Ideal for students that want to be in the heart of Sliema.
Not ideal for students who do not want to be part of a huge student intake.
The good
- Extremely large building
- They are currently building new on-site residences.
- Right by the Sliema port.
The bad
- Relatively pricey social activities.
Date of my inspection visit at IELS Malta: June 18, 2024.
My overall take
IELS (Institute of English Language Studies) is located in the centre of Sliema, a tourist hub perfect for travelling to all the different parts of Malta. The port is a 6-minute walk from the school building, so students can easily get the ferry to Valletta, the country’s capital.
With 40 years of experience, IELS has established itself as one of the largest and most reputable schools in Malta. The teachers at the school are all Cambridge, CELTA, or TEFL qualified, and they undergo continuous in-house training to ensure the highest teaching standards. This dedication to quality is obvious in their lessons. Teachers also integrate Friday coffee club and class trips/mini excursions as well as free pop-up lessons to encourage students to gather and speak about any given topic.
What struck me most was the big family atmosphere at IELS. Despite its size, the school feels warm and welcoming. The staff and students create a supportive community, making it easy to feel at home quickly.
Although there are courses for all ages, young adults and professionals are the main students at this school, the average age is between 25-35, and there are courses for 30+ students specifically for those who want to be surrounded by mature students.
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IELS Malta at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.1 (394 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average Max. 15 students in Standard English course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: N/A No percentage given Top nationality: Colombia |
| Learning intensity | 1-1.5 hours of optional homework per week |
| Number of students | 360 adults + 240 juniors in July 200-300 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 13 years for specific junior courses |
| Accreditations | FELTOM, ALTO, Cambridge exam Centre, Erasmus Plus, Bildingsurlaub |
| Course range | General English Intensive English General English + English for Academic Purposes General English + Mini Group English 30+ General English Mini Group English General English + Conversation English Abitur + Residence (16 to 17 years old) Abitur Tuition only Vacation English Plus Vacation English Plus + Residence (13 to 17 years old) One-to-One English for Specific Purposes One-to-One General English Two-to-One General English Business English General English + Business English General English + TOEIC Preparation Cambridge FCE Preparation Cambridge CAE Preparation Cambridge CPE Preparation General English + IELTS Preparation Intensive CELTA Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Student Residence, Shared Apartments, and they are currently developing an onsite residence |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €295 3 weeks: €885 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €55 Course material fee: €30 |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €21.60 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.
“The teachers are creative and energetic, the games are really fun and make the lessons not boring. But not all teachers are the same. I also love the location. The location in the city centre is great.“
Laura
29 years from Colombia
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Zsofia Arato, Sales and Marketing Executive of IELS Malta.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “The location! IELS is in Silema, which is one of the most touristic centres of Malta. Basically, you have everything here: bars, restaurants, and shopping centres.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “IELS provide courses for all ages. But I would say young adults and professionals. The average age at this school is 25-30.“
School inspection report
Classrooms
All the classrooms have large windows, tables and comfortable chairs. They are also fitted with Interactive whiteboards.
Facilities
There is a small outdoor courtyard and several lounging areas within the building.
Surrounding area
The location in Sliema is perfect. It’s right in the centre of the island, just a 7-minute walk to the main accommodations and the beach. Additionally, it’s only a 5-minute stroll to two shopping centres, surrounded by various restaurants and cafes. Everything you need is within easy reach.
Social activities
IELS has more varied social programmes, including fun nights out like karaoke nights and several parties; the only difference is that their activities are slightly more expensive than at other schools. But I do like that they encourage students to get involved in the planning process and organise their own activities with the help of the staff.
Residence
The primary residence for IELS is only a 7-minute walk from the school building. It is a modern building furnished to hotel standards. A plus of staying at this accommodation is that they get breakfast included with their stay. The facilities include a shared kitchen, lounge areas, breakfast room, and rooftop pool.
Trusted student ratings of IELS Malta on the web
| Total | 4.1 (394 ratings) |
|---|---|
| ESL | 4.1 (373 ratings) |
| Boa Lingua | 4.1 (18 ratings) |
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.7 (3 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 IELS Malta
Triq Mattew Pulis, Tas-Sliema, Malta
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