Reading Imaginatively

Four children sitting and reading imaginatively. As keen readers, when we read a good story, we create a world in our imaginations, don’t we? We imagine people, landscapes, colours, emotions, sounds, voices, smells, tastes and so on. Try to create the right conditions so that your child can do the same when they read a story. This will be much easier if your child doesn’t get distracted while they’re reading.

Distraction can come from the environment – you need to help your child create a comfortable atmosphere for reading. But readers can also get distracted by the text itself, especially if it has too many difficult words. Help your child choose books that are interesting and challenging, but not too difficult. Of course there may still be words they don’t understand. Try to help your child become confident enough to just keep reading when they find a difficult word. Often, if they don’t worry about a difficult word, the meaning will become clear from the context.

Learn English through videos and TV

Videos/TV shows are great source of ‘real-life’ English language and the pictures will help your child to understand what is being said.
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Practising listening outside the classroom

You can help your child improve their English by giving them lots of opportunities to listen to English. This will help your child to feel more confident and prepared for their English exams.
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How children learn languages

There are a lot of different factors, which affect the time it takes to learn a language. These include your child’s age, first language, their reason for learning English, and their teachers.
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Practising vocabulary outside the classroom

You can help your child improve their English by giving them lots of opportunities to use English. This will help your child to feel more confident and prepared for their English exams.
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Should my child learn American or British English?

Your child probably already uses one type of English, depending on what they’re learning at school. That’s perfectly OK. There’s no right or wrong type of English. We accept different varieties of English in our exams.
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Learn English through games

Games are a fun way to practise English – it can be a really motivating way to learn a language.
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Practising English using digital technology

Digital technology provides children with a great number of opportunities to practise their English.
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How to use technology for learning

Games and digital tools can help your child to learn and develop English language skills.
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Learn English through drawing

Many children remember language more easily when they learn through creative activities such as drawing, colouring and crafts.
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Learn English through outdoor play

Motivation is one of the most important factors in language learning. Children who are enthusiastic about learning English are more likely to work hard.
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Why creative activities are great for learning

Many young children remember language more easily if learning is subtly combined with creative activities, such as drawing and role-play.
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Practise English in the school holidays

If your child wants to improve their English, they need to practise, practise, practise. Learning ‘little and often’ is more effective than occasionally studying hard.
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How parents and teachers work together

We’ve got some helpful advice from a school that uses Cambridge English Qualifications for schools, the Interlingua Rhodes School in Greece.
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Learn other school subjects in English

Some schools use English to teach subjects such as maths, science, humanities and arts. Children develop their understanding of a subject and learn English language at the same time.
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Learn 21st century skills in English

Technology is changing our world. Routine knowledge and skills are being automated, digitised and outsourced.
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How to manage nerves and prepare for an exam

What can parents do to help with nerves, and how can your child develop more exam confidence?
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Why are exams useful for language learning?

Assessment and learning go hand in hand. Our exams test all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening). This encourages teachers and learners to take a balanced approach to language learning.
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Which English language skills are needed for the future?

We surveyed 5,300 employers in 38 countries. We found that English is important all over the world. Even in countries where English is not an official language, over two thirds of employers say English is important for their business.
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Learn English through social media

Social media is a way to write about ourselves and interact with others. There are lots of different types of social media.
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Why are Cambridge English Qualifications valuable?

We develop and produce the most valuable range of qualifications for learners of English. Over 5 million people take Cambridge English Qualifications.
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Using digital to learn English

Top tips for parents to help your kids learn English. Learn how you can use English language games and the internet to support your child.
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Reading imaginatively

As keen readers, when we read a good story, we create a world in our imaginations, don’t we? We imagine people, landscapes, colours, emotions.
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Learning activity for parents and children

This popular memory game is a fun and effective way to remember vocabulary. It works best with a small group – adults can join in!
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Helping your child prepare for an exam

Here are some important things to remember about Cambridge English exams, and what you as a parent can do to help your child prepare.
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Learning through online games

Lots of young people love playing online games, and there are a lot of good games that can help people learn English.
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British and American English

Although people still talk about different types of English – American English, Australian English, Indian English – it is interesting to notice how close these are to each other nowadays.
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Learning English with online videos

Online videos can be a great way to practise listening and learn new words.
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Encouraging your child to speak English

Some children find it hard to speak English – some because they are shy, some because they don’t want (or don’t like) to make mistakes.
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Learning English through stories

Karen Saxby is the author of the Storyfun series, published by Cambridge University Press. She also co-wrote the Fun For series.
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An English diary

You may find it rewarding to help and encourage your child to keep a diary in English.
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Learning through drawing

Many things that children do for fun give an opportunity to learn English, and drawing is a good example of this.
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The CEFR

How are language levels described?
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Learning Activity: Super Interviews

Here is a game for two players – siblings, friends, classmates or you and your child!
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