5 Things Your Child’s English Teacher Wants You to Know

Your child is telling you about a game, describing a cartoon or talking about their day in English. Then they use the wrong verb or mispronounce a word. Should you stop them and explain the mistake?

Not necessarily. If you interrupt every time something is incorrect, your child may become more concerned about getting the language right than about sharing their ideas. Over time, that can make speaking feel intimidating.

One teacher surveyed by Novakid described a common problem:

“The most common mistake I see from parents is over-correcting every minor grammar mistake or mispronunciation in real-time, which can make children self-conscious and hesitant to speak”.

The aim of a conversation is not to produce a perfect sentence every time. It is to help your child express an idea, understand someone else and gradually become more confident using English.

Try this: Let your child finish speaking before you respond. If they make a mistake, you can repeat the correct expression naturally as part of your answer, without turning the moment into a grammar lesson.

For example, if your child says, “Yesterday I go to the park,” you could reply, “Oh, you went to the park yesterday? Who did you play with?” Your child hears the correct form in context, but the conversation continues. They can focus on what they wanted to tell you rather than worrying about being corrected.

Your child is telling you something in English when, suddenly, they stop. They seem to know what they want to say, but the next word won’t come. You could easily fill in the gap, and the conversation would move on. But what if you waited a little longer?

In the survey, Novakid teachers pointed out that parents sometimes step in as soon as a child hesitates, even when they only need a little more time to work out what to say.

One teacher highlighted why giving children that space matters:

“Parents usually want to help, but answering for the child too quickly can reduce opportunities for the student to think, recall vocabulary, make mistakes, and build confidence independently.”

A pause doesn’t necessarily mean your child doesn’t know the answer. They may be trying to remember a word, put a sentence together or decide how to express an idea in English. Letting them work through that moment gives them a chance to practise using what they already know.

You don’t have to leave them on their own if they get stuck. The key is to offer support without taking over: a small clue or a question can help them move forward while still allowing them to find the words.

Try this: Next time your child pauses, count silently to five before stepping in. If they’re still struggling, give them a clue or ask a question that makes the answer easier to find. Even if they need some help, let them say as much of the sentence as they can on their own.

Your child may know the answer to a question in English but still hesitate when it’s time to speak. Perhaps they’re unsure how to pronounce a word, or they’re worried about getting something wrong. 

We asked Novakid teachers what they find most helpful when a child feels shy or anxious about speaking. Their answers highlighted the importance of creating a comfortable learning environment. Building trust was the most frequently mentioned approach, appearing in 32.7% of responses. Games and humour, talking about children’s interests, and offering praise and encouragement were also common suggestions.

Some teachers put it simply:

“Smile and dont force them”, “Make it fun”, “ Share something silly”

Another described inviting children to teach a word from their own language. It’s a small gesture, but it gives children a chance to take the lead and share something they know well.

You can use the same idea at home. English doesn’t always have to involve learning a new word or practising a sentence. Sometimes, the best starting point is a topic your child already loves, whether that’s dinosaurs, football, drawing or their favourite video game.

Try this: Let your child choose what to talk about. Ask them to show you a favourite toy, explain the rules of a game or teach you a word they’ve learned. Listen with interest and encourage them to keep going, even if they need a little help along the way.

When you want to help your child improve their English, it’s easy to think that more practice must mean better results. But how much extra time do children really need outside their lessons?

We asked Novakid teachers how much additional English practice per week they believe can make a noticeable difference. The most common answer was 15–30 minutes, chosen by 38.6% of teachers. A further 32.8% suggested 30–60 minutes. That means 71.4% of teachers recommended between 15 and 60 minutes of extra practice per week.

These figures don’t establish a rule for every child, and they don’t guarantee a particular level of progress. They do offer a useful reminder: helping your child practise English doesn’t have to mean adding long study sessions to the family schedule.

A little English can fit into activities you already enjoy together. You could read a short story before bed, play a word game after school or chat about your child’s favourite sport. Choose something that feels manageable and gives them a reason to use the language.

Try this: Begin with a short activity and follow your child’s lead. If they’re enjoying it, carry on for a little longer. If they lose interest, leave it there and try again another day. Regular opportunities to use English matter more than turning every spare moment into a lesson.

English shouldn’t be something children use only during lessons or while completing exercises. They should also encounter it through games, stories, songs, cartoons and everyday conversations.

We asked teachers which home-support activities they find most effective for their students. Talking in English every day came out on top, selected by 86.4% of teachers. Watching English cartoons and videos followed at 73%, while 64.9% selected reading together.

These activities give children different ways to hear the language, become familiar with new expressions and connect English with things they already enjoy. Talking is particularly valuable because it gives children a reason to find and use words themselves. You don’t need to organise a formal activity every day, either. A few minutes of conversation, a favourite song or a story before bed can all create opportunities to engage with English.

Try these tongue twisters together! They’re a fun way to practise English pronunciation and challenge each other to say the words faster.

Helping your child learn English doesn’t mean correcting every mistake, providing every answer or organising hours of extra study. You don’t have to become your child’s English teacher. Your role is to support their curiosity and provide opportunities for them to use the language beyond their lessons in ways they enjoy.

This is what Novakid teachers do to help children learn and enjoy English. Book a free trial English lesson with Novakid and discover how your child can have fun learning.