Near Miss

He looks up as she laughs. He's at the back of the class reading. She's a few seats in front, leaning over the aisle, talking to her friend. She's a pretty girl. Clear dark skin, long hair tied up in a pony tail. He turns back to his book, trying to concentrate, glancing up now and then to look at her.
As the bell rings, the class stampedes out through the door. He flows out with the rest, still reading, still glancing up to see where she was.
Suddenly, he looks up. He can't see her anywhere. Running, he races through the corridors and out the front door.
The bus swerves to miss a skate-boarder. She turns. He leaps. She falls safely onto the kerbside. Her friends descend on her, exclaiming over the near miss.
He picks himself up and dusts himself off. A job well-done he congratulates himself. No one notices he leaves.
'Oi! What do you think you were doing, reading on the job!'
Startled, he turns to see his boss walking over.
'You were meant to be watching over her. She was almost killed.'
'I got her, didn't I?' And turns to leave. His boss reaches out and grabs his jacket, half pulling it down in the process. Two wings start to emerge. He jerks his jacket out of his boss's hand and shrugs it back on. He turns and goes on to his next assignment.

The Strange Man

Ahmed and Ali are sitting in the cafe talking about their English lessons. They are trying to practice describing people. Ahmed points to a man who is going into the bank. Ali looks at him and starts to describe him.
'He's tall and well-built. He's got long blond hair at the back, but he's bald on top. He's got a big nose and blue eyes. He's wearing a blue jacket and jeans. Under the jacket he is wearing a black t-shirt. He's carrying a bag in his right hand. He's carrying a hat in his left hand, I think.'
'I don't think that's a hat,' says Ahmed.
'What is it, then?' asks Ali.
'I think it's a pair of tights!'
'Tights!? Why is he carrying tights?'
Ahmed looks at Ali. 'Maybe he is robbing the bank!'
Two minutes later, the man comes running out of the bank and runs around the corner. The police cars come very quickly. The police see Ahmed and Ali sitting at the cafe.
'Did you see anything?' The police ask.
'Yes', says Ali. 'We saw everything.'
Ali is very happy to help the police. He is very happy he was practicing with his friend.

Describing someone special

I have just one brother and he's the funniest person in my family.  He's about 179cm tall. He's got long, dark hair and his eyes are blue. He's 29. He'll be thirty on his next birthday.  He got married two years ago.

Describing someone special

My father is a very funny man. He's always telling jokes and making us laugh. He always seems to be happy. Not only is he outgoing, he's also easy-going and kind. We can always go and talk to him about our problems. He's got a lovely smile and I cheer up when I see him.
He's medium-height, about 176cm, and is in his early fifties. He hasn't got any hair. In fact, he's completely bald, just like his father before him. His eyes are big and dark brown. I miss him very much. I can't wait to go back home to see him.

Describing someone special

Zhiwa is my daughter. She's a very beautiful little woman in her early teens. She's usually active and busy all day. She's clever and studies very hard too. She's about 150cm tall and slim. Her eyes are black, just like her father's. She's got beautiful dark curly hair.
When I come home she always gives me a hug and helps me with dinner. She's a very thoughtful young girl.

Describing someone special

Reza is my brother. He is the oldest child in my family. He isn't married yet, but he is engaged. He's a bit short, about 170cm tall, but he's athletic and strong and usually looks happy. He's got short, dark hair and big black eyes, just like mine.
He will be 27 next birthday. He's great fun and handsome. Some people say that I am like him. I hope so.

Describing someone special

Maison is my husband and he lives with his family.  He is a kind man. He is definitely very organised, sociable and responsible. He is tall and slim. He has dark grey hair, tanned skin and green eyes, with a manly appearance. He is fifty-two years old. He is a wonderful man and I love him very much.

Describing someone special

Ahmed is my uncle and he lives in the U.S.A with his family. He's a very kind, gentle man with a beautiful kind smile.  He's got very short light brown hair and his eyes are green like my grandmother's.  He's about 180cm tall.  He's in his forties. He'll be forty-one next birthday.

Describing someone special

My cousin's name is Omar.  He's a tall man. He's got black skin and big eyes. He's got long black hair and a big nose.  He's a kind man and is very good to me. If I ever need help, he listens and gives me good advice.

I love reading

I really love reading. I started reading when I was a small child. I loved Christmas and my birthday as I always got new books. I like fantasy and comedy books the best. I also like books about different cultures and people. My favourite author is Terry Pratchett. His books are very funny and clever. Another author I like is Amy Tan. She writes books about Chinese-Americans. They are very interesting and sad. I always learn something when I read her books. I like books that can teach me something good about life. Because I love books, my favourite place is the sofa, where I can sit comfortably and read.

Reading is my passion

Reading has been my passion since I was very young. There's almost nothing I'd rather do than curl up on the sofa and read a book.

I have only vague memories of when I started learning to read. I was about three or four. I was definitely reading by the time I started school. One of my earliest memories was when I was five. I was supposed to come home from school on the bus. My mother was waiting for me. The bus arrived, but I didn't! So, she drove down to the school where she and the teachers spent a frantic half-an-hour searching for me. I was finally found in the library. Someone had glanced in earlier, but hadn't seen me as I was sitting comfortably behind a shelf in a large pile of cushions. I had come into the library straight after school and, realising I had the whole place to myself, snuggled down and had begun to read in the blissful quiet. I wasn't disturbed until a teacher came behind the shelf and said, "Nicola! Where have you been?!"  I was very confused by this as I'd been in the cushions all that time.

My second strongest memory was when I was six and my family moved to a new city to live. On my first day of school, my new teacher began to test me on my reading level. She discarded book after book until finally she found one that was a little difficult for me and I was sent away to read it. I was very proud and happy. Proud that my level was high and happy because I had something new to read and I was allowed to read it with no interruptions.

Since I read so much and so quickly, I had a reading level twice my age. By the time I left primary school I'd read through the school library and by eleven I'd read most books in the children's section of the public library too. I frequently re-read my favourite books, so I always had something to read, but I was beginning to look for something new and fresh to read. I found new books in the adult department. Because I could read difficult books, I (and some adults around me) often made the mistake that I was ready for adult books. I started reading books by Catherine Cookson who wrote a lot of books about down-trodden women and their attempts to improve their lives. As a child, they were very bad for me and I regretted reading them later in life. In fact, because of that, I am very controlling about what my daughters read.

Both my daughters love reading too. Neither of them started to read as young as I did as they preferred me to read to them, but books and storytelling are a big part of their lives.

I continue to enjoy reading. I prefer books that are uplifting and positive. I have old favourites which I read over and over again. I've learned not to read new or controversial books at night as I won't sleep. So I usually read a couple of books at a time. One old one at bedtime and a new exciting one during the day.

This one below is one of my favourite books of all time.

Hi, My name is Nicola. I come from New Zealand. I came to Malaysia seven years ago. I started teaching English more than fifteen years ago.  I've got two daughters. One goes to primary school and the other just finished high school. My husband also teaches. He teaches business studies at university.
We all have a lot of hobbies. We all like reading and music. We also like watching movies, TV. and going  traveling. 

Welcome

On this, my first entry for this blog, I'd like to say welcome and enjoy. Over the coming months I will try to add to my blog so that resources for reading will build up and give you something to practice on.  If you click on the different pages, you will find readings for various levels. Sometimes the topics are the same, but easier or more complex according to the level.
You are welcome to make comments below and practice a little writing too. However, I can't promise to make any corrections.

Nor will I answer any questions on grammar. There are many sites that have that facility and, in fact, I will have links to many good quality sites that not only have grammar sections, but also listening and more reading practice.