school for 15 year old boy?!

vitobix13 wrote:

my son (15) would like to spend next school year in malta. as we (my husband and i) will not be able to stay in malta during this period we are looking for a boarding school for him where they teach spanish and where he is in good hands without us. school should not be too expensive. his mother tongue is german (we are from austria). i will be visiting on a regular basis. thank you for recommendations! qsi seems to be great but expensive...

Why not go to a boarding school in Spain if he wants to learn spanish?

Gozomo, I think as he is from Austria he won't have Spanish as his first foreign language, most likely he wants to improve his English first of all, but he needs a school that also teaches Spanish so he won't have trouble when he returns to his Austrian school  after Malta.. he will only be here for 1 year...(In Austria grammar schools usually teach 2 or 3 foreign languages in addition to the native language German..I had English, French and Spanish when I was  teen)

My son wants to improve his English (his first foreign language) and Spanish (2nd foreign language) - actually he should also continue with Latin but I think this subject is hard to find in Maltese schools?! And he would like to continue with American Football, which seems to be impossible in Malta.. Anyway: he will find another sport he will do and for Latin we will find a private tutor somehow I am sure. But still we are looking for a boarding school - any suggestions? Or is QSI the only choice? At Verdala there is no Spanish - unfortunately...

Just wondered why Malta

Look for a boarding school in Spain. There are good British schools in Spain that teach both English and Spanish at a level that simply doesn't exist in Malta.

GozoMo wrote:

Just wondered why Malta

And why not Austria?

vitobix13 wrote:

At Verdala there is no Spanish - unfortunately...

I am surprised by this comment. My daughter goes to Verdala and takes IGCSE Spanish.  I am almost positive it is offered at the IB level as well. 

Another option for boarding is St. Edwards.

Is the level of teaching lower in Malta,what exams are taken,igcse's?

The level of teaching in Malta is very good.  As for the exams, Maltese schools follow the Maltese national curriculum which have their own exams called the MATSEC or SEC.  Students can still sit for the IGCSE's but they may not have covered that whole curriculum in their classes.  For instance, when my daughter was at a Maltese independent school I was told she could take the IGCSE in English Language.  But the English Literature syllabus was different between the MATSEC and IGCSE's so she would not be able to take that IGCSE (unless she somehow covered the material through her own self study or private lessons).   

Verdala is an International School and does NOT follow the Maltese national curriculum .  Instead they follow the IGCSE curriculum during form 4 and 5 (grade 9 and 10 at Verdala).  Then they following the International Baccalaureate program during the 6th form years (grades 11 and 12 at Verdala) instead of doing 'A levels'..  Students not wishing to follow the IB program can still receive an accredited American 'High School' Diploma.   QSI is an international school as well but I do not know what exams/curriculums they follow.

Hope that helps some.

We love Malta very much and I want my son to spend his exchange year there (and not Spain etc.) - perhaps the Verdala School is the best choice (if they have Spanish as well) - I hope it is not too expensive?! I will visit on a regular basis and therefore I think I will rent a flat in Seglea which is not too far away from the school I think. My son does not need to take exams during the exchange year - he will go back to his old class in Vienna after that and he has to study the topics from his Austrian school so that he will not have problems after his return. But still he should learn something in the Maltese school of course, mainly English.
He will miss to play American Football, but I am sure he will find something else he will do.
Thanks all of you for your help!!!

Thanks it does!