NovaKid Online English Conversation Experience: A Summary of Real and Honest Opinions

*PR

Benefits felt during the free trial and my child's reaction

My daughter is 6 years old. It has been exactly two months since she started online English conversation lessons when she entered elementary school. Previously, she participated in an English curriculum at her after-school care program for three years, where she became familiar with English through songs and games.

Her current online English lessons are by no means bad. At first, she was happy just to be able to speak English one-on-one with a teacher. However, after about two months, I began to see both the pros and cons, and decided to try out several other online English conversation services.

At that time, what I kept seeing on social media and was curious about was "NovaKid". I was impressed by the fun lesson style that incorporates colorful teaching materials, characters, and animation, and thinking it might suit my daughter, I decided to sign up for a free trial.

Her current online English teacher is Filipino, but this teacher was from South Africa and was incredibly expressive! Although my daughter was nervous at first, she immediately smiled at the teacher's bright reactions and was answering "Yes!" and "Hello!" from the other side of the screen.

NovaKid's lessons are packed with game-like features called gamification. Before the lesson, there were online mini-games, and she spent 2-3 minutes playing those while waiting for the online lesson to start. Even during class, she would get stars for answering the teacher's questions, and characters would appear, making it feel just like playing a game. For my daughter, who is familiar with tablets and YouTube, it seemed very compatible.

Also, I was grateful that there was no need for parental involvement (lol). Some online English services have teachers who try to talk to the mom, but honestly, I'm not good at that... The stance that parents can just take a step back and watch is great. That said, feedback is sent after the lesson, so being able to grasp what was learned is another reassuring factor.

NovaKid's trial lesson was a time that made my daughter think, "English is fun!" and "I want to do more!" She even asked after it was over, "Can I see this teacher again?" She seemed to have a great time.

NovaKid is designed to keep children engaged for 25 minutes by incorporating playful elements.

NovaKid's appeal and points to note from a parent's perspective

After finishing the NovaKid free trial and seeing my daughter's smile and reaction, I intuitively felt, "This is a little different from the online English lessons we've had so far." Not only can the child enjoy it, but I felt there were features that make it easy for parents to introduce and less stressful to manage everywhere.

First, I felt that the ease of booking was convenient. The operation is intuitive. It is designed so that you can easily choose the lesson date, time, and teacher with just your smartphone, allowing you to make bookings quickly in your spare time, even on busy weekday evenings.

Also, the feedback sent after the lesson is very thorough. It concisely summarizes what was learned, how the child was doing, and what kind of follow-up is needed in the future. This allows parents to understand their child's level of understanding and challenges without having to sit in on the lessons directly.

Furthermore, being able to take lessons from native teachers from a multinational group of instructors around the world (including the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, and the Philippines; all of whom have international English teaching qualifications) is a major attraction. While many online English services hire many Filipino teachers, NovaKid specializes in children, so the tempo and vocabulary are not overwhelming. It felt like my daughter, who was speaking English with a native teacher for the first time, could take the lesson with peace of mind.

On the other hand, there are some points to be aware of.

That said, whether the teacher's atmosphere and teaching style match your child is something you won't know until you try it. Although NovaKid offers the freedom to choose a teacher each time, there are times when your favorite teacher's schedule is fully booked. For children who prefer "the same teacher every time," there might be some anxiety.

Also, the point that it depends on the communication environment requires caution, just like other online English services. I had no particular problems during the trial, but it is a prerequisite that you can take the lesson in a stable Wi-Fi environment.

Furthermore, the 25-minute lesson duration is something that children may perceive differently. While a child with good concentration might find it just right, others might feel it's not enough and ask, "Is it over already?" As a parent, I felt that setting aside a short time for review after the lesson to supplement it would increase satisfaction even more.

Overall, my impression is that NovaKid is an online English service that is easy for parents to manage and can be entrusted with peace of mind. However, I felt that it can be used more effectively if you have an attitude of being involved while watching your child's progress, rather than leaving it entirely up to them.

Summary | NovaKid is a catalyst for experiencing the 'fun of English'

Previous after-school English programs and the online English conversation services we are currently using have been very helpful in terms of fostering 'familiarity' with English. However, as we continued, I began to wonder, 'Where can we regain that sense of fun next?' and 'Is there a method that suits my daughter better?', which brought us to the point of comparing and considering online English conversation services once again.

NovaKid was a valuable gateway where she could experience English not as a 'subject,' but as a 'tool for play and conversation.' In particular, I feel that the success she experienced in 'understanding' and 'communicating' through English has led to a great boost in my daughter's confidence.

Of course, it depends on the child. For children who are not comfortable with screen-based interaction or those who get confused unless the pace is slow, it might be a bit too stimulating. However, for children who fit the style, it can be a catalyst for significant growth. I think that is the nature of 'fun-focused' online English conversation services like NovaKid.

As a parent, I also have concerns like, 'Is she really learning?' or 'Is it worth the money?' However, looking at the feedback after the lessons and my child's reactions, I realized that what is most necessary at the stage of 'learning to love English' is a system that sparks curiosity.

I will consider for a little longer whether to switch right now, but having experienced NovaKid, I feel that the possibilities for English learning have expanded significantly. 'I want to speak more English,' 'It was fun, so I want to do it again'—these words from my daughter have provided important hints for thinking about how to connect her current experience to her future learning.

────────────────────
🎧 Related Articles
・[Reviews] The effects, pros, and cons of 'Todo English x kimini English' that even a first-grader could continue
・[Experience] An honest review of the pros and cons of kimini English based on actual use!
・[Experience] To moms looking for online English conversation: Common traits of 'children who grow' seen after trying QQEnglish for 2 months

────────────────────