My DELTA Journey 2

In the previous post, I talked about how I approached my DELTA and why; this post will give you an idea of how much it cost me and some tips for anyone considering any DELTA module.

How much money did it cost you?

I got a good deal as I've done all my modules with one center: £2200. However, there are other fees that Cambridge charges: €165 for the external assessment in M2, €100 for M3 entry and assessment, and $200 for the exam entry in M1.

Other costs

After Cambridge had pulled out of Russia in March 2022, it was no longer possible to pass Cambridge exam in Russia, so I had to look for a center in neighboring countries and I found one in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. So that's tickets, Visa, hostel, living expenses: approximately 36 000p.

Moreover, because of the study load, my teaching hours in 2022 declined dramatically, ending up with 15-20 hours a week. So, this is worth thinking about as it was the only downside of taking this qualification.

My personal tips

1- Get human support: it's surely not fun or easy, but having someone along your journey who can support you mentally and who has faith in you is important because I honestly wanted to drop out the half way but I realized it wasn't about me but rather the people who believed in me; that would've been a great letdown for them. I was lucky to have had my partner (who's my fiancé now) along the entire process.

2- Don't think you have time: some of my group mates in different modules put off some writing or studying or revising theories from the sessions until they're due and they ended up rushing things out or forgetting the theory covered in previous sessions. The key here is to do everything before it's due.

3- Know how to read: you don't have time to read everything or to read for pleasure or out of interest; being able to scan the content page of books or the text quickly and deciding whether it's relevant to your topic is a crucial skill that will save you time.

4- Learn how to make decisions quickly: you are likely to find yourself between two minds about topics, group levels, lessons, or even a destination you want to consider for your exam. It's not about what you decide, it's about how decisive you are.

5- Get a study buddy: many DELTA candidates had emphasized this but I wasn't really sure that I'd need this until I started my course. In M2, I was fortunate to have someone with whom to share ideas, observe lessons, and motivate one another. In M1, unfortunately, all my study buddies disappeared 5 months before the exam date as they all changed their minds about sitting the exam this year. I still managed to connect with some people who have passed the exam; Vera's blog (@_englishmethods_), for example, was great help and inspiration.