One common theme is the supernatural. Stories often involve ghosts, like in many traditional ESL ghost stories where a spirit haunts a place or a person.
The suspense. In these stories, you don't know what will happen next. For example, in 'The Mysterious Footsteps', you keep waiting to find out who or what is making those steps.
One great ESL scary short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is haunted by an old man's 'evil eye' and his descent into madness as he plots and then commits murder.
Sure. One is 'The Haunted House'. It's about a family who moves into an old house. Strange noises start at night. Doors open and close by themselves. Another is 'The Dark Alley'. A person walking through a dark alley at night hears footsteps following but when they look back, there's no one there.
In general, many 'esl scary stories' are not entirely suitable for very young children. They often contain elements such as ghosts, monsters, and supernatural events that can be frightening. However, for pre - teens or older kids who have a higher tolerance for spooky things, they can be an interesting form of entertainment. The level of scariness varies from story to story, so it's important to preview them before deciding if they're appropriate for a particular child.
Another theme could be self - discovery. Characters in the stories often learn more about themselves as they face different situations, like a character realizing their true strength when they have to protect their family from danger. There are also likely to be stories about cultural differences, where characters from different backgrounds interact and learn from one another.
A story with simple language and clear plot would be good. For example, a story about a daily life event that uses common words and easy sentence structures.