Teaching English with Cambridge

Do your teens think reading is boring? Your lessons are the perfect setting to show them it’s not!

Staring at a page reading in silence won’t interest students, so explore different types of texts in these 5 fun, interactive ways from Paula Alvarez, who you probably recognise from Learn English with Cambridge!

https://camengli.sh/3z8jol1

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO NATURAL ENGLISH? 

CREDITS TO PERFECT ENGLISH GRAMMAR

When we listen to the news, or podcasts, or (especially!) listening exercises in English class, there are usually no 'thinking sounds'.

​

Of course, sometimes when we speak naturally, we need time to think!

Native speakers use little sounds when they're thinking, like 'ummm' or 'err', and sometimes they even use words, like 'well' or 'like'.

​

Of course, some of these little words have other meanings. If you're not used to hearing them in this way, they can be very confusing!

​

For example, let's look at 'like' in this sentence. 'Like' is the extra thinking sound.

• I think that he's, like, a bit angry.

This person pauses and says 'like' to have time to think.

​

Normally we use 'like' to talk about a preference or maybe a similarity. In this example, we aren't talking about that at all!

The 'like' is just there to give the person a moment to think. The normal sentence is just 'I think that he's a bit angry.'

​

In my opinion, these little words are often the reason why we don't understand someone well.

​

In our listening challenges, we help you learn about this! We have real, natural English, with thinking words and full transcripts.

​

Here's an example from our listening challenges!

​

In this mini audio, I'm talking with my husband, Robert.

Robert uses the word 'like' to give himself time to think – can you hear it?

​Click here to hear the audio.​

​Click here for the transcript.

LearnEnglish Parents - British Council

Want to practise your speaking? Check out our #speakingskills videos at four levels from A1 to B2! You can watch them on YouTube https://bit.ly/MCSpeakingYouTube or visit our website to do the practice activities: http://bit.ly/LESpeakingSkillsPractice

~ Tina

 Take a look at this great breaking news English's activity 

Enjoy, practise, learn

Google Maps now lets you find fresh air

(Copiable worksheets, vocabulary, speaking, graded reading, writing, multi-speed listening, online quizzes…)

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2206/220613-google-maps.html

Practise your English with this interesting activity found at Film English's page

A 60-page Extensive Viewing guide to the Oscar-nominated film Four Weddings and a Funeral starring Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell and Kristin Scott Thomas for English language students who want to learn English through watching films. The guide will help students improve their English vocabulary, listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking.

https://film-english.com/pro.../four-weddings-and-a-funeral/