Ideal for mature students who want a dedicated programme, facilities and activities.
Not ideal for students that wish to holiday more than study.
The good
- Modern buildings, classrooms and facilities.
- Located in the heart of St. Julian’s.
- Dedicated 30+ classrooms and lounge.
- One of the BEST social programmes in all of Malta.
The bad
- One of the more expensive schools in Malta.
Date of my inspection visit at EC Malta English School: June 19, 2024.
My overall take
EC Malta English School is situated in the heart of St. Julian’s, specifically in Triq Margaret Mangion, close to many hotels, restaurants, bars, and the main beach St. George’s bay.
One of the standout features of EC Malta is their dedicated 30+ programmes. They cater specifically to older students, ensuring there are always enough students to form classes at every level. The school even has a dedicated lounge and classrooms for these students, providing an exclusive environment for the more mature students. I was particularly impressed by the EC Escapes 4-week program, available for six months each year. This program is designed for even more mature students, typically aged 40+ but mostly 50+ retired professionals. These students join the 30+ classes but also enjoy more upmarket activities and excursions tailored to their interests.
The classrooms at EC Malta are incredibly modern and well-equipped with the latest technology, which really enhances the learning experience. Students are provided free lessons four times a week (but can join only once a week) based on different skills, e.g., writing skills, CV clinic, pronunciation, and lectures with outside speakers. This caters to the shrewd learner, those keen to improve their English.
EC’s large size and diverse student body mean there’s always a vibrant community to engage. The ideal student, according to the Director himself, is a student who is academically oriented, who wants to improve academically and take their English learning seriously.
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EC Malta at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.2 (1638 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average Max. 14 students in Standard English course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Good diversity. No nationality more than 18%. Top nationality: Brazilian |
| Learning intensity | 2.5 hours of homework per week (3 pieces of homework) |
| Number of students | 450 adults in July 250 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 16 years |
| Accreditations | FELTOM |
| Course range | General English, Mini Group, Intensive Mini Group, Academic Semester, General Internship + Virtual Internship, Business Mini Group, FCE, CAE, IELTS Exam Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Shared Apartments, Student Residence |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €295 3 weeks: €885 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €50 Course material fee: €21 (€7 per week) |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €21.20 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Student voices
Unfiltered comments from random students I met at the school and asked about their experience.
” I love my teacher, his name is Michael. He’s a very good teacher, we learn a lot of things.”
Manu
22 years from France
“[The ideal student for this school] is someone who comes to study and have fun but not the type of fun you have when are 20 years old.“
Louisa
43 years from Chile
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Ingmar Albig, Head of Operations of EC Malta English School.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “We have a school within a school, a separate 30+ school with start dates every Monday. Students who are aged 30 and over can come and study with other people of the same age in separate classrooms, and they also have a separate lounge.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “I would go for the profile of the more serious student in terms of academics. I do believe we excel in academics. We have a strong Director of Studies, a whole academic office, and a really great curriculum.“
School inspection report
Classrooms
Classrooms are modern, bright and airy. Every classroom has Interactive whiteboards; teachers use the EC learning platform, digital textbook versions, Microsoft Teams, Kahoot, Mentimeter, online anonymous quizzes, and surveys in classes.
Facilities
The school has multiple lounge areas, the 30+ lounge, the main lounge on the top floor, as well as a rooftop terrace.
Surrounding area
Spinola Bay, Paceville, St. George’s Bay, Portomaso Marina, Balluta Bay, and the Sliema Promenade are all less than a 10-minute walk from the EC school.
Social activities
EC Malta’s social activity programme is one of the best in Malta. There are multiple daily options, from 3 to 4, ranging from laser tag to paddle tennis, scuba diving, and happy hour. You will never get bored with these. There are also 30+ specific events, that social programme not many other schools openly advertise.
Residence
The student residence I visited was the Campus Hub in San Gwann. It is shared by multiple students from different schools. This student residence has many accessible facilities, including a state-of-the-art gym, outdoor cinema screenings, a communal pool, and study lounges.
The rooms are also very spacious, modern and clean. They can be booked as a single occupation room or a shared room.
Trusted student ratings of EC Malta on the web
| Total | 4.2 (1638 ratings) |
|---|---|
| ESL | 4.2 (1483 ratings) |
| Boa Lingua | 4.4 (89 ratings) |
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.2 (66 ratings) |
Trusted student ratings of EC Malta 30+ on the web
| Total | 4.3 (62 ratings) |
|---|---|
| Boa Lingua | 4.2 (58 ratings) |
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.7 (4 ratings) |
Ratings as of June 28, 2024
Why no Google or Facebook ratings? Schools may have requested Facebook, Google or Trustpilot reviews only from those students that previously gave positive after-course evaluations. I only trust ratings from independent booking platforms/agencies, that allow exclusively clients who booked via their platform to rate the schools. I have checked each of these sites above and they have no disproportional number of positive vs negative reviews.
Location of EC Malta English School
Triq Margaret Mangion, St Julian’s STJ 3181, Malta
EC Malta – Reviews & Exclusive Discounts at LanguageCourse.net »
