They do not have to; phonics works for their language because it follows the alphabetic principle: the words are almost entirely spelled as they sound.

Readers of alphabetic languages must understand the alphabetic principle in order to master basic reading skills.

Understanding of the alphabetic principle (letters represent the sounds of language)

Beginning readers must understand the concept of the alphabetic principle in order to master basic reading skills.

This is because they cannot appreciate the alphabetic principle.

The alphabetic principle and learning to read.

Unlike many other languages, English spelling has never been systematically updated and thus today only partly holds to the alphabetic principle.

English spelling is based on the alphabetic principle.

This book taught the alphabetic principle and phonemic awareness.

The second, based on alphabetic principles, was created five years later.