Job Discussion Forums

Dray · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 31 Location: England

I've recently returned to the UK after six years overseas. I'm living in Oxford, a city full of language schools. Obviously, getting summer school work is easy peasy. But after that? If I want to work full-time in TEFL here, do I need to get a DELTA? How much help will a DELTA be when it comes to getting year-round work? Is it worth the time and money?

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Hello Dray,

If you want to extend your professional experience and accept new responsibilities (eg. Director of Studies), a DELTA not only demonstrates a commitment to the profession, but is also proof of your ability.

You are far more likely to get a better paid job, and may even get accepted as a teacher onto a pre-sessional university programme (eg at Oxford Brookes Uni).

You are lucky in Oxford - you can do the DELTA either full time (2/3 months) or part-time (6 -12 months) at British Study Centres Teacher Training Oxford, 5. Cambridge Terrace, OX1 1UP.

Contact http://www.british-study.com/teachertraining or
[url]<[email protected][/url].

I'm a DELTA trainer (but not in Oxford) so ask any questions you may have!

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I was looking at the price of a DELTA and it's ridiculous here in Spain. �2800 euros. That's ridiculous.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I�m looking into doing a DELTA in the near future (I know Ill have to get it one day, so the sooner the better). They�ve just changed the scheme of it though. I�ll be finishing my MA in TESOL in October 2011 and I�m figuring that much of the theoretical knowledge that seems to be required in module 1 and 3 of the new DELTA system I will know. So is it possible to just submit the assessments and only pay an exam fee, rather than a teaching fee as well? And for module 2, I would ideally aim to take it sometime in late 2011 or early 2012. Is it possible to do this?

It would be a great help to know if I can pick and choose some of the modules. I don�t want to have to study for an MA and then study the same stuff for the DELTA (having to pay so much is also an issue). But I am aware of the importance of the practical teaching part of the DELTA. I�m currently teaching full time in Madrid anyway so I will have the teaching experience required. I just want to get as qualified as possible, as soon as possible.

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

After a bit of searching I found that you can enter just for the exams for modules 1 and 3 (still �420 euros each) but they only take place every June and December. Not sure I can afford it for next month so I will wait until the December exams and see if I can arrange to finish a DELTA at the same time as I finish my MA. And then I shall have moved off the bottom rung! Very Happy

lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

I'm just about to finish the Delta, doing it part time in Budapest. I wouldn't recommend just entering for Modules 1 and 3 alone - the exam is kind of weird, some guidance as to what they're looking for, or at least some feedback on practice tasks would be very very helpful. Module 3 is also a hell of a lot of work, and they're looking for very specific things. Again, you'd be much much better off with someone to give you some guidance on what they expect, give feedback on drafts etc.
I think Bell give online support for these modules, it's well worth looking into. Definitely better than going it alone, to be honest, I don't think you'd have much chance, even if you're the most amazing teacher ever, just because of all the hoops you have to jump through. Or, come to Budapest, it's a lot cheaper than in Spain, and the tutors are absolutely fantastic!

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

I looked at the example test on the Cambridge website and a lot of module 1 and 3 seemed to be what we've covered in my MA course so far. Almost exactly the same in terms of module content. Anyone got experience of both who can offer some advice?

I want to do module 2 as well to have the feedback on my teaching, but module 1 and 3 look like they'll be easier to 'get out of the way' and then I can pursue module 2 at a later time.

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Full-time in EFL in the UK ? Are you sure ? I would suggest that you look at something else.

mozzar · Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 339 Location: France

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

If you are used to free education, yes, but it gets to a stage that, if you want to take it to the next level, you've got to fork out some cash. A two month full-time course, including exam fees etc is going to cost you a bit, that's just the way it is. Most courses are run by private schools - businesses in other words. They've got to make some cash and pay DELTA tutors.

womblingfree · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 826

For anyone thinking of a career in teaching I'd recommend a PGCE over a DELTA any day. EFL credentials will only get you so far and most of the jobs on offer are poorly paid and transient in comparison with working for a school or FE college.

Mr_Monkey · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 661 Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu

There is an alternative to the DELTA for those who have done an MA in TESOL or related discipline.

You can take no less than 5 hours of principled observations by a suitably qualified (i.e. TEFLQ) tutor. Should you pass the observations, you are considered TEFLQ by the British Council and would be just as qualified as (if not more so) a DELTA holder.

It's not directly stated in the British Council accreditation guidelines, but it can be found here.

Of course, you then have to convince the schools you're applying to that you're TEFLQ, which is difficult in my experience - most DoSes either don't know about it, or (more likely?) want to squeeze their teaching assets for all they can.