Frequently asked questions: Delta Module Three
Module Three focuses on broadening your knowledge of a chosen specialism and developing your understanding of syllabus design, testing and assessment. The aim of this module is is to extend and develop candidates’ knowledge 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. .
- key concepts and terminology related to assessment.
The full syllabus can be downloaded at https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/Images/22096-delta-syllabus.pdf
As with all Delta Modules, Module Three is suitable for:
- English language teachers who want to progress into more senior roles (e.g. teacher training, senior teacher or ADoS).
- Experienced teachers who want to extend their expertise and reflect on their practice
- Teachers working with different age groups, from young learners to adults, and in any context from ESOL to EAP.
In order to stand the best chance of being successful, we recommend that you have:
- at least two years of varied ELT experience.
- an excellent level of English (CEFR C1, IELTS 8.0 or above).
- good digital and academic literacies.
- an undergraduate degree (or equivalent).
- the ability to cope with a level 7 (Master’s level) qualification.
It is also essential that you have access to a group of learners on whom to carry out your needs analysis and diagnostic testing.
Delta is one of the best-known and most popular advanced TEFL/TESOL qualifications in the world. It is a flexible way for experienced English language teachers to progress further in their careers. Delta can be taken at any stage in a teacher’s career and is ideal for those wanting to update their teaching knowledge and improve their practice. Delta Module Three will develop your understanding and knowledge of your chosen specialism as well as needs analysis, syllabus design and learner assessment.
Module Three is assessed via a 4,000-4,500 word Extended Assignment in which you carry out an independent investigation leading to the design of a course programme related to your chosen specialist area.
The assignment consists of five parts, which can be simplified as follows:
Extended Assignment | ||
Part | Aim | Length (+/- 10%) |
Part 1 | Review the relevant literature of your chosen topic and identify key issues. | 1.100 |
Part 2 | Explain how you identified the needs of a chosen group of learners and how you used diagnostic testing to establish learning priorities. | 900 |
Part 3 | Design a course of at least 20 hours and provide a rationale for its design, aims and teaching approach. | 1,100 |
Part 4 | Explain how the course will be assessed and evaluated. | 1,000 |
Part 5 | Outline how the proposed course design relates to the issues identified in the introduction. | 400 |
In theory, all three modules can be taken concurrently; indeed, there are some courses which prepare candidates for all three modules at the same time. However, If you are working full-time and/or have any other commitments, we would not recommend taking more than one module at a time due to the workload. Although the modules can be taken in any order, we would, generally, recommend, starting with Module One, then Module Two and, finally, Module Three.
The Module Three Extended Assignment is assessed with reference to a detailed mark scheme, which allocates marks for each of five assessment categories (grasp of topic; needs analysis and commentary; course proposal; assessment; presentation and organisation). There are 140 marks available in total and three passing grades: Pass with Distinction (approximately 120 marks required); Pass with Merit (approximately 100 marks required); Pass (approximately 80 marks required).
The assignment can be submitted via any authorised test centre around the world, of which the ELTC is one.
Delta Module Three assignments can be submitted to Cambridge at the beginning of June and the beginning of December every year. This course will prepare you to submit in June 2022.
Results are released by Cambridge approximately two months after the submission date. Certificates are sent to centres one week after results are released. We will let you know as soon as we receive your result and certificate.
Frequently asked questions: Online Course
The course lasts for 20 weeks in total from 20 November 2023 to 31 May 2024. There will be breaks over Christmas and Easter.
The course is delivered purely online and is made up of 10 units, with each unit timetabled to be completed every two weeks. The asynchronous content in each unit includes a variety of activity types, including interactive tasks, forum discussions, active reading, research and reflection. You will also receive five one-to-one tutorials with your personal tutor during the course.
Yes. Once you have been allocates a personal tutor, you should arrange with them a convenient time to meet – see the timetable guidelines for when tutorials could be held You may also want to use the course classroom, which can be accessed via the home page, is also available for you to meet your fellow participants to discuss and share ideas.
The course units have been designed to make up approximately 3 hours worth of work per week, including working through the online content, completing the interactive tasks, keeping your personal course workbook up-to-date and contributing to the discussion forums. It is recommended that you also allocate the same number of hours again to self-study, including background reading and research and, of course, completing drafts of your Extended Assignment. Therefore, you should be prepared to dedicate approximately 6 hours per week to your studies.
Although the tasks and forum contributions do not require group or pair work as such, you should always make sure you read and comment on your peers’ posts. This will be a good opportunity for you to share best practice and learn from each other and will be an important part of your CPD on the course.
It is strongly recommended that you complete the units and associated tasks on a fortnightly basis as suggested on the timetable. We will, however, release the units in ‘chunks’ of learning: units 1-3 on 20 November; units 4-6 on 18 December; units 7-8 on 26 February; and units 9-10 on 18 March. This will allow more flexibility for you to work at your own pace and manage your time and the workload around your other commitments in a way that works for you. As a word of warning, please note that we have found that candidates who fall behind with the online units find it difficult to catch up later.
The forum tasks are an important part of the course and should be completed every week. They have been designed to help you to consolidate your learning, reflect on your practice and learn from your peers and tutors.
With the exception of what you record in your personal course workbook, when you complete tasks via the online asynchronous content, your answers are not recorded or stored. Therefore, as you work through the tasks, we strongly recommend that you make notes on a Word document or equivalent on your computer. You may decide to handwrite notes if this works for you. As the course is not assessed as such, we will not be checking your answers to any of the self-study tasks you complete. Taking self-study notes of key terms, ideas and concepts is expected in any Level 7 qualification. We will, of course, comment on your forum tasks. We will also be offering support and advice on drafts of each part of your assignment and you will receive written feedback on these.
The course will be available for 3-4 weeks after the end of the course. Before submission, you will be able to use the content to ensure you have not missed anything and that your final draft meets all the content and presentation requirements set out by Cambridge (there are useful checklists for this in unit 10). Once you have submitted, you will be able to review any of the materials and also save anything that will be useful for your future teaching or course design.
Please contact eltc.tel@sheffield.ac.uk and explain the problem. We will try to help you resolve the problem as soon as possible.
