Stories from all over the world 3 (English class 2.1)

Otesa’nek, a story from the Czech Republic

Once there was a couple who couldn’t have children, so they made a little boy from wood. They named him Otesa’nek. They loved him a lot. The boy really liked eating. In the beginning he only drank milk, but later he ate bread, fruit and vegetables. But when Otesa’nek grew up this wasn’t enough to satisfy his appetite. He started eating tables, chairs, the sofa... He ate everything he saw. He even ate his mother and his father!

An old woman of the village couldn’t see more of it and she wanted to finish it. So she took an axe and hacked Otesa’nek to pieces.

Now, when a child in the Czech Republic eats a lot, we call him/her “Otesa’nek.”

[Story by Monika]

Stories from all over the world 2 (English class 2.1)

Jaafar and his dromedary, an Arabic story

There was once an Arab, called Jaafar. He was a stupid man. One day he was returning home from the souk and he found a shoe in the street. But he wasn’t interested by it. After 2 km he was surprised to find the second shoe. This time he stopped his dromedary. He took the shoe and returned to find the first shoe he had seen. At this moment, thieves took the dromedary he had left behind. The poor man returned  home with a new pair of shoes, but without his dromedary...

[Story by Aziz]

Stories from all over the world 1 (English class 2.1)

Samson and Dalilah, a biblical story

This is a story from the bible about Samson and Delilah.

Samson was a good warrior of Israel. This country was very often in conflict with the neighbouring countries.

One day, the king of the Philistines decided to marry his daughter, called Dalilah, to Samson. Dalilah was a very beautiful girl who was loved by many men. When the king married his daughter he wanted to discover Samson’s secret. How come he was so strong?

A couple of days after the marriage, Delilah asked Samson: “What is the secret of your strength?” But Samson lied to her.

Then, one day, Samson tells her the truth. “No razor has ever touched my head. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me and I would become as weak as any other man.”

When Delilah realised he had told her the truth, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines. They arrived and they helped her to shave Samson’s head. As they were shaving, Samson’s body was getting weaker. When it was finished, Delilah called: “Samson, the Philistines are coming!” and Samson could do nothing to fight them off...

[Story by Constance]