A1 short stories in English
Short stories at A1 (Beginner) level, newest first. Press play to hear a story, read along, then write it 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 dictationEyes In The Dark
At night, I sit in a tree. My big eyes watch the grass. A small mouse moves below me. I hear it in the dark. Then I fly down without a sound. I am an owl.
Write this story as a dictationDot’s Corn Surprise
Dot is a small white goat. A red bag of corn hangs on a gate. Dot pulls the bag with her teeth. The bag falls, and corn rolls out. A small mouse jumps out too. The mouse wears the bag as a hat. Dot and the mouse eat corn.
Write this story as a dictationUma and the Big Light
Uma works in a tower by the sea. Mist hides the rocks today. A boat comes close to the rocks. She turns on the big light for boats. The light shines over the sea. The boat stays away from the rocks. A bird takes a bite of her bun.
Write this story as a dictationNell Above The Door
Nell is a small brown bat. By day, she sleeps with her head down. At night, she flies near a shop. A bug flies close to the bright light. Nell eats it before it lands. Then she hangs above the shop door. People pass below and never see her.
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.