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 Starting Level

CEFR A1 Beginner

Short sentences. Everyday words. Good if you are just starting to learn English.

Sample sentences:

  • Many people like snowboarding.
  • Rescuers came in a helicopter and took her to hospital.

Try one Level 1 lesson:

CEFR A2 Elementary

Simple conversations. Common vocabulary. Good if you can understand everyday topics.

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 one Level 2 lesson:

CEFR B1 Intermediate

Longer texts. More grammar. Good if you can follow the main ideas in clear English.

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 one Level 3 lesson:

CEFR B2 Upper-Intermediate

Complex topics. Varied grammar. Good if you can read longer texts and hold detailed conversations.

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 one Level 4 lesson:

See lessons by level →

Ways to Use a Lesson

Start with the path that fits your goal. Bold words are lesson sections, and italic words are activity names you can follow on the page.

  1. Look at the headline and image. Guess what the lesson is about (Think Ahead).
  2. Preview the Vocab List to get an idea of the words you will hear.
  3. Listen once without reading. Don't worry about understanding every word. Think about the main message (=Main Idea).
  4. Play the audio again and do Listen and Fill Gaps.
  5. Go to Understanding and do one or two activities, such as True or False or Multiple Choice.
  6. Reinforce your learning by doing the Language activity.
  1. Read the headline and look at the image. Answer the warm-up question, Think Ahead.
  2. Read the article once for the Main Idea. Do not stop at every new word.
  3. Check the Vocab List for unknown words.
  4. Go to Understanding and do one or two activities, such as True or False or Multiple Choice. Check the story if you get wrong answers.
  5. Reinforce your learning by doing the Language activity.
  6. Return to the article a week later and read it again. See how much more you understand now that you know the words and have done the activities.
  1. Start with the headline and image. Guess what the lesson is about. Answer Think Ahead.
  2. Check Vocab List for words you don't know.
  3. Listen once for the Main Idea.
  4. Read the article carefully, and then do the activities in Understanding.
  5. Do the Language activity to reinforce the new words.
  6. Try the Use It activities like Discussion Builder and Sentence Unscramble to practice putting words together.
  7. Choose one or two Discussion Questions and write your own answers down on paper.
  8. Return to the lesson a week later. Listen and read again. See how much more you understand now that you know the words and have done the activities.
  1. Warm-up: Look at the headline and image together. Try to answer Think Ahead.
  2. Use the Ask questions to have a short conversation.
  3. Check the Vocab List together. Talk about any words you find interesting.
  4. Listen once for the Main Idea.
  5. Take turns reading sentences from the article together.
  6. Go to Understanding and do the activities. Compare your answers before you check them.
  7. Do the Language activity to increase familiarity with the new words.
  8. Try the Use It activities like Discussion Builder and Sentence Unscramble to practice putting words together.
  9. Use Discussion Questions to talk about the topic. Ask follow-up questions.

Start Now

By level

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Or choose by topic/type

Animals & Environment Business & Economy Crime & Justice Government & Politics Oddities Science & Health Sport & Entertainment Reviews Social Posts

Study Tips

Practice Often

Seeing and hearing English often helps words and patterns become familiar.

Short Practice Counts

Short practice done often is better than one occasional long session.

Don't Stop Too Often

Try to understand the main idea first. You do not need to understand every word.

Listen Again

The second time is often much easier than the first.

Say New Words Out Loud

Reading or repeating new words aloud can help you remember them better.

Come Back Later

Read or listen again after a few days and notice what feels easier.

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, audio, 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. The lessons are designed for self-study as well as classroom use.

Where should I start?

Choose your level, pick a lesson that looks interesting, and follow one of the study paths above.

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