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
scar – n. a mark that is left on your skin after a wound heals
forehead – n. the part of the face above the eyes
malaria – n. a serious disease that causes chills and fever and that is passed from one person to another by the bite of mosquitoes
mood – n. the way someone feels : a person’s emotional state
pickle – n. chiefly US: a cucumber that is preserved in salt water or vinegar
barn – n. a building on a farm that is used for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or equipment
courage – n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous
- Listen to the story.
- Watch the video and read along.
- Take the short story quiz.
Take the quiz: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/2918029/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.
Lesson 3.40.2: Year 3
American short story.
”The Return of Private” by Hamlin Garland.
I took the quiz of this story, and my score is 100%, meaning I have answered 4 correct answers from total 4 questions.
Lesson 3.40.2: Year 3
American Short story.
” The return of Private”. Written by Hamline Garland.
”The Return of Private” is a short story. It’s very interesting, fascinating and romantic story regarding a strong bonding between the lover and the beloved. The story is about Private Edward Smith, a soldier who is returning home after fighting the civil war. Smith is travelling with a group of fellow soldiers, who are also returning home. The group is depleted of energy and has almost no money. Smith is sick than the rest, with a fever, he can’t shake. He tells the group that he can’t afford a hotel, he has to save every cent to support his wife and three children. As they get closer to their homes, they grow increasingly excited about the scene to meet whom they love best.
Emma Smith Edward’s wife is waiting home on Sunday preparing for dinner. She thinks how long it has been since she heard from her husband and letters that other people have received news from their solders. However, she does not know when Edward might return. She goes to her neighbor’s house; her neighbor is also preparing the dinner for her family. both of them exchange pleasant conversation about her husband and children. Her neighbor tells fortunes by reading tea leaves and she tells Emma that her husband is coming over the hill, but he has changed so much they are not sure it is him. They all run to greet him. The older two children greet their father, the youngest no longer recognizes him and Edward is visibly hurt as he tries to win over his own child’s trust.
The theme of the story is devaluation of war, the bond of friendship between soldiers and the sense of home and belonging.
Dear teacher,
Lesson 3.40.2: Year 3
American Short story.
” The return of Private”. Written by Hamline Garland.
The story is about Private Edward Smith, a soldier who is returning home after fighting the civil war. Smith is traveling with fellow soldiers who are returning home. Smith got sick with a fever.
He told the group that he couldn’t afford a hotel, he has to save every cent to support his wife and three children. As they arrived closer to their homes, they grew increasingly excited about the scene to meet whom they love best.
Emma Smith Edward’s wife was waiting home on Sunday preparing for dinner and she dream about her husband came back home. However, she did not know when will Edward might return. She went to her neighbor’s house and they told Emma about a fortunes by reading tea leaves. The older two children greet their father, the youngest no longer recognizes him and Edward is visibly hurt as he tries to win over his own child’s trust. A man in a blue coat, with a gun on his back, was walking down the road toward the Smith farm. His face was hidden by a large pack on his back. Trembling and weak with emotion, Misses Smith hurried up to her husband. Her feet made no sound on the grass, but he turned suddenly to face her. For the rest of his life, he would never forget her face at that moment.
“Emma!” he cried. The children stood back watching their mother kissing this strange man. He saw them, and kneeling down he pulled from his pack three huge, red apples. In a moment, all three children were in their father’s arms. Together, the family entered the little unpainted farmhouse.
Thank you..