Europe
Online English lessons for children in Spain: bilingual schools, vowel sounds and false friends
Quick answer
In Spain, English starts in primary school or earlier, and 1-to-1 online lessons add speaking time even a bilingual class rarely gives. CurioKids teaches children aged 4 to 12 in live, 1-to-1, 25-minute online lessons with a real teacher. If lessons for families in Spain haven't opened yet, our Spain page has a waitlist.
Children in Spain usually meet English early: it is taught from the start of primary school and often before, in infant school. Yet a class, even a bilingual one, gives each child little time to speak. Live 1-to-1 lessons online add that speaking time with a teacher, at home. This guide explains school English in Spain, what to expect when English is a third language, and which sounds and false friends need practice.
- By CurioKids teamHow we write our guides
- Published
- Updated
- 8 min read
Key takeaways
- English is taught from the start of primary school in Spain, and often earlier in infant school (educación infantil).
- Many regions have bilingual programmes in which some subjects are taught in English.
- Where Catalan, Galician or Basque is spoken alongside Spanish, English is often a third language, which is fine.
- Spanish has five vowel sounds, so English vowels need practice, but many children already have the th sound of think.
- Spanish spelling is very regular, so English spelling needs its own rules, which is what phonics teaches.
On this page
How is English taught in schools in Spain?
English is taught from the start of primary school in Spain, and often earlier, in infant school (educación infantil). Many regions also have bilingual programmes, in which some subjects are taught in English. How much English your child has each week depends on the region and the school, so your child's school is the best source for what their class covers.
A bilingual programme means more hours of English listening, which is a real advantage. It does not always mean more speaking. In a full class, most children answer only now and then, and a quiet child can go a whole lesson without saying much. Learning another subject in English also asks a lot of a child's vocabulary, so some children enjoy extra practice in everyday conversation and reading.
What if English is my child's third language?
Spanish (Castilian) is spoken everywhere in Spain, and Catalan, Galician and Basque are co-official in their regions. So many children learn English as a third language, after two at home or at school. That is no problem. Children can learn two or more languages side by side, and they don't run out of room.
You may hear your child borrow a word from one language while speaking another, or use a Spanish sound in an English word. That mixing is a normal stage and fades with practice. Our guide on a bilingual child mixing languages explains what is typical.
Which English sounds are easy or hard for Spanish speakers?
There is good news first. In most of Spain, the letters z and c (before e and i) are said with the th sound of think, as in zapato and cinco. So many Spanish children already have a sound that learners from other countries find hard. The harder parts are these:
- Vowels. Spanish has five vowel sounds; English has many more. Pairs like ship and sheep, or cat and cut, can sound the same to a Spanish ear until your child has heard the difference many times.
- S at the start of a word. Words such as school, star and spoon begin with s and another consonant, and Spanish speakers often add a vowel in front: eschool.
- B and v. In Spanish they sound the same, so berry and very may sound alike at first.
- The letter h. Spanish h is silent and Spanish j is a throaty sound, so the soft, breathy English h in hat and happy needs practice.
- Spelling. Spanish spelling is very regular, so children expect each letter to say one sound. English letters change their sounds, which is why phonics helps.
Which false friends should Spanish speakers watch for?
False friends look like English words but mean something different. These come up often with children and parents alike:
| Spanish word | What it means | The English word it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| embarazada | pregnant | embarrassed |
| librería | bookshop | library |
| actual | current | actual |
| éxito | success | exit |
| carpeta | folder | carpet |
Make a game of it: say a word and ask your child whether it is a true friend or a false friend. Children remember the funny ones best. Adults get caught out too: saying embarazada when you mean embarrassed is a classic mix-up, so learn the list together as a family.
Can you support English at home without speaking it well?
Yes. Your job is to make English part of normal family life, not to teach grammar. A little most days does more than one long session at the weekend.
- Read picture books in English and in your home language. Good reading in one language helps the other.
- Sing English songs together, and choose ones with actions for younger children.
- Label a few things at home in English, such as the door, the fridge and the window, and swap the labels every week or two.
- Ask your child to teach you a word from each lesson, and use it at dinner.
- Play a spelling game with English words that are not spelled the way they sound. Our guide to spelling and dictation at home has ideas.
How do I fit a short lesson into a busy week?
A 25-minute lesson is short enough to fit around school, homework and after-school activities. Choose a time when your child is fresh, not straight after a long day, and keep it the same each week so it becomes routine. Children aged 4 to 12 have different rhythms: the youngest often focus best earlier in the day or at the weekend, while older children can manage a lesson after homework.
Before you commit, try a first lesson and watch how your child responds. Our guide on what to look for in a free first lesson lists the signs of a good fit, from how much your child speaks to the feedback you get afterwards.
How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Spain?
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 Spain used to regular Spanish spelling, Phonics Starter introduces the English sound and spelling patterns one at a time.
Visit our Spain page to see how lessons work, what your child will learn and how we keep children safe. If lessons for families in Spain 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 Spain are priced in euros: see the prices for Spain.
Frequently asked questions
My child is in a bilingual school in Spain. Do they still need extra English?
Not always. A bilingual programme gives lots of English listening, but extra lessons help if your child rarely speaks in class, finds reading in English hard, or needs everyday conversation.
Why does my child say eschool instead of school?
Spanish words do not usually begin with s followed by another consonant, so Spanish speakers often add a vowel first. It fades with listening and practice, especially with words like star, spoon and snake.
Is English too much if my child already speaks Catalan, Galician or Basque and Spanish?
No. Children can learn three languages side by side. They may mix words for a while, which is a normal stage, and each language usually settles into its own place.
Why does English spelling confuse my child when Spanish spelling is so easy?
Spanish spelling is very regular, so each letter usually has one sound. English letters can make several sounds, so children need to learn the patterns step by step, which is what phonics does.