September 2001
International House, London. The orientation course begins. Two weeks of training sessions, teaching practice, observation, research and essay writing. Result: exhaustion - physical and mental but module 1 is complete. Only seven more to go!!

So, back to work teaching business English in Düsseldorf, Germany. Enthusiastic and determined, the Distance DELTA CD-ROM in hand and the password for the Distance DELTA website memorised. The distance course proper begins in earnest.

October - May 2002
Each month a module to complete. Most modules consist of background reading in preparation for writing an assignment of about 2,000 words and a lesson to plan and deliver based on your research. An exam thread is also included designed to prepare you for the three and a half hour written exam in June. Tasks to help you complete the extended assignment (a case study of a student), the final part of the diploma's assessed components, are also set.

To help you throughout the course you have a local tutor and a course tutor.

The latter changes each month and can be based anywhere in the world therefore all communication is via the internet. Uploading, downloading become second nature. Responsibilities of course tutors are to comment on drafts of your assignments and exam practice and also to mark your final attempt.

The local tutor is usually a colleague in your school. He/she is expected to offer advice and support and to observe and report on all but your final lesson. It is important that the tutor is aware of the demands of the role before agreeing to take it on. It is also important that you have a good source of EFL methodology books and magazines readily available. Without them, it is impossible to complete the assignments and to revise for the exam.

May 2002
The externally observed lesson. The students find the experience very odd, even comical, since the observer isn't allowed to speak to me!!

June 2002
IH London again. The extended assignment is eagerly collected from you as soon as you arrive and then you enter the exam room. Three and a half hours later, it is all over. Just the results to wait for which arrive back in Düsseldorf in September.

Looking back over the past year, what were the worst parts?
1. The relentlessness of the course. Even with strong organisational skills and the support of colleagues and family, it was hard to keep up at times but you had to. If you didn't, then the stress and the pressure just increased.

2. The exam. Its content is unpredictable, there is a huge emphasis on exam technique and a vast amount that you need to revise. In my opinion, its equal weighting alongside the assignments/lessons and the case study is unfair.

The best parts?
1. Choice. The freedom to choose areas of interest to research and to teach and the choice of when to work and how.

2. The possibility of relating your studies directly to your working environment.

3. Working with other participants on the orientation course and the support I got from so many people including my students.

Why do the Distance DELTA and put yourself through all this?
I certainly haven't relished the stress and so much work in the evening and at weekends… But I've gained from the course. I have a greater insight into the complexities of teaching and learning. My knowledge of the English language has increased dramatically and my analytical skills have improved. I feel more confident in my job as ADOS. My research has helped me deliver better quality training in the school. As an observer, I feel I have greater awareness and credibility and my own lessons are more imaginative and focussed. Hopefully, in the long term, my job prospects will be improved too. Yes, it's been worthwhile.

Debbie Horsley