Mastering the language of business: How BELS is crafting bespoke training for a dynamic economy

Against an increasingly globalised business landscape, the demand for sophisticated language and communication skills is surpassing traditional English fluency, and forward-thinking organisations are recognising that enhancing their teams’ ability to communicate effectively across cultures and engage confidently in the workplace; directly fuels both productivity and innovation. BELS Malta, a name long-associated with high-quality English Language Teaching, is doing its part to address this need.

While BELS has long held a reputation as a company that operates a pair of boutique English language schools,  its core strength has traditionally been in providing high-quality, personalised language education. The Director of Studies at the St Paul’s Bay centre, Arianna Muscat, explains that it is now also forging a path into bespoke corporate training programmes, tailored specifically to the nuanced requirements of local companies navigating an international stage.

Arianna’s own journey with BELS began over a decade ago, affording her a unique perspective on the school’s evolution. “I started working at BELS in 2014,” she shares, explaining how she went from teacher to helping out with the academic administration side of things. “This opened my eyes to a whole new perspective – seeing the other side and not only being in the classroom,” she smiles, giving her insight into both the pedagogical and operational aspects of the school, and ultimately culminating in her appointment as Director of Studies in 2019.

BELS’s reputation as a boutique school, built on its core values of quality, flexibility, and being student-centred, has been established over many years of providing General English and Business English training to internation clients in the ELT sector.  The school has collaborated with numerous globally renowned companies, welcoming individual professionals who travel to Malta and Gozo, hosting closed-group training programmes for teams, and delivering tailored online courses to meet corporate needs.

“This long-standing experience gave us a strong foundation to build on,” Arianna explains, noting that while BELS’s roots in Gozo were focused on Business English, market demands for general English evolved over the years. “While our focus has always been on the international market, in recent years we’ve expanded into the local corporate training sector, offering customised solutions for companies in Malta and Gozo.” The shift back towards a dedicated corporate focus, however, was accelerated by a more recent global event.

“We decided to start focusing more on corporate training during the pandemic… it gave us that push to go outside of our own comfort zone,” she maintains, highlighting how this period encouraged introspection for BELS, as well as a growing need within companies themselves.

So, how does BELS tailor a language and communication programme for a specific corporate client? The process begins with a crucial diagnostic step. “We start by meeting with a client and conducting a needs analysis,” Arianna says. This involves understanding the company’s specific context, sometimes meeting with HR or managers, and identifying the precise skills gaps they perceive in their employees. Key questions include what employees are missing, what they wish to achieve from the courses, and critically, the realistic timeframe and budget available.

Following the needs analysis, the BELS team delves into the client’s specific industry, be it gaming, dentistry, banking, or even the police force, to understand the core topics and specific language used, for them to source specialised up-to-date materials. A language assessment is then conducted with the employees. “We need to understand what their current level of English is,” Arianna stresses, explaining that employees within the same company often have varying proficiency levels. This allows BELS to tailor the content and even group employees to maximise learning effectiveness. Meanwhile, flexibility remains key throughout, with ongoing feedback from teachers and clients ensuring the programme stays aligned with evolving needs.

The business outcomes reported by corporate clients after implementing these tailored programmes are varied but consistently positive, Arianna reveals, affirming that a significant and frequently cited result is increased confidence among employees. “I think confidence and increased efficiency in their day-to-day is a very big outcome that is evident,” she states.

Beyond individual confidence, companies notice improved collaboration among team members and enhanced interactions with external stakeholders. “They feel that the employees collaborate much better together,” the Director of Studies attests.

Arianna goes on to explain that many companies were not fully aware of how much unclear communication was affecting their performance until they addressed it through training. Common challenges included difficulties collaborating with international clients, hesitancy in meetings or presentations, misunderstandings that led to costly mistakes, and time wasted due to vague instructions or overcomplicated communication. By tackling these areas through customised corporate courses, teams became more confident, focused, and productive – resulting in stronger communication, smoother operations, and tangible business growth.

Finally, she notes, the investment in employees’ development also boosts morale and aids retention, as it shows staff they are valued – being given an opportunity to improve their skills, which will be with them throughout their career.

Beyond traditional grammar and vocabulary, BELS places strong emphasis on communication competencies which are vital in a multicultural workplace. This includes teaching employees about the nuances of tonality, etiquette, and building rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds – areas often overlooked in standard training

‘’Addressing cultural communication gaps in Malta’s increasingly international workforce is a core element of BELS’ approach’’, Arianna continues, reiterating that this goes beyond language to encompass understanding different perspectives and communication styles. Role-plays help participants step outside their comfort zones, while case studies and tailor-made materials, often specific to the client’s industry, provide practical examples that expose learners to a variety of global perspectives and accents, in order to prepare employees for real world scenarios.

Active listening is another critical skill. “You can be a fluent English speaker,” Arianna points out, “but you need to be able to listen and be an active listener too.” To this end, BELS incorporates scenarios that train employees to develop attention to detail and critical questioning.

Other core components include public speaking- essential for presentations, negotiations, and meetings, and professional writing – particularly clarity and conciseness in emails and formal communication.

In terms of teaching methodology, BELS incorporates innovative tools like Virtual Reality (VR) Arianna shares, “it’s a step beyond classroom learning”, explaining how VR headsets offer an immersive experience that enhances the development of soft skills in a realistic, yet controlled environment.

And for corporate clients seeking formal recognition, BELS also offers courses accredited by MFHEA, providing employees with valuable certificates that demonstrate their acquired skills for their portfolios and career progression, as well as applying for Government funding through schemes like Get Qualified and Investing in Skills.

Looking ahead, Arianna anticipates continued growth and adaptation in the corporate training space, working with a wide variety of sectors, from banks and gaming companies to healthcare professionals and transport workers. “We have really developed in that we are confident in teaching nearly every industry,” she states.

The key to future success, she believes, lies in even greater flexibility to meet the demands of busy professionals with time constraints and a growing preference for online learning. However, the Director of Studies also highlights a crucial shift in the skills needed in a digital age. “People are less and less confident being in a room full of people,” she notes, as interactions increasingly happen behind screens. BELS remains committed to fostering these vital ‘people skills’ alongside language training.

Furthermore, she stresses the importance of collaboration with clients and creating a more harmonious and effective learning environment.