US ESL Tutor

Learn English Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Sat, 9 Jan 2016 16:41:00 -0800

NOTICE: I have retired and am no longer tutoring online. If I start tutoring again it will be using the Bible. If that is of interest to you, please let me know by writing me HERE.

Visit my other site to learn English with Bible Stories @ http://eslbibletutor.blogspot.com

http://eslbibletutor.blogspot.com/

Hello there! Let me introduce myself, and explain how I can help you become confident with the English language.

ABOUT ME

My name is Galen or "USESLTutor."
Thanks for visiting my web site! I am an American currently living in the Philippines with my beautiful and wonderful Filipino wife. As you can see we are very happy. We thank God for bringing us together from opposite parts of the world.

We live in the island of Luzon. If you come to visit the Philippines you will find many kind and friendly people. An added bonus, is that many of them speak very good English.

Below, I will introduce you to my method of tutoring ESL, the materials I use, and how to schedule a free trial class with me. Let's get started......

ESL: What does it take to learn English?

Below are 3 idioms that will help you understand that it takes work and practice to learn a language.

1. "PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT"
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/practice_makes_perfect

Just like how a baby learns to speak by hearing and repeating what is heard, you can learn to speak English naturally. It is not hard for babies to learn English. You too can learn to speak by hearing how it is spoken and by repeating it. Practice a little every day and you will see some progress!

2. "IF YOU DON'T USE IT - YOU LOSE IT"
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_the_saying_use_it_or_lose_it_mean

Learning a second language is like body building. By lifting weights and working out you get stronger.. Work on your English like you would to get in physical shape. Are you sweating yet? :-)
As many of you know, if you don't use a language you will forget it. After all the hard work you have put into learning a language, make sure you maintain it by using it.

3. "NO PAIN - NO GAIN!"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_pain,_no_gain

You can think of me as your English coach. I will help you to "work out" with your English. It won't hurt too much :-) If you use the language you will gain fluency

GRAMMAR

Listening and reading will improve your English generally. They won't teach you the actual rules of grammar, but your grammar will improve. This is because the way sentences are spoken and written will become fixed in your mind through use, and you will use them the same way.

I do not teach grammar in my tutoring. I concentrate on helping my students gain confidence in their speaking of English. Many ESL students are so concerned with grammar rules that it hinders them from speaking at all. They have spent years learning grammar, but can't talk with confidence. If you want to do well on a grammar exam, then study the rules. If you want to want to talk like a native, then listen to and speak with native speakers. Learn naturally like a baby does!
Listening and repeating are the key to becoming fluent. Listen to native speakers on podcasts, audio books, videos etc each day. On the right column, I have some free resources listed that will help.

My methodology is to have you practice what you are presented with in a conversation.
This is known as the "PPP method" or Presentation, Practice and Production: http://teflpedia.com/PPP
This is done in a natural way, where you pick up a language just as a child does.
Have you ever noticed that a child learns how to speak a language before he ever learns grammar?

Think out of the box and try something that makes common sense.

The quote below is a good one for those who are learning anything. Think about it.....

"If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got." -- W. L. Bateman

If the way you have been learning English isn't working, give my method a try.

PRONUNCIATION

Many English learners do not realize they are pronouncing words wrongly till someone corrects them. This is where online English tutors can be very helpful. If you use me as a tutor, I will kindly correct your mistakes as we read and discuss topics. I will tell you the correct pronunciation and ask you to repeat it. As you hear the correct way to pronounce a word during class, I would recommend you write it out the way that it sounds. For example: "today" sounds like tu'dey. Keep a notebook of these vocabulary words and review them again so that they "stick" or stay in your mind. Say the words out-loud the correct way.

If you want a friendly native speaker, who will patiently coach you in English, then I think I can help.

NEW VOCABULARY

Vocabulary is something everyone should work at. In order to become fluent, you need to expand your vocabulary and know how to use these words in a sentence correctly. One word can have many different meanings (according to how it is used in a sentence.) A good ESL tutor will help you with the correct usage. I try to introduce new vocabulary in each lesson. If you wish, we can add phrasal verbs as well as idioms and slang.

INTERESTING CONVERSATION

Learning English shouldn't have to be boring. My classes are filled with materials that I hope you will find interesting and educational - including short stories, biographies and news articles.

Here are some web sites that I use frequently:

www.breakingnewsenglish.com

www.famouspeoplelessons.com

www.manythings.org

www.englishclub.com

www.rong-chang.com

www.spotlightenglish.com

PRE-INTEREMEDIATE TO ADVANCED ENGLISH
Please note that I don't take students with a beginners English level or children under the age of 13.
When you get to pre-intermediate level or above please contact me. :-)
Also, if you are wanting to prepare for the IELTS or TOEFL tests, it would be better to find another tutor who specializes in that. I specialize in helping you gain fluency and confidence in spoken English.

TUTOR WITH TEFL/TESOL CERTIFICATE
This is where I obtained my certificate And yes, I am a college graduate from ORU

I look forward to meeting you!
Contact me if you have any questions.
Skype id: brothergalen

Brother Galen (USESLTutor)

Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Thu, 3 Sep 2015 01:33:00 -0700

Download story in mp3

It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.
And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his questions differently.
In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time. Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that however attentive the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.
But then again others said there were some things which could not wait to be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is only magicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.
Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the people the King most needed were his councillors; others, the priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.
To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some replied that the most important thing in the world was science. Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.
All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.
When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.
The King went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?"
The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.
"You are tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and work awhile for you."
"Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.
When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said:
"Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit."
But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:
"I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home."
"Here comes some one running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is."
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man's clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep—so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.
"Forgive me!" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.
"I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for," said the King.
"You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!"
The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.
Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.
The King approached him, and said:
"For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man."
"You have already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouching on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.
"How answered? What do you mean?" asked the King.
"Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business. Remember then: there is only one time that is important—Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!"

----------------------------------------------------

Summary Of The Story

The thought came to a certain king that he would never fail if he knew three things. These three things were

What was the right time to begin everything?
Who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid?
What was the most important thing to do?

He proclaimed that the ones who give the right answers shall be rewarded. Many learned men attempted to answer the king's questions, but they all came up with different answers. The king decided that he needed to ask a wise hermit in a nearby village. The hermit would only see common people, however, so the king put on common dress, left his guards behind, and went to see the hermit. The hermit was digging flower beds when the king arrived. The king asked his questions, but the hermit went on digging. The king offered to dig for him for a while. After digging for some time, the king again asked his questions. Before the hermit could answer, a man emerged from the woods. He was bleeding from a terrible stomach wound. The king tended to him, and they stayed the night in the hermit's hut. By the next day the wounded man was doing better, but was incredulous at the help he had received. The man confessed that he knew who the king was, and that the king had executed his brother and seized his property. He had come to kill the king, but the king's guards had wounded him. The man pledged allegiance to the king, and he went on his way. The king asked the hermit again for his answers, and the hermit responded that he had just had his questions answered.

The most important time is now. The present is the only time over which we have power.
The most important person is whoever you are with.
The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with.

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Questions

Elias by Leo Tolstoy

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Thu, 3 Sep 2015 00:54:00 -0700

There dwelt once upon a time in the Ufimsk government a Bashkir named Elias. The father of Elias had left him a poor man. His father had only gotten him a wife a year before, and then died. In those days Elias owned seven mares, two cows, and twice ten sheep. But Elias was now the master, and began to spread himself out; from morn to eve he laboured with his wife, rose up earlier and lay down later than all other men, and grew richer every year. Five-and-thirty years did Elias continue to labour, and won for himself great possessions.
Elias now had two hundred head of horses, a hundred and fifty head of horned cattle, and one thousand two hundred sheep. Many men-servants pastured the tabuns^[1] and the herds of Elias, and many maid-servants milked the mares and the cows and made kumis, butter and cheese. Elias had much of everything, and everybody round about envied the life of Elias. People said: "Ah, what a lucky fellow that Elias is! He has everything in abundance, he has no need to die." And good people began to know Elias and make his acquaintance. And guests came to him from afar. And Elias welcomed them
all, and gave them to eat and to drink. Whosoever came to him found abundance of kumis, and tea, and sherbet, and the flesh of rams. Whenever guests came a ram or two was immediately killed, and if there were many guests they killed a mare.
Elias had three children — two sons and a daughter. Elias had provided his sons with wives, and had given his daughter in marriage. While Elias was poor his sons had worked with him and guarded the herds and the tabuns themselves, but when the sons became rich they began to amuse themselves, and one of them took to drink. One of them — the eldest — was presently killed in a brawl, and the younger son fell into the power of a stuck-up wife, and this son no longer listened to his father, and Elias had to give him his portion and get rid of him.
So Elias paid him out and gave him a house and cattle, and the riches of Elias were diminished. And shortly after this a disease fell upon the sheep of Elias, and many of them perished. And then came a year of scarceness — no hay would grow — and many cattle starved in the winter. Then the Kirghiz came and stole the best part of the horses, and the estate of Elias diminished still further. Elias began to fall lower and lower, and his natural forces were less. And when he had reached his seventieth year things came to such a pass that he began to sell his furs, his carpets, his kibitki^[2] and then he began to sell his cattle, down to the very last one; and so Elias came to nought. And he himself perceived that he had nothing left, and he was obliged in his old age to go with his wife to live among the common people. And the only things which Elias could now call his own were the clothes he had on his body, his fur cloak, his hat, and his shoes; and his wife, Shem Shemagi, was also an old woman. The son whom he had bought off departed into a distant land, and his daughter died. And there was none to help the old folks.
Their neighbour, Muhamedshah, pitied the old folks. He himself was neither rich nor poor, but lived at his ease, and he was a good man. He remembered that he had eaten bread and salt with Elias, and he was filled with compassion and said to Elias:
"Come to me, Elias, and live with me along with thine old woman. In the summer thou shalt work for me according to thy strength in the melon fields, and in the winter thou shalt feed my cattle and let Shem Shemagi milk the cows and make kumis. I will feed and clothe you both, and whatever ye may want tell it me and I will give it you."
Elias thanked his neighbour and dwelt with his wife in the house of Muhamedshah as one of his servants. At first it seemed grievous to them, but soon they grew accustomed to it, and the old people continued to live there and work according to their strength.
It was profitable to the master to have such people, for the old folks had themselves been masters and knew how things should be rightly ordered, and were not idle but worked according to the ir ability; the only thing which grieved Muhamedshah was to see people who had been so high fall to such a low estate.
And it chanced one day that distant relations came as guests, to Muhamedshah, and a Mullah came also. And Muhamedshah bade Elias take a ram and slay it Elias skinned the ram and cooked it, and set it before the guests. The guests ate the ram's flesh, drank as much tea as they wanted, and then fell a-drinking kumis. The guests sat with their host on down cushions on the floor and drank their kumis out of little cups, and conversed together, and Elias went about his work and passed by the door where they were sitting.
Muhamedshah saw him and said to one of his guests: "Didst thou see that old man who passed by my door?"
"I saw him," said the guest; "is there anything extraordinary about him?"
"There is this much extraordinary about him — that he was once upon a time our richest man — Elias they called him; perchance thou hast heard concerning him?"
"How could I help hearing of him?" replied the guest; "seen it all I have not, but the fame of him was spread far and wide."
"Well, now he hath nought, and he lives with me as a servant, and his old woman lives with him and milks my cows."
The guest was astonished. He clicked with his tongue, shook his head, and said: "Ah! 'tis plain how fortune goes flying round like a wheel . One she raises on high, another she thrusts down below. Tell me," said the guest, "is the heart of the old man sore within him, perchance?"
"Who can tell? He lives peaceably and quietly, and looks well.
"May one converse with him?" said the guest; "I should like to question him concerning his life."
"Certainly, it is possible," replied the host, and he shouted from behind the kibitka, "Babad," which signifies grandfather in the Bashkir language, "go and drink kumis and call hither the old man!"
And Elias came to them with his wife. Elias greeted the guests and the host, recited a prayer, and squatted down on his knees at the door, and his wife went behind the curtain and sat down with her mistress.
They gave Elias a cup full of kumis. Elias drank the healths of the guests and the host, did obeisance, drank a little more, and then placed the cup aside.
"Now, tell me, grandfather," said one of the guests, "I suppose it grieves thee looking at us, to call to mind thy former life, and to recollect how fortunate thou wert, and how now thou dwellest in misery?"
And Elias smiled and said: "If I were to speak to thee of good fortune and ill fortune thou wouldst not believe me — far better it would be if thou didst ask my old wife concerning this thing. She is a woman, and therefore what her heart feeleth that her tongue speaketh; she will tell thee the whole truth about this matter."
And the guest spake, turning towards the c urtain: "Speak now, old woman! tell me, how judgest thou concerning thy former good fortune and thy present ill fortune?"
And Shem Shemagi answered from behind the curtain: "This is how I judge: I and my old man lived together for fifty years; we sought after happiness and we could not find it, and only now this is the second year in which we have wanted for nothing, and we live as working folks and have found real happiness, and we want nothing else."
The guests were astonished and the host was astonished; he even rose up and threw aside the curtain to behold the old woman. And there the old woman stood with folded arms, and she was smiling, and she looked at her old man, and he smiled also.
And the old woman also said: "I speak the truth, I jest not: we sought happiness for half a hundred years, and while we were rich we did not find it at all; now that we have nothing left and live among working people we have found such happiness that we need nothing better."
"And in what, then, does your present happiness consist ?"
"It consists in this: while we were rich I and my old man had not a single quiet hour together, we had no time to talk, no time to think of our souls, no time to pray to God. So many cares were we saddled with. At one time guests came to see us, and it was a worry what to set before each and with what presents to gratify them lest they should speak scornfully concerning us. Then t here was the trouble of seeing to it that the wolves did not rend the lambs or kids or that thieves did not chase away the horses. Even when we lay down it was not to sleep, for we feared that the sheep might overlay the lambs in the night. You might get up and go about at night, and no sooner would your mind be at ease than a fresh worry would arise: how to find hay or pasturage in the winter time — and so it would go on. And all this was nothing to the disagreements between my old man and me. He would say: ‘We ought to do this,’ and then I would say: ‘No! we ought to do that!’ and so we began to curse each other, and that was sinful. Thus we lived, and went on from care to care, from sin to sin, and we found no happiness in life."
"Well, but now?"
"Now I and my old man rise up together, we converse lovingly and agree in all things, we have nought to quarrel about and nought to trouble us — our sole care is to serve our master. We labour according as we are able, we labour gladly, so that our master may have no loss and may prosper. We come to the house — there is dinner, there is supper, there is kumis. If it be cold there is the kizyak^[3] wherewith to warm ourselves, and there are furs. And there is time, when we wish it, to talk together, to think of our souls, and to pray to God. For fifty years we sought happiness, and only now have we found it."
The guests began to laugh.
But Elias said: "Laugh not, brethren! this is no jest, but human life. And at first my old woman and I were fools and wept because we had lost our wealth, but now God hath revealed the truth to us, and now we also reveal it to you, not for our amusement but for your good."
And the Mullah said: "These be wise sayings, and Elias hath spoken the real truth, and all this is written down in the Scriptures."
And the guests ceased to laugh, and they pondered these things in their hearts.

Tabuns - Studs of horses
kibitki - A covered wagon.
kizyak - Dried cow-dung used as fuel by the Bashkirs

The Happy Prince - Oscar Wilde

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:58:00 -0700

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The Selfish Giant - Oscar Wilde

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Thu, 9 Jul 2015 23:35:00 -0700

Download pdf.

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden.
It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. "How happy we are here!" they cried to each other.
One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden.
"What are you doing here?" he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away.
"My own garden is my own garden," said the Giant; "any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself." So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.
TRESPASSERS
WILL BE
PROSECUTED
He was a very selfish Giant.
The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. "How happy we were there," they said to each other.
Then the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. "Spring has forgotten this garden," they cried, "so we will live here all the year round." The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. "This is a delightful spot," he said, "we must ask the Hail on a visit." So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.
"I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming," said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; "I hope there will be a change in the weather."
But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant's garden she gave none. "He is too selfish," she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees.
One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King's musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. "I believe the Spring has come at last," said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out.
What did he see?
He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms, and were waving their arms gently above the children's heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. "Climb up! little boy," said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the boy was too tiny.
And the Giant's heart melted as he looked out. "How selfish I have been!" he said; "now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children's playground for ever and ever." He was really very sorry for what he had done.
So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. "It is your garden now, little children," said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were going to market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen.
All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye.
"But where is your little companion?" he said: "the boy I put into the tree." The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him.
"We don't know," answered the children; "he has gone away."
"You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow," said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad.
Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. "How I would like to see him!" he used to say.
Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. "I have many beautiful flowers," he said; "but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all."
One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting.
Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvellous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved.
Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, "Who hath dared to wound thee?" For on the palms of the child's hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet.
"Who hath dared to wound thee?" cried the Giant; "tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him."
"Nay!" answered the child; "but these are the wounds of Love."
"Who art thou?" said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child.
And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, "You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise."
And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.

The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan (edited by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut)

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 03:57:00 -0800

READ HERE: The Pilgrim's Progress (version 3)

The 100 People Project

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:09:00 -0800

The 100 People Project: An Introduction from 100 People Foundation on Vimeo.
We're on a quest to find the 100 people that represent the 7 billion of us. By statistically representing the world population as 100 people, we hope to make complex issues more comprehensible and help the world's children get a stronger sense of the big picture.

Detailed statistics:
http://100people.org/statistics_detailed_statistics.php?section=statistics

Ring out, Wild Bells - Lord Alfred Tennyson

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 23:30:00 -0800

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_Out,_Wild_Bells

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Basic Conversation playlist

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Tue, 6 Jan 2015 01:54:00 -0800

More English word playlists here: https://www.youtube.com/user/GCFReading/playlists

Learn English Words playlist

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Tue, 6 Jan 2015 01:48:00 -0800

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/

Ted Talks: Less stuff, more happiness - Graham Hill

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 5 Jan 2015 07:01:00 -0800

Transcript in many languages: http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness/transcript?language=en

Ted Talks: How we can eat our landscapes - Pam Warhurst

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 5 Jan 2015 06:46:00 -0800

Transcript in many languages: http://www.ted.com/talks/pam_warhurst_how_we_can_eat_our_landscapes/transcript?language=en

Ted Talks: The true story of 'true' - Gina Cooke

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 5 Jan 2015 06:15:00 -0800

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm - Kate Douglas Wiggin

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 5 Jan 2015 01:06:00 -0800

Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_of_Sunnybrook_Farm

Famous movie starring Shirley Temple

Download the book:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/498
or
http://manybooks.net/titles/wigginkaetext96snybk10.html

God of Wonders - English with English Subtitles

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:35:00 -0800

Our Seeds: English with English subtitles

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:27:00 -0800

Ken Robinson: How Schools Kill Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:09:00 -0700

English transcript
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity

The High Price of Materialism (English Subtitles)

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:49:00 -0700

Add your comments below to practice your English.

Story of Stuff (2007, with subtitles)

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:43:00 -0700

Add your comments below to practice your English.

Anti GMO Cartoon with English Subtitles

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:39:00 -0700

Turn on the English captions. Please add your comments below.

"Do You Feel Safe?" : Reporter Crosses Border Easily

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:58:00 -0700

Add your comments below to practice your English!

Ted Talks: The Dark Secrets of a Surveillance State

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Fri, 8 Aug 2014 01:40:00 -0700

https://www.ted.com/talks/hubertus_knabe_the_dark_secrets_of_a_surveillance_state

TRANSCRIPT

Shakespearean dating tips - Anthony John Peters

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Wed, 9 Jul 2014 19:49:00 -0700

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/shakespearean-dating-tips-anthony-john-peters

Why is there a "b" in doubt? - Gina Cooke

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Wed, 9 Jul 2014 19:43:00 -0700

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/beyond-the-shadow-of-a-doubt-gina-cooke

Making sense of spelling - Gina Cooke

noreply@blogger.com (US ESL Tutor) — Wed, 9 Jul 2014 19:39:00 -0700

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/making-sense-of-spelling-gina-cooke