Integrated Programme

The Pre-course task introduces you to the Cambridge Delta Modules, reviews key ELT topics and familiarises you with the Distance Delta website. As well as doing preparatory work for the Orientation Course, you will have the opportunity to share ideas and opinions with other Course Participants and take the first step towards becoming part of the Distance Delta learning community.

The Orientation Course is an essential part of the Integrated Programme, consisting of input sessions and teaching practice. It equips you with the skills you need for the rest of your Delta course. These include lesson planning, lesson appraisal, language analysis, research and essay writing skills. The Orientation Course helps you to identify principles and beliefs underlying your current practice and to set professional development targets for the rest of the course. As a distance learner, it is important that you make contact with others who are following the same programme so that you can share your ideas, experience and opinions. Unit 1 of the programme, including work on your first Module 2 Assignment, is completed during the Orientation Course. The Cambridge requirement for 10 hours of peer observation is also met on the course.

The Distance Component covers two essential elements: research and written work, and the development of practical teaching skills.

Research and written work

Core course materials are delivered via the Distance Delta website, in 8 units to be completed to a set schedule. Each unit contains background reading on Delta syllabus topics, tasks and guided reading projects which require you to reflect on your own teaching and context. Each unit contains a formally-assessed assignment which contributes to your overall Module 2 assessment. There is also Module 1 exam training to prepare you for the Module 1 exam with Course Participants submitting exam practice every unit to be marked by their Course Tutor, who writes an individual report with advice and feedback. In addition to this, you will be guided through and given feedback on the key stages of writing the Extended Assignment for Module 3. The dedicated website contains our unique Distance Delta course content supporting all 3 modules and has forums for discussion group work monitored by our experienced Delta Tutor team.

Practical teaching skills

Your reflection on your own teaching development will be monitored by our experienced Delta Tutors responsible for providing support and assessment over the course. On a face-to-face basis your teaching will be monitored by your approved Local Tutor.

• to complete your full Delta in 9 months
• to extend your knowledge of language, background theory and resources to inform your classroom practice
• to develop your practical teaching skills supported by reading and research
• to develop your career opportunities by gaining a specialist qualification
• you can do Module 2 at your workplace with your own students and in a familiar context
• you may already have an MA and wish to gain a more practical qualification
• to accredit prior learning and knowledge gained through teaching and work experience

A minimum of 15-20 hours per week is required over the course. This work will include reading, completing assignments, gathering data, doing exam practice, discussing on the forums and reflecting on your own teaching.

A team of experienced Delta Tutors work with you to ensure you gain maximum benefit from the programme. In addition to the course materials, there are several other key elements to support your learning:

• you will be part of a small study group who will take part in online discussions, monitored by an experienced Delta Tutor
• the Course Tutor team will provide individual guidance on your progress during the course and outline ways in which you might develop your ideas further
• a support team of a Course Co-ordinator and the Course Administrator, and a dedicated IT helpdesk are available should you need extra assistance. Your nominated Local Tutor will provide extra support at a local level through seminars and observation of your teaching

The Cambridge Delta award is assessed in three Modules, each of which is separately certificated with an overall diploma for all three.

Module 1: assessment via a written examination. The exam consists of two papers, Understanding Language and Methodology and Resources for Teaching, each 1 hour 30 minutes. It is held in early December and early June and is externally marked. You may take the exam either at International House London, a British Council local centre or another approved local  Cambridge centre. Please note that transfer centres may charge an administration fee.

Module 2: Developing Professional Practice is assessed via 5 assignments completed during the Distance Delta course. Four of these are internally assessed and the fifth is externally assessed by an approved Cambridge Delta Assessor. The assignments incorporate both background essays and observed teaching. The first formal observation is completed during the Orientation Course. The second, third and fourth observation are done by your Local Tutor. Your final assignment will be assessed by an external assessor. Assessors are experienced Delta teacher trainers nominated by Cambridge.

Module 3: Extending Practice and ELT Specialism is assessed via an Extended Assignment (4000 – 4500 words). It is completed during the Distance Delta course and is externally assessed. Throughout the course, you will be given guidance on researching and writing this assignment.

All Course Participants on the Distance Delta Integrated Programme or Module 2 course need to nominate a person who will be willing to act as their Local Tutor during the course. Normally, the Local Tutor is either the Director of Studies or a teacher trainer within your own institution who is responsible for your development programme during the year. They should be appropriately qualified, with  experience of providing teacher support. Local Tutors must submit a completed application form which is forwarded to Cambridge for approval. For more information for prospective Local Tutors, click here.

The Local Tutor is responsible for the following:

• running regular monthly seminars on Delta-related topics
• informal observation of your teaching
• formal observation and initial assessment on 3 occasions during the programme
• making arrangements for your externally-assessed practical lesson
• writing a brief summarising report on your progress at the end of the course

The role of Local Tutor is voluntary, and prospective Local Tutors need to be able to dedicate around 5 hours per month to each candidate (possibly fewer if there is more than one candidate). Many Local Tutors find the work involved in the Distance Delta provides a useful framework for creating development plans and may find the seminar programme useful for other staff members. In addition, Local Tutors receive support through the following:

• a briefing programme complete with observation standardisation tasks, feedback on their observation reports, guidelines for seminars and appropriate materials
• a dedicated website area for the exchange of ideas, as well as support from the Course Co-ordinator

Your final Module 2 assignment will be assessed by an external assessor. Assessors are experienced Delta tutors nominated by Cambridge to carry out external assessment. Candidates normally complete their externally-assessed Module 2 assignment in their own place of work and every effort is taken to ensure that an Assessor can be found in the country where you work. However, it is sometimes necessary for an Assessor to travel from a different country. Cambridge will reimburse reasonable accommodation and subsistence expenses as well as all domestic rail travel and both domestic and international  flights up to £100. Costs greater than this are the responsibility of the candidate or their sponsor.

• Business English
• Teaching young learners/young adults (specified age group required with 5-year range e.g. 8–13, 14–19)
• English for Special Purposes
• English for Academic Purposes
• ESOL learners with clear specialist needs e.g. literacy needs CLIL/Embedded ESOL (teaching English through subject/work-based learning)
• Teaching examination classes
• Teaching one-to-one
• Teaching monolingual classes
• Teaching multilingual classes
• Teaching in an English-speaking environment
• Teaching in a non-English-speaking environment
• Teaching learners online, through distance/blended learning (DL)
• Teaching English to learners with special requirements e.g. visual/hearing impairment, dyslexia, ASD (SR)
• Language development for teachers (LDT)
• Language Support e.g. EAL on mainstream teaching programmes; specialist skills support such as supporting writing needs (LS)

Distance Delta Course Tutors support candidates on all of the above Cambridge Module 3 specialisms. Please note that Option 2 in ELT Management is only available on the 3 month stand alone Module 3 course and not on the Integrated Programme. We provide additional course materials on 5 specialisms: Business English, Teaching Younger Learners, Teaching examination classes, English for Academic Purposes and ESOL with literacy needs. We also provide guided reading for 3 further specialisms: Teaching one-to-one, Teaching monolingual classes and Teaching multilingual classes.

You may take the Module 1 exam either at International House London, a British Council local centre or other approved local Cambridge centre. Please note that transfer centres may charge an administration fee. The Distance Delta team will support you in arranging your exam centre.