Malta is one of the European destinations with the highest concentration of schools dedicated to teaching English. Licensed ELT schools are located in different areas of the islands: St. Julian’s, Sliema, Pembroke, St. Paul’s Bay, Valletta, Floriana, Msida, Gzira, San Gwann, Mosta, Qormi and Gozo. Having so many options is certainly an advantage. But it can also make choosing more difficult.
This is probably one of the first questions we are asked. Our answer is simple: there is no single best school. There is a school that is best suited to each student. A school that is excellent for a 20-year-old who wants to spend the summer in Malta may not be the ideal choice for a 45-year-old professional. A school that is perfect for someone preparing for IELTS may not be the right one for someone whose main goal is to improve their conversation skills. Someone staying in Malta for one week has different needs from someone planning to study for six months. This is why inMalta does not start with the school. We start with
The schools included in the list of Licensed ELT Schools include A Class Academy of English, ACE English Malta, Alpha School of English, AM Language, Ascencia Malta, Atlas Language School, BELS Gozo, BELS Malta, Berlitz | English Language Academy, BSC Malta, Cavendish School of English, Clubclass English Language Campus, Cross College English Language School, Easy School of Languages, EC Malta, EEC-ITIS Malta Tourism & Languages Institute, EF International Language Campuses, English Domain, English Path Malta, European School of English (ESE), Executive Training Institute (ETI Malta), Future Focus School of English, Gateway School of English, GV Malta English Centre, International House Malta, inlingua School of Languages, Institute of English Language Studies (IELS), London School of Commerce, Maltalingua School of English, Malta University Language School, NSTS English Language Institute, Sprachcaffe Languages Plus and Unilang International School of Language. They are not all the same, and it is precisely this diversity that makes it possible to find solutions for very different student profiles.
Looking only at the price is probably one of the least effective ways to choose. Simply comparing the number of lessons can also be misleading. Two schools may appear to offer exactly the same course but provide very different experiences. When inMalta recommends a school, we consider several factors at the same time.
Do you want to improve your overall level? Speak more confidently? Prepare for university? Obtain an international qualification? Improve your professional English? Prepare for a new job? Do you need Business English or language specific to your profession? First, we identify your goal. Then we can identify the course and, only at that point, the school.
The average age of students can vary considerably from one school to another and even within the same school depending on the time of year. This is something we consider particularly important. Being 18, 25, 35 or 60 does not simply mean being a different age: it often means looking for a different kind of experience. A younger student may prefer a highly international, dynamic school close to Malta’s nightlife areas. An adult may place greater importance on a quieter environment, the quality of the facilities or the presence of students within a similar age group. A professional may be looking for smaller classes and work-oriented programmes. For some students, we may therefore prefer schools offering 30+ or 50+ programmes, while for others it is precisely the presence of many young international students that makes a school attractive.
This is one of the criteria that inMalta considers particularly carefully. An international classroom encourages you, in the best possible way, to speak English. If you spend your lessons, breaks and free time mainly with other students of your own nationality, there is a risk that you will continue speaking your own language even during your study stay. Whenever possible, we therefore consider the mix of nationalities at the school during the period in which you will be studying. We are not interested only in knowing how many students attend a school. We want to understand who you are likely to be studying with.
St. Julian’s, Sliema, Pembroke, St. Paul’s Bay, Valletta, Floriana, Msida and Gozo do not offer the same experience. A school in St. Julian’s can be particularly attractive for those who want to be at the heart of Malta’s liveliest and most international area. Sliema offers an urban environment with plenty of services and excellent transport connections. Pembroke can offer a different atmosphere while still being close to St. Julian’s. Valletta allows you to experience the capital and its historic heritage every day. St. Paul’s Bay offers yet another atmosphere. Gozo is a completely different choice for those looking for a quieter pace of life. Location should therefore never be considered separately from the kind of experience you want to have.
Your school and accommodation should be chosen together. A school may look perfect on paper but become impractical if you have to make a long journey every morning to get there. When we organise a stay, we therefore assess the school in relation to the accommodation as well: hotel, apartment, residence, Campus or host family. The aim is to create a stay that works as a whole, not simply to book a course.
A large international school and a smaller school can both be excellent choices, but they offer different experiences. Larger schools may have many students, numerous levels, a wide range of services and a particularly extensive social programme. A smaller school may offer a more intimate environment and a different relationship with staff and teachers. There is no ideal size. Once again, it depends on the student.
Not all schools offer the same courses and, above all, they are not all specialised in the same areas. General English and Intensive English are widely available, but when we are looking for Business English, Academic English, IELTS or Cambridge preparation, individual lessons, Teacher Training or English for Specific Purposes, choosing the right school becomes even more important. General English and Intensive English courses are also often delivered very differently from one school to another: the same course name can therefore correspond to very different experiences. A school should not be chosen because it offers lots of courses. It should offer the course you need well.
Studying a language is above all about communicating. This is why we also consider the teaching approach, the organisation of lessons, the emphasis placed on speaking, the quality of the academic environment and the way the school supports students throughout their course. The initial placement test is important because it identifies the student’s level and allows them to be placed in an appropriate class. But what happens afterwards is equally important: monitoring progress and having the possibility to adapt the learning programme when necessary.
Malta changes throughout the year, and so do its schools. Summer is generally the most international and dynamic period, with a greater presence of young people and a particularly lively social scene. At other times of the year, the atmosphere may be quieter and the mix of students may be different. A school we recommend for a particular student profile in July may not necessarily be the same school we would recommend to that student in November. This is why we always ask when you want to travel.
One week and six months are two completely different experiences. For shorter stays, location, course intensity and ease of travel can become particularly important. For longer stays, academic progression, overall cost, quality of accommodation and the opportunity to build a real everyday life in Malta become more significant. The length of your stay therefore also contributes to the choice of school.
Of course, price matters too. But our aim is not simply to find the cheapest school or automatically recommend the most expensive one. We look for the best balance between course, school, time of year, accommodation, location, services and your available budget. Two quotations may have different prices because behind those figures are different experiences. Our job is to help you understand those differences.
A language study stay does not end when your lesson finishes. Activities, events, excursions and opportunities to meet other students can play an important role, particularly if you are travelling alone. A good international experience creates opportunities to continue speaking English after lessons. And Malta offers an extraordinary advantage in this respect: English is one of the island’s official languages and can be part of your entire day.
Because a school knows its own programmes perfectly and will naturally try to sell you its own courses, even when they may not be perfectly suited to you. We know Malta and can compare different options. We also know the programmes offered by each individual school. inMalta has been operating in Malta since 2010, and our advice starts with the student’s needs, rather than with the need to automatically direct them towards one particular school. We ask who you are, how old you are, what your level of English is, why you want to improve it, when you want to travel, how long you want to stay, what kind of experience you are looking for and what budget you have available. Then we can advise you. In some cases, the answer will be a large international school in St. Julian’s. In others, it may be a smaller school. Sliema, Pembroke, Msida, St. Paul’s Bay, Valletta or even Gozo may be more suitable. We may recommend General English or suggest that, for your particular goal, an intensive, individual or professional course, or a course preparing you for an international qualification, would be a better choice. This is the difference between choosing a school and choosing the right school.
Yours. The one where you find the right course for your level, students you can speak English with, an environment where you feel comfortable and a programme that matches what you want to achieve. Malta gives you dozens of possibilities. inMalta helps you choose the right one.