English LessonsLearn English through stories

Stories can make us feel excited, sad, happy, surprised. The characters come ‘alive’ and we escape our world – living for a moment in a magical, different experience. It’s a powerful and motivating way for children to learn language.

Stories help children to:

• learn vocabulary (especially when key words are repeated in the text and pictures)
• learn how words can be put together to make sentences and texts
• learn sounds, rhythm and intonation (especially where there are lots of rhyming sounds)
• use their imagination and thinking skills to ‘work out’ meaning and predict what happens next
• develop their understanding of the world, life experiences, relationships and feelings.

Reading with your child is also just a lovely way to share time together.

Choosing a story

Not all stories are right for second language learning. When you choose a storybook, keep the following points in mind:

• Ask for advice from teachers, libraries and bookshops: which stories do they recommend?
• Length: will the amount of text on each page keep your child’s attention?
• Illustrations: is the story supported by enjoyable pictures?
• Interests: is the story related to your child’s interests (for example, if they like books about superheroes, would they like to try a similar story in English)?
• Characters: will your child like the main characters (for example, are they similar ages)?
• Grammar and vocabulary: is the language similar to the English they are learning at school? Is it similar to the type of language they use in their first language?
• Supporting other learning: does the story link to something your child is learning about?