed by a speaking assessment with a teacher. You are awarded digital badges that you can share on social media to celebrate each milestone.

Overall, this is an excellent online course for learning English because you have the opportunity to practice your speaking and receive personal feedback, accompanied by robust learning materials and additional grammar and pronunciation sessions.

Level progression

We mentioned that British Council uses CEFR levels to assess students and measure progress. These levels are:

• A1 – Elementary
• A2 – Pre-intermediate
• B1 – Intermediate
• B2 – Upper-intermediate
• C1 – Advanced

At level C1 you should be able to speak English fluently , but even at B2 many learners have a sense of fluency and confidence holding natural conversations.

When you sign up you can select your level or take a quick placement test . Each level has between 54 and 84 lessons, but you don’t need to complete them all before moving up a level. You can progress to the next level whenever you feel ready . Your teacher’s feedback will also help with this decision.

This also means that there is no fixed timeframe for completing each English level. Your rate of progress will depend on how many classes you take and the amount of extra time you spend studying.

At any time during your studies, you can download a digital Certificate of Attendance which is updated live with your level progress and study hours. This is helpful to add to your resume to demonstrate your ability to speak English to potential employers.

Combining these online classes with another English learning app could be a good way to cover more topics and progress faster.

Navigating the platform: Usability and design

The British Council English Online platform is user-friendly, with an organized and straightforward website interface.

It’s easy to book classes; just select the days and times that suit you and you’ll see a list of available classes. Add optional filters to search for:

• Classes with your favorite teachers (you can create your own list of favorite teachers)
• Classes on particular themes (for group classes)
• Classes you have not taken before (for group classes)

Before your class starts, take some time to review the lesson preparation materials. This will help you get the most out of the time with your tutor.

From your dashboard, you can view upcoming classes and track your progress through each theme. You can also check how many class credits you have left for the month and view notes and feedback from teachers in previous classes.

Flexible online classes: Study at your own pace

Unlike attending English classes at school or university, most online courses let you study at your own pace .

This is great if you have a busy schedule and can’t easily plan ahead. With British Council English Online, you can log in any time of day and join a class that’s about to start. There’s no need to book far ahead unless you want a specific teacher.

However, if you know you might struggle to stay motivated and join classes regularly without a fixed schedule, this might not be the best learning method for you.

Another benefit of English Online is you can book group and private classes with different teachers – you are not limited to just one. In fact, it’s a good idea to learn with a variety of teachers from different countries – being able to understand different accents is a useful language skill!

Additionally, you can work through themes in any order you like and skip any that aren’t relevant to your learning goals.

If you need to take a break, there is the option to pause your subscription for one or two months. If you do this, no new credits will be added during the break but you can still use up any that are left. You can cancel anytime if you no longer feel you are benefitting from the course.

The verdict: Is British Council English Online worth it?

Given the high-quality courses, flexible learning options, and professional teaching materials used, the British Council English Online program is a valuable investment for those seeking to improve their English language skills.

The self-study course is good for those on a budget, but the real benefit comes from teacher-led lessons with the world’s English experts. For those wanting an intensive English course , the Platinum plan offers the best value for money.

If you are studying for your IELTS test, British Council’s coaching program is an excellent way to accelerate your learning and become more confident in how to approach the test.

Sign up now to get a free trial lesson or just explore the platform and check out the free materials.

British Council alternatives

If you’re not convinced after reading this British Council English Online review, what are your other options?

Another platform offering live online classes with English teachers is Preply . Benefits of Preply include:

• Over 20,000 English tutors available 24/7
• Private lessons starting from $5 per 50 minutes (up to $100 for more experienced tutors)
• The option to study with a teacher who speaks your native language
• Learning tools to practice your English skills between lessons

Preply encourages you to stick with one tutor rather than switching between different ones, which has its pros and cons.

You can explore tutors here and claim 50% off your first class .

Gymglish is an online English course that uses AI technology to keep the lesson content relevant to you. It is not teacher-led, so it does lack the interaction and speaking practice that you get with live online classes.

However, you get surprisingly detailed feedback after each lesson, and the course guides you to keep working on the areas you are struggling with.

If you want to focus on business English or other topics, you can select these when you register and the course content will be tailored to your preferences.

Try Gymglish free for one month or read our full Gymglish review here.

If you choose British Council’s English Online course, you can be confident of some of the best teachers who are experienced in teaching English as a second language online.

The platform is simple to use and it’s easy to book classes and track your progress.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, a traveler, or just someone looking to improve their English skills, British Council English Online offers a learning journey that’s tailored to your needs, helping you achieve your English learning goals and open up a world of opportunities.

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34 English Short Stories with Big Ideas for Thoughtful English Learners

What if you could understand big ideas in English with just a little bit of text?

You don’t need to read an entire English book to learn. A good English short story is often enough!

Stories are all about going beyond reality, and these classics will not only improve your English reading but also open your mind to different worlds.

1. “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Aesop

2. “the ant and the grasshopper” by aesop, 3. “white wing: the tale of the doves and the hunter”, 4. “royal servant”, 5. “emily’s secret”, 6. “the bogey beast” by flora annie steel, 7. “love is in the air”, 8. “the tale of johnny town-mouse” by beatrix potter, 9. “paul bunyan” adapted by george grow, 10. “cinderella” by charles perrault, 11. “little red riding hood” adapted by the british council, 12. “the lottery” by shirley jackson, 13. “the happy prince” by oscar wilde.

• 14. “The Night Train at Deoli” by Ruskin Bond

15. “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury

• 16. “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco

17. “Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu

18. “the missing mail” by r.k. narayan, 19. “harrison bergeron” by kurt vonnegut.

• 20. “The School” by Donald Barthelme

21. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

22. “rikki-tikki-tavi” by rudyard kipling, 23. excerpt from “little dorrit” by charles dickens, 24. “to build a fire” by jack london, 25. “miracles” by lucy corin.

• 26. “Evil Robot Monkey” by Mary Robinette Kowal

27. “The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce 

28. “the monkey’s paw” by w.w. jacobs, 29. “a tiny feast” by chris adrian, 30. “the story of an hour” by kate chopin, 31. “the zero meter diving team” by jim shepherd, 32. “the velveteen rabbit” by margery williams, 33. “the friday everything changed” by anne hart, 34. “hills like white elephants” by ernest hemingway, how to use short stories to improve your english, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

This classic fable (story) is about a very slow tortoise (turtle) and a speedy hare (rabbit). The tortoise challenges the hare to a race. The hare laughs at the idea that a tortoise could run faster than him, but the race ends with a surprising result.

Have you ever heard the English expression, “Slow and steady wins the race”? This story is the basis for that common phrase . You can read it for free , along with a number of other stories in this list!

This is another great story that teaches a lesson that’s written for kids but adults can enjoy, too . The story tells of a grasshopper who lounges around all summer while his friend the ant prepares for the winter. When winter comes, the two friends end up in very different situations!

The moral is that those who save up during the good times will get to enjoy the benefits when times are bad.

This very short story from India was originally written in Sanskrit (an ancient language). When a group of doves is caught in a hunter’s net, they must work together as a team to escape from the hunter’s clutches.

You can listen to a reading of the story as you read along on this website.

In this story, an old man sets out to ask an African king to dig some wells in his village when their water runs dry. But first, he teaches the king a lesson in humility by showing him how all people help each other. Read the story to see how the clever old man gets the king to do as he asks!

This is a modern-day story about a little girl with a big secret she can’t tell anyone about. When her teacher finds out her secret, they work together to fix the issue.

This story is a good choice for absolute beginners, because it uses only the present tense. It’s also written in very basic English with simple vocabulary and short sentences.

The woman in this story finds a pot of treasure on her walk home. As she carries it home, the treasure keeps changing, becoming things of lesser value.

However, the woman’s enthusiasm makes her see only the positive after each change, which would have upset anyone else. Her positive personality tries to make every negative situation seem like a gift!

This story shows how important it is to look at things from a positive point of view. Instead of being disappointed in what we don’t have, this story reminds us to view what we do have as blessings.

This modern story is about a young woman named Penny who is anxious about going to her family’s annual reunion barbecue. But despite screaming children and arguing cousins, Penny ends up happy that she came to the reunion when she starts a conversation with a handsome man.

The story is written in simple English, using only the present tense, so it’s perfect for beginners.

This classic children’s story is about two mice, one from the country and one from the city. Both mice think that the other mouse is so lucky to live in what they think is a wonderful place!

The two mice decide to visit each other in their homes. It turns out that the country mouse has a difficult time in the city, and the city mouse struggles in the country.

In the end, they realize that they believed the old English saying: “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” In other words, each mouse thought the other had a better life, only to discover that they actually preferred their own life!

The story of Paul Bunyan has been around in the United States for many years. He’s the symbol of American frontier life, showing the ideal strength, work ethic and good morality that Americans work hard to imitate.

Paul Bunyan is considered a legend, so stories about him are full of unusual details, such as eating 50 eggs in one day and being so big that he caused an earthquake. It can be a pretty funny read, with characters such as a blue ox and a reversible dog.

This version of the story is also meant to be read out loud, so it’s fast-paced and entertaining. This website has an audio recording with the story, which you can play at slower or faster speeds.

You may already know the story of Cinderella, whether you saw the Disney movie or read a children’s book of it.

However, there are actually many different versions of “Cinderella.” This one by Charles Perrault is the most well-known and is often the version told to children.

“Cinderella” is a beloved story because it describes how a kind and hard-working person was able to get a happy ending. Even though Cinderella’s stepsisters treated her awfully, Cinderella herself remained gentle and humble. It goes to show that even though you may experience hardships, it’s important to stay kind, forgiving and mindful.

This is a story that every English-speaking child knows. It’s about a little girl who meets a wolf in the forest while going to see her sick grandmother. The wolf pretends to be her grandmother in order to trick the little girl.

This story is presented by the British Council as a video with the text clearly spoken. You can then play a game to rearrange the sentences below the video into the correct order, read the text of the story in a PDF file and answer some activity questions (then check your answers with the provided answer sheet.

This website has many other stories you can read and listen to, like “Circus Story” by Sue Clarke, which is an excellent option for learning animal vocabulary, and even adaptations of Shakespeare plays for younger readers.

Every year, the small town in this story holds an event known as “The Lottery.” During this event, someone from the community is randomly chosen.

What are they chosen for? You’ll have to read the story to find out.

You may have heard of the term “mob mentality” and how it can allow for some pretty surprising (and terrible) things to happen. This classic story looks at society, and how much evil people are willing to overlook to keep their society stable.

This is considered to be one of the most famous short stories in American literature. It’s a great example of what is known as a dystopian society, where people live in a frightening way. To learn more, check out this TED-Ed video that tells you how to recognize a dystopia.

Since the story is old, much of the English is outdated (not used in modern English). Still, if you have a good grasp of the English language, you can use this story to give yourself a great reading challenge.

14. “The Night Train at Deoli”  by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond used to spend summers at his grandmother’s house in Dehradun, India. While taking the train, he always had to pass through a small station called Deoli. No one used to get down at the station and nothing happened there.

Until one day, when he sees a girl selling fruit and is unable to forget her.

Ruskin Bond is a writer who can communicate deep feelings in a simple way. This story is about our attachment to strangers and why we cherish (value or appreciate deeply) them even though we might never meet them again.

The title is taken from a poem that describes how nature will continue its work long after humanity is gone. But in this story, we see that nature plays a supporting role and the machines are the ones who have taken its place.

They continue their work without any human or natural assistance. This shows how technology has replaced nature in our lives and how it can both destroy us and carry on without humanity itself.

16. “Orientation”  by Daniel Orozco

This is a humorous story in which the speaker explains the office policies to a new employee while gossiping about the staff. It’s extremely easy to read, as the sentences are short and the vocabulary is simple.

Many working English learners will relate to this story, as it explains the silly, nonsensical moments of modern office life. Modern workplaces often feel like theaters where we pretend to work rather than get actual work done. The speaker exposes this reality that few would ever admit to.

He over-explains everything from the view out the office window to the intimate details of everyone’s life—from the overweight loner to the secret serial killer. It talks about the things that go unsaid; how people at the office know about the deep secrets of our home life, but don’t discuss them.

Jack’s mother can make paper animals come to life. In the beginning, Jack loves them and spends hours with his mom. But once he grows up, his mother’s inability to speak English keeps Jack from talking to her.

When his mother tries to talk to him through her creations, he kills them and collects them in a box. After a tragic loss, he finally gets to know her story through a hidden message that he should have read a long time ago.

The story is a simple narration that touches on complex issues, like leaving your home country and the conflicts that can occur within families when different cultures and languages collide.

Thanappa is the village mailman, who is good friends with Ramanujam and his family. He learns about a failed marriage and helps Ramanujam’s daughter get engaged to a suitable match.

Just before the wedding, Thanappa receives a tragic letter about Ramanujam’s brother. To spare them heartache, he decides not to deliver the letter.

The story explores the idea that despite the best of intentions, our actions can cause more harm to our loved ones than we ever intended. If you like this and want to read more by R.K. Narayan, check out the other stories in the author’s “ Malgudi Days” short story collection.

The year is 2081, and everyone has been made equal by force. Every person who is superior in any way has been handicapped (something that prevents a person’s full use of their abilities) by the government. Intelligent people are distracted by disturbing noises. Good dancers have to wear weights so that they don’t dance too well. Attractive people wear ugly masks so they don’t look better than anyone else.

However, one day there is a rebellion, and everything changes for a brief instant.

Technology is always supposed to make us better. But in this case, we see that it can be used to disable our talents. Moreover, the writer shows us how the mindless use of a single value like equality can create more suffering for everyone.

20. “The School”  by Donald Barthelme

And that’s just the beginning of the series of unfortunate events at the school in this short story, narrated by a teacher. The story is absurd (ridiculous to the point of being silly), even though the topic is serious. By the end, the kids start asking difficult questions about death that the adults don’t quite know how to answer.

This story leaves a lot of things unsaid, which means you’ll need to “read between the lines,” or look closer at the text to understand what’s really happening.

In “Girl,” a mother tells her daughter how to live her life properly. The mother instructs the girl to do all the household chores, in very specific ways, making it seem like that’s her only duty in life.

Sometimes the mother tells the girl how to attract attention, not to talk to boys and to always keep away from men. Other times, the mother hints that the girl will need to be attractive to men to live a good life.

This story doesn’t feel like a story. There’s no plot, and nothing really happens. But read closely, and you’ll see an important message about how girls are taught to live restricted lives since childhood.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is a classic tale about a Mongoose who regularly visits a family in India. The family feeds him and lets him explore their house, but they worry that he might bite their son, Teddy.

One day, when a snake is about to attack Teddy, the Mongoose kills it. This event helps the family accept the mongoose into their family.

This is a simple story about humans and animals living together as friends. It’s old, but the language is fairly easy to understand. It reminds us that animals can also experience feelings of love and, like humans, they will also protect the ones they love.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is part of Kipling’s short story collection “The Jungle Book,” which was famously made into a movie by Disney.

Dorrit is a child whose father has been in prison ever since she could remember. Unable to pay their debts, the whole family is forced to spend their days in a cell. Dorrit dreams of seeing the world outside their little cell.

This excerpt (short part of a larger work) introduces you to the family and their life in prison. The novel is about how they manage to get out and how Dorrit never forgets the kindness of the people who helped her.

Injustice in law is often reserved for the poor. “Little Dorrit” shows the government jailing people for not being able to return their loans, a historical practice the writer hated since his own father was punished in a similar way.

A man travels to a freezing, isolated place called Yukon with only his dog for company. Throughout his journey, he ignores the advice other people have given him and takes his life for granted.

Finally, he realizes the real power of nature and how fragile (easily broken) human life actually is.

Nature is often seen as a powerful force that should be feared and respected. The animal in this story is the one who’s cautious and sensible in this dangerous situation. By the end, readers wonder who is really intelligent—the man who could not deal with nature, or the dog who could survive?

This is a modern-day story that describes a group of children gathering around their father to watch little spiders hatch out of their eggs. But the story gets a different meaning as it nears the end. What do you think happened?

26. “Evil Robot Monkey ” by Mary Robinette Kowal

Sly is a character who doesn’t fit into society. He’s too smart for the other chimps, but humans don’t accept him. He is punished for acting out his natural emotions.

But the way he handles his rage, in the end, makes him look more mature than most human beings. Nominated for the  Hugo award , many readers have connected with Sly since they can see similarities in their own lives.

“The Boarded Window” is a horror story about a man who has to deal with his wife’s death. The setting is a remote cabin in the wilderness in Cincinnati, and he feels helpless as she gets sick.

There’s an interesting twist to this story, and the ending will get you thinking (and maybe feeling a bit disturbed!).

If you enjoy older stories with a little suspense, this will be a good challenge for you. It talks about the event that made a hermit decide to live alone for decades, with a mysterious window boarded up in his cabin. It also uses a lot of psychology and symbolism, so you may want to read the story more than once to understand everything it has to say.

Be careful what you wish for! One man finds this out the hard way when he brings a magical monkey’s paw home from India. This paw is supposed to grant three wishes to three people. People start to wish on it, only to realize that our wishes can have severe consequences.

The characters in this story immediately regret when their wishes come true. Even though they get what they wanted, it comes at a large cost!

This short story is from the early 1900s and uses some outdated English, but it’s still easy to follow. It reminds us that there are no shortcuts in life, and to be wary if something seems too good to be true.

This story centers around Titania and Oberon, two fairy characters from Shakespeare’s famous play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The two fairies are having a rough time in their marriage when they find a human child. They decide to adopt him, hoping that he’ll help them save their relationship. However, the child develops a deadly, modern disease and the fairies have no idea what to do since they have never known illness or death.

This is a tragic tale about how they try to understand something they’ve never seen before and their deep love for a stranger who is so unlike them. The story explores the grief of parenthood and the uncertainty of knowing whether your child will ever even know you.

This story, written by a woman, is a sad look inside an unhappy marriage. Mrs. Mallard is a woman with heart troubles. When her husband dies, the people who come to give her this news tell it to her gently, so she doesn’t have a shock.

Mrs. Mallard busts into tears and locks herself in her room. At first, she’s upset by the news. But the more she considers it, the more excited she becomes about the idea of the freedom that would come from her husband’s death.

What happens, then, when her husband comes home after an hour, alive and well?

The story explores the conflicting range of the human emotions of grief and hope in a short span, and the impact it can have on a person’s mind and body.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was one of the deadliest accidents of the twentieth century. This is a story about that event seen through the eyes of a father and his sons, who were all unfortunate enough to be close to the disaster area.

The story exposes the whole system of corruption that led to a massive explosion taking innocent lives and poisoning multiple generations. The technical vocabulary and foreign words make this text a little more difficult. However, its plot is relatively easy to follow.

The story is divided into small parts that make it both easy and exciting to read. Its various events show what it was like to live in the former Soviet Union . And just like any other good story, it’s also about human relationships and how they change due to historic events.

A simple, stuffed rabbit toy is given to a young boy as a Christmas present. At first, the rabbit isn’t noticed, as the boy is distracted by much fancier gifts. While being ignored, the rabbit begins to wonder what it means to be “real.”

One day, a certain event brings the rabbit into contact with the boy, and changes the toy’s life forever.

Have you ever loved a toy or doll so much, that you treated it as if it were alive? This story shows the power of love from a very unexpected viewpoint: that of a fluffy stuffed rabbit. It also highlights the importance of self-value, being true to yourself and finding strength in those who love you.

Tradition is important in this school, where the boys always go to fetch water for the class. The girls are teased for being “weaker,” and are last to get other privileges, like having the first choice of magazines. One day, a girl asks the teacher why girls aren’t allowed to get the water, as well. This one question causes a big reaction and leads to a huge change.

The girl’s courage surprises everyone, but it also inspires other girls to stand up for themselves. One act from one brave person can lead to change and inspire others. The story reflects on gender equality and how important it is to fight for fairness. Just because something is accepted as “normal,” doesn’t mean it is right!

At a Spanish train station, an American man and a young woman wait for a train that would take them to the city of Madrid. The woman sees some faraway hills and compares them to “white elephants.” This starts a conversation between the two of them, but what they discuss seems to have a deeper meaning.

This is another very well-known story that asks you to “read between the lines” to find the hidden meaning behind the text. Much of the story is a back-and-forth dialogue between two people, but you can tell a lot about them just from what they say to each other.

There’s a lot of symbolism that you can analyze in this story, along with context clues. Once you realize what the real topic of the characters’ conversation is, you can figure out the quiet, sadder meaning behind it.

Short stories are effective in helping English learners to practice all four aspects of language learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Here’s how you can make the most out of short stories as an English learner:

• Use illustrations to enhance your experience: Some short stories come with illustrations that you can use to guess what the story is about. You can even write your own caption or description of the picture. When you finish the story, go back to your image description. How did you do?

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

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• Explore stories related to a theme: Do you like ghost stories? Science fiction? Romance? If you’re learning about food or cooking, find a short story with a lot of food vocabulary .
• Choose the right reading level: Make sure that you always challenge yourself! One easy way to tell if a story is just right for you is to use the “five-finger test.” Hold up your fist as you read a paragraph, and put up one finger for each word you don’t know. If you have all five fingers up before the end of the paragraph, try to find an easier text.
• Practice “active reading”: Your reading will only help you learn if you read actively . You’re reading actively when you’re paying very close attention to the story, its words and its meanings. Writing with a notebook nearby and in a place with no distractions can help you focus on active reading.
• Choose only a few words to look up: You may be tempted to stop at every unknown word, but it’s actually better to try to figure out its meaning from context clues. This means looking at everything else in the sentence or paragraph to try and guess the meaning of the word. Only look up words that you can’t figure out even with context clues.
• Summarize the story: When you’ve finished reading the story, retell it in your own words or write a summary of it. This will help you to practice any new words you learned, and make sure that you understood the story well. If you’re struggling, read the story again and take notes as you read.
• Take breaks: Just because these stories are short, doesn’t mean you need to read them in one sitting! If you find it hard to focus or you’re struggling to understand the story, take a break. It’s okay to read it one paragraph at a time.

I hope you have fun with these English short stories while improving your English language skills.

Happy reading!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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