Job Discussion Forums

[TwinStarLA]

I would like to start a short story class at the language school where I teach. Does anyone know of any good websites for short story ideas? The students are adults.

[coledavis]

I'm not quite sure what you are asking for: recommendations for useful short stories, ways of teaching them or something else all together.

[TwinStarLA]

I haven't had much luck finding good short stories. Classic short stories would be too difficult for even my most advanced students. I have seen several websites that have "365 short stories," but these seem rather awful. So, I'm looking for stories that adult learners would find readable and interesting. I would appreciate any ideas of short stories you've used for adult esl students, or websites that you've found useful. Thanks for your help.

[spiral78]

Reader's Digest magazine is stuffed full of short stories ranging from a paragraph to a few pages long, all aimed at a VERY general, moderately educated adult audience.

Totally PC as well, so far as I remember.

[mankatogirl]

I think if you are looking for factual text, why not try one of many magazines out there? They often have very good articles that you could easily modify.

Here is an example:
"Hey, I'm part of the Geritol generation now," Katie Couric, 55, says with a laugh. "I understand the issues Americans my age and up are facing every day." Boy, does she ever. Listen to Couric rattle through topics she'll be covering on her new syndicated daytime talk show, Katie, premiering Sept. 10: Staying healthy at any age, empty-nest syndrome, dating after 50 ("which I'm doing"), prescription drug abuse among the elderly, smarter retirement finances, menopause ("Hello! I'm going through it") and why everybody is getting a knee replacement. "One of my big concerns about aging is that we're too obsessed with staying young," she says. "When my mom was 55, she didn't dress like a desperate housewife. This quest for perpetual youth is on overkill."

http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/television/info-07-2012/katie-couric-on-new-talk-show-and-life-after-50.html

This kind of short segment can easily be modified into a lesson.
vocabulary: rattle, syndicated, empty-nest syndrome, obsessed, overkill, replacement
Topics of conversation: What topics are in daytime TV shows in your country?
Why would listening to a show that is geared for those over 50 be important?
What kinds of consumer products do those over 50 purchase?
Would you watch this TV show? Why or why not? What kinds of TV shows do you prefer?
Make a short vocabulary sheet up for the students, assign a writing exercise with a comparison and contrasting activity where students compare products those over 50 tend to buy with products those under 50 tend to buy.
Have students research the most prevalent age demographic in their country. Compare and contrast that with other countries. The list goes on and on!
Just an idea for the factual text that is out there. I used this lesson with a student preparing for the TOEFL exam but it could be modified for any age level. I wrote the questions for this lesson but the text was found in the AARP magazine. You may want to consult another magazine for text that would be more appropriate for your target audience.