A Guide to Learning English in Malta
Are you considering coming to Malta to learn English? Maybe you are already here for that very reason.
This guide will cover topics like-
>Reasons why you should learn English in Malta
>Average of cost of courses
>Cost of living
>Tips on how you can improve your English on your own in Malta.
Why Should You Study English In Malta
Well for starters English is one of the official languages here apart from Maltese. Most businesses work in English. Apart from that, here are some reasons why you should study English in Malta:
#1 Good Weather
Malta has over 300 days of sunshine. It’s the sunniest country in Europe! Winters are mild compared to most parts of Europe.
January and February tend to be the coldest months. The temperature rarely drops below 9 Celcius and you can expect day time temperatures to hover between 13–15 Celcius during this time.
Maltese homes don’t have central heating so it can feel a lot colder indoors. But, you can get around this problem by using your AC on the heater can also or you can use a gas heater.
July and August tend to be hot with temperatures usually hovering between 31 and 33 Celcius. Temperatures may exceed 35 Celcius for a few days during these two months.
The Sea rarely gets too hot to swim, so you can always go for a swim to cool down
I personally find the summers tolerable and a fan is enough to keep me cool.
#2 A Chance to Practise Your English
Approximately 90% of the population speaks English. Apart from that, there are many foreigners who live and work here in Malta. Many of them come from an English speaking country.
There are plenty of language exchange events in Malta like this one in Sliema that takes place every Wednesday and this one in Spinola Bay that’s organized every Thursday.
You can meet people from around the world and improve your English by talking with them.
#3 A chance to explore Europe
If you are not from Europe you know how expensive flight tickets can be. But once you are here flight tickets within Europe can be quite cheap.
You can fly between many destinations with low-cost airlines like Ryanair or Jetlite for as low as €20!
#4 Work Opportunities
Malta’s economy is booming. In fact, it was the third fastest growing economy in the EU in 2017 according to the world bank.
There are plenty of job opportunities in Malta especially for those who speak multiple languages or a foreign language.
Many young professionals from Europe start working in Malta after learning English here.
If you are from outside the EU, you can work for up to 20 hours per week. The hourly wages are €5 per hour which means you can make €100 per week.
In order to legally work part-time as a student, you would need a student visa.
You can also refer to this document from the Government of Malta on student visas.
If you would like to find a job in Malta, you can read this guide on how to get a job in Malta.
5# Lower Cost of Living
The cost of living is much lower in Malta compared to countries like the United States, Australia or the UK. The cost of English language courses tend be lower here as well.
How to assess your level of English
Instructors in Malta divide the language capability of a person into 6 levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
A level- Basic Levels
A1 Level: Beginner
At the A1 CEFR level, you can:
- Understand and use very basic expressions to satisfy concrete needs.
- Introduce themselves and ask other questions about personal details.
- Interact simply as long as the other person speaks slowly and clearly.
Hours of study required to advance to the next level- 100 to 150 hours
A2 Level: Elementary
At the A2 CEFR level, you can:
- Understand frequently used expressions in most intermediate areas such as shopping, family, employment, etc.
- Complete tasks that are routine and involve a direct exchange of information.
- Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.
Hours of study required to advance to the next level-100 to 150 hours
B Level-Intermediate level
B1 Intermediate
At the B1 CEFR level, you can:
- Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.
- Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.
- Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.
- Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.
Hours of study required to advance to the next level-180 to 260
B2 Upper Intermediate
At the B2 CEFR level, a language learner can:
- Understand the main ideas of a complex text such as a technical piece related to their field.
- Spontaneously interact without too much strain for either the learner or the native speaker.
- Produce a detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
Hours of study required to advance to the next level-180 to 260
The “C” Levels: Proficient User
C1 -Advanced
At the C1 CEFR level, you can:
- Understand a wide range of longer and more demanding texts or conversations.
- Express ideas without too much searching.
- Effectively use the language for social, academic or professional situations.
- Create well-structured and detailed texts on complex topics.
Hours of study required to advance to the next level-180 to 260
C2 -Full Proficiency/Native Level Proficiency
At the C2 CEFR level, you can:
- Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.
- Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.
- Express yourself using precise meaning in complex scenarios.
Hours of study required to advance to the next level-180 to 260
When you go to a language institute, your instructors usually make you give a short test to see what level you are in and put you in a class according to your level of proficiency.
Needless to say, if your level of English is already pretty good then you would have to clear fewer levels. This would mean you could save a lot more money.
Cost of English Language Courses
The cheapest courses cost between €130-€150 per week while the pricier ones cost around €200 per week. The prices can drop to less than €100 if you book more weeks. Most institutes offer anywhere between 20 to 30 hours of classes per week.
Studying on your own
Getting enrolled at a language school is just the first step in learning English. You might have to keep practising your English after classes as well.
If you are on a tight budget and cannot afford to enrol in a Language School learning English on your own could prove to be a cost-effective way for you.
You can find plenty of resources on google or youtube and then practise it by talking to people in bars and events. But you need to be disciplined and find a way to create and stick to a schedule.
English Language meet-ups
There are plenty of English language meet-ups in Malta where you can meet people from all over the world. This can be a fun and casual way to learn English and make a few friends along the way.
Here is a list of English Language meet-ups in Malta:
- Blanco Bar, Paceville- Every Tuesday, 1930hrs till late, Hosted by English Cafe
- St Gregory’s Club Lounge, Sliema- Every Wednesday from 2030hrs till late. Hosted by VivirMalta.
- Me Lounge, Spinola Bay, St Julian’s- Every Thursday, 1930hrs till late. Hosted by English Cafe.
Meet people at Expat bars
There are plenty of Expat bars scattered around Malta where you can strike up a conversation with people. Many Native English speakers frequent these bars or own them.
If you are shy, you can strike up a conversation with a bartender and ask him to introduce you to regular patrons.
People from Northern European countries speak very fluent English.
Here is a list of popular Expat bars in Malta:
Learn English with movies and music
Another fun way to learn English is to watch a copious amount of movies and TV shows in English. This helps you to subconsciously pick up the language after you spend a lot of time studying.
When it comes to learning English with music I would suggest you listen to music that has a lot of lyrics.
Private tutors
You can also hire a private tutor for around €10 per hour. You can find plenty of private tutors online or on Facebook. You can also make a post in the Malta Expats group on Facebook or open an offer in Facebook Marketplace.
Think in English
Think about this, when you translate your native language into English before you speak, your brain has to do two different activities and uses more energy.
When you try to think in English, you can instantly identify your mistakes. For example, when you are trying to think in English you might identify a particular word that you might not know.
Even though your native language may be very similar to English you might notice several differences between them when you translate things from your language into English.
Use the internet and your phone in English
54 % of all content on the internet is in English. Russian is the second most popular language on the internet and only 6% of all content on the internet is in Russian.
Using the internet in English can help you access information and content that you may not find in your own language.
You might notice this gap in content when you use the internet in English compared to your language, especially in Wikipedia.
This also helps you to get comfortable with the language, improve your reading ability and vocabulary as well.
Cost of living
This entirely depends on you. I know people who, after paying their rent, can live on €40 per week or less and there people who need at least €100 per week. If you cook your own meals you can save a lot of money.
You should expect to spend €600 to €1200 on everything including rent. You can find ways to reduce your spending to even as low as €500 or less although that would mean you would never have a chance to eat outside or spend money on having an occasional pint at the pub.
Cost Of Renting
If you are coming to Malta to learn English you should stay in Sliema or St Julian’s because that’s where most of the language schools and language exchange events take place.
Gzira and Msida are close to smaller towns close to these cities and have cheaper rents.
The cost of renting a one bedroom apartment in Sliema and St Julian’s is around €600-€800 and between €500-€700 in Msida and Gzira.
The cost of a private room in a shared apartment is €400 to €500 in Sliema and St Julian’s and €350 to €450 in Msida and Gzira.
The cost of a shared bedroom is between €200 to €300 in all of these areas.
The cost of electricity, water and internet are often included in the price of the rent otherwise they cost up to €20 per month unless you live in a studio apartment where you might have to pay more.
You can find some important tips about renting in Malta in this guide.
Thank you for reading our article. If you would like to write for us, you can send us an email at editor@il-bizzilla.com.
Disclaimer-The opinions expressed in this blog are the author’s personal opinions. Il-Bizzilla is a platform for people to express their views. Il-Bizzilla does not support or oppose the views of its contributors unless their views are in contravention of Article 32 of the Consitution of the Republic of Malta or any other laws governing the reasonable restriction of freedom of speech.
