Online English lessons for children in Croatia: from write as you speak to English spelling

When does English start at school in Croatia?

From the first year of primary school. Children in Croatia learn a first foreign language from the very start, and that language is usually English, though sometimes it is German, so it is worth checking which language your child's school starts with. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers this year.

Starting early gives children a lot of time with English, but class time is shared. In a group, each child may only speak a few sentences in a lesson. Extra lessons help most when they focus on what school has least time for: your child talking, listening and reading at their own pace.

What happens when write as you speak meets English?

Croatian spelling is very regular. It follows the idea of "write as you speak": each letter stands for one sound, and a child who knows the letters can read almost any word aloud. English does not work like that. Though, through and tough look alike but sound different, and the long a sound can be spelled a (cake), ai (rain) or ay (play).

For a Croatian child this can feel unfair at first. It helps to explain that English has its own patterns, which are learned a few at a time. Phonics does exactly that, starting with simple words that sound the way they look and adding the trickier spellings step by step.

Two Croatian letters cause most of the early reading slips. Croatian c is a ts sound, so cup might come out as tsup, and Croatian j is a y sound, so jump can sound like yump. These are signs of good Croatian reading, not mistakes to worry about, and they fade with practice. For spelling at home, our guide to spelling and dictation has ideas that keep it light.

Why do Croatian children drop a and the?

Croatian has no articles, so a, an and the have no Croatian match. Children often leave them out (I want apple) or use them in surprising places. This is one of the slowest parts of English for any speaker of a language without articles, so expect it to take time.

The most helpful approach is plenty of listening and repeating whole phrases: a cat, the cat on the mat, an orange. Stories and songs are full of these patterns. When your child misses one, simply say the phrase back correctly and carry on.

Where do the CEFR and Cambridge exams fit for a child in Croatia?

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) describes language levels in the same way across Europe, which makes it a handy way to talk about your child's progress. For young learners, 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.

Some children like having a goal and a certificate to show for their work. Others are happier simply reading, chatting and playing in English. Neither path is wrong. Read CEFR levels for children to see what each level means in practice.

What if my child is too shy to speak English?

Many children understand far more than they say, especially in the first months. Speaking in front of a class can feel risky, so a quiet child may hold back for a long time. A 1-to-1 lesson is often easier: there is no audience, the teacher waits patiently, and games and pictures give your child something to point at and talk about. Children aged 4 to 12 usually open up once they feel safe.

• Let your child listen and answer with one word or a gesture at first. Words come later.
• Stay nearby for the first few lessons if it helps, then step back as your child relaxes.
• Praise effort, not perfect sentences.
• Read more in our guide for a child who is shy to speak English.

How do I pick online English lessons that work?

• Your child speaks with a live teacher, who listens and responds.
• Lessons are 1-to-1, not a large online group.
• Lessons are short enough for a young child: around 25 minutes is plenty for most.
• There is a clear level and a plan, so you can see how your child is moving on.
• You get feedback after lessons, in plain words.
• Teachers are checked, and lessons happen only on the provider's own platform.

A first lesson is your best chance to see all this for yourself. Watch whether your child talks more than the teacher, and whether they come away smiling.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Croatia?

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 Croatia who is used to regular spelling, that step-by-step reading course gives English spelling a clear order.

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