Here is an outline of what I hope to achieve with this project.
100 mini-stories in 5 levels.
The goal is to create parallel stories for as many languages as possible, thus providing translated versions in the language of the learner. Languages are not limited to languages supported at LingQ. All stories will be available for free use outside LingQ. The stories are meant to be easy, and will attempt to use the most common VERBS of English, as much as possible. Thus the goal is not so much to increase vocabulary, as to reinforce the basic patterns of the language.
This is an experiment. It may turn out that these translated stories don’t work in all languages. We may have to create language specific stories. In addition, members may want to create their own stories, in their native language, following a similar methodology. We would then look at how to integrate these.
This is not intended as a complete course in a language. It is hoped that these stories will provide some structure for learners at LingQ. This is only one source, and learners will be best advised to intersperse these lessons with many other sources and lessons, returning regularly to these stories to refresh their capabilities in the patterns that are featured in different levels (see below)
We will look at ways to introduce grammar explanations in the notes to these stories, but that is for the future.
Each story consists of three parts; A) a simple story, B) same story from a different point of view, C) Questions.
Questions include a statement with most of the facts needed to answer the question. The recording has a brief pause to allow the learner to attempt to answer if he/she wants to.
All stories (A & B) consist of 10 sentences. Sentence length is 7-8 words in level 1, 8-10 words in level 2, 10-12 in levels 3-5.
All stories have 8 questions
Each level will attempt to concentrate on certain concepts or patterns (see below). Each individual story may have a special area of concentration, in terms of language usage, which will be identified by tags for that lesson, to facilitate search. However, all aspects of the language will of necessity appear all over these stories. The key is to make the stories interesting and natural. The attempt to feature certain aspects of the languages should not make the stories unnatural.
Level 1.
Focus: Simple sentences. Present tense. Positive and negative statements. Adjectives, adverbs, comparisons.
Point of view: Different persons.
Questions: Is it or is it not. Does he or does he not. etc.
Level 2
Focus: All tenses, past, present and future introduced. Use of time words: always, usually, sometimes, for a long time, during, still etc. as much as possible. Words of quantity. Say and tell. Prepositions.
Point of view: different tenses, different persons.
Questions. When, what kind, where, how much, who,
Level 3
Focus: Purpose, intent, why, because, since, given the fact that, in order to, therefore. Verbs of motion. Verbs of giving and taking. More tenses.
Point of view: Tenses, persons
Questions: Why, for what reason, in what way, how, when
Level 4
Focus: Probability, necessity, possibility, doubt, conditional…if, even if, although. Passive mood. Subjunctive. Wishing, hoping, wanting, needing.Whenever, wherever, whoever
Point of view: Different levels of probability…ought to, had to, might have to, did
Questions: Did it seem, was it necessary, why,
Level 5
Focus: Expressing opinion. In my view, on the one hand, on the other hand, it would appear, from my point of view. He expressed the view that, consequently, however, given the fact that, despite the fact that, although, etc. nevertheless, moreover
Point of view: different levels of formality, different tenses, different persons,
Questions: Do you think that……? What, in your view, is…etc.
We will also need languages specific versions of these to deal with issues like formality levels in Asian languages and other specific issues.
