Online English lessons for children in Hong Kong: phonics, speaking and life in two languages

How does English fit into school in Hong Kong?

Chinese and English are Hong Kong's official languages, and the education system aims for children to be biliterate and trilingual: able to read and write Chinese and English, and to speak Cantonese, Putonghua and English. English is taught as a core subject from Primary 1, and many kindergartens introduce it earlier.

At secondary level, schools differ in their language of teaching: some teach most subjects in English, others mainly in Chinese, and many use a mix. That's one reason families pay close attention to English in the primary years. Each school sets its own approach, so your child's school is the best source for what they expect.

Why is phonics so useful for children who read Chinese?

Chinese characters carry meaning and sound in a different way from English letters. When children learn to read Chinese, they learn characters as whole units. English words are built from letters that stand for sounds, and children can work out a new word by sounding it out, if they know how.

Without phonics, many children try to learn English words like characters, memorising each one by shape. That works for a while, then becomes slow as the number of words grows. Phonics teaches the sound of each letter and common letter groups, and how to blend them, so children can read words they've never seen. Read what phonics is and blending and segmenting.

Which English sounds do Cantonese-speaking children find tricky?

• Word endings. Cantonese words end in fewer sounds than English words, so endings like s in books, l in ball and v in five are often dropped or softened.
• Consonant clusters, such as spr in spring or -nds in hands.
• **The th sounds** in three and this, and the v in van.
• N and l. Many Cantonese speakers use these interchangeably, so night and light may sound alike.

These are natural features of learning English with Cantonese as a first language. They improve with lots of listening and gentle practice; there's no need to stop your child every time.

Where do Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers fit in?

You'll probably hear about Starters, Movers and Flyers from other parents in Hong Kong. They are the Cambridge English Young Learners exams, linked to the CEFR, an international scale whose early levels for children 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. The exams are optional. They can be a motivating goal, but they aren't required for school, and a child who reads widely and speaks confidently is well prepared whatever the test. See what parents should know about Starters, Movers and Flyers.

Is a 1-to-1 lesson better than a tutorial centre class?

They do different jobs. A tutorial centre class is often built around school work, worksheets and exam practice, shared among several children. A 1-to-1 lesson is built around your child: the teacher listens to how they read and speak, spends longer on what they find hard, and keeps them talking. For a child who understands English but rarely speaks it, or who needs to go back to the basics of phonics, that personal attention is hard to get any other way.

When can a child in Hong Kong fit in an online lesson?

Hong Kong weeks are busy, with homework, tutorial classes and activities. A 25-minute online lesson saves the journey, which can matter as much as the lesson itself. The simplest option is usually to choose an after-school slot between about 4pm and 8pm, or a weekend morning. Hong Kong doesn't change its clocks, so the slot stays at the same local time all year.

Look at the whole week before adding anything. A child who has some free time to play and read for pleasure will learn more from one good lesson than from a packed schedule. If your child does tutorial classes for English already, an online lesson can sometimes replace one rather than adding to it.

What should I look for in online English lessons?

• A live, real teacher, with your child speaking for much of the lesson.
• 1-to-1 time that follows your child's level and pace.
• A clear phonics course for reading, not only conversation.
• Feedback after lessons, and progress you can see over a term.
• Short, lively lessons for younger children, with games and movement.
• Clear safety rules: checked teachers, lessons only inside the provider's classroom, and a way to report a concern.

Our safe online tutor checklist lists the questions to ask.

How can I support English at home in Hong Kong?

• Read an English story together at bedtime a few times a week, and talk about the pictures.
• Point out English on signs, menus and the MTR, and read it together.
• Play sound games: what word rhymes with cat? What sound does ship start with?
• Keep Cantonese strong. Growing up with two or three languages is an advantage. See bilingual children who mix languages.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Hong Kong?

CurioKids gives children aged 4–12 live, 1-to-1 online English lessons with a real teacher, 25 minutes each, in the CurioKids classroom with video, an interactive whiteboard, slides and games. Most children start with Phonics Starter, our 52-lesson reading course, then move on to CEFR-based levels. You get feedback after lessons and a certificate when your child moves up a level. See our levels.

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