Andrew Mangion, president, Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta, Sliema
Informative guide for visiting students
With reference to the item entitled Advanced Studies in the On the Dot column (July 14), the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta (Feltom) would like to clarify a number of the misleading points mentioned.
A glance around us will show that youths in general adopt a very casual attitude to dress in the hot summer months.
Over and above this, many language students come from much cooler climates and are not accustomed to high temperatures. Notwithstanding, it should be noted that most Feltom schools do offer guidelines to their students suggesting appropriate dress codes in public places.
While over 57 per cent of language students in Malta are over 18 and, hence, treated as adults, it should be noted that minor students do have a closely-monitored curfew time, which means that they should be at their accommodation by specified times and measures are taken when they are not.
Although students are informed of the smoking laws, it is not within the remit of any school to stop an adult student from smoking outside. We would also like to point out that the Malta Tourism Authority, in collaboration with Feltom this year produced an informative guide for students visiting Malta.
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Liam Kelly
Jul 26th 2008, 20:39
Alfredo, theres absolutly no need to insult me personally. You may not agree with my opinion but dont stoop to that level.
By all means they can have fun, i never suggested otherwise but what i do object to is anti-social behaviour, littering and excessive drunkeness which is synonomous with foriegn students.
Its a real shame that your 'idea' of fun MUST include these aspects; without which apparantly no-one can have a life...but there is more to live than those things, and its very sad that you dont realise that.
Again, dissapointed that you resorted to insults just because someone has a differing opinion from yourself.
Alfredo Camilleri
Jul 26th 2008, 17:43
What a hysterical and unfair attack on foreign students by Mr Kelly. Have you forgotten that you were young once, or have you, perhaps, never had a life?
Disgraceful, Mr Kelly, is your moralizing and your insolence towards our young foreign guests. I wonder! Do you think our own youths go about life equipped with wings and haloes. Woe if it were so. They would have no life at all, but a boring, miserable existence. Thankfully, our young people are mostly full of life and 'joie de vivre'.
Liam Kelly
Jul 26th 2008, 16:45
My point is that the teachers as part of their organisation should shoulder some corporate ethical responsibility for the problem of foriegn students disgraceful behaviour.
2. Who are you trying to kid that Maltese can still be educated about treating Malta as a tip? That boat sailed years ago mate, the point is these are students in a learning environment so we should take this opportunity to teach THEM to act responsibly.
3. Regarding their age; Mr Mangion states himself that the majority are above 18 years of age; so one should really be asking...why are they still acting like kids when they are infact supposed to be responsible, educated adults? What exactly is the calibre of student we are aiming at here?
You contradicted yourself regarding 'seeing discipline around them will promote discipline amongst them'....because thats exactly my point; teachers need to be including a bit of education about the country they are in; and what is and is not acceptable behaviour. Before i had a school trip to Italy years ago, we were told time and time again what is expected of us and how to behave, is that too much to ask?
Franco Farrugia
Jul 26th 2008, 11:04
1. Mr Kelly has no idea what TEFL is all about. A teacher teaching TEFL to students DOES JUST THAT. He is not performing the same duties as a teacher would in an October-June class! Students pay very good money for their teaching of English to have their lessons overshadowed by 'morality' lessons, which, if you pardon me, would by rather hypocritical, in our context.
2. I don't think that they treat our beautiful country as a rubbish heap - how about directing that missive to ourselves, the Maltese, first and foremost? If they don't see discipline around them, young people will NOT act responsibly.
3. They may act like 14 yr olds 'on heat', as you undecorously put it - oh well, they are young and if we ourselves, cannot control any longer our youngsters, how can you possibly expect foreignersto behave the way that Mr Kelly would have them?
4. I think it is easy to scream DISGRACEFUL to all and sundry. Language schools should control their students. However, going it alone will not work. The whole country is in a mess - we know that. So, how can we expect our young visitors to act differently?
Liam Kelly
Jul 26th 2008, 10:30
If you are a 'teacher' then perhaps first and foremost you should be teaching these 'students' how to behave properly in someone else's country, because it seems to me that they have a very slack level of discipline and regard our beautiful island merely as a rubbish tip....That is the worst kind of tourist possible and not only does it paint a very bad picture of the countries which they hail from, it is particularly damaging for the 'language schools' which have the opportunity to control and educate these kids (dont tell me their above 18 because they act like 14 year olds on heat) and indeed you have a duty to do so yet you a spectacularly failing.
Disgraceful.