delta index

DELTA aims
The DELTA is intended for practising ELT teachers with substantial experience. The most widely given reason for taking the DELTA is to open up career avenues to more senior ELT posts for which the DELTA is invariably required. The most common reaction to the course itself, however, is that candidates find it tremendously stimulating and rewarding on the level of personal development. More often than not it provides a new direction and impetus in their classroom teaching as well as in their present and future professional lives.

The DELTA offers you the opportunity to:
increase your critical awareness by gaining new insights and a deeper understanding of the principles and practice of ELT to adult.
examine your current practices and beliefs.
apply the results of this learning and reflection to your current professional life and beyond.

DELTA Entry requirements
The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) 'Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines' stipulate that a candidate will normally:
have a first degree.
have some formal training in ELT.
have a minimum of two years full-time (1200 hours) teaching experience of ELT to adults within the last five years.
have a range of teaching experience involving work in different teaching contexts and experience of teaching learners at different levels.
have a level of awareness and competence in English sufficient to complete all components of the course.
be at least 21 years old.

Acceptance on the course is at the discretion of the centre, based on the above guidelines.

DELTA Course programme
The following requirements are an integral part of the course programme:

120 contact hours between candidates and course tutors
10 hours teaching of adult students for whom English is not a first language. 4 of these lessons must be supervised and assessed by a course tutor and one must be externally assessed (the Practical Assignment)
10 hours directed observation of lessons. 5 of these observations must be of 'live' lessons taught by experienced teachers
150 hours of reading, research and assignment writing
internally and externally assessed assignments and a written examination

The IH Madrid DELTA Course programme has been designed, in accordance with the UCLES syllabus guidelines below, to increase the candidate's awareness in the following areas:
The English language and its description.
The practice and principles of teaching and learning English in relation to a wide variety of adult learners and their learning contexts.
The nature, role and use of resources and materials.
The process of teaching/learning and how it can be managed.
Procedures for the formal and informal assessment of students, the evaluation of courses and programmes of work, and the investigation of personal effectiveness as a teacher in the classroom.
Opportunities to further the professional development of candidates as teachers, co-ordinators of other teachers, and programme administrators

DELTA Assessment
There are 3 assessment components:
Coursework
The Extended Assignment
The Written Examination

Coursework
There are a total of 8 assignments designed by the centre according to UCLES specifications which integrate both theory and practice. 5 of these assignments include the observation and assessment of the candidate's teaching. Four of them are internally assessed and externally moderated and one is externally assessed (the Practical Assignment).

These 5 assignments all follow the format:
a) Background
b) Lesson plan
c) Teaching
d) Post-lesson reflection

Each of the 5 assignments has a specific area of focus, as follows:
2 assignments on Language systems
2 assignments on Language skills
1 assignment on resources and materials
in addition, there are 3 assignments which do not include practical teaching. These explore the relationship between practice and underlying principle in specific areas

The Extended Assignment
This is a case study of a learner (4000-4500 words). It is supervised by the course tutors but marked externally.

The Written Examination
This consists of one 3-hour examination which is marked externally. There are 3 compulsory questions, each with 3 parts. Each question includes ELT-related data. The Written Examination can be taken in December or June. The IH Madrid DELTA course is programmed for candidates to take the June examination.

DELTA Pass requirements
Candidates must pass all three components of assessment: the coursework (including the Practical Assessment), the Extended Assignment, and the Written Examination. On successful completion of these three components, a candidate will be awarded a Pass grade, or, much more exceptionally, a Pass with Distinction.

A candidate who does not pass the Written Examination or the Practical Assessment has the opportunity to re-sit that component, on one occasion only, within the next two years.

DELTA Selection procedure
Selection of candidates is based on the completion of the application form, pre-interview tasks and an interview. Interviews are conducted at International House Madrid or London, or by telephone. Acceptance on the course is by no means automatic: a rigorous selection process is undertaken in the interest of candidates in order to ensure their suitability and a high degree of success on the course. Acceptance is at the discretion of the centre.