https://learningenglish.voanews.com/z/1581 Learn English as you read and listen to a weekly show with short stories by famous American authors. Adaptations are written at the intermediate and upper-beginner level and are read one-third slower than regular VOA English. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-LEARN/img/logo.png https://learningenglish.voanews.com/z/1581 en 2026 - VOA 60 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:25:48 +0000 Pangea CMS – VOA We continue the story of “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane. As we told you last week, the story is based on true events. In eighteen ninety-six, Crane was traveling to Cuba as a news reporter. On his way there, his ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Crane climbed into the last remaining lifeboat. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/open-boat-stephen-crane-part-two-american-stories/7504521.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/open-boat-stephen-crane-part-two-american-stories/7504521.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 22:00:46 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day American Stories presents a short story based on the writer's real-life experiences after a shipwreck. Crane was traveling from the United States to Cuba as a newspaper reporter. One night, his ship hit a sandbar. It sank in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Florida. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/open-boat-american-stories-part-one/2572601.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/open-boat-american-stories-part-one/2572601.html Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:00:00 +0000 Lessons of the DayAmerican Stories Today, we complete the story "Rappaccini’s Daughter." It was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this part, discover the mystery of Dr. Rappaccini's daughter and what happens to her. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/rappaccinis-daughter-nathaniel-hawthorne/2615957.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/rappaccinis-daughter-nathaniel-hawthorne/2615957.html Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Doctor Rappaccini grows poisonous plants in his garden. His beautiful daughter, Beatrice, helps him. A young medical student fall in love with Beatrice. How will he arrange to meet the young woman in the dangerous garden? Find out in this story by American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/rappaccini-daughter-nathaniel-hawthorne-american-stories/2600030.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/rappaccini-daughter-nathaniel-hawthorne-american-stories/2600030.html Fri, 21 Feb 2025 22:00:42 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/7982192.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/7982192.html Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:38:15 +0000 American Stories The childhood friend of Roderick Usher is witness to the horrifying end of the mysterious Usher line in the third and final part of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-part-three-edgar-allan-poe/3748407.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-part-three-edgar-allan-poe/3748407.html Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Part two of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” gives the history of the sad owner of an old house in a mysterious place. A visiting childhood friend is witness to Usher’s story and to the apparent death of his twin sister. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-part-two-edgar-allan-poe/3738372.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-part-two-edgar-allan-poe/3738372.html Fri, 07 Feb 2025 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Time separates people. The friends you know now are likely not the same ones you knew as a child. Sometimes reconnecting with old friends can be fun. Find out what happens when reconnecting is not such a happy event in the first part of this classic American story 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-edgar-allan-poe-part-one/3726233.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-edgar-allan-poe-part-one/3726233.html Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:00:41 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day We present the fourth of four parts of the short story "The Blue Hotel," by Stephen Crane. The story ends with the shocking result of cheating in a card game. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/stephen-crane-the-blue-hotel-part-four/4307363.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/stephen-crane-the-blue-hotel-part-four/4307363.html Fri, 24 Jan 2025 22:00:30 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day We present the third of four parts of the short story "The Blue Hotel," by Stephen Crane. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-blue-hotel-by-stephen-crane-part-three/4773659.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-blue-hotel-by-stephen-crane-part-three/4773659.html Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:00:16 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day We present the second of four parts of the short story "The Blue Hotel," by Stephen Crane. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-blue-hotel-by-stephen-crane-part-two/4773654.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-blue-hotel-by-stephen-crane-part-two/4773654.html Fri, 10 Jan 2025 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day There are many stories about the period of American history when the western part of the country was called "the wild west." There are as many false stories about this period as there are true ones. Read about one man who thinks he has entered the truly wild west in this classic American story. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-blue-hotel-by-stephen-crane-part-one/4773641.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-blue-hotel-by-stephen-crane-part-one/4773641.html Fri, 03 Jan 2025 22:00:29 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Mr. Smiley says, "all a frog wanted was education, and he could do almost anything." The amazing frog pet is the main character of this American Story by Mark Twain. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/celebrated-jumping-frog-calaveras-county-mark-twain/3160704.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/celebrated-jumping-frog-calaveras-county-mark-twain/3160704.html Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:00:14 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day This traditional American holiday story tells of a young couple trying to make their way in life. They struggle to find gifts for each other at Christmas time. What can they find to show their love for each other? Like other O. Henry stories, this one has a surprise ending. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/4656574.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-gift-of-the-magi-by-o-henry/4656574.html Fri, 20 Dec 2024 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Chicken Little is a well-known children’s story that has been told in America for a long time. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/american-stories-chicken-little/6947104.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/american-stories-chicken-little/6947104.html Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Carl Sandburg was best known as a poet and biographer. But he also published children’s stories that had first written for his three daughters. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/american-stories-how-the-animals-lost-their-tails-by-carl-sandburg/6956466.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/american-stories-how-the-animals-lost-their-tails-by-carl-sandburg/6956466.html Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day The storyteller says, "Fortunato was bigger, richer and more handsome than I was. And he enjoyed making me look like a fool. I never showed my anger, however. So, he thought we were good friends. But I promised myself that one day I would punish Fortunato for his insults to me." https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/cask-of-amontillado-edgar-allan-poe-american-stories/3249195.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/cask-of-amontillado-edgar-allan-poe-american-stories/3249195.html Fri, 29 Nov 2024 22:00:28 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Every country has traditions and holidays. Older countries may have more traditions. But younger nations love their traditions just as much. Read about two men who truly love one American holiday in this classic American short story, 'Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen,' by O. Henry. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/two-thanksgiving-day-gentlemen-by-o-henry/4656560.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/two-thanksgiving-day-gentlemen-by-o-henry/4656560.html Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:00:00 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day 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 he wrote about Auguste Dupin and how he solves crimes. https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-purloined-letter-edgar-allan-poe/3307412.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-purloined-letter-edgar-allan-poe/3307412.html Fri, 15 Nov 2024 22:00:24 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day Edgar Allan Poe is known as an original writer of horror stories. Read and listen to this classic tale about a man who thinks he has committed the perfect crime. Not even the police think there is anything wrong - until the man starts to hear a heart. It is beating louder and louder... https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-tell-tale-heat-edgar-allan-poe/3538402.html https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-tell-tale-heat-edgar-allan-poe/3538402.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:00:21 +0000 American StoriesLessons of the Day