Junior Student Handbook

Our mission is to provide a high-quality service for international students to develop their English language learning in a dynamic environment that values excellence in language education and being committed to meeting the needs of individuals.

Here is some information that you might find useful for your stay with us here in Malta:

Placement Test

You will be classed according to an online Placement Test, which includes reading & comprehension, vocabulary, and writing. A speaking assessment is also conducted by a teacher on your first day to further confirm your level of English.

Arrival details will be sent to you by the school via email along with programmes (check meeting points and meeting times).

Public Holidays

There will be no lessons on public holidays. However, we will take you on a full-day excursion!

Emergency Contacts

• Maltalingua Junior Emergency Only Number: (+356) 7949 6915
• Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire): 112

Doctor

We have a doctor who can come and see you at your accommodation if you are sick. Host families might have their own house doctor – speak to them if you are feeling unwell.

You will need to pay for the doctor and any medicine. Please keep your receipt to give to your family when you are home (for insurance purposes).

Hospital

Please go to your Group Leaders immediately if something has happened and you need to go to hospital. One of the Live-in Leaders will take you there and stay with you the whole time.

Taxi Airport Transfers

Upon your check-in, we will ask you to share your flight details with us to ensure all details are correct for your departure too. You will be asked to check your pick-up time upon departure during your last day in the residence – Maltalingua reception desk.

Bus Routes

There are bus stops close to the residence or host families. You can use the public bus (Tallinja Public Transport) to explore Malta on your free day. You can buy your ticket from the bus driver.

Supermarkets

There are many mini-markets where you can buy extra food or snacks. Supermarkets are open from Monday to Sunday until about 19:30. On Sundays and Public Holidays, hours may vary.

• Residence: The closest one is behind the Bella Vista Residence. There is also a small kiosk in the residence.
• School: There is Welbees Supermarket (next to the school), Lidl (Sliema) – months of April/June and October. In July and August, there are nearby shops in the area of the junior school – all within walking distance.

ATM

ATM means cash point, where you can withdraw money. Please ask your Group Leaders for directions to the nearest ATMs.

Meet Your Leaders!

This is the group of people who will be looking after you during your stay in Malta. You can always talk to them if you have questions or problems, and your Group Leaders will be happy to help you!

Let’s have a great time together and enjoy English under the sun!

Live-in Group Leaders (Residence)

Your Live-in Leaders live together with you in the Bella Vista. They will have breakfast, lunch and dinner with you and provide you with 24/7 support and supervision. They will monitor your curfew times, help you with check-in / check-out and always have a friendly ear for you.

On the notice board in the Bella Vista, you can see which room number they are in. One of them will always have the emergency phone. When on duty, they will always wear a yellow T-shirt, which makes it easier for you to find them immediately.

Activity Group Leaders

The Group Leaders go on excursions and activities with you. They meet you in the morning, spend the day with you at school and also after your lessons to take you to towns or beaches to experience and enjoy Malta and make sure you have a good time. They will also go with you on evening activities like parties, BBQs or night walks.

Arrivals for the Residence

Sunday is a free day for our older students (TEENS), so you can use it to relax and get familiarised. Please remember that if you want to leave the hotel, you need to go together with other students, inform your Live-in Leaders and sign in and out.

For KIDS, we have a Sunday Fun Day planned, packed with fun activities, swimming and games in the area.

Dinner on Sunday is always at 18:00 because at 19:30 all new students will have a welcome meeting. Please bring a pen and paper with you.

Live-in Leaders will collect your ID card / Passport when you arrive and keep them locked up for you in a safe. Your money and valuables should be put in your room safe.

Should you require assistance from our Live-in team on Saturday / Sunday, you will find them either in the reception area (Maltalingua desk) or in their rooms (room numbers are on the notice board).

Arrivals for Homestay Students

Your host family will give you introductory and useful information for your first day. Use this time to get to know your family and tell them if there is anything that you don’t like to eat. They will also inform you about rules in the house.

Please give your ID card / Passport to your host family for safekeeping. Lock your valuables in your suitcase. Only take as much money with you as you need for a day.

Please remember to bring a copy of your ID card / Passport to school on the first day and give it to one of the Group Leaders.

Placement Test and Orientation

You will receive a link to your online placement test before you start your course. Please complete the test no later than two weeks before your first day at the school. This test helps us to find out your level of English and place you in the right class.

• You will also meet your teachers and your Academic Coordinator.
• You will meet your fellow classmates and the rest of the students.

Lesson Times

Your lessons will be held in the morning and start at 9:00. You will have a little break in between classes and then finish at 12:30. These times are to be followed in July and August.

During the rest of the months – April, June and October – you will follow our double-banking timetable.

In April and October you will follow our Timetable A; June will follow our Timetable B.

*Juniors on the family programme will have the same schedule as their parents so they can spend quality time together during their English Family holidays.

Check the Maltalingua App for any updates related to your classing.

If you have any questions about your lessons or your level, please speak to your teachers and they will be happy to help you.

Wristbands

On your arrival you will receive a yellow or blue wristband. The colour distinguishes your age and therefore the time when you need to be home. Yellow wristbands are for 8–12-year-old students and blue wristbands are for 13–17-year-old students. There is also the Junior Emergency number on it. You must wear the wristband during the whole duration of your stay and must not take it off. The Group Leaders will check this, and you will be charged €5 if you take it off.

In case you lose it, come to your Group Leaders to get a new one. Only the first replacement is free; any further replacement will cost €5 as well.

Student Cards

When you are not at your accommodation it is very important that you wear and display your student card lanyard. When we put you on the bus in the morning, or collect you from your bus stop if you are living with a host family, your Group Leaders will look out for your yellow lanyards! You must always carry it and wear it on all activities.

Welcome Dinner

Every Monday evening, we host a Welcome Dinner for all new and existing students. Everyone is invited, as it is a good time to meet the other students and Maltalingua staff. There will be food and soft drinks – we are looking forward to getting to know you!

Residence

Most of our Junior Students live in the summer residence, which is in the north of Malta, in Qawra. You will share your room with 2 or 3 other students. Each room has its own bathroom.

You will be shown the communal areas of the hotel on your arrival. These include an indoor and outdoor pool, a games room with table tennis, table soccer and an XBOX (on request), a rooftop with a Jacuzzi and an entrance area with TVs. You can use these facilities throughout your stay.

However, we also have some rules for living in the residence to make sure it is a peaceful and respectful living atmosphere.

• Please keep your room clean. You and the other students are responsible for keeping your room tidy. Rooms will be cleaned every day. Do not leave anything lying around on the floor, otherwise the cleaners will not be able to clean your room. Towels will be changed daily; sheets will be changed once a week.
• Do not change your room. Other beds are reserved for other students who typically arrive over the weekend. You are not allowed to stay overnight in other rooms or to permanently move into another room.
• Do not let anyone else stay in your room overnight.
• Please be quiet so others can sleep after 23:00. You need to be back in your own room at 23:00 (latest on weekdays) and 00:00 at weekends; the times depend on your age – check curfew times for your reference.
• If you still want to meet other students after this time, you can do so only on Fridays and Saturdays and only in the communal areas of the hotel. Please note that Group Leaders will conduct regular room checks.
• It is not allowed for boys to be in the girls’ rooms, and vice versa. This is both a Maltalingua rule and a regulation by the residence’s management.
• You will find free Wi-Fi in the hotel areas.
• Please report any damages to the Live-in Leaders immediately.
• Always sign out when you leave the hotel and sign in when you return.
• Respect other Maltalingua students. If everyone is considerate and cleans up after themselves, your stay at the residence will be much more fun!

Standard Junior Residence (Bella Vista Hotel)

Superior Junior Residence (Odycy Hotel)

Homestay Accommodation

We provide students with the option of living with local hosts in Malta.

Communication with your host is the key to a successful stay. On your arrival day, the host and you will sit down together and talk about expectations, needs, and rules. Please be considerate as you are living in another person’s home and not in a guest house.

• Leave your room tidy at all times.
• Let your family know what food you like and dislike and if you have any special dietary needs.
• Do not use the kitchen without permission.
• Do not take any food from the family without asking.
• If you would like to bring a guest home, ask your family for permission first.
• Let your family know what you will be doing and where you will be if you go out in your free time.
• Most of our host families work, so please respect them and keep noise levels to a minimum, especially after 23:00.

If you have any problems with your homestay provider or questions about your accommodation, please speak to your Group Leaders.

Activity Programme

Maltalingua provides an interesting and varied activity programme for our junior students so you can expect to have lots of fun and practise your English as much as possible while you are here!

Every week, we have a mix of cultural, beach and evening activities to ensure you have a good time. You will also find recommended activities for your free afternoon or evening. If you need advice on what to do on your free Sunday, come and talk to your Group Leaders and they can give you recommendations for what to do and how to get there.

We are keen to maintain a good learning environment in which every student can benefit from a positive experience at Maltalingua. As a result, we expect students to be considerate to others.

• Arrive on time for the classes. Get up early enough to have breakfast before meeting the other students and your Group Leaders to go to school or walk from your host family.
• Wear your Student ID and lanyard – bring it to school and wear it in class.
• Always bring a pen and paper to school.
• Put your mobile phone on silent – both the teacher and your classmates do not want to be disturbed in the classroom.
• Come to class every day – this is the best way for you to improve your English. There is enough free time in the afternoons and at the weekend to relax!
• On your last day at school, you will receive a certificate of studies, but only if you attended classes regularly.
• If you are unable to come to class due to illness, please notify your Group Leader immediately in the morning.
• Practise English as much as possible – in and outside the classroom!

Your Feedback

We are always interested in receiving feedback from our students so that we can continue to develop the school. You will receive a feedback questionnaire every Thursday in your class. We are happy to read if you have enjoyed your stay with us and if you have any suggestions for the future.

General Rules and Regulations

• Take enough water with you every day, your sun cream, and a hat.
• Be on time for your transfer and classes.
• Always check the programme to see what else to pack for the day.
• Always carry your mobile phone with you – fully charged.
• No smoking. No alcohol. No drugs.
• Respect your fellow students and the Maltalingua staff.
• You must always carry your Maltalingua ID Card.
• Obey Maltese law.

Curfew Times

• 8–12 years – 21:00 / 22:00 (Weekday / Weekend) – Always supervised / No free time
• 13–15 years – 22:00 / 23:00 (Weekday / Weekend)
• 16–17 years – 23:00 / 00:00 (Weekday / Weekend)

Sign Out / Sign In

You need to sign out with a Group Leader when you leave the residence and sign in when you return on time for your curfew. You cannot go out on your own but must be in groups of at least three students. The Group Leaders check that all students are safely back in the residence before going to bed. Therefore, every student must tell the Group Leader on duty if they plan to leave the residence or spend their free time indoors. You will find the Group Leader for the evening in the lobby with the students’ list.

Please do not wait until your stay with us has finished, as it will be too late to solve the problem! If you have any problems with your studies, please speak to your teacher first. If you still have concerns, then speak to the Academic Coordinator – your Group Leaders can help you with this.

If you have any issues with your accommodation, transfers, leisure activities or welfare, please speak to your Group Leaders or the Programme Manager.

The school does not tolerate unacceptable, unruly, or disruptive behaviour, bullying or harassment of others, or continuing lack of attendance. In such cases, a meeting will be scheduled with management to try and reach an amicable solution. If this is not possible, Maltalingua reserves the right to expel students from the school and its accommodation with no refunds, and send them home at the parents’ or guardians’ expense.

• Your personal belongings: Take care of your bag and belongings – there are pickpockets, especially in tourist areas.
• Road Safety: Cars drive on the left side of the road – watch out when crossing.
• Walking around in the evening: Avoid unfamiliar areas unaccompanied; always walk with a friend.
• Transport in Malta: Use the public bus where possible – your Group Leaders can help you.
• Passport and ID Card: Give them to your Group Leaders or Host Family and carry only a copy.
• Medical Help: If you need to go to hospital or see a doctor, take your international health-insurance card.
• Alcohol and Smoking: Forbidden for all junior students.
• Drug Abuse: Malta has a zero-tolerance policy – offenders will be prosecuted.
• Airport Transfer on Departure: A Group Leader will tell you the pick-up time – pick-up point is in front of your accommodation.
• Appropriate Clothing: Dress appropriately for school and public areas – bikinis and swimwear are for the beach.
• Respect Quiet Times: Keep noise down during siesta (13:00–16:00) and at night (23:00–07:00).
• Sunblock: Always apply sunblock when outside – even if it’s cloudy!

Our junior team of leaders is responsible for ensuring you are always safe. They are there to help you learn English and have fun with you, but they must also ensure that all students at Maltalingua maintain order and follow the school rules.

Should you not adhere to these rules, you will be made immediately aware and disciplined accordingly. Maltalingua has a 5-point strike system. Should you get 5 strikes or more, you will be sent home immediately at your own expense and absolutely no refunds will be granted.

The Junior School is in the main school in St Julian’s during the months of April, June and October. The transfer from the junior residence to the main school takes about 20 minutes with our private school buses. Students are accompanied by leaders on the bus.

During the summer months of July and August, the Junior School moves to St Paul’s Bay, eight minutes away from the residence, offering more space for students.

Students live either in the school residence in St Paul’s Bay or with host families in St Julian’s, Sliema, or St Paul’s Bay.