The Parrot That Learned the Wrong Word
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in English, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
The family parrot Peanut picks up an annoyed phrase from Lila, and Stellan has to teach him a better one before Grandma visits.
Stellan's family has a gray parrot named Peanut. Peanut lives in a big cage in the living room. He repeats anything he hears.
One evening, Stellan's older sister Lila drops a plate in the kitchen. "Oh, great," she says loudly, in a flat, annoyed voice.
Peanut listens closely from his cage. He tilts his head to one side.
The next morning, Peanut says it too. "Oh, great," he says, in the exact same flat voice. He says it again and again, all day long.
"Peanut, please stop," Stellan says, laughing a little.
By the weekend, Peanut says the phrase often. When his food bowl is empty, he says it. When the door closes too loudly, he says it too.
"This is a problem," Lila says. "Grandma visits tomorrow, and she hates that phrase."
Stellan looks at Peanut and thinks for a minute. "We need to teach him something new," he says. "Something he'll want to say more."
They spend the evening near the cage. When Peanut stays quiet, they give him a piece of apple. When he says a new word, they say kind words to him.
"Good bird!" Stellan says again and again, in a happy, bright voice.
By bedtime, Peanut starts to copy the new phrase instead. "Good bird! Good bird!" he squawks proudly from his perch.
The next day, Grandma arrives and walks straight to the cage.
"Good bird!" Peanut announces. Grandma laughs and claps her hands.
