Benefits of Learning English in Malta

Thinking of going to Malta for your English language course? You are in luck. Malta is one of the hotspots for English language learners from all around the world, and for good reason. The sandy beaches, clear waters and friendly Maltese atmosphere attracts people from all over Europe.
But beyond this they come for a reason – to learn English. People outside of Malta often wonder if coming to Malta is as good as going to England. But as soon as they arrive they realize that speaking English in Malta is just as important as it would be had they gone to England. As a truly international country in which most people are fluently bilingual, speaking English is important in simple day-to-day communication.

Malta provides students with a truly immersive experience in which they have to speak English in various social situations. This is an added benefit. You have the opportunity to speak English with native speakers, whilst enjoying a beer or visiting one of Malta’s various historic sites. This breaks the formality of a classroom environment and you can concentrate on enjoying yourself whilst speaking English with a native speaker!

If you are staying with a host family, you can go home to a welcoming atmosphere with people who also speak English, and have dinner with them. This natural, friendly atmosphere and totally immersive environment is one of the primary reasons why thousands of people come to Malta every year to study at one of the many language schools.
However, choosing a language school (for example the professional English Language School Maltalingua) is often more difficult than it sounds- but it is recommended that students look for:

• A school that has a good structure of levels and achievement; schools that follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and regularly assess student progress is a good sign of this. By focusing on students’ individual needs through a process of interviews, classroom participation and needs analysis; students are constantly assessed and their level is adjusted appropriately. Maltalingua has a carefully developed system to give the students a great opportunity to develop, even if they are only in Malta for a short time.

• It is also an advantage if a school actively encourages this student-teacher communication outside of the lessons through cultural and social activities such as going to Valletta or simply going to the local karaoke bar. Teachers encourage students to speak English for the whole time and learning English and having fun are possible!

• Professional teachers are also the key to progress. Maltalingua is a school with a high proportion of teachers that are trained to the internationally-recognised University of Cambridge (CELTA) level or equivalent and have had experience in teaching English to a diverse range of students.

We look forward to welcoming you and we hope to see you soon!
This article has been written by James Warwick (EFL Teacher at Maltalingua)