ELT in Brazil

“Is the DELTA worth it?” asked a teacher I was talking to the other day. I don’t think there’s a clear-cut answer to that question because it depends on what being “worth it” means to the person evaluating it. For instance, when I hear this question, the first thing that comes to mind is money. The DELTA is very expensive, and asking “Is it worth it?” seems to me that the second ‘it’ there means ‘the money you pay’. So, is DELTA worth the money you pay for it? I believe we can answer this question by looking at it from an investor’s perspective, meaning you put some money into something that you expect will lead you to more money eventually, correct?

Notice how tricky it is to answer that question. I think I spent around R$30k (the equivalent of 20 minimum wage salaries) for all three modules of the DELTA. Mind you, it took me three different prep courses to feel ready for the exam. From an investor’s perspective, perhaps if I had, I don’t know, bought some bank papers with that money, today I would have something to my name. I don’t think the DELTA has significantly impacted how much money I make as a teacher and, perhaps, if looking at it from an investor’s perspective, you could say that this doesn’t have the best ROI.

Notice, however, how short-sighted that perspective is. For one, we cannot possibly foresee the impact of this specific qualification on one’s income because there are so many variables involved in the web of career growth and income growth that it is just too complex to single out one element. Also, when can we expect to see the ROI of such a qualification? In a week? A month? A year? Five years? Who’s to say whether the job I got after the qualification was because of it or despite it?

Back to the question, “Is the DELTA worth it?” In Brazilian Portuguese, my mother tongue, this question translates to “O DELTA vale a pena?” and translating it back to English, word by word, “Is the DELTA worth the penalty?” so we can interpret the ‘it’ as “the trouble of doing it,” which is a wonderful thing to say, isn’t it? Is the DELTA worth the trouble of doing it? From my perspective, most of what you pay for in a course like this is for the trouble of doing it. Picture an MA where it is smooth sailing from beginning to end. No challenges, no tight deadlines, no discussions and disagreements with your tutor, no re-writing entire sections. Doesn’t it sound like a scam? Learning something new, especially at this depth (level 7), is challenging. I believe learning has to involve challenge, problem-solving, troubleshooting, drafting and redrafting, and feedback beyond the pat on the back; otherwise, I get the feeling I’m stuck in my comfort zone. The challenge, the tension, the feeling you’re playing above your league, is the confirmation you’re immersed in your zone of proximal development. When paying for a course such as this, expect to get challenge in return.

We are still, however, looking at the diploma from an investor’s perspective. Now, not from the perspective of investing money but time and effort. Notice also that we are looking at the DELTA as if it were an instrument to make more money. A way of assessing the value of an instrument is by looking at how effectively it helps us reach our goal. For instance, a way of assessing how good a hammer is is by looking at how effectively it drives nails into wood. What if, alas, we’ve been looking at the diploma as an instrument when we should be looking at it as an end in itself? I’m not saying making money is not important; it surely is, especially in our very capitalist world where most things, sometimes even people, are assessed based on how much money they are worth. What if we got the question wrong?

“Is the DELTA worth it?” What if the ‘it’ there refers to ‘the DELTA’? What a weird and cyclical question, I know, but bear with me. “Is the DELTA worth the DELTA?” What if we look at the course from a cyclical, in-itself perspective? What if we evaluate the course by the course’s standards and objectives instead of using an outside value system to compare it to? Is the DELTA a good course as far as reaching its objectives and fostering the development of those who take it? Well, speaking from experience, it sure is. The DELTA was a profoundly transformative experience for me, from Module One through Module Three.

Module Two made me feel much more confident about my teaching skills and gave me a safe environment for developing my academic writing skills. It served as a scaffold to more complex academic writing in Module Three and now that I am taking an MA in TESOL. Module One taught me how to study and actually how to read. Not that I was illiterate before it, of course not, but it taught me to read critically and selectively. Module Three taught me to design courses, questionnaires, diagnostic tests, syllabi, and assessment tools.

Ironically, the DELTA has made me more and less confident in regard to what I thought I knew about ELT. When I took the CELTA, I was certain of so many things. I had a one-size-fits-all framework for every kind of lesson, be it systems, skills, or integrated skills/systems lessons. During the DELTA and now after it, I feel struck by the Socratic “All I know is that I know nothing.” For example, when it comes to teaching listening, after the CELTA, I was sure I was doing a great job at it; however, now, I am not even sure I have ever actually taught a listening class. I am not sure I could teach one now.

All that to say that answering the question “Is the DELTA worth it?” is no easy feat. If you’re looking for an immediate raise, I feel you might be disappointed. Perhaps you should invest in a fit sandwich franchise. On the other hand, if what you’re looking for is a challenging and rewarding learning experience for the sake of learning and the satisfaction of perfecting your craft, well, in that case, I’d say you’re in for a treat.