FAQ

The Mediterranean island of Malta offers a number of benefits for those wishing to study English. First of all the weather is wonderful and means that after lessons students can enjoy the many attractions of this beautiful island.

Secondly as you are never far from the sea there is always something to do. From diving and scuba to windsurfing there is so much to do. Why not take a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon or a trip around the wonderful Grand Harbour or for the more adventurous why not take the seaplane from the Grand Harbour to the smaller island of Gozo.

Finally and perhaps most importantly English is an official language of Malta which means that everyone you meet on this friendly island can speak English which gives you a wonderful chance to practise your new found English skills.

Alpha School of English offers a comprehensive range of courses. Our most popular course is the General English course consisting of twenty lessons per week covering conversation, grammar and vocabulary. Every opportunity will be given to the student to practise and use the language in the safe and friendly classroom environment. All courses are offered at all levels of English ensuring there is something for everyone. For those wishing to specialise we offer business courses and we also offer intensive courses on a one-to-one basis for those students who want to make the most of their time at the school. A full list of courses can be found on the website.

Citizens of E.U. countries do not need a visa to visit Malta. Malta is now part of the Schengen area and as such visitors who require a visa must apply for a Schengen visa. Applications for a visa must be made to the Maltese embassy.

As part of the application process you will need a letter from the school confirming your booking and length of stay. This letter is provided free of charge by Alpha School of English once all course and accommodation charges have been paid.

Alpha School of English attracts a wide cross section of students from a number of countries including Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Libya. Classes are based on ability providing a good cross-section of ages and nationalities with the emphasis on English being used as the common language.

In the summer Alpha School of English attracts large numbers of teenagers ensuring that the school has a lively cosmopolitan feel. Whether in a group or alone Alpha School of English is a great place to make new friends.

Alpha School of English offers a wide range of accommodation from hotels to self-catering accommodation to staying with a Maltese host family. All our accommodation is reasonably priced and is close to the school.

Staying with a Host Family is very popular as it provides a great opportunity for students to practice their English and to learn first hand about the history and way of life of the Maltese people.

In the first instance you should bring any problems within the school to the attention of your teacher. If you wish you can approach the Director of Studies with any problems regarding course work or appropriate levels of study.

The school has an accommodations office and the staff there will be happy to deal with any accommodation problems that might arise. Within a few days of starting at the school you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your accommodation giving you the opportunity to raise any non-urgent problems.

Our staff will make every effort to resolve any and all problems you may encounter with accommodation booked through Alpha School of English.

If you wish to change your assigned class or change your accommodation then a small administration charge is made. Any excursions which are not included as part of your course will need to be paid for.

Alpha School of English offers a full range of exam courses. Particularly popular are the IELTS and TOEFL exams designed to prove to universities and prospective employers that the student has a high level of English. Both courses are recognised worldwide and the exam can be taken in Malta. The school also offers PET and KET courses.

The school timetable is from 9:00am until 10:30am and from 11:00am until 12:30pm Intensive classes normally begin at 1:00pm until 2:30pm.

Alpha School of English has a wide-ranging programme of excursions. Bookings can be made through our Excursions department or you can book before you arrive at the school.

If you are visiting Malta between October and March be sure to bring a jacket for the evenings and also an umbrella, as there can be some heavy showers. The average temperature ranges from as low as 9c in the evenings to as high as 21c daytime.From April until September the weather is warm and sunny. Average temperatures in April and May range from 13c in the evening to 24c daytime.

In June until August average temperatures range from 20c in the evening to 31c daytime. The highest temperature recorded was 43.1c in August.So pack light clothes including shorts, t-shirts and swimwear. Remember to bring plenty of sun block as the sun can be very damaging.Also note that if you intend to visit places of interest such as churches then you will need to cover shoulders and legs.

Malta is a small island and the local buses will take you to almost all places of interest. Bus fares are inexpensive and daily bus passes cost just €2.60 (weekly €12.00). These passes can be bought from the bus driver and entitle you to daily unlimited travel around the island. Buses to Sliema, Valletta and St. Julians are plentiful from St. Paul’s Bay.

Soft drinks such as coke cost around €1.00 and a small bottle of water is around €0.80.

A meal in McDonald’s costs around €6.50 and a sandwich in a local café will cost around €1.50. Based on these prices a student can expect to spend around €100 - €200 per week.