East Asia
Online English lessons for children in East Asia: a parent's guide by country
Quick answer
Across East Asia, children learn English at school and often after school too, and live 1-to-1 online lessons add the speaking time they often lack. CurioKids lessons last 25 minutes, with a real teacher, for children aged 4 to 12. Each country has its own CurioKids page, with a waitlist if lessons there haven't opened yet.
Across East Asia, children start English at school in the primary years, and many also study it in after-school classes. What they often lack is time to speak. Short, live 1-to-1 online lessons can add that without adding a journey. This guide gives the picture across Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mongolia, with what their scripts mean for learning to read English, and links to a detailed guide for each.
- By CurioKids teamHow we write our guides
- Published
- Updated
- 7 min read
Key takeaways
- English is a school subject in every country in this guide, usually from the early or middle primary years.
- After-school classes are common across the region, so speaking practice, not more grammar, is often what children need.
- Children who read characters, kana, Hangul or Cyrillic benefit from clear English phonics.
- None of these places change their clocks, so a weekly after-school slot stays the same all year.
On this page
Which countries does this guide cover?
Each place has its own guide for parents: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mongolia. Each guide covers school English there, the sounds children find tricky, local after-school times and what to look for in lessons.
When do children in East Asia start English at school?
| Place | English at school |
|---|---|
| Japan | Activities in the middle primary years, a full subject in years 5 and 6 |
| South Korea | A required subject from grade 3 of elementary school |
| Hong Kong | A core subject from Primary 1; some secondary schools teach mainly in English |
| Macau | Varies by school; some teach mainly in English, most mainly in Chinese |
| Taiwan | Required from grade 3, and often from grade 1 |
| Mongolia | The main foreign language taught in schools |
Details change over time and differ between schools, so your child's school is always the best source for what applies this year. The country guides explain more.
Why do so many children know English but rarely speak it?
Across the region, children often have English at school and again at a juku, hagwon, buxiban or tutorial centre. They build a good vocabulary and solid grammar. But in a class, each child gets only a few chances to speak, and some become nervous about making mistakes.
Speaking grows only with practice: being asked something, thinking, answering and hearing a reply. In a 1-to-1 lesson your child does that for most of the lesson, with a teacher who welcomes mistakes as part of learning. Our guide for when a child is shy to speak English has more ideas.
How do East Asian scripts affect learning to read English?
Children in the region read their own language in very different ways, and each gives them something useful, and something new, when they meet English letters.
- Chinese characters (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) are learned as whole units. English words are built from sounds, so children who learn English words by shape alone get stuck as their vocabulary grows.
- Zhuyin (Taiwan) and kana (Japan) give each symbol a steady sound, so children already understand sound symbols, a great base for phonics.
- Hangul (South Korea) is a very regular alphabet; English spelling's irregular patterns can surprise Korean children.
- Cyrillic (Mongolia) shares some letter shapes with English but not the sounds, such as P for an r sound.
In every case, phonics taught in a clear order, with plenty of blending practice, makes English reading predictable.
What about English tests in East Asia?
Families in the region meet several tests. In Japan, Eiken is well known; in Taiwan, older students meet the GEPT. In Hong Kong and elsewhere, many parents hear about the Cambridge English Young Learners exams, Starters, Movers and Flyers. CEFR Pre-A1, A1 and A2 correspond to the Cambridge English Young Learners levels Starters, Movers and Flyers. CurioKids is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press and Assessment. For primary children, all of these are optional. They can motivate a child who likes goals, but regular reading and speaking build the English any test measures. Read about CEFR levels for children, whose early levels are Pre-A1, A1 and A2.
When do online lessons fit in East Asia?
Japan and South Korea are an hour ahead of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and most of Mongolia, and none of them change their clocks. It usually works best to choose a 25-minute slot after school, between about 4pm and 8pm local time, or a weekend morning. In a busy week, the biggest benefit of an online lesson is often the journey it saves.
Our guide to online lessons across time zones has practical tips for planning a weekly slot.
What age should children in East Asia start extra English?
There is no single right age, and starting extra lessons isn't a race. At four or five, short, playful lessons built on songs, stories, games and letter sounds help children enjoy English and tune their ear, without any pressure to write. From six or seven, as school reading begins in their own language, phonics and simple reading in English grow naturally alongside. Older children who start later often move quickly, because they already know how to learn a language at school.
What matters more than the starting age is that English stays enjoyable. A child who looks forward to their lesson will keep learning for years. See English for 4-year-olds and English for 8 to 10 year olds.
What should families look for in online lessons?
- A live, real teacher, with your child speaking for much of the lesson.
- 1-to-1 time that follows your child's level, not a fixed group pace.
- Clear phonics for reading, especially for younger children.
- Feedback after lessons and progress you can see over a term.
- Clear safety rules: checked teachers, lessons only inside the provider's classroom, and a way to report a concern.
Can families in East Asia book CurioKids lessons?
Each country in East Asia has its own page: our Japan page, our South Korea page, our Hong Kong page, our Macau page, our Taiwan page and our Mongolia page. Where lessons are open, you can book a free first lesson there; where they haven't opened yet, leave your details on the page's waitlist and we'll let you know when you can book. Families in Singapore and Malaysia can book now from our Singapore and Malaysia pages.
CurioKids lessons are live and 1-to-1, 25 minutes each, for children aged 4–12, with a real teacher in the CurioKids online classroom. Most children start with Phonics Starter, then move on to CEFR-based levels. See our levels, safety and FAQ pages.
Frequently asked questions
Which East Asian countries have a CurioKids guide?
Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mongolia each have their own guide, covering school English, tricky sounds, after-school times and what to look for in lessons.
What time are online English lessons in East Asia?
Try to choose an after-school slot between about 4pm and 8pm local time, or a weekend morning. None of these places change their clocks, so a weekly slot stays the same all year.
My child already goes to an English academy. Do they need online lessons?
Not necessarily. A 1-to-1 online lesson helps most when your child needs more speaking time or work at their own pace. If the week is full, consider one replacing a class or a journey.
Are English tests necessary for primary children?
No. Tests such as Eiken or the Cambridge Young Learners exams are optional. They can motivate some children, but everyday reading, listening and speaking practice is what builds English.