Exploring Online E-books with Narration: A Web Quest

1. Go to the website http://esl-bits.net/. This is a

website which hosts both audio and e-books.
This means that you can listen and read at the
same time.

a. On the Home Page, scroll down to the very bottom, immediately under the
photo of the creator of the website. Complete the below Mission Statement
of the website:
The sole purpose of this site is to help students improve their
_____________ and ___________ comprehension of the English
language.

b. Now it’s time to familiarise yourself with the website. The website has 6
main collections. These are:
1. Classic Audiobook
2. Audiobooks
3. Novellas
4. Short stories
5. ______________
6. ______________

c. Click on the ‘Sherlock Holmes Collection’, at the very centre of the Home
Page. Try the Slow Listening Speed and the Fast Listening Speed.
a. Which one do you prefer? _____________
b. Have you ever read Sherlock Holmes before? ______________

d. Click on the category Audiobooks on the Home Page and scroll down to
the titles. Look at the first 10 titles. Who wrote:

a. 1984 __________________________
b. Animal Farm __________________________

Corinne Vella 2020

 c. Anna Karenina __________________________
d. Around the World in 80 Days _____________________________

e. Click on Animal Farm and click to start the audio narration. Try the Slow
Listening Speed and the Fast Listening Speed.
a. Which one do you prefer? _____________
b. Do you like listening and reading at the same time? Yes/ No

f. Now click on Around the World in 80 Days. Are there any children aged 9-
15 in your household? This might be a book which they would like 
a. Together, listen to Chapter One. Which speed is better for your
family member? ________________________

2. Go to the website Gutenberg.org. This is a website which has free e-books.

On the Menu on the left-hand side of the Home Page, click on Browse
Catalogue and then on Top 100.

a. Look at the first 20 titles. How many of these do you recognise? ________
b. Look at titles and from the ones that you recognise, pick 2 for yourself.
_____________________ _____________________________

c. Look at titles below. What age group would this book be good for? Choose
from child, teen or adult.
a. The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ______________
b. Dracula ______________
c. Peter Pan ______________
d. Il Principe ______________
e. The Count of Monte Cristo ______________
f. The Secret Garden ______________
g. The Jungle Book ______________
h. The Turn of the Screw ______________

Corinne Vella 2020