BELS Malta

BELS Malta is a small, owner-run English language school on the north coast of Malta, in the seaside town of St Paul's Bay. It is one half of the BELS group, whose other school sits in the countryside of Gozo, and it welcomes adult learners all year round with junior and teenage programmes added at Easter, in summer and in autumn.

For a UK reader the appeal is easy to picture. English is an official language in Malta and is used in shops, on buses and in restaurants, so lessons in the morning carry straight into the rest of the day. The school pairs classes with accommodation, airport transfers and a social programme, which suits adults taking a learning holiday as well as parents looking for a supervised summer camp for a teenager. You can find the school among the language schools in Malta in our directory.

A family-style school with a long Gozo history

BELS opened in 1997 as a modest family-run school on the island of Gozo. It later added a second school in Malta, at St Paul's Bay, and the group now describes itself as owner-run, with a deliberate policy of staying small so that staff know students by name and understand what each person wants from their course.

The wider group has more than 25 years of experience in English teaching and holds international accreditation. Its stated aim is to give students a complete experience around the classroom rather than lessons alone, which is why accommodation, transfers, visa support and leisure activities are all handled in-house.

Choosing between the two islands is part of the appeal. The Malta school suits people who like a livelier setting and a wider mix of ages and interests, while the quieter Gozo school attracts students who want a calm village atmosphere. Many guests like to see both, and our guide to Gozo shows what the smaller island has to offer outside lessons.

English courses for adults

Adult courses are for students aged 16 and over and start every Monday, with study periods from a single week to long-term stays of eight weeks or more. Longer stays attract lower weekly rates, with further reductions for twelve weeks or more, and the school can help arrange a student visa for long courses where one is needed.

General English is offered in three formats: standard, intensive and mini-group. Standard classes have a maximum of twelve students, while mini-group classes cap numbers at six for more individual attention. There is also a beginner course, and every course is split by level using the CEFR scale from A1 to C2, the framework many UK learners will recognise from language exams.

Beyond general English, adults can choose IELTS exam preparation, Bildungsurlaub courses designed for German-speaking students taking educational leave, an adult 50+ programme combining language study with cultural activities, Erasmus teacher training and online courses that mirror the classroom experience for people who cannot travel. Every course ends with a certificate of attendance, and individual or closed-group tuition can be arranged for those who prefer to study alone or with colleagues.

Young adults, teens and juniors

The Young Adult Programme is for students aged 16 to 19 who want independence with a safety net. Students aged 16 and 17 stay with licensed host families, sharing a room with a student from another country, and most families live within walking distance of the school or a bus ride of up to forty minutes away. An older Plus option for ages 17 to 19 runs in summer and uses a three-star hotel residence with meals included.

Both versions combine twenty or thirty lessons a week, an online placement test, a coursebook, a weekly bus pass, airport transfers, insurance and a leisure programme of afternoon or evening outings plus a full day at the weekend. The school is clear that this programme is not supervised around the clock, unlike its junior camps.

Those camps are for students aged 11 to 16 and run at Easter, in summer and in autumn at the St Paul's Bay school. They use task-based lessons, music and drama, interactive boards and even virtual reality, with supervision and a supportive team. Parents weighing up a trip can read about the sea and sunshine in our Malta weather guide before choosing dates.

Business English and professional courses

Working adults can book Business English, either as a group course in mini-groups of up to six students or as individual tuition built around their own role. The school also lists professional English for specific purposes and corporate training for companies that want to send staff or bring a whole team.

Teachers delivering business and specialist English hold qualifications from the London Chamber of Commerce in addition to their general teaching certificates. For a UK professional considering a working holiday, that combination of mornings in class and afternoons by the sea is a popular alternative to a conventional week away.

Companies and groups can also ask about group trips and internships through the school, which makes it a useful contact for educators and organisers looking for a Malta-based partner. Anyone thinking about moving here for work as well as study may find our guide to relocating to Malta a helpful companion.

Teachers, classrooms and teaching style

Lessons follow a communicative approach, which means students spend most of their time speaking, listening and working on tasks together rather than copying from a board. The aim is fluency and accuracy across reading, writing, listening and speaking, with plenty of current material to spark discussion.

Teachers are hand-picked and hold recognised TEFL qualifications such as CELTA or the Trinity Dip TESOL, with several years of classroom experience. They take part in annual professional development, including appraisal interviews, workshops and seminars. Classrooms are equipped with audio-visual equipment and interactive whiteboards, there is a library, and technology including virtual reality is used where it helps.

On arrival, students take an online level test and are placed in the right class. If a level feels wrong after the first day, the director of studies can reassess it, and progress tests allow students to move up during a longer stay.

Group sizes stay modest throughout, and students are encouraged to practise outside lessons too, whether ordering coffee in town or chatting with classmates from other countries, so progress carries beyond the timetable.

Where you study and what else is arranged

St Paul's Bay is a lively resort town on Malta's northern coast, with a promenade, cafes and plenty of places to walk. The bus network is straightforward, which is why the school includes a weekly bus pass on its young adult programmes. Students interested in coastline and swimming spots can browse our best beaches in Malta and our guide to Golden Bay, both within reach of the north.

The school can organise student residences, host families or private accommodation as part of a package, along with airport transfers and leisure activities. Those who prefer to book their own flights can compare options in our guide to flights to Malta.

For days off, things to do in Malta is a good starting point, and the capital is worth a day trip: our Valletta guide covers its sights and streets. If you are weighing up the area as a base for a longer stay, our Mellieħa guide describes the neighbouring resort.

Lessons on the young adult programme run in the morning, which leaves the afternoons free for the organised outings and for exploring the island at your own pace.

The team and how to get started

The school is led by owner and chief executive Rebecca Bonnici, who has worked in English language education for more than twenty-five years. Arianna Muscat is Director of Studies for Malta, assisted by Sara Abdilla, and Daniel Bongalais manages the school. Sales and support colleagues come from several countries, so enquirers are often helped by someone who speaks their own language.

If you are comparing schools, our directory also includes AM Language and other options. To ask BELS Malta about courses, dates, accommodation or a camp for a young person, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the school.