Special English – Learn American English - Voice of America

 

VOA Special English is a radio, TV and Internet service of the Voice of America. Programs are written with a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower speed. The purpose is to help people improve their American English as they learn about news and other subjects.

 

http://www.voanews.com/english/index.cfm

 

Stories

By Nathaniel Hawthorne: An Italian student falls in love with the daughter of a mad scientist

Part I: Rappaccini`s Daughter

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2006-03-06-voa1.cfm

Part II:

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2006-03-06-voa2.cfm

By Edith Wharton: How will Mister Mindon deal with his cheating wife?

The Line of Least Resistance

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2006-02-26-voa3.cfm

 

By Mark Twain: A frog worth betting on

“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2006-02-19-voa4.cfm

 

By Hamlin Garland: A soldier returns to his family after three years of fighting in the Civil War

The Return of a Private

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2006-02-06-voa1.cfm

 

By Jack London: London's reports about the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, California

The Story of an Eyewitness

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2006-01/2006-01-22-voa1.cfm

 

By Jack London: In Alaska, the difference between life and death can be one small fire

To Build a Fire

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2006-01/2006-01-08-voa1.cfm?CFID=12074869&CFTOKEN=28354790

 

A Special Story for Christmas: 'The Gift of the Magi'

The Gift of the Magi'

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-12/2005-12-22-voa2.cfm?CFID=12075133&CFTOKEN=34497379

 


 

By Nathaniel Hawthorne: A young traveller with big plans finds a place to rest

The Ambitious Guest

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-12/2005-12-18-voa1.cfm?CFID=12075373&CFTOKEN=22799252

 

By Herman Melville: A worker does not want to work

Bartleby

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-12/2005-12-01-voa2.cfm?CFID=35744508&CFTOKEN=41149749

 

"A Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs first appeared in six parts in All-Story magazine in 1911. The science fiction story was published as "Under the Moons of Mars." 

Part I: A Princess of Mars

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-06/2005-06-06-voa5.cfm?CFID=33862912&CFTOKEN=29808254

Part II:

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-06/2005-06-14-voa1.cfm?CFID=12076357&CFTOKEN=35610972

Part III:

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-06/2005-06-21-voa2.cfm?CFID=35745168&CFTOKEN=27958859

Part IV:

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-06/2005-06-28-voa1.cfm?CFID=35972621&CFTOKEN=47459678

 

"A Horseman in the Sky” written by Ambrose Bierce.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-24-voa1.cfm

 

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" written by Ambrose Bierce.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-24-voa3.cfm

 

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” written by Washington Irving

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-24-voa11.cfm

 

“The Devil and Tom Walker” written by Washington Irving

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-24-voa12.cfm

 

"The God of His Fathers” written by Jack London.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-24-voa13.cfm

 

"Keesh” written by Jack London.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-24-voa15.cfm

 


 

"The Diamond Lens" written by Fitz-James O'Brien.

Part I:

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-25-voa4.cfm

Part II:

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-25-voa5.cfm

 

"The Cask of Amontillado” written by Edgar Allan Poe. 

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-25-voa6.cfm

"Luck” - story written by Mark Twain.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-25-voa8.cfm

 

“The Californian’s Tale” written by Mark Twain.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-10/2005-10-25-voa9.cfm