Business English in Malta: Language Preparation for the International Business World

Why Business English in Malta is Different from Anywhere Else

Malta is a fascinating linguistic melting pot — and you feel it instantly in daily business life. While English is one of the two official languages (alongside Malti), a unique business dialect has developed here that will surprise you.

The Maltese Business English Mix: More than Just an Accent

Picture this: You’re in your first meeting in a modern office in Ta’ Xbiex. Your colleague starts with perfect Oxford English, then switches to “Iva, exactly” (Iva = Yes in Malti), and finishes the sentence with an Italian “Bene.” Welcome to the Maltese business world!

This language blend is no accident but a result of Malta’s history. Over 150 years of British rule left their mark on formal business English, while geographical proximity to Italy and the Arabic roots of Maltese language add interesting twists.

Cultural Nuances in the Maltese Business Context

What would be said directly in Germany is often wrapped in polite wording by the Maltese. A “We’ll consider your proposal” often gently means “no,” and “It’s a bit challenging” usually translates to: “That will never work, but I’m being nice about it.”

• Indirect Communication: Criticism is rarely voiced directly
• Relationship-first Mentality: Business is done with people, not just companies
• Flexible Time Concept: “Around 2 PM” might mean 2:30 PM
• Awareness of Hierarchy: Respect for seniority is more important than in northern European countries

Industry-Specific Language Differences

Malta’s economy is diverse, and each sector has its own linguistic quirks. In the iGaming sector (online gambling), international English with lots of technical jargon is prevalent, whereas in financial services, a more conservative British business English is preferred.

The Maltese Business English Reality: What to Really Expect

Forget everything you learned about “standard business English.” Malta plays by different rules — and that’s a good thing. Here, authenticity matters more than perfect grammar, and an honest “I’m still learning” opens more doors than stiff clichés.

Typical Conversation Scenarios in Maltese Business Life

Your first day at work won’t start with a sterile meeting, but most likely with a coffee and “How are you settling in?” Maltese colleagues take their time for small talk — this isn’t wasted; it’s an investment in your work relationship.

Scenarios you should be ready for:

1. The Office Tour: “Let me introduce you to the team” — get ready for names you’ve never heard before
2. The Canteen Chat: You’ll learn more about the company here than in any official meeting
3. The Client Call: International clients often expect American English, locals prefer the British style
4. The After-Work Drink: Deals are often closed over a Cisk by the harbour

Linguistic Pitfalls and Cultural Misunderstandings

I remember my first project meeting: When I said, “We need to be more aggressive with our marketing,” the faces got serious. In Malta, “proactive” or “dynamic” is preferred — “aggressive” carries negative connotations here.

“The most common mistake I see from newcomers is trying to be too formal. Maltese business culture values warmth and personal connection over rigid professionalism.” – Maria Fenech, HR Director at a leading Maltese financial service provider

Other pitfalls I’ve experienced myself:

• “Let’s talk numbers” sounds pushy — better: “Shall we discuss the financial aspects?”
• “That’s not my department” comes across as dismissive — try: “Let me connect you with the right person”
• “I disagree” is too direct — better: “I see it slightly differently”

Nonverbal Communication and Business Etiquette

Language is only half the battle. Maltese people communicate a lot with their hands and facial expressions — respect this without overdoing it. A firm handshake, eye contact, and a genuine smile are universally appreciated.

What goes down well in business meetings:

• Punctuality (but not excessively early)
• Showing interest in Maltese culture
• Family topics are welcome (but don’t be intrusive)
• Authentic compliments about Malta

Language Preparation Before Arrival: The Strategic Approach

The best time for business English training is before you set foot on Maltese soil. Personal experience — what you learn at home is a hundred times less stressful than improvising under the pressure of your first day at work.

Assessing Your Current Language Level

Before you start training, be honest with yourself: where do you actually stand? The Cambridge Business English Test (BEC) or the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) provide a realistic assessment.

But self-reflection is even more important:

Targeted Learning Plans for Different Professional Roles

Not everyone needs the same level. A software developer communicates differently than a sales manager. So tailor your learning plan to your actual role.

For IT Professionals:

• Read and write technical documentation in English
• Understand code reviews and stand-up meetings
• Formulate bug reports and feature requests
• Agile methodologies vocabulary (sprint, backlog, retrospective)

For Sales and Marketing:

• Structure and deliver pitch presentations
• Handle objections and offer solutions to clients
• Explain ROI (return on investment) and KPIs (key performance indicators)
• Network and build relationships

For Management Positions:

• Moderate team meetings and communicate decisions
• Conduct performance reviews
• Explain strategic plans
• Stakeholder management and board presentations

Recommended Preparation Time by Language Level

Realistic scheduling saves you stress and frustration. Based on my experience with other Malta newcomers, I suggest:

1. A2-B1 Level (Basic): 6-8 months of intensive preparation
2. B2 Level (Intermediate): 3-4 months of focused business English
3. C1 Level (Advanced): 4-6 weeks of cultural and industry-specific adaptation
4. C2 Level (Proficient): 2 weeks for Malta-specific nuances

The trick isn’t to be perfect — it’s to be confident enough to communicate authentically. The Maltese value honesty more than perfection.

Business English Courses in Malta: Options and Reality Check

Malta loves to brand itself as an “English-learning destination” — but wait! Not every language school is suitable for business English, and many focus more on tourists than professionals. Here’s my honest review of what really works.

Leading Language Schools with a Business Focus

After two years on the island and talking to dozens of expats, I’ve learned: The biggest school isn’t automatically the best for your needs.

EF Malta (St. Julians): Internationally established but often crowded with summer groups. The business courses run year-round and are structured but not personalised. Good for basics, less so for sector-specific needs.

ESE Malta (St. Julians): Strong business English focus with small groups (max. 8 participants). Here you actually meet professionals rather than school groups. The executive course is pricey, though — expect to pay €450-600 per week.

IELS Malta (Sliema): My personal recommendation for professionals. Flexible scheduling, realistic scenarios, and trainers with real business backgrounds. Added bonus: central location if you’re already working.

Alternative Learning Options: What Actually Works

Language schools aren’t for everyone. Here are alternatives I’ve seen other expats succeed with:

1:1 Business English Coaching:

• Cost: €25-45 per hour
• Advantage: Fully tailored to your industry
• Disadvantage: Fewer networking opportunities
• Recommendation: At least 2x per week for visible progress

Corporate Training (if your employer pays):

• Many international companies in Malta offer internal programmes
• Focus on company-specific communication
• Often combined with cultural integration training

Online + Offline Hybrid Programmes:

• Flexible for combining with a full-time job
• Cost: €150-300 a month
• Especially good for busy professionals

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Different Options

Money isn’t everything, but in Malta it’s definitely something. Here’s my honest cost breakdown based on current prices:

My advice: If your employer pays, take the corporate training. Otherwise, start with a hybrid approach: four weeks of intensive one-to-one lessons for the basics, then a group course for networking.

Timing: When to Start, When to Stop?

The most common mistake? Starting too late or finishing too early. Business English is a marathon, not a sprint — but with clear milestones.

Ideal Start: 6-8 weeks after arrival. You’ll already know your work environment and can focus on actual weaknesses.

Duration of Intensive Phase: 3-4 months with regular attendance (2-3x per week).

Maintenance Phase: Afterwards, once a week or fortnightly to keep sharp.

Learning Independently: Tools and Methods for Business Life

Not everyone has time or budget for language courses. The good news: With the right strategy, you can significantly improve your business English on your own. Here’s what tools actually work — and which are a waste of time.

Digital Tools and Apps for Business English

The app store is overflowing with English apps, but few are useful for business situations. After countless trials and colleagues’ recommendations, here are my top picks:

For Vocabulary and Phrases:

• Business English Pod: Real situations, true business context, regular updates
• FluentU Business: Authentic videos with subtitles and exercises
• Memrise Business English: Spaced repetition system for sustainable learning

For Pronunciation and Accent:

• ELSA Speak: AI-based pronunciation training, recognises Malta-specific challenges
• Speechling: Human feedback on your recordings

For Written Communication:

• Grammarly Business: Not just grammar, but tone-of-voice adjustments
• Hemingway Editor: Makes your emails clearer and more concise

Immersion Strategies for Newcomers to Malta

The Malta advantage: You’re surrounded by English-language media and situations. The drawback: It’s easy to hide in the German/Italian/French expat bubble. Here are my tried and tested strategies for true immersion:

Media Immersion (30-60 minutes daily):

1. Morning: Times of Malta or Malta Today instead of German news
2. Lunch break: BBC Business or CNN Business podcasts
3. Evening: Netflix with English subtitles (not German!)
4. Weekend: TED Talks about your industry

Everyday Integration:

• Switch your smartphone and computer to English
• Be active in English-speaking WhatsApp groups
• Speak English consciously while shopping
• Use banking and dealing with authorities as language practice

Practical Exercises for Different Business Situations

Theory is good; practice is better. Try these exercises at home — they simulate real business scenarios:

Email Training:

• Write a business email to yourself every day
• Try different scenarios: appointment request, complaint, offer, follow-up
• Use Grammarly for feedback
• Learn structure: subject line – opening – body – call to action – closing

Presentation Practice:

• Record a five-minute presentation about your field each week
• Practice structure: problem – solution – benefits – next steps
• Memorize transition phrases: “Moving on to…”, “This brings us to…”, “To summarize…”

Small Talk Preparation:

• Prepare five standard topics: weather, weekend plans, Malta experiences, hobbies, news
• Practice follow-up questions: “How about you?”, “What do you think?”, “Have you tried…?”
• Learn polite conversation enders: “It was great talking to you”, “I should get back to work”

Self-Evaluation and Progress Measurement

Without feedback, you won’t improve. Here are my proven methods for honest self-assessment:

Weekly Recordings: Every Friday, talk for 10 minutes about your work week in English and record yourself. After a month, your progress will be clear.

Monthly Challenges:

Networking and Practical Application: Where to Use Your Business English

Now it’s for real: out of your comfort zone, into real business life. Malta is small — everyone knows everyone. It’s perfect for networking, but can be unforgiving if you make a poor first impression. Here’s where and how to put your business English into practice with confidence.

Networking Events and Professional Communities in Malta

Malta’s business community is surprisingly active and welcoming to newcomers. You just need to know where to go and how to prepare.

Malta Chamber of Commerce Events: Every first Thursday of the month. Conservative, formal, but very helpful for traditional business contacts. Meet established Maltese entrepreneurs — perfect to understand the local business culture.

Digital Malta Events: Monthly meetups for tech professionals. More informal, international crowd, perfect for IT pros and digital nomads. Conversations are mostly in English, with an American style.

Expatriate Communities:

• Malta Expat Network: Facebook group with over 15,000 members, regular offline meetups
• Business Network International (BNI) Malta: Structured networking for self-employed and small businesses
• Malta iGaming Seminars: Industry-specific, but also interesting for newcomers

Finding Language Partners and Conversation Groups

The secret weapon for constant practice: language partners and conversation groups. The pressure is lower than at business events but the learning effect is high.

HelloTalk Malta Group: App-based community with local meetups. Many Maltese students looking to improve their German — perfect for language exchange.

Meetup.com Malta: “English Conversation Malta” group meets every Wednesday in Sliema. Mix of locals and expats, relaxed atmosphere.

Business English Conversation Circle (BECC): Informal group meeting every two weeks in St. Julians. Focus on professional topics, no sales pressure.

Mentoring and Professional Development

A mentor can accelerate your business English development exponentially. In Malta, it’s often more informal than in Germany — but all the more effective for that reason.

How to Find a Mentor:

1. Identify people you respect in your industry
2. Offer help before asking for support
3. Ask specific questions rather than for “general advice”
4. Be patient — trust develops over months

Professional Development Opportunities:

• Malta Enterprise Seminars: Free business skills workshops
• University of Malta Executive Education: Quality programmes, often in English
• MCAST Business Courses: Practical courses for various industries

Online Communities and Social Media Strategies

Digital networking in Malta is as important as face-to-face contacts. Here, you build your professional brand and practise business communication in a “safer” environment.

LinkedIn Malta: Absolutely essential. Have your profile polished before you arrive. Active commenting and posting in English is pure practice.

Industry-specific Groups:

• Malta IT Professionals
• Malta Finance Network
• Malta Marketing Professionals
• Malta Startup Community

Content Strategy for Business English Practice:

• Write a short business post on LinkedIn every week
• Comment on other posts (at least three times per week)
• Share and comment on industry news in English
• Join online discussions in Malta-focused groups

“The best business English practice happens when you forget you’re practicing. Join conversations that genuinely interest you, and the language improvement follows naturally.” – James Caruana, Malta Chamber of Commerce Director

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Let’s be honest: I’ve fallen into almost every business English trap Malta has to offer. From embarrassing misunderstandings to cultural blunders — here are the most common pitfalls and my hard-earned solutions.

Typical Language Mistakes Made by German-Speaking Professionals

Germans and Austrians make very specific mistakes in business English. This stems from direct translation and different concepts of politeness.

“False Friends” in the Business Context:

Over-politeness vs. Too Direct:

Germans tend toward extremes: either overly polite (“Would it perhaps be possible that you might consider…”) or too blunt (“You must do this”). Maltese business culture is somewhere in the middle.

• Instead of: “You have to send me the report” Say: “Could you please send me the report when you have a chance?”
• Instead of: “Would it perhaps be theoretically possible…” Say: “Would you be able to…?”
• Instead of: “This is wrong” Say: “I think there might be an issue with…”

Avoiding Cultural Misunderstandings

Language is just the surface. Real misunderstandings arise from cultural differences reflected in communication.

Timing and Punctuality:

In Malta, “around 2 PM” really means 2:00–2:15 PM, not 1:45 PM as in Germany. But don’t be late, either — it’s a fine line.

Hierarchy and Respect:

Maltese companies are more hierarchical than German startups, but less formal than traditional Austrian firms. You use first names with senior management but show respect through your tone.

Family vs. Business:

Family is a legitimate business topic in Malta. The question “How’s your family?” is genuine, not superficial. But don’t overshare — a brief update is enough.

Technical and Industry-Specific Communication Pitfalls

Every industry has its communication pitfalls. Here are the most common ones I’ve seen among Malta newcomers:

IT Sector:

• Issue: Directly translating German IT terms (“Beamer” → “Beamer” instead of “Projector”)
• Solution: Learn British IT terminology, not American
• Tip: “Mobile phone” not “Handy”, “USB stick” not just “USB”

Finance Sector:

• Issue: Different accounting standards (German GAAP vs. IFRS vs. UK GAAP)
• Solution: Always specify which standard you’re referring to
• Tip: “Turnover” (UK) vs. “Revenue” (US) — both accepted in Malta

Sales and Marketing:

• Issue: Too much German directness in negotiations
• Solution: Build relationships before the hard facts
• Tip: “Let’s explore options” instead of “You need to decide now”

Emergency Strategies for Difficult Situations

Sometimes things just go wrong. You don’t understand something, say the wrong thing, or blank out. Here are my proven rescue lines:

If you don’t understand:

• “I want to make sure I understand correctly. Are you saying that…?”
• “Could you rephrase that? I want to give you a proper response.”
• “Let me clarify what I heard…” (repeat in your own words)

If you make a mistake:

• “Let me correct myself…” (better than “Sorry, I meant…”)
• “Actually, I think a better way to put it would be…”
• “I misspoke — what I wanted to say is…”

If you freeze/blank out:

• “Give me a moment to collect my thoughts”
• “Let me think about the best way to explain this”
• “I know what I want to say, but let me find the right words”

The ultimate emergency exit:

“I realize I’m not expressing this as clearly as I’d like. Could we continue this conversation after lunch/tomorrow? I want to give you a proper response.” Honesty is always respected in Malta.

FAQ: Business English in Malta

How long does it take to become confident communicating in English at work?

That depends on your starting level, but realistically you should allow 3–6 months. At B2 level you can master the basics in 6–8 weeks; to negotiate and present confidently takes 3–4 months of regular practice.

Is British or American business English more common in Malta?

Officially, British English dominates, but in international companies you’ll find a mix. My advice: Learn British fundamentals but stay flexible. In tech firms, American English is often standard; in traditional Maltese companies, British is more common.

What language level do I need for different positions?

IT/Development: B2 is usually enough as much is written. Sales/Marketing: At least C1 for persuasive presentations. Management: C1-C2 to communicate complex strategies. Customer Service: B2-C1 depending on the audience.

Can I work in Malta with limited English skills?

Possible, but very restricted. A handful of roles in German firms or tourism can get by with A2-B1, but your career options are very limited. Invest in language training — it pays off fast.

How much does business English training in Malta cost?

Group courses: €400-600/month; private lessons: €25-45/hour; online programmes: €150-300/month. Many employers cover costs partially or in full — always ask!

Which business English certificates are recognised in Malta?

Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC), TOEIC, IELTS and TOEFL are all accepted. For EU citizens, a certificate often isn’t required, but it can help in salary negotiations and boost your confidence.

Are there industry-specific English programs in Malta?

Yes! Especially in iGaming, financial services, and IT you’ll find specialised courses. ESE Malta and IELS offer sector-specific programs. The Malta Chamber of Commerce also organises regular specialist workshops.

How important is networking for improving your language?

Extremely important! Malta is a small island — relationships are everything. Networking events are not just great for contacts, but perfect low-pressure language practice. Plan for at least one event per month.

What if I have trouble understanding my colleagues’ strong accents?

Patience and polite requests. Maltese professionals are used to international colleagues with different accents. Just say, “Could you repeat that please?” or “I want to make sure I understood correctly…” That’s perfectly normal and not considered rude.

Should I use Maltese words in my business English?

Sprinkling in words like “Iva” (yes) or “Prosit” (cheers) can build rapport, but don’t overdo it. Focus on solid English first — cultural integration will follow naturally.