EFL in Malta

Malta has fast become one of Europe's premier EFLSouth America are discovering Malta's schools, and
destinations, as the island's ties with the Englishmajor numbers of students are arriving to learn English
language, coupled with its fantastic natural resourcesin Europe. In the past, Malta's major language markets
have made this an attractive location for agents andwere located much closer to home, with European
private students alike.neighbours sourcing most of its EFL clients, but
With its rich history of been visited, and often invadednowadays, Malta's definitely extended its reach, in line
by empires throughout the ages, Malta, as a nation, haswith the nation's own political and social transition into
learned well the importance of resilience,the European Union in 2004, and adoption of the Euro
communication, and adaption to new cultures, andas its official currency in early 2008.
cultural influences. When Malta acceded to the BritishThe courses offered by the various English language
Empire in 1800, English, together with Maltese began toschools in Malta vary widely, but most give a general
replace Italian as the nation's dominant language. By theEnglish course, with many accredited by Cambridge,
time Malta gained its independence from the BritishIELTS, and TOEFL. Other courses include more
Empire in 1963, English had become one of Malta's twospecialist areas of English usage, such as Elanguest
official languages, the other being Maltese, and theLtd in St. Julians, who have worked to develop Medical
judiciary, medical services, and government all usedEnglish courses with the European Union, and offer
English as well as their native tongue.business English and Medical English courses along side
The effect of this on modern day Malta is a legacy oftheir general English syllabus. With English now used as
linguistic ability and familiarity throughout the island, andthe 'lingua franca' of International business and
EFL schools have been increasing in number steadilymedicine, Malta's schools have seen and begun to
as word has spread of both the nation's academicrealize their potential to offer the very best in EFL
standards, and its beautiful location in the Southerntraining, and draw upon the island's location and human
Mediterranean. As the number of schools hasresources to meet this new challenge.
increased, major franchises have shared the marketWhile the Maltese EFL market is growing, it is also well
place with a number of smaller, privately ownedestablished, with many schools operating for a number
schools, and the choice for students has becomeof decades, and the skills of local teachers, coupled
wider and more comprehensive, which in turn haswith their natural linguistic ability and the nation's general
increased the island's appeal in both Europe andcharacter, will ensure EFL training will to continue to
globally. New markets, such as the Far East, andprosper and expand in Malta in the years to come.