Short English stories with audio
Short stories in natural English, read aloud, for every level from A1 to C1. Listen first, read along, then write the story down as a dictation.
Warm Bread For You
Dear May, the shop has warm bread. I buy some warm bread for lunch. The bag feels warm in my hand. A little bird sits by the door. It looks at my bread, then flies. I save one piece for you.
Write this story as a dictationThe Ferry Hat Surprise
Strong wind blew my yellow hat off my head. It landed on a bench beside the ferry snack counter. I looked under the seats, but it was gone. A little child came back with my hat. A tiny crab sat near the edge of the hat. I held still while it waved one small claw. Then the child and I put it back in the water. I wore my hat home, but kept checking inside.
Write this story as a dictationAppointments in Plain Sight
Your calendar may be hiding appointments in plain sight. That happened to me when two errands shared one tiny square. I kept moving the notes, and one important visit slipped off completely. Since then, I have given every appointment its own clear line. Add the place and travel time, so you can see the whole plan. Set one reminder the day before and another when you must leave. If plans change, update the calendar immediately instead of trusting your memory. Now my appointments no longer vanish, and I arrive without rushing. I hope these small changes make your busy weeks easier to manage.
Write this story as a dictationA Receiver at Supper
The film A Receiver at Supper follows an inventor whose kettle alarm becomes entangled in family life. Her first prototype mistakes a washing machine's vibrations for a boiling kettle, ruining Sunday soup. Her father, a night baker, sleeps through ordinary alarms after his shifts, giving her invention personal stakes. The device sends a light to a receiver, so it cannot help if either part is misplaced. Bright daylight can also hide the flash, a practical weakness the film does not conceal. Instead of presenting a polished success story, the director lets failed tests reshape their relationship. During one late test, her father covers the receiver with a tea towel, expecting a louder warning. That small gesture shows how easily a thoughtful design can fail to match someone's habits. The middle section occasionally overexplains the circuitry, although its domestic humor keeps the pace warm. Viewers drawn to intimate family dramas and inventive everyday details will enjoy its understated payoff.
Write this story as a dictationThe Economy Of Plenty
Bulk buying is often praised as thrift, although its hidden cost is the obligation to consume before appetite changes. A family may save pennies on a large jar of sauce, then design three dinners around it. The cupboard gradually becomes an archive of optimistic intentions, with lentils, spices, and specialty flour waiting for imaginary weekends. What looked inexpensive at the checkout can become expensive when stale ingredients dictate otherwise balanced meals. Even freshness has a psychological price, because abundance encourages generous portions and makes restraint feel oddly wasteful. A smaller packet, bought deliberately, can preserve both flavor and freedom, especially when household schedules change without warning. This is why a nearly empty shelf may reflect judgment rather than deprivation. In a shared kitchen, modest supplies also reduce the quiet negotiations caused by one person's ambitious purchase. The real economy lies not in acquiring more food, but in keeping fewer plans hostage to it. Thrift, properly understood, is less about the lowest price than about retaining the right to change one's mind.
Write this story as a dictationHow to learn English with short stories
Short stories are one of the easiest ways to practise listening: they are short enough to finish, and the story helps you guess the words you don’t catch. Listen once without reading, then listen again while you read, and notice the words you missed.
When a story feels familiar, write it down as a dictation. You type each sentence as you hear it, and every word is checked, so you see exactly which sounds still slip past you. Every level gets a new story each day.
Where can I find short English stories with audio?
Here, for every level from A1 to C1. Each story has its own recording and full text, and new stories are added every day.
Are these stories good for beginners?
Yes. A1 stories use short sentences, common words and slow, clear speech. Start there, and move up when you understand most of a story on the first listen.
Should I read the text while I listen?
Listen once without the text first, so you train your ear. Then read along to check what you missed, and listen a last time without it.