The Ice Skating Lesson
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 4 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Arin teaches her scared little cousin to skate with a chair and a funny walk.
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Arin skates twice a week. Today she takes her little cousin to the ice rink. It is his first time. He is seven years old and very small.
At the edge, he holds the wall with both hands. He does not move.
"The ice is too slippery," he says. "I am going to fall."
"Everyone falls," Arin says. "I fall too, and it does not hurt much."
She gets a small plastic chair from the side of the rink. "Hold this," she says. "Push it in front of you. Take small steps."
He pushes the chair and moves one step. Then another. His knees shake, but he does not stop.
After ten minutes, Arin shows him a new trick. "Now try the penguin walk. Put your feet apart. Turn your toes out. Hold your arms out like wings."
He tries it and starts to laugh. Penguins are his favorite animal. He walks across the ice with his arms out. Arin laughs too.
He falls once and sits on the ice. "That did not hurt," he says in surprise. Arin pulls him up.
Then he lets go of the chair. He takes ten penguin steps all by himself. At the end, he slides a little. Arin stands back and puts her hands in her pockets.
"Look at me!" he shouts. "I can skate!"
