Ideal for students who want to take English exams.
Not ideal for mature students who want to avoid the excitement of young adults.
The good
- Large range of courses targeting different age groups.
- Large modern building with great facilities.
- The most accredited English language school in Malta.
The bad
- A lot of building works and dust surround this particular street.
- The teachers don’t integrate class trips/activities into their lessons.
Date of my inspection visit at ESE (European School of English) Malta: June 21, 2024.
My overall take
ESE Malta is in the vibrant Paceville area. This is definitely a big attraction for many young students as the area is filled with restaurants, bars, and clubs and becomes a thriving hub in the evenings. The school’s very modern and central location adds to the appeal, making it convenient to explore Malta.
ESE’s teachers develop their programmes and teaching materials, supplementing traditional textbooks with exercises and activities stored on the teachers’ cloud. This innovative approach ensures that every lesson, delivered via interactive smart boards connected to the cloud, maintains a consistently high standard no matter the teacher. It also ensures there are no overlaps. The use of their online learning platform is one of their standout features. Students can access this platform from the moment they book their course until three months after they leave, a fantastic resource for additional learning.
ESE offers many courses, including business English, and holds numerous accreditations, reflecting their commitment to academic excellence. The only downside is the teachers do not integrate external activities and trips into their lessons, so perhaps they are not as immersive as some of the schools that do this.
Overall, I think this school would be ideal for young adults. Their minimum intake age is 18+. There is around-the-clock, 24/7 welfare support, ensuring the students feel safe and cared for at all times. Accommodation options are diverse, catering to all budgets, and the location leans towards those looking to visit Malta to study and party!
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ESE Malta at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.4 (51 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Small Max. 12 students in Standard English course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Good diversity. No nationality more than 17%. Top nationality: German |
| Learning intensity | Homework is usually only given to exam preparation courses and academic year course students |
| Number of students | 600 adults in July 300 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 18 years |
| Accreditations | Eaquals, IALC, Quality English, FELTOM, ELT Council, Nile (teacher training), IATA (they can provide airline tickets), CEN, MSA |
| Course range | General English Intensive English English for Work General English + Economy, Superior, Superior Plus Apartment Young Adults General English – Homestay Young Adults General English – Residence General English Mini Group General English 50+ (+Residence) Academic Year Programme Teen General English – Homestay (14 to 17 years old) Private Lessons Semi-Private Lessons Business English Intensive Business English TOEFL Exam Preparation TOEIC Exam Preparation Cambridge PET Exam Preparation Cambridge FCE Exam Preparation Cambridge CAE Exam Preparation Cambridge CPE Exam Preparation IELTS Exam Preparation Teacher Development Programme |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, ESE Residence, Shared apartments, Owned Hotels (2 hotels for young adults 17-22, 2nd adults 18+, but there is also a 50+ programme that is offered there) |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €275 3 weeks: €825 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €50 Course material fee: €30 |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €20.10 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Student voices
Unfortunately, no students were available/willing to speak to me during this visit.
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Anna Portelli Norris, Marketing Development Manager of European School of English Malta.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “ESE is the most accredited English language school in Malta. We have a wide selection of courses available, ranging from General English to Business English, exam preparation, and academic year courses.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “Since we have so many courses and course options, our students are all 18+. Students who are either preparing to go to university and would require an exam, some people are here to brush up their English, and the 50+ students who want to combine language learning with enjoying the culture Malta has to offer“
School inspection report
Classrooms
The classrooms are generally smaller than average, but every classroom is exceptionally clean (the cleaner cleans twice daily). All the tables are large, and the chairs are ergonomic for proper support when sitting down for long periods.
Facilities
The school has a large lounge and terrace area on the ground floor and an additional terrace on the first floor.
Surrounding area
ESE is located in the heart of St. Julian’s, and the following locations are within a short walking distance: Spinola Bay, Paceville, St. George’s Bay, Portomaso Marina, Balluta Bay, Sliema Promenade, Dragonara Casino, Bay Street Shopping Complex, Love Monument, and the Independence Garden.
Social activities
Most of the activities are common excursions, such as the Valletta tour and the Gozo tour. However, there are a few interesting options, such as the free bachata lesson, which is slightly different. For the most part, the activities offered are mostly cultural tours.
Residence
ESE has an on-site residence. However, their residence is basic and not as modern as the rest of their school building. The residence is only for those 18+ and is very limited in number, so it sells out very quickly.
Every room has two single beds, a desk, a wardrobe, and an en suite bathroom. The students who stay in the residence also have breakfast included with their stay. No other facilities, such as a shared kitchen or private lounge, are available to the residents.
Trusted student ratings of ESE Malta on the web
| Total | 4.4 (51 ratings) |
|---|---|
| Boa Lingua | 4.3 (46 ratings) |
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.8 (5 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 ESE Malta
Triq Paceville San Ġiljan, STJ 3103, Malta
ESE Malta – Reviews & Exclusive Discounts at LanguageCourse.net »
