What is the Kids English Theatre Method©?
The Kids English Theatre® Method is a proven approach to teaching English to children, shaped by over 25 years of real classroom experience.
Through our teacher training, it’s designed for educators who love the idea of bringing more creativity and play-based learning into their English lessons, but aren’t sure where to start, how to organise their lessons, or how to make them work effectively with young learners.
The method combines storytelling, movement, music, role-play, puppetry, performance and language activities into a clear framework designed specifically for children learning English.
Because children are physically and emotionally connected to what they are doing, the English sticks, and your classroom becomes a place where children are excited to join in and speak up.
You’re in right place if:
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Hi, I’m Miranda. I’m so happy you’re here
If you’ve ever stood at the front of a class trying to keep a group of five-year-olds focused for an hour, you’ll know just how tricky it can be.
Teaching young children can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also get pretty exhausting behind the scenes.
If you find yourself spending Sunday evenings searching online for fresh ideas, saving activities you might use one day, or trying to piece together a lesson from scratch every week, you’re not alone.
You might be wondering:
What does theatre actually have to do with teaching English? Isn’t drama just a fun extra, a way to fill the last ten minutes of a class?
It’s a fair question.
When drama is used with structure and purpose, it becomes so much more than a fun filler activity.
It gives children a reason to communicate in English and the confidence to express themselves, even with limited language skills.
What is the Kids English Theatre® Teacher Training Academy?
Whether you’re an experienced teacher looking for a fresh spark or completely new to the classroom, these intensive, in-person training programmes are for you. As long as you have a good grasp of English and a genuine passion for children, you’ll get the expert guidance and support you need.
Together, we’ll dive deep into the Kids English Theatre® Method for young learners aged three to ten.
You’ll learn how to structure and organise your lessons, create engaging resources, manage your room with calm confidence, and build your own English through Drama classes.
This isn’t about learning the theory and then trying to work out how to use it. It’s a hands-on learning experience where you’ll try out the techniques yourself, feel how they work from a child’s perspective, and discover how to bring them straight into your own teaching, no matter your starting point.
Why use drama to teach English as a Second Language?
All children are naturally curious. It is what drives them to explore, experiment, and learn about the world around them, which is exactly what makes them such ideal language learners.
The secret to teaching a second language is simply keeping that curiosity burning brightly. Of course, that is easier said than done when you are trying to hold the attention of a room jam-packed with energetic young learners.
This is where a theatrical, multisensory approach makes all the difference.
Drama brings language learning to life. Instead of sitting quietly, children use their bodies, voices, and emotions to express themselves. It turns the classroom into a pressure-free space for teamwork and creative thinking, where kids can try out new English words and phrases without ever feeling judged or tested.
Whether they are bringing a fun character to life, acting out a playful sketch, singing a lively chant, or animating a puppet, children absorb new vocabulary and grammar naturally.
Beyond language, drama helps them grow their social and emotional skills, shaping them into confident communicators for life.
About Miranda
I’m Miranda Flynn Legge, founder of Kids English Theatre® and creator of the Kids English Theatre® Method.
With over 25 years of experience as a professional actor, English teacher and drama coach, I have spent my career exploring how theatre techniques can transform the way children experience and learn English.
I trained as an actor at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and later became a CELTA-qualified English teacher from Cambridge University.
In 2004, I created Teatro Inglese per Bambini®, an English through Drama programme for children in Italy. Through years of teaching thousands of children, I developed and refined the Kids English Theatre® Method, combining drama, storytelling, movement, music, puppetry and performance to help children become confident English communicators.
Since 2017, I have shared this approach with teachers around the world through the Kids English Theatre® Teacher Training Academy. I have also presented at international conferences and university seminars for educators, including work with Macmillan Education and the University of Florence, sharing my experience of how theatre techniques can be applied to teaching English.
More English please… but made fun!
Over the last few years, demand for creative English and theatre courses for preschool and primary school children has grown rapidly.
Parents are seeing the massive benefits of active, drama-based learning and are looking for alternative after-school courses focused on play, rather than sit-down lessons based mainly on textbooks and worksheets.
The challenge is that there simply aren't enough trained children’s English and drama teachers to keep up with this growing demand.
This teacher training is for you if:
If this sounds like you, the Kids English Theatre® Teacher Training Programme could be the exact next step you are looking for.
What you’ll learn in Kids English Theatre© Programs:
- How to Implement your communication skills: Body language strategies, voice techniques, the role of humour and playfulness, effective classroom management skills
- Creative Teaching: How to structure lessons and incorporate language play and drama techniques.
- Songs, chants and rhymes: Using music effectively in the classroom to help students learn fast and express themselves orally.
- Storytelling, and role play: In-depth techniques and authentic resources to capture students’ curiosity.
- Puppetry: Practical strategies on how to integrate puppets creatively into activities, songs, stories, and plays.
- How to stage a play: Themes, script writing, rehearsals, costume making, make-up, sets, props, and more.
- Growing your courses: How to publicise and organise your own English through Drama Courses.
Made for every kind of teacher
Since day one, we’ve trained hundreds of teachers from all over the world.
You don’t need to be a native English speaker, a qualified teacher, or a trained actor to join us, nor do you need years of experience standing in front of a classroom.
Our trainees come from every corner of the globe and all walks of life. Some are university graduates, TEFL or CELTA-certified language teachers, nursery and primary school educators, or private school owners. Others arrive with no formal English or drama qualifications at all, but they bring a great command of English, a genuine love for kids, and a passion for creative learning.
No matter where you're starting from, if you want to make a real difference in how children learn, you'll feel right at home here.
What Teachers Are Saying
"Your courses have been life changing! Last year, I was working at different pre-schools not happy of the way I was teaching. After taking your 5 day intensive training in Florence, I was inspired to start my own 'English through theatre' school. I followed your advice and instruction and my lessons were successful. Thank you, thank you thank you!"
— Daniela Navarrete (Italy)
"I would 1000% recommend this course to all those teachers who want to teach without textbooks, want to build their students' confidence, and want to include more drama in their teaching. It will definitely make you stand out from the crowd, I promise!"
— Nereyda Valle, Express Yourself English Academy (Spain)
"If you’re looking for something that can help you make the difference between an ordinary way of teaching and an extraordinary one, here it is! If I had to describe my overall experience with one word, I would choose illuminating."
— Elisa Rosellini, Language Teacher (Italy)
"We walked out of the five-day boot camp with puppets in our hands, joy in our hearts, and ideas bursting in our minds. It was a significant learning curve in my 17-year journey in education."
— Anees Sultana, Educator & Playgroup Leader (Germany)
Start your creative teaching journey today
Find out more about our teacher training programmes and the Kids English Theatre Method
Not sure how to get started teaching young language learners?
Turn your language skills into interactive, engaging classes with this free guide
Thinking about starting your own English theatre classes? It is easy to feel excited on one hand, but unsure of what to actually do in the room on the other.
This free guide gives you practical exercises and real examples, showing you what lessons actually look like so you can take that first step.
Grab your free guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Loved by Teachers Worldwide
"A once in a lifetime experience every teacher should have."
"She puts you at ease and one day at a time she transforms you in a different person!"
"It has been the best time of My Life!!!!"
"For lavishly sharing her tips and expertise and for sprinkling us with her magical drama-fairydust!"
— Evi Karydi
"I have a suitcase jam-packed with great ideas... Miranda, you are a star."
— Giulia Trivero
"Inspirational, full of vibe and rhythm!!!"
— Stogiannidou Xanthoula
"You made us all feel powerful and unique."
— Joanna Rybak
"That was one of the best courses I've ever attended. So full of new ideas, useful tips and wonderful people."
— Serena Andorlini
"It's not just the games and new ideas that you gave me but my general heightened enthusiasm for my lessons."
— Charlie Copson
What Teachers Are Saying...
"What surprised me the most is the fact that the training gives an all-around preparation. It doesn’t matter if you start from zero, or if you’re an experienced teacher: you will still find a treasure... I fulfilled my dream of organising my own after-school private courses, which allows me to spend more time with my family. My way of teaching has completely changed... I’m just having the greatest fun, and students are too."
— Alice Rigotti, Independent English Teacher (Italy)
"Before joining, teaching children was completely new to me and I had to start from scratch. Miranda's bootcamp gave me proven strategies that really work. One of the biggest game changers for me was finally gaining clarity and reassurance. Since finishing the course, I feel extremely confident in my teaching methods and style. I’ve stopped doubting myself, and that has been probably the biggest personal breakthrough for me."
— Petra Triendl, Language Teacher (Czech Republic)