For Bangkok centres: The child should be in Prathom 1 or above and be at least six years old. The child should also be able to read the alphabet.

For Chiang Mai centre: The child should be at least five years old.

Your child will need to take a placement test. This is to gauge your child’s level of English and place him/her at a level where he/she will learn best.

To arrange an appointment please contact our centres. The placement test fee is 600 Baht for testing at Bangkok centres or 350 Baht for testing at Chiang Mai centre.

Bangkok centres: There are three terms each year. Term A runs from May to September and Term B runs from October to March. Summer term runs from March to May.

Chiang Mai centre: Weekend courses run for two terms each year. Term A runs from May to September and Term B runs from October to March. Chiang Mai also provides intensive courses during school holidays in March and October.

Bangkok centres: For Term A, we start accepting applications for Kids courses from February or March onwards. For Term B, we start accepting applications in September or October onwards. However, the start date for accepting applications may vary from centre to centre. For Summer term, we start accepting applications for Kids courses from February to March.

Please check for the specific date and month at each centre. Prospective students need to take a placement test before they can apply for a course.

Chiang Mai centre: For weekend courses Term A, we start accepting applications from March to April. For Term B, we start accepting applications from September and October. And for intensive courses, we usually accept applications two weeks before the term start. Please check for specific dates and months with our Customer Relations staff.

Bangkok centres:

Kids courses are for primary children (Prathom 1 to 6)

Teens courses are for lower secondary students (Matthayom 1 to 16 years old)

Chiang Mai centre:

Little Learners (LL) are for students aged 5–6 years.

Primary Learners (PL) are for students aged 7–12 years.

Secondary Learners (SL) are for students aged 12–15 years.

There are no formal tests. Teachers informally assess the children over the 20-week term.  

Children may have to do assessment tasks. This is for teachers (and children) to assess how they have improved, and to identify areas in which they need to improve.

It is very rare that we fail students on Kids courses.

Kids courses progress gradually; there is a lot of revision and consolidation which children need and which helps them build confidence. We may ask a child to repeat a level if it is in the best interests of the child, that is, it would be more damaging to the child’s confidence to move him/her up to a level where they are unable to cope.

The teacher uses a variety of child-friendly activities to practise language points and/or skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). Activities include stories, songs, rhymes, chants, role play and games. During classes, learners often work in pairs and groups.

This helps them to communicate in English, develop confidence and learn from each other, as well as develop the skills of team working and sharing.

We are aware of the diverse ways in which children learn. Teachers include a variety of activities to appeal to visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles as well as a range of multiple intelligences.

Children also use a course book. We have carefully selected course books with interesting, relevant content and a range of communicative activities.

Bangkok centres: The maximum class size is 16.

Chiang Mai centre: The maximum class size is 18.

Yes, at the British Council we have an unrivalled team of very qualified and experienced teachers. These teachers share ideas on a range of issues, including classroom management.  

Furthermore, they are always keen to develop professionally and continually attend training sessions to help them teach. In addition to this, we have Thai Young Learner assistants who work alongside teachers in younger Kids classes.

No, children are placed at the level that is most appropriate for their level of English. At the British Council we have the best interests of your child at heart.

Placing a child at a level too high for them could damage their confidence and attitude towards learning English.

If a teacher notices that a child’s level of English is considerably higher than that of his or her classmates, then he/she will recommend that the child moves up a level.

Teachers are trained to use a range of techniques to communicate with learners with little English. These techniques include grading language, gesture, picture prompts and demonstration.

Often children are better than adults at assuming meaning or making sense of language as this is what they have to do in their own language.

We aim to ensure that children who continue to study at the British Council will develop their communicative ability, confidence in English and an enthusiasm for learning English.

Being successful in any language takes time and a lot of hard work, but starting early will give your child a head start.