EC Malta English Language School

. From this week students at EC Malta can combine their English Language Course with Art Lessons! Or even choose to go and sketch some of Malta’s diverse landscape with artist Madeline Gera.

Students can choose one of the following:

1. Art with a difference
An ideal extra curricular course for long term students.
A one month drawing and painting programme, comprising of 4, 2 hour sessions. A short visit to the museum of fine arts, plus a comprehensive drawing and painting programme for euro120 per person.
Maximum participants per class 6.
Still life, drawing. City scape sketching, drawing from the model.

2. Introduction to the studio
A single art class of 2 hours for student on short visits.
Euro 50 per person

3. Away from it all.
A landscape adventure at Dingli Cliffs, or Mdina.
Watercolors and sketch book.
Euro 60.

About the Artist:The artist, Atelier Madeleine Gera is a fully qualified T.e.f.l. English teacher with Celta and a University degree and 5 years full time teaching experience in EC where she taught Business English and Intermediate to Advanced levels. She now runs Madeleine Gera Studio where she paints and teaches. www.madeleinegera.com. Her studio is in the heart of Malta’s historic capital, Republic Street, Valletta (near The National Museum of Fine Art and St. Johns). There are art shops and cafés in the vicinity.

APPLY NOW AT THE EC RECEPTION!

On Sunday I had some first hand experience of the medical system here in Malta. After feeling a little ill all day one of my friends became fevery and delirious. After listening to her talking nonsense for a while, we decided that we should probably get her to hospital. We decided not to call EC Malta at that point, as we weren’t sure how long we would be in hospital for and if it was necessary to involve them. We arrived in a taxi at the A+E department at Mater Dei Hospital. After a short wait my friend was showed into the triage where she could see a doctor. We waited again, but the doctor soon came, after asking some questions, they took a blood sample, and made my friend as comfortable as possible in a private cubicle. A few hours and a few doctors later, they still weren’t entirely sure what the problem was, so decided to keep her in overnight. At that point we had to leave, as friends aren’t allowed to stay overnight. We realized that it was important to speak to EC at this point, so rang the emergency number that they had provided. Soon we were speaking to Nat (even though it was about one in the morning). And she agreed that we should go home and that I could have a day off the following day so that I could go and visit my friend to see how she was doing.
After a stressed night’s sleep, I woke in the morning to ring the hospital and find out visiting times. I also rang EC who had already spoken to my friend and discovered that she was feeling much better. I took the bus to the hospital and spent a couple of hours there, where everything was going much better. The staff had taken great care of my friend, and had carried out a shockingly thorough set of tests, including a CT scan and a Lumbar Injection!
The room was comfortable and the food much better than what we were cooking for ourselves at the Carlton! My friend is now out of hospital and feeling fine. I was shocked and pleased with the quality of medical care given here in Malta and the support we received from the EC staff.

I hope you’re all finding something green to wear and getting ready to go out tonight and celebrate St. Patricks Day. The patron saint of Ireland is supposed to have brought Catholicism to many northern partsof the country, and banished snakes. The day is often linked with the colour green and shamrocks (3-leaf clovers).
St Patricks day is celebrated in thousands of pubs all over the world, including many Irish pubs in Malta. Have a look for one near you. It should be a good night, as the Irish are famous for their hospitality. Plus there are few people who know how to have a better time than the irish! But enjoy responsibly as I expect to see everyone in school bright and early tomorrow! Have fun!

Just a quick note the morning after – I hope  all EC Malta students had a good time, here are a couple of pictures from the night in Caseys and Hugos.

Today we said goodbye to the 50+ group that have been with us here in Malta for the past two weeks. In a small certificate ceremony the students received their hard earned certification while enjoying some pastizzi and refreshments at the same time!
There was plenty of smiles but also a few sad goodbyes, showing the friendships that have sprung up in this short time. We hope that all our 50+ groups will enjoy their experience as much, and will be as enjoyable to have here.
So goodbye to all of you, and good luck with your English! From EC Malta, we wish you all the best.

Fuegos is a salsa bar in Paceville that caters to all tastes! Last night some EC students hit the dance floor to make some shapes. The interior is interestingly decorated with a jungle theme, and there’s a great atmosphere as everyone there is enjoying the night out. It’s great for those who like to salsa, but also for those of us that find dancing a little bit more challenging!
There are even some resident dancers that you can practice your steps with!
It’s definately worth giving Fuegos a try, especially as we get free drinks vouchers in our handbooks, one drink per flame, which is six free drinks! And, as I found out last night, you can use them all in one night or save them for another time. After leaving the salsa bar we decided to drop in at Hugos and found even more EC people! I’m starting to get the feeling that you will always find at least one student in there! A great night for talking to new people, and good exercise to dance all evening!
If you want to try Fuegos it’s at the bottom of the steps by Hugos, and it’s free entrance so you won’t even have to spend much money!

Pouring rain and some hail on the EC building did not inspire great hope in me for what the harbour cruise would be like. We arrived at the seashore under slightly better skies and all boarded the vapur (maltese for ship). The weather turned out to be unimportant as the boat was well covered by a plastic canopy.

We set off and the sights on every side were stunning. The workers on the boat explain what you are sailing past. If you want to know historical background then it’s good to listen to this, but I was just as happy sitting and watching the huge domed churches and beautiful buildings slide past. The cruise took about an hour and a half and we arrived back in the harbour to a beautiful rainbow–a cheesy but lovely end to the ride. Everyone then walked into Sliema for some shopping! The shops are good and easy to find. I managed to buy a dress for only 5 euros in the sales.

A very successful trip despite the weather, with lots of beautiful pictures!

The cruise costs €11.50 and is on most weeks. Speak to the CR staff at EC for more info.

The EC Malta staff from Language House and EC Central had a great Sunday touring around Malta with photographer Duncan Zammit from Uphotomalta trying out EC’s latest activity being offered to all EC students: The Malta Photographic Tour. This tour allows students to visit the unseen corners of the island by traveling off the beaten track routes in a comfortable jeep equipped with air-conditioning, a great variety of music, and refreshments! What more do you want?

Whether you want to take pictures, or just enjoy the local views, be sure that the Malta Photographic Tour is the right tour for those who want to sightsee Malta in a relatively short time. Experience the best, undiscovered spots in Malta and Gozo, whilst taking time to shoot the best possible photos along the way.

Surely this is Malta’s most unique photography tour guaranteeing a travel experience like no other!

Join EC Malta on the next Uphotomalta adventure as we visit secluded parts of the Island known only to the locals and take some of the best photos along the way. Exclusively open to small groups of up to a maximum of eight guests this tour is ideal for the keen travellers who would like to make the most out of their holidays in Malta & Gozo.

The trip includes transportation, refreshments: including coffee or tea, soft drinks and a snack of mouth-watering traditional Maltese pastries -‘Pastizzi’

There are 3 main tours available:

1. A Half Day trip of photography and sightseeing in Malta (behind the scenes). Time: 08.00 till 13.00.
Start your photographic journey in the rural north of Malta taking in the fresh Mediterranean landscapes, historic fortifications, quaint narrow winding roads, traditional salt pans and picturesque fishing villages.

2. Or Time: 1400 till 1400.
Where you will visit the Valleys and cliffs of the sunny Maltese Islands and enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean sun, setting over the blue horizon.

3. And finally The GOZO full day trip – around the island of Gozo and it’s authentic places. Time: 0800 till 1700.
Live the Gozitan experience for a whole 1 day tour while exploring the historic cities, colourful landscaping, breathtaking sea cliffs and rocky valleys, traditional crafts and local authenticity through your lens.


What are you waiting for? Book this exciting tour now!!!! From the EC Reception