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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China
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 Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 6:30 pm Post subject: Anyone done DELTA Modules 1 or 3 in China? |
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| According to Cambridge's website, the DELTA Module 1 (the exam?) is available in Beijing at the British Embassy; in Guangzhou via the British Council; and in Shanghai through the Cultural and Educational Section of the British Consulate-General and Mod 3 is only available in Beijing. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Didnt do it in China. But started module 1 in the UK last year after my last China contract. Its tough, tough, tough. Dont underestimate it! |
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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| What's tough about it? Is it the volume of reading, your ability to comprehend and retain what you've read, or the challenge of regurgitating it all effortlessly within the 3 hour test? It's been decades since I've sat such lengthy examinations but I can well imagine how stressful it might be depending on how easily I can assimilate the learning with my existing experience and understanding of language teaching. I'm not the type who can easily retain or regurgitate info of little personal significance. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:20 am Post subject: |
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I didnt go as far as sitting the exam. I was failing all the open book untimed assignments so figured the exam would be pretty much impossible as it was closed book with tight time limits.
My knowledge wasnt / isnt strong enough TBH. My language awareness isnt strong enough either. Lots of tasks like 'Look at a newspaper article / an information leaflet. Identify the linguistic features that mark it as being typical of the register or genre.' Very hard for me to do. Of course I can recognise a newspaper story, regarding of how its printed ... but saying why with a linguistic analyis of the structures is hard for me.
Shoot me a pm with an email address and Ill send you something. I posted an example question in the off-topic forum ages ago ... Ill try and find it and link it here.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=98031&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=delta&start=0 |
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Harbin
Joined: 19 Feb 2013
Posts: 161
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
I didnt go as far as sitting the exam. I was failing all the open book untimed assignments so figured the exam would be pretty much impossible as it was closed book with tight time limits.
My knowledge wasnt / isnt strong enough TBH. My language awareness isnt strong enough either. Lots of tasks like 'Look at a newspaper article / an information leaflet. Identify the linguistic features that mark it as being typical of the register or genre.' Very hard for me to do. Of course I can recognise a newspaper story, regarding of how its printed ... but saying why with a linguistic analyis of the structures is hard for me.
Shoot me a pm with an email address and Ill send you something. I posted an example question in the off-topic forum ages ago ... Ill try and find it and link it here.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=98031&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=delta&start=0 |
Interesting post. I'm doing the DELTA module 1 soon, but not in China. The one piece of feedback the tutor gave me is that I seem very comfortable with language awareness and, therefore, may over emphasize it in class. I spent all of one hour on the pre-interview task and seldom teach grammar  The tutor then asked if I believe people can learn a language without grammar instruction, to which I replied that I lived in his home country for over one year and didn't learned how to express English's present perfect in his L1 and cited examples of people from a neighboring country who speak without using cases in his L1, to which he had no response.
Perhaps one tutor's too little language awareness is another tutor's too much language awareness. |
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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Harbin wrote: |
| I ... didn't learned how to express English's present perfect in his L1. |
What, you're testing our language awareness now? 
@Harbin: Mind if I ask where you're doing the DELTA? I was initially thinking of doing Mod 1-2 at Vancouver's Global Village as the nearest DistanceDelta Orientation Course center is in Mexico, but since Thailand and Vietnam also offer the complete course, it seems the better option. |
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cloud_pleaser
Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| I was thinking of heading to Thailand to do the DELTA next year. This may sound like a stupid question but, should I get my CELTA first? I figured I should just go for broke. I am willing to work my arse off. |
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Mr. Leafy
Joined: 24 Apr 2012
Posts: 246
Location: North of the Wall
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| cloud_pleaser wrote: |
| I was thinking of heading to Thailand to do the DELTA next year. This may sound like a stupid question but, should I get my CELTA first? I figured I should just go for broke. I am willing to work my arse off. |
The official DELTA handbook (http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/delta/how-to-prepare-for-delta/) says you need an initial teaching qualification, although it doesn't specify CELTA.
IH Bangkok says you need about two years experience post-qualifiication.
I was seriously considering it recently but it's just too expensive. Maybe someday. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:22 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
The official DELTA handbook (http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/delta/how-to-prepare-for-delta/) says you need an initial teaching qualification, although it doesn't specify CELTA.
IH Bangkok says you need about two years experience post-qualifiication.
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@cloud pleaser. I agree with the comments posted by Mr Leafy and would add that the two years post qualification experience really needs to be in a professional set-up. My language awareness and knowledge is often better than most of my peers, but just isnt sharp enough for a Delta. I would be very very surprised if someone without a CELTA, working in China has the required knowledge and skill set for a DELTA.
I teach grammar points, I understand and use the IPA, I think carefully and plan lessons considering aims and outcomes and generally think Im a pretty solid performer in the classroom. But DELTA, certainly by distance, is beyond me. With mentoring and support in a classroom Id be tempted to have another go ... but cost is a factor for me. |
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cloud_pleaser
Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 7:35 am Post subject: |
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| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
The official DELTA handbook (http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/delta/how-to-prepare-for-delta/) says you need an initial teaching qualification, although it doesn't specify CELTA.
IH Bangkok says you need about two years experience post-qualifiication.
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@cloud pleaser. I agree with the comments posted by Mr Leafy and would add that the two years post qualification experience really needs to be in a professional set-up. My language awareness and knowledge is often better than most of my peers, but just isnt sharp enough for a Delta. I would be very very surprised if someone without a CELTA, working in China has the required knowledge and skill set for a DELTA.
I teach grammar points, I understand and use the IPA, I think carefully and plan lessons considering aims and outcomes and generally think Im a pretty solid performer in the classroom. But DELTA, certainly by distance, is beyond me. With mentoring and support in a classroom Id be tempted to have another go ... but cost is a factor for me. |
What qualification are we talking about exactly? I have a third-rate TESOL and three years experience. I really need to give my qualifications a shot in the arm. Should I just cough up for a CELTA and then look to do a DELTA further down the track then?
Ditto with the teaching. My qualifications may be pretty pathetic but I've done my homework on teaching methodology. I have grammar references that I consult for every class. I write all vocab in IPA. I'm sure there are a million different ways I could improve my technique but I'm fairly confident with my ability in class |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| cloud_pleaser wrote: |
What qualification are we talking about exactly? I have a third-rate TESOL and three years experience. I really need to give my qualifications a shot in the arm. Should I just cough up for a CELTA and then look to do a DELTA further down the track then?
Ditto with the teaching. My qualifications may be pretty pathetic but I've done my homework on teaching methodology. I have grammar references that I consult for every class. I write all vocab in IPA. I'm sure there are a million different ways I could improve my technique but I'm fairly confident with my ability in class |
I really couldnt advise you ... You could contact a course provider and do their pre-course task. I have to say the pre-course task I did was much much easier than the actual DELTA material. Did you see the thread I linked? Did you look at the task I posted? If so, and its really easy for you, or even just doable, then maybe DELTA is OK for you. It wasnt for me.
You need to see what the course provider says really. I wouldnt be surprised if they say you need CELTA first though. I dont think an online course and teaching in a Chinese university (for example) would be of much use as DELTA prep ... but thats just me. |
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Harbin
Joined: 19 Feb 2013
Posts: 161
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| LongShiKong wrote: |
| Harbin wrote: |
| I ... didn't learned how to express English's present perfect in his L1. |
What, you're testing our language awareness now?
@Harbin: Mind if I ask where you're doing the DELTA? I was initially thinking of doing Mod 1-2 at Vancouver's Global Village as the nearest DistanceDelta Orientation Course center is in Mexico, but since Thailand and Vietnam also offer the complete course, it seems the better option. |
I'm taking it somewhere in Europe..... I don't want to say more because my city, DELTA location plans, user name, and constant negative posts are enough for my employer or someone in my city to identify me. I'd prefer to get through the next two months and leave China without losing my job and contract completion bonuses  |
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Harbin
Joined: 19 Feb 2013
Posts: 161
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| cloud_pleaser wrote: |
| I was thinking of heading to Thailand to do the DELTA next year. This may sound like a stupid question but, should I get my CELTA first? I figured I should just go for broke. I am willing to work my arse off. |
Some DELTA centers will accept people who only have one year of post-qualification experience. If I recall correctly, you mentioned having a third rate EFL certificate. What did the certificate involve doing? CELTA equivalent certificates are accepted for DELTA entry, but you need to tell us what the certificate course involved.
| Denim-Maniac wrote: |
@cloud pleaser. I agree with the comments posted by Mr Leafy and would add that the two years post qualification experience really needs to be in a professional set-up. My language awareness and knowledge is often better than most of my peers, but just isnt sharp enough for a Delta. I would be very very surprised if someone without a CELTA, working in China has the required knowledge and skill set for a DELTA.
I teach grammar points, I understand and use the IPA, I think carefully and plan lessons considering aims and outcomes and generally think Im a pretty solid performer in the classroom. But DELTA, certainly by distance, is beyond me. With mentoring and support in a classroom Id be tempted to have another go ... but cost is a factor for me. |
This is on the money. I had two jobs before coming to China and the difference made my head spin. My first two jobs used decent text books (English File and Face2Face). The materials -- a term I use loosely -- I use in China are chock full of grammar errors and spelling mistakes, the lesson plans have zero rational, attempt to have pre-intermediate students use difficult idiomatic speech, etc.
At my first job, my boss had a DELTA and really helped me develop. In China, my boss has a business degree and teaches students to use will in the result clause of third conditionals. |
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LongShiKong
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2013 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| cloud_pleaser wrote: |
| What qualification are we talking about exactly? |
Here's what Cambridge offers for:
>New Teachers:
1. CELTA
2. TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test)
>Experienced Teachers:
1. TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test)
2. ICELT (In-service Certificate in English Language Teaching)
3. Delta (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
>Teachers Wanting to Specialize:
1. TKT (Specialist modules)
2. Delta (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
3. IDLTM (International Diploma in Language Teaching Management)
4. Young Learner Extension to CELTA
5. PTLLS
I've only briefly looked at these other courses but is there an argument for taking either the TKT or ICELT if only to prep for the Delta? I'm sure we'd all rather avoid the added time and cost but it would at least prove an interest in prof dev on a CV. Are they even perceived as Delta prep?
BTW: Sorry to disappoint some but the ICELT isn't a iPad/iPhone app course.  |
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