English language learning in Malta is a significant tourism market segment which nowadays represents close to 6% of our tourist arrivals. Because of the typically longer length of stay, this equates to circa 230,000 spent nights, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said today.

Addressing the Professional Quality Conference, he said Malta is an ideal host country when it comes to English language learning.

English language teaching is now well established in the Maltese Islands. In fact despite our small size we have over 40 language schools in Malta and Gozo, offering a range of courses and mix of activities. English language courses in Malta are available for various levels of proficiency and are often designed according to individual requirements and purpose.

Schools offer a number of services ranging from standard or intensive courses to business language and academic courses. The Maltese educational system, strongly inspired by the British model, has produced generations of highly qualified language teachers and excellent teaching standards and methods, which are reflected in the high level of service offered by local schools specializing in the teaching of English as a foreign language, he said.