Sesame English Sesame English is a television / video series developed as a collaboration between Sesame Workshop and Berlitz International . Launched in 1999 , with Taiwan and China as the debut markets , the series differs from the typical of " Sesame Street " in that it was devised as a supplement to ESL instruction , that is , teaching English as a second language . The target age group is children from 4 to 7 years old . Format . The project includes fifty - two 13 - minute episodes for TV , along with instructional materials for print , audio , video , and CD - ROMs . Dr . Lewis Bernstein , producer and key developer of the series , explained that " The aim is to introduce English phrases and vocabulary in an entertaining way , using conversational language along with repetition , rhythm and rhyme , cool music styles , and lots of humor — much the way we do on " Sesame Street " . " Each quarter - hour episode combines new framing footage with " Sesame Street " inserts and clips . The series stars a new Muppet character , Tingo , a multilingual " international cat . " Though all of the new footage was filmed in New York studios , 30 to 50 percent of Tingo ' s dialogue is dubbed into the native language of the target country . Tingo addresses viewers directly in the region specific language , but all other dialogue is in English . Tingo ' s explanations thus provide a bridge for native speakers to adjust to English . On STV and TVBS , the series aired daily , showing two different episodes each week . On Fridays , the show would instead be replaced by " Are You Ready ? " and " Sesame English Made in Taiwan " , a variety show that would reinforce the English lessons from the week ' s two shows . Internationally . In 2003 , Sesame Workshop announced a new variation , using the same footage , " Sesame Español " . Intended for viewing at Berlitz Language Centers , the variation used the same approach , only with Spanish as Tingo ' s secondary language , and with the aim now being instruction in Spanish for English - only speakers . DVD releases of the series , available in the U . S . , include five available audio languages for Tingo ' s dialogue : Spanish , Hmong , Korean , Mandarin Chinese , and Vietnamese . An English only track is included for more advanced ESL students . Italy began airing the show in 2004 , and it was broadcast in Poland , Hungary and Croatia as part of the one - hour programming block " Sezamkowy Zakątek " from 2006 to 2008 ( titled " Sezamkowy Angielski " ) . Characters and Cast . Tingo , the only new Muppet character , is an exchange student living in America with his best friend , Niki . Teenaged Niki lives in the basement of her parents ' home , and has an extended circle of family and friends , including grandparents , siblings Katie and Kevin , baby Jake ( played by an adult actor ) , and the members of her band . Niki ' s band , Children at Play , includes Mike , Sam ( Samantha ) , and Tom . Stage actors Roger Bart and Jonathan Freeman play various members of Niki ' s circle , as well as episodic roles . Plots center around sports activities , music , and family get - together and social events . Cast . Puppeteers : Actors :