What to look for in your child's free first English lesson

What should happen in a good first lesson?

A good first lesson is part welcome, part check of where your child is, and part taste of a normal lesson. The teacher should:

• Introduce themselves warmly and help your child settle, perhaps with a chat or a simple game.
• Find out what your child already knows through activities that feel like play rather than a test.
• Adjust as they go: easier if your child struggles, harder if something is too easy.
• Include parts of a normal lesson, so you can see the teaching style.
• End on a positive note, with your child feeling successful.

Afterwards, you should have some idea of your child's starting point and what lessons would focus on first. If the lesson turns into a sales pitch, or nobody can tell you where your child is, that tells you something too.

What are the warning signs in a first lesson?

• The teacher talks for most of the lesson while your child only listens.
• Your child is rushed, corrected sharply or made to feel they've failed.
• The lesson follows a fixed script, whatever your child does.
• Much of the time goes on persuading you to sign up.
• Anyone suggests moving lessons or messages to a personal app or phone number.

How do I prepare my child?

Keep it low-key. Tell your child they'll meet a new teacher who will play some English games with them, and that it's fine not to know some answers. If they're nervous, show them the screen and the headphones beforehand, and agree that you'll be close by.

• Test the technology the day before: the device, camera, microphone, sound and internet connection. Headphones can help your child hear sounds clearly.
• Choose a good time: not when your child is hungry, tired or about to go somewhere exciting.
• Set up a quiet spot in a shared room with good light and the screen at eye level.
• Have water and a pencil and paper nearby, in case they're needed.
• Join a few minutes early so nobody feels rushed.

Don't coach your child or practise answers beforehand. The point of the lesson is for the teacher to see where your child really is, so that later lessons start in the right place.

What should I watch for during the lesson?

Watch your child more than the content. Stay nearby but out of the way, and resist prompting or answering for them. Notice whether:

• Your child looks engaged: smiling, answering and joining in.
• The teacher speaks clearly, at a pace your child can follow.
• The teacher gives your child time to think before helping.
• Praise is specific (“you said every sound!”) rather than only “good job”.
• Your child gets plenty of chances to talk, not just to listen.
• The teacher notices when your child loses focus and changes the activity.
• The lesson has a clear shape, such as hello, something new, practice and a game.
• Everything stays on the lesson and inside the provider's own classroom.

Don't judge the lesson by how much your child already knows. A first lesson often feels slower than later ones, because the teacher is finding the right level. Shyness at the start is normal too; what matters is whether the teacher helps your child warm up as the lesson goes on.

What should I ask afterwards?

Ask your child first, then the teacher or provider. Keep your questions to your child light, so they don't feel tested: “What was the funniest part?” “Was anything tricky?” “Would you like to do it again?”

Then ask the teacher or provider:

• What level is my child at, and what would lessons focus on first?
• How will I hear how my child is getting on?
• Will my child usually have the same teacher?
• How are teachers checked before they teach?
• How do rescheduling and cancelling work?
• What could we do at home between lessons?

Write your questions down before the lesson, because it's easy to forget them once your child is chatting about the games. Clear, specific answers are a good sign, and vague ones are worth a follow-up question. For the safety questions in more detail, see our checklist for choosing a safe online tutor.

How do I decide whether to continue?

Continue if your child enjoyed it, the teacher found the right level and you're comfortable with how lessons and safety work. One lesson can't show everything, but it should leave you with a clear picture. Good signs include:

• Your child wants to go back. At this age, enjoyment keeps children learning.
• The level felt right. Challenging, but not frustrating.
• The teacher connected with your child, and your child relaxed as the lesson went on.
• The practical side works. Lesson times, length and the device fit your family's week.
• You feel no pressure. Nobody should rush your decision.

If you're unsure, it's fine to wait a few days and talk it over with your child. You might also compare with another provider's first lesson, using the same questions, so you're judging both in the same way. Our guide to online and in-person English lessons can help you weigh up the format too.

What happens in a CurioKids free first lesson?

Your child meets a teacher for a live, 1-to-1, 25-minute lesson in the CurioKids classroom. The teacher gets to know your child, checks their English and records a starting level, so lessons begin in the right place. You don't need a card to book, and you decide afterwards whether to continue. Read how it works and the FAQ, then book from our Singapore or Malaysia page.