Online English lessons for children in Lithuania: reading, levels and keeping it fun

When do children in Lithuania start English?

In the early primary years. English is taught at school from early on, so by the time you are thinking about extra lessons, your child may already know some words, songs and phrases. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers this year and how it is assessed.

Extra lessons are most useful when they do something school can't easily do. In a class, speaking time is shared and the pace is set for the group. In a 1-to-1 lesson, the pace is your child's, and they get to talk for most of the time.

Why does reading English feel different after Lithuanian?

Lithuanian spelling is regular, so once a child knows the letters, reading aloud is fairly straightforward. English is another story. The letters ough sound different in rough, though and through, and a word like one doesn't look the way it sounds. A child used to a regular system can find this confusing and even a little unfair.

Phonics makes it manageable. It teaches English sounds and their spellings in a clear order, beginning with short words that can be sounded out, then adding the trickier patterns. It also helps to remind your child that every English reader learned these patterns one at a time.

Why are a and the so hard for Lithuanian speakers?

Lithuanian has no articles, so a, an and the are brand new. Children may leave them out (I have cat) for a long time, and that is normal. Explaining the rules rarely helps young children. What helps is hearing articles in natural phrases over and over: a cat, the cat on the sofa, an apple.

What should English lessons look like at 4 to 6, 6 to 8 and 8 to 12?

Children aged 4 to 12 can all learn well online when the lesson suits their stage.

• Four to six. Songs, movement, puppets and pictures. The aim is listening, simple answers and enjoying English.
• Six to eight. As your child learns to read Lithuanian, they can learn English letter sounds and start reading simple words.
• Eight to twelve. Real conversations about hobbies and favourite things, short books, and more writing. See English for 8 to 10 year olds.

Are English levels and exams worth thinking about?

Levels are useful; exams are optional. 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.

Some children love a target and a certificate. Others are put off by tests and do better simply reading and talking. Think about what motivates your child, and remember that confident speaking and reading are the real goal. Our guide to CEFR levels for children explains what each level means.

How do I keep my child keen on English?

Enjoyment is what keeps a child coming back to English week after week. Children work hardest at things they enjoy, so build English around your child's interests.

• Find English picture books or comics about what your child already loves: animals, space, football or dinosaurs.
• Keep reading in Lithuanian too. Strong reading in one language supports the other.
• Let your child choose an English song for the car each week.
• Celebrate small wins, like a new word used at dinner or a page read alone.
• If reading has become a battle, our guide on the reluctant reader has gentle ideas.

A regular 25-minute lesson at the same time each week helps too, because routine removes the daily debate. Pick a slot when your child is rested and fed, and check the times on offer suit your week before you commit.

What progress can I expect after a few months?

Language grows slowly and unevenly, so look for small signs rather than big jumps. After a few months of regular lessons and a little English at home, many children understand more of what they hear, answer with longer phrases instead of single words, and read short words with less help. Some children chat from the start while others listen quietly for weeks first. Both are normal, and a child who is enjoying English is on the right track.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Lithuania?

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 Lithuania who already has school English, 1-to-1 time is a chance to use those words in real conversation.

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