| Inhabited since around 5200 B.C, Malta's | | | | world for business and leisure. |
| rich, vibrant history and culture have | | | | |
| ensured its survival, prosperity, and lure | | | | For many years, this little island in the |
| throughout Europe's history. Today, this | | | | Mediterranean has been attracting those |
| jewel in the Mediterranean has entered a new | | | | wishing to learn English, as Malta's |
| chapter, with its acceptance into the E.U, | | | | education system and enterprising nature has |
| and the island's eagerness for new | | | | meant that it has been able to offer an |
| challenges. | | | | excellent academic level, whilst occupying |
| | | | and entertaining generations of visitors with |
| Malta's past is one so richly woven with | | | | its wonderful natural resources. As a mainly |
| visitors, invaders, merchants, and pilgrims | | | | bi, or even tri-lingual culture, Malta's |
| that the idea of international communication | | | | inhabitants know communication better than |
| is one of the founding skills upon which this | | | | most, and while not all native English |
| island has prospered for many thousands of | | | | speakers, the Maltese have grown up with all |
| years. From the great old cities, built by | | | | the subtleties and nuances of the language |
| the European knights of the order of St. | | | | needed to produce first class teachers. |
| John, to Mdina, 'the silent city' with its | | | | |
| roots in North African culture, Malta has | | | | As tourism and education have come together, |
| held on to the very best of the many other | | | | language schools have developed across the |
| nationalities it has met along the way. With | | | | island, offering courses in world-recognised |
| the Neolithic temples dating back to 3600 | | | | certificates, as well as targeted language |
| B.C, this is an island which has always | | | | courses such as medical, or business English. |
| served as a very special meeting place for | | | | Many of the schools occupy prime locations in |
| different cultures - the Phoenicians naming | | | | and around the St.Julian's area, one of |
| the island 'Malat' meaning 'Safe haven' | | | | Malta's centres for restaurants and |
| around 1000BC. | | | | nightlife, and some schools also organise |
| | | | tours and excursions to the more remote |
| The island's ties with English began in the | | | | sights the island has to offer. Malta's |
| late 1700's and were cemented in 1800 when | | | | status as a first class language-holiday |
| Malta voluntarily became part of the British | | | | destination has meant that some of the big |
| Empire. At the time, Italian was the language | | | | named international schools have set up shop, |
| spoken by Malta's elite, and was the official | | | | as well as independent schools such as |
| written language of Malta, although Maltese, | | | | Elanguest Ltd who have achieved some of the |
| a distinct language with Semitic roots was | | | | highest Cambridge First Certificate pass |
| widely spoken. As British rule carried on | | | | marks in the world. |
| through the years, English became more widely | | | | |
| used, until Maltese and English were declared | | | | The future for English language schools in |
| the sole official languages of Malta in 1934, | | | | Malta is tied to the nation's ability to |
| at which time only about 15% of the | | | | change and adapt to new challenges whilst |
| population could speak Italian. Since gaining | | | | keeping the best of what makes this island so |
| it's independence from Britain in 1964, | | | | special; its traditions, culture, |
| Malta, as a nation, has prospered, and | | | | hard-working nature, and simple beauty, and |
| renewed itself in the same way it always has; | | | | it's for these reasons that people will be |
| it's location, climate, and national | | | | travelling to Malta to learn English for many |
| character attracting people from all over the | | | | years to come. |