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English short stories for beginners Free Download- Ali and his Camera By Raymond Pizante book PDF
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Ali and his Camera
By Raymond Pizante
Ali lives in Istanbul, a big city in Turkey. He lives in an old building near the famous Blue Mosque. After school, Ali comes home and sits at the window. He looks at the boats. They are going out to sea.
‘What are you doing?’ Ali’s mother asks.
‘I’m taking photos of those boats,’ Ali says.
His mother looks at him and laughs. ‘Photos? How can you take photos? You haven’t got a camera!’
‘I know that, Mother! I’m taking photos in my head. I can see the photos here!’
Ali shows a place near his eyes. His mother laughs again.
‘Stop talking and go to your father’s shop!’ she tells him.
Ali’s father sells vegetables and fruit. Ali works in the shop after school.
‘Don’t move. Stand there near the door!’ Ali says suddenly.
‘Why?’ his father asks.
‘I want to take your photo!’
Ali’s father smiles. ‘My photo? First, get a camera. Then you can take my photo!’
‘Buy me a camera!’ Ali says.
Ali’s father stops smiling. ‘I haven’t got any money for cameras,’ he says slowly.
Every afternoon, Ali walks in the old city of Istanbul. He looks at the houses near the water. Some houses are very old. He watches the men on the bridge. They are catching fish. He watches the boats. He watches, and he sees photos in his head.
‘How can I get a camera?’ he thinks. Suddenly, he has the answer. ‘I’m going to work in the market! ’
There is an old market near Ali’s school. There are small shops in the market. People buy and sell food there.
Ali goes there every afternoon after school. He works with a smile. He carries bags for people. People like him and they give him money. He puts it in his pocket.
‘One day I’m going to have a lot of money,’ Ali says to his mother. ‘Then I can buy a camera. And then I’m going to take a photo of you in the kitchen.’
‘No, not in the kitchen! On the balcony, with your father,’ his mother says.
‘No, not on the balcony — in my shop,’ his father says.
One afternoon, Ali is carrying a heavy bag for an old man.
‘There’s a man behind us,’ the old man says. ‘Do you know him?’ Ali looks at the man behind them. He is big and strong.
‘No, I don’t know him. He doesn’t work in the market.’
‘Watch my bag!’ the old man says. ‘Perhaps he’s a thief.’
Ali thinks of the money in his pocket. ‘Let’s walk quickly,’ he tells the old man.
‘I can’t walk quickly. You’re young, but I’m not!’
Suddenly, the big man takes the bag from Ali’s hand and starts to run away. Ali runs after him. The man hits Ali. Ali falls down, and his money falls out of his pocket. The man puts down the bag. Then he takes Ali’s money and runs away.
Ali gives the bag to the old man.
‘Thank you very much,’ the old man says. ‘You’re a very good young man.’
Ali is unhappy, but he does not talk about the money. That evening, he does not tell his mother and father about it.
‘I can start again,’ he thinks. The day after that, Ali is at the market. People are making a lot of noise. Ali is standing and waiting for work.
Suddenly, an old woman comes to him and says, ‘Can you carry my two heavy bags? I live near the statue of Ataturk.’
He carries them for her. ‘Are they very heavy?’ she asks. ‘Not for me. I’m very strong,’ Ali says. They arrive at the statue of Ataturk.
‘I remember Ataturk. He was a very important man for Turkey,’ the old woman says.
‘I’ll take a photo of you and Ataturk,’ Ali says. ‘Where’s your camera?’ the old woman asks. ‘I haven’t got a camera,’ Ali says. The old woman looks at him. Then she smiles.
‘All right. Take my photo without a camera. But wait. First, I’m going to do get my hat,’ she says.
They come to the old woman’s street. Ali carries the bags up to her flat. It is a big flat with a lot of pictures.
‘How much money do you want?’ the old woman asks.
‘How much do you want to give me?’ Ali answers.
‘Sit here and wait,’ she says.
She goes into a small room and comes back with a camera in her hand. ‘This was my son’s first camera. Take it,’ she says.
Ali looks at the camera for a long time. He takes it in his hand.
Then he gives it back to the old woman.
‘It’s a beautiful camera. I … I can’t take it,’ he says.
She takes Ali’s hand and puts the camera in it again.
‘My son doesn’t want it. He has a new camera now.’
‘You’re very good to me. How can I thank you?’ Ali says.
‘Come again one day and take my photo. A real photo. And here’s some money for today.’
‘I can’t take your money. But I can carry your bags from the market again,’ Ali says.
‘You’re a good boy. Remember my name. It’s Mrs Yildiz,’ she tells him.
‘Of course, Mrs Yildiz,’ Ali says.
‘Goodbye, Ali. Take good photos with my son’s camera.’
Ali runs home and tells his mother about Mrs Yildiz and the camera.
‘Does it work?’ his mother says.
‘Yes, it works. I’m going to take your photo now,’ Ali answers.
‘But there’s no film in it, son,’ his mother says. She gives him some money. ‘Go and buy some film. And I want to buy a new dress. Then you can take my photo.’
‘Thank you,’ he says. ‘But I want to buy film with my money, not yours!’
Ali works every day in the market after school. Every evening he comes home late.
‘This is difficult,’ he thinks. ‘People do a lot of work for very little money.’
But one day, Ali has the money for some film. ‘I can take real photos now,’ he thinks.
Ali remembers Mrs Yildiz and goes to her flat. She opens the door and sees him. She is very happy.
‘I want to take your photo, Mrs Yildiz,’ Ali says. She takes Ali into the kitchen. A tall man is drinking coffee there.
‘This is my son, Yusuf. Take a photo of me with him. Come, Yusuf. Sit here with me.’
‘Smile, please,’ Ali says, and he takes their photo.
‘Yusuf works for a newspaper. He can teach you about photos,’ Mrs Yildiz says.
Ali looks at Yusuf. ‘Can you? I want to learn. I want to take good photos,’ he says.
Yusuf looks at Ali and smiles. ‘Go out and take some photos. Then, come to the newspaper and show them to me’ he says.
‘I’m going to take a lot of photos. They’re all in my head now,’ Ali says.
Ali walks in the streets of Istanbul. Suddenly, the city looks very beautiful. He takes photos of bridges and boats and old mosques. He takes photos of people in the streets and in shops.
Then, one day, he goes to see Yusuf at the newspaper.
Yusuf looks at the photos. ‘Hmm, not bad,’ he says.
‘Not bad?’ Ali says.
‘Yes. Not bad. Your photos are not bad.’
‘They aren’t good?’
‘Some of the photos are good, but some of them aren’t,’ Yusuf tells Ali.
Ali is not happy about this. Suddenly, he says, ‘Give me my photos, please.’ He is angry, but Yusuf does not understand.
Ali goes home. He tells his mother about Yusuf and the photos.
‘You weren’t very clever, Ali,’ she says. ‘You aren’t a famous photographer.’
Ali is unhappy. ‘Sometimes I open my mouth and I don’t think first,’ he says.
‘Go to Yusuf. You’re sorry. Tell him that.’
‘I can’t go now,’ Ali answers. ‘I can’t. I’m angry.’
He walks in the streets. ‘Why did I walk away from Yusuf?’ he thinks. ‘It wasn’t clever. Why didn’t I think first? Why…?’
Suddenly, he sees a small photography shop. He goes in. An old man is sitting at a table. He has a happy face. His name is Selim.
‘I like your shop. You have beautiful cameras. I want to work here,’ Ali says.
‘I can’t give you any money,’ the old man answers.
‘I don’t want money. I want to learn about photography,’ Ali says. ‘Look at my photos, please,’ Ali says.
Selim looks at them and then he says, ‘We all see with our eyes. But good photographers see things with the eye of the camera.’
Ali starts to learn. He takes photos of people. He takes photos of doors and windows. ‘Doors and windows are alive, too,’ Selim says.
Ali sees a lot of young children in the city. They work in shops, or they sell fruit, cold drinks and newspapers in the streets. Ali takes photos of them, too. There are smiles on their faces, but their eyes are not smiling.
Ali shows Selim his new photos. ‘Do you like them?’
‘Yes,’ Selim says. ‘You’re learning. You’re building photos.’
‘When can I sell my photos to a newspaper?’ Ali asks.
‘Wait,’ Selim answers.
Ali works at the market after school. He always wants money for film. He takes photos of the people at the market, too.
Early one Saturday morning, he sees some young children on a bridge. They have big, unhappy eyes and they are fishing. Ali takes a photo of them.
He goes to Selim’s flat, in the old city, and he shows Selim the photo of the children on the bridge. Selim looks at it for a long time.
‘Yes,’ he says.’ You’re learning quickly!’
‘You’re very good to me, Mr Selim. You’re my teacher.’
‘I like teaching you. You’re a son to me,’ Selim says.
One day, Ali sees Mrs Yildiz again, but he walks away quickly. He does not want to see her.
‘Ali, Ali! Why are you running away?’ she asks.
Ali stops. I’m not very clever,’ he says. ‘Did Yusuf tell you?’
He tells her about that day in Yusuf s office at the newspaper. ‘I’m sorry now;’ he says.
‘What are you talking about?’ Mrs Yildiz says. ‘Don’t you know? One of your photos is in the newspaper today! ’
‘My photo? In the newspaper? Which photo?’
‘There are two children on a bridge. They’re catching a big fish.’
‘Oh, Mrs Yildiz, I’m very happy,’ Ali says, and he laughs happily. ‘Can I carry your bags for you now?’ ‘No, thank you. Go home now,’ she says.
Ali runs to Selim’s shop.
‘My photo’s in the newspaper!’ he tells him.
‘Yes, here it is,’ Selim says, and he shows Ali the newspaper.
‘I don’t understand! How…? Who…?’ Selim is smiling. ‘It was you! You showed my photo to Yusuf!’
Selim smiles again. Then he says, ‘But you can’t stop learning.’
‘Yes, you’re right,’ Ali says.
‘Tomorrow is a very important day for you.’
Ali doesn’t understand. ‘Tomorrow? Why is tomorrow important?’
‘The newspaper has a job for a young person,’ Selim tells him. ‘That person is going to learn about photography. And that young person is you. You’re going to start your new job tomorrow.’
They laugh and laugh.
— THE END –
Source: vocab.today
English short stories for beginners Free Download- Ali and his Camera By Raymond Pizante book PDF
English short stories for beginners TOP sites
1, really-learn-english.com – English short stories for beginners
Lisa lives with her dog, Fluffy.
Fluffy never eats anything that costs less than 50 dollars. He has a really expansive taste.
One day Fluffy gets lost. Lisa looks for him everywhere, but she can’t find him.
“Fluffy, my friend, you are on your own,” she says.
Poor Fluffy walks and walks. He is not sure where to turn, and it is already time for his 4 o’clock snack.
Fluffy and Bam walk to a leaking hose, and have a shower.
Bam gives Fluffy some food. At first Fluffy wants to refuse, but he is too hungry.
“So where is your home?” Bam asks.
“I live with Lisa. She takes good care of me. I get snacks, food, a bath…”
“Nice girl.” Bam says.
“Yes, she is. I hope to find her. And I hope she doesn’t give away my dear dear snacks…”
The two dogs go to sleep under the open sky. Fluffy falls asleep and dreams of snacks having baths.
2. fluentu.com – English short stories for beginners
English short stories for beginners Why Short Stories Are Best for English Learning
Short stories are amazing resources for any English learner. That’s because:
- You get more time to focus on individual words. When a text is short, you can spend more time learning how every single word is used and what importance it has in the piece.
- You can read a whole story in one sitting. Attention spans are very important for learning, and the ability to finish a story gives you more time to understand it. Short stories are designed to give you maximum information with minimal effort.
- It is best for consistency. It is far easier to read one story every day than trying to read a big novel that never seems to end.
- You can share them easily in a group. Since short stories can be read in a single sitting, they are ideal for book clubs and learning circles. Most of the time these groups do not work because members have no time to read. Short stories are the perfect solution.
- You can focus more on ideas and concepts. Language is less about words and more about the meaning behind them. If you spend all your time learning vocabulary and grammar, you will never be able to fluently speak a language because you will have little to talk about. These short stories give you the opportunity to understand big ideas in context.
You can choose almost any short story and get something useful out of it. Each story has its own special features that you can appreciate.
The best kind of story will be one that is interesting, has a strong message and, of course, helps you to both practice and learn English. It will be one that leaves an impact, both in your English education and in your imagination.
Short stories are also a great resource for English learners because they allow you to work on reading, speaking and listening at the same time. In our fantastic digital age, it is possible to find wonderful short stories online in video form. If you find a video that includes English-language subtitles, you can read while also listening to how a native speaker pronounces words.
3. english-for-students.com– english short stories for beginners
These English short stories for beginners have been collected from diverse sources. We formed a team of experts who are entrusted with the responsibility of collecting these short stories from all sources possible. The team did a wonderful job of collecting these short stories by going through various materials. AS usual, our work of hard-time has produced desired results.
We have given the large collection of those short stories. As per the requirements of our regular readers, we have added these stories of high quality. You are one of those valuable readers. All people of all backgrounds with assorted abilities will like these stories of amusing nature. You are welcome to share with us any such short story (short stories) you have with you. Your story will be presented here with acknowledgement.
Animal Stories
Witty Tales
Moral Stories
Humorous Stories
Zen Tales
Raman Stories
Mulla Stories
Aesop’s fables
Jataka Tales
Birbal Stories
Modern Stories
Classics
Fables
Stories from around the World
Mythological Stories
6. kaplaninternational.com – english short stories for beginners
English short stories for beginners 6 SIMPLE NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES FOR LEARNING TO READ IN ENGLISH
Reading classic books and novels is a fun, highly effective way of studying English language and culture. However, the prospect of diving into Great Expectations or Huckleberry Finn can be intimidating for beginners; there’s just so many words you haven’t learned yet! That’s why many students like to start with simple stories that are easy to read like fairy tales, children’s stories, and traditional texts.
Many beginners choose easy novels and stories as an introduction to reading in English because it helps train them to eventually move on to more challenging texts. We’ve picked the best 6 to help you get started.
1. Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Difficulty: Easy
Roald Dahl is one of the greatest writers of all time for both children and adults alike. His simple writing style and charming, beautiful stories are world famous. However, some of his stories can be prone to ‘nonsense’ words and old language. Danny the Champion of the World doesn’t have this problem – it’s a more adult story about a boy’s relationship with his father – and his father’s dark, secret past.
2. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Difficulty: Medium
This famous tale was written by a writer well known for his clean, simple writing style. He was so good that he even wrote an entire instruction manual about how to write clearly! Charlotte’s Web is a story set on a farm about an unlikely friendship between a spider and a pig. If you like animals then this story is definitely for you!
3. The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
Difficulty: Easy
The Happy Prince is one of Oscar Wilde’s best short stories. Well-known for its heartbreaking finale, this simple parable centers on the relationship between a talking statue and a tiny bird. The language is straightforward and the story is short but beautiful.
4. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Difficulty: Medium
This charming book is very useful for readers looking to improve their English; the author actually explains some of the more difficult words! As the title suggests, this novel doesn’t have a happy ending, but it’s a fantastic adventure all the same! It tells the story of a family of children who lose their parents and are made to live with the mysterious Count Olaf.
5. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Difficulty: Medium
The Wind in the Willows is another classic of British literature and has inspired readers for generations. Its simple language is easy to read and the story is engaging and fun. It centers around a river in the English countryside and the adventures of the animals that live around it.
6. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Difficulty: Hard
This short novel earned Hemingway the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954 and is one of the greatest works ever written. Beginners may find this novel a little more difficult than the others, however, Hemingway is renowned for having some of the cleanest prose and simplest writing styles of any legendary writers. This intensely human, emotional tale is about one fisherman’s struggle against nature.
7, bbc.com – english short stories for beginners
Burning Questions by Margaret Atwood– english short stories for beginners
Now in the seventh decade of her remarkable literary career, Margaret Atwood has written her third collection of essays that, says the i newspaper, “brims with enthusiasm and verve”. Broadly looking at events of the past two decades, the range of subjects is wide – from censorship and Obama, to #MeToo and zombies.
And there are insights into her own craft and the function of fiction. As the i puts it: “Atwood always makes the idea of big questions a little more digestible. You find yourself asking: what can fiction do? What can we do, generally?” The essays are full of a “droll, deadpan humour and an instinct for self-deprecation” says the Guardian. “Atwood remains frank, honest and good company.” (LB)
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head by Warsan Shire – english short stories for beginners
This is Warsan Shire’s long-awaited, first full-length poetry collection, after two pamphlets, Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth (2011) and Her Blue Body (2015). It arrives nearly six years after the Somali-British poet shot to world-wide fame collaborating with Beyoncé on the latter’s ground-breaking visual albums, Lemonade (2016) and Black is King (2020).
The poems in Bless the Daughter… draw from Shire’s own experiences, bringing to vivid life black women’s lives, motherhood and migration. “Shire’s strikingly beautiful imagery leverages the specificity of her own womanhood, love life, tussles with mental health, grief, family history, and stories from the Somali diaspora, to make them reverberate universally,” writes Dfiza Benson in The Telegraph. (RL)
This list is generated from 130 “best of” book lists from a variety of great sources. An algorithm is used to create a master list based on how many lists a particular book appears on. Some lists count more than others. I generally trust “best of all time” lists voted by authors and experts over user-generated lists.
On the lists that are actually ranked, the book that is 1st counts a lot more than the book that’s 100th. If you’re interested in the details about how the rankings are generated and which lists are the most important(in my eyes) please check out the list details page.