The Little Fluent blog
Ideas and honest answers for parents of children learning English: levels, lessons, practice at home and choosing a school.
What Is the Best Age for a Child to Start Learning English?
Is four too young? Is ten too late? What research says about age, what really matters more than age, and how to start at each stage.
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Is an Online English Lesson "Screen Time"? What Parents Should Know
Health guidance says young children should have little passive screen time. A live lesson with a teacher is different, and here is why, with simple rules for a healthy week.
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Will Learning English Confuse My Child or Slow Down Their First Language?
A very common worry, and one that research has answered: learning a second language does not confuse children. What "mixing languages" really means, and how to support both.
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My Child Understands English but Won't Speak: What to Do
Many children understand far more than they say, and some go quiet in lessons. The "silent period" is normal. Here is how teachers and parents can gently bring the words out.
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Does My Child Need a Native English Teacher?
Many parents search for "native English teachers". What really makes a good English teacher for children, and the questions to ask any school about its teachers.
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Are Online English Classes Safe for Children? A Parent's Checklist
Before your child joins a video lesson with an adult you have not met, here is what to check: teachers, the lesson room, what you can see and how to raise a concern.
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How Many English Lessons a Week Does My Child Need?
One lesson, two or three? What frequency does for memory, what fits each age, and how home practice changes the answer.
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How Can I Tell if My Child Is Really Making Progress in English?
Lessons are happening, but is your child learning? The real signs of progress at each stage, and what a school should show you.
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10 Questions to Ask Before You Pay for Online English Classes
The most common complaints about online English schools are about cancelled lessons, changing teachers, refunds and hidden rules. Ask these ten questions first.
Read the article →What to Look for in a Free Trial English Lesson
A trial lesson is your best chance to judge a school. What to watch for in 20 minutes, the warning signs, and the questions to ask afterwards.
Read the article →How to Help Your Child Learn English When You Don't Speak English
You don't need to speak English to help your child learn it. Simple things any parent can do every day, in any language.
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How to Stop Your Child Forgetting English in the Holidays
Long holidays can wipe out new words. Easy, fun ways to keep English alive for a few weeks, without turning the summer into school.
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Phonics for Children Learning English as a Second Language
What phonics is, why English spelling is hard, and how sounds, letters and speaking fit together for children who are learning English.
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English Speaking Practice for Kids: How Children Learn to Really Talk
Many children learn English words for years and still can't hold a conversation. Why speaking needs its own practice, and what good speaking practice looks like.
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English Learning App or Live Teacher: Which Is Better for My Child?
Apps are cheap and fun; live lessons cost more. What each does well, what an app can't do, and how to use both together.
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Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers: A Guide for Parents
Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers are the Cambridge English exams for young learners. What each level means, what children can do, and how to prepare without stress.
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A2 Key for Schools: What Parents Should Know
A2 Key for Schools (KET) is often the first "teenage" Cambridge exam. What the exam has, what level it is, and how children aged 9 to 12 can get ready.
Read the article →Why One-to-One English Lessons Work So Well for Children
In a big class a child may say only a few sentences in a whole lesson. In a one-to-one lesson the child speaks, is heard and tries again, again and again. Here is why that matters.
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CEFR Levels Explained for Parents: Pre A1, A1, A2, B1 and B2
Schools and exams describe English with CEFR levels. A plain guide to what each level means for a child, and how it matches the Cambridge exams for young learners.
Read the article →How to Choose Online English Classes for Your Child
There are many online English schools and apps for children. Here are the questions that really matter before you sign up, and what to ask on a trial lesson.
Read the article →How Long Does It Take a Child to Learn English? An Honest Answer
"How long will it take?" is the first question parents ask. The honest answer depends on a few things you can see, and a little simple maths.
Read the article →What Happens in a Little Fluent Lesson?
A 25-minute live lesson for a child should feel like play, not school. Here is what a Little Fluent lesson looks like, step by step.
Read the article →How to Practise English at Home With Your Child (Even If You Don’t Speak It)
Ten minutes a day can make a real difference. Simple, fun ways to bring English into family life, for any parent.
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