2016-04-02 The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte
We present “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte. Here is Jim Tedder. John Oakhurst was a gambler. He had lived in the small western town of Poker Flat…
2016-03-26 ‘The Exact Science of Matrimony’ by O.Henry
Our story today is called “The Exact Science of Matrimony.” It was written by O. Henry. Here is Barbara Klein with the story. Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker could never…
2016-03-19 ‘Paul Bunyan,’ An American Folk Tale
Today we tell a traditional American story called a “tall tale.” A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story…
2016-03-16 ‘The Californian’s Tale,’ by Mark Twain
Editor’s Note: This is a weekly multimedia series of American short stories for English language learners. Each story has video, audio, a quiz, and a lesson plan for teachers. Hope…
2016-03-05 A Larger Than Life Hero: ‘Pecos Bill’
Today we tell a traditional American story called a “tall tale.” A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story…
2016-02-27 ‘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…
2016-02-20 ‘Paul’s Case,’ by Willa Cather, Part Two
Today we complete the story “Paul’s Case.” It was written by Willa Cather. Donna de Sanctis adapted it for VOA Learning English. Here is Kay Gallant with the story. Paul…
2016-02-13 Paul’s Case by Willa Cather, Part One
Our story today is called “Paul’s Case.” Willa Cather wrote it. Donna de Sanctis adapted it for VOA Learning English. “Paul’s Case” will be told in two parts. Here is…
2016-01-30 ‘Benito Cereno,’ by Herman Melville, Part Three
Today we complete the story of Benito Cereno, written by Herman Melville. As we told you in earlier parts of our story, rebel slaves seized the ship San Dominick off…
2016-01-23 ‘Benito Cereno,’ by Herman Melville, Part Two
Today, we continue the story “Benito Cereno.” It was written by Herman Melville. Last week, we told how African slaves on a Spanish ship rebelled in seventeen ninety-nine. They killed…
2016-01-16 ‘Benito Cereno,’ by Herman Melville, Part One
Our story today is called “Benito Cereno.” It was written by Herman Melville. We tell the story in three parts. Here is Shep O’Neal with part one of “Benito Cereno.”…
2016-01-09 ‘The Last Leaf,’ by O. Henry
Our story today is called “The Last Leaf.” It was written by O. Henry. Here is Barbara Klein with the story. Many artists lived in the Greenwich Village area of…
2016-01-02 ‘The Ransom of Red Chief,’ by O. Henry
We present the short story “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. It looked like a good thing. But wait till I…
2015-12-19 ‘A Piece of Red Calico,’ by Frank Stockton
Editor’s note: If you are tired from doing year-end gift shopping, relax and think about the poor man in this story. Our story today is called “A Piece of Red…
2015-12-05 “One Thousand Dollars,” by O. Henry
Our story today is called “One Thousand Dollars.” It was written by O. Henry. Here is Steve Ember with the story. “One thousand dollars,” said the lawyer Tolman, in a…