Key scenes from a classic M. R. James story condensed and adapted for audio. Professor Parkins' winter holiday in a remote English coastal town is disturbed by his discovery of a whistle in the ruin of an abbey

Whistle and I'll Come - M.R James - (adapted)

Extract from adaptation of classic M.R. James ghost story. Professor Parkins does not “believe in what people call the 'supernatural’.”  Complete adapted & original texts, plus learning activities available here: https://esolepacks.com/whistle-and-ill-come Cover Photo by Martin Sepion on Unsplash

ESOL Extras

2. The Ruin

Brief description of the ship that sailed from Southampton in April 1912. Linked to learning activities here: https://esolepacks.com/titanic

About RMS Titanic

Why did the band continue playing on Titanic? Linked to free learning activities here: https://esolepacks.com/titanic

Why did the band play on as Titanic went down?

Things you might not know about the world's most spoken language.

Ten Fun Facts About the English Language

There are no formal rules for pronouncing French words in English - but there are conventions. Most words approximate to the original but some are anglicised

English Language FAQ

Pronouncing French Words in English

Opening of classic Anthony Hope adventure story (1893) retold for audio. Rudolf Rassendyll, an underemployed London playboy, decides to attend the coronation of his distant cousin, Rudolf Elphberg, in Ruritania.  By a strange quirk of genetics, the two Rudolfs look like identical twins.

The Prisoner of Zenda:  1. Rassendylls and Elphbergs

City have reached the FA Cup Final for the first time. Matthew plans to be there at Wembley Stadium with his team. Then his mother brings him some very bad news:

This new edition of The Big Match (phoenix) is aimed at older children. This extract is from the opening of the complete audio book & text. It is accompanied by a full range of learning activities.

The Big Match

Parkins blows the whistle from the ruined chapel and is tormented by a nightmare vision. Part 3 of the classic M.R. James ghost story 'Whistle and I'll Come to You" adapted for audio. Linked to free learning resources here: https://www.eslreading.org/ghost/whistle_and_I_will-come.html

3. Whistle Down the Wind

Parkins refuses to believe that he has 'whistled down the wind'. But strange things keep happening: Part 4 of the classic M.R. James ghost story 'Whistle and I'll Come to You" adapted for audio. 

Complete adapted text: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/whistle-and-i-ll-come-to-you-488f1b1dee64 (aprox 10 min read)
Complete original text: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/jamesmr-ohwhistle/jamesmr-ohwhistle-00-h.html (aprox 30 min read)
Free teaching resources here: https://www.eslreading.org/ghost/whistle_and_I_will-come.html

4. Superstition

The final part of the spine chilling M.R James ghost story 'Whistle and I'll Come to You" adapted for audio. 

Complete adapted text: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/whistle-and-i-ll-come-to-you-488f1b1dee64 (aprox 10 min read)
Complete original text: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/jamesmr-ohwhistle/jamesmr-ohwhistle-00-h.html (aprox 30 min read)
Free teaching resources here: https://www.eslreading.org/ghost/whistle_and_I_will-come.html

5. Unearthly

Adapted opening of the classic M.R James ghost story 'Whistle and I'll Come to You". Professor Parkins is about to go to a remote coastal town for a winter holiday. A colleague tells him about a strange chapel ruin. 

Complete adapted text: https://medium.com/ten-minute-tales/whistle-and-i-ll-come-to-you-488f1b1dee64 (aprox 10 min read)
Complete original text: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/jamesmr-ohwhistle/jamesmr-ohwhistle-00-h.html (aprox 30 min read)
Free teaching resources here: https://www.eslreading.org/ghost/whistle_and_I_will-come.html

Ghost Stories

1. Professor_Parkins

The remarkable story of Dickens and a major train disaster.

Dickens_Train_Disaster

New illustrated adaptation of the Doctor Dolittle stories, based on 
The Story of Doctor Dolittle (1920) by Hugh Lofting. The stories were originally created for letters Lofting wrote to his children during the First World War.

This episode has Doctor Dolittle accompanying Toggle the Horse at an optician's appointment. Linked to text and worksheet here: https://doctor-dolittle.englishforyounglearners.org/eye_test.html

4. Superstition

Kieran Mcgovern Reading)

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