Online English lessons for children in Slovenia: letters, little words and lots of talking

When do children in Slovenia start English at school?

Usually in the early primary years. A first foreign language is taught from early on, and that language is usually English. Your child's school is the best source for exactly what their class covers this year and how it is assessed.

Slovenian is the home language in Slovenia, and in some areas Italian and Hungarian are official languages too, so some children may already be growing up with two languages before English arrives. Children can learn two or more languages side by side, and mixing words for a while is normal.

A class can teach a lot, but every child has to share the speaking time. In a 1-to-1 lesson there is no one else to wait for, so your child answers every question, asks their own and hears their mistakes put right gently straight away.

Why does English spelling surprise Slovenian children?

Slovenian spelling is regular: once you know the letters, you can read almost any word. English is different. The same letters can make different sounds (cat, cake, car), and the same sound can be spelled in different ways (see, sea). A child used to a regular system may expect English to behave in the same way and feel puzzled when it doesn't.

That is why phonics is so useful. It teaches English sounds and the letters that spell them in a clear order, starting with short, regular words. Our guide to CVC words shows the simple three-letter words most children read first.

Which Slovenian letters work differently in English?

Slovenian and English share the Latin alphabet, but a few letters do different jobs. Slovenian also has the letters č, š and ž, which English spells in other ways.

These mix-ups show that your child reads Slovenian confidently. They fade once English sounds are practised on their own, a few at a time.

Why do Slovenian speakers leave out a and the?

Slovenian has no articles, the small words a, an and the. So a child may say I have dog or Sun is hot, which sounds perfectly natural to them. English uses articles all the time, and choosing between a and the takes years of listening.

The best way to learn them is to hear and use them in whole phrases rather than as a rule: a red apple, the big dog, on the table. Songs and picture books repeat these chunks again and again, which helps them stick.

What can a child learn at each age?

Children aged 4 to 12 can all enjoy English, but they enjoy it in different ways.

• Four to six. Short, lively lessons with songs, actions and pictures. Your child learns to understand and say simple words and phrases.
• Six to eight. As your child learns to read in Slovenian, they can start English letter sounds and blend them into short words. See English at 6 and 7.
• Eight to twelve. Your child can read short books, talk about their own interests and write simple sentences.

How can a short lesson fit into a busy school week?

A 25-minute online lesson needs no travel and fits easily around school, clubs and homework. The trick is to make it a habit rather than an extra.

• Pick the same day and time each week, so your child knows when English happens.
• Choose a time when your child is fed, rested and not rushing to the next thing.
• For younger children, earlier in the day is often better than just before bed.
• Check that the times on offer suit your family before you sign up.

Between lessons, a few minutes of English most days keeps things moving: an English song in the car, a picture book at bedtime, or a game where your child teaches you a word they learned. You don't need fluent English to join in.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Slovenia?

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 Slovenia, Phonics Starter takes English letter sounds one at a time, which gives letters like c and j their English sounds from the start.

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