The Mysterious Neighbour – An Engaging ESL Reading & Listening Story!
- Rose Sensei
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 20
ESL Reading and Listening Story - Skills Practice
Read the story "The Mysterious Neighbour" below for reading practice. Then, watch the video to improve your listening and pronunciation!
In this story, Sophie and her friend Alex try to uncover the truth about a new neighbour who seems to be hiding something. Is he just quiet, or does he have a secret?
📌 TIP!
This reading and listening story is perfect for ESL intermediate English learners who want to practise describing people, discussing mysteries, and expanding vocabulary for everyday conversations.
Watch and Learn! For more ESL reading and listening practice video lessons, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
🎥 Check out the YouTube video with 🗣️voice narration for listening practice:
👉The Mysterious Neighbour - https://youtu.be/Tm1HsR7ZRac
🏡 Story Highlights:
Learn practical vocabulary like curiosity, mysterious, and hiding something.
Discover phrases for describing people and situations.
Follow along with Sophie and Alex as they solve a small mystery!
The Characters:
👩Sophie: A curious resident of an apartment building.
👨Mr. Grayson: A new neighbour who keeps to himself.
🙎♂️Alex: Sophie’s best friend, who loves solving mysteries.
Setting: Sophie’s apartment building, focusing on the hallway and a community event.
🎯Reading Practice Tip!
Read the story once without stopping. Focus on understanding the main idea. Then read again and note down any new words.
Let's get started...
The Mysterious Neighbour - ESL Reading & Listening Story
📚Sophie was sipping her coffee one morning when she noticed a moving truck outside her apartment building. A tall man in a long coat stepped out and carried a small box into the building. Sophie had never seen him before.
Later that day, Sophie ran into Alex in the hallway.
“Did you see the new neighbour?” Sophie asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“I heard about him,” Alex replied. “They say he moved in last night. What’s he like?”
Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know. He seems quiet, but he’s always looking around as if he’s searching for something. And he doesn’t talk to anyone!”
Alex grinned. “Maybe he’s hiding something. Let’s find out!”
The next day, the building hosted a small potluck dinner in the community hall. Sophie and Alex decided to go and see if the new neighbor would join. To their surprise, Mr. Grayson arrived with a delicious-looking cake.
Everyone was friendly, but Mr. Grayson kept his answers short. When someone asked what he did for work, he simply said, “I travel a lot.”
After the dinner, Alex whispered to Sophie, “See? Mysterious! What kind of job makes you travel so much?”
Sophie smiled. “Maybe he’s a secret agent!”
Just then, Mr. Grayson walked over to them. “Thank you for organising this dinner,” he said kindly. “I enjoyed meeting everyone.”
As he left, Sophie noticed something fall from his pocket. She picked it up—it was a small notebook with strange symbols. Before she could open it, Mr. Grayson turned back and smiled.
“Careful, Sophie. Not everything is as it seems,” he said, taking the notebook and walking away.
📖 Vocabulary & Phrases:
Curiosity – (A strong desire to know or learn something)
Mysterious – (Something strange or difficult to understand)
Potluck dinner – (A meal where everyone brings a dish to share)
Hiding something – (Keeping a secret or not telling the truth)
Not everything is as it seems – (Things may look different than they are)
A. 🙇♂️Comprehension Questions:
What did Sophie notice about the new neighbour?
Why did Sophie and Alex go to the potluck dinner?
What did Mr. Grayson say when someone asked about his job?
What did Sophie find on the floor?
How did Mr. Grayson react when Sophie picked up the notebook?
B. 📌True or False?
The new neighbour moved in a week ago.
Mr. Grayson brought a cake to the potluck.
Sophie thought Mr. Grayson might be a secret agent.
Mr. Grayson left without speaking to anyone.
Sophie kept the notebook.
🔑 Answer
(False)
(True)
(True)
(False)
(False)
C. 🗣️Discussion Questions:
What do you think Mr. Grayson’s job could be?
Have you ever had a mysterious neighbour? What were they like?
💬 Tell us on the comments below!
🎥 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
🌟 Don’t Forget to Subscribe for More Stories!
Join us for more fun and engaging ESL listening practice, including everyday stories, vocabulary lessons, and activities to improve your English!
📖✨ Love This Content? Get more delivered to you! Sign up for our weekly email with fresh ideas for learning English.
Thank you for reading. For more related posts check out the links below.
Comments