One-on-One English for Kids: The Best Tools by Age Group

When it comes to helping children learn English, choosing the right platform makes a meaningful difference. Just as different developmental stages require different teaching approaches, young beginners need different tools than teenagers preparing for academic challenges. This guide examines five major online English learning platforms, organized by the age groups they serve best, based on their actual features and teaching methodologies.

Ages 3–6: Building Early Foundations

At this stage, children are developing basic language awareness and building confidence in speaking. The most effective tools combine playful interaction with structured exposure to English sounds, words, and simple phrases.

51Talk

51Talk was founded in 2011 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016. The platform serves over 40 million users globally across more than 50 countries and regions, providing one-on-one live English lessons for children ages 3–15.

For the 3–6 age group, 51Talk’s “Classic English” curriculum begins with Level 0, designed for children with little to no English foundation. The curriculum has evolved over 13 years, aligning with both the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Early levels cover over 90 phonics knowledge points, focusing on letter recognition, basic sight words, and foundational phonics through visual teaching tools and systematic repetition.

Each lesson lasts 25 minutes and incorporates interactive elements where children can click, drag, and match items on screen. Teachers use Total Physical Response (TPR) methods, physically demonstrating actions to help children connect words with meanings without translation.

51Talk’s teaching staff consists of over 20,000 certified teachers from North America and the Philippines, all holding international teaching certifications with bachelor’s degrees or higher. Teachers undergo a six-stage training process and must pass pronunciation assessments to receive certification.

The platform offers exceptional scheduling flexibility, allowing lesson cancellations up to one hour before class time. Lessons can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance, and multiple lessons can be booked in a single day. The AI teacher-matching system recommends teachers based on pronunciation clarity, teaching pace, and the child’s learning preferences.

Best suited for: Families seeking structured, high-frequency live lessons with certified teachers and flexible scheduling, particularly those who value consistent progress tracking and curriculum aligned with international standards.

Duolingo ABC

Duolingo ABC is a free app designed specifically for children ages 3–8 to learn reading fundamentals in English. Created by the team behind the popular Duolingo language app, this program focuses on literacy skills rather than live conversation practice.

The app contains over 700 short lessons, each taking approximately 5 minutes. Lessons cover phonics, letter tracing, sight word recognition, and basic vocabulary through interactive games and activities. Content is organized into sequential levels that build on previous learning, starting with individual letter sounds and progressing to simple words and sentences.

One distinctive feature is the app’s use of speech recognition technology, which allows children to practice pronunciation by reading words or sounds aloud. The app provides immediate feedback on their attempts. All content is designed to work offline, making it accessible without continuous internet connectivity.

Duolingo ABC follows Common Core standards and incorporates recommendations from the National Reading Panel. The platform is completely free with no advertisements or in-app purchases, and content is designed to feel like a game to maintain engagement.

Best suited for: Families looking for a free, supplementary tool to support phonics and early reading skills between live lessons or formal instruction.

Ages 7–9: Developing Consistent Skills

Children in this age range are ready for more structured learning and can benefit from both systematic curriculum and conversational practice. The most effective approach combines regular speaking opportunities with reading and writing development.

51Talk

For children ages 7–9, 51Talk’s Classic English curriculum progresses through its middle levels, maintaining the 25-minute one-on-one format while introducing more complex language structures. The curriculum is organized into 11 levels across four stages: Enlightenment, Introduction, Advancement, and Mastery.

At this stage, lessons emphasize transitioning from “learning English” to “using English.” The curriculum covers comprehensive phonics and places strong emphasis on developing reading strategies, grammar understanding, and language sense. Cross-disciplinary content is integrated throughout, combining language learning with subject knowledge.

Each lesson follows a complete learning cycle: AI-guided pre-class preview introducing vocabulary and grammar, live one-on-one lessons with high-frequency interaction, and post-class reinforcement through AI situational dialogues and assessment tests. Regular unit tests and level assessments provide systematic progress tracking.

Teachers provide detailed learning reports after each lesson, analyzing the child’s classroom performance and mastery level. Parents can review lesson highlights and full lesson recordings at any time. The platform’s service team responds to questions within 10 minutes, with customer service satisfaction at 98%.

Best suited for: Children who need a balanced curriculum covering multiple skills with consistent speaking practice, measurable progress tracking, and comprehensive service support throughout their learning journey.

Cambly Kids

Cambly Kids is the children’s division of Cambly, an online platform connecting learners with native English speakers. The program serves children ages 4–15, though its conversational approach works particularly well for the 7–9 range who have some foundational English.

All tutors on Cambly Kids are native English speakers from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The platform offers a structured curriculum aligned with CEFR standards, ranging from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1) levels. Lessons are conducted one-on-one via video chat, with tutors and students viewing shared lesson materials on screen.

The curriculum includes multiple course types: phonics courses for beginners, thematic courses covering topics like family and daily routines, and more advanced courses exploring subjects such as American cities or global biomes. Each lesson incorporates interactive elements including games, discussions, and comprehension activities.

One characteristic of Cambly Kids is its flexibility in teaching style. While the platform provides curriculum materials, tutors can adapt lessons based on a child’s interests and responses during the session. This conversational flexibility can help build natural speaking confidence.

Best suited for: Children who benefit from exposure to native English accents and who respond well to conversation-focused learning with curriculum support.

Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs is a comprehensive online reading program developed in Australia, designed for children ages 2–13. While it includes options for younger and older children, its core reading program works particularly well for children ages 7–9 who are building reading fluency.

The platform is not a live tutoring service but rather a self-paced learning environment with over 120 structured lessons for the main Reading Eggs program. Lessons focus on the five core components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Children work through activities that progress systematically, starting with letter-sound connections and advancing to reading complete stories. The program includes letter tracing, word-matching games, and interactive reading exercises. Most activities provide immediate feedback, and lessons incorporate reward systems—children earn “eggs” that can be used to unlock games or customize their avatar.

Reading Eggs also includes a library of over 4,000 e-books at various reading levels, many with read-aloud audio for younger readers. A separate program called Fast Phonics provides additional targeted phonics practice for children ages 5–10.

The platform offers both individual family subscriptions and classroom versions used by schools. It includes printable worksheets that correspond to online lessons, allowing offline practice and reinforcement.

Best suited for: Children who need systematic reading development and phonics practice to support their speaking and listening work with live tutors.

Ages 10–15: Advancing Toward Fluency

Older children and teenagers typically need more sophisticated content, opportunities for extended conversation, and sometimes preparation for academic requirements or exams. Tools for this age group should challenge their thinking while building confidence in expressing complex ideas.

51Talk

For ages 10–15, 51Talk’s advanced curriculum levels prepare students for academic English and international exam requirements. The platform maintains its one-on-one teaching format while addressing the more sophisticated language needs of teenagers.

The curriculum at these levels provides comprehensive coverage of exam focal points, with thorough preparation for international English exams including KET, PET, and other Cambridge assessments, as well as IELTS and TOEFL requirements. Advanced levels emphasize reading comprehension strategies, grammar precision, and discourse awareness—the ability to understand and produce coherent extended texts.

Content moves beyond basic conversation to include analytical discussions, presentation skills, and structured writing tasks appropriate for academic contexts. For students requiring academic English support, the curriculum addresses the language demands of classroom presentations, essay writing, and subject-area discussions.

Teachers working with this age group undergo specialized training beyond the standard six-stage certification process. 51Talk’s teacher retention system ensures stability, with experienced teachers achieving a 96% retention rate. The platform’s transparent evaluation system maintains teaching quality across its 20,000+ teacher network.

Best suited for: Teenagers who need academic English support, exam preparation (including KET, PET, and standardized tests), or want to develop advanced conversational and presentation skills with experienced, stable teaching staff.

Preply

Preply is an online language learning platform that connects students with private tutors for live, one-on-one lessons. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, the platform serves learners of all ages, including children and teenagers.

Unlike platforms with set curricula, Preply’s defining feature is its flexibility. The platform lists thousands of tutors teaching English, each with their own background, teaching style, and hourly rate. Rates typically range from $3 to $100 per hour, with an average around $14–15 per hour.

For teenagers, this model offers particular advantages. Parents and students can search for tutors by specific qualifications—for example, finding teachers with expertise in IELTS preparation, academic essay writing, or conversational English. Each tutor profile includes an introduction video, student reviews, and information about their teaching approach and specializations.

Lessons can be customized to individual goals. A student preparing for a school presentation might work with their tutor on public speaking skills, while another student might focus on grammar precision or building vocabulary in specific subject areas. Session lengths typically range from 25 to 60 minutes and can be scheduled according to the student’s availability.

The platform includes a virtual classroom with features like a whiteboard, chat function, and file sharing. Tutors often create lesson notes during sessions that students can review afterward. Preply also provides vocabulary flashcards and practice exercises to support learning between lessons.

Best suited for: Teenagers with specific learning goals who benefit from choosing and working consistently with a tutor matched to their particular needs.

Comparison Overview

How to Choose the Right Tool

Rather than searching for a single “best” platform, consider what your child needs right now:

For absolute beginners (ages 3–6): Consider starting with 51Talk Kids for structured speaking practice, supplemented by Duolingo ABC for daily literacy exposure. The combination provides both human interaction and independent skill-building.

For developing readers (ages 7–9): Reading Eggs offers thorough reading development, while either 51Talk or Cambly Kids provides essential speaking practice. The key is regular engagement—short, frequent sessions typically work better than occasional long ones.

For advanced learners (ages 10–15): If your teenager has specific goals (exam preparation, school support, presentation skills), Preply’s tutor-matching model offers targeted help. For general advancement with systematic curriculum, 51Talk Teens provides structure and consistency.

Budget considerations: Duolingo ABC is completely free. Reading Eggs operates on a subscription model with family plans available. 51Talk, Cambly Kids, and Preply are pay-per-lesson or subscription services, with costs varying by teacher and package. For families on tight budgets, combining a free literacy app with less frequent paid live lessons can be more sustainable than trying to afford daily paid sessions.

Learning style matters: Some children thrive with structure and clear progression (51Talk’s strength, with its 11-level curriculum refined over 13 years), while others respond better to flexible, conversation-driven approaches (Cambly Kids). Teenagers often appreciate having choice in their tutor (Preply) rather than being assigned to one.

Consider teacher quality and stability: 51Talk’s rigorous teacher certification process (six-stage training, 100% international teaching credentials, pronunciation assessment requirements) and high retention rates (96% for gold-level teachers) provide consistency. The platform’s 20,000+ teacher network across 50+ countries ensures availability, with a 100% lesson booking success rate.

Practical Implementation Tips

Start with realistic frequency: Research on language acquisition consistently shows that regular, shorter practice sessions outperform infrequent, longer ones. 51Talk’s 25-minute lesson format and flexible daily booking system support this high-frequency approach—some families schedule multiple lessons per day when needed, while others maintain 3–4 sessions weekly for steady progress.

Combine live and self-paced learning: Live lessons with a teacher provide correction, interaction, and motivation. Self-paced apps and programs allow for additional practice and skill reinforcement without the cost of constant tutoring. Platforms like 51Talk enhance this with structured pre-class AI preview lessons and post-class practice activities, creating a complete “preview-learn-practice-test” cycle that extends learning beyond the live session.

Track progress concretely: Many parents rely only on feeling that their child is “getting better.” More effective: keep simple records of what your child can do. Can they introduce themselves? Describe their day? Read a simple story? These concrete milestones help you assess whether your approach is working. Platforms like 51Talk provide detailed post-lesson reports from teachers, unit tests, and level assessments that quantify progress.

Expect plateaus: Language learning doesn’t progress in a straight line. Periods where your child seems stuck are normal and don’t necessarily indicate that you’ve chosen the wrong tool. Consistency through these periods matters more than switching platforms at the first sign of difficulty.

Your involvement counts: Especially for younger children, parental engagement significantly affects outcomes. This doesn’t mean sitting through every lesson, but it does mean showing interest in what they learned, celebrating progress, and helping maintain the routine.

Final Thoughts

The five platforms examined here—51Talk, Cambly Kids, Preply, Duolingo ABC, and Reading Eggs—each offer genuine value, but in different ways. There’s no universal “best” choice because children’s needs, learning styles, and family circumstances vary widely.

What matters most is not finding the theoretically perfect platform but rather choosing something appropriate for your child’s current level and then using it consistently. A decent platform used regularly will outperform the “best” platform used sporadically.

Start with one primary tool suited to your child’s age and goals, give it at least 8–12 weeks of consistent use, and then assess whether it’s producing the kind of progress you hoped for. If it’s not working, you can adjust—but resist the temptation to constantly switch platforms in search of immediate results. Language acquisition takes time regardless of the tool you choose.

The good news is that quality online English learning has never been more accessible. Whether you choose structured curriculum or conversational flexibility, native speakers or trained non-native teachers, paid lessons or free apps, genuine learning is possible with any of these platforms when combined with regular practice and appropriate expectations.