Understanding language learning in Malta

Abstract

The Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE) in Malta has a strategic objective to maintain and strengthen standards of English language proficiency within the school education system so that Malta remains a high-performing Commonwealth and European Union country. This should perpetuate the existing, successful provision of bilingual education (Mifsud and Vella forthcoming 2017, Ministry of Education 2016) which prepares individuals from early on in life, who are equally fluent in Maltese and English, for the global employment market. To this end, the Ministry and Cambridge English Language Assessment entered into an agreement for an integrated solution which included the benchmarking of student English language levels in the school sector (Year 1) and the institutional capacitybuilding of Maltese teachers (Year 2). Cambridge English Language Assessment, in collaboration with the Ministry, conducted the Year 1 benchmarking project, which aimed at presenting a snapshot of English language proficiency in two key grades at Primary and Secondary education in relation to international standards, namely the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR, Council of Europe 2001). The six CEFR reference levels are now widely accepted as the international standard for grading an individual’s language proficiency. In addition to benchmarking learner proficiency, a comprehensive profile of learner, teacher and parent attitudes towards English language education in Malta was investigated. This aspect of the project was designed to provide a comprehensive profile of the Maltese educational context by bringing together views from the main stakeholders. Results also feed into the Ministry’s desire to deliver institutional capacity-building in assessment and teaching methodology, a strategic plan for continuous professional development of the teaching cadre, and potential international certification for learners and teachers.