Tag Archives: Malta
How is learning English at Maltalingua and Diving the perfect combination?
Situated just five minutes walk from some of the most highly recognised diving schools in Malta, lies the classrooms of Maltalingua. This, as well as the exceptional climate, allows students to turn studying the English language into an exciting holiday. By day, students have the opportunity to delve into the world of English language learning in a friendly and relaxed classroom setting. Whereas by night, exploring the many feasts which adorn the Maltese streets.
Early morning classes at Maltalingua allow students the time to study whilst providing them with the opportunity to explore the natural underwater wonders of Malta and its sister islands. You will have the chance to practise your English in a real-world setting. All three of the islands offer an abundance of reefs, wrecks, and caves suitable for all levels of diving.
Since the collapse of the iconic Azure window in 2017, adventurers have been travelling from all over the world to dive through the famed film set often associated with TV series such as Game of Thrones. Spread in a range of 16 to 100 feet in depth, the arch has fallen into an array of canyons and passageways which would appeal to those who want to explore the underwater world.
Across the island, you will find other stunning diving locations such as Għar lapsi. The vibrant blue waters of these shallow caves offer beginner divers a chance to explore at a pace convenient to them. Um al Faroud, a ship which was sunk in 1998, is situated on the shores of Għar Lapsi. The ship covers a large area which is home to a variety of fish and marine life.
If your preference is to upskill whilst on a language holiday, there are numerous schools offering internationally recognised diving qualifications at a competitive rate. The flexible classroom times at Maltalingua allow students to dictate their own schedule, with the possibility for intensive or private 1-1 lessons available from early morning until late afternoon. Private lessons can be tailored to suit the individuals’ needs and could incorporate the language of diving.
Whether your beginning to dive or you are a pro, combining language learning and diving in Malta really is the dream combination!
Getting some winter sun in Malta
While summer is undoubtedly the busiest season here in Malta, over that past few years we’ve noticed a real increase in the number of people coming in the winter. There are several reasons for this: the islands are more peaceful, the class sizes are smaller and the prices lower, but for many people the most attractive thing is the chance to get some winter sun.
When the weather in Northern Europe turns cold and grey many eyes turn southward to our little Mediterranean Island. The thought of getting some winter sunshine and topping up their tan while topping up their English can be very enticing for many people.
In the winter months the islands are noticeably quieter and significantly greener. This makes exploring the Maltese countryside even more enjoyable. On a sunny winter day, the water looks clearer, the sky seems bluer and the air feels fresher. It’s not unusual for the temperature to go over 20 degrees Celsius, perfect for taking a hike around the beautiful coastline and dramatic cliffs on the west side of the Islands.
The sea is at its coldest in January and February, too cold for most to swim, but you do see a few brave people out challenging themselves. However, on the nicest winter days sunbathing next to the sea is still a popular pastime. You might even see some people out having a BBQ with friends.
Other great activities you can do in Malta in the winter include: quad bike tours of Gozo, shopping in famous fishing village of Marsaxlokk, watching historical re-enactments, boat trips to the beautiful Blue Grotto and many more.
The Maltese love a good celebration and being a strongly Christian country means Christmas is a really special time of year here. The decorations are spectacular and there is a real feeling or excitement and anticipation throughout December. The picturesque streets of Valletta look particularly beautiful when dressed up for holiday season.
Being the sunniest country in the EU certainly means Malta has a lot to offer winter travelers. The chance to absorb some sunshine, boost your vitamin D levels and explore the culture and countryside at a slower pace makes it an especially attractive option.
Have yo been to Malta in the winter? What did you like best? Leave a comment below to let us know.
8 Best Events in Malta – Summer 2017
Summer is a fantastic time to be in Malta. The sea is warm, the sun shining and the islands have a really exciting energy, but one of our favourite things about summer is all the excellent events in Malta. Whatever your interests, there is sure to be an event or two that is a great fit for you.
We’ve compiled a list of our top 8 events for July and August 2017. These will give you a good idea of what the islands have to offer this summer.
The Marsovin Summer Wine Festival – Hastings Garden, Valletta – 7 to 9 July, 8pm to 1am
Listen to some great live music and try some of Malta’s finest wines in a beautiful location. Held in Hastings Gardens, a scenic park perched on top of Valletta’s fortress walls, the event has a very special atmosphere and is one of the highlights of Malta’s social calendar.
Malta International Food Festival 2017 – Mdina – 21 to 23 July
The Malta International Food festival isn’t just an excuse to eat delicious foods from around the world. It’s also a great opportunity to improve your cooking skills and listen to some quality live music. Over the course of the weekend, there will be many live cooking demonstrations. The event is held in the beautifully refurbished Mdina ditch, right next to the walls of the famous ‘Silent City’.
Feast of St Julian – St Julians – 25 to 27 August
The Feast of St Julian certainly has one of the best atmospheres of all the festas in Malta. Tourists and locals party side–by–side and celebrate around the streets of St Julians at the height of summer. Over the course of several days, there are fireworks displays, marching bands being showered with shredded paper and even a competition where people try to run up a greased pole – most of whom fall into the sea.
The Farsons Great Beer Festival – National Park, Ta’Qali – 28 July to 6 August
This 10–day long celebration of music and beer has been a summer highlight in Malta for 36 years. An exciting lineup of live music and an equally exciting beer menu keeps fans coming back for more.
Unite with Tomorrowland – Marsa Sports Grounds – 29 July
Tomorrowland, EDM’s biggest and boldest festival is coming to Malta for the first time this summer. DJ Snake, DVBBS, and Laidback Luke have all been announced with more to follow. It’s recommended to book early as tickets are likely to sell out fast.
Fatboy Slim at Cafe Del Mar – 30 July
DJ and producer extraordinaire Fatboy Slim will be taking over Malta’s most famous venue for a night of banging tunes and outrageous mixes. Watch the sunset and enjoy listening to a master at work.
La Belle Musique Malta – 5 August
Starting from nothing in 2013, their mixes have attracted over 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube. La Belle Musique is perfect for those of you who prefer a more chilled out electronic music festival with a very positive vibe.
Feast of Saint Mary Fireworks – Mqabba – 14 August, 9:30pm to Midnight
The Feast of Saint Mary is celebrated all over Malta, but the most popular event is the fireworks display in the little southern town of Mqabba. Malta has a great tradition of creating top–class fireworks. Many small factories compete to put on the best displays. Two of the most respected companies are based in Mqabba so this Festa always has an extra special fireworks extravaganza.
You can read about our favourite events for the whole of 2017 on the Malta Events 2017 page of our main website.
If you’d like to do an English course and join us at some of these great events why not get a quick, no obligation quote?
Which events are you most interested in? Are there any others you’d like to go to? Leave a comment and let us know.
Malta Winter Weather 2015 / 2016 Infographic
Happy Spring everyone! Here in Malta, it feels like we haven’t even had winter! Some people have even started swimming in the sea already.
Malta is, of course, famous for having one of the most pleasant climates in Europe with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, warm weather and low levels of precipitation. However, this winter the weather has been so exceptionally warm, dry and sunny that we decided to make an infographic about it. We asked Malta Airport Met Office for the December 2015, January 2016 and February 2016 information on:
- the total hours of sunshine per month
- the number of sunny days per month
- the average hours of sunshine per day
- the average daily high temperature for each month
- the total amount of rainfall for each month (February 2016 only had 2.6mm of rain)
They also told us that the highest temperature of the winter was 23.6°C on the 15th of February 2016. (I got sunburn the day before!)
Now we’re looking forward to enjoying the rest of the gorgeous Spring weather, a long hot summer and a balmy Autumn! Then hopefully next winter will be even nicer than the which has just ended 🙂
If you’d like to join us in Malta for some sun, fun and English classes have a look at the courses we offer. Or if you’d like more information on Malta’s climate, check the weather page of our site.
Malta Events 2016 – Top 10
The Maltese people love to party and so do the thousands of people who come to visit the islands each year. It seems like every week there is a great event to go to. If you want to know about the best ones then continue reading our list of the top 10 Malta events 2016.
St.Patrick’s Day – 17th of March
The feast of St.Patrick’s has turned into an awaited national event here in Malta. The Maltese respect theirfellow Irish and their beliefs. Celebrated for hundreds of years, St.Particks is a worldwide event, which brings all nationalities together to celebrate this feast. Nevertheless in Malta, this is highly celebrated in Spinola Bay in St.Julians, where the streets come to life with music, food and of course a lot of drinks. All in all, it’s just a fantastic time.
Malta International Firework Festival – 16th, 23rd & 30th of April
Another event which is increasing in popularity every year is the Malta International Fireworks Festival. It is an incredible spectacle, not only for the female romantics but for anyone who appreciates the talent of such art. The fireworks are synchronized with music, creating a powerful hair-standing sense of awe. This is held in none other than the beautiful Maltese Grand Harbour, where thousands of on-lookers stand together looking up at the sky at this beautiful spectacle.
Malta Music Week – 24th to the 29th of June; Isle of MTV – 28th of June
The Malta Music Week marks the end of another scholastic year and the start to another fabulous summer ahead in Malta. The M.M.W is a week filled with parties in different locations and vibes for all. This is a truly magical week full of freedom and enjoyment. The biggest party of them all is by far the Isle of MTV, which has been running in Malta for the last 10 years. This is held in a large open-air square, attracting over 50,000 people from across the globe. A free live concert by top performers, creates the BIGGEST FREE FESTIVAL IN EUROPE!
Sliema Arts Festival – 15th till the 17th of July
The Sliema arts festival is another event full of summer vibes, sun and music. Situated right on the Sliema promenade, this little stretch of land is filled with artistic events for three days. The works of art include freestyle art work, reggae music, live bands, and the super electro swing set which always gets everyone dancing. With the summer moon and music in the air, this truly is magical Malta.
The Marsovin Wine Festival – 15th till the 17th of July
If you have never tried Maltese wine before, you should! The Marsovin Wine Festival takes place at Hastings Gardens in Valletta and is a great opportunity to try a different variety of grapes and speciality food all in one evening. This 3-night event will give wine enthusiasts a taste of Maltese wine, whilst listening to live bands and trying our special Maltese food.
The Malta Jazz Festival – 22nd till the 24th of July
The Malta International Jazz Festival takes place every year in July. A line-up of top international and Maltese artists present an eclectic mix of jazz styles from the current music scene. In recent years, world famous artists have performed under star-lit skies during this festival which is held over two nights in Valletta.
Farsons Great Beer Festival – 22nd till the 31st of July
After a week of scorching summer heat, what better way to unwind and relax than with a cold refreshing beer? The Farsons Great Beer Festival is Malta’s largest summer event where families and youngsters come together for a great night out. It’s all about good music, good food and, of course, good beer. Thousands of visitors come to this free 10-day festival every year. The programme is filled with live entertainment and activities, together with a large selection of bars offering a mix of international food and drink. Definitely something to look forward to!
Malta International Arts Festival – 10th of July till the 3rd of August
Art is music, art is dancing and singing and art is creativity – it is not only a drawing in an art gallery. At the Malta International Arts Festival, local and foreign artists perform side by side. The diversity in performances attracts a mix of ages and cultures – all entwined in one night of entertainment and fun. Enjoy food and drink as music fills the air and the summer moon fills the sky above.
Feast of Santa Maria – 15th of August
This feast is widely celebrated in many Catholic countries. On the eve of this holiday in Malta many people organise parties. Pool parties, boat parties and even international DJs fly down to create a night to remember. On the feast itself, family and friends spend the day together, feasting and enjoying each other’s company – on the beach, or on a boat or by the pool while enjoying a tasty barbecue and a cold beer.
Malta International Airshow – 24th and 25th of September
The Maltese international air show has been taking place for over 10 years. Fighter jets, helicopters and specialised planes from around the world fly to Malta, some just for display whilst others (such as the Red Arrows) perform a spectacular display of aerobatic manoeuvres. Every year, this event attracts a large audience of all ages. Many families come with their children, to see these big, expensive machines up close.
Which of our top 10 Malta events 2016 will be the best? Let us know what you think in the comments box below.
Quad biking on the island of Gozo
Waking up at 8 o’clock is never easy, especially on a Saturday. However, last Saturday it had to be done. Shortly after my early rise I was walking towards our meeting point with a fresh baguette in one hand and a coffee in the other. The students greeted me with a very faint “good morning”. As I said, it’s never easy in the morning. Our promised transport was bang on time, we jumped in the van and off we went. After leaving St. Julian’s we made our way to the very north of Malta, to a harbour called Cirkewwa, where we caught the ferry to Malta’s sister island Gozo.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather that day; sunshine, light clouds and a gentle breeze made the temperature just so. Arriving in Gozo harbour we were greeted by a man who drove us to the quad bike office. After filling in some paper work and being taught how to drive the quads, we hopped on and set off for what would be a fantastic day.
For many of the students it was their first time driving a quad. It was mine too. The feeling is totally awesome! You have a sense of freedom like driving a motor bike, but also some of the safety of a car.
Gozo is a beautiful little island. Shortly after leaving we descended into a steep valley where we stopped at different intervals to smell some unique Maltese plants or to see a very old chapel in the middle of an abandoned road.
Coming out of the valley we made our way to the very top of Ramla Bay where we stopped for a while. Walking around, the students took photos of the great panoramic views and, of course, each other. Shortly after, we hopped back on and set off again. This time we had a longer more relaxed drive, enjoying the immensely beautiful scenery. Gozo is littered with many valleys, small hills, terraced fields and very little roads perfect for quad biking.
All in all, the students and myself had a really great time. Not only spending time together, but also having new experiences and creating memories that will be cherished for a long time.
Do you have a great memory of a Maltalingua activity? Leave a comment and tell us about it!
English Royal Family to visit Malta November 2015
Malta has a very, very special family of guests heading to our shores this coming November. The British Royal family are coming to Malta in November for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The Queen will be accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales; Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and her two youngest grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Then Princess Elizabeth and then Prince Philip lived for a brief period in Malta in 1949
The CHOGM is an opportunity for leaders of Commonwealth countries to come together and discuss important issues and events. It gives them the chance to try to find common ground and address these issues and events with a united purpose.
This year the theme of the CHOGM is “Adding Global Value”. The leaders hope to make progress towards creating a commonwealth where all young people have the chance to live “a life of liberty, dignity and prosperity.”
The visit will be the monarch’s return to CHOGM after she missed the last meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2013 – the first meeting she was unable to attend in 40 years.
The occasion has been further talked up due to the fact that almost the entire immediate royal family (albeit Prince Harry who is unable to attend due to being on duty) will be on the island at the same time, travelling together. This means security will be at its highest levels.
Malta is a special place for the Queen and Prince Philip. They lived here in their early married life between 1949 and 1951, when Elizabeth was a princess and Prince Philip was an officer in the Mediterranean Fleet.
Previously, Queen Elizabeth visited Malta in May 1954, November 1967, May 1992, November 2005 (when Malta hosted CHOGM for the first time) and in November 2007 when she came here on what was called her ‘second honeymoon’ – marking the 60th anniversary of her marriage.
The Maltese are very strong admirers of the Royal Family and will certainly be out in the thousands to greet the Queen and her family. The exact time and date of the meeting haven’t been released yet, but it’s sure to be a great spectacle with a historic atmosphere.
Are you going to be at Maltalingua in November? Will you try to catch a glimpse of the Royal family? Let us know in the comments section below. We love it when our students get in touch!
Useful expressions – Negotiating
Difficulty
| Low | Medium | High | |||
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
The following expressions look at different aspects of negotiating.
Outlining points for discussion:
What we need to decide on today is
Let’s look at what our options are.
Putting forward proposals:
How about we…?
What I propose is…
Stating consequences:
We’d…, if we did that.
Unless we…
Bargaining:
I could offer…
Provided you…
Reaching agreement:
I can live with that.
Summarizing the situation:
So, a quick recap…
Complete this extract from a meeting about negotiating an annual staff trip.
Anton: What we need to (1______) on today is what to do for the staff trip. Let’s look at what our (2______) are.
Carolina: (3______) about we charter a plane to Morocco for a weekend?
Anton: We do have that on our list of options, but (4______) need to stretch the budget if we did that.
Carolina: Yes, you’re right. Bob, how does HR view things? What can you (5______) us?
Bob: Well, the worker’s council always offers a staff trip – so we can’t stop this – but what we (6______) is it should be educational as well as entertaining.
Anton: You mean, (7______) we include something cultural we can choose any of our suggestions?
Bob: Yes. Let’s say you take the Morocco option. (8______) you offer excursions to places of interest as part of the package, HR might veto the whole trip.
Carolina: OK. We can (9______) with that and would organize the trip to comply with HR’s wishes.
Anton: So, a quick (10______) – if …
Please select the correct answer from the multiple choice below:
This quiz is automatically created to help you get started. It will be created only once.
MALTA: An Endless love
Good Day. Buenos dias. Bonjour. Buongiorno
My name is Dominik and I’m a 32-year old soldier from Germany. To change my everyday life and the way to improve even my English, I decided on a language trip to Malta. As you will see later, one of the best decisions of my life.
Arrived on the small Mediterranean island, brought by organized transfer to the nearby apartment. Here I opened my roommate with a friendly “bonjour” the door and told me the same with the most important information: the WiFi password! After the first sniff, I explored on foot the surrounding area and fell in love immediately in the vibrant island. At no corner a touch of boredom, faces from around the world and sun hours, of which one elsewhere can only dream about. But as I do of course I was not only there for holidays so, I prepared myself a little before the placement test for the following day.
After I was assigned to a class, we started immediately with the language that was to accompany me the next four weeks: English. Lo and behold, after a few days it was natural for me to use the language of the island. In addition to the school desk, obviously preoccupied me my leisure. And that was terrific. My school offered me an offer that I was hardly able to refuse. Ranging from cultural activities, like a visit to the former capital of Malta, Mdina – where it quite incidentally have the best chocolate cake in the world – to a nightly boat trip, during which I was able to forget the everyday life for a few hours. However, in the very first week I had the highlight party excellence: Malta’s Isle of MTV. This year there were Jason Derulo and Martin Garrix the stars of the show. However, one of my personal highlights was the evening in the Cafe del Mar. Good drinks, perfect sound, and a breath-taking view from the infinity pool. Of course, the numerous beaches like Golden Bay, Mellieha Beach or the small but fine bays along the island cannot be forgotten. Here I often found the perfect evening, with good friends, a volleyball and a cold Cisk.
However, I will conclude by saying that the love for Malta, not only because of stunning parties or the family environment, which exemplifies the school. It was in me, sparked by the many perfect moments which I had within four weeks. They are my personal pictures in the mind, which cannot be found on my iPhone just as well as Facebook, that remind me of Malta and can look back with a smile. J
English Grammar – “Should have” clauses
Difficulty
| Low | Medium | High | |||
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
This week, we are taking a look at “should have” clauses:
Criticisms and regrets
We use “should have” + past participle to speak about past situations for criticisms and regrets:
She should have resigned earlier. (criticism)
His speech was a disaster. He shouldn’t have bothered coming. (criticism)
I should have started studying for my exams in January! (regret)
We shouldn’t have taken this road. (regret)
Spoken English
In spoken English, we normally use “should’ve” instead of the full “should have”.
I should’ve stayed at home.
He should’ve bought that car.
Now try to unscramble these sentences (remember to write the sentences exactly as you see them – the quiz is cap sensitive 🙂 ):
Please go to English Grammar – “Should have” clauses to view this test