Improve Your English with ESL News Stories
Start here to learn how ESL News Stories works. Choose your level, pick a lesson, then read, listen, and do the activities.
Choose Your Level
For very simple English stories.
Sample sentences:
- Many people like snowboarding.
- Rescuers came in a helicopter and took her to hospital.
Try a Level 1 lesson:
For short stories with clear events.
Sample sentences:
- He is not a giant, but his jeans are huge.
- For 16 weeks, the young adults ate mixed tree nuts every day between meals.
Try a Level 2 lesson:
For news stories with more details and useful new words.
Sample sentences:
- Farmers grow the tea plants in shade for several weeks before picking the leaves.
- Stardew Valley is a farm life role-playing game that came out in 2016.
Try a Level 3 lesson:
For longer stories with opinions, reasons, and discussion practice.
Sample sentences:
- "I couldn't believe my eyes! I checked my ticket over and over again," she told Yahoo News Canada.
- A growing social media trend is pushing young men to treat their faces and bodies like projects to fix.
Try a Level 4 lesson:
Start a Lesson
Choose Your Study Path
Start with the path that fits your goal.
- Look at the title and image. Try Think Ahead.
- Look through the Vocab List for words you don't know.
- Listen once for the Main Idea. Don't worry about understanding every word.
- Listen again and do Listen and Fill Gaps.
- Check one or two Understanding activities.
- Practice new words in the Language activity.
- Read the headline and look at the image. Answer Think Ahead.
- Read the article once for the Main Idea. Do not stop at every new word.
- Check the Vocab List words you do not know.
- Do one or two Understanding activities such as True or False or Multiple Choice.
- If you get an answer wrong, look back at the story and try again.
- Practice the new words in the Language activity.
- Come back later and read the story again. Notice what feels easier.
- Look at the headline and image. Guess what the lesson is about. Answer Think Ahead.
- Check the Vocab List for words you don't know.
- Listen once for the Main Idea.
- Read the article carefully.
- Do the Understanding activities.
- Practice the new words in the Language activity.
- Try the Use It activities. Write or say your own answers to one or two Discussion Questions.
For extra practice, come back in a few days. Listen and read again.
- Start with Think Ahead together.
- Use the Ask questions for a short conversation.
- Check the Vocab List.
- Listen once. Then take turns reading the article aloud.
- Do the Understanding and Language activities.
- Finish with the Discussion Questions. Ask follow-up questions.
How to Study Better
- You do not need to understand everything. Try to catch the main idea first. It is okay if some words are new.
- Listen before you read. Play the audio once before you read the article. Then read and listen again.
- Try first, then check words. Do not stop for every new word. Try the story first, then check the words you need.
- Come back later. A story is easier the second time. Listen again, read again, or answer one discussion question.
Common Questions
How do I choose my level?
Start with Level 2 or 3. If a lesson feels too difficult, go down one level. If it feels easy, try the next level up.
What is in a lesson?
Most lessons include a story, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion questions.
Do I need to do every activity?
No. You can follow the path that fits your goal: listening, reading, or the full lesson.
Can I use this site by myself?
Yes. You can study alone. You can also use the lessons with a teacher, class, or friend.
Where should I start?
Choose your level, pick a lesson that looks interesting, and follow one of the study paths above.