Bên cạnh việc học tiếng Anh qua lời bài hát, thông qua việc xem phim… học tiếng Anh qua những câu chuyện ngắn cũng là một cách lí thú và hiệu quả. Cách làm này hướng tới việc giúp người học bổ sung thêm vốn từ, củng cố ngữ pháp, từ đó mà rèn luyện thêm được khả năng đọc, luyện dịch và viết luận.
Trong bài viết này tutor.vn giới thiệu tới các em học sinh, các vị phụ huynh, các bạn gia sư và cả các thầy cô giáo những truyện ngụ ngôn nổi tiếng của Ê-dốp bằng tiếng Anh. Mong rằng đây có thể là một tài liệu học tập môn tiếng Anh hữu ích.
Chó sói và cừu non
The Wolf and the Lamb
Once upon a time a Wolf was lapping at a spring on a hillside, when, looking up, what should he see but a Lamb just beginning to drink a little lower down. “There’s my supper,” thought he, “if only I can find some excuse to seize it.” Then he called out to the Lamb, “How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking?” “Nay, master, nay,” said Lambikin; “if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me.”
“Well, then,” said the Wolf, “why did you call me bad names this time last year?” “That cannot be,” said the Lamb; “I am only six months old.”
“I don’t care,” snarled the Wolf; “if it was not you it was your father;” and with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb and .WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA .ate her all up. But before she died she gasped out .”Any excuse will serve a tyrant.”
Con chó và chiếc bóng
The Dog and the Shadow
It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.
Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.
Sư tử và chuột
The Lion and the Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. “Pardon, O King,” cried the little Mouse: “forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?” The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a waggon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. “Was I not right?” said the little Mouse. Little friends may prove great friends.
Cáo và Cò
The Fox and the Stork
At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. “I am sorry,” said the Fox, “the soup is not to your liking.”
“Pray do not apologise,” said the Stork. “I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.” So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar. “I will not apologise for the dinner,” said the Stork: “One bad turn deserves another.”
Con cáo và chùm nho
The Fox and the Grapes
One hot summer’s day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. “Just the thing to quench my thirst,” quoth he. Drawing back a
few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: “I am sure they are sour.”
It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
Đây là những câu chuyện ngụ ngôn quen thuộc với nhiều người. Từ vựng cũng như mẫu câu của chúng không quá phức tạp. Kết hợp với những tranh ảnh minh họa, những mẩu truyện tiếng Anh như thế này có thể làm giờ học tiếng Anh lôi cuốn các bạn học sinh nhỏ tuổi. Với bản chất là truyện ngụ ngôn, hàm chứa những triết lí và bài học ngắn gọn, tưởng như giản đơn mà sâu sắc, đây cũng có thể trở thành những dẫn chứng hay cho các bài luận của học sinh lớp lớn hơn hoặc các bạn đang luyện Writing, luyện dịch tiếng Anh. Chúc các bạn học vui, dạy vui!