Page 27 - ELG2202 Feb Issue 479

POST-BREXIT
Summer in the EU

Europe’s English-speaking countries
to see boom for language schools

reland and Malta are well-placed to corner for juniors, offering
much of the European junior summer such sports as diving
market this year. With sterling riding high in Malta and horse- WORDS MELANIE BUTLER. PHOTO WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Iagainst the euro and visa problems aplenty riding and golf in
in post-Brexit Britain (see opposite page), Ireland. And both
parents and agents may play it safe and send of these countries
their children to fellow EU member states. have a reputation for
They’re not the only EU destinations looking friendly host families.
to grow. Cyprus has a handful of schools and Malta even has a
there are stories of school groups heading to family accreditation
the Netherlands and Scandinavia. scheme. But in both
Ireland and Malta have long hosted year- cases demand in Clongowes Wood College, Kildare, Ireland
round junior groups, another factor which has peak season now
helped these two small countries punch well outstrips the supply of families, so their EFL teachers, known as Language Facilitators,
above their weight. The Irish EFL industry industries have had to look for alternatives: who are running both the English classes and
already attracts more students per capita than hotels, student hostels, university residences.... the activities.
the UK, which is more than 10 times its size, Now, though, some language schools in both In Ireland they’ve followed the British
while tiny Malta, population under 450,000, Ireland and Malta have taken a leaf out of the model, which uses the premises of its historic
welcomes 85,000 language travellers a year. British and American playbook and gone into educational institutions as bases for summer
These countries also have growing year- the residential summer school market. English language courses. Dublin’s Irish College
round markets for long-stay adults built on In Malta they’ve gone for American-style of English is offering courses in two boarding
the right of both EU and non-EU students to summer camps. NSTS, for instance, has its own schools, Clongowes Wood in Kildare and Glenstal
work while studying, giving them an advantage specially designed student hostel, complete Abbey in Limerick, while Emerald Cultural
over both the USA and, since Brexit, the UK. with a swimming pool, while ESE has gone Institute is offering a university environment in
Both destinations are also well-known for one step further and hired a four-star hotel its residential course at Trinity Hall campus, part
their summer language and activity packages for 10-13 year olds that’s staffed with qualified of the historic Trinity College Dublin.

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editorial@elgazette.com 27