The Stranger’s Request – ESL Listening & Reading Practice Story for English Learners
- Rose Sensei
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Reading and listening to short stories in English is a powerful way for adult ESL learners to build fluency naturally. Stories provide real-world context, making new vocabulary easier to remember and grammar structures more meaningful.
When learners read along while listening, they improve their pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation through a technique called shadowing.
Level: A2–B1 (Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate)
Focus: Listening comprehension, everyday conversation, kindness vocabulary
Theme: Helping a stranger, trust, and decision-making
🎧 Watch and Listen to the Story
Practise listening with or without subtitles and improve your English in a fun, relaxing way.
🗣️ Listening Tips:
First, listen without reading to test your understanding.
Then listen again and pause to shadow (repeat) key phrases.
After watching, try to retell the story in your own words!
🌧️ Introduction
What would you do if a stranger asked for your help on a rainy day?
In this short ESL story, The Stranger’s Request, learners follow Lucy, a café owner, as she makes an unexpected choice that leads to a heartwarming outcome.
This story is great for building listening skills, practising real-life English, and exploring vocabulary around kindness and direction-giving.
It’s also ideal for learners who enjoy learning English through storytelling and emotion-based listening.
📌 ESL reading & listening practice story
📖The Stranger’s Request
Lucy was sitting in her cosy café one quiet afternoon, watching the rain fall outside. Suddenly, the door opened, and a man walked in.
He looked confused and was holding a crumpled letter in his hand. He approached Lucy and said, “Excuse me, could you help me? I need directions to a place called Rosewood Lane.”
Lucy had never heard of Rosewood Lane before, but the man seemed desperate. After thinking for a moment, Lucy made a decision.
She decided to take a chance and help the stranger. “I’ll come with you,” she said, grabbing her umbrella.
The two walked through the rainy streets, following the directions on the letter. As they reached the edge of town, the man looked at Lucy and smiled.
“Thank you for your kindness,” he said, “I don’t think I could have found this place on my own.”
Lucy smiled back, feeling glad that she had taken a chance on helping a stranger.
🗣️ Useful Vocabulary from the Story
✅ Comprehension Questions
Where was Lucy at the beginning of the story?
What was the man holding when he entered the café?
Why did Lucy decide to help him?
How did the man thank her?
How did Lucy feel at the end?
✅ Speaking Prompt / Writing Task
Have you ever helped a stranger?
What happened?
Write a short paragraph or talk about it with a partner!
✅ Pronunciation Practice (Shadowing)
Choose 3 sentences from the story.
Replay the video and repeat each sentence after the speaker.
🔔 Practice More:Want to improve your listening and speaking skills?
🎥 Check out our YouTube Channel Playlist:
📥 Free PDF Worksheet:Need extra practice?
Download the listening quiz & vocabulary sheet:👉 Download Worksheet
💬 Join the conversation:
Would you help a stranger in the rain? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments below!
Want more ESL reading & listening practice with short stories?
Check out related posts below⬇️
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