The Open Book

A Christmas present that is eternal! Give someone English classes this year!

6 Advantages of Taking An Online English Class - Insider's English What's everybody talking about? What's so great about taking an online English class? Here are 6 reasons why online English classes rock!

Part Two: to be continued....

The Young Prince and the Merchant’s Daughter
Written by V Curlette

In the village below the castle lived a small family. The father was a merchant who had become quite successful. He wanted to expand his business to the villages in the neighbouring kingdom. He decided that his daughter could travel with him to share the workload. Neither the merchant nor his daughter spoke a word of the neighbouring kingdom’s language.

This small family didn’t have enough money to buy grammar books or enough money to hire grammar teachers. They actually didn’t even think about buying books or hiring teachers. In fact they didn’t even think about how they would learn the new language. It simply never crossed their minds. The merchant’s daughter was very outgoing and loved to meet new people. She didn’t worry about not knowing the language. She trusted in herself to find a way to communicate with the new people they would meet.

The father and his daughter set out on their journey with their two best horses. After a few hours, they realised that they had lost their way. They continued along the road, knowing that they were travelling into a new land and of course they wouldn’t recognize anything because it was all new. It was supposed to be new. It was an adventure. Soon they came across a small village.

“Let’s stop at the Inn and get some food”, the father suggested. “We could also ask if we’re following the right road.
“Yes, I agree that we need some food”, replied the merchant’s daughter, “but do we really need a ‘right’ road? Don’t you think that any road will do? We don’t have a plan as such. We’re simply going to meet new customers. All we have to do is remember how to get home.”
The merchant, always surprised at his daughter’s bravery, agreed and so they stopped at the village inn for lunch. The merchant’s daughter, (who by the way needs a name for this story, let’s call her Rebecca), tried to order food for them. She didn’t know one word of their language. The innkeeper simply shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to bring the merchant and his daughter.

The merchant’s daughter, never one to be discouraged, followed the waiter to the next table and listened to the customers ordering their food. The waiter, a jolly chap, thought this was very funny. Her father, quite used to his daughter’s rather daring behaviour, sat smiling at his table. After listening to the customers’ orders, Rebecca watched what kind of food the waiter brought the customers.

She stopped him and pointed to one dish. The waiter told her the name of the dish and she repeated it. She followed the waiter around the inn for an hour until she was able to tell the waiter what she and her father wanted to eat. She was an extremely friendly and likeable girl, so the waiters didn’t seem to mind this strange behaviour. She made it into a game and soon the entire inn was having fun repeating the words for the different dishes being served. After some time she finally decided that she could order. The merchant and his daughter had a perfectly wonderful meal.