Publisher & Distributor: Ekta Books, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Editors, writers, compilers: 1. Dr. Shreedhar P. Lohani, Former Chair, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. 2. Dr. Moti Nissani, Retired Faculty (and former Fulbright professor in Nepal), Department of Biology, Wayne State University, USA.

Readers: 1. Dr. Philip Chase, County College of Morris, Randolph, New Jersey (photo) . 2. Donna Nissani, Michigan (photo). 

This webpage is based on the text Flax-Golden Tales: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning English, which is widely used in higher education settings in the country of Nepal. This text is characterized by an interdisciplinary and international approach to the teaching of English, the development of holistic and critical thinking, affordable price, and a willingness to broach some of the most important moral and political questions of our age. The text might be welcomed by students and teachers who seek alternatives to the standard Western-style textbook industry.

This webpage is comprised of three sections: An extensive spoken guide (sounds & full texts) to the pronunciation of American English / Stories & Poems (sounds & full texts) / Two of the fourteen instructional units that comprise Flax-Golden Tales (texts only).

    Pronunciation Guide (audio & text):  Introduction  /   Dictionary Skills  /  Introduction to Pronunciation Guide  / Unit A (see & she sounds)  /  Unit B (mate & met sounds)  /  Unit C (Y sound)  /  Unit  D (seen & sin sounds )  / Unit  E (H & S sounds )   /  Unit  F (th sounds )  /  Unit  G (z & j sounds )  /  Unit H  (hot & cold sounds )  / Unit I (pool & pull sounds )  /   Unit J (cot & cut sounds )  /  Unit K (Sam & palm sounds) / Unit L (regular past tense sounds) / Unit M (final s sounds) / Unit N (off & of sounds) / Unit O (w sound) / Unit P (b & v sounds) / Unit Q (f & p sounds)  

    Stories & Poems (audio & text):  Yudhishthira’s Wisdom (from The Mahabharata)  /  If Not Higher (Peretz)  /  Gaia (Lohani)  /  King John and the Abbot of Canterbury (anonymous)  /  Third Thoughts (Lucas)  /  Mr. Know-All (Maugham)  /  To His Coy Mistress (Marvell)  /  Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (Frost)

    Two Complete Units (Flax-Golden Tales, text only):  UNIT TEN:  (PDF) Humor and Satire: King John and the Abbot of Canterbury, Anonymous; Third Thoughts, Lucas;  Science and the “Spirits,” Tyndall;  Interactions:  Lessons 17-19.    /    UNIT ELEVEN:  Critical and Creative Thinking: The Stub Book, de Alarcón; Mr. Know-All; Maugham Keeping Errors at Bay, Russell;  Nine Puzzles;  What is Intelligence, anyway?,Asimov; Spotlight:  Conversations with a Critical Thinker; Interactions: Lessons 20-22.

Note: You can listen to the correct pronunciation of most English words online by consulting The Free Dictionary (American Pronunciation) .

Introduction to Pronunciation Guide (audio & text):(CLICK HERE TO LISTEN--about 10 seconds to download on DSL):  This Guide will help you acquire some of the sounds and rhythms of spoken English. To achieve this goal, you need to actively listen, over and over again, to the tape-recorded version of this Guide. Read the written version of this Guide only when you cannot follow the recorded message.

A good dictionary tells us what words mean, how they sound, where they came from, and how they are used. To make this clear, let’s examine the dictionary entry Viking (all entries have been copied from Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).

ə-‘bət ¶ abut; ¶ kitten; ¶r further; a back; bake; ä cot, cart; aout; ch chin; e less; easy; g gift; i trip; ¯i life; j joke; Ô sing; flow; flaw; i coin; th thin; th this; ü loot; foot; y yet; yü few; yfürious; zh vision

Note first that the v in the word Viking is capitalized.

By the same logic, we say victory, video, vigilance, vignette, vile (please confirm these pronunciations by consulting appropriate entries in your book)1.

The entry for vigorous is followed by another useful feature: syn (synonyms). A few words have similar meanings1 to vigorous, but they are not identical. After telling us what these words have in common, the dictionary explains their differences.

Whenever you encounter an unfamiliar written English word you can readily find out what it means and how it sounds by consulting an online dictionary, e.g., dictionary.com / Cambridge Dictionary.

Chris van Allsburg

We finished bringing supplies aboard early this morning. At midday we left on the tide and found a fresh breeze just outside the harbor. It is a good omen that our voyage has begun with fair winds and a clear sky.

•see, same, sew, Russ, gas, cents, city, sky, sinister

•she, shame, show, rush, cash, fresh, shy, finished

Unit B (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN)

The first mate, Mr. Howard, has brought together a fine crew. These men are not only good sailors, they are accomplished in other ways. Many read and have borrowed books from my small library. Some play musical instruments, and there are a few good storytellers among them.

Please repeat each phrase in the pause provided:

•mate, gate, same, donate, plate, paid, shame, slave

•met, get, sell, said, let, red, shepherd, sled

Unit C   (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN)

May 17

Our passage is going well. The usual boredom that comes with many days at sea is not present on this ship. When the members of this clever crew are not on duty, I find them singing and dancing or amusing each other with tales of past adventure.

•yellow, yesterday, you, yes, New York, beyond, yoga

Land ho! Slightly before sunset we spotted an island. I have consulted my charts, but do not see it recorded. This is odd, since ships have sailed through these waters for years. Apparently they have all missed this small place. We are low on water and would be happy to find fresh fruit growing here. Tomorrow I will take some men ashore and look about.

•seen, lead, team, teen, sheet, clean, cream

•sin, rid, Tim, tin, finish, sit, musical

I have just returned from the island. It is strange indeed. The vegetation is lush, but not a single plant bears fruit. The air has an odor that at first seems sweet and pleasant, then becomes an overpowering stink. I saw no sign of animal life, not even an insect. We found a spring that had water too bitter to drink. We also discovered something quite extraordinary, which I have brought aboard.

•hungry, hot, him, who, San Jose, La Jolla, Honda

•school, slingshot, smoke, snake, special, square, stay

It is a rock, approximately two feet across. It is roughly textured, gray in color, but a portion of it is as flat and smooth as glass. From this surface comes a glowing light that is quite beautiful and pleasing to look at. The thing is unbelievably heavy, requiring six strong men to lift it. With great effort we were able to get it aboard and into the forward hold. We have set sail and are under way again.

•this, they, that, breathe, though, thou, smooth

•thin, thanks, nothing, breath, thought, math, faith

The crew is fascinated by the rock. When not needed on deck, they are down below, gazing in silence at the peculiar light it gives off. I miss the music and storytelling that had become part of our ship’s life. The last few days have passed quite slowly. The men, however, seem perfectly content. I am sure their interest in the stone will fade away soon.

•Zeus, zone, zoo, zilch, sees, tease, praise, please, exactly

•juice, Joan, Jew, cage, John, pledge, geology, procedure

Unit H (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN)

Something is wrong with the crew. They rarely speak, and though they swing through the rigging more quickly than ever, they walk the decks in a clumsy, stooped-over fashion. Last night I heard shrieks coming from the forward hold. I believe they have contracted some kind of fever that came on board with the stone. I told Mr. Howard that tomorrow I will have the thing thrown overboard.

•hot, shot, cot, dog, God, nod, not, stock, plot

•cold, coat, dough, know, show, stolen, goal

This morning I awoke to find the deck deserted. The wheel was tied steady with a rope. I believe Mr. Howard, who spent some time around the rock, told the men about my plan to get rid of it. They have now locked themselves in the forward hold. They apparently believe, in their feverish state, that I can sail this boat alone while they sit around that wretched stone.

•pool, cool, whose, tool, crew, rule, smooth, July

•pull, full, bull, wood, book, cook, foot

1. Mr. Howard has brought together a good crew.

2. Will the rules be changed tomorrow?

June 15, Part I

We are in grave danger. A powerful storm is headed this way. All morning long the wind has grown steadily stronger; the sky is filled with dark clouds. I am unable to shorten the sails by myself. With this much canvas up, we will surely be blown over and sink when the full force of the storm arrives. I am going forward again to try to get the crew to work. All our lives depend on it.

The o and u Sounds: Cot and Cut. Repeat the following words:•cot, shot, not, God, Wanda, Donald

•cut, shut, nut, sunny, funny, thumb, come

This is, I am sure, my last entry. What I have just seen is so horrifying I barely have the strength to write it down. After I pounded at the door to the forward hatch, it finally swung open. But it was not a man who opened the door, it was an ape. The whole crew has turned into hairy beasts. They just sat there, grinning at that terrible rock. They don’t understand a word I say. We are doomed.

•Sam, map, snap, patch, land, yam, Tammy, apple

•saw, paw, all, gnaw, lawn, awesome, awful, Audrey

June 16

The storm has passed. The Rita Anne is still afloat, but both masts and rudder are lost. The stone has gone dark. We were struck by lightning twice during the storm. I believe that was the cause. Unfortunately, the crew is unchanged. They are still beasts, but seem sad and lost without the glowing rock. I have moved them back to their quarters. We have food for two weeks. I am hopeful of a rescue.

I have made an encouraging discovery. I am playing the violin and reading to the crew. It is having a positive effect. They are walking upright and have an alert look in their eyes.

June 24

I was in the forward hold today. A dull glow was coming from the stone. I have covered it and will keep the compartment locked.

1. The sailors amused each other with tales of adventure.

2. Does the rock give off a peculiar light?

3. Off you go, sailors, get rid of this rock.

4. His career took off after publication of his last book.

I am happy to report that the men have returned to normal. It seems that those who knew how to read recovered most quickly.

We are saved! A ship has been spotted off our starboard side. I have decided to scuttle the Rita Anne. There is only one place for the wretched stone. Before we abandon ship, I will set a fire that will send this vessel and her cargo to the bottom of the sea.

•best, bail, berry, robe, mob, Brenda, Betty

•vest, vale, very, rove, of, cave

Our rescuers have left us in the harbor town of Santa Pango. One by one the crew should be able to sign on to ships passing through and work their way home. We have made an agreement not to talk about the strange events that took place aboard the Rita Anne. The men appear to have recovered completely, though some show an unnatural appetite for the fruit that is available here.

•fine, felt, far, fox, fun, forts, tough, phone

•pine, pelt, par, pox, pun, port, apple, ape