Europe
Online English lessons for children in Greece: two alphabets, certificates and confident speaking
Quick answer
Children in Greece meet English in early primary school, and 1-to-1 online lessons add speaking time and a path into English letters. 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 Greece haven't opened yet, our Greece page has a waitlist.
Children in Greece meet English in the early primary years, and many families add after-school lessons too. What a child often needs most is time to speak and a clear path into reading English letters, which work differently from Greek ones. This guide covers school English in Greece, the letters and sounds that catch Greek speakers out, certificates, and what to look for in online lessons.
- By CurioKids teamHow we write our guides
- Published
- Updated
- 8 min read
Key takeaways
- English is taught from the early primary years in Greece, and after-school language lessons are a familiar part of family life.
- Greek children already have both English th sounds, thanks to the Greek letters theta and delta.
- Several Greek capital and small letters look like English ones but stand for different sounds, so reading English needs its own practice.
- Certificates can be a useful goal, but regular speaking practice is what builds a confident young speaker.
On this page
How is English part of school life in Greece?
English is taught from the early primary years in Greece, so it is usually a school subject from early on. At the same time, your child is learning to read and write Greek, in a different alphabet. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers this year and how it is assessed, and it helps to know that before you add anything else.
Outside school, private language schools, called frontistiria, are a familiar part of after-school life in Greece, and working towards an English certificate is a common goal for families. If your child already goes to one, it is worth asking what they practise there, so that anything you add does a different job.
Group lessons, at school or in the afternoon, share the teacher's attention between many children. A shy child can get through a whole lesson saying very little. That is where a 1-to-1 lesson differs: your child is the only one there to answer, so they speak far more.
Which Greek letters look English but sound different?
Greek is written in the Greek alphabet, and some of its letters look just like English ones. When a child reads English, those familiar shapes can pull them towards the Greek sound. Knowing the usual mix-ups helps you notice them and keep things light.
| Greek letter | Looks like | Sound in Greek | What to watch for in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ρ ρ | P p | r | pen may be read with an r sound at first |
| Η η | H h | ee | hat may start with an ee sound |
| Ν ν | N, and small ν looks like v | n | small v in van may be read as n |
| Β β | B | v | bat and vat can sound alike |
| Χ χ | X | a throaty h | English x in box is ks, and English h is a soft breath |
These mix-ups are a sign that your child reads Greek well, not that something is wrong. They fade once English letters and sounds are taught on their own terms, which is what phonics does: one sound at a time, with plenty of practice blending sounds into words.
What does a Greek speaker already have in their favour?
Quite a lot. Greek has the letters θ (theta) and δ (delta), which make the two English th sounds: the one in thin and the one in this. Many children around the world find those sounds hard, but a Greek-speaking child already says them every day. Pointing this out can be a nice confidence boost.
The parts of English that take longer are the ones every learner meets. English has many vowel sounds, so pairs like ship and sheep or cat and cut need careful listening. English spelling is less regular than Greek spelling, and small word endings such as -s and -ed change the meaning. Steady, friendly practice helps with all of these.
Are English certificates worth aiming for at primary age?
They can be, as long as the certificate serves the learning and not the other way round. The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is the scale used across Europe to describe language ability, and the first levels for young learners 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.
A sensible test of any goal is whether your child is enjoying English and using it. If exam practice starts to crowd out talking, reading for fun and playing with the language, it is worth slowing down. Our guides to CEFR levels for children and Starters, Movers and Flyers explain what each level means.
How can online lessons sit alongside a frontistirio?
Many children in Greece already have a full week, so any extra lesson needs to earn its place. A 25-minute online lesson takes no travel time and can be fitted in at home, which helps on busy days. Think about what each part of the week is for: group lessons are good for grammar and exam skills, while a 1-to-1 lesson can focus on speaking, listening and reading at your child's own pace.
- Keep the online lesson on a day without other after-school classes, so your child arrives fresh.
- Use the same slot each week. A routine is easier to keep than a lesson that moves around.
- Leave a gap after school for a snack and some play before any lesson starts.
- Check the times on offer suit your week before you commit to anything.
How can I support English at home if my own English is rusty?
You don't need to speak English well to make a difference. Children aged 4 to 12 learn most from small, regular moments that feel like fun rather than homework.
- Share an English picture book at bedtime once or twice a week, and keep reading Greek books too.
- Sing along to English songs in the car and ask your child what the words mean.
- For older children, try a favourite film or series in English. In Greece, films and series for older viewers are usually subtitled, so the English voices are already there.
- Play quick sound games, such as finding three things in the kitchen that start with the b sound. See phonics games at home for more.
How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Greece?
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 Greece, Phonics Starter is where English letters and their sounds are learned one by one, so the shapes that look Greek get their English sounds.
Visit our Greece page to see how lessons work, what your child will learn and how we keep children safe. If lessons for families in Greece 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 Greece are priced in euros: see the prices for Greece.
Frequently asked questions
My child goes to a frontistirio. Is an online lesson as well too much?
It depends on your child and your week. A short 1-to-1 lesson adds speaking time that a group class rarely gives, but a tired child learns little, so keep at least one free afternoon.
Why does my child read the English word pen with an r sound?
The Greek letter rho looks like an English p but makes an r sound. Your child is reading the shape the Greek way, which is normal at first and fades with phonics practice.
Does my child need a certificate to show their English level?
No. A certificate can be a motivating goal for some children, but it is optional. What matters most is that your child understands, speaks and reads English with growing confidence.
Will learning to read English mix up my child's Greek reading?
Children can learn two alphabets side by side. There may be a few mix-ups between letters that look alike for a while, but they settle as each alphabet becomes familiar.