Take a look around, observe some shop signs and house names. Listen to a conversation and focus on the way we Maltese gesticulate and express ourselves. Spend an evening at a restaurant with friends. Then just stop and think of how many Italian words and phrases you have encountered, and how many gestures and expressions are similar to those used by Italians to communicate.
Indeed, it is not hard to notice the presence of the Italian language and culture in Malta’s landscape and this is living proof of how this language forms part of our Mediterranean history, culture and identity. Italian is also present in Maltese through the several words that our language has absorbed over the course of time.
Although Italian was generally associated to high culture in the pre-war days, it became the language of entertainment when it gained widespread popularity through television. Today, even though Italian television channels are still easily accessible, the rapid technological changes of recent years have had a strong impact on television viewing and we are now faced with a situation wherein only very few Maltese young children and adolescents watch Italian TV programmes regularly. This has also been confirmed by the data of recent surveys published by the Broadcasting Authority.
Yet contacts with Italy are very frequent locally, especially as a result of tourism and commerce. Italian nationals constitute the second most numerous group of incoming tourists, preceded only by the British. Malta is also a very popular destination for Italian students, especially those who follow English language courses during the summer months.
Some Maltese students pursue studies in Italy and school exchanges between the two countries are frequent. In the commercial sector, Italy is the country from which Malta imports most products and there are also several opportunities and incentives for Italian companies to invest locally. The two countries share very close political ties which are evident through bilateral agreements and official exchanges.
Since Maltese is an official language of the EU, Maltese translators often work closely with their Italian colleagues while translating legislation and policy documents within the EU Directorate-General for Translation.
Italian in Malta is also present through numerous cultural events which are organized regularly. Italian music is quite popular, while sport, especially football, still appeals to many, even among the younger generations. This shows that learning Italian in Malta is relevant and useful.
Undoubtedly teachers of Italian in schools face a number of challenges, both because exposure to the language via television has declined considerably and because teaching Italian today requires keeping up-to-date with teaching materials which rely heavily on the use of technology. The continued professional development of teachers, which provides them with opportunities in order to reflect and discuss issues related to teaching the language, is therefore even more important today than it was in the past.
Learning Italian in Malta is relevant and useful
The Department of Arts and Languages of the Faculty of Education, University of Malta, over the current academic year, has launched an unprecedented series of activities which have been extremely well received by teacher-trainers, student-teachers and both novice and experienced teachers in our schools.
These were also geared to suit the programme of students currently following a Masters in Education course in Italian education. They included lectures by renowned foreign academics, including Gabriele Pallotti, who addressed issues related to language teaching methodologies by providing examples from courses held in Italy, Anthony Mollica, a renowned expert on teaching languages through games and Paola Begotti who lectured on the use of videos and films in the Italian language classroom.
Besides, Giselle Spiteri Miggiani, who is a freelance TV script adapter based in Rome, also presented concrete examples of how television series are adapted into Italian in order to be dubbed for television. Spiteri Miggiani has worked on the adaptation into Italian of popular TV series such as Dr House and The Big Bang Theory and her practical experience enabled teachers to understand better how the language varieties used in these programmes can be useful in class, as the language is placed in a communicative context with which several students are familiar.
A workshop was also organised for teachers of Italian, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education and Employment. This workshop addressed the theme of teaching Italian through technology and focused on the use of instruments such as the interactive whiteboard and online learning platforms. Recent and innovative learning materials, including specific tasks from course books, were also analysed and discussed.
The Department of Arts and Languages in Education this year also participated in the traditional Discover University Week by organising a morning session for secondary school students of Italian. Six schools participated in this initiative and students presented their own work with the help of their teachers. These included presentations on Italian culture, short plays in Italian and a school’s very own version of the popular TV quiz Avanti un altro! The Discover Week activities were attended by Giovanni Umberto de Vito, Ambassador of Italy to Malta, and Dott. Salvatore Schirmo, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute.
Having people who can understand and speak Italian in Malta today is a major asset to create, foster and strengthen through cultural and economic ties: this must also be viewed in the light of the efforts and investments currently being made in Europe to enhance multilingualism in schools. Language learning leads to personal and professional growth and, in the world of work, language skills are today increasingly important in order to remain competitive at an international level.
Companies working within the global market require versatile staff in order to communicate effectively and it is in their interest to employ speakers of foreign languages who are able to communicate with clients, business partners and fellow employees in different countries. As a result of this, especially considering that Italy is one of Malta’s main commercial partners and suppliers, providing teachers and learners of Italian with enticing materials to learn the language is fundamental to create a healthy learning environment.
Despite difficulties being faced as a result of sociolinguistic changes, teaching and learning Italian deserves a concerted effort involving both educational and political institutions. The initiatives of the Department of Arts and Languages, Faculty of Education, organised in collaboration with local educational authorities, have set the stage for this, and the participation of teachers and students was not only encouraging, but also highly insightful and dynamic.
Prof. Sandro Caruana & Dr Mario Pace are lecturers of Italian language teaching methodology, Dept. of Arts & Languages, Faculty of Education, University of Malta.