https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/1054 Wed, 06 May 2026 11:51:18 GMT 2026-05-06T11:51:18Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146102 Title: Il maestro Alberto Manzi : an advocate of the development of literacy in Italy and of popularization of education Authors: Caruana, Sandro Abstract: Alberto Manzi (1924–1997) was an Italian educator and TV personality who is mainly remembered for a television program, Non è mai troppo tardi (It’s never too late), designed to promote literacy among adults. Manzi also authored a number of literary works, most of which had educational goals. He remains an influential figure in the history of Italian education, celebrated for his dedication to rendering learning accessible to a wider audience through innovative means. In this paper I discuss Manzi’s contribution to education, contextualizing his work in the historical period in which it was carried out. I also hint briefly at his legacy and its relevance to the Maltese teacher education context. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146102 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146091 Title: Bil-Malti 1 : a communication oriented course in Maltese as a foreign language Authors: Camilleri Grima, Antoinette Abstract: Bil-Malti 1 huwa ktieb tal-kors introduttorju ddisinjat għal adulti li qed jibdew jitgħallmu l-Malti bħala lingwa barranija u li m’għandhom l-ebda għarfien minn qabel tal-lingwa. Il-kors jadotta approċċ komunikattiv u pluralistiku, b’enfasi fuq vokabularju prattiku u ħiliet lingwistiċi (smigħ, qari, kitba, u taħdit) filwaqt li jintroduċi l-grammatika b’mod inkrementali. Il-ktieb jenfasizza l-kompetenza interkulturali u t-translingwaġġ, u jinkoraġġixxi lill-istudenti biex jużaw l-isfond lingwistiku eżistenti tagħhom. Suġġetti ewlenin koperti jinkludu t-tislijiet bażiċi, l-identifikazzjoni personali, il-ħin, u deskrizzjonijiet tad-dar u l-ħajja professjonali. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146091 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146071 Title: ‘I know English because I was made to wear a sign in school’ : Peppi Azzopardi Abstract: Broadcaster Peppi Azzopardi said he learned English as a young boy because the school he went to forced students to wear a sign around their neck that read: ‘I must speak in English’. And while he admitted the sign was demeaning, he insisted that it propelled him to learn English, as his parents did not know how to speak the language. Azzopardi was defending his controversial Popolin proposals during a heated exchange on the latest Times Talk episode. Poet and writer professor Immanuel Mifsud and pedagogy expert Jacqueline Żammit were also on the panel, and they dismissed his suggestions as illogical, arguing they would do little to bridge the success gap for working-class children. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146071 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146068 Title: Stop treating Maltese as a second-class language Abstract: In this opinion piece, Jacqueline Żammit explores the linguistic hierarchy in Malta, arguing that the Maltese language is frequently treated with less care and rigor than English, particularly in digital communication. She discusses how the lack of Maltese-language digital tools and a casual attitude toward grammar and orthography—such as the omission of Semitic roots like "għ" and "h"—threaten the integrity of the language. Zammit emphasizes that Maltese and English should not be viewed as being in competition; rather, bilingualism is a national asset where English provides global reach and Maltese provides cultural depth and identity. The article concludes that sustaining the language requires internal effort, digital adaptation, and an expectation of linguistic precision from both native speakers and foreign residents. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146068 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z