Key books for different Modules
There is no easy answer to a reading list for Delta because the existing background knowledge of any given group varies so widely from teacher to teacher. But I am asked this question so often by people who are not sure where to start and want to order some books that this page is to offer some possible answers (not definitive ones).
Books that help specifically with Module One
If I were about to do Module One (and not sure if I was really going to go on and do other Modules yet)
I’d work through the pre course reading task to try and decide what areas would be most urgent for me to develop (as different people already know more or less about different things).
If the results from that came up pretty evenly spread or neutral, I’d buy in order of preference …
Thornbury, S. 1997 About Language CUP
because it has something on grammar, lexis, phonology and discourse and is aimed at people doing the Module One exam (and has lots of activities for you to do) and it helps with paper one task one directly, but also a lot of tasks in paper one more generally.
and either
Larsen-Freeman 2011(3rd ed) Techniques + Principles in Language Teaching OUP
or
Richards & Rogers 2013 (3rd ed) Approaches & Methods in Language Teaching CUP
because they both go into what underlies lesson shapes and staging - what the teacher is doing and why and what learners are doing and why and they help most with paper two task two, but elements might come into all paper two tasks
and possibly either
Thornbury 2006 A-Z of ELT Macmillan
or
Richards & Schmidt 2010 Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics Longman
because both help with terminology and if you are doing Delta as your first post CELTA professional development move you might find you are facing a lot of it (Thornbury expands on his points more widely and is an easier read, the dictionary is more technical and covers a wider range of terms). They would help with dealing with an initial understanding of a lot of ideas on the Module, but actually if you are good at internet searches (and deciding which sources are credible) you can manage without them.
If you have lots of money, like having books and / or are pretty sure you will go on to do Module Two
Books that include a range of chapters (so on different skills and systems and different aspects of teaching) and so would be useful for a range of assignments) - I’d choose one of ...
Brown, H.D. & Lee, H. 2015 (4th ed.) Teaching by Principles Pearson Longman (be careful as he has another called Principles of Language Teaching and Learning which is less practical and more SLA).
Burns & Richards 2012 The Cambridge Guide to Pedagogy and Practice in Second Language Teaching CUP
Carter & Nunan 2001 The Cambridge Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages CUP
Richards, J. 2015 Key Issues in Language Teaching CUP
And then if you are planning to do Delta Module Two in the reasonably near future, think about one book for each system and one for each skill (to give you a good background knowledge). You can get ideas for this from the pre course reading task.
Books for Module Three
If you are doing the classic course design Module (not the management Module) then the reading you need to do for the first section will vary widely, but some books will help you with sections 2,3 and 4.
Graves 1999 Designing Language Courses for Teachers Heinle & Heinle
Nation ISP 2009 Language Curriculum Design Routledge
Richards, J. 2017 (2nd ed) Curriculum Development in Language Teaching CUP
If you are doing the management option for Module Three the best place to start is by reading
White, R. 2009 From Teacher to Manager CUP as it will help with all the possible specialisms and with some later section.
There is no easy answer to a reading list for Delta because the existing background knowledge of any given group varies so widely from teacher to teacher. But I am asked this question so often by people who are not sure where to start and want to order some books that this page is to offer some possible answers (not definitive ones).
Books that help specifically with Module One
If I were about to do Module One (and not sure if I was really going to go on and do other Modules yet)
I’d work through the pre course reading task to try and decide what areas would be most urgent for me to develop (as different people already know more or less about different things).
If the results from that came up pretty evenly spread or neutral, I’d buy in order of preference …
Thornbury, S. 1997 About Language CUP
because it has something on grammar, lexis, phonology and discourse and is aimed at people doing the Module One exam (and has lots of activities for you to do) and it helps with paper one task one directly, but also a lot of tasks in paper one more generally.
and either
Larsen-Freeman 2011(3rd ed) Techniques + Principles in Language Teaching OUP
or
Richards & Rogers 2013 (3rd ed) Approaches & Methods in Language Teaching CUP
because they both go into what underlies lesson shapes and staging - what the teacher is doing and why and what learners are doing and why and they help most with paper two task two, but elements might come into all paper two tasks
and possibly either
Thornbury 2006 A-Z of ELT Macmillan
or
Richards & Schmidt 2010 Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics Longman
because both help with terminology and if you are doing Delta as your first post CELTA professional development move you might find you are facing a lot of it (Thornbury expands on his points more widely and is an easier read, the dictionary is more technical and covers a wider range of terms). They would help with dealing with an initial understanding of a lot of ideas on the Module, but actually if you are good at internet searches (and deciding which sources are credible) you can manage without them.
If you have lots of money, like having books and / or are pretty sure you will go on to do Module Two
Books that include a range of chapters (so on different skills and systems and different aspects of teaching) and so would be useful for a range of assignments) - I’d choose one of ...
Brown, H.D. & Lee, H. 2015 (4th ed.) Teaching by Principles Pearson Longman (be careful as he has another called Principles of Language Teaching and Learning which is less practical and more SLA).
Burns & Richards 2012 The Cambridge Guide to Pedagogy and Practice in Second Language Teaching CUP
Carter & Nunan 2001 The Cambridge Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages CUP
Richards, J. 2015 Key Issues in Language Teaching CUP
And then if you are planning to do Delta Module Two in the reasonably near future, think about one book for each system and one for each skill (to give you a good background knowledge). You can get ideas for this from the pre course reading task.
Books for Module Three
If you are doing the classic course design Module (not the management Module) then the reading you need to do for the first section will vary widely, but some books will help you with sections 2,3 and 4.
Graves 1999 Designing Language Courses for Teachers Heinle & Heinle
Nation ISP 2009 Language Curriculum Design Routledge
Richards, J. 2017 (2nd ed) Curriculum Development in Language Teaching CUP
If you are doing the management option for Module Three the best place to start is by reading
White, R. 2009 From Teacher to Manager CUP as it will help with all the possible specialisms and with some later section.