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Teacher Education

Cambridge ESOL Diploma in English Language Teaching - DELTA

Aims of the course
The diploma offers candidates who have experience of teaching English to adult speakers of other languages the opportunity to:

Become more self-critical of their own teaching by encouraging them to question their past and present teaching experience and to take risks and experiment in the planning and execution of their lessons.

Cambridge ESOL Teaching Awards
Teacher

Examine issues within ELT and gain a theoretical background so they can develop sound principles upon which to base their teaching.

Apply the results of their learning and reflection to their current professional lives and to circumstances beyond their present and previous teaching experience.

Entry Requirements

  • To have a level of English sufficient to follow all parts of the course.
  • To be at least 21 years of age.
  • To hold a further education degree.
  • To have followed an initial training course.
  • To have substantial teaching experience.
  • To be resident in Madrid during the course.

This list is an ideal candidate profile. Do not worry if you do not fulfill all of these as acceptance to the course is at the discretion of the Director.

Application procedure
Applicants should fill in an application form & send it to the Teacher Education Dept. together with a recent lesson plan. This is then followed by an informal interview either face-to-face or over the phone.

To apply please download the forms in Word to email back to us.

Pre-course Booklet
Prior to the course a series of tasks, reading and self-observation teaching tasks, are given in the form of a booklet to orientate participants. Completion of the booklet is essential in order for participants to get as much out of the course as possible, and the earlier trainees receive this the better.

Specific areas include:

  • an introduction to the course
  • study skills
  • the role of ELT
  • attitudes to teaching and learning
  • language awareness
  • terminology
  • book list
  • Cambridge guidelines

The Syllabus
The syllabus is based on the Cambridge guidelines. Although a course programme is issued at the beginning of the course, there is a certain amount of built-in flexibility to cater for the trainees' needs and interests.

The course programme covers:

- the English language and its description
- the practice and principles of teaching and learning in relation to a wide range of adult learners and their learning contexts.
- the nature, role and use of resources and materials.
- procedures for formal and informal assessment of students, the evaluation of courses and programmes of work, and the investigation of personal effectiveness in the classroom.
- opportunities to further trainees' professional development as teachers, coordinators of other teachers and programme administrators.
- to improve trainees' skills as teachers and ELT professionals by helping them to apply this understanding to a wide range of teaching and learning contexts.

The DELTA has recently changed to a modular format. Here is a brief summary:

Module
Title
Assessment format

One


fact sheet

Understanding language, Methodology & Resources for Teaching
A written exam consisting of two parts, each 1 hour 30 minutes (externally marked)

Two

fact sheet

Developing Professional Practice
Assessed assignments incorporationg background essays & observed teaching

Three

fact sheet

Extending Practice & ELT Specialism (e.g. Teaching young learners, English for Special Purposes, Teaching one-to-one)
An extended assignment of 4,000-4,500 words (externally marked)

Although teachers can take the modules in any order at different times, we will be running DELTA courses that combine all three modules at the same time so that a course will usually culminate with module one, the written exam, taking in both modules two & three on the way.

The Modular DELTA FAQ

For up-to-date Cambridge Modular DELTA Handbook in pdf

The Modular DELTA Syllabus in pdf

AulaBLC for more on the DELTA at the BLC

Skype

  
DELTA module 1
DELTA module 2
DELTA module 3
Teaching experience
recommended
required
recommended
Previous training
initial teaching qualification
initial teaching qualification
initial teaching qualification
Suggested language level
minimum Council of Europe C2/C1
minimum Council of Europe C2/C1
minimum Council of Europe C2/C1
Teaching age group
primary, secondary or adults
primary, secondary or adults
primary, secondary or adults
Can be taken pre-service
not recommended
no
not recommended
Course attendance
not essential but advisable
yes
not required
Assessed teaching practice
no
yes
no
Continuous assessment
no
yes
no
Involves coursework
no
yes
no
Written exam
yes
no
no

Full-time & part-time courses
We offer both modes & they are identical courses but for the distribution of course hours. The full-time is run over eight or nine weeks intensive mode, while the part-time course takes place over six months, spread out to fit in with teachers' working timetables.

Seminar Sessions
The seminars will, in the main, take the form of a guided seminar format in which participants are actively involved in exploring theoretical issues and their direct classroom applications. The course is seen as developmental as opposed to being specifically exam orientated, but inevitably some of the sessions will focus on the exam. The course content is designed to take participants well above the level needed for the written exam.

Teaching Practice
Each participant is observed teaching six or seven times. These observations can take place in the participant's own centre or at the British Language Centre with specially formed groups.

The Written Examination
The written examination takes place twice yearly, in June and December, and consists of two one & a half hour papers.

Observations
These are carried out through peer observation and experienced teachers at the British Language Centre.

Workload
As is clear from the above, the course consists of a heavy workload and candidates should be sure that they are able to give sufficient commitment to the course before applying.

Results
The pass rate at the BLC is consistently very high, well above the average.
The June 2001 results were the best at the BLC out of all centres running the course.

Aula BLC.com
Each DELTA course at the BLC has its own place online at AulaBLC.com

Here we provide a host of comprehensive resources to help you on the course; timetables, templates, materials, articles, advice & a forum for course participants.

Accommodation
We can arrange for participants to stay in a room in a shared flat for the duration of the course. The rent for this is 400 euros per month. There is also a 30 euros accommodation fee. Payment for accommodation is expected at the same time as the course fees.

Part time course dates - 2010

October 2010 >> June 2011

Fees
2010 - 2500 euros - Cambridge module fee c. 420 euros
There is a discount of 100 euros for applications received two months prior to the course starting. Further discounts might also be applicable - please contact us for further details.
On successful application, a deposit of 600 euros is required to secure a place. The remainder of the course fees are due before the beginning of the course.

Bank details:
Account holders: British Language Centre Bank: Caja Madrid
Bank address: Plaza de Castilla 3, 28020 Madrid Spain
Account number: 6000396419
Bank number: 2038
Branch code: 1742
Digital code: 23
Swift code: CAHMESMM
International bank code: ES33

On most bank forms the numbers fall in the following order:
ES33-2038-1742-23-6000396419

Reading
There are some books which are an essential part of the course, these are listed in the reading list along with other recommended books in the field

Cambridge Guidelines
We have made the Cambridge guidelines for the DELTA available if you wish to view them. They are in three documents

Madrid - some information & links for your stay in Madrid

British Language Centre, Plaza Castilla 3 bis, planta 5, no. 2, 28046 Madrid Spain
Tel: (0034) 917330739 - Fax: (0034) 913145009 - Email: secretaria@british-blc.com