Experience inMalta

Experience inMalta is our study holiday programme in Malta for young people aged 9 to 17, combining an English course, resort accommodation, full board, activities, excursions and supervision within one international programme. It is designed especially for families looking for a complete and comfortable study experience, where the school and accommodation are located within the same complex and students can combine learning English with activities, excursions, time with other students and moments to relax. The programme takes place at the Salini Resort, a 4-star superior resort located by the sea in Salina Bay. Students’ rooms, English classrooms, the restaurant and leisure areas are all located within the same complex. This means that students can enjoy the entire experience without having to travel between their accommodation and school every day. Experience inMalta is organised for different age groups because the needs of a 10-year-old child are very different from those of a 16- or 17-year-old teenager. Levels of supervision, permitted independence and participation in activities vary according to age, while the main elements that characterise the programme remain the same.

An international study holiday

One of the aims of Experience inMalta is to give young people the opportunity to enjoy a truly international experience. The school selected for the programme is ESE – European School of English, attended by students from different countries. Classes are international and are organised according to students’ language level and age. The mix of nationalities can naturally vary throughout the summer, but the international environment is one of the key features of the programme. This gives students the opportunity to use English not only during lessons. Meeting young people who speak different languages creates spontaneous opportunities to communicate in English during activities, excursions and the time they spend together. English gradually becomes a way to get to know each other, participate and make new friends.

Studying English at the European School of English

The English course is organised by the European School of English – ESE, one of Malta’s English language schools and a member of FELTOM, the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta. Lessons take place directly in classrooms located on the ground floor of the Salini Resort. Depending on students’ age, language level and the organisation of the programme, lessons may take place either in the morning or in the afternoon. The academic programme focuses on different language skills, including comprehension, listening, reading, writing and, above all, communication. Before arriving in Malta, students take a placement test which allows the school to assess their level and place them in the most appropriate class. At the end of the course, students who have attended at least 80% of their lessons receive a certificate of attendance from the school, including information about the course attended, the number of lesson hours and the level achieved. Students who would like to dedicate more time to studying can also add extra lessons to the standard programme.

School and resort in the same location

One of the main features of the Experience inMalta package is that the entire stay is organised within a single complex. Students stay at the Salini Resort and attend their English lessons within the same complex. This eliminates the need for daily travel between accommodation and school and allows students to make better use of their time. Once a lesson is over, students are already where they are staying. They can return to their room, go to the restaurant, meet the other students or, when the programme allows, use the resort’s facilities. For younger students, this is a particularly convenient solution; for parents, it also means knowing that an important part of the day takes place within a single, organised environment.

Staying at the Salini Resort

The Salini Resort is a 4-star superior hotel located directly by the sea in Salina Bay, approximately ten minutes from St. Julian’s. It is a modern property with air-conditioned rooms featuring outdoor spaces or balconies; many rooms also have sea views. The resort has extensive outdoor spaces, green areas, sports facilities and three swimming pools. A large infinity pool overlooking the sea is mainly reserved for students and can be used at no additional cost. Having the swimming pool, school, rooms, restaurant and leisure facilities all within the same complex helps make the stay simpler and more relaxing. Students stay in an area separate from the other hotel guests and can rely on the resort’s facilities, a dedicated student reception and the Group Leaders who stay at the resort with them.

Full board at the resort

Experience inMalta includes full board. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet-style at the restaurant within the complex. This is another feature that distinguishes the programme from other types of study holidays where students need to travel to school or receive packed lunches during the day. Eating at the resort makes everyday life simpler for students and allows them to share mealtimes with the other students as well. After lessons or activities, they can return directly to the resort, eat at the restaurant and get ready for the rest of the day’s programme.

Activities, excursions and free time

Experience inMalta is much more than an English course. Throughout the week, lessons are combined with a programme of organised activities and excursions. When lessons take place in the morning, activities may be scheduled in the afternoon and evening; when lessons take place in the afternoon, activities may instead be organised in the morning and evening. Transport included in the programme is organised by coach. The schedule may vary depending on weather conditions, logistics and the time of year, but may include cultural visits, time by the sea, recreational activities, international evenings and opportunities to discover some of Malta’s best-known destinations. Experiences included in the programme may feature Valletta, Mdina, Comino, the Malta National Aquarium, water parks, beaches, shopping and organised evening activities. Activities also provide another opportunity to spend time with international students and continue using English outside the classroom.

A different programme for different ages

Experience inMalta is designed for young people aged 9 to 17, but the programme takes into account the important differences between the various age groups. For students aged 9 to 13, supervision is continuous and participation in the activities and excursions included in the programme is compulsory. Students cannot leave the resort independently. For students aged 14 and 15, activities are normally part of the programme, while the possibility of going out independently may be regulated through parental authorisation. Students aged 16 and 17 have a greater level of independence. They may choose whether to participate in some activities and excursions and, while respecting the established rules and schedules, may have more free time. In this way, the level of supervision gradually adapts to the student’s age. A younger student needs a more structured programme, while an older teenager can begin to manage certain parts of their experience more independently.

Supervision and Group Leaders

Group Leaders support students throughout their stay and stay with them at the resort. They are present during activities and excursions and provide a point of reference for students throughout the experience. Supervision is organised differently according to age, with more structured rules for younger students and progressively greater independence for older teenagers. Even when a teenager is allowed to choose not to participate in an activity included in the programme, there are still clear rules to follow and the team must know where they are. Having Group Leaders staying within the same complex also means that students have people they can easily turn to throughout their stay.

A complete programme within a resort

Experience inMalta is designed for families who consider comfort an important part of a study holiday. The English course, accommodation, full board, swimming pool, leisure facilities, activities, excursions and supervision are all part of the same experience. Living and studying within the same complex reduces travel time and gives students more time to spend together, participate in activities or simply relax. During a typical day, they can attend English lessons, have lunch at the restaurant, spend time by the pool, take part in an excursion and finish the evening with the other students. It is precisely this combination of studying, comfort, international life and free time that characterises Experience inMalta.

Learning, travelling and becoming more independent

A study holiday can be much more than simply spending time abroad. For younger students, it may be one of their first experiences away from their family. For teenagers, it can become an opportunity to gradually experience greater independence. In both cases, it means sharing spaces and everyday life with other young people, respecting schedules and rules, learning to organise themselves and communicating with people who speak different languages. English is a central part of the experience, but it is not the only one. Experience inMalta aims to give young people the opportunity to study, have fun, discover Malta, make new friends and return home with greater confidence in their own abilities. An international study holiday, experienced in a seaside resort and organised according to the age of the participants: this is Experience inMalta.

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