https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/34984 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:15:58 GMT 2026-04-12T12:15:58Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/91611 Title: The use of non-verbal models in Italian as a foreign language grammar teaching : a critical multimodal case-study Abstract: Whilst interacting with other persons, people are mostly focused on their own words and lose awareness of what signals are being sent by the body at the same time. Facial expressions, eyes, tone of voice, gestures, posture or movement, touch and sight are the most frequently used non-verbal communication channels (Rot, 1982). Such phenomenon is not absent from our classrooms. Indeed, “Nonverbal communication within the classroom is very important because the teacher and pupils often have more confidence in the nonverbal than in the verbal message” (McNeill, 1992). The ability to identify, understand and interpret non-verbal cues makes communication among people successful (Kožić, Žunac and Bakić-Tomić, 2013). In this study, special attention is paid to non-verbal communication in the classroom, with emphasis on the non-verbal behaviour of teachers. The aim is to detect forms of non-verbal behaviour that are used in grammar teaching situations by foreign language Italian teachers in the Maltese classrooms. The following channels of teachers’ non-verbal communication were observed in the study: eye communication, movements within a lecture, use of proxemics, facial expressions of teachers and teachers’ relationship with gesturing in class. The study, which was conducted in a church school, sheds light on the reality and on the future of nonverbal communication in our foreign language classroom. Description: M.TEACHING&LEARNING Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/91611 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/81364 Title: Children with special educational needs : parents’ involvement in their education : a study in Italy and Malta Abstract: There are numerous advantages and positive influences that the role of parents play in education. The current study examines how parents, in Italy and Malta, are involved in the education of their children with Special Educational Needs. A qualitative methodology was used to gather the real life experiences of four Maltese and four Italian parents, whose children attend secondary school. An inductive process was used, face to face interviews conducted and open ended questions asked. Thematic analysis revealed the various opportunities that parents get involved in. The analysis seeks to contribute towards an understanding of how such parents are involved. Results were drawn and a model for parental involvement with regards to Parents with Special Educational Needs was suggested. Description: M.ACCESS ED. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/81364 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/70792 Title: Analiżi xjentifika tat-testi użati fil-fehim il-qari fil-livell tal-eżami tal-‘benchmark’ Abstract: Ir-riċerka deskritta f’din it-teżi kellha l-iskop li tistudja l-formulas eżistenti li janalizzaw il-livell ta’ diffikultà li jkollha silta għall-qari, biex finalment tiġi applikata l-aħjar formula għall-qari bil-Malti. L-ewwel kapitlu jagħti introduzzjoni dwar dan l-istudju b’ħarsa ġenerali dwar dak li nsibu fis-settur edukattiv Primarju ġewwa Malta u jispjega li l-qari jiġi eżaminat fil-karti tal-Malti u l-Ingliż. Il-kapitlu jagħlaq b’għadd ta’ għanijiet li fuqhom kien ibbażat dan l-istudju. It-tieni kapitlu mbagħad jagħti ħarsa lejn diversi xogħlijiet li saru dwar ir-readability kemm fis-settur lokali, kif ukoll internazzjonali. Ittielet kapitlu, mbagħad jiffoka dwar l-applikazzjoni tal-formula tar-readability magħżula, jiġifieri l-LIX formula, sabiex titkejjel id-diffikultà tal-qari kemm tal-Malti kif ukoll tal-Ingliż. Barra minn hekk, dan il-kapitlu jispjega wkoll s-selezzjoni tarreadability formula, flimkien ma’ xi limitazzjonijiet li kellha wkoll il-formula magħżula. Ir-raba’ kapitlu jinkludi l-analiżi u d-diskussjonijiet dwar dak li kien misjub permezz ta’ dan it-test xjentifiku kemm dwar il-karti tal-eżami tal-Benċmark tal-Malti, kif ukoll tal- Ingliż, li fil-fatt juri li b’mod konsistenti s-siltiet tal-qari bil-Malti kienu itqal minn dawk tal-Ingliż. Finalment, dan l-istudju jitfa’ dawl ġdid fuq kif għandhom jintgħażlu s-siltiet għall-assessjar tal-qari kemm mill-għalliema kif ukoll mill-eżaminaturi. Description: M.TEACHING&LEARNING Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/70792 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/70762 Title: Developing intercultural competences through the exploration of the Spanish cultures and language Abstract: The development of intercultural competences is fundamental in a multicultural society. The main objective of this study is to develop intercultural competences through the teaching of Spanish language and cultures related to the language. This objective is aimed to answer the main research question of this study “how can the teaching of Spanish language and cultures related to the language help students develop intercultural competences?”. For the purpose of this study a qualitative methodology was applied together with an action research design as five lessons were produced and conducted with one year 8 group (12 students). In this study a triangulation of data sources was applied, which was made up of: an interview of the observing teacher; researcher’s reflective journal; students’ questionnaires; and students’ reflective questions as part of the lessons. The findings showed that participants’ perception towards the concept of culture and cultural contact were altered to the positive. By the end of the study, the majority of the participants regarded contact between cultures as something beneficial. This study also exposed different factors which influenced students’ development of intercultural competences such as the experience of being abroad or being in a minority. In addition, it was also exposed how knowledge acquisition about other cultures, increased awareness of the self-culture. Lastly, the development of intercultural competences was also shown by an improvement in the interrelationships between students and by an improvement in the classroom climate. Description: M.TEACHING&LEARNING Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/70762 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z