The teaching of Maltese as a foreign language in Malta and Gozo

Abstract

When Malta joined the EU in 2004, Maltese became an official language of the EU. Due to this accession and for other reasons, such as economic prosperity, political stability, and archipelago safety, an ever-increasing number of foreign people have opted to live on the islands. Most Maltese are bilingual and speak both Maltese and English, so foreigners who speak English have little difficulty in practical communication. However, many foreigners who cannot speak Maltese feel disadvantaged, and prefer to learn the language to integrate into Maltese society. For foreigners who do not speak English, the need to learn Maltese is greater as Maltese is the dominant language. Still others may want to learn Maltese for specific occupational or academic purposes or simply to improve their communication skills. All these reasons lead to a demand for Maltese language courses, which is not always met, as such courses are not always available, especially in Gozo, or may not be in accord with a learner’s aims.