DELTA courses
DELTA is a teaching qualification for experienced teachers of English as a foreign or second language. The course is aimed at teachers with (usually) an initial teaching qualification such as the CELTA plus at least two years' experience of teaching adults. A degree is preferred. This experience should be with different levels of students and preferably to include teaching ESP, exam classes and/or some teaching outside the UK.
The DELTA course is valuable for the following reasons: first, it helps you to develop as a teacher, by extending your knowledge and understanding of the principles behind your practice, and by increasing the range of your techniques and methods. Through feedback on your own teaching practice, we also help you to improve your teaching skills within the classroom. Second, it is an essential qualification if you wish to further your career into academic management, teacher training or materials writing.
The course is part-time, and the trainees are observed teaching their own classes in their own schools. For this reason, trainees must be in EFL work with adults (group classes, not 1-1) in or near Oxford for the duration of the course.
The course is a challenging one, and hard work! However, the vast majority of teachers who have taken it believe it has improved them as teachers as well as providing them with career opportunities.
Our tutors have been providing DELTA courses together in Oxford since 1998, and have all worked on CELTA and DELTA courses before that. (All are also DELTA assessors.) We have a proven track record of success in preparing teachers to take and pass the DELTA.
If you have any questions, please e-mail Mark Bartram, the Course Tutor for the DELTA course.
Course details
1. Title of course
Cambridge ESOL Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA). Accredited and approved by the University of Cambridge (UCLES).
2. Dates
- Start:
- 27 September 2007
- Finish:
- 4 June 2008
3. Timetable
Every Wednesday evening from 5.30pm to 9.00pm (including a 30-minute break). Three Saturday sessions - dates and times to be arranged.
Total input: 110 hours.
All times are provisional and may be changed to suit the participants' needs.
4. Trainers
Mark Bartram (Course Tutor), Carole Robinson, Lynne White
5. Fees
Course fees are £1200.00 for 2007-08 including all taxes, but not including the UCLES exam fee. An additional charge of £100.00 will be made for those applicants who live outside the Oxford area. This is to cover travel times for assessors coming to observe classes.
- £200.00 deposit to be paid on enrolment. This deposit is not refundable, unless you are not accepted on the course.
- £400.00 to be paid on the first day of the course;
- The balance to be paid on the first day of the course after Christmas.
6. Number of participants
- Minimum:
- 8
- Maximum:
- 12
The Course Tutor (Mark Bartram) will be happy to answer any questions about the course
Additional Information
7. Entry requirements
UCLES require: UCLES CELTA + at least two years' experience (or equivalent). Degree preferred.
British Study Centres requires also that the experience be with several different levels of students and preferably to
include teaching ESP, exam classes and/or some teaching outside the UK.
The application procedure will include:
- an interview with the Course Tutor;
- an unseen written assignment (one hour).
- observation of the applicant teaching in their own school (at the tutors' discretion).
Participants are required to provide their own classes for teaching practice. However, British Study Centres will arrange classes for TP in exceptional circumstances, for example in cases where participants become unable to provide their own classes during the course.
8. Course requirements
UCLES specify the following course requirements:
"Candidates are required to:
- attend the whole course;
- teach classes of adult learners of English at the specified levels for a minimum of 10 hours, of which at least six will be observed by the course tutors (+ feedback);
- undertake a minimum of 10 hours directed observation of lessons, of which at least 5 must be of live lessons taught by experienced teachers;
- maintain and submit a portfolio of all course work and related documentation, including all materials relating to the teaching assignments;
- carry out all assignments in accordance with regulations and submit assignments to the centre for assessment by dates specified;
- take the 3.5 hour examination.
British Study Centres also specify that candidates attend mid-course tutorials (1-1).
9. Exam (assessment) Requirements
The assessment framework has three components:
- coursework, consisting of seven assignments designed by the centre, using Cambridge ESOL specifications. Five of the assignments include practical teaching. There is a mixture of internal and external marking of these.
- a written examination (3.5 hours). This is externally set and marked. (This is provided twice a year.)
- an extended assignment (a case study). (Marked externally.)
10. Resources
- a library of relevant books will be available to participants. This will be open on Wednesdays before, during and after the session and at other times by arrangement.
- all academic facilities at British Study Centres will be available on request.
11. Syllabus
The course programme is based upon the DELTA syllabus issued by Cambridge ESOL. Both are available from the Course Tutor.
12. Reading and library facilities
- British Study Centres keeps a DELTA library (a full list of books is available on request) which will lend books to trainees;
- participants will be issued with a (short) pre-course reading list, including books which should be bought;
- on the first day of the course, participants will receive an essential bibliography, which they should read during the course.
