Online English lessons for children in Bolivia: a new language in a family of many

When do children start English at school in Bolivia?

English is taught in schools in Bolivia, but the year it starts varies from school to school. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers and how often English is taught.

If your child has little or no English at school yet, lessons at home can introduce it gently through songs, games and conversation. If they already have English in class, extra 1-to-1 time gives them more chances to speak than a full classroom can.

How does English fit into a family that already speaks two languages?

Bolivia recognises Spanish and many Indigenous languages as official, Quechua, Aymara and Guarani among them, and many families speak more than one language at home. For a child who already moves between Spanish and another language, English is simply one more.

Children can learn two or three languages side by side. For a while, your child may borrow a word from one language when speaking another. That is normal and fades with time. Keep using the languages your family speaks best: a strong home language supports learning a new one.

Why does English spelling confuse children who read Spanish?

Spanish spelling is very regular. A child who knows the letters can read almost any Spanish word aloud. English breaks that rule often: cough, through and though all share letters but sound different, and two, too and to sound the same but are spelled differently.

This is why phonics matters. It teaches English sounds and their most common spellings in a clear order, so children can sound out most words and learn the tricky ones by heart. Spelling grows the same way, a pattern at a time. Our guide to spelling and dictation at home has simple ways to practise.

Which English sounds take practice for Spanish speakers?

False friends add some fun. Éxito means success, not exit; actual means current, not real; and a librería is a bookshop, not a library. Point them out when they come up, and your child will remember them.

What should a five-year-old know in English?

There is no fixed list, and children aged 4 to 12 all learn at different speeds. For a five-year-old who has just started, good signs are understanding simple instructions, joining in with songs, naming colours, animals and everyday objects, and answering short questions such as What's this? Reading and writing come later. Our guide to what English a 5-year-old should know sets this out in more detail.

Older children can do more. Between eight and twelve, they can talk about their interests, read short books and write simple sentences, and a 1-to-1 lesson can follow what they enjoy.

When can a lesson fit into the school year in Bolivia?

The school year in Bolivia runs from about February to December, with a winter break in July and the long summer holiday from December to February. A 25-minute lesson fits around school and homework, and Bolivia keeps the same time all year, so a weekly slot stays the same in every season. Keeping lessons going through the breaks helps your child return to school with their English fresh.

How can I support English at home if I don't speak it?

You don't need fluent English to make a difference. What helps most is a few relaxed minutes of English on most days, so it becomes part of family life rather than homework.

• Play English songs while cooking or travelling, and learn the actions together.
• Look at English picture books and name what you see, even if you only know a few words.
• Make a small word wall of the English words your child learns each week.
• Ask your child to be the teacher for five minutes after each lesson.
• Keep telling stories in your own languages too. Children who love stories bring that love to English.

What should I check before choosing online lessons?

• A live teacher who talks with your child, rather than videos to watch.
• 1-to-1 time, so your child does a large share of the talking.
• Short, varied activities that suit your child's age.
• Feedback after lessons, so you know what your child practised.
• Clear safety rules, with lessons kept on the provider's own platform.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Bolivia?

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 Bolivia who already reads Spanish, Phonics Starter sets out the sounds of English letters one step at a time.

Visit our Bolivia page to see how lessons work, what your child will learn and how we keep children safe. If lessons for families in Bolivia 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 Bolivia are priced in US dollars: see the prices for Bolivia.