Online English lessons for children in Japan: school English, Eiken and speaking practice

How do children in Japan learn English at school?

English is now part of primary school for every child in Japan. Under the national curriculum that began in 2020, children have foreign language activities, in practice English, in the middle years of primary school, and English becomes a full subject with textbooks and grades in years 5 and 6. English then continues as a core subject through junior high and high school.

In the early years, school English is mostly songs, greetings, games and simple phrases. Reading and writing grow in the upper years. Schools differ in how much time they give and who teaches it, so your child's school is the best source for what their class covers this year.

What a classroom finds hardest to give is speaking time. With a whole class to teach, each child may only say a few sentences of English in a lesson. That is why many families add something outside school that gets their child talking.

What is Eiken, and does my child need it?

Eiken is a well-known English test in Japan. It has a series of grades, from grade 5 at the start up to grade 1 at the top, and children can take it at any age. Many primary children try grade 5 or grade 4 first. The higher grades include a speaking test as well as reading, listening and writing.

Eiken is optional. Some children enjoy working towards a grade, and a pass is a nice milestone. Others are better served by simply using English more, without a test date in mind. If your child likes goals, a test can motivate them; if tests make them anxious, it is fine to wait. CurioKids follows its own CEFR-based curriculum and is not linked to Eiken.

Where do the CEFR and Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers fit?

The CEFR is an international scale that describes language ability with “can do” statements. 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. Some international and private schools in Japan use these levels, and they are a helpful way to describe progress whatever test your child takes. Read CEFR levels for children explained and what parents should know about Starters, Movers and Flyers.

Which English sounds do Japanese-speaking children find tricky?

Every first language makes some English sounds easier and some harder, and Japanese is no different. Knowing what to expect helps you stay relaxed when your child finds a sound difficult.

• Extra vowels. Japanese words borrowed from English and written in katakana add vowel sounds, so bus becomes basu. Children may carry this into English at first.
• L and R. Japanese doesn't separate these two sounds, so light and right can sound the same to a young child until they've heard and practised them often.
• Sounds Japanese doesn't have, such as the th in three and the v in van.
• Reading English spelling. Kana gives each symbol a steady sound. English spelling is less regular, which is why learning phonics helps children read new words with confidence.

None of this is a problem to fix quickly. Children hear these differences best through lots of friendly listening and speaking, with a teacher who models the sound and lets them try again without pressure.

When can a child in Japan fit in an online lesson?

A 25-minute lesson is short enough to fit around school, juku, sports and music. We suggest choosing a slot between about 4pm and 8pm on a school day, or a weekend morning. Younger children usually do best earlier, before they get tired; older children often prefer after dinner, once homework is done.

Japan doesn't change its clocks, so once you find a time that suits you, it stays put through the year. When you book any online lessons, check that the times on offer suit your week, and keep the slot the same each week so it becomes part of your routine. Our guide to online lessons across time zones explains more.

What should I look for in online English lessons?

• A live teacher who listens and replies to your child, not a recorded video.
• 1-to-1 time, so your child speaks for much of the lesson rather than watching others.
• Lessons short enough for your child's age, with games and movement for the youngest.
• A clear starting point and level, so you can see progress over the months.
• Feedback after lessons that tells you what your child did and what comes next.
• Clear safety rules: checked teachers, lessons only on the provider's own platform, and an easy way to raise a concern.

A free first lesson is the best test of all. Our guide on what to look for in a free first lesson lists what to watch for.

How can I support English at home in Japan?

You don't need fluent English to help. A few minutes of relaxed English most days does more than a long session once a week.

• Read English picture books together, and keep reading in Japanese too. Strong reading in one language helps the other.
• Spot English around you: on packaging, signs and in katakana words, and say the English word together.
• Sing songs and play simple word games in the car or on the train.
• Let your child teach you what they learned in their lesson. Explaining it is great practice.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Japan?

CurioKids gives children aged 4–12 live, 1-to-1 online English lessons with a real teacher, 25 minutes each, in the CurioKids online classroom with video, an interactive whiteboard, slides and games. Most children start with Phonics Starter, our 52-lesson reading course, then move on to CEFR-based levels. Teachers can't teach until our team has confirmed a background check and they have signed our teaching agreement, and lessons happen only inside our classroom. See our levels and safety pages for more.

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