Job Discussion Forums

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

I know that at least one person on here has taken the DELTA at Bell Warsaw. I have been thinking about taking it to freshen up my teaching skillz after many years in the game. I heard today, from a reliable source, that some teachers were not happy with the course in Warsaw, that it wasn't run well and didn't meet their expectations, that I should take it in Wroclaw through IH if I really want to do it. I mentioned the whole "Cambridge standards" thing but apparently the trainers here just aren't up to snuff... What do you say? Hogwash? Is the Bell course just not that great?

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Hi sparks,

I did the module 2 and 3 of the DELTA at Bell Warsaw a couple years ago. The course improved my teaching and really deepened my understanding of how to plan lessons and courses.

Overall, it was run well. My only complaint is I sometimes felt like different trainers were holding us to different 'fail/pass/merit/distinction' standards.

But last I heard, Bell Warsaw had lost their Cambridge accreditation and was no longer running DELTA. Perhaps this has changed recently.

sparks · Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 632

Thank you Mastershake, I knew you had taken it there and figured you could give some input. According to the site they are currently running a course. I was thinking of signing up for next Fall. I figured it couldn't be completely useless, but the person I was talking to was pretty adamant about me checking into it as it may not be worth the time and money. I don't really expect to get back the money invested in pay increases for my (hopeful) increase in teaching knowledge but thought it would be nice to learn at least a little something.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Yes, it will probably a good long while before you recoup the cost of the course thru pay increases. Especially if you take into account that you must teach fewer hours when you are doing DELTA...

But I just asked, and the course still isn't running at Bell Warsaw now. Perhaps they hope to have it up and running again in the fall.

Module 1 and 3 I did through Distance Delta. You really only need to do m2 face to face, IMO.

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

A quick question to anyone that might know -

A friend asks me - is doing the CELTA compulsory before doing the DELTA, or will they accept experienced teachers without it?

I don't have a clue, I've never had any interest in doing the DELTA (following the academic path instead) - so I'm clueless.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

No, it's not compulsory to have CELTA. There were teachers on my DELTA course who didn't have CELTA. One of them even passed. Smile

You do need to have significant teaching exp. using CELTA-esque methodology tho.

Latest news on DELTA Warsaw is that Bell has stopped running the course indefinitely. The British Council is planning to run one this fall but this has yet to be finalized.

lodzubelieveit · Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 33

Sad news, that, about Bell Warsaw. I did my DELTA there in 2005-06, and it was great.

hvalur87 · Joined: 16 Apr 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Lodz, Poland

lodzubelieveit - best name ever!

ATeacher · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 8

I did the part-time course there about 6 years ago, so admittedly a lot could have changed.

The two non-Bell tutors were great.

The organization of the course was just about the worst I have ever experienced. A number of sessions were booked so that nothing else happened that day (or weekend). This meant a longer course than it should have been and a lot of traveling for just a few hours.

Plus the course did not feel like it was one of the school's priorities, and seemed to have been put together in a haphazard fashion.