18/04/2013
A day at the fairground sounds like a fun way for children to practise their English language skills – and thanks to a new mobile phone game from a department of Cambridge University, this idea has become at least a virtual reality.
Funland invites players to take part in a range of classic fairground games which are designed to help children practise their reading and listening skills in English. Players have to control the ferris wheel, splash the clowns and collect virtual prizes along the way. Tasks are specially designed to cover levels A1–B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The game has been developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment in collaboration with matmi - an award winning digital production studio. Lorna Pedersen, Digital Manager at Cambridge English Language Assessment, says the game is a fun way for children to work towards level B1 of the CEFR – which is increasingly becoming the level schools around the world set for students to reach when leaving school.
“Funland is a really engaging and fun way for children to increase their confidence in reading and listening skills in English,” explains Lorna Pedersen from Cambridge English Language Assessment. She continues: “The tasks go up to level B1 of CEFR so children playing the game can work towards gaining a solid level of English everyday use.”
Funland is suited to anyone learning English – particularly students preparing for Cambridge English: Young Learners (Movers, Flyers), Cambridge English: Key for Schools and Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools.
Funland is available on the App Store and Google Play to download for free.