Job Discussion Forums

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

I took my CELTA in the US, will be in SEA next month.

Next year I am planning on taking the DELTA, likely in the UK.

It is offered in China and elsewhere, but my gut is telling me that many IB's and ME schools will prefer British Education over elsewhere.

Obviously taking it in BKK has the usual nefarious assumptions about why someone went to Thailand, but is there a preference over those taken in the UK vs. China or Russia or elsewhere?

TIA

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

None whatsoever, as far as I know. A DELTA is a DELTA, though there is variation in some of the course content. But the same goals have to be achieved, and to the same standard, round the world.

So take the DELTA where ever is most convenient for you. BTW, the Moscow DELTA course usually boasts a healthy number of distinctions, so I can only imagine that that would tip opinion in your favour, not against.

Good luck!

norwalkesl · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Posts: 366 Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject:

Distinctions, as in the top grade awarded, e.g. 'passed with distinction'. Similar to the grade 'A' and 'B' awarded in CELTA. sorry, I thought you already knew the marks system.

MrMrLuckyKhan

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject:

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

DELTA, CELTA - whatever. The fact that someone has even learned to do the job they are applying for is a plus in my book. However, I'll take experience every time!

MrMrLuckyKhan · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 3:57 am Post subject:

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

I think Justin is closer to the heart of the matter on this.

While it is true that CELTA and DELTA centres all design their own course to a degree, but to strict guidelines from Cambridge, this does not mean that the qualification or its standard varies from location to location. In this way, they are all equal. Again, whether it is easier to get a job as a trainer in various locations does not depend on differing standards, but on business matters like supply and demand. All trainer candidates must meet the same criteria.

A lot is read on the Internet on how some centres have a higher rate of A's or B's etc., and there may even be a real trend there. But this doesn't mean that some centres are easier to take the CELTA and pass with a B than with others. It may easily depend on other factors like the quality or experience of the candidates a centre normally has in its intake. And remember, centres don't actually award certs or grades - that is still ultimately in the hands of Cambridge. Centres recommend grades, certainly, and very often Cambridge doesn't alter these recommendations, but these grades can be overturned, and sometimes are. For example, DELTA candidates' portfolios are all sent to Cambridge to to checked there, and only after that, and the exam, do you get your mark, which may be higher or lower than your trainers advised.

If you got an A or a distinction in China, that is as equally wonderfull as an A or distinction in Britain.

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

Or just how much they happen to like you.

The obervers on my course never looked up when we were teaching. One student got higher marks than others while i was observing but he was clearly not the best. AS i still need a reference from these people I won't name names or places. But like ability played a big part. I probably deserved a pass but others did not deserve A's or B's

I hate this industry sometimes. If i ever manage to become wealthy by some freak accident. How else? then i would like to write a long FU letter to some of my past employers and training organisations!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:06 am Post subject:

Don't know about about every course, but most trainers I work with are really not interested in playing favourites amongst trainees. Just as most EFL teachers really have no interest in doing so for with language learners. To say that a particular trainee was 'clearly not the best' presupposes that we are all qualified to make that decision. We aren't, sorry. To my mind, it is a little like when some language learners criticise other language learners' level of English. They really aren't in any position to do so.