Teach English in Malta

If you are looking for a TEFL experience, you may want to consider Malta. Once upon a time, Malta was a colony of Britain, and there are a lot of British standards and traditions that are still upheld, including the education system. Anyone who has taught in an English school and moves to become an English teacher in Malta will recognise the education system as it’s very familiar. In Malta, English is one of the official languages, and this means that you are sure to find work because English teachers in Malta are in high demand. Around about 88% of the population of Malta is able to speak English, but you will still find a good range of adults and children looking to improve their skills. Generally, both private and public schools in Malta teach all lessons in English, but they do value having a native English speaker as part of their team.

It is not just the work that drives people to take a job teaching English in Malta, it is a very beautiful country, and it boasts one of the best climates on the planet. If you like soaking up the sun on the beach, you will find plenty of months for this activity as the hot weather tends to last through the spring, summer and autumn. Malta is an unusual country as it does not contain any rivers or forest areas, but it does house one of the oldest universities in the world, which was established in 1592 and is called the Maltese cross. It may be quite a small country, but you will find that it is relatively densely populated, which makes living vibrant and active. In 2013 it also received the accolade of being one of the 50th happiest countries across the globe, so if you’re looking for a place to call home that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, then why not head out to teach English in Malta for a while.

Job types

Private schools

There are several private schools in the cities and bigger towns located around Malta, including Saint Julians, Valletta and Sliema. You will often find that private schools offer better remuneration than state schools; however, they are run as a business, and some people find this a more rigid and less appealing location to teach in.

Language Schools

Language schools tend to operate different hours to mainstream education because they are designed to cater primarily to adults looking to improve their skills. Therefore if you take a word in a language school teaching English in Malta, you will find your hours tend to be evenings and weekends, which works well for some people. It is also possible that you could combine a school role during the day with a language school at night. It really depends on what you want to achieve and how much money you want to save and have spare at the end of your month.

State Schools

Because Maltese state schools teach primarily in English, there is less opportunity available for foreigners to come in and teach English in Malta. However, vacancies may arise from time to time, and it is always worth throwing your hat in the ring if that is the type of establishment that appeals to you. It’s undoubtedly an easy environment to work in because your colleagues and peers will all be pretty fluent in English.

Private language lessons

No matter what country you teach in, it is always possible to set yourself up as self-employed. This means you can offer private tutor lessons to anyone in the local area who chooses to work with you. You can teach in your home or visit theirs, but do remember that it is your duty to ensure you understand the self-employment regulations as an English teacher in Malta because the onus will be on you to make any returns and pay any taxes that are due.

Find a job

Contracts as an English teacher in Malta will vary, so that really is something for everyone. Summer schools are popular, and these are generally run and hosted by a language school. So a summer contract could work for you if you want to spend a short time as an English teacher in Malta, a summer contract could work for you. In private schools and language schools generally, you will find contracts are offered for the period of 1 to 2 years. On average, you will work 20 to 25 hours a week in the classroom, which may or may not be enough hours, but it is possible to top up your income as a private tutor. State schools and private schools tend to close in mid-June for the summer break and reopen in mid-September. You will also have a week off at Christmas and Easter. You will need to be careful about taking on extra work if you are contracted to a school so if this is something you are considering when you are teaching English in Malta, be sure to speak to them and see if they are happy for you to work evenings and weekends or during the summer holidays for a different institution. You will also find that many language schools will prohibit you from any self-employed private tutor work.

Qualifications

You will need a TEFL certificate in order to be able to teach English in Malta. To get a work permit, you must visit the Maltese education department taking with you evidence of your identity and qualifications. The department can be found in Valletta. They will issue you with a teaching permit if you have the correct qualifications. For those hoping to teach English in Malta in one of their private schools, you will also find you need to have a qualification in teaching from your home country, and they will expect you to have prior experience. As mentioned, you would likely find that private schools offer the highest pay certainly if you compare them to the language schools.

Visa

And regardless of whether you are an EU or non-EU national, you do require a visa/work permit in order to stay in the country and teach. You need to get your education permit and evidence of a firm job offer before you can apply for a work permit, but your employer will take care of your visa application, so it’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Need to know

The easiest way to find work as an English teacher in Malta is to be there in person. A lot of schools require prospective teachers to visit the school and spend some time teaching a practice lesson so they can get a feel for the way you work. Jobs will be advertised on language websites, and you can also look at any websites for the actual schools to get a feel for what is needed. It is important that you are smartly dressed and polite and have copies of your CV and qualifications that you can leave behind when you visit a school. Vacancies can be found in schools throughout the year, so there is no better time to apply than right now.

It is unlikely that you will be offered any accommodation as part of your contract; however, your employer will be best placed to recommend accommodation and where to find it. Generally, housing for English teachers in Malta is a very high standard and will have a distinct Mediterranean look and feel. Flat living is probably the most cost-effective route if you are teaching in one of the largest cities.

Classroom culture

The Maltese classroom is culturally diverse, but you will find that the children are well-mannered and generally receptive to new teachers. In language schools, your pupils are more likely to be adult learners, and this means they definitely want to be there as they are trying to improve their English skills to enhance their opportunities for work and travel.