Teacher Training and Further Training

Bridge Mills Galway Language Centre is delighted to begin offering the Cambridge Delta – Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages to ELT professionals in Ireland. The school has partnered with NILE – Norwich Institute for Language Education, established in 1995, to provide a combination of face to face and online training. Small training groups will be led by experienced and highly qualified trainers, using a bespoke platform and specially-designed synchronous and asynchronous interaction tools as well as a wealth of unique content and resources preparing for Modules 1, 2 and 3 of the Cambridge Delta the most recognised and respected professional qualification for experienced teachers who are looking to take their language teaching career to the next level.

Candidates will have a dedicated online tutor to support them through the course, and in the case of Module 2, a local tutor to provide observation, feedback and support in the practical component of the qualification. As a Cambridge examinations centre candidates can take the Exam for DELTA module 1 as well as Cambridge TKT examinations at the school.

Delta Module 1 (12 weeks starting September or March)

This module begins by examining ELT terminology, from definitions of technical terms to the analysis of published teaching materials for sub-skills and discourse features. You will consider how these things would be taught to a specific group of learners.

You will then look at the use of authentic texts, analysing them for features of genre, and the meaning, form, use and phonological aspects of language items present in them.

Later in the course, you will examine strengths and weaknesses of student-generated spoken or written texts in relation to areas such as task achievement, cohesion, use of collocation and so on.

Following on from this, you will evaluate a range of ELT examinations and tests, looking at their effectiveness relative to their stated purpose. In a similar way, extracts from published course book materials (including resource books and lesson plans) will then be studied in order to identify and discuss the underlying key language learning assumptions. You will also look at how other teachers have adapted or interpreted these materials and discuss what implications this has for classroom practice (in terms of methodological analysis, language acquisition theories, resources, and learner and teacher roles.)

For more detailed information about the examination please refer to the Cambridge English website.

Delta Module 2 – (9 months duration starting March each year):

You will need to complete 5 practical assignments.

These are: The Professional Development Assignment (PDA)

This consists of:

• An observed, unassessed diagnostic lesson to start you thinking about areas to work on in your teaching
• A reflective essay, written in stages through the course; in it you consider areas to work on in your teaching, suggest strategies for improving in these areas, and reflect on your development during the course (2000 to 2500 words)
• An experimental practice assignment, in which you investigate an area of classroom practice that is new to you, teach a lesson (unobserved) to try out this practice, and reflect on what you learn from it.

Two Language Systems Assignments (LSA):

These focus on any two of the following areas: grammar, lexis, phonology, discourse

Two Language Skills Assignments (LSA):

These focus on one receptive skill (reading or listening) AND one productive skill (speaking or writing) Three of the four LSAs are assessed internally by your Personal Delta Tutor (PDT). The fourth is assessed externally by a visiting assessor. Each LSA is made up of three parts:

• A background essay, which looks into the theoretical aspects of the area you choose to focus on, and discusses how these relate to the classroom (2000 to 2500 words)
• A taught lesson, which is supported by a detailed plan including a short commentary
• A post-lesson evaluation (PLE) which reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of the lesson

Delta Module 3 (12 weeks starting September or March):

Module Three aims to develop knowledge of and competence in:

• a chosen specialism
• approaches to needs analysis
• curriculum and syllabus design principles
• different types of syllabus
• course design and evaluation
• assessment of learners

The covers the five assessment areas and comprises the following seven units of work:

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Principles and procedures: Needs analysis; Goals and objectives
4. Principles and procedures 2: Diagnostic testing
5. Principles and procedures 3: Conceptualisation of content; Grading (staging and sequencing); Materials
6. Principles and procedures 4: Evaluation; Student assessment
7. Problems and pitfalls

Running through these seven units there are 35 tasks of varying lengths, designed for individual reflection on course reading and practical experience. Answers / comments on the tasks are provided within the online materials, but tasks can be submitted to a course tutor via email for more personalised feedback and discussion. Drafts of each of the five sections of the Extended Assignment should be submitted via email as they are completed for feedback from a course tutor, who will also give feedback on a final draft of the entire assignment. You should expect to be doing around 15 to 20 hours per week.

To find out more about all our courses please contact [email protected] or phone 09156646