UĦM Voice of the Workers eMagazine issue 30

VOICE OF THE

WORKERS ISSUE 30 JULY 2014

Standing out from the rest

Contents Breakfast in America

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A Genuine International Centre of Excellence

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Language Learning for Jobs in the EU

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Schools of English and language learning

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Celebrating Diversity and Understanding

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EDITOR’S NOTE JOSEF VELLA The teaching of English as a foreign language in Malta is a fully-fledged industry, benefitting its direct and indirect stakeholders. Throughout its fifty year history, the industry has grown from strength to strength, its product improved, and the scope of its services widened.

It has also contributed to the provision of employment, not just of teachers and support staff at the schools themselves, but also in the organisation of events, venues, and ancillary support services. The Guardian newspaper valued the global TEFL market in Europe alone at around €15 billion.

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The challenges are there.

Competition is alive and kicking.

However, concentrating on what we excel in, improving accessibility, as well as making the right investment, may make all the difference.

No industry can sustain itself without constant monitoring and care. We need to ensure that the quality of our products and services are of excellent quality. We need to invest in a way that gives us the edge over our immediate competitors, and continues to build on the unique qualities Malta has to offer. We need to ensure that

our infrastructure is adequate in a way that, whilst maximising each visitor’s experience and developing knowledge of the English language, we need to ensure that the industry is also sustainable vis-a-vis local perception, safe entertainment, and building on our aggregate marketing strategy.

EFL schools need to cooperate closely together, and also be in sync with the rest of the industry and other stakeholders.

The Maltese EFL industry has to ensure that it builds on Malta’s image as a quality, fun, and safe 1

EDITORIAL

destination. Young people who had a positive experience with EFL schools in Malta, are also future potential visitors in their own right. Add to that the power of word of mouth advertising, and the reasons for cultivating this industry become very clear.

EFL teachers are skilled workers whose main aim is to create value to their students. This means that in their quest to create real value, these workers have to develop skills that go beyond the technical aspects of English. It is therefore

essential that the industry does fall into the trap of other sectors in the tourism sector by cutting corners and hiring convenient, cheap labour, as this is not in the long-term interest of the industry.

Other opportunities may also be considered beneficial to the industry, such as the teaching of English as a foreign language to professionals who can combine instruction with a holiday. This can bring about further value added to the industry through horizontal diversification.

Teaching English as a foreign language in Malta is an important element of our economy. It forms an essential part of the vast array of tourism-related activities. The competition is real and aggressive. However, with the right self-regulation, the necessary checks and balances, effective stakeholder participation and investment in the right people, this industry can give our potential markets that something extra that makes us stand out from the rest.

Breakfast in America An immigrant to America prepares breakfast making use of instructions provided by the YMCA in 1921.

English as a second language is an important aspect for cultural, educational and business purposes and is widely used both on traditional as well as on online media. One out of four persons of the world’s population speak English to some level of competence. The market for learning English as a second language, as well as the opportunities arising from it are substantial . Due to its unique offerings, Malta is well equipped to tap into this market. The industry provides revenue and employment not just for language schools, but also for all those connected to the tourist industry and the Maltese economy in general. Moreover, the experience of English language students will contribute to the state of our tourism sector in the future. It is up to all stakeholders to make this important sector a success.

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FEATURE STORY

A Genuine International Centre of Excellence MR. ZAMMIT IS DIRECTOR OF ACE ENGLISH MALTA, A LANGUAGE SCHOOL THAT OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2013

How important is Teaching English to foreign students for Malta?

This particular industry, the teaching of English as a foreign language in Malta, has its roots dating back to the 1960s when the first foreign students embarked on what was to be the first of thousands of English language holidays to our islands in the following years. Throughout these years, all stakeholders have never looked back and the industry has thrived over a period of time with a now yearly very evident presence seen in Malta and Gozo, in particular during the Summer months. Many are those who mutually benefit from this particular market : EFL teachers, host families, hoteliers, transport companies, leisure activity providers, places of VOICE OF THE

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entertainment, just to name a few. It goes without saying that the EFL industry, still considered to be a niche market, has grown to be one of Malta’s pillars within the tourism sector, offering a diverse yet lucrative package to those wishing to embark on a language immersion programme on the Maltese islands.

average duration per student was calculated at just over 3 weeks, a slight increase over 2012. These figures are a proof that all efforts put together by the EFL schools are reaping the deserved results.

The prospects all seem to indicate that one would see such marginal increases also in the years to come.

Do you view this industry as one that has potential for growth?

Undoubtedly so, I would say.

The industry has been growing while also gaining momentum for a number of years now with an average annual growth of over 4% over the past ten years.

In 2013 the total number of weeks spent by foreign students in Malta amounted to over 233,000 student weeks. The

What are the challenges local English Language schools face?

One would say that it is relatively a very large number of EFL students who come to Malta in proportion to the size and number of schools. A number of expected challenges are met during the peak weeks within the July and August period when one would see a huge influx of foreign students within such a short period of time. This 3

FEATURE STORY

fact adds pressure in terms of accommodation availability (both with host families, hotels and self-catering accommodation), transport logistics and more.

Moreover the lack of available moderately-priced seats on major routes to Malta also acts as a hindrance to what could potentially be an easier and more affordable access to Malta throughout the rest of the year.

Though foreign competition (mainly the UK) is always present, Malta still manages to offer what I consider to be the real McCoy in terms of a complete package deal including great weather conditions, excellent school facilities, genuine hospitality, richness in culture second to none and an abundance of entertainment possibilities to choose from. This truly makes us unique amongst other EFL destinations.

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What can be done to improve and build on the strengths on the industry?

A lot has already been done. The setting up of the EFL Monitoring Board has set objectives which will only foster Malta’s reputation in relation to the EFL market segment. The Ministries of Education and Tourism recognise

the efforts of local EFL schools in keeping quality standards always at a high level and are encouraged to keep on working closely with all parties concerned as this will only enhance Malta’s prospects of proving to be a genuine TEFL international centre of excellence.

Keith Zammit was interviewed by John Mallia

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MEUSAC

Language Learning for Jobs in the EU INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO BOOST GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS: SKILLS DETERMINE EUROPE’S CAPACITY TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY. IN THE LONG-TERM, SKILLS CAN TRIGGER INNOVATION AND GROWTH, MOVE PRODUCTION UP THE VALUE CHAIN, STIMULATE THE CONCENTRATION OF HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS IN THE EU AND SHAPE THE FUTURE LABOUR MARKET. With labour markets and the demand for skills changing, it is essential that education systems adapt to ensure that they are able to cater to the expected increase in demand over the next decade.

To this effect, the EU has put in place numerous action plans designed to promote language education and learning to ensure a better and smoother functioning Union. The aims of these action plans are two-fold: firstly, the promotion of life-long learning, which could be achieved through specific objectives such as that of learning a mother tongue plus two other languages from a very early age, whilst promoting the continuation of language learning throughout adult life. Secondly, the improvement of language

teaching, specifically through a more adaptable school structure through diverse policies such as the creation of a languagefriendly environment through the promotion of an inclusive approach to linguistic diversity.

The ‘Business Platform’ group aims to promote language learning to improve competitiveness and employability, as well as developing tools and services to help companies and people improve their professional performance.

However, despite investment in many countries, education systems in a number of Member States are still not efficient enough to cope with these challenges; language learning in Member States still falls well short of the target of fluency in two foreign languages.

The ‘Languages for Jobs’ group focuses on the development of policy recommendations on languages and employability in order to reduce the mismatch between the supply and demand of languages in the labour market.

The European Commission has recently adopted two working groups: the ‘Business Platform’ group and the ‘Languages for Jobs’ group.

Dialogue between education and business is vital if the supply of language skills from education systems is to be better matched to the needs of the labour market.

MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE

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MCESD

Schools of English and language learning Malta has become known as a centre of excellence for English language learning. Throughout the past years the local economy has been given a boost with various foreign language schools setting up shop in Malta. In 2013 there were 43 of such schools registered in Malta1. This industry has undoubtedly also enhanced the level of employment in our country.

Students from all over Europe, North Africa and Asia visit our islands for short periods of time to study the English language.

Statistics demonstrate that youngsters are the main visitors however individuals who are older also visit our islands for this purpose. There has recently been an increasing demand for 1

learning business English by foreign business people. Schools organise outings and activities so as to ensure that students are thought the language not only in the classroom but through other more creative and enjoyable methods.

Statistics issued by the NSO have shown that in 2012 a total of 81,911 students visited our islands to study English as a Foreign Language (EFL) with an average stay of 2.8 weeks. The number went slightly down to 74,992 students in 2013 however the average stay per student increased to 3.1 weeks.

This industry employed 1469 individuals, mainly teaching staff on a part-time basis in 2013.

Efforts need to be made so as to further encourage this industry as has been done in recent years.

Such figures clearly demonstrate the need to encourage and incentivise the industry further.

In Malta the EFL Monitoring board has been doing outstanding work in ensuring that language schools adhere to the standards and regulations set up. It aims to safeguard the profession of English Language Teaching on a national basis and is striving to constantly upgrade EFL standards.

Furthermore, it works to ensure that Malta’s reputation as an international learning centre is promoted.

Source: NSO

MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE

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CIA

Celebrating Diversity and Understanding

There will be Language classes, games, talks, conferences, radio shows happening somewhere in Europe - whether on the day itself or in the weeks before and after 26 September. Everyone can participate and propose events or ideas.

The EC Language centre The EC language centre is an organization regrouping all the English course and schools in English speaking countries, more information available here: www.ecenglish.com

VIDEOS

The European Day of Languages The European Day of Languages is a yearly event held on 26 September jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union.

It celebrates the linguistic diversity of a continent with over 200 European languages and many more spoken by people from other parts of the world.

WORLD EVENTS

VIDEOS

English as a second language throughout Europe is part of the European Union ethos of celebrating diversity as well as understanding between cultures. The list below includes videos organisations, as well as events connected to this sector. The information was researched by the Brussels office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori.

Language QUIZ! Think you know a thing or two about languages? Test your knowledge with our European languages Language Quiz at the following link: http://goo.gl/H9WjZb

Here is available the list of all the events: http://goo.gl/6JHNXL For more information visit the website: http://goo.gl/lgwnC0

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