From June 25th to July 6th 2012, I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in a Comenius course for English teachers in Malta thanks to the UE. For fifteen days, seven teachers from France, Italy, Spain, Norway and Sweden met about our students, teaching methods and working conditions but we also discovered many things about the Maltese teaching environment. We had workshops with Andrew, a young English teacher from Manchester. We loved sharing ideas, discovering new ways of teaching and exchanging ideas. In the afternoons we had time to discover this amazing country.
Any English teacher in the UE can do the same, in Malta or in a different country, thanks to their local agency. And any student thanks to Comenius can go and discover a country in the European Union. If you want to learn a bit more about Comenius, click on the banner above.
The Republic of Malta has been a member of the European Union since May 1st, 2004. Malta has got two official languages: English and Maltese. It is the smallest state of the Union but it is the second most densely populated country in the world. This country consists of eight islands but only four are inhabitted. The largest, Malta, was used for the country's name. It is 27 km long and 14,5 km wide at the largest.
Malta's capital Valetta
(La Valette in French) is set on a very scratchy river mouth. Jean
Parisot de La Valette (1494 - 1568) a French grand master of the Order
of the Kights chose this setting to create the cirty which bears his
name. It was thus better preserved from invaders because it is
surrounded by several sea inlets. Nowadays you can have a very nice
view over the Three Cities in front of Valetta from the Barraca gardens. This city that seems frozen in time is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Upper Barraca gardens and the view you can have
from them on Valetta's suburbs.
Valetta seen from the north of the island
There is nothing better than a cruise on the sea mouth
to get a good view on the Three Cities.
A watch tower with the eye and the ear which meant that the knights of the Order were protecting Malta.
At the back you can see the cinema studios where many films are still shot.
Malta hasn't only got a marina but also a very important commercial harbour with some
of the most important slipways around the world to repare ships .
One of Valetta's streets and some of the british influence "souvenirs".
design even if you don't really appreciate it..
Sliema beach is one of my
favourite. You can discover a lot of fish when snorkelling and it is
also a historical place. It was used to collect salt for a long time:
small holes in the rock are filled with sea water before drying up
leaving only the salt.
Then during the 19th century British ladies used small poools carved in
the rock to have a swim in a quiet way and you can still use them.
Do try to have a night walk
along the Three Cities so that you get really enthralled with these
suburbs numerous streets and buildings dating back to the knights of
the Order.
 Vittoriosa
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 A typical Maltese door knocker
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| There are many things dating back to the knights but also more recent sights. Nowadays tourism is much linked to the beaches and modern areas such as St julian's and Sliema. | |
St Julian's by night
There are also other interesting places in Malta.
M'Dina city's main entrance
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| M'dina's cathedral has got two clocks: one for the time, the other to fool the devil. |
M'dina's hill with the cathedral's towers
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| You really have to visit some of Malta's natural sceneries. |
But in fact one of the most beautiful places in Malta is one of the eight islands, Gozo.
It is wilder and less built up with well preserved natural sceneries. Before getting to Gozo you shouldn't miss the
Blue Lagoon.
It's a wonderful place when there aren't any jellyfish. Near Gozo's
harbour you can find a great place for scuba diving and snorkelling but
unfortunately I didn't go there.
Gozo's harbour
The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Window in Gozo
Blue Window
