Online English lessons for children in Vietnam: school English, Starters to Flyers and pronunciation

How is English taught in primary schools in Vietnam?

English is the main foreign language in Vietnamese schools. Under the national general education programme, English is a required subject from grade 3, and many schools offer it earlier as an optional subject or through extra classes. It then continues through lower and upper secondary school.

How much English a child gets varies a lot between schools, cities and classes, so ask your child's school what they teach in each year. Whatever the timetable, the hardest thing for a class to give is individual speaking time. That is where extra lessons, at home or online, can make the biggest difference.

Why do Vietnamese children need phonics if they already know the alphabet?

Vietnamese is written in the Latin alphabet, the same letters as English, which gives Vietnamese children a head start: the letter shapes are familiar. But many letters stand for different sounds in the two languages. In Vietnamese, x sounds like an English s, d doesn't sound like an English d, and đ does. English spelling also has more ways to write the same sound.

So a child may read an English word using Vietnamese sounds, which can make it hard to recognise. Phonics teaches the English sound of each letter and letter group step by step, so children can read new words correctly by themselves. See what phonics is and our phonics glossary for parents.

Which English sounds do Vietnamese-speaking children find tricky?

• Word endings. Vietnamese syllables end in only a few sounds, so endings like s, z and l may be dropped: cat and cats, bee and bees can sound the same.
• Consonant clusters, like st in stop or -nds in hands, because Vietnamese doesn't group consonants this way.
• Linked syllables. Vietnamese words are mostly one syllable with a tone; English links syllables and stresses one, as in ba-NA-na.
• **The th sounds** in this and thin.

These are natural, and they improve with listening and practice rather than correction. A teacher who models a sound clearly and turns practice into games helps most.

Where do Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers fit in?

You may hear about Starters, Movers and Flyers from your child's school or other parents. They are the Cambridge English Young Learners exams, and they map onto the CEFR, an international scale of language levels whose early stages for children 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. The exams are optional. They can be a motivating goal, but your child's progress is better measured by what they can do: follow a story, ask a question, describe a picture. Read what parents should know about Starters, Movers and Flyers.

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

It usually works best to choose a 25-minute lesson after school and dinner, roughly between 4pm and 8pm, or a weekend morning. Vietnam doesn't change its clocks, so the same slot stays put all year. The long summer holiday is a good time to start or add an extra lesson, and it helps children keep their English going until school starts again in September.

Many children in Vietnam already have extra classes after school. A short online lesson at home saves a journey, but watch the total: a tired child learns little. One or two lessons a week, done well, is better than a crowded timetable.

What should I look for in online English lessons?

• Live lessons with a real teacher, not recorded videos.
• 1-to-1 time, so your child speaks for much of the lesson.
• A clear course that teaches reading through phonics as well as speaking.
• A starting level, regular feedback and progress you can see.
• Strong safety rules: checked teachers, lessons only inside the provider's classroom, and a way to report a concern.

Our safe online tutor checklist has the questions to ask any provider before you sign up.

What should a first online lesson with my child look like?

A good first lesson is relaxed and mostly about your child. The teacher says hello, chats about things your child likes, and uses pictures, games and a little reading to see what they can already do. By the end, you should have a sense of your child's level and what the next lessons would focus on. Watch whether your child talks more as the lesson goes on and whether the teacher waits for answers rather than filling every silence. Our guide on what to look for in a free first lesson has a full checklist.

How can I help my child with English at home?

• Read English picture books together and point out word endings: one dog, two dogs.
• Sing songs and say rhymes, which train the ear for English rhythm.
• Ask your child to tell you about their lesson in English, then in Vietnamese if they want.
• Keep Vietnamese strong at home. A good first language supports a second one.

How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Vietnam?

CurioKids teaches children aged 4–12 in live, 1-to-1 online English lessons with a real teacher, 25 minutes each, in the CurioKids classroom with video, an interactive whiteboard, slides and games. Children begin with Phonics Starter, which teaches English reading sound by sound, then move on to CEFR-based levels. Your child's teacher gives feedback after lessons, and you can follow progress in your parent dashboard. See our levels and the FAQ.

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