Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for:

• Teachers currently working in pre-school or early-years contexts
• English teachers who would like to expand their expertise to Very Young Learners
• Experienced teachers seeking to strengthen their classroom management and early-years teaching techniques

Entry requirements

To join the IHVYL course, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

• C1 level of English (CEFR) and a CELTA qualification (or equivalent)
  or

• C1 level of English (CEFR) and proven experience teaching English to Very Young Learners aged 3–6

These requirements ensure that participants can fully benefit from the training and actively engage in the practical components of the course.

Course structure

The IHVYL course consists of 15 hours of live online training, delivered over 10 sessions. The programme covers:

• Teaching principles for Very Young Learners
• Classroom management strategies
• Storytelling, songs and games
• Early literacy skills
• Materials design and lesson planning
• Practical ideas and activities tailored to children aged 3–6

All sessions are conducted live, allowing participants to collaborate directly with tutors and peers.

What you will gain

Participants will develop:

• A practical toolkit of activities, routines and strategies for teaching Very Young Learners
• Confidence in handling early-years classroom management
• A deeper understanding of how young children learn and how to support their development
• An internationally recognised certificate issued by International House Milan
• The flexibility of joining a high-quality teacher training programme from anywhere in the world thanks to the live online format

How to enrol

You can apply directly through our website or request further information from our Teacher Training Team.

Apply now
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FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about the IHVYL course

What is the IHVYL course?

IHVYL is an International House training course dedicated to teaching English to Very Young Learners aged 3–6. It includes practical techniques, classroom strategies and a final recognised certificate.

Is this course useful for working in pre-school or early-years settings?

Yes. It is particularly valuable for teachers working (or wishing to work) in pre-school, nursery, early-years contexts and bilingual education projects.

What are the entry requirements?

To join the course, you must have:

• C1 level of English and an initial teaching qualification (such as CELTA),
  or
• C1 level of English and proven experience teaching Very Young Learners (ages 3–6).

Do I need specific experience with children aged 3–6?

Experience with Very Young Learners is required only if you do not hold an initial teaching qualification like CELTA. If needed, you may be invited to a brief informal interview to clarify your VYL background.

Is the course online?

Yes, the course is delivered 100% live online, ideal for teachers looking for a structured, recognised and flexible training programme.

How does the enrolment process work?

1. Complete the application form (pre-registration).
2. Our team reviews your application within 48 hours.
3. If suitable, you receive an Acceptance Letter with full payment instructions.
4. Your place is confirmed once payment is received.
5. An interview is required only if necessary to verify qualifications or VYL experience.

Who is the course for?

The course is suitable for:

• pre-school and early-years teachers
• educators
• English teachers who want to specialise in Very Young Learners

Feedback from former trainees

Tutors’ support was mind-blowing, it helped me focus on the learning and teaching a lot more and this played a big role in succeeding in the course. I’d also like to mention all the admin staff too, always attentive and helpful, thank you 🙂

What I found useful: interactive and student-centered lessons, working on different tasks (arts and crafts, exploit a song, literacy and print awareness strategies, etc.) that I will use when I teach, pre-reading tasks (very interesting articles!).

I loved the fact that it included live input sessions.

I found the practical teaching techniques particularly useful, especially strategies for maintaining engagement, managing a classroom of young children effectively, and creating interactive, age-appropriate activities. The course provided valuable insights into using tools like TPR, storytelling, songs and literacy to enhance language learning in a way that aligns with the developmental needs of very young learners.

I found every session of the course very useful.

A special thanks to my tutor for her constant support throughout the course.

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