Back to contents

ACCOMMODATION AND WELFARE

MALTA

Minimum age        
General information        
Airport arrivals and departures / meeting services
Unaccompanied minors         
Contacting students          
What students should bring          
Supervision by staff
Student briefing         
Smoking, alcohol and drugs          
Curfew (times of return to centre)
Attendance / pocket money
Loss or theft
Damage to the hotel
Accommodation  
Health
Visa requirements
Emergency numbers
First morning at Malta         

Minimum age

Minimum age 10 years, Maximum age 17 years.

TOP

General information

Malta has been tipped as the top destination to learn ‘English in the Sun’.  International House has chosen to open its doors on this island of sunshine, to enable its clients to enjoy the perfect holiday combination of language study, sun and fun.

IH Malta has chosen a fabulous location with easy access to all three islands of the Maltese archipelago. The centre overlooks the picturesque sister islands of Gozo and Comino, surrounded by the clear water of the Mediterranean. The Paradise Bay Resort Hotel is a four star classification with full amenities, very popular especially for family holidays as it is spacious, comfortable and safe. It has a friendly atmosphere and ideal for all ages. The hotel provides a safe, self-contained site for our young learners aged 10-17 in order to combine language study with fun in the sun.

TOP

Airport arrivals and departures / meeting services

There is only one International Airport on Malta. This is located in the southern part called Luqa.  As the centre is quite far from the airport, there is an organised transfer service available for students.

Meeting Services - The IH representative will be at the Meeting Point in the Arrivals Lounge, after passing through passport control and customs.  Our representative will be wearing a T-shirt with the IH logo and will be holding an International House sign.  Students will be looked after from this meeting point till check in at the holiday camp.

On arrival it is advisable to exchange money at the airport.  Students will be taken to the transport vehicle (coach, mini-bus or school taxi) and together with the representative, will be driven to the camp, which is located in the northern part of the island (40 minute ride).  Please note that individual arrivals may have to wait up to 90 minutes for other participants arriving on later flights. 

On arrival at the summer camp, the relations manager will take over from the airport representative.    Students will be assisted  in checking into hotel and escorted to the allotted room in order to unpack and settle down. 

Unaccompanied minors

If a student is travelling as an unaccompanied minor or as a hostess assisted passenger, the International House office must be informed in advance and full details provided for their arrival and departure. An additional charge of €15 on arrival and €15 on departure is requested in this case due to the fact that an accompanying representative is obliged to wait until flight departs. 

Please check if your airline has any special requirements and notify International House.

Please send the flight details at least two weeks before arrival date, in order to allow enough time for transfers to be organised.

Contacting students

On arrival at the hotel/summer camp, students can reassure parents or guardians of their safe arrival, via their personal mobile phones.  Please note that ONLY in-coming calls will be accepted on the hotel-room landline. In order to avoid unnecessary charges and disagreements, external calls are not possible from guest-room landlines.   Parents or guardians can call AFTER SCHOOL HOURS and will be connected to the respective allotted rooms.  Parents are requested not to ring after 23.00 hours English time. In order to call students, parent smudt can contact the emergency telephone numbers 00 356 7922 5698 and 00 356 9944 4991.

What students should bring

Light clothes, sportswear, swimsuit or bathing trunks, swimming towels and suitable footwear. Parents are asked to mark items of clothing clearly. Students should carry a list of their belongings in their suitcase to make sure they do not forget anything when packing for their departure. International House cannot accept responsibility for loss of belongings.  It is also important for students to bring an adequate sun-block (SPF 60+) and beach towels.

TOP

Supervision by staff

Students are expected to attend all lessons and activities according to a timetable given to them on the first day of the course. Group leaders must accompany students on excursions and activities at all times. Our junior courses provide a high ratio of supervisors to students.

On the first day our staff will explain all matters affecting personal safety. Please note that International House will send home, at the expense of the parents, students who refuse to abide by the regulations or whose behaviour is found to be seriously disruptive. All fees for the remainder of the course will be forfeited.

Student briefing

Shortly after arrival students are given a briefing on: - hotel safety/ laws on drugs, smoking and alcohol / offensive weapons / areas of potential danger / care of valuables and passport / emergency service phone numbers / school emergency numbers / school regulations. This is done by IH supervisors and group leaders.

Students are expected to behave correctly while they are at IH Malta and to respect the building, the staff, other students and their property. Students are expected to make their beds, keep their rooms tidy and go to bed on time. If the rules are disobeyed parents will be informed. Continual disregard for the rules may mean the student will be sent home at the family's expense.

Smoking, alcohol and drugs

No smoking is allowed on hotel premises.  It is illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to smoke. The minimum age for drinking alcohol in Malta is 18. Students who fail to observe these rules will be sent home at the parents’ expense. Any student found in possession of drugs will be reported to the police and may be deported.

Curfew (times of return to centre)

Students return to the hotel, together with supervisors and group leaders, at 22.30 after the organised evening excursions.  Students should go to their rooms and go to bed immediately.  No loitering in hotel corridors is allowed and no one is allowed to visit other students in different bedrooms after 22.30.  In case of an emergency the students are to contact our night duty supervisor, who will be on site all night to ensure safety, curfew and discipline.

TOP

Attendance / Pocket money

Students must attend language classes every weekday and may have lessons in the morning or the afternoon in alternate weeks.  Everyone is expected to attend the activity programme and excursions programme. Unless informed otherwise, it is assumed, that students have their parents’ consent to play games, swim etc.

Parents or guardians should provide adequate funds before departure by giving cash or sending money to the schools. We recommend between 100 Euros and 130 Euros per week to cover incidental expenses such as drinks, snacks, postcards and souvenirs. Students are discouraged from carrying large amounts of money; it is suggested that pocket money is locked in their suitcases.  The school will look after passport and flight tickets, which will be kept in the school safe.  Parents should allow 48 hours after receipt of the money into our account before the student receives it.

Loss or theft

Loss or damage involving a student’s personal possessions is a serious matter, however the school cannot take financial responsibility. All students should have adequate travel insurance to cover their belongings. Loss or theft should be reported to the school office as soon as possible so the appropriate action is taken. If an insurance claim is necessary, the student will be helped to make a police report and a crime reference number obtained. Loss of money is a difficult and embarrassing matter to deal with. Students are advised not to leave money lying around but to use their locked suitcase as a safe.  Valuables, passport and tickets can be given to the school for safekeeping.  Bags should not be left unattended in the course centre, cafes or other public places. It is a good idea to keep a photocopy of a student’s identity documents and flight tickets. This will enable your consulate to issue new travel documents in case of loss or theft.

Damage to the hotel

Students are expected to pay for damages caused to the hotel.  On arrival students will be asked to pay a damage deposit of €100. Parents will be informed of the extent of the damage and the payment involved. This must be settled before the student returns home. Students will be entrusted with room keys.  If students cause damage (e.g. furniture in the bedrooms) the cost of the damage will be shared between the roommates should none of the roommates own up. The damage deposit will be returned to the students before their departure if they have not incurred any damage or lost any keys.

Accommodation

During their stay at IH Malta, students share a room with three other students of the same sex and of the same age group. Students in the room will be of different nationalities, in order to ensure that students practise their English during their stay. In the case of large groups, it is advisable that a list of sharing room allocations is sent two weeks before arrival in order to avoid any confusion and unnecessary room change upon arrival. No room changes can be effected after first day of check in, due to the risk of undue alarm to parents who phone in and are connected to the allotted rooms.  Students' rooms are subject to searches. This is done in order to ensure that the students are staying in a safe environment.

Group leaders are housed in sharing bedrooms. That is group leaders will be sharing a room with another group leader of the same sex. If a group leader whishes to have a single room, this is subject to availability. If a single room is available, the group leader must pay the full charge for the single room.

Laundry facilities - The hotel offers weekly laundry facilities to the students against a charge.  The students will be informed about these facilities on arrival. Laundry is charged at €1 for small items and €2 for larger items such as beach towels.

TOP

Health

In the event of serious illness or accidents, students will be taken to a doctor or local hospital by their own group leader or a school staff member. Any information about allergies, chronic health conditions or medicine regularly administered, should be passed on to the school.

Visa requirements

Students  who require a visa to Malta, have to apply for a visa through the Embassy in their country.

Departures

As our centre is part of a hotel, students will be asked to check out of their rooms before 11am on their last day even if their flight is later on during the day. The students can leave their luggage either in the luggage room at reception or in the school's assembly hall. Students can share a room with other students during their last day for showers etc.

Meals on day of departure

If students have paid for a particular number of nights at the hotel, they are not entitled to lunch or dinner on their last day. This means that students have to pay an extra €12.50 for any extra meal they have at the hotel restaurant on their last day.

Emergency numbers

Ms Maureen Caruana 00 356 7922 5698 / Mr Jurg Meier 00 356 9944 4991

For routine enquiries or information please call 00 356 2152 1166 and ask for International House Malta. Please call this number during office hours Monday to Friday 08.30 - 17.00.  Please use the out of hours' numbers for emergencies only. If the emergency number is engaged or not answering please call back after 15 minutes.  The staff member holding the phone may be engaged on another call or driving and unable to answer the phone immediately.

First day at Malta

08.00 - Wake-up call

08.30 - Breakfast

08.45 - Assembly in School Hall. Students will be given their student folder. Welcome Address by the Director of Studies.

09.00 – 10.00 Placement test. The placement test consists of 2 parts - a multiple-choice exam and an oral exam.

10.00 – 11.00 - Break. A chance to meet other new arrivals.

11.00 – 12.30 - Students will be taken to their classes.

12.30 – 14.45 - Lunch and siesta time

14.45 - 18:30 - Assembly and Orientation tour. Escorted by a group leader, students will go on a tour of the grounds so they can see the hotel facilities and the areas, which they can use.  The students will be given time to ask questions. Along with the other students, you will hear a welcome speech from the Centre Manager and the Director of Studies who will explain your course, campus rules, etc. in detail as well as introducing you to the other members of staff. You will then go on a tour of the campus so that you know where everything is - where to sign up for activities, where to have your meals, the campus shop, etc.

18.30 – 20.30 - Dinner and free-time

20.30 – 22.30 - Assembly and evening excursion

23.00 - Curfew: Lights out

Lessons

Lessons at the school are all taught by lively and enthusiastic teachers with a recognised qualification to teach English as a foreign language. They are supported by a Director of Studies at each centre.

The level of each student is assessed at the beginning of the course by both a written and oral test. They are then placed in multinational classes according to their level and age. Any student who feels they are in the wrong level can discuss this with their teacher or the Director of Studies who can change their class if necessary.

Classes may alternate between mornings and afternoons. We try to make sure that friends, relatives and members of groups are taught in the same half of the day.

We feel that most students come on our courses to improve their fluency in English. There is therefore an emphasis on class activities, which develop speaking and listening skills and pronunciation. These skills are taught through topics which we feel will interest, stimulate and challenge learners of this age range. This topic-based approach helps them to develop their vocabulary by learning words and phrases connected with the topics.

We realise that many students also want to improve their grammar and we provide opportunities for students to review and practise grammar they have learned in their own country. They may also learn new grammar but this is not the main aim of the course. Students at a lower level of English will probably do more work on grammar than higher-level learners.

We offer a wide variety of class activities: discussions, role-plays, practising everyday conversations, listening tasks, language games, activities based around songs, reading tasks and many others. Students often work in pairs or groups but some activities involve the whole class. Classes usually do a weekly project. This might include producing a class newspaper, staging a fashion show, using a digital camera to produce a photo story or making a short video.

It is important that there is also a strong link between the social programme and the class activities. We have lessons designed specifically to prepare students for their excursions. We also like students to do some written work during the course. Often they keeep a diary of their stay here. Each of the classrooms has a display area where some of this work can be shown to other students.

Students are not normally given a course book. Some of the material used has been specifically designed for the centres and some is taken from other published sources. Many of the teachers have developed their own material. All of it is designed to produce challenging and motivating lessons and for students to make the most of their stay.

Before their departure students are given a certificate which will indicate the students' level and the number of lessons he or she has attended during the course.

Leisure

The leisure programme includes water sports, quiz nights, beach volleyball, karaoke evenings, boat trips to Comino and Gozo and sightseeing tours to the island of Gozo and Malta (Mdina, Valetta, etc.). Two different programmes run simultaneously for the two different age groups.

Optional diving courses are availble. If a student wishes to take a diving course during his or her stay in Malta, the student must pay and book before his or her arrival in Malta. Optional leisure activities are offered to students at an extra charge.

The role of the accompanying group leader

On the first morning the accompanying leader of a group will take part in the orientation activities with his or her students and may be asked to help with supervision while students are given their placement test. All leaders will be given an information pack including the handbook and a list of academic and administrative staff. There will be an opportunity for leaders to make appointments with the Centre Manager or Course Director, Accommodation Officer and Social Activities Manager. We advise all leaders to carry a mobile during their stay for emergencies and ease of contact. We expect all group leaders to be proficient in the use of the English language. Please find below the leader's responsibilities:

• To be present during activities and excursions organised by the school.
• To ensure that the students in their care fully understand and respect the Code of Behaviour, as advised by the school, translating where necessary.
• To take a supervisory role for all the students within the group; to ensure, together with the school, the safety and well being of the students.
• To collect their group's damage deposits and key deposits and pass them to the admin staff.
• To report any damage immediately to the Centre Manager or Course Director.
• To make sure that students in their care keep their rooms reasonably clean and tidy so that centre-cleaning staff are able to clean their rooms. Rooms will not be cleaned if belongings are left on the floor.
• To be the spokesperson for the group in case of any problems and act as intermediary with a responsible International House member of staff.
• To supervise the arrival and departure details of the group.
• To act as intermediary when required between the school and parents of any student in the group.
• To accompany any member of their group who needs to go to a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or hospital. The school can arrange taxi transport but this will be at the leader's expense.
• To make sure students are out of bed in the morning in good time for breakfast and to be responsible for their punctuality at lessons and for excursions. The group leader must also make sure that the students respect curfew times.

If you have any questions or concerns during your stay our staff will always be happy to help.

Code of behaviour

• Attendance in lessons is compulsory.
• Participation in all excursions and in all activities is compulsory.
• Fire escapes, fire equipment and fire alarms are for emergency use only. They must not be used at any other time. Interfering or playing with fire extinguishers is strictly forbidden. Heavy fines are imposed by the school if students do so.
• Mobile phones must be switched off during class time. (Students must give their mobile phone number to the administrative staff on the first morning at school.)
• Alcohol or other prohibited substances are not permitted.
• Smoking is not permitted in the hotel.
• Swimming pool rules must be strictly observed.
• Bedrooms should be kept tidy and any damage done to the room, furniture or decor will be charged to the occupant(s). Damage in communal areas - if we are unable to identify the culprit, the cost of this damage will be split between all users of the area.
• Room keys are the responsibility of the student.
• International house does not accept any responsibility for personal items or money not handed in to staff for safekeeping.
• Chewing gum is not permitted on the premises.
• Students must respect others at all times. Bullying (ie aggressive or threatening behaviour towards other students) will not be tolerated.
• Food and drink may not be consumed in the classroom.
• Students must be careful not to endanger themselves or others on the hotel premises.
• Students may not leave the hotel under any circumstances unless they are on visits and excursions organised and accompanied by members of International House staff or in the company of relatives or friends (where parental permission has been granted).

Disciplinary procedure

Should a student misbehave then he or she will be interviewed by the Course Director / Centre Manager. On the second occasion, the student will not be permitted to attend the following visit or excursion. Parents and/or the relevant travel agency will be informed. On the third occasion the student will be asked to leave the course, without any refund. Any cost involved in the early return will be the responsibility of the parents and/or the relevant travel agency.

Special notes

Drungs, alcohol and all illegal substances - should a student be found to have in his/her possession or in his/her room, any illegal drug or other substance prohibited by law, the police will be informed and the student may be asked to leave the centre immediately. No refund will be made and all costs will be borne by the parents or agency of the student concerned. Further action by the police will be at their discretion.

Shoplifting/stealing

Any student caught shoplifting may be asked to leave the centre immediately. No refund will be made and all costs will be borne by the parents or agency of the student concerned. Further action by the police will be at their discretion.

Consent form for parents

During your child's stay with us at International House we will do everything to ensure his/her happiness and security at all times. Our staff are provided with guidelines clearly setting out their responsibilities and obligations. They are required to report any refusal to comply with school regulations or timekeeping which may compromise a student guest's safety. Please read our Code of Behaviour which sets out in details the rules we expect students to observe. Parents or guardians are asked to fill in a consent form which must be sent to us before the arrival of the student at the Junior Camp.

On arrival at the centres, all students will be given a Students' Handbook, which will list all centre rules. On the first morning at the centre, these will be explained fully to all students. These rules are designed for the safety of all students and staff.

Students who break any of the schools' rules may be sent home without refund at the descretion of International House. The cost of this early return will be the responsibility of the parents.

Contact us

Sam Long:  sam.long@ihwels.co.uk  / Corinne Xuereb: info@ihmalta-gozo.com

Fur further information please see our sample programme and dates & fees.

TOP