The most enjoyable way to learn about an unfamiliar culture is through its stories—especially when they’re told in two languages!

Thai Stories for Language Learners introduces 28 entertaining Thai stories with bilingual Thai and English versions presented on facing pages. The stories are adapted from traditional folktales with roots in the Thai oral tradition, classic Thai literature, and Thai versions of the Indian Jataka Tales—which describe the past lives of the Buddha.

The stories in this book include:

• • “The Frightened Rabbit” is a well-known story about rabbit who hears a loud thundering sound and concludes it is a landslide, without investigating further. He runs about telling others of the landslide, thus causing unnecessary panic.

• • “A Horse-faced Woman” is one of the most popular folktales in Thailand because the heroine’s appearance and character differ vastly from other Thai heroines. Her equine appearance, unpopularity with fellow villagers, and passionate desires to marry the handsome Prince Pin Thong collide.

• • “A Myth of Phra Ruang” is a classic tale popular among Thai people. It tells the story of a legendary hero—Phra Ruang—who frees the people of Lavo (Lopburi) from the ancient Khmer rulers. When the Khmer king tries to kill him, Phra Ruang escapes and is ordained as a monk.

• And many more!

Alongside each story, readers will find:

• A list of key vocabulary in the Thai script, Romanized form, and the English meanings
• A set of questions and writing activities
• A Thai pronunciation guide
• Online audio recording in order to improve pronunciation and comprehension.

This book will be of interest to learners who are beginning to read and write the Thai language and would like additional practice, as well as to general readers interested in learning about Thai culture.

A great story can lead a reader on a cultural and linguistic journey—especially if it’s in two languages!

Vietnamese Stories for Language Learners introduces 40 traditional Vietnamese folktales with bilingual Vietnamese and English versions presented on facing pages. Each story is followed by cultural notes, vocabulary lists, and a set of discussion questions and exercises for further comprehension.

Online audio recordings by native speakers help readers improve their pronunciation and inflection, while a Vietnamese-English glossary provides an easy way to reference unfamiliar terms. Illustrations by award-winning Vietnamese illustrators Nguyen Thi Hop and Nguyen Dong help to bring these traditional tales to life.

This book is a great supplementary reader for self-study learners or in Vietnamese language courses, but will be enjoyed by anyone who wishes to learn about Vietnamese folktales and culture.

Learn Vietnamese the fun way—through the country’s rich literary history!

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.

Beautifully illustrated in a traditional style, Japanese Stories for Language Learners offers five compelling stories with English and Japanese language versions appearing on facing pages. Taking learners on an exciting cultural and linguistic journey, each story is followed by detailed translator’s notes, Japanese vocabulary lists, and grammar points along with a set of discussion questions and exercises.

The first two stories are very famous traditional Japanese 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 (1892-1927)
• Oborekaketa Kyodai (The Siblings Who Almost Drowned) by Arishima Takeo (1878-1923)
• Serohiki no Goshu (Gauche the Cellist) by Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933)

Reading these stories in the original Japanese script—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. Learn Japanese the fun way#8212;through the country’s rich literary history.

Korean Stories for Language Learners brings 42 traditional Korean folktales to life, presented in both Korean and English on facing pages. This unique collection is perfect for beginners in the language, whether you’re a student in a first- or second-year Korean course or someone eager to explore the richness of Korean culture.

Each story is accompanied by cultural notes, discussion questions, and practical language exercises, making it a valuable resource for expanding your vocabulary and deepening your understanding of Korean traditions. As you progress through the book, the stories increase in complexity, helping you develop your language skills step by step.

Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully designed, this volume includes glossaries in both languages and a helpful introduction to Hangul, the Korean writing system. To further support your learning, native speaker audio recordings are available online to guide your pronunciation and listening comprehension.

Whether you’re passionate about language learning or fascinated by Korean folktales, this book offers a window into Korea’s cultural heritage while building essential language skills.

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. Audio recordings of the tales read by native speakers are included—giving students a chance to improve their pronunciation and comprehension.