I introduced my students to English e-Reader, another free source of graded readers. While ER Central has several levels in numbers, English e-Reader uses CEFR Levels. The texts or stories are longer on English e-Reader. Once students log in to the site and read a story, their progress will be automatically recorded and they can check their track of which story they are still reading and which they have finished reading.
Another thing I like about this site is that English e-Reader has that feature that allows me to customize the reading view. I can adjust the font size and color as well as the layout of the text. I'm a visual learner, so that lets me enjoy the reading experience more.
I have also tried reading a few stories there. One is an A1-level (or Starter) story, titled Sister Love. The site categorizes it as a crime story. It is written by John Escott, consisting of 7 pages with a total of 2,704 words. It is surely a short one; still, the story is interesting.
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| Sister Love, by John Escott |
It tells the story of Marcia and his partner, Howard. They loved each other, but things got more interesting when Howard began to meet Karin, Marcia's sister, more frequently. Apparently, Karin was also interested in that man and cunningly-plus-secretly flirted with him. Things went fishy and of course, Marcia learned the bitter truth about their affair. She surprisingly did something to her sister to get Howard back to her in the end.
My students' assignment this week is to choose and write about a perfect soundtrack for the story they have read. I want to pick a soundtrack for that story I have read also.
For this love triangle, considering Marcia's effort to win Howard back, I'd like to use Jason Mraz's I Won't Give Up.
it's like watching the night sky
Well, there's so much they hold
It was Marcia who first met and loved Howard. Then, Karin started to see the 'beauty' in Howard and fell in love with him. I'd agree that what Karin did was mean. Wicked. Both Marcia and Karin made their effort to win Howard, regardless Karin's evil intention to steal Howard from her sister. Neither of the sisters gave up on their struggle to get the man's attention.
even if the skies get rough
I'm still looking up
Marcia could have confronted them when she secretly found out their affair, but she didn't. She pretended that she knew nothing. She still hoped that Howard would turn back to him and somehow, she let them meet each other while waiting and preparing her best move.
I'm imagining this part of the song being played with a piano, no vocal, as Marcia stealthily witness her lover and sister affair behind their back. She was heartbroken and I guess she must have been angry, but she decided to hold her back and wait. Haha.
who walks away so easily
the difference that I can make
So, I guess the Mraz's song is suitable to accompany the story. It beautifully articulates both sisters' effort to win Howard's affection and their not giving up.
Want to check what my students pick for the story they have read? Well, here's the list of their blogs and the songs they chose. Go, check their updates.
- Yohanna Amanda Putri - Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli (covered by Joseph Vincent)
- Johanna Jerusha Prasodjo - Lose Yourself by Eminem
- Vinsensius Brahmantya Adityawan -
- Sony Chrissetiyaki - All I Ask by Adele
- Theresia Ratna Shela Puspita Sari -
- Gracia Marchelly - Alone by Alan Walker
- Diki Setyawan Kristiananda - Goodbye to a World by Porter Robinson
- Yeremia Edo Surya Noegraha - We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth (feat. Selena Gomez)
- Melkisedek Osibas Tauho - Believer by Imagine Dragons
- Emmanuela Kurnianti - You and Me by Lifehouse
- Nevel Petroza Andrew - You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman
- Tri Widhiastuti
- Nola Leticia Luntungan - Thank You for Loving Me by Bon Jovi