Online English lessons for children in Thailand: what parents should know

How do children in Thailand learn English at school?

English is the main foreign language in Thai schools and is taught from the early years of primary school, alongside Thai and the other core subjects. Some schools also run English Program (EP) or Mini English Program (MEP) classes, where several subjects are taught in English, and there are international schools in Bangkok and other cities that teach mainly in English.

Whatever the school, the challenge for most children is the same: a class lesson gives each child only a few chances to speak. Reading, listening and grammar get covered, but confident speaking needs many conversations, and that is hard to give a whole class at once. Extra practice at home or in lessons outside school is often what turns knowing English into using it.

Which English sounds do Thai-speaking children find tricky?

Every language makes some English sounds easy and others harder. For children who speak Thai at home, these often take extra practice:

• Word endings. Thai words end in a smaller set of sounds than English words. Children may drop or change endings such as the s in cats, the l in ball or the ch in watch.
• Groups of consonants, especially at the end of a word, like -sts in tests, or three at the start, like str in street.
• Sounds Thai doesn't use, such as the th in thin and the v in van, which can come out as t and w at first.
• Stress and rhythm. Thai uses tones to change meaning; English uses stressed syllables, as in TA-ble and ba-NA-na.

These are normal steps, not mistakes to worry about. A teacher who models each sound, plays listening games and lets your child try again without pressure helps most. Pointing out endings when you read together, such as one cat and two cats, helps too.

Is it hard for a Thai child to learn to read English?

It is a real step, and it deserves time. Thai script is a different alphabet, and in Thai a vowel can be written before, above or below the consonant it follows in speech. English letters are read strictly from left to right, and many letters and letter groups stand for more than one sound.

Phonics teaches English reading in small steps: letter sounds first, then blending them into words like sat and pin, then longer words. Children who learn this way can read new words on their own rather than memorising each one. Our guide to what phonics is explains the method, and blending and segmenting shows the key skill.

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

Most families in Thailand choose a 25-minute lesson after school, roughly between 4pm and 8pm, or on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Thailand doesn't change its clocks, so the same weekly slot works all year. The long school break in the hot season is also a good time to start, when there is more room in the week.

Traffic and after-school activities can make evenings busy, which is one advantage of learning online: there is no journey, so a lesson can start a few minutes after you get home. Keep the slot the same each week and let your child have a snack first. A hungry, tired child learns little, whatever the lesson.

What should I look for in online English lessons?

• A live teacher who talks with your child, not videos or an app alone.
• 1-to-1 lessons, so your child gets plenty of speaking time.
• A curriculum that teaches reading through phonics as well as speaking.
• A clear level for your child and regular feedback for you.
• Short lessons with games for younger children.
• Visible safety rules: checked teachers, lessons on the provider's own platform and a way to report a concern.

Use the free first lesson to see how the teacher works with your child. Our guide on what to look for in a free first lesson lists the signs of a good one.

How do I know my child's English level?

Ask your child's English teacher first. For an outside reference, the CEFR is an international scale of language ability. The early levels for children are Pre-A1, A1 and A2, described in “can do” terms such as “can introduce themselves” or “can follow a short story”. Read CEFR levels for children explained for what each means.

How can I help with English at home in Thailand?

• Read a short English picture book together most days, and keep reading in Thai too.
• Play sound games: I spy with my little eye, something beginning with b.
• Choose English songs and cartoons for children, then chat about them in English or Thai.
• Celebrate effort. Laughing together at a funny mistake makes trying again easier.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Thailand?

CurioKids gives children aged 4–12 live, 1-to-1 online English lessons, 25 minutes each, with a real teacher in our online classroom: video, an interactive whiteboard, lesson slides and games. Most children start with Phonics Starter, our 52-lesson reading course, then move through CEFR-based levels. Lessons happen only inside our classroom, and there's a “Report a concern” button in every lesson. Find out more about how we keep children safe and our curriculum.

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