Job Discussion Forums

[tomseslcafe]

After getting a TEFL and teaching in China for two years I decided to go to International House in Bangkok to get a CELTA. Ultimately I want to take the DELTA because I would like to be either a manager, a teacher trainer or an examiner. I understand that I can take the DELTA one year after taking the CELTA so I am planning on taking this in a two month class at IH Bangkok. Does this seem like a reasonable plan? Does anyone have any suggestions? I am aware of how difficult the program is but I am someone who is hardworking and ambitious.

[nomad soul]

It depends. Where do you plan to teach once you've completed the CELTA?

[Brunouno]

What kind of TEFL certificate do you have? You don't need a CELTA in order to do the DELTA.

[mmcmorrow]

You've probably seen the Delta handbook, which includes guidance for the three different modules of Delta. As others have pointed out, a CELTA as such is not a pre-requisite - Delta candidates may have different initial qualifications. As you mention, one year's experience following an initial qualification is the minimum - however, most people doing Delta come in with several years' experience. A teacher with only a year's experience would have to be pretty good - and to have racked up some high quality experience at a range of different levels. Anyway, it's up to individual centres to assess the qualifications and general readiness of candidates (typically they ask people to complete some tasks, including writing and language awareness, and have an interview).

There are various ways you can take the Delta. Full time in one go; full time one module at a time; part time face to face; part time by distance learning (though you still need to take a two week, face to face orientation course); part-time by 'blended learning' (i.e. modules 1 & 3 by distance and module 2 full-time face to face). The distance and blended options are available through the distance delta from IH. Your choice is going to depend on your circumstances and preferences.

It's well-recognised as a stepping stone to working as a senior teacher in a good school, or as a director of studies or teacher trainer, particularly in the private English language school sector. I often bump into teachers who I've worked with or assessed on Delta programmes who are now working in those roles here in NZ (and previously when I was in the UK). But if you are really thinking of management, rather than an academic role, you might be better off taking a business-oriented qualification (e.g. in small business management; international marketing etc) instead.

I've posted a few times on Delta related issues - you can see them if you search under my name here. In relation to module 2, I suggest that in the time leading up to Delta you:

read up on the British Council teachingenglish site and the various 'How to ...' books by Scott Thornbury etc (and books of that ilk)

tighten up on the basics of classroom management and language clarification work (e.g. instructions, board / screen work, concept questions, feedback)

practise writing out lesson plans for one hour lessons (with language or skills aims / sub aims and procedure)

get used to being observed (e.g. by another teacher or your DOS - or even just get a friend or partner to sit in and observe your lesson). Alternatively, film bits of your teaching and see how they went.

I did this myself a while back (either by sticking a video camera in the corner or by asking someone who was observing me to film at the same time) when I was working in London. I uploaded the results here. You're welcome to take a look!

Martin McMorrow, Massey University, New Zealand

[tomseslcafe]

I have a 120 hour TEFL from the Boston Language Institute. I would like to work somewhere in Southeast Asia such as Thailand or Malaysia. I am taking the CELTA because I would like to work for the British Council. I see working for a large organization like this as an opportunity to start as a teacher and gradually work my way up to a higher position.

[spanglish]

[tomseslcafe]

Is there another school the size of the British Council that you would recommend? What are the disadvantages of working for the BC? I like the idea of working for a large school like this with numerous locations because it would be easy to go from one country to the other and the schools are managed by Westerners. It is also possible to move up in a place like the BC as opposed to the school in China that I worked in where there was no opportunity at all to advance your career.

It is encouraging to know that I may be ready soon to take the DELTA, I am in the process of reading up on it so I have a better idea what I am in for.

[esl_prof]

[spanglish]

[nomad soul]

[tomseslcafe]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I am going to look for a job in South Korea, they seem to have pretty good jobs there, the language should be a little easier to learn than Chinese and my Chinese wife will be able to get a job teaching Mandarin there. It looks like a winner.