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| Open Day is a Grand Success for LAL Torbay Thank you to all partners who were able to be with us on Friday 31st March for our Open Day and enjoy just some of the benefits experienced by our clients here in the English Riviera. Torbay is one of Britain’s most popular tourist areas and boasts long, sandy beaches in addition to fascinating historical buildings, modern shops, vibrant nightlife and the all important relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  LAL Torbay - New Exterior  New Adult Lounge The Open Day was a great opportunity for partners to experience our attractive and newly-refurbished, purpose-built school including the Internet Study Room, Listening Centre, Adult Lounge, Bookshop and Cafeteria. In addition to a traditional cup of English tea, a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres in the Student Lounge whilst watching our new electronic presentation on the large-screen TV, proved particularly popular.  New Cafeteria  New Reception Partners were joined by and had the opportunity to speak to some of our host families and staff, and discuss teaching issues with some of our recent graduates of the Cambridge certified CELTA teacher training course. Presentations included a review of our extensive activities and excursions programme and on-site booking of excursions, in addition to a discussion of our range of accommodation options including our two adult student residences, host families and hotels. The success of the refurbishment is being matched by a tremendously busy booking season: with adult sales increasing and only a few teenage places still available, we are anticipating a very popular year. Leading up to the main July period we have various offers available, including English Out There closed groups for teenagers from only GBP250 per week (including activities and full board host family accommodation). Adult students are also able to make the most of our sunshine and wonderful excursions and enjoy two free activities per week for each week attended before the end of June. For more information on our brand new facilities please download our flyer or contact Dean Jones on dean.jones@lalgroup.com. back to top |
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| Our fabulous school in Gozo is getting ready for the summer season! Our superb new adult school in Gozo is being specially purpose built ready for the summer 2006 season. For those of you already familiar with Malta but NOT Gozo you are seriously missing out! Gozo is a wonderful location for a language holiday!!  Mgarr Harbour  Ramla Bay 10 reasons for choosing Gozo • An idyllic island of myth and miracles where it is said Ulysses fell under the charms of the nymph Calypso • A virtually circular island surrounded by cliffs – just 14km by 7km • A peaceful escape from the crowds! Just 10% of the population of the Malta archipelago but 30% of the area and only one set of traffic lights on the whole island! • Less then 30,000 inhabitants. • Peaceful, rustic, charming and a rich cultural heritage • The charming capital of Victoria (or as the locals prefer – Rabat!) with its historic citadel • Beautiful secluded beaches with distinctive red sand • A walkers paradise • A great place to fulfil your ambition of learning to dive! • The charming seaside resort of Marsalforn • Lively village ‘festas’ throughout the summer months Our new school offers a number of key benefits to students • Location in Ghajnsielem overlooking Mgarr Harbour gives easy access to the regular ferry service to the main island of Malta and also Comino • The school building is purpose built for language students with attractive ensuite accommodation available on site for those who have the sense to book early!! • An option for students seeking the full varied experience of language holiday on the Malta islands. Why not combine your stay with some time at the Sliema school before transferring to Gozo for your final week? Enjoy the best of both worlds. Contact maryrose.fenech@lalgroup.com in reservations if this is a preferred option for you! • The owners of our Mariblu guesthouse also run one of the islands leading diving schools! Migarro School and Residence The school is particularly suitable for adults who prefer a more peaceful and relaxing environment and is open from May to October. Situated on the main road in Ghajnsielem and located on the first floor, the school premises comprise the teaching center and the student residence. The teaching center has 10 classrooms (bright and airy) with windows and fans, a video room, administration office and a reception area with vending machine. Students also have access to the roof terrace with its magnificent views of Comino, Fort Chambray and surrounding villages, church spires and picturesque hills. Here students can assemble during break times to chat and relax, study in peace sitting under umbrellas or to stretch out in the sun with a cool drink. It is an ideal area for barbeques and socialising in the evenings. Like the school, the three self-catering apartments on the second floor are brand-new and finished to a high standard throughout. Each apartment has three twin bedrooms with private balconies, a shower room, bathroom, fully fitted kitchen and spacious living area. Students can choose to share a room with another student or have a single room at a supplement. The penthouse on the top floor has just two twin bedrooms, with bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen and private terrace area. Ghajnsielem, “Spring of Peace”, is an attractive village with a strong sense of community and a thriving social life revolving around its band club, football club and local bars. Unlike an average tourist resort, Ghajnsielem is a proper village equipped with a post office, chemist, butcher, baker, fish shop, and grocer for daily needs. Nearby Mgarr harbour has a good selection of restaurants and wonderfully easy access to Comino and Malta. Mariblu Guesthouse Away from the hustle and bustle of the seaside resorts, the family-run Mariblu guesthouse is set in Xewkija. Dominated by the famous Rotunda church, this old village enjoys the tranquillity and peace typical to rural Gozo. This comfortable guesthouse has a bar lounge, restaurant, swimming pool with surrounding sun deck area and there are 8 bedrooms sleeping 4/6 persons in each, with a maximum occupancy of 30 persons. All bedrooms have a fridge, electric kettle, hot-plates, glasses, cups, saucers and cutlery, as well as private shower and toilet. Students can choose to share an apartment with other students or have a single room at a supplement. All apartments have a fan and air-conditioning is also available at a supplement of Lm 4 per day per room (irrespective of number of students sleeping in) to be paid locally.  Mariblu Guesthouse  Pool at Mariblu Guesthouse The guest house is within approximately twenty minutes walking distance of the school but is also situated on a main bus route with a frequent service to Mgarr Harbour in one direction and to the heart of Victoria in the other For more information and prices please go to Downloads in the Agents Area or contact Maryrose Fenech on maryrose.fenech@lalgroup.com or Cathrine on bcat@onvol.net. back to top |
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Meet John Dimech, General Manager LAL Malta Mr John Dimech was appointed General Manager of LAL Malta (then Institute of English Language Studies) in 1993. LAL Malta has always been one of the leading schools in Malta and Mr Dimech’s role was to improve the overall quality as well as increase business. The English Language Teaching sector in Malta enjoyed a boom from the mid-nineties into the new millennium as the number of foreign students studying English in Malta increased from 31K in 1996 to 58K in 2004 and the number of schools increasing from 20 plus in the mid-nineties to 45 in 2005. Mr Dimech’s mission to increase business was a mammoth task, however, LAL Malta nowadays operates a school in Sliema all year round, a summer school for teenagers in Gzira and another school on the sister island Gozo from May to October. LAL Malta is still considered to have one of the largest market shares with over 9,000 students from 45 different countries enrolling for English language courses between the 3 schools. During the past 30 years, Mr Dimech has worked in various sectors from tour operation to the hotel industry. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta (FELTOM) since 1993 and has acquired experience in handling various challenges that FELTOM faced in the 90’s by working with different members of the board over the years. Mr Dimech was unanimously re-elected as president at the Annual General Meeting held in November 2005 for a second term. Mr Dimech is 52 years old, married and has three daughters and his favourite hobby is sports. In his younger days he played football, basketball and tennis as well as coaching a number of local basketball teams and nowadays enjoys regular visits to the gym and the occasional tennis match. To get in touch with John Dimech please send him an email on john.dimech@lalgroup.com. back to top |
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| New Prices for LAL Torbay Deluxe Adult Excursions! We have just revised the prices for our new all action adult packages. Supplement your language course with an exciting Hot Air Balloon Flight, the Off Road Driving Experience, the Glider Flight Experience or the Sphereing in a Bubble Experience! Whether you fancy scuba diving, bungee jumping or surfing - our NEW packages have something on offer for every adventurous student. We've also created weekend tours for students wanting to explore more of England and even France! How about a weekend trip to London, Oxford or Paris & Disneyland Resort? Please click here for a sample list of LAL Torbay Special Adult Excursions. We will, of course, continue to offer excursions to the near surroundings that have proven popular in the past! For more information go to the LAL Torbay leisure section of this site. back to top |
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| Great outdoor opportunities in Cape Town Sports enthusiasts and adventurers have known it all along: Cape Town's recreational potential is huge! Just this month of April alone there are two major sports events taking place in and around the Cape! The Cape Epic, the world’s largest full service mountain bike stage race, kicks off for the third time on 22 April 2006 in Knysna, about 900 km east of Cape Town. Over 900 mountain bikers from across the globe bike their way towards the city in an epic eight-day journey which ends on 29 April 2006 at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, the world's most beautiful marathon takes place on April 15 and provides participants with a mixture of breathtaking scenery, a test of fitness and an unrivalled race atmosphere. Don't want to run the whole tour? Just sign up for a half-marathon or the 2.5 km fun run or simply enjoy the spectacular atmosphere and cheer for the athletes! If you want to find ot more about leisure activities in Cape Town please contact us at gavin.eyre@lalgroup.com or go to the LAL Cape Town leisure section of this site. back to top |
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| Scuba Diving in Ft. Lauderdale Attention scuba divers and everybody interested in becoming one! At LAL Ft. Lauderdale you have the opportunity to combine your hobby with learning and improving your English! Southeast Florida was rated one of the top ten diving destinations in the world by Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine.    Why not let your new vocabulary and grammar sink in while immersing yourself in the wonders of the underwater world and catching a glimpse of the three-tiered reef, 60 diveable wrecks and not to mention plenty of fish that Southeast Florida has to offer! Combine either Vacation English or General English with 2 dives a week or take the opportunity to get your PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water Certification while taking Vacation English at LAL Ft. Lauderdale. For more information and prices please write to ilona.alves@lalgroup.com and go to Downloads in the Agents Area. back to top |
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