I'd met with another organization that offered TEFL certification, but they were not accredited and it didn't feel right. As soon as I walked into the ITA, I immediately felt like I was making the right decision. Everyone was incredibly helpful and informative, and I knew I was going to be making a worthwhile and life changing investment by enrolling with ITA. - ITA Grad Laura Nalin

9.6/10 - reviews from goabroad.com
HOW THE COURSE WORKS

Why Take The Teaching English to Young Learners Course?

Prepare for the challenges of teaching English to children through ITA's exclusive 30-Hour (2 weeks) teaching English to kids online course

From Madrid and Buenos Aires to Seoul and Shanghai, hundreds of millions of children are learning English as a foreign language. As English becomes further entrenched as the global language of trade, culture, travel, and education, both governments and parents understand that learning English is key to providing children with a brighter future. English is now required in most school systems across the world and millions of parents invest independently in extra lessons and/or private tutoring.

For TEFL-certified English teachers, this demand generates countless opportunities to get paid to live abroad while teaching English to young learners. 

While successfully completing this customer-designed TEFL course, you will:

  • Develop skills & learn teaching methodologies specific to teaching ESL to kids
  • Demonstrate your interest & comfort level in teaching younger learners
  • Enhance your job prospects and opportunities for promotion
  • Boost Confidence & Capabilities
 

30-Hour Teaching English to Young Learners Training Course

Part-time, 2-week online course that requires 12-15 hours of work a week.

Personalized Feedback & Support

Learn from the best to become the best-prepared English teacher for children possible. Interact with your Master's or Ph.D.-prepared professor during live instruction and office hours. 

Digital Certificate Awarded at Completion

Earn a digital certificate from the world's premier TEFL school upon completion of your teaching English to young learners specialty course.

WHO IT'S FOR

Who is This Young Learners Teacher Training For?

Our Teaching English to Young Learners Specialty Course is ideal for those who are TEFL certified and seek to:

  • Gain a high level of confidence and comfort teaching children English as a foreign language. From writing lesson plans to selecting the best materials and resources, prepare yourself to meet the needs of young learner students.
  • Make yourself more marketable to employers seeking teachers with higher levels of skill and training for teaching English to children. 
  • Build a strong understanding of how to prepare lesson plans and provide instruction to the different types and ages of young learners in all facets of language acquisition, including grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary, listening, and speaking.

BUNDLE A TEFL COURSE & SAVE

Bundle a TEFL Course & Save

If you’re not yet TEFL certified, consider bundling the Tutoring English course with our 11-week part-time or 4-week full-time TEFL certification course. Benefits of bundling include:

  • Save Money: When you register for both a TEFL course and the Tutoring English course together, you’ll save an additional $75. You’ll also be eligible for a payment plan that allows you to pay for your courses over time.
  • Enhance Your Professional Opportunities: By gaining training and skills in specialized areas, you will make yourself more attractive and valuable to language schools and other potential employers.
  • Learn from the Best: If you’re going to be a teacher, you want to be the best teacher possible. Our instructors have all taught abroad and hold a master’s or Ph.D. level degree. There’s a reason that GoAbroad.com has rated us the #1 TEFL certification course for several years running.
  • Get Support in Your Job Search: If you get TEFL certified with ITA, you’ll benefit from our sought-after lifetime job search guidance for teaching English abroad and online. You will not be alone in navigating the job market anywhere in the world. Note: If you are already TEFL certified with another organization, and simply want to take one of our specialty courses, you will not receive our lifetime job search guidance.

 

#1

Online TEFL Course, as Rated by Goabroad.com

40,000

Strong Alumni Network in 80+ Countries

Level 5

Internationally Accredited TEFL Certificate

Lifetime

Job Search Guidance and Support from Your Personal Advisor

COURSE DETAILS
Lesson Plan

Young Learners Teacher Training Content

Featuring a specially-designed curriculum, the TEFL for young learners course incorporates the latest in teaching methodology and best practices for teaching English to young learners between the ages of 2 - 11.

The course is intended to serve as a practical guide to prepare trainees to enter the young learner classroom abroad with a better understanding of the differences between teaching adults vs young learners. The course also teaches trainees how to organize and manage the young learner classes.

What You Will Learn During The Course (Sample)

  • Chapter 1 defines young learners and introduces theories of basic cognitive development and second language acquisition. Parallels are then drawn between second language learning theories and practical classroom applications for children. This is followed by discussions of types of language programs and best practices for classroom management. After finishing this chapter, the reader will be able to:
  • Chapter 2 addresses the importance of scaffolding (i.e. how to set up activities), as well as other relevant planning and teaching considerations. This includes an exploration of sample skill- and language-based lesson plans and materials for use and/or adapt when teaching young learners.

Learn more: Teaching English to Young Learners Class Syllabus for a full, comprehensive overview of the course content including chapter breakdowns, task outlines, grading scales, and course policies.

Course Details

Teaching English to Kids Course Details

Length of Training

2 weeks part-time (typically 12-15 hours per week of work).

This course includes 30 hours of online coursework, which includes readings, tasks, and peer participation. You will receive a separate digital certificate from what you receive for your standard TEFL course.

Class Size & Facilities

Classes are capped at 20 students to ensure personal attention and maintain the highest standards of instruction.

Interactive Features

This course features live lectures, webinars & chats, however, there is no required live time, and students can access recorded elements on the course website.

Extensive Digital Resources

This Teaching English to Young Learners course incorporates more than 30 video demonstrations so that trainees can gain clarity on how to implement the principles and practices taught throughout this class. Trainees also gain access to resources like musical activities and scripts for plays that can serve as very useful teaching aids.

EFL Teacher Vignettes

This course has various authentic TEFL Young Learners vignette stories from young learner classrooms. Those vignettes help move theory into practice by giving context and a connection to “what it’s really like in class.”

Sample Activities

Another aspect of this course that sticks out from others is the number of activities we have placed in the text and throughout the lessons. We analyze 8 different activities, demonstrating to trainees why the activity emulates best practices for young learners. We also offer two appendices with 17 additional sample activities (vocabulary games, for example). Combined with the inclusion of some great electronic resources, the course will help the trainee save time in lesson planning and build their own “bag of favorite class activities.”

Class Requirements

Technology Requirements

This course will be delivered entirely online through the course management system Moodle. In Moodle, students will access online lessons, course materials, tasks, and resources. All tasks will be posted in an online forum or taken as an online quiz.

To complete this teaching ESL to kids course, you must have a reliable means to access the internet. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet this requirement prior to enrollment. Extensions on tasks will not be given to students because of technology problems.

Course Textbook

Textbook for Your Teaching English to Young Learners Course

All of your course reading materials, assignments, and quizzes will be available to you online. However, you can purchase a copy of the course textbook if you choose. 

Course Dates & Registration

IMPORTANT: Before enrolling, we strongly recommend that you are concurrently enrolled in an accredited TEFL certification, are already certified, or have experience teaching ESL. Not yet TEFL certified? Get in touch with us. You can bundle our TEFL certification course with this specialty course and save an additional $75. 

International TEFL Academy's Lifetime Job Guidance and support, access to our alumni community, and our high-quality accreditation are only available to students and alumni of our online and in-person standard TEFL certification courses.

We also invite you to read our registration procedure and terms & conditions. Note that all students will be charged a small processing fee per course/program purchased.

Stand Out as a Professional Young Learners English Teacher

Enhance Your Skills for Teaching Young Learners

You'll gain specialized skills for teaching English to children from developing age-appropriate lessons & activities to building classroom management skills that will prepare you to run a class of 20 six-year-olds, specializing in teaching English to children between the ages of 2 - 11 years.

Demonstrate Your Passion & Comfort Level for Teaching ESL to Younger Learners

Putting this specialty course on your CV will not only exhibit your enhanced level of training, but it will demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for working with younger learners.

Boost Your Confidence & Capabilities

Learn practical classroom management strategies, teaching theories, and activities so that when you walk into the young learner classroom (be it four-year-olds or eight-year-olds), you're prepared and more confident working with this population.

Increase Your Job Prospects & Opportunities for Promotion

Employers and students want to hire the best teachers with the highest levels of skills and training. Set yourself apart from thousands of other English teachers looking to teach English abroad to children who only possess a regular TEFL certification and no specific training for teaching English to children.

Download Specialty Course Guide

Ask a Teaching English to Young Learners Course Instructor

Courtney Bailey,  ITA's Teaching English to Young Learners Course Instructor.
Courtney has been with ITA since 2021. She has an undergrad degree in Spanish Language & Culture, a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in ESOL, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in English language learning. She has taught English in Turkey and has traveled to over 24 countries.

Why should I consider taking this TEFL for Young Learners Course?

There is a large distinction between teaching language courses to adults versus children. To that end, there is also a significant difference between teaching a four-year-old versus an eight-year-old. 

A regular 120+ hour TEFL class will provide you with a strong foundation of basic teaching skills, but this specialty course will have you reach your full potential as a teacher working with children. You'll leave this course with specific skills and a full understanding of the needs and challenges confronting young learners.

How can I teach English to young learners?

Children make up one of the largest groups of people learning English around the world. If you want to teach children, there are opportunities in language schools & summer camps, public school programs around the world, private kindergartens and preschools, as well as private tutoring and online teaching. Depending on the amount of time you want in your position (full vs. part time) there are endless opportunities to work with young learners.

How old are young learners in ESL?

This depends on the country and the position you are interested in. Most pre-schools and kindergartens have students from 3-7 years old, and then language schools, public schools, private academies, and summer camps will group children based on their grade level. Your teaching strategies will differ depending on the age of the children in your classroom at a specific time.

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