What is the Young Learner Starter Kit?

This course offers a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of teaching English to young learners.
Through live online workshops, peer teaching and tutor feedback, participants build confidence, practical skills and a bank of ready-to-use activities for children aged 6–11.

Detailed programme

Day 1
• Session 1: Teaching Young Learners – what’s it all about?
• Session 2: Classroom Management 1

Day 2
• Session 3: Puzzles and Patterns – making grammar fun
• Session 4: Songs and Chants – learning through music and movement

Day 3
• Session 5: Activity Bank – build up your bank of classroom activities
• Session 6: Using Online Resources with Young Learners

Day 4
• Session 7: Classroom Management 2
• Session 8: Lesson Planning Workshop

Day 5 – Peer Teaching & Feedback
Participants will carry out online teaching practice, delivering a short lesson to their peers.
This component is essential for applying new skills, receiving personalised feedback and building confidence when teaching children.

No written assignments or coursework are required.

Who is it for?

The Starter Kit is ideal for teachers who want to move into Young Learner teaching — whether you already hold an initial teaching qualification (such as CELTA or equivalent) or you are currently teaching adults and wish to expand into teaching children.
No previous experience with children is required; what matters is a good command of English (minimum C1) and a willingness to start teaching young learners.

This course is particularly useful for teachers who already hold an initial qualification such as CELTA and want a practical introduction to teaching Young Learners.

Continue your young learner teacher training

The Young Learner Starter Kit is a practical first step for teachers who want to start teaching English to children aged 6–11 with more confidence, structure and classroom-ready ideas.

If you would like to continue your professional development, you can explore our specialist Young Learner teacher training pathways. Teachers working with very young children aged 3–6 can progress to the IHVYL course, while teachers who want a more in-depth qualification for children and teenagers aged 6–17 can consider the IHCYLT course.

You can also view all our teacher training courses, including CELTA, DELTA, online teacher training options, workshops and professional development opportunities for English language teachers at different stages of their career.

What will you learn – Course aims

You will learn how to:

• Plan engaging lessons for children aged 6–11
• Use games, songs, stories, movement and digital resources to stimulate learning
• Manage a class of young learners effectively and dynamically
• Introduce grammar and vocabulary through play and communicative activities
• Create coherent and motivating lesson plans
• Deliver short lessons with confidence and reflect on your teaching practice

Admission requirements

• Minimum English level: C1
• An initial teaching qualification (e.g. CELTA or equivalent)
• Previous teaching experience (not necessarily with children)
• No prior experience with Young Learners is required

Why choose this course?

The Young Learner Starter Kit provides a practical, compact and efficient introduction to teaching English to children — ideal if you want to gain confidence, build a resource bank and start teaching quickly.
Delivered by experienced Young Learner trainers from International House Milano | San Donato, the course offers flexible online delivery and a set of ready-to-use materials you can apply immediately in class.

Why teachers choose this course after CELTA

Many teachers complete CELTA focused mainly on adult learners and later decide to move into teaching children and teenagers.

The Young Learner Starter Kit helps teachers bridge that gap with practical strategies, classroom management techniques, games, songs, lesson planning and teaching practice specifically designed for learners aged 6–11.

What participants say about the course

“I would like to highlight that the positive outcome of the course was made possible thanks to the tutors, who delivered it with such seriousness, dedication and professionalism, while also creating a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere.”
— YL Starter Kit Trainee

“I now fully realise that a Young Learner teacher is a highly skilled professional who must balance the sensitivities of teaching children with the demands of language teaching.”
— YL Starter Kit Trainee

“This course was great. My head was spinning a little at the beginning because many of the concepts were new to me — but that was exactly the point. Kate did an excellent job. What I appreciated the most was the hands-on approach, which gave the course real pace and practicality.”
— YL Starter Kit Trainee

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course a TEFL or CELTA Young Learners qualification?

The Young Learner Starter Kit is a practical Young Learner teacher training course designed for teachers who already hold an initial qualification such as CELTA or equivalent. While it is not a formal CELTA Young Learners qualification, it helps teachers develop practical skills for teaching English to children aged 6–11.

It can be a useful first step if you already hold an initial qualification such as CELTA and want to move into Young Learner teaching. Teachers who want to continue their development can then consider more specialised IH courses such as IHVYL or IHCYLT.

Who is the Young Learner Starter Kit for?

The course is designed for teachers who want to begin or strengthen their experience with Young Learners.
It is suitable if you:
• hold a teaching qualification (e.g. CELTA or equivalent)
• have a C1 level of English
• teach adults and want to move into YL
• have little or no experience with children but want to acquire practical, ready-to-use classroom skills.

Do I need previous Young Learner teaching experience?

No. The course is specifically designed for teachers who are new to Young Learners and want a clear, structured starting point.

How is the course delivered?

The programme is 100% live online on Zoom and includes:
• 8 interactive workshops
• demonstrations
• micro-teaching
• shared resources
• a peer teaching session
• an individual tutorial with your trainer

What will I be able to do after the course?

You will be able to:
• plan lessons for children aged 6–11
• use games, songs, stories and movement effectively
• manage a Young Learner classroom
• build a practical activity bank
• deliver short lessons confidently
• apply new ideas immediately in your classes

Do I receive a certificate?

Yes. Participants who attend the required sessions and complete the teaching practice receive an IH Milano | San Donato certificate of attendance.

Are there written assignments?

No. The course is entirely practical and does not include written assignments or assessed coursework.

How much does the course cost?

The fee is €250 + €2 stamp duty.
You can also pay in instalments (interest-free) through our online shop.
Buono Scuola is accepted.

What can I do after the Young Learner Starter Kit?

Many teachers continue their development with the IHCYLT course, designed for teaching children and teenagers aged 6–17, or with the IHVYL course, focused on teaching very young learners aged 3–6.

How do I register my interest?

You can register your interest online. Our Teacher Training team will contact you as soon as the next Young Learner Starter Kit dates are confirmed. If you have questions about entry requirements, course content or whether this course is suitable for your profile, you can contact teachertraining@ihmilano.it before registering your interest.

Start teaching young learners with more confidence, structure and practical classroom ideas.
The Young Learner Starter Kit is designed for teachers who want a focused introduction to teaching children aged 6–11.
The next Young Learner Starter Kit dates will be announced soon. Register your interest to receive updates from our Teacher Training team.