Ideal for younger students who want to be in the heart of St. Julian’s.
Not ideal for mature students who want to be away from the tourist zone.
The good
- There are no additional admin or course material fees.
- One of the most affordable language schools in Malta.
- Excellent teaching standard and teachers.
The bad
- Some classrooms are a little outdated.
Date of my inspection visit at Maltalingua School of English St. Julian’s: June 20, 2024.
My overall take
Maltalingua School of English is located in St. Julian’s and has classrooms split between 2 different buildings. The majority of the classrooms are in the main building, which is a house of character, a traditional Maltese house. The more modern classrooms overlooking the sea are in the shopping complex across the road from the main building.
It’s easy to see why they’ve been awarded Best Language School in Europe at the Star Awards for three consecutive years. Their dedication to excellence is apparent in every aspect. Their junior programme, shortlisted for Best Junior Programme under 18, speaks volumes about their commitment to young learners. Additionally, they have an internship programme that offers excellent opportunities for progression within the actual school.
What truly stands out at Maltalingua is the quality of its teachers. All of its teachers are native British. Two teachers have been shortlisted for the Inspirational Teacher Awards, so it’s clear that students are in exceptional hands. All materials and admin fees are included, a refreshing change from other schools that often charge extra.
The ideal students here are those with a solid academic focus who want to improve their English quickly and then want to enjoy Malta as an addition.
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Maltalingua at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.4 (79 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 16%. Top nationality: Polish |
| Learning intensity | 1 hour of homework per week |
| Number of students | 100 adults in July 60 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 8 years for specifc junior courses |
| Accreditations | Eaquals, ELT Council, Bildungsurlaub, Erasmus Plus |
| Course range | Standard General English Intensive General English Junior Standard Course – Homestay Junior Standard Course – Lessons & Full Activities Junior Standard Course – Lessons only Junior Standard Course – Residence Junior Standard Private Lessons Junior Summer Course – Homestay Junior Summer Course – Lessons & Full Activities Junior Summer Course – Lessons Only Junior Summer Course – Residence Junior Summer Private Lessons Additional Private Lessons Private Lessons Intensive Business English Standard Business English IELTS Preparation Course |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Shared apartments, Superior Apartments, Stay with a teacher (where students live with a teacher and have two extra private lessons with the teacher they are staying with), Junior residence |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €212 3 weeks: €600 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: none Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €13.30 per 60min 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 and people are very, very friendly. So you can speak with everyone even if you don’t speak English because people will try to understand you.“
Cara
19 years from France
“This school is a good mixture of education and fun, as well as meeting up with different people from all over the world, of all ages, so there is a wide range of people.”
Mike
37 years from Germany
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Tania Assuncao, School Principle of Maltalingua School of English.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “The school is an old house of character, so it is like a family-run business with staff that is almost like family. We have people here who have worked for Maltalingua for ten years!“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “Every type of student. So younger students on the general English [course], club 50, club 30. I don’t think we cater especially for them, but they do feel comfortable at this school.”
School inspection report
Classrooms
The classrooms come in various shapes and sizes. There are also interactive whiteboards and interactive books.
Facilities
The facilities are superb, with a rooftop terrace, pool, student kitchen and outdoor seating areas. They also have a business room for working professionals.
Surrounding area
Noteworthy places in close proximity to Maltalingua include Spinola Bay, Paceville, St. George’s Bay, Portomaso Marina, Balluta Bay, and the Sliema Promenade. The area has many restaurants and shops. The students also have semi-private beach access in Balluta Bay.
Social activities
The social activities are similar to those offered by many other language schools, i.e., the Valletta tour, Paradise Bay, etc. They do have dinner events and cruises, which are slightly more unique. The Academic Day on Wednesdays allows students to join the pronunciation and conversation club, which interchanges weekly, and the grammar club, which is weekly.
Residence
Maltalingua offers multiple accommodation options, including a unique “stay with the teacher” option, which includes two extra one-to-one lessons weekly. However, the main accommodation is a 10-minute walk from the school.
These residences are large shared apartments with a shared kitchen. Some bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, whereas others have shared bathrooms. Each apartment can accommodate at least three to six people.
Trusted student ratings of Maltalingua on the web
| Total | 4.4 (79 ratings) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.4 (79 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 Maltalingua School of English
2, Telgha Ta Birkirkara, San Ġiljan, STJ 1141, Malta
Maltalingua School of English – Reviews & Exclusive Discounts at LanguageCourse.net »
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Enis Çetinkaya. I am writing on behalf of my younger brother, Efecan Çetinkaya, who is 19 years old and a graduate of vocational high school in culinary arts in Turkey. He holds official chef certificates and has over four years of experience working in hotel kitchens. Currently, he works in the Chinese cuisine section (Hakkasan) at a 5-star hotel.
He plans to study English in Malta for one year before pursuing professional culinary education. We are very interested in your culinary programs and would appreciate detailed information on:
Admission requirements for international students
Required English proficiency level
Duration and fees of the culinary programs
Application deadlines and procedures
Additionally, we would be grateful for guidance on how he can apply and prepare his documents.
Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to your reply.
Kind regards,
Enis Çetinkaya