Online English lessons for children in Laos: what the first steps look like

How do children in Laos learn English?

English is the main foreign language taught in Laos today, in schools and in English classes outside school, particularly in Vientiane and other towns. Some private and international schools teach more of the day in English. How much English a child has met depends a lot on their school and on what they do at home, so it's normal for children of the same age to be at very different points.

If your child's school offers English, ask what they cover each year, and use that as your guide for what to practise at home or in extra lessons.

What makes English different for a Lao-speaking child?

Three things stand out, and knowing them helps you stay patient and positive:

• A new script. Lao has its own alphabet, with vowels that can sit before, above, below or after a consonant. English letters are read strictly left to right, and some letters make more than one sound.
• Tones and stress. In Lao, the tone of a word changes its meaning. English has no tones; instead it stresses one part of a word, as in TI-ger, and some words in a sentence. Children need to tune their ear to this.
• Word endings. Lao words end in a smaller set of sounds than English words, so endings like s in cats or l in ball may be dropped at first.

None of these is a barrier. They simply mean the first steps deserve time and lots of listening.

What do the first months of English look like?

Every child moves at their own pace, but a good beginner course usually builds in this order:

This is phonics, the way English-speaking children learn to read too. Our guides to what phonics is and blending and segmenting explain each step.

What if my child starts English later, at eight or ten?

Older beginners do very well. They already read in Lao, understand how a school lesson works and can concentrate for longer, so they often move quickly through the first steps of phonics. They may feel shy about starting from simple words, so a teacher who treats them their age, with topics and games that suit older children, matters. Within a short time they can be reading, describing and asking questions at their own level. Our guide to English for 8 to 10 year olds has more ideas.

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

Laos doesn't change its clocks, so whatever slot you choose stays at the same local time all year. Most families find an after-school time between about 4pm and 8pm, or a weekend morning, works best. A 25-minute lesson is short enough for a young child to stay focused, and there's no journey.

Before the first lesson, test your internet with a short video call at the same time of day, use a laptop or tablet rather than a phone if you can, and set up a quiet corner with good light.

What should I look for in online English lessons?

• A live, real teacher who listens and responds to your child.
• 1-to-1 lessons, so your child speaks rather than watches.
• A step-by-step reading course, starting from letter sounds.
• Short, playful lessons for younger children.
• Feedback after lessons so you know what to practise.
• Clear safety rules, including checked teachers and lessons only inside the provider's classroom.

A free first lesson is a good way to see how a teacher works. Here is what to look for in a free first lesson.

How can I help at home if I don't speak much English?

• Sing English songs together; rhythm and rhyme train the ear.
• Ask your child to teach you the new words from each lesson.
• Look at picture books and point and name: dog, tree, red.
• Keep reading and talking in Lao. A strong first language helps children learn a second.
• Praise effort rather than perfect answers, so your child keeps having a go.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Laos?

CurioKids teaches children aged 4–12 in live, 1-to-1 online English lessons, 25 minutes each, with a real teacher in the CurioKids classroom: video, an interactive whiteboard, lesson slides and games. Beginners start with Phonics Starter, our 52-lesson 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. See our curriculum and safety pages.

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