2025-01-24 ‘The Blue Hotel,’ by Stephen Crane, Part Four
We present the fourth of four parts of the short story “The Blue Hotel,” by Stephen Crane. The story was originally adapted by the U.S. Department of State. The audio…
2025-01-17 ‘The Blue Hotel,’ by Stephen Crane, Part Three
We present the third of four parts of the short story “The Blue Hotel,” by Stephen Crane. The story was originally adapted by the U.S. Department of State. The audio…
2025-01-10 ‘The Blue Hotel,’ by Stephen Crane, Part Two
We present the second of four parts of the short story “The Blue Hotel,” by Stephen Crane. The story was originally adapted by the U.S. Department of State. The audio…
2025-01-03 ‘The Blue Hotel,’ by Stephen Crane, Part One
We present the first of four parts of the short story “The Blue Hotel,” by Stephen Crane. The story was originally adapted by the U.S. Department of State. The audio…
2024-12-27 ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,’ by Mark Twain
Editor’s note: This story includes some of the informal dialect that Mark Twain liked to include in his writing. We have provided explanations of some of the expressions after the…
2024-12-20 ‘The Gift of the Magi,’ by O. Henry
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to share a traditional holiday story with you, ‘The Gift of the Magi’ by O. Henry. Karen Leggett adapted this story for VOA Learning English.…
2024-12-13 Chicken Little
And now an American Children’s Story from VOA Learning English. Today’s story probably had its start long before it was published in Europe long ago. It might have first been…
2024-12-06 How the Animals Lost Their Tails by Carl Sandburg
Introduction: Today’s story is How the Animals Lost Their Tails and Got Them Back Traveling from Philadelphia to Medicine Hat. It appeared in the book Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg,…
2024-11-29 The Cask of Amontillado
Our story today is called “The Cask of Amontillado.” It was written by Edgar Allan Poe. Here is Larry West with the story. Storyteller: Fortunato and I both were members…
2024-11-22 ‘Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen,’ by O. Henry
We present the short story “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen,” by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. There is one day that…
2024-11-15 The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe
Our story today is called “The Purloined Letter.” It was written by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe is generally known for his horror stories. This is the third of three stories…
2024-11-08 ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allan Poe
Today we present the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. True! Nervous — very, very nervous I had been and…
2024-11-01 ‘The Boy on Graves-End Road,’ by Caty Weaver
Editor’s Note: This is a weekly multimedia series of American short stories for English language learners. Each story has video, audio, quizzes, and a lesson plan for teachers. Hope you…
2024-10-25 ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,’ by Washington Irving
Today’s story is called “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is about something strange that happened long ago in a valley called “Sleepy Hollow.” It was written by Washington Irving.…
2024-10-18 ‘Mammon and the Archer’ by O. Henry
We present the short story “Mammon and the Archer” by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Old Anthony Rockwall, who made…