Articles and resources with practical ideas for teaching English to young learners. Explore ideas for using stories, songs, games and craft in your English classes. We’ll also discuss our approach to common issues and possible challenges in the young learner classroom.

10 small group card games for ESL / EFL young learners
Engaging, interactive card games for the preschool and primary classroom. Practise vocabulary and structures with any card set in a fun way!

Top 10 fingerplays for EFL/ESL very young learners
Our top 10 fingerplay songs and chants to teach English to very young learners. Ideas for how to adapt for maximum language acquisition. Perfect for circle time and for quick settler activities.

EFL/ESL songs for young learners – 7 easy to adapt popular action songs
Practical tips on how to adapt ESL/EFL action songs. Teaching English to EFL/ESL young learners through songs with your personal twist.

Using dictation with craft activities for young learners
Tips for interactive, dynamic dictation techniques to maximise language acquisition and use during arts and crafts activities.

Using mini-books to teach English to young learners
Using mini-books in the preschool and primary EFL/ESL classroom. How to make and use them and differentiate for learner needs. Great ideas!

Using jigsaw puzzles to teach English to young learners
How to use jigsaw puzzle activities to teach English. Find ideas for using jigsaw puzzles in opening routines, crafts and games.

Craft activities for preschoolers: A helpful guide to avoid chaos
Tips for common areas of difficulty when using crafts to teach English in the very young learner classroom. A guide to run things smoothly.

How to teach English through arts and crafts
Practical ideas and tips to teach English through arts and crafts with preschool and primary kids. We explore why, how and share examples.

How to use stories in the EFL/ESL classroom
We look at using stories in EFL/ESL, how to plan a storytelling session and share top tips for how to use stories in the efl/esl classroom.

How to adapt stories for teaching English
Learn our top tips to adapt stories. Effectively tell stories to EFL / ESL kids so that they can learn English through stories.

Monkey Puzzle – Simplified Storytelling video for ESL / EFL
This is an adapted telling of Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, especially for EFL and ESL learners. The text is simplified and includes repetition of key phrases and vocabulary. Telling the story in this way facilitates the acquisition of useful language while retaining the enjoyment of the original.

Elmer – Simplified Storytelling Video for ESL / EFL
This is an adapted telling of Elmer by David McKee, especially for EFL and ESL learners. The text is simplified and includes repetition of phrases and vocabulary. Telling the story in this way facilitates the acquisition of useful language while retaining the enjoyment of the original.