Online English lessons for children in Argentina: school English by province, sounds and reading

How much English do children get at primary school in Argentina?

It varies. English teaching at primary level depends on the province and on the individual school, so two children of the same age can have very different amounts of English. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers and how English is assessed.

Because of this, it helps to think about what your child needs rather than what their year group is supposed to know. A child with little English at school may need a gentle start with listening and speaking. A child with plenty of English may need more chances to talk, or help with reading and writing.

Which English sounds are tricky for children who speak Rioplatense Spanish?

Spanish is a helpful base for English: the same alphabet, lots of shared words, and children who are used to reading letter by letter. A few sounds take longer.

• Th. Latin American Spanish has no th, because z and c are said like s. So think may sound like sink and thumb like sum at first.
• S plus a consonant. Spanish words don't start with s followed by another consonant, so sport often becomes esport and school becomes eschool.
• Vowels. With five vowel sounds in Spanish and many more in English, pairs like ship and sheep need careful listening.
• The sh sound. In Buenos Aires and the region around it, ll and y are said like sh or the s in measure, so many children there already make a sound close to English sh. Elsewhere, sh in shoe may take a little practice.

False friends can trip anyone up. In Spanish, actual means current rather than real, and librería is a bookshop rather than a library. Children usually find these funny, which helps them remember.

My child reads English aloud but doesn't understand it. What helps?

This can happen to children who read Spanish well. Spanish spelling is very regular, so they quickly learn to sound out any word, and they may read English aloud fluently without following the meaning. Reading aloud and understanding are two different skills, and the second needs talk.

• Ask a simple question after each page: who is in the picture, what happened, what might happen next.
• Let your child retell the story in their own words, in English or in Spanish.
• Choose short books slightly below their reading level so they can focus on meaning.
• Talk about new words and act them out rather than translating every one.

Our guide on a child who reads but doesn't understand goes into more detail.

Where do the CEFR levels and Cambridge exams fit in Argentina?

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is widely used in Latin America to describe language levels. For children, the first levels are Pre-A1, A1 and A2. 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. These exams are optional, and children in many countries take them. A goal can motivate some children, but for most, regular speaking and reading matter more than an exam date. See CEFR levels for children for what each level means.

What does English look like for an 8 to 12-year-old?

Children aged 4 to 12 all benefit from English, but older children can do more with it. Between eight and twelve, children can hold real conversations about their interests, read chapter books, and write short pieces. They also care more about getting things right, so a patient 1-to-1 setting can help them speak without worrying about classmates. Our guide to English for 8 to 10-year-olds sets out what to expect.

When is a good time for English lessons in Argentina?

The school year runs from about March to December, with a winter break in July and the long summer holiday from December to February. A 25-minute lesson fits easily around school, homework and sport. Argentina keeps the same time all year, so once you choose a regular slot it stays put. The summer holiday is a good time to keep going, so English is fresh when school starts again in March.

How can I keep English going at home between lessons?

Little and often works best, and you do not need fluent English. Play English songs in the car, read a short picture book together at the weekend, and ask your child to teach you one thing from each lesson. Keep reading in Spanish too: a child who enjoys stories in one language brings that pleasure to the other. Our phonics games for home take only a few minutes.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Argentina?

CurioKids gives children aged 4 to 12 live, 1-to-1 online English lessons with a real teacher, 25 minutes each, in the CurioKids online classroom with video, an interactive whiteboard, lesson slides and games. Most children start with Phonics Starter; a child who already reads can be placed straight into a CEFR-based level after the free first lesson. Phonics Starter is our 52-lesson reading course, from letter sounds to reading sentences. Teachers can't teach until our team has confirmed a background check and they have signed our teaching agreement. Lessons happen only inside the CurioKids classroom, and your child's teacher gives feedback after lessons. See our levels and safety pages for more.

For a child in Argentina, whatever English their school offers, Phonics Starter builds English reading from letter sounds upwards.

Visit our Argentina page to see how lessons work, what your child will learn and how we keep children safe. If lessons for families in Argentina haven't opened yet, the page has a waitlist: leave your details and we'll let you know when you can book your child's free first lesson. Plans for families in Argentina are priced in US dollars: see the prices for Argentina.