Ħarsa lejn it-tagħlim tal-Malti bħala lingwa barranija fost ħaddiema barranin li jgħixu f’Malta

Abstract

F'din il-parti se nitkellmu dwar it-tagħlim tal-Malti bħala lingwa barranija u se naqsam magħkom ir-riżultati ta’ studju li sar riċentement ma’ numru ta’ barranin li jgħixu u jaħdmu hawn Malta u li studjaw il-Malti fi ħdan il-programm ta’ integrazzjoni I Belong.

Qabelxejn nixtieq illi nirriflettu ftit fuq il-kuntest lokali u fuq il-bżonn li l-barranin li jgħixu f’Malta jitgħallmu l-Malti. Bla dubju, ħafna Maltin jemmnu li hemm bżonn li l-barranin jitgħallmu l-Malti, madankollu jekk inħarsu sew lejn il-kuntest lokali nindunaw li dan mhux neċessarjament huwa minnu. Aħna ngħixu f’kuntest bilingwi u allura f’Malta nitkellmu tajjeb bil-Malti kif ukoll bl-Ingliż. Minħabba f’hekk, għandna ħafna barranin li ilhom jgħixu Malta ħamsa, għaxra, ħmistax-il sena jew aktar u li qatt ma ħassew il-bżonn li jitgħallmu l-Malti. [silta]

Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) have become an increasingly important component of the Maltese economy, particularly over the past decade as labour demand has outpaced local supply. Employed widely in sectors such as construction, hospitality, transport, healthcare, manufacturing, and domestic services, TCNs help sustain economic growth, support essential services, and address skills shortages in both low- and high-skilled occupations. Their contribution has enabled businesses to expand and remain competitive, while also influencing demographic patterns and workplace diversity. At the same time, the growing reliance on TCNs has raised important policy considerations related to work permits, labour rights, social integration, housing, and long-term economic sustainability, making their role a central feature of Malta’s contemporary labour market structure. Dr Vassallo Gauci presented findings from a study of the I Belong integration programme, focusing on the motivations and challenges of 359 non-EU foreign workers learning Maltese. [excerpt]