What is DELTA?

DELTA is a Level 7 teaching qualification for experienced and practising teachers of English as a foreign or second language. The course is modular as follows:

• Module 1: Background to teaching and learning
• Module 2: Developing professional practice
• Module 3: Extended assignment on a specialist option.

Why choose our DELTA course?

The benefits of our professional development course include:

• Gain a professional level 7 qualification and develop as an ELT teacher
• Extend your knowledge and understand the principles behind your teaching practice
• Increase the range of techniques you use in the learning environment
• Improve planning and teaching skills through constructive feedback on your teaching practice
• Further your career into academic management, teacher training or materials writing
• Access to our academic facilities (available on request)
• We are a Cambridge English Teaching Qualification Centre for the DELTA
• Benefit from the experience of our tutors who have been teaching DELTA courses in Oxford since 1998. Also, CELTA and DELTA courses before that. We have a proven track record of success in preparing teachers to take and pass the DELTA. Your tutors include Mark Bartram, Carole Robinson, Clare Booth, Marie Morgan.

Entry requirements

The course is aimed at teachers with a CELTA teaching qualification plus a range of ELT experience at different levels and contexts such as English for Specific Purposes (ESP), exam classes or teaching outside the UK. Cambridge English Assessment specify that you have:

• Achieved a teaching qualification such as CELTA
• Prior experience of teaching at different levels in one or more contexts
• Reached a level of written and spoken English which enables you to teach advanced level students
• Research and presentation skills to a specific standard
• A degree is preferred, but not essential.

Application process

The application procedure includes:

• A pre-interview language analysis task
• An interview with the Course Tutor
• A written assignment
• Classroom observation in your own school.

Course requirements

Candidates for Modules 1 and 2 are required to:

• Attend the whole course
• Teach classes of learners of English, ideally at different levels, for a minimum number of hours, of which a certain number will be observed by the course tutors (+ feedback)
• Complete a minimum number of hours directed observation of lessons, of which a certain number must be of live lessons taught by experienced teachers
• Maintain and submit a portfolio of all course work and related documentation, including all materials relating to the teaching assignments
• Carry out all assignments in accordance with regulations and submit assignments to the centre for assessment by dates specified;
• Take the final written examination
• Attend a mid-course tutorial (1-to-1).

You need to arrange your own classes for teaching practice. These may be face-to-face or online. In exceptional circumstances, we will arrange classes for teaching practice. For example if you become unable to provide your own classes during the DELTA course.

Submission dates

DELTA resources

Course materials – We have a wide range of course materials, which can be borrowed. The DELTA resource library (a full list of books is available upon request) will be open before, during and after Wednesday’s session and by arrangement.

Syllabus – The DELTA syllabus by Cambridge English Assessment is available from Mark Bartram, Course Tutor.

Reading list – You will be issued with a short pre-course reading list. This includes books which should be bought. On the first day, you will also receive an essential bibliography, which indicates what you should read during the course.

Temporary arrangements during the coronavirus pandemic

It is difficult to predict the situation with coronavirus in September 2021. For this reason, we remain flexible on how the course will be delivered. The most likely scenario is a blended course, with Module 2 taught face-to-face and Modules 1 and 3 taught online.

Cambridge English Assessment are allowing online classes and online assessments during the pandemic. However, it could revert back to face-to-face teaching and assessment at any time.

We reserve the right to organise the DELTA programme in a way that is most appropriate to the course as a whole. We endeavour to consult and inform you of changes, as soon as is practicable. Our Course Tutor, Mark Bartram, is happy to answer any questions about the teacher training course.