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DELTA :: Trinity DipTESOL
Advanced TEFL Courses - The Cambridge DELTA
Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
[Information supplied is Courtesy of Cambridge
ESOL]
What is DELTA?
The Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA) is an
internationally recognised qualification for English Language teachers
who wish to progress their careers. If you already have substantial
experience of teaching English to adult speakers of other languages,
DELTA will help you:
deepen your understanding of the principles and practice of teaching
the English Language to adults
examine your current practices and beliefs
apply the results of your learning and reflection to your current
teaching position and more senior roles.
Teachers in Further, Adult and Community Education in England and
Wales can get more information: click here for details of the Level
4 Certificate in Further Education Teaching at Stage 3 and Certificate
for ESOL Subject Specialists.
Is DELTA a TEFL qualification?
'TEFL' or 'TESOL' are general terms sometimes used to refer to
qualifications for English Language teachers. DELTA is an advanced
'TEFL/TESOL' qualification for practising English Language teachers
who are looking for further career development. You may also hear
mention of the 'RSA diploma'. Again people are referring to DELTA,
as Cambridge ESOL took over RSA certificates and diplomas for teachers
in 1988.
Who is DELTA for?
DELTA is designed as a qualification for practising English Language
teachers, anywhere in the world, who already have substantial teaching
experience. You may be a graduate, or may already hold an initial
teaching qualification, and are considering DELTA as a route to
further career progression. The qualification is ideal if you wish
to extend your professional experience and take on new responsibilities
as it demonstrates not only a commitment to the profession, but
also acts as proof of your ability.
You may be looking for an opportunity to increase your understanding
of the principles and practice of English Language teaching to help
improve your overall performance in the classroom. As part of this
process, DELTA courses encourage you to analyse your existing practices
and beliefs and help you to apply the results of your learning and
reflection to your current professional life and to contexts beyond
your present and previous teaching experience.
What does DELTA involve?
You can take DELTA full time (typically 2-3 months), or part time
(from six months to over a year). Your chosen course will feature
a balance of theory and practice to help you enhance your understanding
of the English Language and how to describe it, whilst examining
in depth the principles of effective teaching and the practical
skills needed for teaching English to adult learners.
The course includes teaching practice, observation of experienced
teachers in the classroom, completion of a range of practically
focused written assignments, an extended assignment and a written
examination.
There are six main units of learning:
- Understanding, knowledge and awareness of language
- The background to teaching and learning English at adult level
- Resources and materials
- Working in the classroom
- Evaluation, monitoring and assessment
- Professional development
As part of your course you should expect 120 contact hours with
fellow candidates and course tutors and ten hours of teaching adults.
Four of these lessons will be supervised and assessed by a course
tutor and one will be externally assessed. In addition you will
have ten hours directed observation of lessons, with five of these
being live lessons taught by experienced teachers. You will spend
around 300 hours on reading, research and assignment writing.
There are three components of assessment:
Coursework - There are seven coursework assignments. Six
of these are internally assessed; the seventh is externally assessed.
In addition there is overall external moderation of each candidate's
individual coursework by Cambridge ESOL.
Extended Assignment - The extended assignment is a case
study of a learner. It is supervised by the centre and externally
marked.
Written Examination - The written examination is externally
set and marked.
To be awarded the Diploma, you must pass all three components.
There are two grades - Pass and Distinction.
Who recognises DELTA?
DELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ
English Language teachers. It has been accredited by the UK Qualifications
and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as a Diploma in Teaching English
to Speakers of Other Languages at level 5 on the National Qualifications
Framework. DELTA is also integrated into some MA programmes. Cambridge
ESOL works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance
of DELTA globally.
Am I eligible to apply?
Ideally you should:
- have at least two years' full time (1,200 hours) experience of
teaching English to adults within the past five years
- have a range of teaching experience in different contexts and
at different levels
- be a graduate and/or have an initial teaching qualification
- have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a
range of levels.
Centres may still accept you if you do not strictly meet all of
these requirements but can demonstrate that you would be likely
to complete the course successfully. This is entirely at your chosen
centre's discretion.
How do I apply?
DELTA courses are designed by individual centres, based on specifications
produced by Cambridge ESOL. You can click on the courses available
to get more information.
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