Online English lessons for children in Italy: English from year one, word endings and the ch sound

When do children in Italy start English at school?

English is compulsory in Italy from the first year of primary school (scuola primaria), which lasts five years. So most children have several years of school English before they move on to secondary school. How many lessons a week and what each class covers can differ between schools, so your child's school is the best source for the details.

An early start is a strong foundation, but a class lesson is shared between many children. Your child might sing, repeat and listen well, yet say only a few sentences of their own each week. Lessons outside school add the most when they put your child at the centre of the conversation.

Why might my child add a vowel to the end of English words?

Because Italian words mostly end in a vowel, and English words often do not. Children may add a small vowel after English words that end in a consonant, so big sounds like bigga and dog like dogga. It is a natural habit, not a mistake to worry about, and it fades as your child hears more English.

You can help with a simple game: say a word with a clear, short stop at the end, such as cat, bed or cup, and ask your child to copy it like a robot, with no extra sound. Tapping the table on the last sound makes the ending feel sharp.

Which other sounds and spellings need practice?

Italian spelling is very regular: once you know the letters, you can read almost any word aloud. English is different, and a few patterns stand out for Italian speakers.

• The ch sound. In Italian, ch spells a k sound, as in chi and che. In English, ch usually says the sound at the start of chip and cheese, so children may read chip as kip at first.
• The letter h. Italian h is silent, so hat can become at and house can become ouse.
• The th sounds. Italian has no th, so think and this need some practice in front of a mirror.
• Irregular spelling. English letters can make several sounds, as in bear and beer. Blending and segmenting helps your child read and spell words they have not seen before.

Which false friends should Italian-speaking children know?

Children enjoy these once they know about them. Try a quick quiz at dinner: one person says an Italian word, the others guess what the English look-alike really means.

What if we speak a dialect or regional language at home?

Regional languages and dialects are spoken in Italy alongside Italian. If your family uses one at home, your child already lives with more than one way of speaking, and that is an advantage, not a problem. Children can learn two or more languages side by side, and mixing words for a while is a normal stage. Keep talking with your child in whatever feels natural at home, and give English its own regular moments.

If you notice your child slipping Italian words into English sentences, simply repeat the sentence back in English and carry on. Our guide on a bilingual child mixing languages explains why this happens.

Are English certificates worth it for a primary school child?

They can be, but they are optional. The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) describes language levels in the same way across Europe, and for young learners the early 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. Some children enjoy a clear goal and a certificate at the end. Others do better with steady practice and no test date. Either way, speaking and reading with confidence matter more than the exam. See Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers explained.

What should I look for in online English lessons?

• A real teacher, live, who talks with your child rather than a recorded video.
• 1-to-1 lessons, so your child speaks for much of the time.
• Short lessons suited to children aged 4 to 12, with games and movement for the youngest.
• A clear starting level and a way to see progress over months.
• Feedback after lessons, so you know what to practise at home.
• Teachers who have been checked, lessons kept on the provider's own platform, and an easy way to raise a concern.

A 25-minute lesson fits easily around school, homework and sport. Choose a regular time when your child is fresh, and try a first lesson before deciding. Our guide comparing online and in-person English lessons can help you weigh up the options.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Italy?

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 Italy used to regular Italian spelling, a reading course that takes English sounds one at a time makes the irregular parts easier to manage.

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