Need a help

[kairi]

Hi :)
this is my first time that I post in this forum:blush5: , so I need some help :
I am a foreigner and I study English as a second language and I need a list of simple books to read with an interesting story , or any other kind of books that make me spend useful time , like for exampel " the secret "by Rhonda Byrene
Any book can be helpful :yesnod:
thank you :Angel_anim:

[kairi]

helooooooooooo

[applepie]

Hi Kairi :) Some short ones that are a quick read that come to mind are:
"Animal Farm" by George Orwell
"The Time Machine" by H.G. Well
Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" (It's a short and amusing play)

I'm sure I'll think of some others, but these three are some of my favorites.

[aliengirl]

Hi kairi,:)
Some interesting books in my opinion are:

1. The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur C. Doyle
2. The Count of Mounte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
4. The Adventures of Tom Swayer by Mark Twain
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Hope you'd like them.:seeya:

[janesmith]

I would try "To Kill a Mocking Bird"- Harper Lee, "The Lovely Bones"- Alice Sebold, "War of the Worlds"- H.G. Wells or one of Thomas Hardy's earlier novels (perhaps "Far from the Madding Crowd"). :)

[applepie]

I would also recommend any short stories by Edgar Allen Poe, Lord of the Flies. Sorry I'm trying to keep to shorter works since I suppose that I equate simple with being relatively short in length. Beloved is a good novel, and while it is considered more of a children's book I suppose, I've always loved A Wrinkle in Time.

[kairi]

thank you all :blush5:
I will get some of them as soon as I can
thanks again ,this was so helpful:yesnod:

[myrna22]

Hi kairi,:)
Some interesting books in my opinion are:

1. The Hound of Baskervilles by Arthur C. Doyle
2. The Count of Mounte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
4. The Adventures of Tom Swayer by Mark Twain
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Hope you'd like them.:seeya:

LOL

She said
I am a foreigner and I study English as a second language and I need a list of simple books to read

Kari: Go to your local library and ask the librarian to help you find the type of book you need. The advice you are getting here is not going to be helpful to a person who is learning English. The books listed are not simple and only suitable for someone who is fluent in English. I've been teaching English for over 20 years, so I think I am giving you useful advice. Go to the local library. Talk to the librarian. Tell her/him what you need. That person will be of great help to you.

[myrna22]

I would also recommend any short stories by Edgar Allen Poe, Lord of the Flies. Sorry I'm trying to keep to shorter works since I suppose that I equate simple with being relatively short in length. Beloved is a good novel, and while it is considered more of a children's book I suppose, I've always loved A Wrinkle in Time.

The language in Poe's work is extremely difficult for a learner of English. Lord of the Flies, I suppose, can be understood on the basic level of an adventure story, but all the the imagery and symbolism is too complex for a learner of English. Beloved is an extremely difficult and complex novel usually taught at the university level. Have no idea what A Wrinkle in Time is.

[OrphanPip]

The Mark Twain stuff isn't all that difficult really, but I suppose the dialect can be difficult to work through for someone who isn't a native speaker.

I'm sure her/his level is high enough for Lord of the Flies, this book is taught to 12-13 year olds.

[myrna22]

The Mark Twain stuff isn't all that difficult really, but I suppose the dialect can be difficult to work through for someone who isn't a native speaker.

I'm sure her/his level is high enough for Lord of the Flies, this book is taught to 12-13 year olds.

Well, I have taught high school in America and in international schools in 3 countries, they all teach Lord of the Flies in 10 grade, which is 15-16 year olds, not 12 and 13 year olds. To Kill a Mockingbird is taught at 9th grade level, except in ESL classes, where it is taught at 10th or 11th grade level. And keep in mind, these books are 'taught' to students. They have a teacher guiding them through these novels. They are not easy, simple books and not suitable for learners of English. Mark Twain is actually very difficult. The archiac language is difficult for native speakers and even more difficult for ESL learners. I tried to teach it to 8th graders who are not native speakers but who have been in English language international schools since first grade. It was extremely difficult for them, even with a teacher and study guides to help them through it. Not only is the language difficult, the novel is seeped in satire, and the setting is not something foreign students are at all familiar with.

All of the suggestions, Hardy, Twain, etc., are not suitable for ESL learners.

[kiki1982]

Thinking back to my first steps in English...

Emily Brontë or any Brontë for that matter, in my view is much too difficult. So are Austen and Hardy.

I still remember looking into a Sherlock Holmes-story and I could not understand.

I would say that Oscar Wilde is quite possible as I read his only novel when my English was still sh*t if I may be so bold. I had first looked at a story of Sherlock Holmes and was demotivated when I read Wilde (only because it was only 152 pages ;)). He does use difficult words, but the plot is understandable without a lot of fuss. There was one entire chapter that I did not understand one word of (in the middle somewhere), but that didn't do much harm. If his novel is anything to go by, The Importance of Being Earnest should also be ok.

I enjoyed Graham Greene too.

We also read, a little more advanced, Brave New World. I'm not sure about Animal Farm, but that was taught to us (without reading it) in class at about 17 after 3 years of English course at two hours a week. So was Lord of the Flies. The question is if that will interest you, though...

I don't know about Dumas. His French is quite easy, but I don't know how he is translated.

Agatha Christie may also be a good one to start.

My friend read as her first ever book in English Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea (after a three year course at 2 hours a week). I am not sure how difficult it is as I have read it in Dutch because it happened to be on the bookshelf.

I read as my first ever book Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I understood, but not the digressions. I suppose if the digressions are not too long, that you are able to get through work of Dickens. Otherwise, it becomes quite tedious as you are reading while you do not understand anything.

Try Harry Potter? That is read by adults and children, so I suppose the vocanb cannot be that difficult... Try something modern. Pratchett doesn't seem too diffcult, if you like fantasy with a twist (very funny though if I am able to judge by the play I saw).

Comic strips are also a good idea.

I would suggest, if you pick up a book alone, to look at the first sentence. Is that too difficult, then it is the quesiton whether it doesn't even get more difficult. If the first sentence is ok, move on to the middle of the book, and have a look at a random passage. If that is ok, then fine. If you feel like there is a mist in front of the words and you are reading the sentence, but can't really get at the meaning of it, then it is too difficult. Put it away and leave it for another time.

[OrphanPip]

I can agree that Hardy is unsuitable, and maybe even Twain. Although, I'm sure that I did Lord of the Flies in grade 8 English. Moreover, she seems to be wanting to read for entertainment, not so much for understanding. If she can grasp the plot enough to keep her reading a simple enough book like Lord of the Flies should be fine to help her improve her vocabulary or whatever she wants to get out of it.

If the OP found The Secret to be appropriate to her level, which apparently from my research is some sort of religious self-help book for adults, then her English can't be that rudimentary. I'm sure you're better acquainted with what is appropriate for ESL learners, but I think you might be misconstruing the intention and ability of the original poster.

What would you suggest? English translations of Perrault or the Brothers Grimm?

Edit: Good suggestions Kiki, though I think the puns and wordplay in The Importance of Being Earnest might be a bit difficult to catch for a beginner.

[myrna22]

I can agree that Hardy is unsuitable, and maybe even Twain. Although, I'm sure that I did Lord of the Flies in grade 8 English. Moreover, she seems to be wanting to read for entertainment, not so much for understanding. If she can grasp the plot enough to keep her reading a simple enough book like Lord of the Flies should be fine to help her improve her vocabulary or whatever she wants to get out of it.

If the OP found The Secret to be appropriate to her level, which apparently from my research is some sort of religious self-help book for adults, then her English can't be that rudimentary. I'm sure you're better acquainted with what is appropriate for ESL learners, but I think you might be misconstruing the intention and ability of the original poster.

What would you suggest? English translations of Perrault or the Brothers Grimm?


Edit: Good suggestions Kiki, though I think the puns and wordplay in The Importance of Being Earnest might be a bit difficult to catch for a beginner.

If you think Lord of the Flies is a simple book, then you either don't remember it well or you were taught an abridged version in 8th grade. As far as I have seen, in teaching English in 4 different countries to English speaking students, it is taught in 10th grade. If you read it in 8th grade, you were at a very advanced school.

Self help books, like most popular media, are probably written at 7th grade level. What she is looking for is something very specific: reading matter that thematically appeals to an adult but is written at about a 7th grade level. As I said, a competent librarian will be of the most help to her, or an ESL teacher. Give the woman a break and give her USEFUL advice.

The Importance of Being Earnest if full of satire, as posted, word play, which is difficult for anyone who is not very fluent in English as well as very knowledgeable about turn of the Century British culture.


What would you suggest? English translations of Perrault or the Brothers Grimm?
I suggest she TALK to someone in person, someone who can get a good sense of her ability with language and someone who is truly knowledgeable about all kinds of literature and what levels certain reading material is suited for. I suggest she deal with someone in person. There is no way we can tell what her reading level is by a short post on this forum.

[kiki1982]

I can agree that Hardy is unsuitable, and maybe even Twain. Although, I'm sure that I did Lord of the Flies in grade 8 English. Moreover, she seems to be wanting to read for entertainment, not so much for understanding. If she can grasp the plot enough to keep her reading a simple enough book like Lord of the Flies should be fine to help her improve her vocabulary or whatever she wants to get out of it.

I agree, it is not as if one must get the whole thing. The plot and some simple symbolism is enough.

Mind you, Perrault and the Brothers Grimm are not that easy, maybe a children's versio might be more appropriate ;).

And what about some children's things: The Chronicles of Narnia? The Famous Five? The Wind in the Willows?

Lewis Caroll?

It's maybe a good place to start because it builds confidence and then you know what level you are.

[OrphanPip]

If you think Lord of the Flies is a simple book, then you either don't remember it well or you were taught an abridged version in 8th grade. As far as I have seen, in teaching English in 4 different countries to English speaking students, it is taught in 10th grade. If you read it in 8th grade, you were at a very advanced school.

I wasn't in an advanced program in grade 8 (I was from grade 9 onwards though). Although, I pursued a bilingual education program, half my courses were in French and half in English. The program did emphasize language courses and required higher performance than the standard stream.

[Modest Proposal]

I wasn't in an advanced program in grade 8 (I was from grade 9 onwards though). Although, I pursued a bilingual education program, half my courses were in French and half in English. The program did emphasize language courses and required higher performance than the standard stream.

I wouldn't even debate, Pip. From what I can tell, Myrna's posts are always aggressive and usually unhelpful.

The said poster just attacks people but when refuted, gets emotional or doesn't respond.

Your posts, as are many on here, are completely legitimate opinions. Some of the books may be hard/long/boring, but ultimately that will be for the OP to decide.

[dfloyd]

so someone recommends The Count of Monte Cristo. I sometimes wonder if respondents ever read a post beyond three or four words. The only responses which make any sense are the ones from myrna22. This time (not always) I am in complete agreement with her. In looking back to when I first started reading, I came up with some of the shorter novels by Steinbeck such as The Red Pony. The Black Stallion books by Walter Farley are fairly simple, but interesting. For a longer book, but not too complex, try The Swiss Family Robinson, Journey to the Center of the Earth, or Robinson Crusoe.

[kairi]

thanks for the advices
I bought two books that I found them easy for me to read
the alchemist by paulo coelho
pride and prejudice by jane austen
so, what do you think about them ?

[kiki1982]

so someone recommends The Count of Monte Cristo. I sometimes wonder if respondents ever read a post beyond three or four words. The only response which makes any sense is the ones from myrna22. This time (not always) I am in complete agreement with her. In looking back to when I first started reading, I came up with some of the shorter novels by Steinbeck such as The Red Pony. The Black Stallion books by Walter Farley are fairly simple, but interesting. For a longer book, but not too complex, try The Swiss Family Robinson, Journey to the Center of the Earth, or Robinson Crusoe.

Robinson Crusoe might be easy regarding plot and background, but it was certainly not a piece of cake vocab-wise.

I thought we were advising a person who is still learning English here, not who is only starting to read properly. That's why we asked questions with WH and the like. Vocab in those is much too difficult. The Count of Monte Cristo is my view should be ok (if it is properly translated, Dumas's French was fine), but it is far too long for a comfortable read in a language that is not really your great strength.

@Kairi:

No experience with Coelho, but it is at least modern, so you won't have a problem with old vocab.

Pride and Prejudice I find a brave choice, but if you have checked, then it is fine. There is a forum on that on this website by the way (further down on the starting Forum page under Austen, Jane).

[Modest Proposal]

so someone recommends The Count of Monte Cristo. I sometimes wonder if respondents ever read a post beyond three or four words. The only responses which make any sense are the ones from myrna22. This time (not always) I am in complete agreement with her. In looking back to when I first started reading, I came up with some of the shorter novels by Steinbeck such as The Red Pony. The Black Stallion books by Walter Farley are fairly simple, but interesting. For a longer book, but not too complex, try The Swiss Family Robinson, Journey to the Center of the Earth, or Robinson Crusoe.

Sorry, but this time you are the one who has misread. While you can debate what is simple and what is not, the FACT is that the OP said simple and interesting, not simple and short.

The Count of Monte Cristo is famous for its being interesting and Dumas is famous for not being especially complex in his language. I don't know exactly what the OP is looking for, but as a suggestion, this book is fine. The OP would immediately see that it was over a 1000 pages and decide from there if they want to read it.

What I was bringing up in my previous post was the difference between politely disagreeing with someone's opinion about what is easy or difficult, and myrna's coming in here and telling the OP to ignore everyone and try a different method.

I usually agree with you dFloyd and respect your opinion, but thought it ironic that you said we don't read the whole post, when you are the one who got the facts wrong.

As it turns out, the OP found Pride and Prejudice at their level, which pretty much means everything mentioned here is fair game.

[Pukki]

hi there,
i am a native speaker, but i live in a different country, so in my english class all the others are not native speakers. we read things like the great gatsby and a midsummmer night's dream, but most of the pupils find that too hard. i can recommend roald dahl (matilda, the bfg and so on may be children's books originally but that doesn't make them less interesting for adults) especially his short stories (lamb to the slaughter, dip in the pool).
personally i would say pride and predjudice may be too difficult, but of course that also depends on how interested you are :)