On 12th of September 2012 at 21:00 British Summer Time ELTChat had its second chat back after the summer following on from the lunch time discussion on “What do you know about Suggestopedia, Silent way, TPR & Community counselling Learning and what can we learn from them?” we discussed ”How useful is the DELTA?” Something very useful for myself as I was looking at studying the DELTA anyway!
The chat of course had its off topic shoots including; Discussions about the CELTA (How to get an A in the CELTA, one Boss who spells it SELTA etc) but the main pulse of the chat involved teachers who don’t have a DELTA asking questions about it and Those who have taken in sharing their experiences and insights.
The full transcript can be found here.
A few little facts about the DELTA
- The DELTA stands for Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (but Cambridge are looking to get rid of the “Adults” part) (@Marisa_C)
It can be an intensive course (3months or so) or now, distance learning
- My dip was 3-months intensive (IH) #eltchat (@rliberni)
- @aClilToClimb If it is done intensively about 7/8 weeks plus exam and externals for module 1 and 2 #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
- distance courses only work if U R able 2 stdy in that way. We’ve got 4 candidates at the mo & 1 of them hates the lack of f2f contct#ELTChat (@SueAnnan)
- @MrChrisJWilson Remember the DELTA is three parts now, you don’t necessarily have to do them all #ELTchat (@Shuanwilden)
How long did teachers wait before doing the DELTA?
- I did mine after 6 years but I started teaching unqualified so it was my first qualification #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
- #eltchat had been teaching 8 years beforehand… probably should have taken it earlier (other stuff got in the way) (@Pysproblem81)
- 2 years it was the minimum but I’d just done VSO so perfect 4 me then but could be longer perhaps now #eltchat (@rliberni)
- #eltchat 2 years – had done PGCE before that for secondary school in UK (@cerirhiannon)
The DELTA blues: photo credit: Waka Jawaka via photo pin cc
How much does a DELTA (or MA) cost? (asked by @aClilToClimb)
- #ELTchat @aClilToClimb DELTA cost around £2500 think MAs are around £4000-£5000 in UK (@pysproblem81)
- @aClilToClimb You know what i have no idea at my old school we gave the DELTA for free(ish) as part of long contracts #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
- @aClilToClimb English MA prices are set to rocket to mirror undergrad fees (ie. £9,000) – prices are already creeping up #eltchat (@blairteacher)
The DELTA is hard work
- @MrChrisJWilson @Shaunwilden It consumed me for 9 mths..but in a good way! Opened a bottle of champagne each time an essay was done! #eltchat (@ChiaSuan)
- @MrChrisJWilson @chiasuan @Shaunwilden Doesn’t leave much time for other stuff - I became a hermit for 9 months…#eltchat (@shetlandESOL)
- @MrChrisJWilson certainly feels time-consuming at the moment – 10pm and I’m still working. Bedtime soon though! #eltchat (@sandymillin)
Alternatives to the DELTA
- DipTESOL
- MAs In various field such as Applied Linguistics and Education (with an ELT focus)
- Both the DipTESOL and MA’s are rated level 7 on QEF but their aren’t the same
Are there any differences between the DELTA and DipTESOL?
- Not enormous difference TBH #eltchat (@SueAnnan)
- For those of us who are #new or #clueless, DipTESOL =http://t.co/63Oyc7Op #eltchat (@Mathfour)
- @Mo_Americanoid different awarding bodies #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
Differences between the DELTA and MA
- MAs are hard to judge many dont have [Teaching Practice] for example, I found it hard to hire MAs #ELTchat (@shaunwilden)
- I think the MA is more theoretical whereas the Delta is still teaching related #eltchat (@rliberni)
- DELTA focus to relate theory to improved classroom teaching and planning – syllabus planning skills – MA more research focus #ELTchat (@Marisa_C)
- [An MA is] not quite the same – DELTA gets you out of some of [the MA] #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
- At MA level u read the original researach – at DELTa level mostly summaries of reported research in methodology books #delta #MA #eltchat (@Marisa_C)
- #eltchat I’ve done both – they’re very different qualifications, I don’t think it’s a case of either or … do which best suits your needs (@Blairteacher)
- So in pte sectors DELTA’s better but in state institutions like unis MA wud be better – that’s safe to assume then? #eltchat (@aCLILToClimb)
- The MA is more common/valued within American circuits than British “@Mo_Americanoid Where the MA carries more value anyway IMO #ELTchat” (@Shuanwilden)
Maybe the differences are reducing?
- Leeds (I think) have introduced an MA course which includes the Delta i.e. you do Delta as part of MA @LizziePinard is doing it #eltchat (@SandyMillin) [In the comment section Lizzie Pinard clarified that it is Leeds MET that offer an M.A. in ELT with integrated DELTA]
A useful link
- #ELTchat I blogged about MA vs DELTA http://t.co/rhpsvxkZ perhaps the order you do them changes your opinion? (@EBEFL)
What people got out of doing the DELTA
Professional Growth
- I decided to take DELTA because I wanted to question my pedagogical practices #eltchat (@Raquel_EFL)
- I benefitted a lot from the #Delta and would recommend any teacher who wants to develop professionally to do it. #eltchat (@ChiaSuan)
A fresh Challenge
- I start 2 stagnate if I am not challenged,then I get bored. So 2 avoid boredom & stagnation,I did my #Delta . #eltchat (@ChiaSuan)
- @Marisa_C I think the #delta ‘allows’ you to tackle things like esp and eap (#celta wouldn’t give enough confidence I think #eltchat (@rliberni)
- #eltchat – After completing the DELTA, I felt really confident that I was a professional rather than an English guy winging it abroad. (@stephenburrows)
- @Marisa_C Really useful for me – even tho didn’t use it to get promotion or new job – found it rejuvenated my teaching! #eltchat (@shetlandESOL)
Financial gain and Career opportunities
- and without a Dip its hard to get a better position, or more money
#eltchat (@SueAnnan) - Certainly in the IH network it is the key to moving into more senior positions #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
- RT @Marisa_C: Post-DELTA what career opportunities open to teachers? #ELTchat – DoS, ADos, Teacher trainer, writing…. (@Shaunwilden)
- As an employer I would certainly choose sb with a #delta for business Eng or EAP – course planning skills needs analysis #eltchat (@Marisa_C)
- @aClilToClimb also a DELTA makes u eligible to be a CELTA tutor – to make money for a DELTA and an MA!!! #eltchat (@Marisa_C)
I asked Why I Should do the DELTA and here were people’s answers
- @MrChrisJWilson It will enhance your current teaching and open doors for you if you intend to stay in ELT #ELTchat (@Shaunwilden)
- @MrChrisJWilson @Marisa_C it’ll stimulate and challenge you #eltchat (@Cerirhainnon)
- @MrChrisJWilson you should do it to be a better teacher you shouldn’t do it unless you are interested in being a better teacher #eltchat (@rliberni)
- @MrChrisJWilson @marisa_c you’ll get much better jobs #eltchat (@EBEFL)
- Doing the DELTA is about reaching your prime, bubbling with enthusiasm still, but with some knowledge + experience #eltchat (@Antoniaclare)
Make the most of your DELTA
- Whether it was the #Delta or the #MA I made sure I got my money’s worth by picking topics I knew nothing about e.g. SFG #eltchat (@ChiaSuan)
The bad sides of the DELTA
- #eltchat the reading list for the DELTA has been pretty much unchanged since the mid-90s (@Blairteacher)
- #eltchat I admit, I preferred MA – it was more about inquiry. DELTA was excellent, but definitely steered to communicative method (@Blairteacher)
- @cerirhiannon @chiasuan @aClilToClimb @ShetlandESOL Some pple r just doing it for the qualification & want to get over & done w it. #eltchat (@eltknowledge/@ChiaSuan)
- @MrChrisJWilson depends how you do it - intensive options is like all time consuming #eltchat (@Marisa_C)
Round up
A couple of final comments that I thought would round-up the discussion nicely.
- #ELTchat a friend said when he was a DOS “DELTA teachers seem to know what they’re doing” – gives you that confidence, rightly or wrongly. (@EBEFL)
- I think neither the MA nor the DELTA will create a career unless you pursue it with dedication and energy #eltchat (@Marisa_C)
Personally, This discussion made me certain that I did want to take the DELTA and so I’m glad that I had the chance to attend and everyone’s insights from the discussion. Thank you to everyone who attended and I’m sorry If I didn’t include your tweets.
P.S. remember to visit the new eltchat website at www.eltchat.org
