L'esposizione degli studenti Maltesi alla TV e gli effetti sull'acquisizione dell'Italiano L2

Abstract

Research has already shown that exposure to Italian television in Malta has a significant effect on the acquisition of the language. However, over the past years the amount of exposure to Italian television has decreased considerably mainly because of TV channels in English and in Maltese and possibly also because other media, among which Internet, videos and DVD's occupy the time formerly dedicated to television. In the first part of my study, by means of a questionnaire I investigate the amount of time students in local Secondary Schools spend watching TV, and the amount of time they occupy using other means of communication. The sample will be composed of 350 male and female Form 3 students frequenting State, Church and Private schools who also complete two brief language tests. Their language-subject choice will not be taken into consideration. The results I obtain will be analysed and compared to other past studies. Having attained these results, I will then provide an overview of how the use of television can be useful in the Italian L2 class for those students who are rarely exposed to the language. This will enable teachers to encourage students to gain exposure to Italian.