From March 2-8 2026, classes 4XHBTT and 4XHBTH flew to the island of Malta for a week-long language and culture experience organized by Mr. Eaton and accompanied by their German teacher Prof. Eva-Maria Gangoly and their Form Teacher Prof. Johannes Feichtinger. Despite some health challenges – viral vomiting - everyone had a good time, including those daring enough to try the traditional dish of cooked rabbit.
Here is what the students said about their host families:
They were extremely friendly, they liked to talk a lot, they wanted to know about us, our culture and our country; they cooked excellent food and made us traditional Maltese dishes.
The host mother was friendly and one evening we even sang karaoke with her and her friends. The host mother cooked good and fresh food for dinner.
The family was very nice and they told us how the people in Malta live.
Some of the comments on the language school the students attended were:
Our class was divided into different groups at the school, and we had English lessons with students from Italy, Colombia, Japan, China, Spain, and Poland. We had good conversations and our English definitely improved.
It was nice to talk to different students from different countries. The teacher was a Native speaker and could explain excellently.
Interacting with the students from different countries, especially the beautiful Polish and Italian girls, was very nice. Meeting them after the lessons was even better.
Here are some student comments about the sightseeing trips:
We saw some incredible structures, interesting historical buildings, and had beautiful views.
They harbor boat cruise, the trip to the fishing village Marsaxlokk, and Valletta were very interesting, because there was a lot to see. And the old construction methods were so different to Austria.
Overall, the experience of the sights and events was cool. I especially liked Valletta. The small streets, architecture and buildings were very interesting. My favorite activity was the harbor boat tour because we could see the island from a completely different angle.
Lastly, the students had some overall comments about the Malta Language Trip:
It was a great experience to meet so various people at my age at the same time. When I explained to a Japanese girl in my class what a small village I live in, she was fascinated and spent the rest of the class looking at my town on Google Maps.
I think the trip was very nice and we got to know our teachers and classmates better. We got to talk in a completely different way than we would have at home. I really liked the trips to Mdina and Valletta because the cities are beautiful and quite interesting. Also, the evening events were very funny.
I enjoyed the interaction with international students It was a good experience talking with people from other countries about their culture, food, and music.
The culture was very different from what we are used to in Austria. The culture of Malta is a fascinating interplay of various influences that have developed over many centuries and reflects the rich history of the island. Also, driving on the opposite side of the road is normal in Malta!
Finally, the teachers would like to thank the parents for making this trip possible, and the students, whose responsible and mature behavior helped shape an unforgettable and safe experience for all involved.
