Language schools: MTA to launch host families campaign

The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations (Malta) and the Malta Tourism Authority are to launch a €5,000 print campaign to encourage more families to host language students this year, Feltom's industry relations director Alex Fenech and executive officer Isabelle Warrington told The Times Business.

The federation is hoping the number of host licensed families will rise to 2005's record of just over 2,000. Host families were discouraged the following year by the introduction of a tax on income from hosting families that bit into their revenue. In 2006, the number of host families dipped to 1,341 and rose slightly to 1,433 in 2007.

Under a new tax structure announced during the last budget, a host family will now be tax-exempt on the first €3,500 derived from accommodating students. Of the remaining amount, 65 per cent are non-taxable since they are classified as "expenses" and only the remaining 35 per cent is taxable. Families making an early declaration are entitled to a further tax cut. In the high season, a family may earn between €85 to €100 weekly for every student it hosts.

"This campaign has been in the offing for some time," Mr Fenech said. "Unfortunately, the taxation issue discouraged from hosting students as many thought they were going to face an additional tax burden. In 2007, which was a record year, over 86,000 language students came to Malta. That figure constituted eight per cent of tourist arrivals and 13 per cent of bed nights. A student's average stay is 2.4 weeks, far longer than the majority of tourists."

Mr Fenech went on to explain that depending on the size, schools require between 60 to 200 host families.

Most host families aim to make around €10,000 a year, the equivalent of 120 student weeks. Many are families with young children looking for a second income or older couples who suddenly find themselves with an empty nest.

But besides encouraging families to open up their home to students, he said the campaign aimed to highlight the importance of quality accommodation that needs to be offered to students.

"Many students prefer to stay with a Maltese family while they are here to study English," Mr Fenech explained. "There are many advantages for them: English is spoken by the family and they also like to have the opportunity to integrate and experience the Maltese lifestyle."

Residences are first inspected by a representative of the school the family intends to work with. The school then issues a letter recommending that the family is issued with an MTA licence. Host families are primarily the schools' responsibility but the MTA does carry out random inspections of residences. Annual licence fees start at €47 for families hosting two students. Families hosting four pay a €93 fee.

It is Feltom policy to require member schools to provide students with two questionnaires to fill in during their stay: one after the first few days and another at the end of their visit.

Mr Fenech said that according to feedback received from departing students, their experience of living with Maltese families is good, with the majority being "mostly satisfied". He said that many of the problems which arise are largely cultural and have little to do with the quality of the accommodation offered by families.

Meanwhile, in an effort to mitigate the influx of language students may have on local communities, Feltom will initiate a series of meetings with local councils next month. Officials will hold talks with councillors in St Julians, Swieqi, Pembroke, San Ġwann and Sliema.

Malta's English language teaching industry is known to be worth over €80 million.