DELTA Module 1 focuses on the background to teaching, the theory that underpins it, practical applications and how these are informed by applied linguistics and language learning theories. It is assessed through a two-paper written examination. This 12-week course will focus on the key areas you need to develop in order to pass the DELTA Module 1 examination.
All NILE's DELTA candidates have access to a range of ebooks by Cambridge University Press & Assessment relevant to the DELTA modules, at no extra cost.
Is this course for you?
3 March - 23 May 2025
1 September - 21 November 2025
Application deadline: 1 week before course start date
Course fee: £749
VAT (20%): £149.80
Courier and Cambridge assessment fee*: £176
Total: £1074.80
Book all three modules and save up to £200**
(Total for all three modules: £4117.40,
all three modules pre-booked: £3917.40)
The course consists of 12 weeks of online tuition, followed by a further week of online revision. In addition to the required background reading, you will need to complete various online tasks, several longer assignments, and some exam practice tasks. You should expect to be doing around 15-20 hours’ study per week.
Further Information
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, teachers’ 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.)
Please note that all the DELTA Modules are subject to Cambridge English guidelines for plagiarism. Please see their website for further details.
To prepare you for DELTA Module 1, download our suggested reading list.
*Please note: The Courier and Cambridge assessment fee covers NILE’s administration costs for making the exam entry, but not any local administration/invigilation fees charged by host centres if the exam is not sat at NILE.
** The discount of £200 includes UK VAT at 20%. If you are exempt from paying VAT, the saving is £167.
Meet a Course Tutor: Nelson Arditto
Nelson is a teacher and teacher educator based in Spain. He has worked in ELT since 1997 as a teacher, academic manager and teacher trainer in the UK, Spain, Syria, the UAE, Ukraine, Jordan and China. He worked for many years as Course Director and tutor on Trinity teacher training courses (CertTESOL, DipTESOL, TYLEC) and as assistant tutor on the MA in Bilingual Education at the Valencian International University.
He regularly moderates online teacher training courses, mentors new e-moderators and facilitates teacher activity groups and communities of practice on the British Council Teacher Educator Community website. He is currently a trainer on the British Council Assured Certificate for Teacher Educators course, an assessor for the Trinity CertPT qualification and a trainer consultant and DELTA tutor at NILE. He enjoys producing content for f-2-f and online training courses and delivering webinars for the TeachingEnglish website.
He holds a BA, DELTA, CELTA YL and MA in TESOL qualifications and IH DoS, E-moderator Essentials and NILE Trainer Development certificates. He is currently a doctoral student at Bath University researching online teacher development. His current special interests include learning technologies, instructional design and online teacher and trainer learning.
Available dates:
Course dates | Location | Course length | |
3 March - 23 May 2025 | Online | 12 weeks | |
1 September - 21 November 2025 | Online | 12 weeks |