Starting from soccer
- Tutor
- How was your weekend?
- Child
- I played soccer. I scored two goals!
- Tutor
- Nice! How did it feel?
While checking pronunciation and the past tense, the tutor asks one more question so the child explains in their own words.
Kids' English conversation,
made for your child.
One-to-one English conversation tutoring for elementary and junior high students. Instead of fitting your child to a set class, we start by talking, with a tutor who suits their personality, English experience and interests.
One-to-one · In person in Tokyo · Online lessons
Does this sound familiar?
They learn English, but hardly speak it
They know words and phrases, but rarely get a chance to use them on their own.
In a group they barely speak
They worry about the others, or the lesson ends while they wait for their turn.
They are shy about making mistakes
They know the answer, but lack the confidence to say it aloud.
You do not know where to begin
Conversation, pronunciation, phonics, school English: it is hard to know where to start.
A little different from an English conversation school.
At Petra, instead of fitting your child to a set class or textbook, we fit the tutor and the lesson to your child.
Typical group lessonPetra
Join as a class
One-to-one with a tutor
Keeps to the class pace
Moves at your child's pace
Speaking in turns
More time for your child to talk
Set themes and materials
Can bring in their interests and what they need
Centred on conversation
Phonics, reading and school English too, if needed
Class and teacher are assigned
A tutor suggested from conditions and fit
Some children do better in a group. Petra is an option for children who find it easier to speak one-to-one, or who want to go at their own pace.
Not only "what to teach", but "who they could talk to".
We do not choose a tutor on English ability alone. We ask about the points below and look for a tutor who looks like a good fit.
Age · English experience · Personality (shy, chatty and so on) · Whether you want support in Japanese · Interests · Purpose of the lessons · Preferred days and times · In person or online
A slightly shy child
A tutor who does not rush and waits for them to speak
A child who talks a lot
A tutor who keeps widening the topic
A child new to English
A tutor they can start with comfortably, with support in Japanese if you want it
A child who wants to talk more
A tutor who can take conversation on to natural questions and expressions
Which tutors we suggest depends on their availability and conditions.
Petra tutors for children's English conversation
Each name links to the tutor's own profile.
Conversation & children's English
Having grown up in the UK as an English speaker, Maya helps students develop natural communication skills through enjoyable lessons.
Sophia University · Faculty of Liberal Arts
Conversation, EIKEN and primary English
Hannah's gentle, approachable manner helps children who find English difficult become more comfortable step by step.
International Christian University
Conversation, EIKEN, IELTS/TOEFL & school English
Nikko covers everything from everyday conversation to EIKEN, IELTS/TOEFL preparation, school English and essay writing. With Japanese explanations when helpful, he supports students in building confidence.
English grows out of conversations like these.
These are only examples. What happens in lessons differs for each child.
Starting from a favourite game
- Tutor
- What are you building?
- Child
- A big house.
- Tutor
- Why did you choose that?
Not just answering: practice adding a reason to keep the conversation going.
Starting from pets or favourite food
- Tutor
- Do you have a pet?
- Child
- Yes, a dog. His name is Mugi.
- Tutor
- What does he like to do?
With familiar topics, what they want to say comes out naturally.
Conversation first, with the English that is needed alongside.
Petra does not fix on conversation only. We combine the English your child needs for their situation.
- Speaking
- Listening
- Pronunciation
- Vocabulary
- Phonics
- Reading / Grammar
- School English
- EIKEN support
First, we look for a tutor who looks like a good fit.
Tell us about your child
We ask about age, English experience, goals and what kind of tutor they might find easy to talk to.
Petra looks for a tutor
We think about personality, days, times and place as well as English ability.
First, try talking
In a free trial lesson, your child has a real lesson and we see how easy it is to talk and how it runs.
Continue if it fits
We adjust the content and approach as needed.
In person in Tokyo, or online
- In person
- In Tokyo, offered where the area, day, time and tutor availability line up.
- Online
- Lessons from home.
Price guide ¥4,000~ / 60 min
Conversation & foundation English。Can vary with the tutor, content and format.No enrolment fee · no material fees in most cases · no-obligation advice
See pricing details →Kids' English conversation:
frequently asked questions
If something is unclear, please just ask.
Is it fine if my child has never learned English?
Yes. We can start with light content, such as greetings or short exchanges about things they like.
Can a shy child take lessons?
Yes. Because it is one-to-one, they can speak at their own pace without worrying about others. We ask about your child's personality and suggest a tutor who looks easy to talk to.
Can I ask for a tutor who explains in Japanese?
Please tell us your preference when you get in touch. It differs by tutor, so we check who could fit your request.
Can you help with school English too?
Yes. While keeping conversation at the centre, we can also look at the school textbook, homework and so on where needed.
Can you help with EIKEN too?
Yes. Alongside conversation and pronunciation practice, you can ask about adding EIKEN preparation.
Do you offer both in-person and online lessons?
Yes. As well as online lessons, in-person lessons in Tokyo are offered where the area, day, time and tutor availability line up.
What if my child does not get on with the tutor?
You can talk to Petra about how lessons run or how well your child gets on with the tutor. We check other candidates if needed.
What kind of tutors do you have?
You can read each tutor's profile on the tutor list. We suggest tutors who fit your wishes after hearing what you ask.
First, let's think about
what kind of tutor might fit.
We ask about English experience, personality and the lesson format you prefer, and suggest a tutor who looks like a good fit for your child.