Malta 2018: In English, please! Attending the 3B at the Federal Secondary College for Agriculture and Food Economy sometimes means gaining a few experiences abroad before departing for the 14-week internship to places all over the world, this year even as far as Canada or Australia. One week after our return on May 30 th, I (GH) skyped with this beautiful island in the southern Mediterranean Sea and conducted an interview to find out how the Island of Malta (IoM) itself felt during our intensive language week. And here it is: GH: Was it hard waiting for the Kematen students to arrive? IoM: Oh yes, you bet! My people were praying for the Tyroleans to arrive, knowing the weather would finally turn into sunshine and warmer temperatures, all week long, from Wednesday to Wednesday. We just couldn t wait! GH: And when they finally arrived, which impression did you have about us Austrians? IoM: Austrians? Well, they usually speak with a very funny accent during their lesson breaks, with looong words like Oooida or Heeeast, but this group was different. I couldn t figure out any distinctive dialect, because as soon as one of them started to speak this Tyrolean language and I got interested, another one would say: In English, please!, and I didn t have a chance to find out how they speak in the west of your home country. GH: Well, speaking English was their priority during this trip, and I m glad they did. So as a reward, what did you offer the Hoffer group in terms of highlights this week? IoM: You know, without health, everything is nothing. So I kept all the crazy Maltese drivers away from them whenever they were crossing the streets. In addition, I sent all the jellyfish further out into the sea when they were swimming in my salty waters. And three nights out in Paceville, do I have to say more? They are all still alive! GH: Sure, I know exactly what you are talking about. But couldn t you have protected them a bit more from sunburn as well? Page 1
IoM: Well, I did, actually. I had their old male teacher oh sorry, that was you, sir repeat the words Put on sunscreen! in a loop, all the time, again and again. What I forgot, however, was mentioning the factor 50+. 20 may be enough in your country, but on me GH: Were you worried about the Kematen students at any time of this journey? IoM: Again, you come into play, Mr. Hoffer. A meeting time at 4.20 on a beach how could you do that?? I was really worried your kids may take this as an order to go and buy GH: Stop it, stop it!! Once again I found out how important knowledge and keeping up to date with languages is. I had no idea about 4.20, but now I do! And I m glad the day was not April 20 th IoM: Yeah, first I was shocked, then I was smiling and finally I had to LOL, when sometimes students know more than their teachers. But I m sure that the kids know more about Malta as well now, especially about Gozo GGG. GH: What do you mean? IoM: Hey, I provided you with our best talker, Josette, on the day trip to Gozo. This woman can speak without breathing a unique talent. She can hold her breath for 5 hours, but not the words. And I guess, the students enjoyed it a lot. GH: Okay, this time I cannot agree to 100 %, but I totally agree that Josette did her best and proved her talent. By the way, what was the best or funniest situation you noticed during these 8 days? IoM: That s easy, LOL! It was on a bus ride, and the Kematonians were all looking out of the window, when one of the girls at the front I think her name was Helena or so pointed at hay bales, yes, seriously, HAY BALES on a field and excitedly told her friend about her discovery, which was commented by Chris, the only guy who never spoke German at all: Only you guys can get excited about hay bales on a field! These typical Maltese hay bales, by the way, don t look any different from yours in Austria. GH: And the most annoying thing about my group? IoM (after a looong thinking time, of course): Oh yeah, there is one thing I didn t like at all. How can a group of 35 people ALWAYS be on time, or even early? If you want to be punctual, stay in Austria. Once you are on my territory, adapt to our rules of punctuality or should I say lateness? I sent you a perfect role model called Sam, didn t he teach you how to be Maltesely punctual? As a consequence of your misbehavior, one bus driver even quit his job, because he couldn t cope with the image of 32 youngsters and 3 oldsters still being in a good mood and laughing after a waiting time of more than 30 minutes in the blazing heat near Golden Bay. This totally shattered his view of life, so the poor man works as a waiter now, where people are definitely angry if they have to wait for half an hour or more. GH: I feel really sorry for the man, but we also had a few disappointments, such as the morning lessons at the school. The students had expected more lively lessons, more fun. What happened? Page 2
IoM: Mr. Hoffer, sir, I think you re getting old. Have you forgotten about your request to make the lessons more boring than in Austria, so that the students would appreciate your lessons back home even more? And in case you forgot, you told me the same idea for showers and toilets. GH: Oops, I guess silence would have been golden here, or in different words: a shut mouth catches no flies. But let s get back to my students: did you notice any misbehavior among them during our trip? You can really tell me now, as they have all left for their internships all over the world. IoM: Well, there was a situation, or two, or ten, but if you didn t find out yourself while you were on me, I m not going to tell you. What I am going to tell you about, however, is the misbehavior of the three teachers GH: Oooh boy, how time flies! Sorry, I gotta go now, doing something somewhere, whatever. I may see you in three years with another 3B class! Thank you so much for your time for the interview and for having us on you for eight amazing days, which the students AND teachers will never forget. IoM: You re welcome, and say hi to this awesome American guy, to this never-stops-sports-promoting young yet now retired teacher, and especially to these sweet as 3B students. End of interview Page 3
And here are some more memorable moments: 2 nd day, Thursday: Blue Grotto boat ride along cliffs and into caves A lot of fun and no seasickness The most beautiful people in the most beautiful scenery Page 4
5 th day, Sunday: beach day at Golden Bay, including speed boat ride to bright blue water and cliff jumping Page 5
A big THX to 3B for a great week in Malta from the two the three and the four of us! And never forget why it is essential to speak foreign languages well : Mag. Georg Hofer June 6 th, 2018 Page 6