English as a second language - what can you recommend?

[Letti]

Some of you may know that I am an English teacher. I keep telling my students that reading in English is very important because this way they can improve their knowledge anytime, even on the bus or on the train. Moreover it's so much fun. For the brain reading in English is like swimming in the English language. Many of them like the idea. After a certain level I encourage them to read real, original books. (There are books for English learners that contain easy stories with light grammar.)
Usually I first recommend Narnia. Its language is beautiful and it's easy to understand it. It has some hard words but after the first 50 pages it's a piece of cake. I have never read HP but I usually recommend it, too because I have heard it's really nice, too and it's quite easy to get it.
What other books would you recommend? SK writes beautifully and it's not that hard but I wouldn't recommend his books for an English learner as a first read. It can be good after some books but for first.. it's a bit hard.
Many students give up reading in English because they open a classical book for example Tom Sawyer or Lord of the Flies (heh, LotF wasn't easy for me either) and they can't understand much so they get disappointed and they don't try it again anymore.
So? Can you help me? I need more books in my pocket I can recommend.

[Jean]

Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

I really, really dislike this book, but it is extremely useful for students.

Anything by Agatha Christie. It's quick, easy, and they usually don't put it down until they have found out who the murderer is. It's also flattering for them because they see that they understood who killed whom and why, and because they usually get her humor, not very subtle, but there.

Anything by Mary Higgins Clark, for the same reasons; especially recommended for those who object to reading books written in British English and so do not want Christie (of course, they should be explained that reading British is not going to mar their perfect American in any way, but some people just don't want to believe obvious things).

Girls often want romance. The only passable romance author I know (I mean, among those fit for beginners) is Georgette Heyer (Sprig Muslin, etc)

Then, in almost any short story collection (King including; Chesterton, Wodehouse or Palahniuk excluding - it's for advanced stages) you can find something suitable for this or that student's level.

[Letti]

Thanks, Jean. Yeah, I know that Agatha Christie is a very good read for English learners. I should have mentioned it.
Thank you for all the other ideas.
Do your students read original books in English?

[Jean]

Of course they do, the first thing I tell them is to avoid adopted texts like poison (which they are).

[Letti]

Of course they do, the first thing I tell them is to avoid adopted texts like poison (which they are).

Why do you say so? (I have a guess.)

[Letti]

Then, in almost any short story collection (King including; Chesterton, Wodehouse or Palahniuk excluding - it's for advanced stages) you can find something suitable for this or that student's level.

Hm, short story collections are.. I don't know. I find them a bit risky. Some of the stories are okay but some can be really hard.
I am reading Everything's Eventual by King right now and some stories are really easy (so I guess my students could get them with some work) but others are really hard and complex. Not the language.. but some of the stories are foggy.. you can't get the point for pages and it can be disturbing for students. They think they don't get the story however the writing style is mysterious. So if they pick a hard one and they can't get over it they might lose their passion and fire. So I wouldn't recommend short stories as a first read but I might be wrong.
Maybe I am way too worried about my students.

[Jean]

But you shouldn't recommend collections. You should recommend stories. See, you think of a student, have an idea what s/he might like and what their level is, and lend to him/her your collection with the recommended stories marked with ticks or crosses or whatever. As you said, even in Everything's Eventual there are quite readable stories.

Answering your previous question... yes, your guess is right. There's nothing as innatural, depraved, taste-ruining, intuition-killing, ability-destroying, interest-murdering as an adapted text.

[Brice]

What is an adapted text?

[Jean]

What is an adapted text?

Unadapted:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Adapted:

It was late. I was reading. "Knock, knock!" Some visitor.

[Brice]

Oh, okay I understand now. I'm just used to it being called an abridged text. I agree...IMO no book should be adapted or abridged...not even for young readers. They should read the story when they're ready for it.

[Jean]

"Abridged" is the lesser of the two evils. They throw away what they don't like, but at least they leave the rest be. "Adapted" means they have re-written all of it in their own way, presumably to make it easier for foreigners, but actually in order to satisfy their basest inclinations.

[Letti]

What is an adapted text?

Unadapted:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Adapted:

It was late. I was reading. "Knock, knock!" Some visitor.

Anyway I think adapted texts can be really useful for beginners or for those who have no self-confidence at all. Sadly there are many of them here. I have met so many broken students. They think they are hopeless and helpless and they will never ever be able to communicate in English.
So I get your point Jean but I can't agree. There are advantages and disadvantages.
IMHO English learners can enjoy them a lot and when they finish one they are proud of themselves because in another language they can understand stories. It's a big thing for them. Their eyes can shine so happily and proudly!
So yes over a certain level these light stories are ridiculous and cheap. Yeah it's true that adapted stories steal the essence of the original text BUT for many students they are enjoyable and useful. They give them.. courage and hope.
just my two cents

[Jean]

I think there's some confusion again; there are adapted stories and there are stories written for learners: easy reading and such. While I am sure that a student should go on to real literature as soon as possible, at the very beginning it is possible that they read "easy" texts, provided these are originally written as "easy", not a result of defiling someone's existing text. The former is a necessary evil; the latter a hideous mongrel bastard.

[Letti]

I think there's some confusion again; there are adapted stories and there are stories written for learners: easy reading and such. While I am sure that a student should go on to real literature as soon as possible, at the very beginning it is possible that they read "easy" texts, provided these are originally written as "easy", not a result of defiling someone's existing text. The former is a necessary evil; the latter a hideous mongrel bastard.

I meant both. Easy readings and adapted stories, too.

[Jean]

[Daghain]

S.E. Hinton is a pretty easy read, and the stories are good.

Lois Lowry is also another good one - The Giver is an excellent book.

I'm sure there are more, but that's all I'm coming up with on one cup of coffee.

[turtlex]

The Outsiders. :sigh: SodaPop Curtis. Even says so on his birth certificate.

[Letti]

Something for something.
I am sure Poe isn't the same when it gets adapted.. how could any adaptation give back the his sick but perfect style.. but man, my students can get so damn proud when they read such a story and they can understand it. "Niki, I can't believe it. I could understand it so easily. I needed the dictionary once on a blue moon!" Of course it's not about Poe anymore it's about learning practising and loving English.
Something for something.
Their joy and hope and self-confidence mean me more than the respect of literature.
still my two cents

[Daghain]

[idk, my bff jill?]

In my school, since most people didn't want to read the books assigned, my English teacher started to give us books like "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks, "Night" by Elie Wiesel, and "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton.
I wasn't a big fan of the change, but everyone else seemed to be, so yeah.
Those are my two cents.

The Outsiders. :sigh: SodaPop Curtis. Even says so on his birth certificate.

Stay gold, Ponyboy.

[Letti]

S.E. Hinton is a pretty easy read, and the stories are good.

Lois Lowry is also another good one - The Giver is an excellent book.

I'm sure there are more, but that's all I'm coming up with on one cup of coffee.

The Outsiders. :sigh: SodaPop Curtis. Even says so on his birth certificate.

Thank you. This thread is becoming a treasure box for me.

[Daghain]

You can never go wrong with S.E. Hinton.

I'll rifle through my bookshelf when I get home and see what else is in there.

[mae]

Am I the only one awaiting the rest of The Raven by Jean?

[Jean]

I made for you an abridged version of same, so everyone will see the difference betweed abridged and adapted:

Midnight dreary, weak and weary
Pondered o'er a volume of lore.
Napping, there came a tapping
Rapping at my chamber door.
Visitor, and nothing more.

[agrabin]

Ah've hud a wheen eh tomes ower yonks 'n a load eh wans wid gie ye yon dreaded lurgy. Ye’d a thunk oany wan eh thame ‘ns cuid larn frae whit wis writ beh a clatter o’ clerts ‘n bampots bu’ maist eh thim ir nae sae guid efter a’. Ah widnae hae a gawk ‘n footer aboot tae lang fer ye micht gansh tae much ‘n mak a muckle eejit o’ yersel. Jist dae whit ah dae ‘n sae it the wae i’ soon’s.

Lang may yer lum reek.