MALTA

Malta is a small island country located in the south of the Mediterranean Sea. Its population is around 600,000. It has remained under the rule of various empires and states for centuries. Due to its strategic location, it has become a country that all great states wanted to have in the past. While traveling in Malta, you feel as if you are visiting an open-air museum. You will be fascinated by large cathedrals, historic buildings and Malta’s unique buildings.

After mentioning about the importance of tourism for Malta, let’s talk about language education, which is Malta’s second biggest source of income. There are many language schools in Malta. Of course, it is of great importance that Malta accepts English as its mother tongue, since it was a former British colony. Maltese is also the mother tongue of the country. Maltese is simply a mixture of Arabic, French, Italian and English. The language most influenced by this language is Arabic.

One of the most important reasons why students prefer Malta is that language education prices and living costs are relatively more affordable than other English-speaking countries.  

ECONOMY 

Malta’s biggest sources of income are tourism and language schools, respectively. 2 million tourists come to this small and charming country in summer. In addition, it offers language education opportunities to students from many parts of the world throughout the year, especially in summer. Students from Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Russia and almost all European countries, except England, prefer Malta to study English.

The summer period usually starts from the middle of April and the tourist season continues until the end of October. Malta has been a European Union country since 2004. While the currency was the Maltese Lira before, it was replaced the Euro since it joined the European Union. 

CLIMATE

Since Malta is a Mediterranean country, it has Mediterranean climate. It is hot and humid in summer, and mild and rainy in winter. Even if it rains from time to time in summer, hot and sunny weather comes back as if it had never rained. Although Malta is an island country, don’t let a tropical island takes shape in your mind. 😊

In general, summertime starts from the middle of April and hot weather continues until the end of November. If you are going to Malta after November, it is a good idea to bring sweaters, coats and berets with you. The weather can be rainy at times in winter. Malta is extremely humid and hot especially between June and September. 😊

GOVERNMENT

Malta declared its independence from the British colony in 1964. Since it was a British colony for many years, it adopted a system similar to England. In Malta, which has a parliamentary form of government, elections are held every 5 years.

Malta has had a system of local government since 1993. The country is divided into five regions, with each region having its own Regional Committee. 95% of the population identified as Catholic.

SECURITY

Generally speaking, Malta is a safe country. Due to the fact that many tourists and students come, especially in the summer months, government keeps the security measures at a high level for the peace and reputation of the country. Security in the country is provided by the police. You can easily walk around the streets in Malta even late at night. Of course, as always, it would be better to consider the minimum safety considerations.

Language Schools

We have said before that one of Malta’s biggest sources of income is language education. Every year, students from Europe, South America, the Far East and many other countries in the world prefer Malta. Of course, the fact that Malta is more economical than other equivalent countries and that it is a European Union country has a great effect on it. Malta is a good choice for students who want to study English especially in the summer months. Students study in a magnificent Mediterranean country and have an amazing experience. They also meet students from almost all over the world and experience unforgettable memories.

There are many language schools in Malta. In fact, it is possible to find schools for every budget and every need.

Why do you choose Malta Language Schools?

• • Malta’s geographical location and Malta is a member state of European Union
  • It provides language training and accommodation as a package
  • The tuition and accommodation fees are much more affordable compared to other countries.
  • Affordable living costs
  • The privilege of studying in a beautiful Mediterranean country
  • People are warm and open to communication
  • It is very easy and accessible to visit other European countries
  • Malta is an open air museum
  • It provides an unforgettable socialization opportunity for students from many different countries of the world.
  • It is only 2 hours away from Turkey by plane.
  • Students have the opportunity to work after a certain time.

On average, you receive 20-24 hours of language training per week. However, students prefer to take intensive courses. These intensive courses are usually 30-36 hours per week. One of the most frequently asked questions is; “What level should I start at?’’ or, ‘’How will my level be determined?” Let’s take a look at how this process works. On the first day you attend language school, you will take a placement test. In this case, schools will also subject you to an in the first day. In this orientation, you will be given detailed information about education and the city. After your level is determined in the placement test, you will be placed in a suitable class.

One of the situations that students are most dissatisfied with is that they cannot start from the level in their own country. For example, a student’s level is Intermadiate, and this student can be at elementary or pre-intermadiate level as a result of the placement test. During the exam, your level is determined by taking into account your speaking, writing, grammar and vocabulary.  Nevertheless do not let it demotivate you.  If you start training with your real level and also your performance is good, you will have the opportunity to move to the next level earlier, since your teachers are already observing you. You can think of it as an average of 6-8 weeks for each level. English language schools offer you other English course opportunities besides General English. For example, business English, such as IELTS, EAP, Cambridge, TOFEL. You need to be at certain levels for these courses.

ACCOMODATION

Students who will go to Malta for language education stay in the dormitory provided by the language schools. This is due to the fact that language education and accommodation in Malta is offered to students in the form of a package. In other words, when a student goes to Malta, he will not have to think about where to stay. In dormitory, 3 or 2 people can stay in a same room, depending on preference. Students can stay alone if they wish. It should only be remembered here that; You are going to Malta to learn a language. Being alone can only make you lonely in terms of learning a language. It should be okay if your roommate doesn’t speak English very well. Remember that you will force yourself to talk to another person who is not in the same culture as you. In this case, make sure that it will provide self-confidence in terms of expressing yourself better to people in the future.

We can say that dormitories in Malta are generally apartment style.There are usually 2 or 3 rooms on each floor. You will share the kitchen, living room, bathroom. When students make their own food in the kitchen, they will have the opportunity to socialize even more with other housemates. It should be remembered that the development of your language level depends on your sociability coefficient.

Homestay

Another choice for accommodation is homestay. In homestay, breakfast and dinner are provided by a host family. Students can inform us about the situations that are important to them before they go to Malta, and a host family is provided for them based on their expectations. It would be good for you to make your summer plans earlier, as Malta welcomes a large number of students during the summer months. Homestays are usually 15-30 minutes away from the school.

The most important thing to remember when you stay with a family is that you must follow the rules set by the family. If you arrive late or want to use the kitchen at home, you must get permission.

Another advantage of homestay is that you will always have an opportunity to practice English as you will be staying in that house all the time. 

TRANSPORTATION

Generally, you will not need to use public transport as your accommodation will be within walking distance to your school. Apart from this, we recommend our students to get a “talinja card”. Unlimited use for 3 months is 55 Euro. There will be extra pricing only for night use.

WORK AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Work Permit in Malta

As of April 2018, students who come to a language school can now get a work permit. Of course, there are a few rules and restrictions.

If you are going to work in a place, as it used to be, the employer needs to explain very well why he employs a foreigner instead of a Maltese citizen. In addition, students who come to the language course can work a maximum of 20 hours a week. That’s 80 hours a month.

Working in Malta

Malta is importing workers from abroad in order to solve the open labor problem by granting work permits to third country citizens (TCN) and students who come to Malta for education. In this case, especially those who will come from countries other than those from European countries are needed. Normally, the hourly wage is paid to those from these countries will be lower than the wage to be paid to their own citizens or European citizens.

How much do I earn in Malta?

If you have obtained a student work permit in Malta, you may be paid a bit more than those who have not received it. You can get an hourly wage between 5 Euros and 7 Euros, although it usually varies depending on the job. It means you can earn an average of 100 Euros per week / 400 Euros per month. If you work in a job with tip, then you have a chance to earn more. If you do not take into account your accommodation costs, you can at least cover your food and beverage expenses by working. But what you need to note that at first, don’t build all your thoughts on “finding a job – working – earning money”.

Where do I work in Malta? How Do I Find a Job?

There is a need for more work force in Malta, especially in the summer season. It increases the working areas. In general, cafes and restaurants are the ideal places to find a job. You are more likely to find a part-time job in the service industry. If you’re confident, you can even sell daily tours on the street. If your English is above average and you can communicate comfortably, this will be another advantage.  Apart from the service sector, there are 2 other sectors that are constantly developing in Malta;

1. Game Industry:  As a result of international concessions, many online game providers have moved their headquarters to Malta. As they serve worldwide, they assign call center staff or representatives to each country in their own language. It creates a need for Turkish-speaking staff.

2. Malta Language Schools need staff who speak Turkish from time to time in the summer seasons, especially in the welfare departments, the airport reception team and service departments. It may be advantageous to meet with schools and follow these periods

HEALTH AND HOSPITALS

The World Health Organization ranked Malta 5th place in the world ranking due to its high standards of health care. Malta’s healthcare system is similar to the British system. Malta is unique in terms of the conditions it provides in health care. Public health services are free to all Maltese Citizens. Malta, which has a strong, private health system, is one of the countries with the most popular health tourism in the developing world.

Malta Health Insurance is a necessary and compulsory insurance system for getting a visa for language courses. Schools have doctors who you can visit and provide first aid in case of minor ailments or emergencies. Then, if necessary, you will go to one of the hospitals in Malta and have your treatment there. In any case, when you return with the doctor’s report and your invoice, you will get back the price you paid by presenting these two to the insurance company here.

Mater Dei is one of the largest hospitals in Europe.

CULTURE, LIVING AND ENGLISH

Malta is a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea. Originally, the local inhabitants of the Maltese archipelago were descendants of the ancient Phoenicians who colonized the islands. Arab presence for centuries have had a significant impact on their culture, traditions, cuisine and language. Since the 13th century, Malta has become part of Sicily. The islands began the active integration of European culture, which continued with the colonization of England. The official languages in Malta are English and Maltese based on Arabic combined with Italian. Despite ongoing Arab influence, 98% of believers in Malta belong to Catholicism. Local residents are quite conservative. The family plays an important role in the life of Maltese. Locals celebrate the feast with relatives. People usually gather around the table for family dinners or lunches. The meeting easily turns into a pleasant and noisy holiday. The standard of living in Malta is quite high. It allows locals to feel comfortable and enjoy a peaceful life in this beautiful region of the Mediterranean.

SHOPPING

Large shopping centers are open until 10:00 a.m. Shops are usually closed on Sundays and on public or national holidays. Exceptions, souvenir shops or large supermarkets might be open but they also have a shorter working day. European made products in Malta are quite expensive, but they are all high quality.  There are so many local handmade crafts. Maltese glass, textiles and wickerwork are particularly valuable. The largest city for shopping is Valletta, the capital of the country. The shops in the capital city are on the main street – Republic Street run through the city.

There are many mini and super markets on the streets. Super markets are more affordable in terms of prices. You can shop at different markets depending on the region you visit. Tower Supermarket, which is a big 3-storey supermarket, works with Carrefour, which is well known to Turks.