Tales of California

Masterfully written stories filled with drama, adventure, intrigue, and humor. Taken from the folklore and local history of California, most of the stories are about real people. They are essentially true and based on historical facts, but some are folklore, too, told as folks remembered the truth or have fashioned it into local California legend. Originally written by the late Hector Lee (1908- 1992), past president of the California Folklore Society and emeritus professor of English at Sonoma State University, these tales have been simplified for ESL readers. Included are stories about a devastating fire, bandits, sacred mountains, a shotgun poet, a mountain filled with diamonds, a rainmaker, California’s first millionaire, and California’s first hot-air balloon accident. Also included are stories about a town that got a new name, the saga of an Indian who was the last of his people, romance, and much more. The ESL revision of California Tales presents English language learners with exciting story content for the intermediate level ESL student. Perfect for summer school or a semester class. Vocabulary definitions are customized to each story, and appear opposite each story page. The companion workbook is very user-friendly. An entertaining, fun, and effective way to learn!