How Do You Teach Young Learners English?

Written by Megan Lee Published 17 January 2020 ~4 min read

Preschoolers and kindergarteners might not seem like the most absorbent learners on the planet, but a TEFL teacher who specializes in teaching young learners needs to be way on top of their game. It can be hectic to teach English to young learners but with the right planning, you can easily get around the teaching young pupil Walking into a classroom full of 25 rambunctious kiddos is a wild adventure, full of rewards and challenges. Here are our five essential tips for first-time TEFL teachers entering the early learners classroom. teaching a class of young learners abroad

teaching a class of young learners abroad

Here are the 5 Tips to Teach English To Young Learners

These are the steps that have proven TEFL teachers around the world to enable efficient teaching and handling situations around teaching young children's

1. Have the energy

Moving abroad will reveal a multitude of distractions to take your time and energy. You’ll want to stay out late dancing, have chuanr after midnight with your new buds, and spend time FaceTiming family back home at odd hours (sometimes even the very early AM!). You’ll want to gallivant on weekends to the coast or jetset to a neighbouring country. The adventure is a huge advantage of teaching abroad, but you must keep in mind that you’re there to work, too. And that means saving some of your precious energy reserves for your classroom. Never is that more than when you’re working with kindergarteners and preschoolers. Young learners will reflect your attitude and excitement, so bring your A-game. On the bright side, they’re very easily entertained! Make your classroom fun and interesting and your kiddos will give you their best back. Eating Chinese food

2. Routines are essential

Your little learners benefit greatly from routines in the classroom, so you must establish these norms early on in your TEFL career. It can take some up-front work, but will set your classroom up for success—if there’s a predetermined activity for every part of the day, you can put more of your energy towards teaching. You won’t need to focus on generally controlling the class as much. Furthermore, this provides a healthy environment for your students to grow, learn, explore, and… practice English! It helps students learn that you’re a caring adult who will provide what they need. how to teach english to young learners

When they feel safe, kids can stay more calm. Overall, routines are great for a child’s emotional, cognitive, and social development, and you’ll benefit as that calm, cool, collected teacher whose classroom always (okay, sometimes!) maintains order. These are 3-6 year olds, after all!!!

3. Focus on positive behavior

Young English learners gain respect through interaction with caring adults who show them respect and value their personalities. It is important that you, as their TEFL teacher, reinforce positive behaviours and provide simple instructions in the positive rather than negative (i.e. “Please shut the classroom door” is better than “Don’t leave the classroom door open”). These clear tasks inform your students about what you expect from them, and when you recognize good behavior, it increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. how to teach english to young learners

Highlighting their positive deeds and qualities can increase enthusiasm from your students and provide a stimulating, inviting learning environment. Be sure to incorporate effort-based praise, too, which focuses more on what kids can control, like how much time they spend on a project. Avoid personal praise on natural abilities, like intelligence or talent for playing the piano (which can hinder growth).

4. Be consistent as a disciplinarian

I know they all look like angels at first, but you’re eventually going to need to have a stern talk with Little Timmy about his behaviour. Your goal should be to be consistent in how you administer discipline. Of course, no one can be 100% consistent 100% of the time, but the effort outweighs the outcome of when you’re frequently inconsistent (you’ll likely end up more tired, cranky, impatient, and worn out!). how to teach english to young learners

Establish some classroom rules (bonus points if you get student input!) and provide structure for your classroom (AKA tip #2). Ensure you have a plan in place for administering negative consequences when misbehaviour occurs. Communicate your expectations not only to the students but to other teachers in your classroom as well. Follow through with these consequences and resist the urge to "give in" (lest you go mad in the long run!). Most importantly, have patience with yourself and your kiddos—change doesn't happen overnight, so don't give up on your discipline techniques early!

5. Build YOUR understanding of how early learners learn

Kids are tiny little sponges at this stage of life. They’re growing in myriad ways—not just taller and wider (with bigger feet), but also—and more importantly—socially, emotionally, physically, and linguistically. Group of students listening to a teacher

Group of students listening to a teacher

This means there’s a lot of input being thrown at a child, and they often need a lot of diverse activities to stay engaged in the classroom. This means that you, as a teacher, should focus less on extended lessons and explanations and more on age-appropriate games and interactive activities. Pro tip: You’ll likely have to make it up as you go, so don’t get too attached to a certain activity or outcome. Adapt!

It can be Quite an Adventure to teach English to young learners

Yes, there will be criers. There will be kiddos crawling under (and on) their desks and throwing paper balls. I can even picture an obstinate little fella who won't do ANYTHING. Hopefully, these ideas will put you on the right track to deal with this unique group of English learners, and make your classroom a fun, stimulating learning environment for students and teachers alike!

Written by

Megan Lee

Frequently asked questions

What is the best method for teaching English to young learners?

There isn’t a single “best” method, but approaches like Total Physical Response (TPR), communicative activities, and game-based learning are highly effective. The key is to combine movement, interaction, and repetition to keep children engaged and help them retain language naturally.

How long should a lesson for young learners be?

Lesson length depends on age, but most young learners benefit from sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Within that time, activities should change every 5–15 minutes to match their attention span and maintain focus.

How do you keep children engaged in an English class?

Engagement comes from variety and energy. Use games, songs, storytelling, and hands-on activities. Mixing high-energy tasks with quieter moments helps maintain balance and prevents students from becoming overwhelmed or distracted.

Should you correct mistakes immediately when teaching children?

Not always. Constant correction can discourage young learners. It’s often better to model the correct language naturally or gently correct errors during activities, focusing on building confidence rather than perfection.

Do you need teaching experience to work with young learners?

No prior experience is always required, but having structured training can make a big difference. Learning classroom management techniques, lesson planning, and effective teaching strategies will help you feel more confident and prepared when working with children.