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The most enjoyable way to learn about an unfamiliar culture is through its storiesespecially when they're told in two languages! Korean Stories for Language Learners introduces 42 traditional Korean folktales with bilingual Korean and English versions, presented on facing pages, together with detailed notes and exercises aimed at beginning learners of the language. The book can be used as a reader in first- and second-year Korean language courses or by anyone who wishes to learn about Korean folktales and traditional Korean culture.This elegantly illustrated volume is designed to help language learners expand their vocabulary and to develop a basic familiarity with Korean culture. The stories gradually increase in length and complexity throughout the book as the reader improves their vocabulary and understanding of the language. After the first few stories, the reader is asked to use the vocabulary in speaking and writing exercises. By reading these classic stories, they also are given a window into Korean culture and learn to appreciate the uniqueness of the countrywhich provides greater motivation to continue learning the difficult language.Cultural notes and discussion questions further reinforce one's understanding of the stories, and bolster one's language skills. Korean-English and English-Korean glossaries are included as well as an overview of the Korean Hangeul script.Audio recordings by native speakers help readers improve their pronunciation and inflection.

A great story can lead a reader down a rabbit hole of discovery—especially if it''s presented in two languages! Beautifully illustrated in a traditional style, Japanese Stories for Language Learners offers five compelling stories with Japanese and English language versions appearing on facing pages. Taking learners on an exciting cultural and linguistic journey, each story is followed by detailed translator''s notes, vocabulary lists, and grammar points along with a set of discussion questions and exercises. The first two are very famous traditional folktales: Urashima Taro (Tale of a Fisherman) and Yuki Onna (The Snow Woman). These are followed by three short stories by notable 20th century authors: Kumo no Ito (The Spider''s Thread) by Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892u1927), Oborekaketa Kyodai (The Siblings Who Almost Drowned) by Arishima Takeo (1878u1923), and Serohiki no Goshu (Gauche the Cellist) by Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933). The latter stories are unabridged and unedited except for the addition of furigana pronunciations above the kanji characters. Reading these stories in the original Japanese—and hearing native-speakers read them aloud in the accompanying free audio recording—helps students at every level deepen their comprehension of the beauty and subtlety of the Japanese language.

The highly anticipated next book in Tuttle's Stories for Language Learners series is here!This book presents 22 classic Chinese proverbs and the traditional tales behind them. The stories are bilingual, with the Chinese and English versions presented on facing pages. Each includes an explanation of how the proverb is used today, cultural notes, vocabulary and discussion questions. Online audio recordings of the tales by native speakers give students a chance to improve their pronunciation and comprehension.Some of the proverbs featured in this collection include:"e;Painting the Eyes on the Dragon"e;Based on the story of a famous court painter in 6th century China who painted dragons, this proverb refers to the finishing touches needed to bring a work of art or literature to life. In a discussion, it refers to the final statements used to clinch the argument."e;Waiting for Rabbits by a Tree Stump"e;Based on an ancient folktale about a foolish farmer who sees a rabbit kill itself in front of him by running into a tree stump, then gives up tilling his field to wait for more rabbits by the stump. This saying is applied to people who wait passively for luck to strike again. It also refers to impractical people who stick to one way of doing things only because it has worked for them once in the past."e;Pure Water Has No Fish; Perfect People Have No Friends"e;Many versions of this historical tale exist. The one told here is about a 2nd century AD official sent to govern a far-flung outpost on the Silk Road who is fastidious in applying strict rules and thereby causes the local people to rebel against him. In the professional world, it is used to refer to people who do not like to work with an overly strict supervisor or colleague.Whether being used in a classroom or for self-study, Chinese Stories for Language Learners provides an educational and entertaining way for intermediate Mandarin learners to expand their vocabulary and understanding of the language.

This diverse anthology of traditional tales from across the Indonesian archipelago includes short stories, origin myths, historical legends, poetry, diary entries, news reports and dialogues. Each of the 20 stories is presented in parallel English and Indonesian versions on facing pages, making this a great resource for intermediate language learners.Although written in the Indonesian national language, the stories hail from many different ethnic cultures and include a number of female characters who reveal the challenges faced by women in Indonesian society. In adopting this approach, the authors make the stories relevant and engaging for students, as well as provide fascinating windows onto the regional cultures found among these islands.The stories in this volume include:"e;Forbidden Love"e;A story from West Kalimantan that tells of the tragic love between two first cousins who had to pay a hefty price for their love"e;Freshwater Dolphins of the Mahakam River"e;A story in the form of blog reports from Borneo telling the legend of the freshwater dolphins in the Mahakam River and the challenges faced by the peoples of East Kalimantan"e;Pitung, the Hero of Batavia"e;A story from Jakarta in which a Robin Hood-like figure who stole from the rich to pay the poor, played a heroic role in defending the poor against foreign-run gangs in colonial timesAnd many more!Authors Katherine Davidsen and Yusep Cuandani are experienced language teachers who use these texts in their high school classes at international schools in Jakarta to fulfill the requirements for International Baccalaureate and Cambridge IGCSE curriculum courses in Indonesian language and culture.The stories are graded in terms of difficulty. Each one is accompanied by a set of discussion questions, a detailed vocabulary list, cultural notes keyed to the text and online native-speaker audio recordings. An extensive Indonesian-English glossary is provided at the back of the book.

Arabic Stories for Language Learnersa language learning experience for beginner to intermediate students of the Arabic language. The traditional stories of a country are invaluable at providing insight into understanding the culture, history and language of a people. A great way to learn Arabic, the sixty-six stories found in Arabic Stories for Language Learners present the vocabulary and grammar used every day in Arabic-speaking countries. Pulled from a wide variety of sources that have been edited and simplified for learning purposes, these stories are presented in parallel Arabic and English, facilitating language learning in the classroom and via self-study. Each story is followed by a series of questions in Arabic and English to test comprehension and encourage discussion. Arabic Stories for Language Learners brings Arab culture to life colorfully and immediately. Regardless of whether or not you have a working knowledge of Arabic, this book gives readers a tantalizing introduction to the wisdom and humor of these ancient desert-dwelling peoples. The downloadable in audio helps students of Arabic improve their pronunciation and inflection, and immerses non-students into the uniquely Arabic storytelling style.

Learn about Myanmar while improving your language skills! Aimed at beginning to intermediate language learners, this book introduces 25 stories from Myanmar in parallel Burmese and English versions presented on facing pages. It can be used as a reader in Burmese language courses or by anyone who simply wishes to enjoy stories from Myanmar, both modern and traditional, and develop a deeper understanding of Burmese language and culture. This elegantly illustrated volume is designed to help language learners expand their vocabulary as well as their listening and reading comprehension. The stories gradually increase in length and complexity as the reader's language skills improve. The charming stories in the book include: "Yangon Diary" Aung Kyaw recounts a typical day in the bustling capital city of Yangon, including having breakfast in a teashop and battling the constant traffic jams. This chapter teaches key basic language for talking about our everyday lives."The Water Festival" Zin Moe describes the New Year's celebration of Thingyan, when people throw water at each other and the whole country turns into one big water fight!"The Sound of the Harp" A traditional and tragic love story set in the ancient temple city of Bagan, which was the country's capital from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries. When a princess falls in love with a common harp player, the King is furious and barricades them in a cave to die. But to this day the sound of the harp can still be heard there on the night of a full moon.Free audio recordings of the stories are available online to help students improve their pronunciation and comprehension skills. Cultural notes and discussion questions reinforce an understanding of the stories, and bolster language skills. An overview of the Burmese script is also provided.

The most enjoyable way to learn about an unfamiliar culture is through its stories--especially when they're told in two languages!This book introduces 40 stories from the Philippines through bilingual Tagalog and English texts presented on facing pages. Paired with cultural notes, vocabulary lists, exercises, comprehension questions and free online audio recordings, Tagalog Stories for Language Learners is an excellent resource for intermediate language learners.This compilation includes a mix of traditional folktales retold for a modern audience, as well as several well-known works of contemporary Philippine literature. Along the way, you will meet fabulous mythological characters like the Bagobo goddess Mebuyan and the shape-shifting Aswang. Other characters cope with day-to-day issues, such as the domestic worker who cannot find her keys and a beauty queen who leaves behind her comfortable city life in order to help peasants in the countryside.Four of the stories are by well-known Filipino writers and are presented in complete or partially condensed form. These include:Estrangheritis by Inigo Ed. Regalado (1907)--The writer is critical of Filipinos who exalt all things foreign while, in fact, benefitting from their own land but unappreciative of their national culture.Desire by Paz Latorena (1928)--The story of a Filipino woman who has to deal with the narrow-mindedness of a foreigner who is far more interested in her body than in her personality.Greta Garbo by Deogracia Rosaro (1930)--Monina, who looks like Greta Garbo, plans a weekend getaway with her beau, only to be left at the station waiting, and later discovers he has gone on a honeymoon!Maria Elena Paterno's Sampaguita (1991)--Two popular legends about the Sampaguita (Philippine jasmine flower) which touch on the themes of courage and forbidden love.Stories from different periods are presented so learners get a feel for authentic Filipino texts.

Vietnamese Stories for Language Learnersa language learning experience for beginner to intermediate students of the Vietnamese language. Nothing introduces students and cultural enthusiasts to a language and people better than stories. Intended for Vietnamese language students or heritage learners, the stories in this volume present the everyday vocabulary and grammar in use in Vietnam today. Forty folk stories have been edited and simplified for learning purposes and are presented in parallel Vietnamese and English versions to facilitate language learning. These delightful Vietnamese folktales immediately animate the culture, offering readers a glimpse of the social, cultural and religious aspects of Vietnamese society in bygone eras. The English translations allow readers who are not yet studying the language to experience the wisdom and humor in these traditional, well-loved stories. An audio CD in Vietnamese helps students improve their pronunciation and inflection and introduces readers to the uniquely Vietnamese story of storytelling. Discussion questions, vocabulary and cultural notes are provided at the end of each story.