Page 19 - ELG1801 Jan Issue 453

FEATURES & COMMENT
A in 1985 by a German agency. EC, now a major Malta. Right now, we have an opportunity
to take a bigger slice of the global market for
international chain, was started by the present
English,’ Genevieve Abela from Feltom told
CEO’s mother in 1991. Over 77,000 students
homestay studied in Malta in 2016 and numbers for the paper. ‘And a big part of that is immersion
2017 look to be higher. As with other island
programmes. We stand to lose that,’ she said. In
recent years the number of licensed families has
destinations, it makes for a perfect study holiday.
with its Mediterranean climate and cuisine
been dropping gradually and higher property
from together with gorgeous beaches and plenty of prices and more working women means fewer
historic sites, Malta boasts some of
families in the major centres have the space
to accommodate a student or the
the oldest standing buildings
time to look after them. A new
in the world. This makes it
home popular with students, eco accommodation tax,
introduced in 2017, may also
over 60 per cent of
be a contributing factor.The
whom are adults. But
one unique feature
recruiting teachers
is its 1,500 licensed schools are now actively
Melanie Butler explores host families outside the resort areas
what Malta has to offer all thoroughly in the peaceful rural
villages which are
checked by the
increasingly popular with
for English language government. older learners looking for a
Although other
learners, and looks at the countries may insist more immersive experience
and a more traditional way of
challenges ahead for the on criminal record life. ‘Malta is the only English-
checks for homestay
island’s homestay model providers, Malta is believed language destination with officially
to be the only is the only English licensed homestays, a unique selling
language destination which operates a licence point,’ Ms Abela said. Malta also markets its
system. And with numbers growing, it is looking popular ‘triple banking’ which means students
The tiny Mediterranean country of Malta, for more of them. Earlier this summer the attend courses in different shifts throughout the
population of just 450,000, may lay claim of language school association Feltom launched day. But this too depends on having appropriate
the original European island destination for a campaign in collaboration with the Maltese accommodation, Ms Abela told the paper. ‘If
English Language learners. One of the earliest tourist board to encourage more families to we can’t provide that, we risk losing out to
schools on the main island was LAL founded come forward, according to the Times of other competing countries.’

editorial@elgazette.com 37