Malta’s increase in temperature and sunshine brings along with it an annual influx of foreign students who come to learn English, along with a whole lot of vacancies for jobs in the field. IELS, an English language school in Malta, is a good jumpstart for such a career, not just to work and succeed in that specific field, but also to gain a fulfilling experience and a valuable addition to your résumé.
Having been in operation for the past 30 years, the school is a vibrant, dynamic and fast-growing organisation that offers excellent service and focuses on staff training and development.
Throughout the summer months, the IELS team increases from approximately 80 to 160 staff members, particularly English language teachers, activity leaders and welfare officers.
When hiring, IELS does not have preferences for a specific type of person, although certain criteria and requirements must be met. One thing they are always on the lookout for is people with a positive ‘can do’ attitude who fit in the company’s culture.
Having said this, the current teaching team consists of a wide variety of both ages and personality, while student leaders tend to be either university students or new graduates. As a company, IELS is a strong advocate of promoting internally and always attempts to provide existing employees with the opportunity to develop and advance themselves whenever a position becomes vacant, even when this may lay to a different career path.
So, why should you teach English? Teaching English is a very rewarding profession. Apart from the variety of internationally and culturally diverse people one gets to interact with, the positive effect of teaching on learners, often measured by improvements in formative and summative assessment, raises job satisfaction and provides a sense of achievement. The nature of the job offers a certain degree of flexibility which makes it suitable for employees coming from a range of different lifestyles.
When applying to be a teacher with the school, teachers must be appropriately qualified with the minimum requirements being TEFLCert and TELT. IELS also offers support to teachers who wish to develop their careers further, be it through self-study, internal workshops/courses or accredited courses including Cambridge ESOL, CELTA and DELTA.
Teaching English is a very rewarding profession
IELS is the only school in Malta that offers both Cambridge Esol CELTA and DELTA teacher training courses, two of the most sought after and distinguished qualifications an English language teacher can attain.
CELTA is an initial qualification for those who have not yet had any teaching experience, teachers with little experience who would like to further their development as well as those who have experience but no formal qualifications.
DELTA is an advanced diploma for experienced teachers who have already obtained CELTA, followed by at least two years’ experience in a variety of contexts. CELTA is a level 5 certificate, while DELTA is a level 7 advanced diploma. These courses are offered to both local and international candidates who have a native or near native level of English.
Teaching hours for teachers vary depending on a number of factors, including season, clients’ demands and teachers’ own preferences.
On average, teachers work around 22.5 hours a week or 4.5 hours per day. While extra-curricular activities are not obligatory, teachers are always encouraged to join in when they can, and many are happy to do so.
The role of an activity leader is an enjoyable one. Not only does it provide a great deal of social interaction with students and colleagues, it also offers constant contact with people of different cultures and from various walks of life. Student leaders are able to gain a wealth of experience from this job which are often carried into future endeavors. Over the years, the industry has welcomed a number of people who have moved on to become successful and prominent business leaders in our society.
Besides gaining an insight into the operation of summer schools and understanding the importance of teamwork, among others, student leaders working at IELS benefit from an excellent foundation and increased business knowledge for future career development as well as heightening their sense of responsibility.
In addition, leaders who express an interest in the industry and show a high level of promise and competence, have the opportunity to return the following year and even to potentially gain full-time employment within the growing organisation.
This may initially be at a clerk or assistant level, depending on prior experience, IELS invests heavily in providing all the necessary tools and training for new employees to contribute not only to their own development but also to that of the organisation.
Working in a language school has the benefit of being enjoyable, mentally engaging and significant. Unlike many other seasonal jobs, the hours are sociable and generally regular.
In the experience of IELS employers, while many people may initially take on employment for a seasonal purpose, working in a language school often leads to the development and furthering of careers in the industry on a long-term and lifetime basis.
Alex Lanczet is general manager of IELS Malta.