In October 2020 The International language centre Language Link South (Teacher training centre RU053/RU054) launched a series of free monthly webinars “Cambridge in questions and answers”. The November webinar was devoted to one of the Cambridge Delta Modules, Module Two.
The host of the webinar, Victoria Taranova, (CELTA, CELT-P/S Tutor, Assistant Director of Studies at Language Link Taganrog with Cambridge Delta, CELTA, CELTA YL, TKT) talked to a Delta Tutor Yuliana Chernikova and two Delta certified ELT specialists Elena Kapshutar and Todd Cowell.
Yuliana Chernikova did Delta Module Two in Bournemouth, England. She is a Delta and CELTA Tutor, CELT-P/S Tutor, Director of Studies at Language Link South, holds Cambridge Delta, Cambridge proficiency C2, CELTA, PhD.
Todd Cowell was born in Australia, did Delta Module Two in Rostov-on-Don. He works as an English Instructor and E-learning Coordinator for Men’s Main Campus King Abdulaziz University English Language Institute, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, holds a Bachelor of Education (BEd), an MA TESOL and Cambridge Delta.
Elena Kapshutar was born in Ekaterinburg, came from Baku to Rostov-on-Don to do Delta Module Two. She works as a CELTA Tutor, Assistant Director of Studies at Language Link Rostov, holds Cambridge Delta, Cambridge Proficiency C2, Goethe-Zertifikat C2, PhD.
During the webinar, the speakers answered the following questions about the course:
Delta is a Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. According to the Cambridge English Website, https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/delta/, this course is “an advanced blend of theory and practice that provides professional development for teachers with at least one year’s experience”. The UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates all three Delta modules at Level 7 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland – the same level as a Master’s degree (Delta Handbook, page 7).
The course is for the following categories of EL teachers:
– English language teachers who have been teaching for at least one year
– English language teachers who want to progress into more senior roles such as head of English and teacher training
– Experienced teachers who want to extend their expertise in a specialist area
– First-language English speakers and non-first language speakers who have a CEFR Level of high C1 or above.
The speakers of the webinar highly recommended having at least two years of experience in different teaching contexts for successful completion of the course.
Cambridge Delta consists of three modules:
Module One Understanding Language, Methodology and Resources for Teaching (an exam)
Module Two Developing Professional Practice (a face-to-face or blended course)
Module Three Option 1: Extending Practice and ELT Specialism (and written assignment/research work)
Option 2: English Language Teaching Management
It doesn’t matter which Module candidates begin with, although many agree that beginning with Module 2 was beneficial for them because this module gives some guidelines for Module 1 and Module 3 by explaining the principles and requirements of the course in general and helps with the choice of methodology books for reading. The webinar speakers said that tutors gave them some advice about preparation for Module 1 and 3 while doing Module 2.
As Yuliana Chernikova said, Delta Module Two is similar to CELTA in terms of intensity of the course. The face-to-face course requires full commitment and it is not recommended to combine it with any other activities, such as work, for example.
Although the areas covered during both courses are similar, Delta Module Two is a deeper and more theoretical course. You teach only four observed lessons on this course (compared to 8-9 on a CELTA course), but each lesson is preceded by thorough research work (a written assignment).
Delta Module Two takes 6-9 weeks, whereas CELTA is a 4-week’s course.
There is no strict requirement for Delta Module Two candidates to be CELTA-certified teachers. What is required is “an initial English language teaching qualification, such as CELTA”, C1/C2 level of English and one-two years of working experience.
Elena and Todd did their Delta Module Two without CELTA, Yuliana and Victoria did the course after doing CELTA. All speakers agreed that having CELTA is beneficial because this course prepares candidates for Delta Module Two significantly. Some candidates without CELTA confessed that had struggled with some basic things like effective classroom management at the beginning of the course.
A typical Delta Module Two day consists of input sessions, research work, observations and teaching practice. Candidates submit four written assignments on the course: two language systems assignments and two language skills assignment. It is required that the areas of the research work are different for every assignment. Candidates should choose two different language systems (grammar, lexis, phonology or discourse), one receptive skill (reading or listening) and one productive skill (writing or reading). On the basis of each assignment candidates plan and teach a lesson. There are two levels of students the candidates work with, a lower and a higher one.
During the course candidates assess their own progress and at the end of the course they submit Professional Development Assignment, “a two-part assignment based on an action plan formulated at the beginning of the course. Part A Refection and Action is a reflective assignment which candidates work on at different stages of the course. Part B Experimental Practice is an investigation of an area of practice which is new for the individual teacher. The PDA includes observation of and refection on others’ teaching, as well as the observation by the tutors of the candidate’s own teaching” (Delta Handbook, page 51).
Three of the language or skills assignments and the Professional Development Assignment are assessed internally, by the course tutors. For every assignment a candidate can get Distinction, Merit, Pass or Fail. The fourth LSA (a background essay and a lesson) is externally assessed by a Cambridge English approved external assessor. Assessment of the lesson includes the candidate’s evaluation of the lesson, which is sent to the assessor by the centre within 48 hours of the external assessment. The assessor completes an assessment form (Delta 5a), which includes grades for the background essay and the lesson plus evaluation (Delta Handbook, page 52).
Both internal and external grades are taken into account when the decision about the final grade is made by Cambridge.
Delta Module Two candidates do not get any provisional grades at the end of the course (unlike CELTA). It takes several months to get the result.
To choose an approved Delta centre, candidates should use the centre search on the Cambridge website: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/find-a-centre/find-a-teaching-centre/. All Delta centres follow the same syllabus, strict course regulations and use the same assessment criteria. Delta tutors travel from country to country to work in different centres. The same assessors assess courses in different countries. As an example, Todd Cowell works in Saudi Arabia, but did Delta Module Two in Russia. His employers didn’t ask him about the centre he had chosen to do the course. It should be mentioned that the final document – the full Delta Certificate – does not contain any information about the centres where each module was taken.
There are two options how candidates can take Delta Module Two: an intensive face-to-face course and a distance learning course. The first option takes 6-9 weeks, the second takes 16-36 weeks. There are certain advantages and disadvantages in every course version, and the choice depends on individual preferences. Whereas the intensive course is a quick opportunity to get a certificate, the distance learning course allows to do the course and continue working.
Delta prepares candidates for senior teaching roles and further qualifications such as MAs in Linguistics and Language Teaching. The Delta diploma is required for the roles of Directors of Studies and proves a serious level of expertise and experience. Delta certified ELT specialists can be trained to become CELTA tutors. Three webinar speakers, Yuliana, Victoria and Elena, became CELTA tutors after doing Delta, which they consider one of the main achievements in their professional lives.
Candidates receive a separate certificate for every module they pass. These certificates contain the information about the grades. However, the full Delta certificate does not contain any information about the grades. As practice shows, employers do not usually take into consideration the Delta grades.
There are a lot of books on methodology and it is not easy to choose which ones should be read. The reading lists for Delta available online contain dozens of books. The webinar speakers agreed that the following approach can be helpful. It is recommended to read at least one book for every lesson focus: four language systems (grammar, lexis, phonology, discourse) and four language skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking). Also, candidates should read some books on English Language Teaching Methodology to be aware of different approaches to teaching English, classroom management and assessment.
Our centre is always ready to answer your questions. Just send us your message using our website www.celtadelta.ru!