So here’s how this started. My kid came home from school last year asking why everyone else was learning Spanish except him. I felt like a bad parent immediately. I googled “best Spanish classes for kids near me” and got hit with a wall of expensive tutoring centers, waiting lists, and rigid schedules that didn’t match our life at all. Then my friend Sarah mentioned she’d found online Spanish classes for kids that were affordable and flexible. That’s when I discovered that online Spanish classes for kids could actually fit our schedule without breaking the bank. I started researching different online Spanish classes for kids and realized there were so many options I’d never even considered.
Then my friend Sarah—you know, the one who’s always trying something new—mentioned her daughter was taking classes online with some teacher from Mexico. She said it was cheap and her daughter actually didn’t hate it. I was skeptical as hell, but desperate, so I looked into it.
That was eight months ago. Now my son can actually have basic conversations in Spanish. More importantly, he wants to keep taking classes. That never happens. So let me tell you what we actually learned through trial and error, because honestly, we made every mistake in the book first.
Why Online Spanish Classes for Kids Failed Us (At First)
Our first attempt was a disaster. I signed up for this platform that promised “immersive learning” and had beautiful website graphics. Cost me £120 for a month of classes. My son had his first lesson with some guy named Pedro who basically lectured at him for 30 minutes straight about grammar rules. My kid was miserable.
I was ready to give up and just accept that he’d never learn Spanish. But Sarah texted me saying I picked the wrong teacher, not the wrong platform. She was right. We switched teachers and everything changed.
The new teacher was Alejandra. She was from Argentina, probably in her 30s, and she actually talked to my son like a human being instead of a student. She asked him what he liked—he said video games—and suddenly their lessons involved Spanish vocab from games he played. Weird flex, but it worked.
That’s when I realized: the platform doesn’t matter half as much as finding someone who actually knows how to teach kids.
Best Online Spanish Classes for Kids: What We Actually Tried
The cheap route – There are these platforms where it costs like £8 per class. We did two and they were terrible. The teachers were burnt out, classes were five minutes late starting, and everything felt rushed. Not worth the saved money.
The expensive route – My colleague swore by this place charging £50 per session. We tried one class there. The teacher was good, but honestly? Not £50 better than what we’re paying now. After three months, we switched.
The “curriculum heavy” place – One platform had this entire structured program with workbooks and progression levels. It felt really official. My son hated it. He said it felt like “real school” and he wanted to quit after two weeks.
What we actually do now – Alejandra charges £22 per 35-minute class. We do two classes a week. That’s about £175 a month. She’s got a loose curriculum but it’s flexible. She reads what my son needs, adjusts on the fly. Some weeks they do conversation practice. Some weeks they play games. Some weeks she teaches him Spanish slang his friends from school won’t know. He actually looks forward to it.
The Stupid Stuff We Did Wrong
I spent money on apps. Apps everywhere. Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, some app called Busuu. We downloaded them all, thinking they’d supplement the lessons. My son used them for exactly one week. Then they sat on his phone gathering dust. I wasted maybe £80 on app subscriptions he never opened.
We tried to force homework. Alejandra suggested just talking to him in Spanish at home. We got overambitious and made it “homework time” with worksheets and exercises. My son resisted hard. Now we just casually ask him Spanish words at dinner. That works way better.
I expected overnight fluency. I thought after a month he’d be having full conversations. When he wasn’t, I panicked and thought the lessons weren’t working. Sarah had to sit me down and tell me to calm down. Language learning takes time. Now, eight months in, I see the real progress. But it’s been gradual, not this magical transformation.
We scheduled classes at terrible times. First month, we booked his classes at 7 PM after football practice. He was exhausted. Now we do it at 4 PM right after school when his brain is fresher. The difference is huge.
What Actually Happened (The Real Stuff)
Three months in, we were at his grandma’s house and he started saying Spanish words to his little cousin. Not because we asked him to show off. He just was doing it naturally. That’s when I thought, okay, this is actually working.
His school started a Spanish club this year. He joined. His teacher told us he’s one of the best in the group. He’s not even been learning that long. But because he takes proper classes—not just school club—he’s ahead of kids who’ve been in Spanish for years.
At Christmas, we visited my sister in Barcelona. My son tried talking to random people in Spanish. He was nervous as hell but he did it. An old lady at a cafe understood him and answered back. He was so proud. I almost cried, not gonna lie.
Now he wants to keep learning. Last month he asked if we could add a third class per week. That’s the real win right there. Not grades, not fluency—he actually wants to do this.
How to Pick the Best Online Spanish Classes for Kids (Trial and Error Method)
We didn’t know what we were doing at first. Now I know what to look for:
The personality check – Does your kid click with them? It’s obvious within five minutes. Some teachers are technically great but they’re boring or stiff. Some teachers aren’t even that polished but your kid loves them. We went with who our son actually wanted to see.
Real conversation, not interrogation – Bad teachers ask yes/no questions that feel like a test. “What is your name?” “How old are you?” Good teachers ask actual questions they want to know the answer to. “What games do you play?” “What’s your favorite food?” “Tell me about your school.” It feels less like a lesson and more like they actually care.
They admit when they don’t know something – When my son asked Alejandra a weird slang question, she was honest that she wasn’t sure and offered to research it. That’s way better than a teacher who pretends to know everything.
They remember things about your kid – After lesson three, Alejandra remembered that my son liked dinosaurs. She brought up dino vocab in a future lesson. Small detail, but it shows she’s actually paying attention.
They’re flexible with the plan – Some days my son arrives and he’s tired or in a mood. Alejandra reads the room and adjusts. If he’s not feeling it, she changes the lesson. She doesn’t just force through the plan no matter what.
The trial lesson tells you everything – First class we do with a new teacher, I watch the whole thing. Sit next to my son, see what happens. You can feel pretty quickly if it’s going to work.
The Money Reality
People always ask “isn’t it expensive?”
Honestly? No, compared to other stuff. We’re spending £175 a month. That’s less than our Netflix, Spotify, and gym membership combined. And he’s actually using it.
The expensive tutoring centers charge £30-50 per session. Most of them push you into packages (10 sessions minimum, paid upfront). We tried one once. It was painful. Very corporate. Very “we have your money now.”
The super cheap platforms (£5-8 per class) tend to have teachers who are doing it for pocket money, not as a real job. They’re scattered, unprepared, late starting lessons. We learned this the hard way.
The sweet spot we found is £15-25 per session with independent teachers. They’re serious about it, they’re investing in their teaching, but they’re not running some expensive business. Alejandra literally teaches from her apartment in Buenos Aires. No fancy overhead. That’s why it’s affordable.
The Platform Part (Honestly, It Doesn’t Matter Much)
We use Italki. It’s fine. There are others—Preply, Verbling, that sort of thing. They’re all pretty similar. What matters is finding the right teacher, not the platform. The platform is just the place where the lesson happens.
The platform should just be:
- Easy to use (so your kid isn’t frustrated with tech)
- Reliable (doesn’t crash or lag every five minutes)
- Simple scheduling (you can book and reschedule without drama)
That’s it. Don’t get caught up thinking one platform is magic. They’re all just video call + screen share mostly.
The Stuff Nobody Talks About
Some teachers are flaky. We had one who kept showing up late. After three classes, we switched. No apologies from her or anything. Just found someone more reliable.
Your kid will have off days where they don’t want to participate. Our son had a phase around month three where he got self-conscious. He didn’t want to speak. We almost quit. But we stuck with it and Alejandra was patient enough to let him ease back in. Now he’s fine.
Internet issues are real. One day our WiFi died mid-class. Alejandra was cool about it. Other teachers might charge you anyway. Ask about their policy on this before you book.
Not every kid is ready at the same age. Our son was ready at 8. Some kids are ready at 6. Some at 10. Your kid might be ready and excited or they might think it’s boring. That’s fine. You can try again in a year.
What We’re Actually Seeing Work
My son can understand simple Spanish pretty well now. Not everything, but he gets the gist. He can ask basic questions and hold a short conversation. His pronunciation is way better than mine. He’s picked up some phrases naturally without forcing them.
He’s more confident. He’s not scared to mess up in front of people. That’s worth way more than perfect Spanish grammar.
He’s curious about Spanish-speaking countries now. He asked about Argentina (where Alejandra’s from), Mexico, Spain. He watches YouTube videos in Spanish sometimes. Not because we make him—because he’s actually interested.
He’ll probably be basically conversational by next year if we keep going. Will he be fluent? Probably not at this pace. But that’s not even the goal. The goal was for him to not feel left out at school and to develop a skill. Mission accomplished.
Should You Start Online Spanish Classes for Kids? Here’s What To Know
Just book a trial with someone. Seriously, just do it. You’re not committing to anything. One 30-minute class and you’ll know if it’s worth pursuing.
Find a teacher who your kid actually likes. Not the most qualified person on paper, but someone your kid will actually want to see every week.
Don’t expect miracles. Your kid won’t be fluent in two months. But they will start learning and if they stick with it, they’ll actually be able to use the language.
Budget around £20-30 per class if you want quality. Yes, cheaper exists. But you get what you pay for usually.
Give it real time before quitting. First month might be awkward. Second month gets easier. By month three, you’ll know if it’s actually working.
And honestly? Don’t stress about it too much. Your kid will learn at their own pace. Some weeks are great. Some weeks they don’t feel like talking. That’s all normal. As long as they keep showing up and the teacher is decent, progress happens.
That’s really it. We stumbled into something that works. Your experience will be different. But if you’re wondering whether to try it—yeah, try it. Worst case, you spend £20 on a class your kid doesn’t like. Best case, they find something they love.
