The English language sector needs to start focusing more on the non-academic aspect such as better training for host families and improved monitoring of young students, according to NSTS director Francis Stivala.

Mr Stivala – one of the pioneers of English language schools in Malta – said over the years the English language teaching business had made great progress in terms of the quality of the language taught and standards of teaching.

It was now time to start focusing on other aspects of the industry that required attention to improve the product offered in Malta, he said.

Unfortunately, he added, the reality was that the perception was that English language students were teenagers who came to Malta to have fun in summer and not learn.

The figures released yesterday showed this was not the case as the majority of students who came to Malta to learn English last year were over 18.

This perception was, in the past, fuelled by media reports based on the complaints of locals who claimed foreign students were “noisy and unruly”, especially when they got drunk. This negative perception, he said, had to be addressed. He said he knew of a case where the planning authority did not grant a permit for the extension of a language school – that would have meant an investment of millions – because residents objected.

Unfortunately, the perception is that English language students are teenagers who come to Malta to have fun and not learn

Mr Stivala stressed it was important to ensure there were structures in place to ensure students who were under 18 were better cared for.

He said over a year ago he had listed proposals and sent them to former Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella. His proposals included increasing supervision in Paceville and introducing guidelines for schools on how to care for young students.

He also proposed improving training for host families, ensuring the number of students per family remained limited to four and encouraging more cultural activities.

So far his proposals had not been taken on board.

For this reason he yesterday took the opportunity to reignite the issue during a conference organised by the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta.

There he stressed the need to focus beyond the language aspect of the industry to further strengthen the Maltese product.