Malta is small. About 45 kilometres long and 27 wide. You can drive its length in under an hour. But don’t let the size fool you — this island has a culture, history and way of life that’s genuinely unlike anywhere else in Europe.
As a student at Maltalingua, you’ll be spending real time here. So it’s worth understanding what makes Malta Maltese before you arrive.
A Language You Won't Hear Anywhere Else
English is one of Malta’s two official languages. You’ll get by in English everywhere — in shops, on buses, in government offices. Your course will be in English. So language isn’t a barrier.
But the national language is Maltese, and it’s unlike anything else. Maltese is a Semitic language — derived from Arabic, with influences from Italian, Sicilian and English. It uses a Latin alphabet but has sounds that don’t exist in most European languages. Hearing Maltese spoken is one of those distinctly Maltese experiences, even if you won’t be expected to speak it.
You’ll pick up a few words just from living here. Maltese people are enthusiastic about teaching visitors the basics. “Kif inti?” means “How are you?” and “M’hemmx problem” means “No problem” — both you’ll hear a lot.
Food That Reflects the Island's History
Maltese food is a product of its geography and its layers of rulers. The Knights of St John, the French, the British — all left marks on the cuisine. The result is something that borrows from Mediterranean and British traditions without being either.
Pastizzi are the must-try Maltese snack. Flaky pastry filled with ricotta or peas. You’ll find them in every corner shop and bakery, usually costing less than a euro. Once you start, they’re hard to stop.
Rabbit stew (fenek) is the traditional Maltese dish — slow-cooked rabbit in a rich wine and garlic sauce. It’s not everyday food but it’s everywhere on menus and at family gatherings.
Ftira is Maltese bread, round and flat, traditionally topped with tomatoes, olives, capers and either tuna, ham or gbejna (goat’s cheese). It’s excellent and filling.
Lampuki pie is a seasonal dish — a savoury pastry filled with lampuki (dolphinfish), spinach and cauliflower. Only available in autumn.
One thing to know: Maltese food is comfort food. Portions are generous. Eating is a social event. If you’re invited to a Sunday lunch with a Maltese family, say yes immediately.
The Festa: Malta's Living Tradition
Every Maltese village has a festa — a religious festival celebrating the village’s patron saint. Each one happens on (or around) the feast day of that saint, and they’re a genuine spectacle.
The streets are decorated with coloured papier-mâché arches, banners and lights. There’s a brass band (many Maltese men learn a brass instrument at school). Fireworks. A march through the village. And food — enormous quantities of it.
In St. Julian’s, you might catch the Festa season. In the villages — especially in the south and around the centre of the island — the festa is still a genuinely community event. The atmosphere is warm and inclusive, and visitors are welcome. Students often find them one of the most memorable experiences of their time in Malta.
Festas are typically held between May and October, with peaks in July and August.
The Knights of St John: Malta's Most Significant History
The Knights of St John (the Sovereign Military Order of Malta) ruled Malta for nearly 270 years, from 1530 to 1798. Their legacy is everywhere. Valletta’s city walls, Fort St. Angelo in Birgu, the Grand Master’s Palace — all built by the Knights. They’re the reason Malta looks the way it does.
The Knights were aristocratic military men from across Europe — French, Italian, Spanish, German, English. They turned Malta into a crossroads of European culture. That history gives Malta a cosmopolitan quality that goes back centuries, not just decades.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, built by the Knights, is extraordinary — its interior is one of the most ornate in Europe, dripping with gold and marble.
Maltese Friendliness Is Genuine
Maltese people are notably warm and welcoming. They’re proud of their island and happy to share it. If you ask someone for directions, they’ll walk you there. If you get talking in a shop, expect recommendations.
There’s a concept in Maltese culture called kreatura — roughly meaning neighbourliness or community spirit. It’s real, not just a word. Students who arrive expecting a transactional tourist experience are often pleasantly surprised.
This friendliness also extends to respecting your privacy. Maltese people will chat freely but aren’t intrusive. It’s a comfortable balance.
What to Expect in Daily Life
Sunday is quiet. Many shops close on Sunday mornings, particularly outside the main tourist areas. Families go to mass (still common, even if attendance has declined), then have a long lunch. By afternoon, the pace is slow.
Family matters. Maltese families are close-knit and Saturday and Sunday lunches are often non-negotiable institutions. If you befriend Maltese people your age, you’ll probably get invited to a family lunch at some point.
Festivals punctuate the year. Beyond village festas, there are national holidays — Sette Giugno (June 7) and Maltese Independence Day (September 21). Carnival happens in February or March, with parades in Valletta and Floriana.
The pace of life has changed but the culture hasn’t disappeared. Malta is modernising fast, particularly in tech and finance, but the food culture, the family gatherings, the village festas — all still live.
Living Malta Before You Arrive
Understanding Maltese culture isn’t essential for your English course — you’ll communicate perfectly well in English. But it enriches the experience enormously. The students who love Malta most are usually the ones who lean in: eat the pastizzi, ask about the festa, talk to your landlord’s family.
You’re not just coming to study English. You’re spending time on a very unusual island with a very long story. Make the most of it.
Ready to start? Request a quotation for your English course in Malta.