Europe
Online English lessons for children in Estonia: he and she, little words and screen time
Quick answer
In Estonia, English usually starts in the early primary years, and 1-to-1 online lessons add a teacher listening to your child alone. CurioKids teaches children aged 4 to 12 in live, 1-to-1, 25-minute online lessons with a real teacher. If lessons for families in Estonia haven't opened yet, our Estonia page has a waitlist.
In Estonia, a first foreign language, usually English, starts in the early primary years, so English is usually part of school life from early on. Live 1-to-1 lessons online add something a class rarely can: a teacher listening to your child alone. This guide covers school English in Estonia, the parts of English that are new to Estonian speakers, homes with two languages, screen time and levels.
- By CurioKids teamHow we write our guides
- Published
- Updated
- 7 min read
Key takeaways
- A first foreign language, usually English, starts in the early primary years in Estonia.
- Estonian has one word for he and she and no articles, so he, she, a and the need steady practice.
- Many families in Estonia also speak Russian, and children can add English to two home languages.
- Screen time spent talking with a live teacher is very different from watching videos alone.
On this page
When do children in Estonia start learning English?
In the early primary years. Estonian schools teach a first foreign language from early on, and that language is usually English. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers this year and how progress is measured.
School lays the groundwork: words, phrases, songs and simple reading. What a group lesson can't do is give every child a long turn to speak. In a 1-to-1 lesson your child answers every question and can take their time, which is how speaking confidence grows.
Why do Estonian children mix up he and she?
Estonian uses one word, ta or tema, for both he and she. English makes the difference every time, so a child may say My mum, he is at work without noticing anything odd. It is a very natural slip for an Estonian speaker and it takes a while to settle.
Games help more than corrections. Look at family photos and take turns saying he or she for each person. Read a story and pause to ask Is it he or she? Before long your child starts to hear the difference for themselves.
What else is new in English for an Estonian speaker?
Estonian is related to Finnish, not to English, so a few parts of English need fresh learning. Knowing them in advance helps you stay patient.
- No articles. Estonian has no words for a and the, so children may leave them out: I see dog. Hearing them in phrases (a dog, the dog in the garden) is the way in.
- Spelling. Estonian spelling is regular, so a reader can sound out almost any word. English spelling is far less regular, which is why phonics teaches its patterns step by step.
- Vowel length. In Estonian, how long you hold a vowel changes the meaning. That is a useful skill, because English pairs like ship and sheep also depend on the vowel, though the difference is in the sound as well as the length.
- Word endings. English endings such as -s and -ed carry meaning, so it helps to point them out when you read together.
We speak Estonian and Russian at home. Is English one language too many?
Usually not. Estonian is the home language in Estonia, and Russian is also spoken in many families, so some children grow up with two languages already. Children can learn two or more languages side by side, and English can be added without taking anything away.
Expect some mixing for a while: a Russian word in an English sentence, or an English word in Estonian. That is a normal stage. Keep using the languages you know best at home, and let English have its own regular time, such as a weekly lesson and an English story at the weekend.
Is screen time for English lessons good for young children?
It depends on what the screen is for. Watching videos alone is passive. A live lesson is closer to a conversation: your child listens, answers, plays games and gets a reply from a real person. That is active, social time, and a short lesson suits young attention spans.
For older children, English with subtitles can add listening practice: in Estonia, films and series for older viewers are usually subtitled, so older children who watch them hear the original English voices. Keep it balanced with books, outdoor play and time off screens. Our guide to online lessons and screen time has more ideas.
How can I tell what level my child's English is?
The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is used across Europe to describe language ability. For young learners the first levels are Pre-A1, A1 and A2. Knowing roughly where your child is helps you choose lessons that are neither too easy nor too hard. Read CEFR levels for children for what each level looks like in practice.
Levels move slowly at this age, and that is fine. Children aged 4 to 12 make steady progress when lessons are regular and enjoyable, and the signs you will notice first are often confidence and longer answers rather than a new level.
When you compare online lessons, look for a live teacher rather than recorded videos, 1-to-1 time so your child does most of the talking, a clear starting level, feedback after lessons, and checked teachers who teach only on the provider's own platform. A free first lesson lets you see all of this before you decide, and our guide on what to look for in a free first lesson lists what to watch.
How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Estonia?
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 Estonia, a 1-to-1 lesson is a chance to practise he, she, a and the in real conversation rather than on a worksheet.
Visit our Estonia page to see how lessons work, what your child will learn and how we keep children safe. If lessons for families in Estonia 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 Estonia are priced in euros: see the prices for Estonia.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my child call their mum he in English?
Estonian uses one word, ta or tema, for both he and she, so the English difference is new. Games with family photos and stories help, and the slip fades with practice.
My child speaks Estonian and Russian. Should we wait before starting English?
There is no need to wait if your child is interested. Children can learn several languages side by side, and mixing words for a while is a normal part of the process.
Is watching English cartoons enough for my child to learn English?
Watching helps with listening and new words, but it does not get your child speaking. Combine it with reading, games and live conversation, where your child has to answer and gets a reply.
My child reads Estonian easily. Why is reading English harder?
Estonian spelling is regular, while English spelling has many patterns and exceptions. Phonics teaches those patterns one at a time, so English reading becomes much more manageable.
Do subtitled films help my child's English in Estonia?
For older children they can. In Estonia, films and series for older viewers are usually subtitled, so the English voices are there to hear. Chatting about what they watched afterwards adds speaking practice too.