3.5.2: 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

treasure – n. a large collection of money, jewels or other things of great value

devil  n. the Devil the most powerful spirit of evil in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam who is often represented as the ruler of hell

skull – n. the structure of bones that form the head and face of a person or animal

ax – n. a tool that has a heavy metal blade and a long handle and that is used for chopping wood

giant – n. a legendary creature usually thought of as being an extremely large and powerful person

witch – n. a woman who is thought to have magic powers

lend – v. to give (something) to (someone) to be used for a period of time and then returned

slave – n. someone who is legally owned by another person and is forced to work for that person without pay

  • Listen to the story.

  • Watch the video and read along.

  • Take the short story quiz.

Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-devil-and-tom-walker-by-washington-irving/2871722/p1.html?isEmbedded=True

4 thoughts on “3.5.2: Year 3 American English Lessons with Maestro Sersea

  1. Lesson 3.5.2 Year 3
    The story ”Devil and Tom Walker” is a short story written by Washington Irving. The story is about Tom Walker and his wife. they are penny- pinching and bitter towards each other’s. the couple even goes as fast as hiding money from each other.
    In this story, sinful behavior is met with punishment, and the devil controls the souls of those greedy people, because these greedy people, who agree to sell their soul for money. The assets of Tom become worthless. His coach horses become skeleton. The gold and silver, Tom hoarded turns into wood chips and shaving. His mortgages and deed become cinders, his great house burns to the ground. Tom’s wife meets a miserable end. She attempt to make a deal with the devil herself and goes into the wood and doesn’t return,and there is no greater disaster than greed.

  2. Dear teacher,
    Lesson 3.5.2 Year 3
    The story ”Devil and Tom Walker” is a short story written by Washington Irving in 1824.
    CaptainKidd was a famous man in the world and he kept money in different places. Then people all over the world searched in many places Captain Kidd’s stolen money. They though that his gold and silver, jewelry’s buried under the big tree, and it was protected by the devil. In year 1727, a man named TOM
    and his wife were so hungry money. TOM rested under a big tree, and he heard an angry voice of a giant devil sitting on the broken tree. He saw every trees had the name of rich men from Massa Chusetts. After negotiating, TOM finally decided he would given the giant devil on what he wanted in exchange for Captain Kidd’s treasure but the devil wanted more than that. He wanted TOM buy a ship and bring slaves to America. TOM refused to do that. Then devil told 2nd works was lending money to other people, Tom agreed this task. So, devil gave him Captain Kidd’s treasure and he become the richest man in Boston.
    For the quiz, I got 100% correct.
    Thank you.

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