The Delta Course at IH Bangkok and IH Chiang Mai
At International House Bangkok and Chiang Mai, you can either take the full Delta course, or you can pick and choose the specific modules you want.
The full Delta course at IH Bangkok prepares you for Delta Modules 1, 2, and 3 over an 8-week* period. The Module 1 exam will follow either a few days or a few weeks after the end of the course usually on the first Wednesday of June or December. The Module 2 assessment will be completed during the course. Module 3 is normally completed for the nearest June or December deadline 6 months after the completion of your course.
If you only need Module 1 or only Module 2, you can attend either the first 2 weeks (Module 1) or the last 6 weeks (Module 2) of the full 8-week* course.
For Module 3 we have a 2-day “Insight into Module 3” programme during the full Delta 8-week* course. We also have an additional option of our Module 3 Support Package.
*8-week Course: The March course has a 1 week break for Thai New Year (Songkran) in April. This means the actual length is 9 weeks, though the course length is 8 weeks of in-school work.
Delta Modules programme Details
Module 1
Module 1 tests your knowledge of language, teaching methodology and teaching resources.
It is assessed by a written examination consisting of two one-and-a-half hour papers. The first paper consists of five tasks and the second paper consists of 3 tasks, which follow a predictable format and which you will have the chance to practise during the course.
Module 1 at IH Bangkok and IH Chiang Mai
Module 1 is covered in the first two weeks of the 8-week course. There are several input sessions and workshops every day, covering all parts of the Delta Module 1 syllabus, as well as face-to-face exam practice where tips and strategies are discussed. There is a mock exam conducted on the last day of the course. This is then followed by a weekly online exam practice with tutor feedback.
Module 2
Assessment for Delta Module 2 takes place mainly through:
- Four observed and assessed Language Systems/Skills Assignments (LSAs)
- Three of these are internally assessed by course tutors.
- The fourth is externally assessed by a Cambridge Assessor.
Each LSA is focused on one of the language skills (Speaking, Listening, Writing, Reading) or systems (Grammar, Lexis, Phonology, Discourse) and consists of:
A background essay of 2,500 words on the focus of the lesson, which …
- … analyses it
- … considers learning problems associated with it
- … describes and evaluates teaching solutions for these
An assessed lesson of between 45 and 60 minutes, complete with an extended lesson plan which includes …
- … a rationale for the design of the lesson
- … analysis of the target area
- … information about the learners
A post-lesson evaluation which reflects on …
- … key strengths and areas to work on from the lesson
- … the effect of these on the learners/learning
- … ideas for further consolidation of lesson aims in future lessons
You also complete a Professional Development Assignment (PDA) in stages over the 8 weeks of the course. It consists of:
- Reflection and Action (R&A): This involves reflecting on your beliefs and practices as teachers and begins with a diagnostic observation by a tutor. This is unassessed but the feedback from it will start the process of reflection and action.
Experimental Practice (EP):
In the EP, you try out a teaching approach you are not familiar with. You write a background essay on the underlying rationale of the approach, why you chose it, how you chose to implement it and how successful you feel the experiment was in retrospect. You submit this and your lesson outline for assessment, but the actual lesson is not observed by a tutor, only by one of your peers.
Module 2 at IH Bangkok and IH Chiang Mai
Module 2 is covered in the last six weeks of the 8-week course. The key components of the course are input sessions, teaching practice, observations and feedback sessions. Prior to the 6-week course, there is a two-week online component which focuses on writing background essays as these are often challenging to candidates.
Module 3
Module 3 tests your knowledge of a specialised area of teaching and the principles of needs analysis, course design and assessment. It is assessed externally through an extended written assignment of 4,500 words.
The assignment consists of …
- a thoroughly researched introduction which focuses on what is different about the area of teaching you have chosen
- a needs analysis of an actual group of learners studying in the chosen area
- a course proposal for a 20-hour course for this group of learners
- an outline of how the course will be assessed
Module 3 at IH Bangkok and IH Chiang Mai
Insight into Module 3
At IH Bangkok and IH Chiang Mai, the “Insight into Module 3” sessions span two days within the 8-week course. The first day you will be introduced to all the potential specialisms for the extended written assignment. There will be an overview of the structure and what needs to be included in each part. There will also be a session with a group breakdown of the extended assignment and an analysis of all the sections included within it. There will be a day in between to reflect and consider your interests and options. This is followed by a session on tips to follow, and pitfalls to avoid, when writing the Module 3 assignment. Finally, we will provide 1:1 consultation designed to help you decide on a topic.
Module 3 Support Package
If you would like additional Module 3 support, we have a package that allows for additional tutor assistance. The tutor will break down the assignment into 5 sections for the candidate; the candidate writes each section and sends them in individually. They will then receive written feedback section by section. The trainee will then submit the whole assignment based on the feedback, and the tutor will then provide one more global written feedback based on that.