The Disappearing Cafe - An ESL Reading & Listening Practice Story
- Rose Sensei
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
🎧 Ready for ESL Practice - Reading and Listening Skills?
Read the story "The Disappearing Café" below for reading practice. Then, watch the video to improve your listening and pronunciation!
In this story, we follow Mia, a curious writer visiting a charming little town. But what starts as a search for inspiration turns into an unexpected mystery—a café that vanishes without a trace. Was it real, or was it something magical?
Ready? Let's dive in!
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🎥 Check out the YouTube video with 🗣️voice narration for listening practice:
👉The Disappearing Cafe - https://youtu.be/OfqPJz81twA
🎯Reading Practice Tip:
Read the story once without stopping. Focus on understanding the main idea. Then read again and note down any new words.
📚Story: The Disappearing Cafe
Mia was a travel writer always seeking the unusual and magical corners of the world. One misty afternoon, she wandered into the cobblestone streets of a quaint little town she'd never heard of before.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drew her to a tiny café tucked between two ivy-covered buildings.
The sign above read “Café Étoile.” The warm glow from the windows invited her inside. The café was charming, filled with vintage furniture, bookshelves overflowing with stories, and a cosy atmosphere.
A kind elderly woman behind the counter greeted Mia with a warm smile.
“Looking for inspiration?” the woman asked, as though reading Mia’s thoughts.
Mia nodded and ordered a cup of their special brew. As she sipped her coffee, the flavours danced on her tongue, sparking new ideas for her next travel piece. She jotted down notes in her journal while the other customers quietly read or chatted softly.
After a while, Mia decided to step outside to stretch her legs. When she turned back toward the café — it was gone. The building that once housed Café Étoile had vanished without a trace. In its place stood a simple brick wall covered with ivy.
🎯Vocabulary Check!
stretch her legs (idiom) = to go for a walk e.g. after sitting for a long time
Confused, Mia asked a passerby, “What happened to the café that was just here?”The man frowned. “There’s never been a café there. You must be mistaken.”
Mia’s heart raced. Was it all just a dream? Or had she stumbled upon something magical, only meant to be found once?
Clutching her notebook tightly, she smiled. Whether real or imagined, Café Étoile had given her exactly what she was searching for — inspiration.
🙇♂️Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Why did Mia enter Café Étoile?
A) She was hungry.
B) She was drawn by the smell of coffee.
C) She got lost in the town.
2. How did the elderly woman behind the counter greet Mia?
A) She ignored her.
B) She asked if Mia wanted coffee.
C) She asked if Mia was looking for inspiration.
3. What did Mia do while drinking her coffee?
A) Read a book
B) Wrote notes in her journal
C) Talked to other customers
4. What happened when Mia stepped outside the café?
A) The café was still there.
B) The café had disappeared.
C) The elderly woman followed her outside.
5. How did Mia feel after the café disappeared?
A) Upset
B) Frustrated
C) Inspired
🔑Answer
(B)
(C)
(B)
(B)
(C)
🗣️Post-Listening Discussion Prompts:
Do you think Café Étoile was real or imaginary? Why?
What would you do if you encountered a place like this?
What inspires you when you're trying to write or create?
🎥 Watch the video to improve your listening and pronunciation!
👉The Disappearing Cafe - https://youtu.be/OfqPJz81twA
💬 Tell Us What You Think!
What would you do if you found a mysterious café that disappeared?
Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Or share this with a study partner and act out the story together!
🎥 Related Videos: YouTube Channel Playlist
🔗ESL Listening Practice With Engaging Stories https://tinyurl.com/37rf8e23
🔗Learn Grammar Through Engaging Stories https://tinyurl.com/bvwvckfu
🔗Quick and Easy Vocabulary https://tinyurl.com/44chnrb9
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