English In Malta By TJ West At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

In the Southern Mediterranean, just 93 Kilometres South of Sicily and 288 Kilometres North of Tunisia, is the little island of Malta, where cultures have been meeting for thousands of years, and communication is part of the very bedrock of the island’s character.

Acceding to the British Empire in 1800, and gaining its independence in 1963, Malta’s ties with the English language are very strong, with most children grow up speaking both English and Maltese. As one of the two official languages of Malta (together with Maltese), English is used within the judiciary, medicine, and culture of Malta to such an extent that it has fast become one of Europe’s premier language destinations, as students have flocked to combine education with the beautiful natural sights the island has to offer.

The education system in Malta is first class, and languages are part of fabric of the nation’s identity. It’s this academic quality, combined with the island’s culture of hard-work, which has meant that the language schools which have developed in Malta give a service which has gained the island scholastic recognition throughout Europe and the world as a whole. Independent schools such as Elanguest Ltd have been able to boast some of the world’s highest Cambridge First Certificate pass marks for EFL teaching, and are just one of Malta’s independent schools catering for the world’s growing demand for English language training.

Due to the widespread use of English in Malta, students quickly find the opportunity to practise their new language skills; from buying a sandwich to taking a bus, to going to the cinema, English is used everywhere, so students can take the day’s lessons out into the real world, and gain confidence in the use of spoken English while enjoying time with friends, and visiting a new country. The use of ‘host-families’; where students stay with a local Maltese family during their course, provides another setting for communication in English, and further challenges the students to use what they have learned.

Students from a wide variety of countries visit Malta to learn English; once upon a time, the island took students mainly from Europe, however, these days, the Far East and South America are fast becoming a major new source of visitors, and many other new countries are also sending students Malta’s way. With the island joining the European Union in 2004, Malta has signalled its desire to increase upon its commercial ties with Europe, and has invested heavily in IT infrastructure, as well as regeneration of its towns and heritage sites. Increasingly, Malta also plays host to pan-European, and global political and commercial meetings where once again, Malta’s location, and reputation as a communications hub have made it the perfect choice for businesses and political leaderships. Without the use of English (the lingua franca of business and politics) as an official language, this would not have been possible, and it’s this skill at adaptation and incorporation of new talents which has kept Malta thriving for thousands of years, and will ensure its survival and growth in future.

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