Level

CEFR

Purpose

STEPS

Pre-A1

letters, sounds, core words

FIRST

A1 (early)

first sentence reading

EASY

A1 (strong)

simple sentence reading

ESSENTIAL

A2

everyday short readings

PROGRESSIVE

B1

storytelling & dialogue

EXPANDING

B2

deeper stories & opinions

EMPOWERED

C1

complex ideas & expression

ACCOMPLISHED

C2

advanced reading & nuance

• STEPS – letters, sounds, and basic words
• FIRST – simple pattern sentences with very limited vocabulary
• EASY – short sentences with simple ideas and repeated patterns
• ESSENTIAL – everyday communication and common situations
• PROGRESSIVE – narrative storytelling and dialogue
• EXPANDING – natural, fluent English with more detail and explanation
• EMPOWERED – expressive reasoning and deeper ideas
• ACCOMPLISHED – layered meaning, nuance, and sophisticated language

How to Use FIRST READERS

  1. Look at the picture.
    Talk about what you see.

  2. Listen to the reading.

  3. Read the sentences.
    Each reading practices one sentence pattern.

  4. Review the words.

  5. Practice speaking.
    Make your own sentence using the same pattern.

If this reading is too difficult, review STEPS – A Beginner Course first.

Reading Progression Example

STEPS – Beginner Foundations
go
store
food

FIRST – Early Reading (A1)
I go to the store.

EASY – Beginner Reading (A1)
I go to the store to buy food.

ESSENTIAL – Everyday English (A2)
I go to the store to buy food because we need milk and bread.

PROGRESSIVE – Developing Reading (B1)
Yesterday I went to the store because we needed food for dinner.

EXPANDING – Confident Reading (B2)
Yesterday I stopped by the store to pick up a few things for dinner since we had run out of food at home.

EMPOWERED – Advanced Expression (C1)
Since the refrigerator was almost empty, I decided to stop by the store and buy the ingredients we needed for dinner.

ACCOMPLISHED – Advanced Understanding (C2)
Realizing that the kitchen had gradually run out of supplies, I stopped by the store to gather the ingredients necessary to prepare dinner that evening.

Reading Levels Guide

Our readings are organized into levels to help learners gradually build confidence and improve their reading skills.

STEPS – Beginner Foundations
This section introduces the alphabet, letter sounds, and common words. It prepares learners for reading simple sentences.

FIRST – Early Reading
Short readings with very simple sentences and repeated vocabulary to help beginners start reading with confidence.

EASY – Beginner Reading
Slightly longer readings that use simple sentences and everyday vocabulary to strengthen basic reading skills.

ESSENTIAL – Everyday English
Short passages about daily life using common language and simple conversations.

PROGRESSIVE – Developing Reading
Stories and dialogue that help learners follow narratives and understand more natural English.

EXPANDING – Confident Reading
Longer readings with more detail, description, and ideas that help learners expand their vocabulary and comprehension.

EMPOWERED – Advanced Expression
Readings that explore deeper topics and help learners express ideas clearly and confidently.

ACCOMPLISHED – Advanced Understanding
Sophisticated readings with nuanced language designed for learners who can comfortably understand complex English.

The Reading Style at Each Level

STEPS (Pre-A1)
• letters and sounds
• basic sight words and vocabulary
• word recognition and short phrases
• preparation for reading simple sentences

FIRST (A1 – early)
• 8–10 sentences
• heavy repetition
• very limited vocabulary
• simple sentence patterns

EASY (A1 – developing)
• 10–12 sentences
• simple connected ideas
• predictable sentence patterns
• slightly expanded vocabulary

ESSENTIAL (A2)
• short paragraphs
• everyday situations
• common vocabulary and expressions
• basic conversation and descriptions

PROGRESSIVE (B1)
• storytelling
• dialogue
• narrative flow
• connected ideas and events

EXPANDING (B2)
• deeper stories and explanations
• opinions and reasoning
• more descriptive and varied language
• longer connected passages

EMPOWERED (C1)
• analysis and reflection
• expressive and persuasive language
• complex sentence structures
• abstract ideas and deeper topics

ACCOMPLISHED (C2)
• advanced articles and narratives
• subtle meaning and nuance
• sophisticated vocabulary
• complex and layered language