Meet the Teachers at Maltalingua

Maltalingua teachers are native English speakers who come to us from around the world. Our teaching faculty is required to hold an internationally recognized University of Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification (or equivalent). We focus on recruiting friendly, mature, well-educated, and energetic teachers who engage with students on a familiar and individual basis. Our teachers are paramount to the success of our students and are key to the successful provision of our curriculum.

We encourage individual teacher and student integration both inside and outside the classroom, and as such, teachers are very much involved in day-to-day school activities and frequently accompany students on school social activities.

We believe that the success of any language school is highly dependent upon the strengths of its teachers. The Maltalingua academic team is specifically trained to teach English as a Foreign Language and is required to incorporate our modern EFL teaching philosophy and to adapt lessons for our students.

 
Rachel Young Rachael Young: CELTA

Hi, I’m Rachael, and I’m from Scotland. I made the decision to retrain and move abroad, and now I am a CELTA qualified teacher in Malta. I started with Maltalingua in June 2017 and haven’t looked back. The school is almost like a family, and we have a strong and supportive teaching team.

I really enjoy meeting our students and find myself learning from them as much as they learn English from me.

We work hard, but the reward comes from seeing how our students improve and develop.

I am happy I have chosen Malta and Maltalingua has chosen me, I am sure you will feel the same when you join us.

 

Paul Atkins Paul Atkins: CELTA, DELTA, B.Sc. (Hons) Ecology, MA in Applied Linguistics.

Hi, my name’s Paul Atkins and I’m from Brighton in the UK. I’ve spent 30 years as a teacher, teacher trainer, and academic manager; I’ve worked in language schools, as a freelance consultant, and at a college in the UK.

A few years ago I decided to travel the world doing what I love best, teaching, and, well—here I am. My teaching? I believe strongly that good teaching can be recognised for its good results, so I want my students to learn as much as possible.

I’m fascinated by how we learn, and I try to connect with my students to find what works best for them as individuals. I love grammar (who doesn’t?), but spoken communication lies at the heart of language learning. So, whatever the level, my lessons involve a lot of speaking and fluency practice and—I hope—enjoyment.

I have the DELTA, a first-class B.Sc., and a Masters in Applied Linguistics. Outside work, I’m a traveler, scuba diver, and reader, and I love nature and the countryside. I’m a big fan of my hometown football team, Brighton & Hove Albion, for my sins.

 

Daniel Browne Daniel Browne: TEFL

Hi. My name is Daniel, and I am a TEFL-qualified teacher from Dublin, Ireland. Coming to Malta was one of the best decisions of my life.

I've made so many friends here and learned so much about myself, and life in general. I feel that I am quite a patient teacher. From the age of 11, my family was a host family in Ireland for students my own age to come over to live and practice English in my home.

They came from all over Europe like Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and more. This has given me the patience and understanding to talk to English students and teach them how to read, write, and speak confidently.

I love meeting new people, and am so happy with meeting all the lovely teachers and staff at Maltalingua!

 

Gill Pritchett Gillian Pritchett: CELTA

Hi, I'm Gillian. I was born and raised in the UK, but I've traveled extensively, lived in France and Germany, and for 12 years in Canada.

I've been a Malta fan since my first visit many years ago and love spending extended chunks of time here. Working for Maltalingua is a true joy thanks to supportive colleagues and motivated students.

I'm CELTA qualified and very experienced teaching face-to-face and in more recent times, online. My focus is business English as my international business career means I can really help students use their English in as near to real-life contexts as possible. My specialist areas are finance, strategy, marketing, negotiations, and HRM.

I studied French and Geography at university, then qualified as an accountant. I also have an MA in European Industrial Relations and HR and a post-grad diploma in Marketing Management.

I enjoy discovering other countries, learning languages, reading, and sports especially running and cycling. And... I’m a qualified gong practitioner...

 

Ljubica Simonova Ljubica Simonova: CELTA

“Our deepest fear is not that we’re inadequate; our deepest fear is that we’re powerful beyond measure.” I live and breathe this quote from the popular sports drama of the 90s, Coach Carter. And I try to show that to my students every day.

My name is Ljubica, and I’m from Negotino, Macedonia. The road to becoming an English teacher was more of a rock, with no ropes or equipment in hand and rain that wouldn’t stop for years, but I made it. Luckily, I’m no stranger to challenges, but I wouldn’t be here without the trust of a few people who have given me a chance to prove what I can do.

Working in the best language school in Malta, with some of the most helpful, compassionate, understanding, and hard-working individuals I have ever met has been a life-changing experience. With good teachers like us, you’ll have no problem reaching your English-speaking goals.

We always try to create all the necessary conditions for any learning to happen, not only in the classroom but outside of it too.

Add to it the fun, unique, never-boring activities that we prepare for our lessons, and you’ll see that you can learn, speak, and understand English too. Patient, passionate about teaching, and perceptive of students’ needs are the three key characteristics of a good teacher, and I can proudly say that I have all three. But my primary goal is to always create a safe, friendly environment for every student to make mistakes and learn from them.

 

Jo Montebello Jo Montebello: Cert Tesol

My name is Jo Montebello and I am a Cert Tesol accredited teacher from Australia.

I specialize in teaching general English, grammar, speaking fluency, Business English, and IELTS preparation.

I have 15 years of teaching experience with a focus on training, personal development, and teaching English as a foreign language to students from all over the world.

My aim is to create a friendly and relaxed teaching environment so students feel comfortable and confident while learning.

 

Gianluca Abela Gianluca Abela: Advanced TEFL Level 5

Hello, I'm Gianluca, your ESL teacher here in sunny Malta. Teaching English as a Second Language isn't just a profession for me; it's my passion and life's mission.

My journey in the world of language teaching in Malta began in 2022. I furthered my studies with Education Management, CLIL, and Business English, honing my skills and knowledge to provide you with the best learning experience possible.

In my classroom, we don't just learn English; we live it. I believe in the power of communication, so get ready to immerse yourself in conversations, debates, and real-world scenarios.

Let's play language games, explore multimedia resources, and dive into cultural exchanges together. Speaking of culture, my experiences living in different countries have given me a global perspective that I love to share with my students.

Learning English isn't just about grammar and vocabulary; it's about understanding the diverse cultures and contexts where it's spoken. Beyond our lessons, I'm deeply involved in community projects that promote language learning and cross-cultural understanding.

You might find me joining the school’s activities during your stay at Maltalingua. Join me on this exciting journey to fluency, where we'll explore not only the richness of the English language but also the broader world it opens up.

 

Maria Privitera Maria Privitera: CELTA

Hi there! My name is Maria and am Maltese. I started teaching in the year 2021 and I am CELTA-qualified.

This venture has been a long time coming as I’ve always had a love for the English language and have come across many people from many different countries who have wanted to learn English, so I’ve spent most of my life interacting with students.

Teaching English fascinates me and I love seeing students progress and be ambitious in wanting to improve their communication skills. Working at Maltalingua has allowed me to pursue my passion and has enabled me to meet new people from all over the world.

The staff I work with are wonderful! We have a big family atmosphere in which everyone is extremely helpful and kind. Every teacher has different skills with one goal and philosophy in mind - and that is, to help students become better at communicating with other people.

 

Keenan Kleinsmith Keenan Kleinsmith: CELTA

Hi, my name is Keenan and I’m from Cape Town, South Africa. I’m a qualified CELTA teacher.

One of my greatest joys is helping learners to develop and grow. I love sports and enjoy watching Rugby, Football and Formula 1.

I enjoy cooking and spending time with family and friends. I love traveling and meeting new people, learning about different cultures and ways of life.

One of my favorite quotes is “A day without learning is a day wasted."

 

Patrick Carver Patrick Carver: CELTA

Hi, I'm Patrick a CELTA-qualified teacher from Manchester in the UK.

I’ve spent the last several years working around the world as an English teacher.

I love my work as teaching is my passion & I am very happy to work for Maltalingua. It is a great environment for education. It is a friendly, lively, and exciting place to work. I especially enjoy meeting and learning about new people and cultures from around the world and experiencing student's unique perspectives and input in the classroom. 

My teaching style is energetic and friendly, which is primarily student-focused. I like my classes to be vibrant, talkative, and (above all else) fun. When I am not teaching, I am a big fan of travelling, football, chess, and creating music. Look forward to seeing you in class. Cheers!