3.3.2: Year 3 American English Lessons with Maestro Sersea

Hello students. I’m proud of you for completing years 1 and 2 of our American English course.  In order for you to become a strong intermediate American English learner, you need to be able to read, understand, and discuss abridged American English short stories.  In this lesson, throughout Year 3 of your studies, you will read, listen to, and write about popular American English short stories. Please follow the directions below closely.

• Study the American English vocabulary below.

Words in This Story

ransom – n. money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped

carriage – n. a large vehicle with four wheels that is pulled by a horse and that carries people

paleface – n. a name supposedly used by North American Indians for a white person.

sling – n. a strap usually with a pocket in the middle that is used to throw something (such as a stone)

funning – v. joking or teasing someone

• Listen to the story.

• Watch the video and read along.

• Take the short story quiz.

Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-ransom-of-red-chief-by-o-henry/3106038/p1.html?isEmbedded=True

• Write a summary of the short story you just read and listened to in the comments section below.  Click here to read an article that teaches you how to summarize a story. Remember to let us know who the characters of the story are, what they do, and what the story is about.