As students, what is it about the word ‘new’ that’s so scary for us? Why is it that when you are about to embark on a new adventure, it feels as though your stomach is about to implode?
I don’t have any definite answers to these questions but I can safely say that when you are faced with a life experience that is unfamiliar to you, our friends ‘doubt’ and ‘insecurity’ will somehow try and get the upper hand. When you are planning to study abroad, you should not let the anxiety take over.
Working in a language school, you meet a large number of new students coming every week, all bright eyed and bushy tailed. If you take a closer look, you will see the nerves, doubt, fear and uncertainty rearing their ugly heads. Imagine yourself moving to another country you have never been before, your knowledge of their language is limited, if not non-existent, and their culture is foreign to you. You have read all the online tips, tricks and pointers of how to survive in this country but actually making the move is a completely different thing.
Essentially, you do not know what you will be met with when you get off the plane. Coming to Malta, you will have an 80% chance of being met with clear skies and sun, which is not such a bad thing – the calm weather will help you to relax. Who wants to walk into thunder and rain after being crammed into a seat not big enough for a child, with no room to stretch your legs without hitting the passenger in front of you, whilst being hit by random limbs trying to squeeze through the aisle to get to the bathroom? But let’s move on to your first day at inlingua Malta.
As a language school in the heart of Malta, we take pride in ensuring each arriving student is made to feel as comfortable as possible. There is no language or cultural barrier we cannot cross. This is home for us and we want it to feel like a home away from home for our new students, even if just for a week. Our teachers, or trainers as we call them here at inlingua, also play an important part in this aspect of adventure – When you take an English language course, or any foreign language course for that matter, your teacher becomes your point of reference and inlingua trainers are no exception. As part of the administrative staff, I receive wonderful feedback from students across all language levels, saying how happy they were in class, mostly thanks to their trainer. This is mostly because our trainers make sure to welcome their new learners in their own personalised ways – be it with ice-breakers or Monday morning jokes.
In short, when you make the jump, make it to inlingua School of Languages in Malta. It will become your home away from home.